ENGL 2333_Syllabus_Online_Thompson 13
SYLLABUS
Tulsa Community College, Northeast Campus
Fall 2011
Course: ENGL 2333_Technical/Professional Writing CRN_Section No: 12983_290
Day(s) and Time(s): 16-week Internet Course
Begins: 08/22/11 Ends: 12/18/11
TO CONTACT THE INSTRUCTOR:Instructor: Lu Ann Thompson
Office E-mail:
Office Phone: 595-7458
Office Location: NEC 2112
Office Hours: M__8:00-9:30 a.m.; 1:30-2:30 p.m.;
7:00 -9:00 p.m.(online)
T__11:00 a.m.--12:30 p.m.; 1:30-2:30 p.m.
W__9:00-9:30 a.m.; 11:00-12:30 p.m. 1:30—2:30 p.m. / TO CONTACT THE DIVISION OFFICE:
Division: Liberal Arts Division
Associate Dean: Jocelyn Whitney
Office: NEC 2389
Phone Number: (918) 5957494
DISCLAIMER
Although this class is an online class, you might need to visit a writing tutor or the LRC at one of the TCC campuses sometime during the semester. Please be advised.
WARNING: This class is not recommended for computer novices.
STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES
A list of student support services can be found in the START HERE section of the Blackboard course site. This includes information about college services, free tutoring services, software support, and online tutorials related to course concepts. Please click on this link to find the list:
https://bb.tulsacc.edu/bbcswebdav/institution/DL/student_support.htm
PREREQUISITES FOR THIS COURSE
ENGL 1113 Freshman Composition I with “C” or better. Do not attempt this course at the same time as ENGL 1113.
Course Description
Techniques of style, organization, and format for the appropriate audience. Emphasis on objectivity, clarity, and precision. Writing assignments adapted from specialized forms used in industry. 3 credit hours. Note: This class is 100% online. Convenient daily access to a computer and the Internet is required.
This class is designed for professionals and for college-level students majoring in technical and business fields. Technical/professional writing is the writing of the workplace; it includes the kind of writing that scientists, physical therapists, business executives, health professionals, computer specialists, engineers, government officials, sign language interpreters, and other professionals do as part of their regular work. To learn to write effectively for the workplace, you will learn to write clearly in concise technical writing style. You will learn various types of reports and proposals, both instructional and procedural. You will also learn to use effective page design with lists, headings, and graphics of all kinds.
NEXT COURSE(S) IN SEQUENCE
All courses are not required for all majors. See the degree plan for your chosen major to determine courses you may take to earn required or elective credit.
ENG 2343 Business Communications
ENG 2383 Advanced Composition
GENERAL EDUCATION GOAL STATEMENT
The General Education Goals are designed to ensure that graduates of Tulsa Community College have the skills, knowledge, and attitudes to carry them successfully through their work and their personal lives. General Education Goals relevant to this course include Critical Thinking, Effective Communication, Engaged Learning, and Technical Proficiency.
ENGLish dISCIPLINE gOALS
The English Discipline Goals are designed to ensure that graduates of Tulsa Community College English courses have the skills, knowledge, and attitudes to carry them successfully through their work and their personal lives. English Discipline Goals relevant to this course include Effective Writing, Informed Discussion, Critical Reading, and Scholarly Research.
Teaching Methods
The course is 100% online. Strategies may include: Reading resources linked to the Internet, reading the textbook; brief lectures with assignment instructions; project and process-oriented individual and collaborative projects; use of the discussion board; use of the Internet; and e-mail among students and between individual students and the professor. Students are responsible for completing all assigned work.
Course Objectives
To complete Technical/Professional Writing successfully, the student will continue to use the techniques learned in Freshman Composition I while demonstrating the following new skills:
1. Adapt writing style to the target audience
2. Organize technical documents
3. Identify and interpret valid data
4. Produce effective technical writing style by
writing clearly and concisely
using passive voice rarely and only when appropriate
using strong verbs and concrete nouns
avoiding pomposity, redundancy, and wordiness
5. Design, incorporate, and label informative visuals: graphs, charts, tables, diagrams
6. Use page design and reader aids (headings, chunks, white space, lists, italics, and underlining) to improve readability
7. Research, design, and produce a major technical/professional document
8. Use common technical/professional writing formats
9. Edit and proofread with the goal of producing error-free documents
10. Document borrowed source material ethically and correctly in MLA style
11. Identify and avoid plagiarism
Textbooks, Software, & supplemental Material
Textbook
Internet class books may be purchased from TCC on Northeast Campus or the TCC Online Bookstore. Ample supplies should be available. Assignments using the book begin the first week.
Author: Darlene Smith-Worthington and Sue Jefferson
Title: Technical Writing for Success, 3rd ed.
Publisher: South-Western/ Cengage
ISBN: 978-0-538-45048-5
Shipping delays, late enrollments, or financial aid delays do not change assignment due dates.
Delays in Financial Aid, delays in purchasing a textbook, or delays in shipping dates of textbook do not delay due dates in this class. Therefore, a copy of the textbook is provided for use in the TCC Northeast Campus and Southeast Campus LRC (library). These copiesmay not be taken out of the library. The copies are provided in the libraries to assist students with remaining current in class and submitting assignments by the due dates. Any student may use these copies in the libraries at any time during the semester.
Software
1. Mozilla Firefox
Mozilla Firefox is the required browser for this class. Other browsers do not adequately support Blackboard. With other browsers you will experience problems at some point in the class, but you may not understand why you are experiencing problems.
2. Microsoft Office 2007 or 2010 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
As you know from the TCC Distance Learning web page, MSWord is the recommended word processor for TCC Internet classes. See START HERE in Blackboard for very helpful tips on setting up documents in MSWord to meet the requirements for this class.
Warning: Do not submit.wpd, .wps, .txt files.Submit only .docx (MSWord 2007 or 2010) files.Do not submit files in any other format than MSWord .docx format. Files in other formats and with other file extensions are not accepted.
MSOffice 2007 and 2010 are available for free download to TCC students from TCC. If you do not have Microsoft Word, DO NOT BUY IT. TCC provides Office 2007 and 2010 by download for students.
Required software: Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
If you do not have Office, you can download it from Blackboard free.
-- Go to the Organization tab
-- Search for: software
--Office Install
-- Enroll in the organization
-- Follow the on-screen instructions
3. Virus Protection Program
All students are required to be running a currentvirus protection program with virus signature files downloaded from the program's websiteeach week.
4. Pop-Up Blocker Alert!
Make sure that TCC is allowed through all pop-up blockers on every computer where you will use your TCC e-mail. If you find that you can access your TCC e-mail account but you can’t open a window to compose e-mail or to reply to a message, you will know that the pop-up blocker permissions are NOT set to allow TCC through your pop-up blockers. To change your pop-up blocker permissions, follow the instructions in this link: http://mytcc.tulsacc.edu/master/popup2.html
Computer Access
Required Reliable and Convenient Computer Access
You must have convenient daily access to a computer with Internet connection for this 100% online class. Do not attempt this class if you do not have this computer access. You may use any computer with Internet access. Current virus protection is required.
WARNING: TECHNICAL PROBLEMS DO HAPPEN. HOWEVER, TECHNICAL PROBLEMS WITH YOUR COMPUTER HARDWARE OR SOFTWARE OR INTERNET CONNECTION DO NOT REMOVE YOUR OBLIGATION TO MEET DUE DATES. THEREFORE, NEVER WAIT UNTIL JUST BEFORE A DEADLINE TO PREPARE AND SUBMIT ASSIGNMENTS.
Of course, as a TCC student you may use a computer in the open computer lab of any TCC campus when a computer is available. You may also use a public computer at a library or an Internet café. You may use a computer belonging to a friend or an employer (check with IT personnel about firewalls). Check the Popup Blocker settings on every computer you use to access your TCC e-mail account.
TECHNICAL SKILL rEQUIREMENTS
This class is not recommended for computer novices. You should be comfortable
· using MSWord (change margins, number pages, double-space, center text, check spelling, and so forth)
· using TCC e-mail for communication
· sending a file as a file attachment
· downloading files
· uploading files
· navigating the Internet
· using Internet Explorer
· using a search engine
· updating virus protection files
Expectations--Attendance–TIME commitment
1. Servers
The Blackboard online classroom is available at all times 24/7. Scheduled server maintenance is announced. Unscheduled server downtime is rare but possible. The TCC Student Web is normally available 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily.
2. Due Dates
This is not a self-paced class. All assignments have clear due dates listed in this syllabus. Note: Plan your work by the due dates listed on the tentative schedule. Do not try to use the student grade book as a due date planner.
3. Time
Do not expect this class to be easier “because this is a community college” or “because this is an Internet class and I don’t have to go to class." You should expect to focus heavily on this class and its assignments. Students who successfully complete the course report that they spend an average of 10-20 hours per week on the course. You may spend more or less time, depending on your current level of expertise and comfort with writing, computers, and the Internet. Learning occurs in relationship not only between student and course materials, but, just as importantly, between peers, and between student and professor.
Internet classes demand that you are self-motivated and self-disciplined. You are responsible to keep up with the schedule, due dates, assignments, and exams. Computer hardware or software problems do not remove your responsibility to meet due dates and the activity requirement. You may use ANY computer with Internet access to remain active in the class and/or to submit your work.
WHAT YOU SHOULD UNDERSTAND ABOUT INTERNET / ON-LINE CLASSES
· You must carefully read and follow all instructions in the online classroom.
· Be realistic about the amount of time required to complete work. Begin early, and avoid last-minute submission. Include in your time expectation the time equivalent to “seat time” in a face-to-face class as well as the study and writing time required for a face-to-face writing class.
· For each 3-credit-hour class, plan to spend at least 10 clock hours per week. Double that for 8-week classes because the class moves twice as fast, but all assignments and expectations are the same. This class is 3 credit hours.
· Schedule class time for working on this class just as you would schedule time to attend an on-campus class. Make sure family and friends understand that you must not be interrupted for any reason during this time. YOU ARE IN CLASS!
· Turn in your work ON TIME.
· Participate actively in the class.
· Use e-mail and the discussion boards to communicate often with your professor and other classmates.
· Login to the online classroom each day to check the Announcements screen for new announcements.
· Do NOT fall behind or place this class lower in your priorities than any other classes, employment obligations, or family obligations--just because you do not have to face your professor in person.
· ASK for help QUICKLY when you need help.
· An Internet class is not the place to learn how to operate a computer. You must already be comfortably competent with a PC or a MAC, with commonly used software, and with the Internet. Consider dropping this class if you do not have the technical skill requirements listed earlier.
· On-line Internet classes are NOT easier!
· Participation in this course via the Internet is the responsibility of the student. Students receiving benefits from government agencies must adhere to policies stipulated by the specific agency.
· You will be expected to log on to the course site every day. You are also expected to participate in all assigned activities in the course. Attendance will be measured by weekly completion of course assignments as well as timely logons.
NOTE: This Internet class demands that the student be self-motivated and self disciplined. You are responsible to keep up with the schedule, assignments, and exams. I will be contacting you throughout the semester through the Announcement page and by e-mail. Blackboard is available at all times.
communication
E-MAIL REPONSES FROM PROFESSOR: E-mail is the preferred method of individual communication. As standard practice, use e-mail instead of telephone messages. I respond to e-mail more quickly than telephone messages, so please rely on e-mail for direct and timely communication. Typically, I check e-mail two or three times per day, Monday through Friday. Please allow for a 24 to 48-hour response time. Usually, I do not check e-mail on weekends, so if you wait until the last minute to begin your lessons, you may not receive a response from me before the assignment is due. Begin your lessons early in the week! Students should also consult the course textbook, handouts, syllabus, and lecture notes before e-mailing questions.
STUDENT E-MAIL: You must use TCC e-mail for all communication in this class. All TCC students receive a designated “MyTCC” e-mail address (ex: ). All communications to you about TCC and course assignments will be sent to your MyTCC e-mail address; you must use MyTCC e-mail to send e-mail to, and receive e-mail from, the instructor regarding this course. Your TCC e-mail address is automatically placed into Blackboard, and you may not change this address. Your professor sends communication for this class through Blackboard; therefore, the communication goes to your TCC e-mail address.
I do not open e-mail messages from unidentified senders. You must reply from your TCC e-mail account.I do not reply to e-mail from personal accounts such as or Your e-mail for this class
Þ must be sent from your TCC e-mail address and end with your signature--YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME (official name of registration with TCC)