imgage credit: Juan Osborne
abbreviations
In the list of readings below, I will use the following abbreviations for the course texts.
- HTW: Alred, Brusaw, & Oliu (2009). Handbook of Technical Writing. 9th Edition. Bedford/St. Martin’s.
- TFA: Cairo (2012). The Functional Art: An Introduction to Information Graphics and Visualization. New Riders.
- WSJG: Wong (2010). The Wall Street Journal Guide to Information Graphics. W. W. Norton & Co.
This is a potential schedule for the course. All items subject to change before the first day of classes.
date |
topic/readings |
assignments |
| jan 9 | topic: Course Introduction readings: Course Description and Requirements, Policies, and Assignments |
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| jan 14 | Last day to register, add new courses, make section changes, change pass/fail, and audit | |
| jan 14 | topic: Introduction to instructions; introduction to visualization; readings:
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Find a set of instructions, either in your home or online. Evaluate those instructions using the Writers’s Checklist on p. 263 of HTW and be prepared to share this with the class. |
| jan 16 | topic: Introduction to library resources; writing as a process readings:
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| jan 20 | Martin Luther King’s Birthday Recess: university closed | |
| jan 21 | topic: readings:
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| jan 23 | topic: Invention and writing readings:
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| jan 28 | topics: Usability testing; page layout in Word readings:
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First submission of instructions due |
| jan 30 | topics: Usability testing instructions readings: NA Be prepared to conduct a usability test of your instructions. If you are able to bring your object to class for testing, you can do a user test. If this is impossible, prepare a short comprehension test for your partner to complete after reading your instructions. In either case, prepare a handful of before/after interview questions for your partner to complete. |
Bring copy of instructions to class for usability testing |
| feb 4 | topic: Using Visuals readings:
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| feb 6 | topic: Finding and using image resources; infographic brainstorming readings: NA |
Second submission of instructions due |
| feb 11 | topic: Explaining a process with infographics readings:
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Find an example of an infographic that explains a process and bring it to class |
| feb 13 | topic: Research; brainstorming and sketching drafts readings:
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In-class: sketch an outline of your infographic |
| feb 18 | topic: Organization; readings:
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Bring infographic sketch and be prepared to begin designing your graphic |
| feb 20 | topic: Design readings:
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| feb 25 | topic: Infographic workshop readings: NA |
Bring infographic to class to workshop |
| feb 27 | topic: Research and library databases readings: NA |
First submission of infographic due |
| feb 28 | Mid-semester | |
| mar 4 | topic: Designing text readings:
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| mar 6 | topic: Using color and images readings:
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| mar 7 | Last day to drop a class | |
| mar 10-14 | Spring recess | |
| mar 18 | topic: Infographic workshop readings: NA |
Bring infographic to class to workshop |
| mar 20 | topic: Data visualization brainstorming readings: NA |
Second submission of infographic due |
| mar 25 | topic: Introduction to Reports; information literacy readings:
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| mar 27 | topic: Information literacy and data graphics readings:
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| apr 1 | topic: Data visualization planning meetings/workshopping readings: TBA |
Update on proposals |
| apr 3 | topic: Advanced data manipulation readings:
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| apr 8 | topic: Data visualization workshop readings: NA |
Bring current draft of data visualization to class for workshop |
| apr 10 | topic: Lightning talks and presentations readings: NA |
First (digital) submission of data visualization due |
| apr 15 | topic: Data visualization workshop readings: NA |
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| apr 17 | topic: How to write about what you learned in this class on your resume / course evaluations / Data visualization workshop readings: NA |
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| apr 18 | Friday Before Easter Recess: university closed | |
| apr 22 | topic: Lightning talk / poster workshops (meet in Colson 130) readings: NA |
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| apr 24 | topic: Lightning talks and poster presentation (meet in Colson 130) | Second submission of data visualization and lightning talk due |