ENGL
391C: advanced software
spring 2008
portfolio requirements
Grading:
| portfolio at midterm: | 20% |
| midterm presentation and progress report: | 10% |
| end-of-semester presentation and progress report: | 10% |
| portfolio at end of term: | 60% |
As you know, websites in recent years have foregone splashy graphics in lieu of greater emphasis on content. This emphasis is manifest in a clean overall layout on white or very light background, and a minimum of text in a logical, economical and readable format. Your site should demonstrate an awareness of this trend, as you too are presenting content. However, you are also showcasing your skills and knowledge of programs like Javascript, Photoshop, Dreamweaver and Flash.
Thus you have two rather contradictory missions. You may accomplish both by separating them. Demonstrate a sense of clean design on your resume; demonstrate your knowledge of flashy programs in the website for an imaginary corporation or nonprofit. Also, describe your understanding of the differences and your ability to negotiate in both worlds in the introduction.
When
completed, your online portfolio will feature the five or six components
rendered in this
site map and described below.
1.
introduction
a) Purpose of your site. Fell free to restate and embellish the following: "The purpose of this site is to demonstrate my background and skills, and present my knowledge of professional writing and technical communication to potential employers."
b) A paragraph or
two on your theories/ideas of good visual design and how you have implemented
them on your site. Discuss and/or summarize what you've learned from
ENGL 381 and 382. Consider adding links to websites about Tufte and
graphic design.
c) Career aspirations.
Veterans of Tech Writing ENGL 379 might copy and paste from the cover
letter you wrote last semester. If you do not have a cover letter, please
make an appointment with me to write one.
d) A tasteful and professional Flash animation.
2. resume
Put resume in HTML.
Use wide margins.
Use a light, off-white background.
Left-justify the text, as in a hardcopy. Center only the heading.
Include links to the PWTC program, and the University of Massachusetts. Consider other links -- the "Advanced Software" site within the PWTC program; employers, and professional and student organizations to which you belong.
3. professional writing material
1. your grant proposal from ENGL 379
2. an excerpt from your MSWord manual from ENGL 380
3. an excerpt of a few pages from your FrameMaker project from ENGL 381
4. your RoboHelp project from ENGL 381
5. any long (five pages or more) document from any PWTC class
6. other writing (a work of analysis or criticism from a literature, communications or journalism class)
NB: excepting the last, these requirements apply, naturally, only to students in the PWTC Program; others will substitute work judged equivalent by student and instructor.
Remember that readers of screens find texts that span more than six inches across an eyestrain. Reformat to four inches or less -- newspaper column width. For an example of attractive page design, see the Yale Guide to HTML, linked off the calendar and elsewhere in the Advanced Software site.
4. website for an imaginary corporation or non-profit organization
Four pages are sufficient. You should include a homepage with Flash animation, a background page, and a contact page.
Note:
Images on the web are protected by U.S copyright laws, and copying images
for your own website violates those laws. Where then, to get images? There
are several "clip art" sites that feature images you may use at no charge.
Most clip art images, though, look like -- well -- clip art. Perhaps a
better source is the U.S. government. Because the government cannot copyright,
any image on a U.S. government agency site is in the public domain. NASA,
in particular, has thousands of images of planets, moons, nebulae, "stellar
nurseries" and the like -- many are quite beautiful. Another possible
source is a photograph you have taken, or an image you have made from
scratch with Photoshop.
5. progress reports
You will give two presentations to the class reporting on your progress using PowerPoint in combination with an internet browser. Please load your presentation into your OIT "public" folder, link to it from your portfolio, and when you make your presentation, access it through your preferred browser.
Both the mid-term and semester-end presentations will be progress reports, outlining where you have been and where you are going. You may discuss design decisions, technical problems, and you may conclude by soliciting advice and suggestions from your peers. Speak for about five minutes, and allow three minutes for questions and suggestions from the audience.
On
the days of your presentation you will submit to me a progress report
of your work. The report should include two double-spaced pages prose,
and two site maps--one that represents your portfolio as it is, and one
that represents your portfolio as you expect it to be on May 19. Please
design the report according to the memo format described on the page Progress
Report.
6.
other
Think of this section as you would the bottom of the resume page. Strictly speaking, it is not necessary, and you may omit it altogether. If you do include it, be careful not to get too silly, and remember you are still a professional making a first impression to another professional. Lasting impressions are made quickly.