ENG 115: Introduction to Technical Writing

Spring 2014

INSTRUCTOR CONTACT INFORMATION

Instructor: / Rick Dollieslager
Office Phone: / (757) 825-3543
Office Location: / 874, Templin Hall
F2F Office Hours:
Online: / Mon-Weds 9:30-12:30 room 874.
Tues-Thurs 9:45-11:00 and 1:30-2:00 room 916 and by appointment.
Tues-Weds 6:00-7:15 p.m. and by appointment
Email: /
Contact Policy (email, voice mail): / Email is the best way to receive quick responses from me. I generally return emails within 24 (except on weekends). Phone messages are returned within 7 days.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

ENG 115 Technical Writing (3 credits) develops technical writing skills through extensive practice in composing reports and other electronic or printed documents. This course guides students in achieving voice, tone, style, and content appropriate to a specific audience and purpose. The course includes instruction in composition, formatting, editing, and visuals with electronic and paper documents. It guides students in research and documentation of information and use of research sources to support written arguments in recommendations. It introduces students to technical discourse through selected World-Wide Web and printed readings. The course also requires oral presentations of original work.

PREREQUISITE:Successful completion of ENG 111 (or the equivalent) is required for enrollment.

Course Objectives

  • Students will learn the defining issues of the field of technical communication, including audience analysis (including multicultural audiences), persuasion, information, documentation, ethics, document design, standard technical communication formats, collaboration, and electronic discourse.
  • Students will learn how to write and speak in order to inform clearly and persuade effectively diverse reading audiences.
  • Students will learn how cultural differences affect technical communication.
  • Students will learn critical-thinking and problem-solving skills researching and developing solutions or improvements to a concrete, practical problem.
  • Students will learn strategies and resources for researching published information in print and electronic media.
  • Students will learn how to work effectively with others in conducting peer reviews and composing collaborative documents.
  • Students will learn how to use computers as a means of communication and research.
  • Students will learn how to produce informal reports, correspondence, descriptions, formal reports, cover letters and resumes, and oral presentations using visuals.
  • Students will learn how to proofread, edit, and revise documents for standard grammar, sentence formation, punctuation, mechanics, diction and usage.

Teaching Methods

  • Guided reading assignments
  • Practice exercises
  • Project based learning
  • Extensive Instructor feedback
  • Facilitated writing groups with peer feedback
  • Extensive Revision

INSTRUCTIONAL APPROACH

Communication (student-to-student and student-to-instructor) is critical for success. You are expected to ask questions when you do not understand a reading or homework assignment.

I use groups extensively in this course. If you are not willing to work with your peers in a group environment, then another class is more appropriate for you.

I use rubrics to provide direct and specific feedback to you.In order to be successful in this course, you must carefully review my feedback and ask questions when a comment is vague or unclear. I strongly suggest that you review each assignment rubric before completing your work as the rubric will describe the elements I will be evaluating you on when I grade your assignments.

COURSE POLICIES

Time Commitment:

Because this is a 15-week course, you are expected to spend 6 to 9 hours a week working with the material and assignments in this course. To help you estimate the time required for each learning unit, you should review the length of the readings (including lectures) and all assignments for the unit prior to the week your work is due so you may plan your time accordingly.

Readings and Mini Lectures:

Frequently I will provide recorded “mini lectures” and/or links to YouTube videos to coincide with the learning units. You will need the information from these mini lectures and videos to complete your assignments and reading quizzes; therefore, you should take notes to help you become familiar with the materials presented during these discussions.

Recordings are available in the corresponding learning unit on the class pages. You ARE REQUIRED to review the mini lectures and videos, AND you ARE responsible for all of the information presented. This means that the information in the mini lectures and videos will be included in quizzes and/or other types of assignments.

Assignments:

Assignments in this course will fall into the following categories: readings, quizzes, reading journals, and a final course project. Note the Late Assignment Policy detailed in the COURSE POLICIES section of this syllabus. I will do my best to make sure that all assignments are graded within seven to ten days..

Assignments are designed to provide opportunities for you to explore the concepts presented in the reading assignments and mini lectures. I expect that ALL work you submit to me is grammatically correct and follows the conventions of college level writing. Each assignment MUST be completed as a Microsoft WORD document, single spaced, with your name and assignment title at the top right corner.

Quizzes are scheduled as noted in each corresponding Learning Unit, and they address information from mini lectures, videos and the reading assignments. Quizzes are short answers, true or false, and/or multiple-choice. They are meant to measure your comprehension of the main ideas and concepts in the readings(to ensure that you have understood the reading assignments, mini lectures and/or videos).

Email:

You must use your TNCC-VCCS email account in this course. Do NOT contact me using a personal email address, as I am not permitted to read or respond to it. The subject line of all emails sent to me should read “ENG 115-01” You must “sign” your emails with your first and last name. I strongly recommend that you check your email at least once a day.

CH&SS Division Classroom Printing Policies:

(1) Student Responsibility: At Thomas Nelson students are responsible for their own printing costs. Therefore, students should arrive to class with all necessary documents printed out already. They should not print any documents out to take home with them (they should print those at home or in the libraries).

(2) Instructional Necessity: The classroom printers should only be used when essential for immediate needs for effective instruction. As noted above, students can print required documents outside of class. During class, try to use the projector and students’ own computer monitors rather than printing documents.

(3) Internet Printing: Material should never be printed from the internet. That material can be viewed on screen. If a student wants or needs a printed copy they should do that outside of the classroom.

Group Work:

Real and deep learning does not occur in isolation. In order to really learn a concept, we must practice using it, discuss it, and share and/or teach it to others. Therefore, group work assignments are a required component of this course. In order to be successful with group assignments, you must communicate with your group members in a timelymanner (not the day before the assignment is due).

Failure to actively participate in assigned writing groups will adversely impact your final grade.

Late Assignment Policy:

Late assignments are not accepted; therefore, you MUST be disciplined, focused, and motivated to complete this course. Do NOT get behind.

I will give you a No Questions Asked (NQA) coupon. You may submit this coupon to me once during the semester to receive amnesty for one late assignment. Your NQA coupon MUST be submitted along with the late assignment no later than 7 days after the original assignment due date.NQA coupons may not be used on exams or final projects. Since the NQA coupon may only be used only once, I suggest that you plan accordingly and use it wisely. The deadline to use the NQA coupon is the 14th week of the semester. No late work can be accepted in week 15 or in finals week.

Course Feedback:

All assignments that are completed and received by the due date will be graded and returned to you within seven days of the original due date. You must retain an electronic copy of ALL work you submit. I provide feedback with each assignment so that you may learn and apply my comments to future assignments. If something is not clear to you, then ask me and/or a classmate to explain it to you.

Instructor Responsibilities:

It is my responsibility to guide your learning in this course. This means that I do my best to provide clear instructions for all assignments, identify additional resources as necessary, and provide rubrics and other criteria for evaluation of assignments. This is never a “static” course—readings, software versions and hardware specifications change frequently. I am always evaluating, revising and clarifying questions and problems. Everything that needs to be said may not have been said. I am here to help you; do not hesitate to ask questions. I do reserve the right to make changes, additions, and deletions to any portion of this course (to include syllabus, schedule, and all assignments).

It is my responsibility as your instructor to:

  • Support your learning in this course
  • Fairly assess your progress in this course
  • Return assignments to you within 7 days
  • Communicate with you in a professional and respectful manner
  • Provide clear instructions for all assignments
  • Answer questions about the assignments and identify additional resources as necessary
  • Provide rubrics and other criteria for the evaluation of assignments and projects

I expect that you will:

  • Ask questions when you are confused or don’t understand something
  • Be responsible for your own success
  • Be helpful and supportive of your classmates
  • Behave in a professional manner
  • Do your work when it is assigned
  • Try your best and work hard
  • Take responsibility for your actions in this class
  • Understand that every action has a consequence—whether it is an intended consequence or not
  • Make mistakes
  • Learn

Students Responsibilities:

You MUST continually monitor your own learning by evaluating your efforts and by actively seeking help in a timely manner when needed. To successfully complete ENG 115, you will need to assume an active role in the learning process by frequently asking questions, completing all readings and assignments, and participating in class discussions. I will frequently post course announcements. Read them carefully as they will contain information about changes in schedules, course and grade updates as well as general assignment information. Regular communication with me is essential; I am readily available to help you in any way possible.

REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS:

Textbook:

Markel, Mike. Technical Communication, 10th edition. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2012.

COURSE SCHEDULE

Assignments will be posted on the class web page. The course schedule is intended to provide a relative framework for course topics and assignments.

GRADES and GRADING CRITERIA

Assignments will be graded based loosely on ETS 6-point grading scale, and assignments will be worth a total of 1 point to 6 points. The points vary with the magnitude and complexity of the assignment.

Academic Honesty:

I expect that all of the work that you do in this course will be your own. Plagiarism is a serious offense, and I will not tolerate it in any form. Plagiarism means to take one’s ideas, words, phrases, and/or concepts and pass them off as your own without proper acknowledgement of the original source. In other words, plagiarism means that you have copied another’s words, thoughts or ideas. If you are caught plagiarizing, you will automatically receive an “F” for the course and it will be reported to the Academic Dean. These consequences are the minimum. I cannot emphasize it enough: DO NOT plagiarize in my class!

Responsibility of Late Registrants:

A student who enrolls and enters a course after the course begins is still responsible for any missing assignments and fulfilling the course requirements set forth by me in regard to making up work (if applicable); therefore, all class assignments due before the student’s entry into the class may be considered as zeros.

Withdrawal Policy:

A student may withdraw without academic penalty if withdrawal is officially completed prior to the “last date to withdraw” date listed on COURSE SCHEDULE. I WILL withdraw students you do not participate in the course for two weeks in a row (regardless of the circumstances). If you decide not to complete the course, you should WITHDRAW yourself prior to the official withdrawal date.

Course Disclaimer:

Every attempt is made to provide a syllabus that is complete and that provides an accurate overview of the course. However, circumstances and events may make it necessary for me to modify the syllabus during the semester. This may depend, in part, on the progress, needs, and experiences of the students in this class. Therefore, I reserve the right to revise this syllabus, and any information in the class web pages whenever necessary.

REMINDER: Print this syllabus out (but not in the classroom, per my Division’s new printing policy) and keep it in a convenient place so that you can refer to it easily whenever you have questions regarding course policies or grades.

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