Calendar

This course calendar is subject to change throughout the semester. Gray rows indicate in-class periods (Tuesdays); white rows indicate online periods (Thursdays). Unless otherwise indicated, activities scheduled for online periods are due before midnight of the same day.

Date Due Today Period Agenda
Jan. 12
• Introduce course/discuss Professional Writing
Jan. 14
• Watch course introduction video
• Submit Personal Introductions Post
Jan. 19 • Print and sign course contract
• Read The Essentials ch. 1
• Read Corporate Communication Project information
• Complete Reading Response 1
• Introduce Corporate Communication Project
Jan. 21 • Read The Essentials ch. 2
• Read/watch "JetBlue Apologizes after Passengers Stranded"
• Watch this video from stuck passengers
• Read JetBlue's Customer Bill of Rights
• Read "Be the Guy with the Megaphone"
• Identify and review other sources about this event
• Complete Reading Response 2
• Begin crisis analysis activity
Jan. 26 • Complete crisis analysis activity
• Read The Essentials ch. 3
• Bring in two topic ideas
• Complete Reading Response 3
• Discuss professional ethics
• Discuss JetBlue case study
• Discuss topic ideas
Jan. 28 • Read Luntz: "The Ten Rules of Effective Language"
• Read Parsons: Ethics in Public Relations: A Guide to Best Practice excerpt
• Read Ruff and Aziz: Managing Communications in a Crisis excerpt
• Complete ethics activity
• Begin Crisis Analysis Report
Feb. 2 • Read The Essentials ch. 8
• Complete Crisis Analysis Report
• Complete Reading Response 4
• Share Crisis Analysis Reports
Feb. 4 • Read The Purdue OWL's information about writing press releases
• Read MediaCollege.com's information about formatting press releases
• Read The Houston Chronicle's information about writing crisis press releases
• Read eHow's information about writing crisis press releases
• Read JetBlue's press release
• Complete press release activity
Feb. 9 • Draft Press Release (emailed as attachment) • Generate Press Release rubric
• Complete Press Release draft workshop
Feb. 11 • Read The Essentials ch. 7
• Read all four parts of The Purdue OWL's information about writing memos
• Complete internal memo activity
Feb. 16 • Draft Internal Memo (emailed as attachment) • Generate Internal Memo rubric
• Complete Internal Memo draft workshop
Feb. 18 • Read "Time for Your Business to Apologize on Video?"
• Read "The Effective Video Apology 'DOs' and 'DON'Ts'"
• Watch this video from former JetBlue CEO David Neeleman
• Complete video message activity
Feb. 23 • Draft Video Message outline (emailed as attachment) • Generate Video Message rubric
• Complete Video Message draft workshop
Feb. 25 • Read The Essentials ch. 4 • Complete Reading Response 5
Mar. 1 • Submit Press Release (emailed as attachment before midnight)
• Submit Internal Memo (emailed as attachment before midnight)
• Submit Video Message (emailed as link before midnight)
• Discuss Materials Analysis
• Discuss Postmortem
• Schedule online interviews
• Project draft workshop
Mar. 3 • Submit Materials Analysis (emailed as attachment before midnight)
• Submit Postmortem (due before midnight)
• Complete online interviews
   • 10:30—Kara
   • 10:40—Henry
   • 10:45—Emmanuel
   • 11:00—Eric
   • 1:55—Jenna
   • 2:00—Ana
   • 2:05—Madison
   • 2:10—Connor
   • 2:15—Brad H.
   • 2:20—Sam
   • 2:25—Morgan
   • 2:30—Derek
   • 2:35—Michelle
   • 2:40—Amber
   • 2:45—Joseph
   • 2:50—Brandon
   • 2:55—Brad B.
   • 3:00—Lauren
   • 5:00—Liza
Mar. 8   No class
Mar. 10
No class
Mar. 15 • Read The Essentials ch. 10
• Read Instructions Project information
• Read Instructor Commentary: Instructions
• Complete Reading Response 6
• Introduce Instructions Project
• Discuss Design Plans
• Discuss Materials Analysis
• Discuss Postmortem
• Complete instructions activity
Mar. 17 • Read The Essentials ch. 5
• Read The Essentials ch. 6
• Read Instructor Commentary: Document Design
• Complete Reading Response 7
Mar. 22 • Submit Design Plans
• Read this information about usability testing
• Read Instructor Commentary: Usability
• Vet Final Instruction Set Rubric
• Complete usability activity
• Share Design Plans
Mar. 24
No class
Mar. 29 Draft and Usability Test 1 • Complete draft workshop 1
Mar. 31 Draft and Usability Test 2 (due before 9:00am) • Complete draft workshop 2
Apr. 5 Complete Final Instruction Set 1
Complete Final Instruction Set 2
• Read Service Learning Project information
• Introduce Service Learning Project
• Form groups
• Begin Gantt Chart
Apr. 7 • Submit Materials Analysis
• Submit Postmortem
• Submit Gantt Chart URL
• Submit Progress Report 1
Apr. 12 • Read The Essentials ch. 9 • Complete Reading Response 8
Apr. 14 • Read The Essentials ch. 11 • Complete Reading Response 9
• Submit Progress Report 2
Apr. 19 • Read The Essentials ch. 12
• Complete Reading Response 10
• Discuss Client Presentation
• Discuss Postmortem
• Complete IDEA outcomes survey
Apr. 21
• Submit Progress Report 3
Apr. 26 • Draft Report (electronic)
• Draft Sample Material(s) (electronic)
• Revise project
• Submit Progress Report 4 (due before midnight)
Apr. 28   No class
May 5 (3:00) • Complete Report
• Complete Sample Material(s)
• Complete Client Presentation
• Deliver Client Presentations
• Submit Postmortem (due before midnight)