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ENGW 3335
Technical and Business Writing

Weeks 15 and 16: Wrapping Up the Oral Presentation

Posted by Quinn Warnick April 21, 2011 Comments Off

The end of the semester is rapidly approaching, and you have just a few weeks to complete and deliver your oral presentations. I know how busy you’ll be with final projects in all of your classes, so I have eliminated all readings and homework assignments that aren’t part of Unit #4. I have also added several links to the Resources page that might be helpful as you look for images to illustrate your presentations.

Here’s how we’ll spend our time during the last few weeks of the semester:

  • On Tuesday, April 26, two Austin-based technical communicators from National Instruments will visit our class to discuss what it’s like to work in the field of technical communication. Come to class ready to ask any questions you have about careers in tech comm. After our guest speakers depart, we will spend the remainder of class working on your PowerPoint files. Your homework between now and Tuesday is to add content to all 20 slides in your PowerPoint file. It’s OK if the content is rough, but you should have something on every slide. If you have any technical problems along the way, we can address them during class.
  • On Thursday, April 28, we will conduct a peer critique workshop. By this point, your PowerPoint file should be complete and your oral presentation should be drafted. You will deliver your presentation to a small group of your classmates, then offer feedback on your peers’ presentations. We will also determine the presentation schedule for the following two days of class.
  • On Tuesday, May 3, and Thursday, May 5, we will enjoy your oral presentations. The order of presentations for Tuesday is as follows: Sam, Margeaux, Stephen, Ari, Matt, Sara, Andy. The order of presentations for Thursday is as follows: Nicole, Rachel M., Lucas, Amber, Cayley, Michael, Rachel W., Stacie, Estevan, Kori. On the day of your presentation (or before), you should upload your file to my Dropbox account using the private URL I sent you via email. (If you have trouble uploading your file, please email me.)
  • We will not meet as a class during finals week, but your two deliverables for Unit #4 are due on May 10 at 3:45 p.m. (the time of our assigned final). Here’s what you need to submit: (1) An electronic copy of your PowerPoint presentation, including any final revisions you made after delivering it in class. (2) A 1-2 page, single-spaced, self-analysis memo, in which you critique your work on this project, address your strengths and shortcomings, and describe how you would approach this assignment differently if you were to complete it again. This memo should be uploaded to Google Docs and shared with email hidden; JavaScript is required. (Be sure to give me editing privileges.)

And that’s it! It’s been a great semester, and I’m exited to watch your oral presentations. If you have any questions about these plans, please let me know. I will gladly make myself available to review your PowerPoint file or help you rehearse your presentation.

Categories: Weekly Updates

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  • Where am I?

    This is the website for English Writing and Rhetoric 3335: Technical and Business Writing, taught by Quinn Warnick at St. Edward's University in spring 2011.

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