3.3 Consequences of Unanticipated Events

Take a moment and think of a recent reason you missed a meeting or turned something in late. Maybe, like your humble author, you put the calendar reminder in for AM instead of PM, or maybe one of your kiddos got sick. Whatever the reason, this section is a moment for you to pause and reflect on ways to minimize disturbances and, at the same time, prompt you to recognize that your community partner, instructor, and team mates likely have similar situations that may arise over the duration of the project.

Whether interruptions (large or small) happen often or rarely, they can cause frustration as you work to complete your project. Sometimes, these issues crop up due to emergencies, and sometimes we are just juggling too many obligations. If you’re enrolled in an undergraduate technical writing course, you likely are enrolled in other courses, too. You may have work or family obligations; perhaps you’re volunteering or are otherwise active in your community. We recognize that all of these qualities make you uniquely qualified for the work we’ve asked you to complete in this course. However, all of these obligations also mean you’ve got a lot on your plate. Considering that your community partner and team mates are equally committed to many other facets of life can make for a challenge during the course of the project. As you work on the project, consider how you will cope with:

Challenges within your team

If the challenges are within your team, consider if they can be resolved without bringing in the instructor. Here, especially, we recommend Team Writing by Joanna Wolfe for a discussion of collaborative communication practices. If your team is unable to resolve an issue, be sure to connect with your instructor ASAP and include all team members on the email. It is not professional to back channel with the instructor, and if you do this, it is likely that the instructor will presume you have not fully communicated with the team mate. Don’t be surprised if they “cc” all your team members in their reply.

Challenges communicating with partners

Community partners are busy folks! Many of them work full-time or manage many obligations alongside their efforts to support your learning in this course. Typically they will do their best to reply and communicate with you promptly. Sometimes, however, things may be delayed or, frankly, emails get lost in the hustle. If you find yourself waiting on a reply from a partner after a few business days, you can always follow up. Be sure and use appropriate email etiquette for these delicate emails and recognize that partners are not ignoring you. Moreover, they may be searching for the information you’ve requested, or considering/reflecting on ways to reply, given your work is intended for their future use. If you find yourself waiting to hear back, touch base with your instructor, too. And, you can continue to research best practices and learn about the rhetorical context as you wait for information from partners. Your instructor will be the best point of contact for navigating the project if something comes up with your community partner. Keep the lines of communication open and don’t fret!

When your partner and professor disagree/provide contradictory feedback

Maybe it’s about the color scheme for the data display. Or perhaps is about the font or document design. We assure you, it happens at least once a semester that the feedback you get from your instructor will contradict what your partner has requested or endorsed. In these instances, it’s important to both remember your instructor has provided sufficient information for you to make determinations about the most effective design and content choices. Their comments are usually situated in both the literature and their own experiences. BUT, they are not the end users of the materials! So, defer to the partner (reasonably– feel empowered with your knowledge from our readings and practice in class) and be sure and provide a note to your instructor upon submission if they requested you make an update that countered what your partner requested.

Feeling overwhelmed

All of the above issues can cause added stress to an already complex, high stakes project. Because your instructor recognizes the complexity of community engagement projects, it is important that you communicate with them early and often if you are encountering challenges or concerns. It is not uncommon to be a bit overwhelmed at many stages of the project, but be sure and communicate with your instructor if this prevents you from making progress on your project.

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There are built in problem solving tasks in community engagement projects like the one your instructor has assigned. You’ll hone your research skills, research new sectors and initiatives, use your critical thinking skills, and communicate and write both professional and technical genres. This is just a short list of the work this project requires; if you find yourself encountering these, or any other challenges, know that it can be a normal part of this learning experience. However, you should never feel anxious or fearful about this project. If you do, communicate with your instructor and work with them to find opportunities to resolve these concerns and move forward.