1. The document provides the schedule and requirements for Project 4 of the ENGL 317 technical writing course. 2. It outlines 4 weeks of work involving usability testing of a document, peer reviewing drafts, creating a white paper, and recording a screencast presentation of usability findings. 3. Key deliverables due on the final day include a self-evaluation, the white paper, and the screencast URL. Students are instructed to verify their submissions.

1. ENGL 317: Spring Technical Writing Page 1 of 2
PROJECT 4 SCHEDULE Weeks 10-13
Usability Testing
The schedule lists the work you need to complete by the end of each week.
Submit work listed in red by 11:59 PM on the day and date indicated.
Week Complete the Following
SPRING RECESS Monday 3/15 – Friday 3/20
Week 10
Monday 03/23
to
Sunday 03/29
1. Read Handout and Web Articles
• Assignment Sheet
• How to Conduct a Cognitive Walkthrough by The Interactive
Design Foundation
• Usability 101: Introduction to Usability by Jakob Nielsen
WARNING: although the above web articles mention using test
participants, you will NOT be doing that. Instead, your cognitive
walkthrough will be done by you alone. The goal is for you to
"become the user" as you do the test tasks.
Study slidedocs 1, 2, and 3.
2. Since you created a screencast for project 3, you will not need
to do a test recording unless you choose a different
screencasting tool.
3. Optional: use the link on the project page to sign up for
Evernote, download the web clipper to a browser, and decide if
you want to use it to take screenshots.
Week 11
Monday 03/30
to
Sunday 04/05
1. Use the Word tutorials on the bblearn course menu as needed
to format various elements of the White Paper.

2. ENGL 317: Spring Technical Writing Page 2 of 2
2. Peer Review First Part of White Paper Part 1 Due:
Tuesday 03/31. Go to the Peer Review Forum and follow the
directions to post a draft of the first part of your white paper
(title page, table of contents, introduction, and methodology).
3. Peer Review First Part of White Paper Part 2 Due:
Thursday 04/02. Go to the Peer Review Forum and follow the
directions to respond to a peer’s drafts.
4. Begin conducting the usability test and making analysis notes
in your data collection form or spreadsheet.

3. ENGL 317: Spring Technical Writing Page 3 of 2
Week Complete the Following
Week 12
Monday 04/06
to
Sunday 04/12
1. Finish conducting the usability test scoring and making analysis
notes in your data collection form or spreadsheet.
2. Draft remaining sections of the white paper.
3. Peer Review Complete Draft of White Paper Part 1 Due:
Tuesday 04/07. Go to the Peer Review Forum and follow the
directions to post a complete draft of your White Paper.
4. Peer Review Complete Draft of White Paper Part 2 Due:
Thursday 04/09. Go to the Peer Review Forum and follow the
directions to respond to a peer’s draft of the White Paper.
Week 13
Monday 04/13
to
Sunday 14/19
1. Study slidedoc 4.
2. Draft the script, practice it, and record the screencast.
3. Peer Review Screencast Usability Finding Part 1 Due:
Tuesday 04/14. Go to the Peer Review Forum and follow the
directions to post the URL to your screencast.
4. Peer Review Screencast Usability Finding Part 2 Due:
Thursday 04/16. Go to the Peer Review Forum and follow the
directions to respond to a peer’s screencast.
PROJECT 4 DELIVERABLES DUE: Sunday 04/19. Submit your work to the submissions drop box
located at the bottom of the project page as follows:
• Self-Evaluation, submit a Word or PDF.
• Deliverable 1: White Paper, submit a Word or PDF file. If your file is over 1 MB, compress it.
• Deliverable 2: Screencast, submit the URL to your screencast at the top of your self-
evaluation.
To avoid a point penalty, verify your submission. Do not rely solely on bblearn’s confirmation that
your work submitted. You need to check that your work submitted correctly. This means you need

4. ENGL 317: Spring Technical Writing Page 4 of 2
to go back to the drop box after submitting your work and 1) open your document files, and 2)
check that the URL will work by cutting and pasting what you submitted into a browser.