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Service Learning Project

Summary:

For this assignment, students working in groups will produce a 15 minute workshop covering a professional writing topic for a defined audience. The Professional Writing Program periodically facilitates such open-house workshops in MO 204 and would like this class to help develop future offerings. To complete the assignment, each group will create:

  • An approximately five-minute visual presentation that provides an overview of the subject that is appropriate for the defined audience
  • A one-page handout that reinforces the covered material
  • A hands-on activity that gives the audience tangible interaction with the subject
  • An approximately three-page report that analyzes the group's defined audience and discusses how its presentation, handout, and activity effectively address it

Groups will identify their own distinct topics and define an appropriate audience (such as children, seniors, local businesses, or local nonprofits). Possible topics suggested by the Professional Writing Program include:

  • Introduction to 3D printing
  • Introduction to the open-source photo editing software GIMP
  • Introduction to the open-source vector design software Inkscape
  • Using social media for business
  • Performing Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
  • Introduction to Web design
  • Introduction to podcasting
  • Grant proposal writing basics
  • Other topics determined by groups

Professional Writing faculty will provide feedback on final materials that will directly impact groups' project grades. During the production process, students will generate intention documents, Gantt charts, progress reports, and postmortems for project management purposes.

Through this project, students will practice working collaboratively to produce professional materials for an authentic client. In so doing, students will demonstrate their understanding of audience awareness, research, ethos, professionalism, and document design.

All materials created for this project become the exclusive property of the client. If clients are unable to provide project feedback within an appropriate time frame, the instructor will make all project grading decisions. The instructor retains final authority over all project and course grading issues.

Deliverables:

  1. Intention Document (5% of project grade, individual)
  2. Gantt Chart (5% of project grade, group)
  3. Progress Reports (5% of project grade, individual)
  4. Presentation (20% of project grade, group)
  5. Handout (20% of project grade, group)
  6. Activity (20% of project grade, group)
  7. Report (20% of project grade, group)
  8. Postmortem (5% of project grade, individual)

Groups:

Alexa F. Kirsten F. Hannah K.
Casey M. Haley S. Stephen M.
Holly T. Casey A. Sabrina S.
Michael T. Rebekah M. Preston T.
Jayden M. Erin B. Whitney J.
Meredith G. Kayla W. Dylan J.
Tim P. Katelyn H. Abigail H.