technical and professional writing
engl 402.02 summer 2011

document redesign project

Overview

The end product of this assignment is the redesign of the Degree Audit Report System (DARS) printout. If you've ever tried to read this report, you have some idea how difficult it is to comprehend. You will redesign this report so that it is easier to read, understand, and process. Your redesigned report must contain the same amount of information as the original one, but present the content in an attractive format that even beginning users can understand. Your audience for the redesign is the first-time student user.

To accomplish this redesign, you must consider the elements of design found in the Non-Designer's Web Book. Using the design principles found in this book (proximity, alignment, repetition, and contrast) and the information you've already studied about use of type, you will be able to improve the DARS drastically. You will consider the organization of the information presented, paying special attention to order of presentation, items that should be highlighted (in color, bold, or another way), and any other pertinent organizational elements.

This assignment will be accomplished by teams of two people and include both oral and written products, including the results from at least two usability tests.

Usability Testing

Generally speaking, usability testing is defined as the ease with which a specific audience can learn and use a product. Your book has a good section (Chapter 3) on usability which we will supplement with information from Jacob Nielson.

To complete your usability testing, you must first conduct an audience analysis and intial usability testing with at least three WSU first- or second-year students. During this stage of audience analysis, you need to find out how well the current DARs report is working for your audience and what more they would like to be able to get out of the report. For information on how to conduct usability testing see p. 37-39 of The Concise Guide. Both qualitative and quantitive testing methods might be appropriate for this stage.

You will repeat your usability testing once you have redesigned the report to see if usability has been improved. Testing the original three students, plus three or four more will give your redesigned product more credibility. Results of your usability testing must be included in both your written and oral reports.

Although this assignment calls only for two usability tests (pre-and post-design), retesting after incorporating initial changes and then tweaking the report would be highly desirable.

Written Report
The written project will be a report that includes the original DARS report, the redesigned DARS report, and a written overview of the project in the format of a traditional business report. Your report will have a persuasive bent, since your goal in writing the report is to convince the DARS Oversight Committee (DOC) to adopt your redesign. Assume that the hypothetical DOC is made up of faculty, staff (from the office of student records), and students.

Chapter 12 will be our guide for writing the reports.

Oral Presentation
The oral presentation will be a short in-class presentation of your redesigned report and an overview of your approach in the redesign. Both memebers of your team must participate in this presentation. You must present the redesigned DARS report either as a handout (with a copy for each member of the class) or prepare a version for view on the overhead computer projection system. We will discuss possible ways to design this version in class. Your goal in the oral presentation, as in the written report, is to convince the DOC to adopt your redesign. Dress code for this presentation is business casual.

Grading
You will receive a team grade on this project as well as an individual grade. The team grade will be based on the written and oral reports, with 12% based on the written report, 5% on the oral report, and 3% based on a colleague evaluation your partner will write assessing the quality of your cooperation and collaboration. This project is worth 20% of your grade for the course.

Due Dates
Drafts of the Document Design report are due May 26. Oral presentations will be given on June 1 and 2. The final draft of the written report is due the day you present.

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