Schedule

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English 3130 Schedule

Notes

  • All assignments are due at 11:59 pm, Sunday, the last day of the week.
  • All assignments should be in Microsoft Word format, unless otherwise noted.
  • All assignments are to be emailed to me (bgu@gsu.edu) as an attachment.

This schedule is tentative. Deviations may be necessary.

WEEK 1. (8/24-30)
Weekly Tasks

  1. Go over the syllabus.
  2. Go to the Projects page on my website and read through all the assignment instructions.
  3. Read the entire Memo section on Purdue’s Online Writing Lab (OWL).
  4. Go to the Handouts page on my website and click on the “Memo” link. Read the three versions of the sample Buddy McCormick memo.
  5. Write an analysis (200-300 words) of the three versions of the Buddy McCormick memo and explain why each is or is not an effective memo.
Assignments Due

  1. Summary 1: Analysis of the Buddy McCormick memos (see #5 in the Tasks section)
 
WEEK 2. (8/31-9/6)
Weekly Tasks

  1. Conduct research online or otherwise on the concept of “Rhetorical Context” and write a  summary of what “rhetorical context” means and why it’s important to business writing.
  2. Read the following articles on the design concept of “Alignment” and write a summary:
    C.R.A.P. Principles of Graphic Design
    Basic Alignment Principle in Graphic Design
    Design Principle: Alignment
  3. Go to my Projects page and follow the link on “Document Analysis.” Read the instructions on the document analysis project.
  4. Identify a document to use for your document analysis project and email it to me for approval.
  5. Read the following article to get a sense of what effective business writing entails. This prepares you for your document analysis project:
    Effective Business Writing: Top Principles and Techniques
  6. Start working on your document analysis project.
Assignments Due

  1. Summary #2: A reading summary on “Rhetorical Context” (see #1 in the Tasks section).
  2. Summary #3: A summary of the three readings on “Alignment” (see #2 in the Tasks section)
 
WEEK 3. (9/7-13)
Weekly Tasks

  1. Complete and turn in your document analysis project via email.
  2. Read the following articles on document design concept of “Proximity” and write a summary:
    The Principle of Proximity in Web Design
    The Principles of Graphic Design: How to Use Proximity Effectively
Assignments Due

  1. Summary #4: A summary of the two readings on “Proximity” (see #2 in the Tasks section)
  2. Document Analysis due
 
WEEK 4. (9/14-20)
Weekly Tasks

  1. Read the following articles on document design concept of “Repetition” and write a summary:
    The Principles of Graphic Design: How to Use Repetition Effectively
    The Use of Repetition in Design
  2. Go to 3130 Projects page on my website and follow the link “Job Search Project.” Read the instructions on this project.
  3. Find a job ad that could be used for your job search project.
  4. Go over the resume section on Purdue OWL (There’re multiple links in this section. Select those that are most relevant.)
  5. Go over some sample resumes on the following website: Resume Samples and Sample by Industry.
  6. Design your own resume tailored to the job ad you found.
Assignments Due

  1. Summary #5: A summary of the three readings on “Repetition” (see #1 in the Tasks section)
 
WEEK 5. (9/21-27)
Weekly Tasks

  1. Read the following articles on document design concept of “Contrast” and write a summary:
    Using Contrast in Graphic Design and Page Layout
    Principles of Design: Contrast
  2. Read the entire section on cover letters in Purdue OWL.
  3. Design your own cover letter tailored to the job ad.
Assignments Due

  1. Summary #6: A summary of the readings on “Contrast” (see #1 in the Tasks section)
 
WEEK 6. (9/28-10/4)
Weekly Tasks

  1. Complete and turn in your job search project
Assignments Due

  1. Job search project
 
WEEK 7. (10/5-11)
Weekly Tasks

  1. Read the following articles on document design concept of “Layout” and write a summary:
    How to Make Awesome Page Layout Designs in Microsoft Word
    How to Create Balanced Page Layouts
  2. Go over my instructions on the Business Case.
  3. Identify a business document to use for this Business Case project and email it to me for approval.
Assignments Due

  1. Summary #7: A summary of the readings on “Layout”
 
WEEK 8. (10/11-17)
Weekly Tasks

  1. Read the following articles on document design concept of “Typography” and write a summary:
    Designing for Readers: Five Tips for Effective Typography
    Your Ultimate Guide to Understanding Typography
  2. Redesign the business document for the business case project.
  3. Write the memo to your boss for your business case.
Assignments Due

  1. Summary #8: A summary of the readings on “Typography”
 
WEEK 9. (10/18-24)
Weekly Tasks

  1. Complete and turn in your business case project.
  2. Identify your final project. 
Assignments Due

  1. Business Case project
 
WEEK 10. (10/25-11/1)
Weekly Tasks

  1. Write an initial proposal for the final project and turn it in.
  2. Start research for your final project.
Assignments Due

  1. Initial proposal
 
WEEK 11. (11/2-8)
Weekly Tasks

  1. Read the following articles on document design concept of “Visual Hierarchy” and write a summary:
    Twelve Visual Hierarchy Rules Every Non-Designer Needs to Know
    6 Principles of Visual Hierarchy for Designers
  2. Start designing your content for the final project.
Assignments Due

  1. Summary #9: A summary of the readings on “Visual Hierarchy” (see #1 in the Tasks column)
 
WEEK 12. (11/9-15)
Weekly Tasks

  1. Design your format for the final project.
  2. Complete the first draft of your final project and email me a copy.
Assignments Due

  1. Final project 1st draft
 
WEEK 13. (11/16-22)
Weekly Tasks

  1. Individual conferences with me on the final project
Assignments Due

 

 
WEEK 14. (11/23-29)
Weekly Tasks

  1. Thanksgiving Break–No Classes
Assignments Due

 

 
WEEK 15. (11/30-12/6)
Weekly Tasks

  1. Complete and turn in your final project.
Assignments Due

  1. Final project
 

 


Note: This schedule is tentative; deviations may be necessary.