Service Learning Project

Project Summary:

For this assignment, student groups will produce a series of three tabloid-size (11" X 17") posters that feature three former UNCW English majors. The purpose of these posters is to promote the various options for English majors in the professional world. Posters selected by representatives from the English Department will be used for official promotional purposes on the UNCW campus and beyond.

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:
Daniel F.
William H.
Aaryn R.
Jenny S.		 Mari M.
Melanie C.
Jim D.
Alex M.		 Alan S.
Ryan S.
Jonathan F.
Louis E.		 Evan H.
Tyler H.
Wallace W.
Austin V.		 Maegan B.
Seth L.
Melanie W.

Current profile subjects:


Client panel:
  • Dr. Don Bushman (English Department Public Relations Committee Chair)
  • Dr. Tiffany Gilbert (English Department Professor)
  • Dr. Kristen Seas (English Department Professor)
  • Kate Smith (English Department Graduate Lecturer)


Project Sequence and Grading:

  1. Gantt Chart (5% 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. Subject Profile Report (5% of project grade) Each group will produce a two page report over its three subjects. This is a research document that will collect and present data that each group discovers about it subjects. Of course, all of the data in the report may not appear in the posters themselves. Excellent Subject Profile Reports should contain useful information in a concise, narrative format. Excellent Subject Profile Reports will be in a finished, polished format suitable for a professional readership, including appropriate grammar and mechanics.

  3. 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 posters will accomplish them. 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 posters, 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 posters, and be in a finished, polished format suitable for a client readership, including appropriate grammar and mechanics.

  4. Client Documents (50% of project grade)
    (The class-produced rubric is here.)
    Each group's three posters should be in a finished, polished format suitable for an authentic professional situation.

  5. Client Assessment (10% of project grade) Each group's materials will be directly assessed by representatives from the English Department. That assessment will constitute this component of the project grade.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.