Sample
Schedule
The schedule
on this page can be used to help you think about the organization of
the course. You can, of course, modify this sample schedule to some
degree. Since some assignments set up subsequent assignments, changes
do, however, need careful planning.
The importance
of having a schedule set at the start of the semester (or certainly
by the start of week 2) cannot be overstated. The School of Engineering
students are accustomed to following a very defined curriculum in their
engineering classes. By presenting Writing for Engineers as another
clearly defined class, the students will give the course its due attention.
Be aware also that there are frequent exams scheduled for the engineering
classes and the exams themselves are often difficult. Having a schedule
for this class right at the start of the semester gives you the ability
to talk to the class about having given very sufficient notice about
what is due and when. This talk lets the students know that timely completion
of assignments is expected. While you can certainly sympathize with
the challenge the students face with their studies, you shouldn't have
to change assignment due dates any more than the engineering professors
would change their exam dates.
The sample
schedule can work for the Fall or Spring, but you have to make adjustments
for the Thanksgiving Weekend or Spring Break. There are also those Rutgers
"change of day" dates to attend to.
CLASS
MEETING # |
SCHEDULED
ACTIVITIES |
|
1 |
Introductions;
Course Requirements; Markel (Ch. 1);
Writing Sample;Resume discussion;Q/A time |
|
2
|
Technical
Proposal topics (RneedsU Foundation); Resume drafts to review; Cover
Letter format; Assign Barker reading for next class; Markel (Ch.
16) |
|
3
|
Cover
Letter/Resume revised drafts to review; Discuss Barker reading;
Distribute Fallingwater reading; Do you have a Technical Proposal
Topic yet? |
|
4
|
Submit
Cover Letter/Resume assignment; Discuss Fallingwater; Markel
(Ch. 5) -- Thinking about audiences; Distribute LSM Tour handout;Topics
needed so primary research can begin. |
|
5
|
Meet
in the Computer Lab; Begin research for topics; memo
assignment (Summary/Analysis writing) will be introduced |
|
6
|
Meet
in the Computer Lab (Time to work on research and get
help as needed); Submit LSM Tour forms. |
|
7
|
Form
and Content for Annotated Bibliography and Midterm Paper (class
discussion and review of sample papers) |
|
8
|
Letter
to RneedsU (State Technical Proposal topic). Letter will
be written in class; Markel (Chs. 4 & 20); User Manual assignment
will be introduced; Ethics reading handout will be given. |
|
9
|
Submit Summary/Analysis memo assignment; Ethics
discussion (handout and Markel, Ch. 2); Independent work on research
needs to continue. |
|
10
|
Meet
in Computer Lab; Submit Annotated Bibliography; Class
time for User Manual team work
|
|
11
|
Draft
of Midterm Paper; Time for User Manual team work
|
|
12
|
Revision
of Midterm Paper; Time for User Manual team work
|
|
13
|
Submit
Midterm Paper (1 print copy; 1 disk copy). Select dates for
Oral Presentations; Time for User Manual team work
|
|
14
|
User
Manual team work -- Preparing the presentation
|
|
15
|
Submit
User Manuals and give class presentations.
|
|
16
|
Markel
(Chs. 14 & 22) -- Preparing for the Oral Presentations; Video
of past presenters will be shown.
|
|
17
|
Markel
(Chs. 13, 17, & 19) -- Preparing to write the Technical Report;
Review of sample papers
|
|
18
|
Visual
aids workshop to prepare for Oral Presentations
|
|
19
|
Further
work to prepare for Oral Presentations and for writing the Technical
Proposal
|
|
20
|
Oral
Presentations You need to schedule 3 or
4 presentations each
|
|
21
|
Oral
Presentations class. Depending on the number
of students in
|
|
22
|
Oral
Presentations your class, you may need less
than 6 dates set
|
|
23
|
Oral
Presentations aside. Freed-up date(s) can
then be used for work
|
|
24
|
Oral
Presentations on the Technical Proposals.
|
|
25
|
Oral
Presentations; First FULL DRAFT of Technical Proposal is
due today.
|
|
26
|
Revision
workshop on Technical Proposal; Time for some individual help
as needed
|
|
27
|
Final revision for Technical Proposal; Time for individual help
as needed
|
|
28
|
Submit
Technical Proposal in final draft form (1 print copy; 1 diskette)
|
|
