Technical Writing Activity for Segment #2:  Survival WebQuest

 Type these activities and the answers to these questions in complete sentences.  This is due with Segment #2 work, Tuesday, January 12, 2010..

In Deathwatch and Between a Rock and a Hard Place, one person overcomes extreme odds of surviving an impossible situation.  In this WebQuest we’ll look at some practical uses of technical reading and writing, then try out some virtual games and show sites that tap into the survivor within each of us.  Parts in yellow are what you need to click on, read, and explore.  The questions highlighted in light blue are the written portions you actually need to turn in for this webquest.

A.     Read about what technical writing is on Monster Careers website and answer the following questions:  http://career-advice.monster.com/job-search/company-industry-research/technical-writing-careers/article.aspx

1.       According to this website, what kinds of skills are required for a job in technical writing?

2.      A Technical Writer is one specific career, but nearly 100% of careers will require technical reading a writing of some kind.  Use the links at the bottom of the Monster page to pick one career you’re interested in.

3.      Now tell one example of how that career would use technical writing.  You may need to analyze and think of this answer after reading about your career, it probably won’t be directly on the page! 

B.  Now for some fun!  You will be writing a survival guide for your culminating project, so let’s get some ideas for that project by doing the following activities:

Go to Man vs. Wild TV show website from the Discovery Channel:  http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/manvswild/manvswild.html  NOTE:  YOU MUST CLICK REFRESH AFTER LAUNCHING TO SEE SITE CORRECTLY (I don't know why).

After exploring the site for a few minutes, click on The Test Yourself  link.  Choose a scenario to survive.  Next, take the quiz and see how you do!

4.      Convert the quiz into a written technical summary of how to survive.  Include every step!

C.  Click on the Extreme Earth Challenge and play some of the games.  Now pick your favorite region of that game.

5.      Copy and paste the instructions for that region onto your word document.

6.      Below those directions write detailed technical directions telling another person specific tips how to win the actual video game!  (Sort of like writing video game cheat codes! J )

Example:        1.  Click on the Grand Canyon Game
                        2.  Now you need to…

** Just a note:  Another cool site for survival is the Survivorman website.  You may need this when you do your final project.  http://www.survivorman.ca/