TCM 1613 GRAMMAR, USAGE, AND COPY EDITING FOR THE PROFESSIONAL WRITER (3-3-0). A study of the principles of an effective professional or technical style, stressing clarity, exactness, and readability. Topics include a review of grammar and punctuation, sentence combining, and an introduction to copy editing skills. Prerequisites: ENG 1613 or equivalent.
TCM 1623 WRITING TECHNICAL REPORTS (3-3-0). A case study course in the rhetoric, organization, and development of different kinds of reports, such as proposals, evaluations, and informational summaries. Emphasis on audience and situational analysis, collaboration, and stylistic skills. Prerequisites: ENG 1613 or equivalent.
TCM 2613 DESIGNING ONLINE DOCUMENTATION (3-3-0). Focuses on developing information for software products, with an emphasis on online and hypertext delivery media. Includes a focus on the documentation-project cycle, documentation teams, and collaboration with technical experts. Emphasizes the contents, organization, format, and style typical of software documentation. Introduces online helps, hypertext, and web publishing. Prerequisites: Working knowledge of at least one word processing system, ENG 1613 (or equivalent), and TCM 1603 or Instructor approval.
TCM 2623 DESIGNING PRINT DOCUMENTATION (3-3-0). Focuses on developing information for hardware products, particularly for printed hard copy publication. Includes a focus on the documentation-project cycle, documentation teams, and collaboration with technical experts. Emphasizes the contents, organization, format, and style typical of hardware documentation. Introduces graphics and usability testing. Prerequisites: Working knowledge of at least one word processing system, ENG 1613 (or equivalent), and TCM 1603 or Instructor approval.
TCM 2633 TECHNICAL EDITING (3-3-0). This course is designed to give students a working understanding of the role of the technical editor as collaborator and decision-maker in the entire publication process. Topics include revision skills, hypertext, graphics and visual design of texts, and estimating time and costs for projects. This course will include a site visit to a technical publications department. Prerequisites: Working knowledge of at least one word processing system, ENG 1613 (or equivalent), and TCM 1603 or Instructor approval.
TCM 2711 SPECIAL PROBLEMS (1-1-0). A lecture course to be offered in such current varying Technical Communication topics as Planning Multimedia, Designing Effective Presentations, Minimalist Documentation, and Introduction to Usability Testing. May be taken again for credit when topics vary.
TCM 2711.1B MANAGING DOCUMENTATION PROJECTS (1-1-0). Acquaints students with the entire publications development process, covering the basic components of each phase of the process and exploring the activities involved in each phase. Various models of the process will be examined. A variety of publications managers will be guest speakers throughout the course.
TCM 2711.1C WORKPLACE SKILLS FOR TECHNICAL COMMUNICATORS (1-1-0). Introduces students to technical communication career tracks, professional ethics, career credentials, and entry skills, including resume and portfolio development, interviewing practice, and preparation for Practicum placement.
TCM 2711.1D INDEXING TECHNICAL DOCUMENTATION (1-1-0). Introduces students to theory and strategies for creating "back-of-book" hardcopy indexes. Students will critique several existing indexes, team-index different chapters of the same book, and index a short book on their own. Software aspects of indexing will be covered. Prerequisites: Familiarity with a word-processing software application.
TCM 2711.1E FRAMEMAKER: HANDS-ON INTRODUCTION (1-1-0). Provides hands-on experience with using one of the most popular desktop publishing systems in information development today. Students will learn FrameMaker through tutorials and in-class hands-on presentations and exercises and then create book on their own from unformatted text. The course will conducted in a computer-equipped classroom. Prerequisites: Familiarity with a Windows-based word-processing software application.
TCM 2711.1F WEB PAGE DESIGN: HANDS-ON INTRODUCTION (1-1-0). Students learn the functions of a typical web browser, explore the World Wide Web, learn the functions of the common HTML tags, learn how to use a typical HTML editor, prepare supplied text for the web, and then create a set of web documents of their own. The course includes an introduction to hypertext and visual design as it applies to web documents and is conducted in a computer-equipped classroom connected to the World Wide Web. Prerequisites: Familiarity with a Windows-based word-processing software application.
TCM 2711.1G DEVELOPING ONLINE HELPS: AN INTRODUCTION (1-1-0). Introduces the basic functions of typical Windows-based helps and the theory of online help design. Students critique several online-help applications, study a tutorial introduction to a major online-help authoring program, and then write their own online helps for an existing software application. Prerequisites: Familiarity with a Windows-based word-processing software application.
TCM 2713 SPECIAL PROBLEMS IN TECHNICAL COMMUNICATIONS (3-1-11). A laboratory course in which the student develops written, edited, or text design projects from options provided by the instructor and in the specific area in which the student is seeking employment. May involve collaboration with students in other disciplines. Skills: P Prerequisites: Must have completed core courses in the TCM program and have Instructor approval. May be taken a second time for credit when topics vary.
TCM 2732 PRACTICUM IN TECHNICAL COMMUNICATIONS (2-1-10). On-the-job experience in a technical writing or editing position. Skills: P Prerequisites: Completion of core courses in the TCM program, a B average, and Instructor approval.
TCM 2733 PRACTICUM IN TECHNICAL COMMUNICATIONS (3-1-15). On-the-job experience in a technical writing or editing position. Skills: P Prerequisites: Completion of core courses in the TCM program, a B average, and Instructor approval.