July 16th: Writing for the User
Rhetoric of Technology (intro)

Overview for Today

Of course, we always stick to what we're doing, so here's a roadmap:

• Last bit of Tebeaux and Dragga Ch. 10

• Rhetoric of Technology--to look beyond the functional use of a tool

• The Digital World

Writing For the User

Let's head over to last Thursday's (7/11) discussion on writing for the user and Ch. 5 and 10 in Tebeaux & Dragga.

Reading for Today

Today's reading discusses connections between technology and society by showing how technologies say much about the culture(s) from which they come.

I have a social construction of technology page for us to review. Additionally, I'd like to have topics for your midterm from you related to technology in a social context, so pay attention.

Thinking about the Digital Void...I Mean World

What do you think about these Websites?

Guggenheim Museum – New York
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)

English Department Webpages:

• UNCC's English Department

• University of Louisville's English Department

• Towson University's English Department

• Valdosta State University's English Department

Electronic Gamming Monthly at 1UP
ATI Catalyst Control Center
PC Gamer Magazine Site
Style.Com Site

Also, what problems could arise if you used Dr. Eastin's monitor as the "typical" monitor for users of your webpage?

A Note or Two on E-mailing and CMD/CMC*
*CMD--Computer Mediated Discourse
-or-
CMC--Computer Mediated Communication

A good friend of mine, a software sales person, has very specific guidelines for the employees he supervises:

• Keep them short

• Change the Reply Subject to something more accurate

• Make them correct so the reader isn't confused

• Use e-mail when appropriate...let's discuss

Gender and Cyberspace: Is there a difference between how men and women participate more in cyberspace? When you have time, take a look at this article "Gender and Internet Usage" by Dholakia, Dholakia, and Kshetri. (pdf)

Blogs and IM/texting: I realize these are different things/activities, but I often think about them together. Maybe that's just my peculiarity, but what do you think about the value (in terms of communication) for each?

Set of Instructions (DUE July 25th)

I have guidelines for your set of instructions assignment on our Assignments Page. This should be longer than your "My First User Doc," which is instructing a UNCC student on how to upload a Webpage, but I'd be surprised if it was longer than 5 pages; however, it will depend on the number and size of your visuals. I also have a few other options for the assignment.

Homework and Future Work

We'll continue our discussion into tomorrow most likely. I didn't finish all the cover letters and résumés, but I have some suggestions for revision. As part of your Midterm preview, we'll go over your cover letters and résumés and Prose Revisions.

If possible, we'll get into an Introduction to Information design, so read Ch. 6. Depending on oure time, we Ch. 6 may or may not make it on the Midterm (Don't worry, Ch. 6 can always make it to the Final Exam).

Your Midterm Exam will be on Thursday, 7/18.

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