Advanced Advanced Technical Technical WritingWriting

20082008

Session #2

TodayToday► P1 schedule revisitedP1 schedule revisited► Sample exam questions:Sample exam questions:

Writing/reflectionWriting/reflection DiscussionDiscussion Post outline of answer to PPPost outline of answer to PP

► Draws on Applen, Crowley, Geisler Draws on Applen, Crowley, Geisler et. al., & Carliner (this will et. al., & Carliner (this will take you a while)take you a while)

► Preview: P2 Preview: P2

Project 1 Timeline, Project 1 Timeline, revisitedrevisited

► 1/10 Choose editorial team, review information in 1/10 Choose editorial team, review information in your topic areayour topic area

► 1/15 Teams propose poster concepts1/15 Teams propose poster concepts► 1/17 Teams work out semantic markup scheme for 1/17 Teams work out semantic markup scheme for poster content; individuals create content assetsposter content; individuals create content assets

► 1/22 Teams create wireframes of posters; 1/22 Teams create wireframes of posters; individuals plug assets into wireframesindividuals plug assets into wireframes

► 1/24 Teams create poster draft 1/24 Teams create poster draft for testingfor testing► 1/31 Teams make adjustments to semantic 1/31 Teams make adjustments to semantic structure; Individuals revise digital assets for structure; Individuals revise digital assets for poster poster

► 2/2 Poster ready to ship to post-production2/2 Poster ready to ship to post-production

Practice Exam QuestionsPractice Exam Questions

► Different for grad/undergrad creditDifferent for grad/undergrad credit► Ask you to draw on your readings as well Ask you to draw on your readings as well as the hands-on work we’ve been doing to as the hands-on work we’ve been doing to connect theory & practiceconnect theory & practice

► Should take you about 2 hours to do for Should take you about 2 hours to do for realreal

Today:Today: Choose 1, review the readings, Choose 1, review the readings, reflect & outline your answer; we’ll reflect & outline your answer; we’ll discussdiscuss

Practice Exam QuestionsPractice Exam QuestionsGraduate Credit:Graduate Credit:Pick two of the terms below and explain how core Pick two of the terms below and explain how core

technologies like CSS, XHTML, and XML (and, by technologies like CSS, XHTML, and XML (and, by extension, content standards like DITA and content extension, content standards like DITA and content management systems that make use of these core management systems that make use of these core technologies) raise questions about the terms’ meaning:technologies) raise questions about the terms’ meaning:

► Authorship Authorship ► Literacy Literacy ► Text Text ► Document Document ► Writing Writing ► Reading Reading ► UserUser► Interface Interface ► Web PageWeb Page

Be sure to list some actual Be sure to list some actual questions that are raised. Then questions that are raised. Then describe, briefly, how you might describe, briefly, how you might investigate the questions you investigate the questions you have identified.have identified.

Practice Exam QuestionsPractice Exam QuestionsUndergraduate Credit:Undergraduate Credit:A key pre-requisite of single-sourcing is the A key pre-requisite of single-sourcing is the seperation of content from presentation seperation of content from presentation Discuss, in theory, how this can be Discuss, in theory, how this can be achieved using some of the technologies we achieved using some of the technologies we have talked about during the semester. have talked about during the semester. Then, using a specific example, explain why Then, using a specific example, explain why Dave ClarkDave Clark, among others, is skeptical , among others, is skeptical about just how complete a seperation of about just how complete a seperation of content from presentation is possible and content from presentation is possible and therefore cautious about the limits of therefore cautious about the limits of single-sourcing.single-sourcing.Find Clark’s article in Angel

Practice Exam QuestionsPractice Exam QuestionsGraduate Credit:Graduate Credit:Revisit the two approaches to textuality discussed by Revisit the two approaches to textuality discussed by

Crowley in her piece "writing and Writing." Are the Crowley in her piece "writing and Writing." Are the two approaches she talks about descriptive and two approaches she talks about descriptive and inclusive of the approach to textuality we developed inclusive of the approach to textuality we developed in P1? If so, explain which "camp" our approach to in P1? If so, explain which "camp" our approach to texts falls into or which features of the two camps texts falls into or which features of the two camps it embodies. If not, flesh out those features that it embodies. If not, flesh out those features that Crowley leaves out and attempt to account for why she Crowley leaves out and attempt to account for why she might not have included them (some possible reasons might not have included them (some possible reasons include when she wrote the piece, well before the WWW include when she wrote the piece, well before the WWW was popular and her essentially pedagogical focus in was popular and her essentially pedagogical focus in this particular piece). To develop your answer work this particular piece). To develop your answer work with an example text to illustrate features. Spend at with an example text to illustrate features. Spend at least half of your intellectual energy on the least half of your intellectual energy on the example(s).example(s).

Practice Exam QuestionsPractice Exam QuestionsUndergraduate Credit:Undergraduate Credit:In P1, we talked about three groups that might derive In P1, we talked about three groups that might derive

benefit from the features of a particular text-based benefit from the features of a particular text-based technology such as Cascading Style Sheets. These technology such as Cascading Style Sheets. These groups are 1) users or readers, 2) authors, and 3) groups are 1) users or readers, 2) authors, and 3) editors or content managers. Pick a specific editors or content managers. Pick a specific technology (e.g. the DITA standard) and discuss the technology (e.g. the DITA standard) and discuss the relative benefits and drawbacks that technology relative benefits and drawbacks that technology offers for each of these three groups. Make a case offers for each of these three groups. Make a case for which group comes out most ahead when the for which group comes out most ahead when the technology is deployed. Must there always be technology is deployed. Must there always be tradeoffs? or do you believe there are opportunities tradeoffs? or do you believe there are opportunities for mutual benefit? As you develop your answer, use for mutual benefit? As you develop your answer, use specific examples from at least two different specific examples from at least two different "instances" of the technology in use. Spend at least "instances" of the technology in use. Spend at least as much time creating your illustrative examples as as much time creating your illustrative examples as you spend on the rest of your response.you spend on the rest of your response.

For Next Time…For Next Time…

► Last P1 in-class work day; discuss P1 Last P1 in-class work day; discuss P1 evaluation criteriaevaluation criteria

► Start reading Rockley book (Ch. 1 & 14)Start reading Rockley book (Ch. 1 & 14)