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ICS 139WCritical Writing on Information Technology

Lecture 1Emily Navarro

Duplication of course material for any commercial purpose without the explicit written permission of the professor is prohibited

+Today’s Lecture

Course introduction

“System change” assignment overview

“Writing instructions” assignment overview

+Course Introduction

+Course Basics

Course: ICS 139W – Critical Writing on Information Technology

Professor: Emily Navarro (emilyo@uci.edu)

TA: Scott Godfrey (sgodfrey@uci.edu)

Lecture: T Th 5-6:20pm, ICS 180

Discussion: W 9-9:50 (ICS 259), 10-10:50 (DBH 1423) (attend one per week) Some weeks: required activities Some weeks: informal consultation hour

Course Website: http://www.ics.uci.edu/~emilyo/teaching/ics139ws2014/index.html

+Course Basics (II)

Office hours Emily: before or after lecture, by appointment Scott: before or after discussion, by appointment

Questions and announcements Email or in class Class email list

Course materials English dictionary and thesaurus A writing guide (see UCI Writing Center resources)

+Course Goals

To give you the opportunity to focus on writing in your specific academic discipline (CS)

To help you become comfortable writing technical documents for a variety of audiences

To help you become comfortable with giving presentations

+Grading

Writing Assignments: "Writing Instructions:" 10% "Influencing Policy:” 15% "Changing the System Introductory Tutorial:" 15% "Changing the System Proposal:" 20% “Changing the System Promo Piece:” 5% Resumé and cover letter: 5% Two or three smaller in-class exercises: 10%

Class attendance and participation, including three or four oral presentations: 20% Really good reason for absence, let me know beforehand

No exams

+Writing Assignment Requirements

Submission mechanics Submit a hard copy at the BEGINNING of class ALSO submit an electronic copy via EEE Dropbox

Intermediate versions should be as good as you can make them count for 1/3 of your grade on the assignment must include marked copies of all earlier versions

both instructor marks and peer editing marks refers to paper submission only

+Writing Assignment Requirements (II)

Plagiarism DON’T DO IT! Plagiarism = presenting someone else’s work as your own Cite any resources from which you pull information “Two or more” rule of thumb All assignments are checked thoroughly for plagiarism Plagiarism consequences

Fail the course Offense recorded with Student Affairs

+Writing Assignment Requirements (III)

Grammatical/spelling mechanics A good command of English syntax, spelling, and

punctuation is assumed Course focuses on content, organization, audience, and

style We will not mark every grammatical error on your

assignments But they can lower your grade

If you need help with this, the UCI Writing Center has many resources

+Spelling/Grammar Checkers

Spell check will not fined words witch are miss used butt spelled rite!

Marketing are bad for brand big and small. You Know What I am Saying? It is no wondering that advertisings are bad for company in America, Chicago and Germany. ... McDonald's and Coca Cola are good brand. ... Gates do good marketing job in Microsoft.

+Spelling/Grammar Checkers

Spell check will not fined words witch are miss used butt spelled rite!

Marketing are bad for brand big and small. You Know What I am Saying? It is no wondering that advertisings are bad for company in America, Chicago and Germany. ... McDonald's and Coca Cola are good brand. ... Gates do good marketing job in Microsoft.

Passes MS Word’s grammar checker!

+Writing Assignment Requirements (IV)

Counting words and pages one page = one standard, double-spaced typewritten page;

~300 words, 10-12 point font

Typography: All papers must be Typewritten Double-spaced

Except for Influencing Policy letter final version Change proposal cover letter

+Writing Assignment Requirements (V)

Binding Smaller assignments: one staple in upper left corner Larger assignments (that include previous drafts): one large

paper clip or purse clip Include your name on each piece

For more details see “Writing Assignment Requirements” linked off the class Website

+“System Change” Assignment

+Basic Idea

Examine some software system you are familiar with from a variety of perspectives: Introducing new users to the system Proposing changes to the system Promoting the changed system to its users

You will create documents and oral presentations for each of these purposes Focus on the different audiences

and how your writing/presenting needs to be tailored to each

+Stage I – Choosing a System

Can be conventional application software or a Website with complex navigation/interaction/functionality

Audience: our class

Deliverables: 4/3: Email to Scott

Name the system Describe it if unfamiliar Sketch out the changes you are proposing

4/10: 1-2 minute oral presentation in lecture Based on feedback from Scott

+Stage II – Introduction for Novices

Write an introduction to the system for novices 3-4 pages High-level description of the system, its capabilities, tasks it

performs Include any necessary background information Do not include tedious minor details

E.g., which keys to press, which menu items to choose

Audience: novices

Deliverables: 4/16: First draft 4/17 or 4/21: 2-minute oral version of introduction 4/23: Final version

+Stage III – Proposal for Change

Write a proposal for changing the system 5-6 pages plus a single-page cover letter

Address the proposal to whoever is in charge of making the changes happen Produce a proposal that is actually “sendable” to this person

Audience: decision-makers

Deliverables: 4/24: First draft for joint editing in class + presentation slides 5/1: Revision of proposal and slides based on joint editing 5/15, 5/20, 5/22: Final oral proposal for change (~4 min.) 5/20: Final written version + final presentation slides

+Stage IV – Promotion for Users

Prepare a one-page promotion piece announcing, describing, and promoting your change to current users Flyer, brochure, memo, Web page, etc. Can be relatively informal

Audience: current users of the system

Deliverables: 5/29: Draft for editing in class 6/3: Final version + 2- minute presentation

+Suggestions/Advice

Choose software that you know/care about

Be mindful of your audience

Use graphics effectively

Cite your sources of information

For oral portions, do not simply read from a script

Seek advice from us

Oral presentation graded on preparedness (not speaking style, nervousness, etc.)

+“Writing Instructions” Assignment

+Basic Idea

The premise We are used to writing instructions for computers Writing instructions for human execution requires a

different set of skills

The assignment Build some object using 20-30 Legos, Tinkertoys, etc.

Premade “kits” not allowed Write a manual for building your object using only words

(no pictures) Build each other’s objects in class using only the written

manual

+Due Dates

4/9 Disassembled components of your object and three copies

of a good draft of your manual You will build each others’ objects in class and make

suggestions for improvements to each others’ manuals

4/15 Final revision of your manual Disassembled components

+Suggestions and Hints

Start your manual with a list of components

Consider describing your object in terms of modules

Use organizational guides in your manual e.g., section headers, table of contents

+Next Time

Discussion (tomorrow) Consultation hour for “Changing System” and “Writing

Instructions” assignments

Lecture (Thursday) In-class writing sample

“Easy” topic ~300 words You may bring a dictionary or other reference work on

paper Strive for perfect mechanics, grammar, usage, clarity,

organization Bring a pencil or two

+Next, Next Time

Lecture (Tuesday) Read the two papers on PowerPoint available on the course

Website You will write about them in class