Introduction to: Definitions

Instructions, and Process Descriptions

Comm. 1009Week 1

Introductions

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Matt Rockall

E-mail: matthew_rockall@bcit.ca Office Hours: Before class – please email to arrange Class time: Wednesdays: 6 – 8:45pm?

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Tonight’s Objectives

Learn about the course, each other, expectations and commitments for the term

High level overview of course elements Quality in technical documentation

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Misc. Course Details

Attendance/ engagement expectations Student contact process (My.BCIT e-mail addresses) Course handouts and slides on D2L Must haves (for in-class sessions) – pen/pencil & paper Please participate in class and online

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IT System Details MyBCIT.ca Email Course outline

D2L – Intro to this next week

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Course Text

Special binding for BCIT from Pearson Chapters from Technical Communication, 5CE, by John

Lannon and Don Klepp Please bring to in-class sessions for activities Readings indicated in the course outline

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Assignments Individual definitions assignment (15%) Team project – product documents (20%) Mid-term (Online – 20%) Revision assignment (10%) Final exam (In-class – 35%)

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Lecture format Breaks Cell phones and instant messaging Food Talking, laptops during class…

Classroom Courtesy

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Getting to know you…Activity 1

FavouriteWord Brief interview with classmate 60 second intros What do you do and what other courses have you taken in the Tech

Writer Certificate?

Why do we write definitions in technical documentation?

Activity - Guessing the meaning and profession• Divide into teams of four. • Each team-member should think of a common word with a

different meaning specific to their profession, e.g., “collar” means very different things in policing than tailoring.

• Exchange the list of words with another group• Guess the meaning and the profession from whence it came

Activity 2 - Definitions

In 10 sentences, answer the following questions: Why are you here? Where are you from? What do you expect to learn?

Note: This is not for marks. I use it as a diagnostic indicator of your writing ability.

Please submit using to the D2L dropbox. Thanks! See you next week!

Ten-sentence writing exercise