OVERTURE I want to be proficient at cultivating research that advances the field of Technical Writing and Digital Rhetoric. Though I haven't decided on an area of focus yet, I am open to writing a master's thesis since it would create a pathway for pursuing a doctorate later. Everything I learn in this class will be to my benefit in later coursework. The readings for Week 1 have led me to consider very different areas I could focus on. The topics that interest me are QR codes, commercials, and manuals. QR CODES Last semester, I was investigating how QR codes could be implemented into history textbooks. I created an experimental chapter that used QR codes that provided various supplementary materials like concept maps, vocabulary terms, videos, and links to websites. As QR codes are relatively new in the United States (rather than Japan where they originated) and the versatility of QR codes continues to expand, there's plenty of space to explore for technical communicators....