During Week Four we'll complete Project 2 and begin work on Project 3, an exercise in writing writing technical descriptions. The rough draft and APS for Project 3 will be due at the beginning of Week Five, on 29 September to be exact. During Week Four I'd also like you to complete the first Editing Exercise, an exercise in editing passive voice and confusing language.

During Week Four, there are four assignments due:

1. Project 2 Revised Draft (8 pts.): Saturday, 22 Sep
2. Reading in Technical Communication: Wednesday, 26 Sep
3. Writing/Online Exercise 5 (Project 3, 2 pts.): Wednesday, 26 Sep
4. Editing Exercise 1 (6 pts.): Wednesday, 26 Sep

• For 22 Sep
  One Assignment:
  • Revised draft of Project 2
  1. Revised Draft of Technical Definition Project (8 pts.)
     Use regular e-mail to submit your revised draft of Project 2. Again, be sure that your report is in the form of a memo to me (no one need be on copy) and that you have saved your file in Rich Text Format. Attach your revised project to an e-mail message to me. Again, be sure to fill in the "Subject" line of your e-mail message. In the body of the e-mail, be sure to put your name and to notify me that your revised draft of Project 2 is attached to the message. Make sure that the attached file is in Rich Text Format. Last, be sure that I receive your revised draft by 22 September.
• For 26 Sep
  Three Assignments:
  • In Technical Communication (Markel) read pp. 187-91 on writing technical desciptions.
  • Writing/Online Exercise 5 (2 pts.)
  • Editing Exercise 1 (6 pts.)
  1. Writing/Online Exercise 5: Writing Technical Descriptions
     Locate a web- or print-based description (a commercial web site or a product brochure, for instance) of a basic household/consumer technology of your choosing. For instance, you might choose the description of replacement windows or doors, or a type of door handle and lock, or one of those bike carriers that attach to different places on an automobile. Then, in a couple of paragraphs, examine the structure of the description and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the description. Post your response to this exercise by 26 September.
  2. Editing Exercise 1 (6 pts.)
     Follow the instructions to download and save a copy of Editing Exercise 1:
     1. Hold down the shift key on the keyboard and click here. That will open a Save dialog box.
     2. Save the file "edit_ex1.rtf" to your hard drive or to a floppy disk. Don't change the filename, just save the file in a location where you'll be able to find it.

     Follow the instructions for each of the three parts of the exercise. If you have questions, first consult the grammar and style section of your textbook.

     When you have edited the sentences, rename and save the file, and submit it to me as an attachment to an e-mail message.