SURVIVAL GUIDE
CONTEXT
So far this semester you’ve composed technical descriptions, instructions, and proposals. We’ve explored the rhetorical nature of technical communication, discussed ethical concerns related to the field and the documents it produces, and practiced effective document design strategies. Now, it’s time to showcase that work – and more! – in your culminating project: a survival guide.
Think of it this way: Not only did your communication help people survive the zombie apocalypse, but you’ve also survived this semester!
PURPOSE
AUDIENCE
The purpose of this project is twofold:
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Provide a space to display your research and work within a professional yet creative format that will be informative and engaging for you, your classmates, and me.
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Give you an opportunity to reflect on the research and work you completed this semester and to draw conclusions about the knowledge and skills you’ve developed throughout the course.
FORMAT
Unlike the previous major assignments, the audience for this project is more personal. Develop your survival guide first and foremost for yourself, but also consider how best to convey your work to your classmates and me. In other words, be creative but as always be professional.
CONTENT
You have two formatting options to choose from, so consider not only what would most effectively display and communicate your work but also what would be feasible for you to tackle and complete thoroughly on time.
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Printed book (either composed digitally or by hand)
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Website
How you design these formats is up to you. However, do keep in mind the design principles and strategies we’ve discussed in class. Be sure to provide details and images that will help you to contextualize and enhance your work.
NOTE: If you come up with another idea let me know first so we can discuss whether it will be an acceptable alternative format.
ASSESSMENT
DUE DATE
Your survival guide must contain the following:
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technical description, instructions, and proposal assignments
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annotated bibliography of five (5) sources that you consulted during the course to help you develop your major assignments or in-class/homework, or to help you contribute to class discussions Each entry must:
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begin with the APA reference citation
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provide a brief (about 100 words) summary of the source
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evaluate (about 200 words) why the source was helpful in understanding a particular aspect(s) of technical communication and/or how it contributed to technical communication as a discipline
NOTE: You cannot use our course textbook as an entry.
3. reflection on your experience in this course, which may address:
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what technical communication meant to you at the beginning of the semester versus at the end
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why technical communication is an ethical concern to you
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ideas that were challenged or discovered
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skills that were developed or honed
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how you might incorporate technical communication and its principles into your future education or job
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how exploring technical communication through the lens of the zombie apocalypse and emergency response affected your ability to learn new knowledge and skills
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how you view yourself as a writer and communicator
Your reflection should be 700 to 800 words and include relevant details and examples from the course that will help you support and explain your ideas.
Like your other assignments, your survival guide will be graded according to a rubric that we develop and agree to as a class. You will be provided with a copy of the rubric before this project is due so that you can consult it as you draft and revise your survival guide.
The final draft of your survival guide is due at the start of our “final exam”: Thursday, December 10 at 8 a.m.
You’ll have time toward the end of the semester to receive feedback on rough drafts. However, at any time you can take your survival guide to the Writing Center for help with your content or the Design Center for help with your design/layout.