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| Course 2: User Guide Workshop Want to get more experience in user guide writing? Want to add some technical writing samples to your portfolio? In this continuation of our introductory class, students focus on a writing project which will further hone their skills and could be used in their portfolio as a sample of their user guide writing ability. This
is a workshop rather than a course. Though there will be some readings,
the emphasis of the course is on writing and getting feedback from the
instructor. The goal of the workshop is to help students hone their user
guide writing skills while building up their portfolio. One of the
things about starting out in technical writing is that you don't have
any samples of user guide work to show prospective employers. The case
study used in this workshop can be used to that end.
Again, although the focus is mostly on writing and feedback, we'
will talk about a few extra topics such as style and style-sheets,
proofreading, and creating message logs. Course Type: Self-paced, individualized workshop. Reading and writing assignments; instructor feedback. Objective:
After
taking this course, students should
feel more comfortable in doing user guide writing, have created a
writing sample for their portfolio, and have an understanding of style
and the difference between editing and proofreading. Duration: 4 lessons to be completed in one month Current Openings: Open enrollment Limit: Ten learners Cost: $150.00 Tutorial Option: Yes (Intensive personal mentorship) Class Materials: Readings & assignments provided by the instructor by e-mail attachment. Learners will receive feedback on their work via e-mail response. Learner Prerequisites: Have completed the introductory course. Curriculum: In this continuation of our introductory class, students focus on a writing project which will further hone their skills and could be used in their portfolio as a sample of their user guide writing ability. Week
1: Our Case Study begins.
Students will write a user guide section describing how to sign on to an
e-mail system and access mail. Students will use their own e-mail
systems as research material. We'll talk briefly about the use of screen
displays and review a few concepts from the introductory course. Week
2: A few short readings
will discuss style-sheets, proofreading, documenting revision dates,
headers and footers and dealing with proprietary information. The
homework assignment for this week will be to create a style-sheet for
the guide section written during week one. Also, there will be a
proofreading exercise to complete. Week
3: Style and consistency:
This week's lesson will focus on adding a new section to an existing
document. The homework is a continuation of the mini-guide started in
week one. For the homework assignment, students will be asked to write
directions on how to send an e-mail message and read and save incoming
mail. They will be expected to follow the style-sheets they created in
week two's assignment so that the new section will have the look and
feel of the guide piece written in week one. Week
4: Polishing the Piece:
Looking at their mini-e-mail user guide, students will be asked to come
up with a systems message log in which they will describe error messages
and their resolutions, a glossary, table of contents, etc. In addition
they'll use the feedback received in the previous lessons to polish
their final project. Instructor bio Elsie Walker is a freelance writer with more than
1,000 published articles to her credit. Her professional background includes
working as a technical writer for Prudential Healthcare, ADP, and Honeywell (the
latter as a consultant). Her magazine credits include articles in Succeed (continuing education), Hope (general interest), College Bound (education), Byline (writer’s trade magazine), Fiddler Magazine (special interest), The Quiet Hour (religious devotional), Sussex County Magazine (travel), and many more. In the past few years, she has moved on to doing mostly newspaper work, first for the Recorder Publishing chain and then for Gannett. Now she writes for five New Jersey newspapers including The Animal Companion (a specialty paper which focuses on animals, animal rescue and rehabilitation groups, etc.) Paypal: |
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