…words of wisdom from a former English 319 student:

Sometimes it can be hard to remember that English 319 is a design class and not a computer class. Stay focused on design principles, even when you're using FrameMaker. Remember, too, that Jim uses the computer as a tool. Sometimes his "work arounds" will seem counter intuitive to you. If you dislike one of Jim's techniques, either follow the directions in your text or create your own "work around."

Applicability? I use principles from English 319 in my work every day. When you focus not only on creating practical, attractive documents, but also on creating documents that readers can use instead of having to read, your work stands out in a good way. High quality design does its job better than shoddy design, obviously, but there's a side benefit for you, the creator: when people see the quality of your design work, that quality reflects well upon you as an intelligent, productive technical writer/designer/thinker… The world isn't fair. People often judge us based on all sorts of irrelevancies. If your work looks shoddy, most people who see it—in spite of your brilliance—will conclude that you're a shoddy thinker. Use English 319 to create for yourself a dynamic, thoughtful, beautifully brilliant persona. And to get the most out of the class, have a good time while you learn about design.