Sometimes when I attach a file and then preview my post, everything looks fine. But then when I save it, the file doesn't seem to be there. What happened?
This is a small bug. When you are making a post that has attached files, just click "Save" without clicking "Preview" first. If you preview the post first, the files won't appear. (They actually get uploaded, but they don't display on the post correctly.)
In the Principles of Reading Responses it says "be sure to cite properly the original reading and any other sources you might mention." How should we cite sources in Reading Responses?
Good question. You should use whichever in-text citation format is appropriate to your field or the sort of work you expect to do. (We are of course not asking for a list of Works Cited on reading responses.) Our real concern is that you use your chosen format consistently and correctly. Part four of your Thomson Handbook covers citation formats in detail. You can always ask your instructor if you have specific questions.
I was curious if you could give us some examples of what students have done in the past regarding the instruction project. I am having a hard time picturing what I should do. I can't think of any ideas that seem like everyone could attempt to do online or on a computer to follow my instructions.
Bobby
Yea I know. I can think of things I can explain how to do in detail but none of them involve much on a computer. They are all outside activities with vehicles or something.
In the description of this project it states, "Writing software instructions is recommended for this project because screen captures make serviceable, easy-to-produce graphics. Choosing easy to access (or, better yet, free) software will also make the peer review more productive because students will perform usability tests on one another's instructions."
I have no clue what I am supposed to do for this project and these instructions are very ambiguous. Am I used to make some kind of computer software out of the blue? I have no clue how to do that or what you mean by the two above sentences. Is there some way that you could describe this project better?
Is the thumbnail just a storyboard of the instructions? I read the description on the project page but I'm having a hard time understanding what it should look like.
I have been having trouble getting good quality screen shots. I have used paint and a program called Snagit but they all look grainy. I have been playing with different resolutions and dpi but nothing seems to work. I didn't know if anyone knows of a way to get nice images.
Unfortunately, the short answer is that you can't get great screenshots into a print format because of the differences in screen and print resolutions (I mention this in this response). However, the long answer is that you can get good quality screenshots into print formats with a little work, but you pretty much have to use Adobe Photoshop. There are online tutorials that explain how to get screenshots into print formats. I found this one by googling for "screenshots for print."
You can get really fancy and use tools like the GenuineFractals plug-in and Debablizer (I don't think we have those on campus, though), and if anybody wants to talk about that (or has other options) feel free to post here.
I'm using HTML for my instructions and using links. I could probably make PDFs for each of the pages, but they won't be be functional. Should I submit in PDF anyway?
Submitted by DigitalSHU on Thu, 03/12/2009 - 17:52.
One of my PDF's is too large to upload to this site. I'm not willing to remove pictures/text from the document so it will be under 5MB. Can I zip the file or link to an uploader?
Do we get any more examples of white paper topics, other than those in our book or on the calendar for Week 12? How technical does our topic have to be?
Submitted by Nathaniel on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 11:46.
We're not providing more samples than the ones you identify, but that is quite a few. You might look through the OSDDP here and here for ideas of topics that other students have done. You could always google for more, if you wish. There's no shortage of white papers posted online.
It is important to focus on the white paper as a document that provides a decision-maker with options. You aren't arguing policy but are rather providing several possible (and viable) solutions to someone or some group who is. For this white paper, Jeremy and I want students to focus on technical or technology-oriented solutions. For instance, the problem of identity theft and the various technologies that exist to combat it. We want students to focus on problems/issues for which technical or technological solutions exists (and can be researched), and we require such solutions because they demand the kind of writing this class is focused on: technical description.
Attached files seem to disappear
Sometimes when I attach a file and then preview my post, everything looks fine. But then when I save it, the file doesn't seem to be there. What happened?
RE: Attached files seem to disappear
This is a small bug. When you are making a post that has attached files, just click "Save" without clicking "Preview" first. If you preview the post first, the files won't appear. (They actually get uploaded, but they don't display on the post correctly.)
citations in Reading Responses?
In the Principles of Reading Responses it says "be sure to cite properly the original reading and any other sources you might mention." How should we cite sources in Reading Responses?
RE: citations in Reading Responses?
PDF
Just wanted to inform you guys of another great PDF creator http://www.primopdf.com/
RE: PDF
Thanks! We'll add it to the list.
Primo FTW
Good call. That's what I use.
Grades
Where can we view our grades for the employment project?
re: Grades
Your instructor will contact you with your grade, likely via email.
Instruction Project
I was curious if you could give us some examples of what students have done in the past regarding the instruction project. I am having a hard time picturing what I should do. I can't think of any ideas that seem like everyone could attempt to do online or on a computer to follow my instructions.
Bobby
Ditto
I'm in the same boat. I looked through the list of programs on my computer, and I can't come up with anything good.
Subject?
Yea I know. I can think of things I can explain how to do in detail but none of them involve much on a computer. They are all outside activities with vehicles or something.
Question?
In the description of this project it states, "Writing software instructions is recommended for this project because screen captures make serviceable, easy-to-produce graphics. Choosing easy to access (or, better yet, free) software will also make the peer review more productive because students will perform usability tests on one another's instructions."
I have no clue what I am supposed to do for this project and these instructions are very ambiguous. Am I used to make some kind of computer software out of the blue? I have no clue how to do that or what you mean by the two above sentences. Is there some way that you could describe this project better?
Front page post about Instructions Project topics
There is now a front page post about possible topics for the Instructions Project that should address these issues.
Spring Break
Do we get any kind of break from class, or will it be business as usual during the week of Purdue's spring vacation?
RE: Spring Break
We have shifted the calendar to account for Spring Break. Week Ten's assignments have been moved to Week Eleven.
Thumbnails
Is the thumbnail just a storyboard of the instructions? I read the description on the project page but I'm having a hard time understanding what it should look like.
Andy
Samples Available
Some samples are now posted to Week Eight.
Thanks for posting those.
Thanks for posting those. That wasn't was I was thinking of at all when you said thumbnails.
Andy
Screenshots
I have been having trouble getting good quality screen shots. I have used paint and a program called Snagit but they all look grainy. I have been playing with different resolutions and dpi but nothing seems to work. I didn't know if anyone knows of a way to get nice images.
re: Screenshots
Unfortunately, the short answer is that you can't get great screenshots into a print format because of the differences in screen and print resolutions (I mention this in this response). However, the long answer is that you can get good quality screenshots into print formats with a little work, but you pretty much have to use Adobe Photoshop. There are online tutorials that explain how to get screenshots into print formats. I found this one by googling for "screenshots for print."
You can get really fancy and use tools like the GenuineFractals plug-in and Debablizer (I don't think we have those on campus, though), and if anybody wants to talk about that (or has other options) feel free to post here.
Screenshots
Thanks for the help, that seems pretty easy. I didn't think to search "screenshots for print".
Draft Format
I'm using HTML for my instructions and using links. I could probably make PDFs for each of the pages, but they won't be be functional. Should I submit in PDF anyway?
re: Draft Format
Submit them as a link.
file too large
One of my PDF's is too large to upload to this site. I'm not willing to remove pictures/text from the document so it will be under 5MB. Can I zip the file or link to an uploader?
re: file too large
I would upload them to drop.io or scribd and then submit the instructions as a link.
White Paper Examples
Do we get any more examples of white paper topics, other than those in our book or on the calendar for Week 12? How technical does our topic have to be?
Topic Selection
We're not providing more samples than the ones you identify, but that is quite a few. You might look through the OSDDP here and here for ideas of topics that other students have done. You could always google for more, if you wish. There's no shortage of white papers posted online.
It is important to focus on the white paper as a document that provides a decision-maker with options. You aren't arguing policy but are rather providing several possible (and viable) solutions to someone or some group who is. For this white paper, Jeremy and I want students to focus on technical or technology-oriented solutions. For instance, the problem of identity theft and the various technologies that exist to combat it. We want students to focus on problems/issues for which technical or technological solutions exists (and can be researched), and we require such solutions because they demand the kind of writing this class is focused on: technical description.