Overview
Objectives
Materials
Grading
Exams
ELI Policies and Procedures
Contacting the Instructor
Beginning the Course


 
 

Overview
	ENG 280, Writing User Manuals, will teach you basic principles of writing easy-to-use technical manuals.  You will apply these principles as you follow a recommended process to create a manual for a course project.  The skills that you learn include how to assess the needs your manual must satisfy, how to plan your manual, how to interview experts, how to write instructions, how to test and revise, and how to select formats and integrate graphics. Manual writing is an activity that many professions require.  Thus, many different people become writers of manuals.  Technical writers with degrees or coursework in English and specialize in technical subjects write manuals.  Instructional designers plan education and training courses, and in the process, they write manuals in support of instruction.  Programmers, engineers, and other technical professionals also write manuals; those who write well can explain their subjects and projects better than anyone else; they are also twice as valuable to their employers.  Graphic artists and publication specialists also have much to say about text and graphics that communicate well and often become involved in both the writing and illustrating of manuals. If you are pursuing a career in professional writing, the practical skills that you learn in this course will contribute to your capabilities and marketability.  The skills will also be useful to anyone in a technical field who writes manuals or directions as a secondary responsibility.  You may also discover that this course helps you with everyday tasks like writing directions to your home for a friend, telling family members or coworkers how to perform your duties in your absence, or organizing any process so that it becomes clear and understandable to others. Top
Objectives
	If you successfully complete this course, you will be able to:   Recognize what makes a manual easy to use. Write manuals from a user's point of view. Use a document planner for researching, writing, and testing manuals. Use basic illustration and layout strategies for your manual. Plan and conduct interviews to gain information.  Compose usability tests and checklists to assure the quality and completeness of a manual. Top
Materials
	You can purchase the textbook for this course at any of the five NVCC bookstores. See ELI Policies and Procedures for locations and phone numbers. You may also purchase your textbook by mail by calling (888) 744-7839. Purchasing textbooks by mail takes longer; so order your book early.  For this course, purchase the following:    Bremer, Michael, The User Manual Manual: How to Research, Write, Test, Edit and Produce a Software Manual, 99, Untechnial Press, 0966994914.  In addition to the text book, this course includes viewing some TV programs. Please click here to find details about the TV program schedules. Top
Grading
	Assignments   Percent Memo of Introduction    5% Document Needs Assessment    5% Document Analysis   5% Document Planner +  Outline/Task List    5% Draft   5% Intro. + How to Use   5% Instructions   10% Usability Test Report   5% Trouble-shooting Chart    5% Revisions    10% Four Exams    40% To pass ENG 280, you must pass the FINAL EXAM to pass the course, regardless of your grades on the other assignments.  Final grades will be based on the following scale:.  Final grades will be based on the following scale: A 90-100% B 80-89% C 70-79%  D 60-69% F Fewer than 60% Top
Exams
	Since ELI courses are self-paced, you take exams when you are ready. You must take the exams at one of the five NVCC campus Testing Centers. See ELI Policies and Procedures for locations and phone numbers and information about proctors for students who live outside the Northern Virginia area. Call the Testing Center before you go to make sure they will be open and will stay open long enough for you to complete the exams. Take along a photo ID and the appropriate Exam Pass.  There are 4 proctored exams in this course.  Top
ELI Policies and Procedures
	This is an Extended Learning Institute (ELI) course. ELI courses differ from campus courses in several important ways, including enrollment dates, communication with faculty, assignment completion requirements, and exams. You must follow ELI's policies and procedures if you take this course. Read (or review) ELI's Policies and Procedures before you begin the course.  Top
Contacting the Instructor
	You may contact me by email at jbrotton@nvcc.edu, by telephone during my ELI office hours at (703) 323-3347 or by voice mail at 323-3713, mailbox 0860, or by the V/TDD number (323-3717) if hearing impaired. You may also call me to schedule a meeting in person, either at ELI or my campus office.  Top

Beginning the Course
 

1. Use your web browser to connect to www. nvcc.edu/bbstart. Follow the directions to determine your email, Blackboard and VIVA account user names and passwords.
2. Log on to your email account and make sure you know how to use it; you will be required to use this account for all course-related email.
3. Log on to your Blackboard account.
4. Click on this course under "My Courses." Review the entire course to make sure you understand what will be required of you. Then start completing the assignments.

Please note that account generation takes approximately one week from the time of your paid registration. If you cannot log on after one week, contact the IT Help Desk.

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