Service Learning Project

Project Summary:

For this assignment, student groups will be working with a representative from UNCW's Professional Writing program to produce two promotional materials for the program's upcoming student showcase. Materials selected by the Professional Writing program will be circulated on the UNCW campus and used to promote the event.

During the Service Learning Project, students will practice working collaboratively to produce real professional materials for an authentic client. In so doing, students will demonstrate their understanding of audience awareness, research, documentation, ethos, professionalism, and document design. Groups will be graded in part on their overall contribution to the PR campaign, so groups are encouraged to produce materials that have a real impact rather than materials that are easy to create.

Groups:
Matt E.
Brendan C.
Karrah M.
Jeremy M.		 Lisa G.
Luke M.
Sophia K.
Keenan D.		 Amanda T.
Laura C.
Christina K.
Noah B.		 Josh P.
Amanda F.
Mat B.
Amanda M.		 Claire L.
Nick A.
Emily W.

The materials groups are responsible for are listed here.

The logos are available as .pdf files here and here.

Project Sequence and Grading:

  1. Gantt Chart (10% of project grade) Each group will produce a Gantt Chart—a visual project management document depicting the division of labor. Groups will produce Gantt Charts using the Google Spreadsheets component of Google Docs. Gantt Charts should clearly delineate project tasks and deadlines, as well as who is responsible for their completion (a specific individual or the group). Excellent Gantt Charts will be through, professional, and in keeping with the parameters covered in readings and class discussion.

  2. Proposal (10% of project grade) Each group will produce a Proposal based on the rhetorical elements established in CDA that articulates the client's goals and how the group's documents will accomplish them. The client will use these proposals to understand how each group has contributed to the overall campaign. Proposals will be produced collaboratively by groups using the Google Documents component of Google Docs. This is a form of design plan, and as such it will guide the creation of the documents, but it will also evolve to reflect changes in them. Excellent Proposals will account thoroughly for all of the rhetorical elements established in CDA and present a coherent narrative rather than a collection of disconnected parts. Excellent Proposals also will reflect the corresponding finished documents, and be in a finished, polished format suitable for a client readership, including appropriate grammar and mechanics.

  3. Client Documents (50% of project grade)
    (The class-produced rubric is here.)
    Each group will produce two promotional documents in keeping with the needs, values, and expectations of the client. Excellent client documents should respond to the client's guidance, and should be in a finished, polished format suitable for an authentic professional situation.

  4. Client Assessment (10% of project grade) Each group's materials will be directly assessed by the client. That assessment will constitute this component of the project grade. Because of this, it is crucial for groups to respond to client guidance.

  5. Client Presentation (10% of project grade) Each group's final documents will be presented to the client. (Presentations will be videotaped for clients who are unable to attend in person.) Presentations should discuss how the group's documents suit the client's needs, values, and expectations appropriately. Presentations need not feature all group members; one or more group members may handle the presentation. Presentations will last between 5 and 10 minutes. Please do not go over time. Excellent client presentations will be convincing, rehearsed, and on time.

  6. Postmortem (10% of project grade, individual to each group member)
    (The postmortem form is available here.)
    Each student will produce a reflective postmortem that provides insight into the contributions of group members and the global performance of the group. Postmortems will be used to assign group members individual grades for this project component. Excellent postmortems will account thoroughly for all sections of the postmortem form, thereby providing valuable insight into project development, successes, challenges, and lessons learned. Excellent postmortems will be in a finished, polished format, including appropriate grammar and mechanics.