Schedule

Date                

Schedule/Readings

Assignments Due
Tue, Aug 21 Topic: Course introduction
Readings:

Thu, Aug 23 Topics: Defining Writing Portfolios; setting internship goals and becoming a reflective learner; scheduling discussion leaders.
Readings: 

  • Reynolds & Rice, “The Process of Portfolio Keeping” (readings)
  • “Understanding Professional Portfolios,” Smith & Haimes-Korn, Portfolios for Technical and Professional Communicators (PTPC), Ch. 1, pp. 1-18
 See list here
Mon, Aug 27 No forum discussion.
Readings:

  • Skim Plumley, WordPress 24-Hour Trainer (W24T), pp. 1-48
  • Read W24T, pp. 49-160
Tue, Sep 4 Forum discussion: Managing workplace relationships
Readings: 

  • Kendra Potts, “My Entry-Level Life” (readings)
  • D. Kathleen Stitts, “Learning to Work with Emotions During an Internship” (readings)
  • Martin Davidson, “Expressing Emotion in Interpersonal Interactions” (readings)
  • Weekly Internship Log,
  • Expectations essay, and
  • Internship agreement due in course folder by 9 a.m.
  • Forum responses due before 5 p.m., Friday, 9/7
Thu, Sep 13 Topic: Adapting to on-the-job protocols
Readings: 
  • Weekly Internship Log due Monday by 9 a.m.
Mon, Sep 17 Forum discussion: Leveraging a PWE’s sources of power in the workplace
Readings: 

  • Susan M. Katz, “A Newcomer Gains Power: An Analysis of the Role of Rhetorical Expertise” (readings)
  • Weekly Internship Log due Monday by 9 a.m.
Thu, Sep 27 Topic: Managing collaboration across disciplines
Readings: 

  • Emily Sopensky and Laurie Modrey, “Survival Skills for Communicators within Organizations” (readings)
  • Edward Tufte, “The Cognitive Style of PowerPoint”
  • Weekly Internship Log due Monday by 9 a.m.
Mon, Oct 1 No forum discussion
Mon, Oct 8 Forum discussion: Exploring differences between academic and workplace writing
Readings: 

  • Chris Anson and Lee Forsberg, “Moving Beyond the Academic Community: Transitional Stages in Professional Writing” (readings)
  • Weekly Internship Log due Monday by 9 a.m.
Mon, Oct 15 Forum discussion: Creating a portfolio identity
Readings: 

  • “Creating a Portfolio Identity,” PTPC, Ch. 2, pp. 19-30
  • “Choosing and Customizing Themes,” W24T, pp. 241-266
  • “Adding Functionality Using Plugins,” W24T, pp. 307-334
  • Weekly Internship Log due Monday by 9 a.m.
Thu, Oct 25 Topic: Creating the poster presentation
Readings: 
  • Weekly Internship Log due Monday by 9 a.m.
Mon, Oct 29 Forum discussion: Planning and designing your web portfolio
Readings: 

  • “Portfolio Contents, Design, and Structure,” PTPC, Ch. 3, pp.31-58
  • “Managing Your Content,” W24T, pp. 161-200
  • Weekly Internship Log due Monday by 9 a.m.
Thu, Nov 1 Topic: Poster workshop
Readings: NA
  • Bring drafts of posters to share with class and solicit feedback
Thu, Nov 8 Topics: Building the web portfolio, poster workshop
Readings: 

  • PTPC, chs. 5-6
  • Weekly Internship Log due Monday by 9 a.m.
  • Bring drafts of posters to share with class and solicit feedback
Mon, Nov 12 Forum discussion: Publishing your portfolio
Readings: 

  • “Revising for Portfolio Quality,” PTPC, ch. 4, pp. 59-80
  • Weekly Internship Log due Monday by 9 a.m.
Thu, Nov 15 Topics: Poster workshop, portfolio workshop
Readings: NA
  • Bring drafts of posters and portfolios to share with class and solicit feedback
Nov 17-25 Thanksgiving Recess – No class
Thu, Nov 29 No forum discussion
Poster Presentations, Thursday, 11/29, 4-5 p.m., Colson 130
Thu, Dec 6 Topics: Final portfolio questions, how to write about what you learned in this course on your resume, course evaluations