Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Outcomes for this course require working through multiple drafts of several pieces of writing with time to separate the acts of writing and revising; in addition, the reading outcomes require time to read, reread, reflect, respond, interpret, analyze, and evaluate.
Upon completion of the course with a "C" or better, the student will be able to:

1. Design and produce complex technical communications in various media that translate unfamiliar and complex information into text and visuals that are accurate, ethical, easy to access and understand, and from which information can be extracted quickly and easily.

2. Design and produce complex technical communications in various media specifically tailored to a number of different audiences that have diverse educational, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds, and that have various levels of expertise.

3. Plan and manage print and online projects collaboratively.

Assessment tasks will include the following†

• Complex technical communications in various media, incorporating text and visuals that meet the needs of specific audiences
• Professional communicator¡s portfolio
• Active, positive participation in class and in small group activities
Peer evaluation may be incorporated in the assessment process. Other assessment tools may include presentations by individuals and groups.

Course themes, concepts, and issues may include:

• Audience analysis, including writing for audiences whose culture, values, customs, experiences, and ways of thinking may differ from those of the writer
• Document specifications
• Documenting sources
• Dynamics of collaborative work
• Editing text and visuals in various media
• Effective collaboration
• Information gathering, including primary and secondary sources and Internet research Interviewing subject matter experts
• Neutral, unbiased language and images
• Professional writing organizations and resources for grammar, style, and editing
• Project planning and management
• Revision cycle
• Safety, liability, and ethical considerations
• Style guides
• Usability testing
• Writing strategies for different media
• Writing to increase the readability and accuracy of print and online documents that may be translated or accessed by international users

Competencies and Skills
Outcome 1:
a. Understanding different types of print and online technical communication

b. Adapting writing strategies for different media

c. Selecting appropriate graphics for print and online communication

d. Editing print and online media for conciseness, precision, accuracy, clarity, safety , liability, and ethical considerations

e. Gathering information and interview subject matter experts

f. Documenting sources

g. Gathering information, including primary and secondary sources and Internet research

h. Using the resources of professional writing organizations and grammar, style, and online editing guides

Outcome 2:
a. Analyzing audience and purpose and incorporating audience feedback

b. Writing print and online documents that may be translated or accessed by international users

c. Selecting appropriate graphics for diverse audiences

d. Selecting graphics for print and online documents that may be translated or accessed by international users

e. Conducting usability tests

Outcome 3:
a. Collaborating effectively as a member of a documentation team

b. Planning and managing projects

c. Using graphic flowcharts for project management

d. Creating document specifications

e. Presenting milestone updates orally using presentation graphics