Progress Report, Nov 8th, 2007

Purpose:

This project is essentially a manual designed to make the application process to the Clemson History MA program easier to understand, and possibly make it faster and less tedious for the individual applying. The manual will attempt to compile all of the existing materials, and add relevant features such as a calendar and checklist of items. Other features will be useful contact information.

Work to date:

Last week, I spent the majority of the week dealing first with a relative's funeral, and second, a nasty stomach virus that left me out of commission. The combination of the two pretty well left it a lost week. This week I have been working on a template for my manual's covers and pages. I know that this decision may seem arbitrary when I'm still trying to get the writing done, but I know from doing trifolds in the past that what you get to say is often severely limited by the room you have to say it in. I've been designing the templates based on the assumption that I will use 8.5x11 sized press sheets, as they would be easy to deal with for a firm that does quick printing. I can adjust the template however if need be, and I plan to ask for input on the size today. I have also been continuing to try to output text for the manual.

Work Planned:

At this point in the game, I need to be compiling information and outputting it as fast as I possibly can. That week lost really hurt in terms of getting things done, and it just means I need to step up the pace from comfortable to not-nearly so comfortable if I intend to be done on time. Today is beautiful, and I will be taking my camera with me, so photos for the manual and booklet will finally be had as well.

Conclusion:

I'd really hoped to be further along at this point than I am, and while I can blame that on the fact that I lost a week, placing blame doesn't get the work done. So I need to get the work done, and that will mean sacrificing a lot of time I could have spent otherwise, to make up for that which was lost.