ENGL 404: Technical Writing                                   Syllabus 

Instructor Information                                                                            Spring 2009

Dr. Wendy Warren Austin

Centennial Hall 234                                                                                                               Spring Office Hrs.

814-732-2257                                                                                                               Mon. & Wed 11:30 – 1

warren@edinboro.edu or wendywarrenaustin@hotmail.com                                                     &   Fri.   11 - 1

http://users.edinboro.edu/warren                                                                                     and by appointment

Textbook web site:  http://wps.prenhall.com/chet_pfeiffer_techwit_6/

 

Course Description

This course is an introduction to the rhetorical and design principles underlying the writing of technical documents. You will receive extensive practice in planning, drafting, editing, and revising a range of written documents as well as creating and evaluating graphics and web pages.

Required Texts and Materials

·        William S. Pfeiffer, Technical Writing: A Practical Approach. NY: Prentice Hall, 2005.

·        2 GB or higher flash drive (preferably SanDisk™ brand) dedicated solely to the work you do for this class

Goals

Above all, this course emphasizes professionalism

and high standards. Passing this course means that you:

1.      Understand how to apply effective principles of document design and page layout to a range of technical documents;

2.      Understand how readers read print and web documents and are able to tailor this knowledge to the medium, reader, and purpose of your documents;

3.      Are able to edit your documents effectively for accuracy, conciseness, correctness, consistency, and appropriateness;

4.      Are familiar with selected terms, techniques, and trends within the field of technical communication;

5.      Know how to select and incorporate appropriate and ethical graphics into technical documents;

6.      Are conscientious about maintaining a global focus in your work, and are diligent about the ethics involved in the technical communication situations in which you find yourself;

7.      Understand the nature of the processes involved in technical document production and take care that individual projects are finished in a timely and competent manner;  and

8.      Are project-oriented, contribute significant value to a team project, and are able to work well with different kinds of people.

 

Assignments and Grading

You will have five major areas from which I will determine your grade:

·        a web portfolio containing your resume and five projects

·        a formal report and presentation that will be due on final exam day

·        a resume and cover letter package given to me as if it were mailed to an employer

·        12 homework  assignments

·        12 in-class assignments, participation, and attendance

Graded / Writing Assignments

Points

Percentage of Total

Due Date

·        3 Descriptions of a flash drive

·       

5 Required

Electronic

Portfolio

Assignments
 
Before/After Memo

·        Informal Proposal

·        Process Graphic

·        Instruction Booklet

·        Formal Report (opt.)

·        Revised Resume

Overall Portfolio Web Site

Grading Options:

Individual Assignments @ pt. value when due

or OVERALL WEB SITE @ 350 at end of course

50

       25%

Feb. 2

50

Feb. 9

50

Feb. 23

50

Mar. 9

50

Apr. 7

 

 

 100

10%

 Apr. 21

total 35%

Resumes/Cover Letter Package

200

20%

Mar. 23

Homework Assignments

180

18%

see calendar

Formal Report

and Oral Presentation

150

15%

April 27

Participation, In-class Writing, and Attendance

120

12%

 

Total points

1000

 

 

 

Homework assignments will count from 10-50 points each, totaling 18 percent of the grade and should all be typed. Participation in group work, class discussion, in-class writing activities, and attendance will count for a total of 120 points.

I will collect each of the Portfolio Assignments on their due dates and return each with a grade of up to 50 pts. When the Web Portfolio is submitted, you may choose either to have your graded assignments added up separately, or to have the portfolio as a whole graded out of 350 total (ignoring the separate grades received thus far). In this way, it helps you if you want to revise your projects, but this method also gives you a midterm grade that is accurate and keeps you more informed about your progress along the way.

 

My grading scale and cutoffs for a 50-point assignment and for the 1000-point total are as follows:        46-50 = A                                                  920-1000 = A

                        44, 45 = B+                                                      880-919 = B+

                        40-43= B                                                          820-879 = B

                        39, 40 = C+                                                      780-819 = C+

                        35-38 = C                                                         700-779 = C

                        30-34 = D                                                        600-699 = D   

                        29 and below = F                                             590 and below = F

For assignments that are 100 points, the same percentage holds true; just drop a zero from the 1000-point totals to see the cutoffs. Generally, I don’t give D+ grades since I lower the C range to 70. Each assignment sheet will include the grading criteria I plan to use for it.

 

General Procedures

I will usually divide class time into two or three units with a 5- or 10-minute break in between them. During most class periods, I will outline the information to be covered, review the homework and/or reading from the previous class, present the key points for the new information, invite discussion,  and describe what we will be doing to apply the principles. Then we will do the in-class writing or group activities that apply these principles. Since we will be working on the computers much of the time, you may be tempted during class time to send, read, or receive instant messages, surf the web, check Facebook, send or read emails, or register for courses. DO NOT DO THIS! You will have a break when you can do this on your own time, but please remember that you are being graded on participation.

 

Attendance and Tardiness Policy

I take attendance every day usually at the beginning of the class period. Sine this is a once-a-week class, you may have ONLY ONE UNEXCUSED ABSENCE before your grade is affected. For every  unexcused absence after that, 100 points will be deducted from your final grade. If you believe your absence should be excused, you must submit some written verification for it. At the very least, send an email (written by you) that includes the date of your absence, the reason for it, and offers proof of an illness or some other way to justify your absence. I may not remind you about this note—nor will I always need the proof—but you should remember to submit it on your own. I must have the excuse within a week of the absence. Although I sometimes excuse absences for the flu, snowstorms, or severe migraines, I adhere to the university regulations on p. 36 of the current college catalog.

            If you are more than 15 minutes late to class, I will consider your absence unexcused. I will also consider your absence unexcused if you leave more than 15 minutes before the end of class, unless your tardiness or early exit can be excused legitimately.  Again, see p. 36 of the catalog.

 

Make-up Work

            If you have any absence, whether excused or unexcused, it is your responsibility to make up the in-class work, if possible. To do so, you must come to my office during office hours (or make an appointment) as soon as possible after the missed day to discuss with me what needs to be done and when. I will NOT respond to requests about missed in-class work via email unless it is to receive the work. I will only tell you to please come to my office to discuss it.  I will not review a 2½-hour class in an individual email if you ask “what did I miss?” or the ultimate insult, “did I miss anything?” The only thing worse than asking these things in an email is asking it at the beginning of the next class period, as if I’m supposed to recap the entire 2½-hour period in 1 minute or less while the rest of the class  is waiting to get on with the current lesson. Your participation points will really suffer if you do either of these things.

 

Late Papers and Late Homework

I do not accept homework the class period AFTER it is due, unless you have had an excused absence AND you have already provided a note to me. I will collect homework the day it is due and begin reviewing it the next day. However, if you get it to me via email attachment before I am finished grading that batch of homework, I will not consider it late. Usually that means if you send it to me by noon the next day, your homework will still be accepted.

For portfolio or resume assignments, I have a 24-hour grace period whereby you may turn them in within 24 hours either to my office—inserted into the Plexiglas holder affixed to my door—or via email attachment. If they are not turned in within that 24-hour grace period, that assignment grade drops by 10  percent for each class period it is late.

                                                                                                                       

Plagiarism and Academic Integrity

It is critical that you do your own work and properly attribute anything you paraphrase or quote from others. This is particularly important with the Formal Report assignment. Plagiarism is representing someone else’s work as your own.  Anyone who intentionally plagiarizes material gets an automatic F in the class and is reported to the Judicial Affairs Office. Unintentional plagiarism or plagiarism by carelessness may also result in a failing grade, because it is up to you to know how to cite sources correctly. Most students will have taken ENGL 102 before this class, but if you need a refresher on citation, consult Ch. 14: Technical Research, ask me or consult the following site: http://users.edinboro.edu/warren/antiplagiarismhandbook.htm.

 

Needing Extra Help

            If you need extra help with any aspect of writing, please see me during my office hours. You do not need to make an appointment to see me, although it does help, in case others also show up at the same time. I am also available at random times via AOL Instant Messenger (screen name=yrunotwriting) or MSN Messenger (screen name=wendywarrenaustin@hotmail.com). You can also take advantage of our Writing Center which is located on the 2nd floor of the Baron-Forness Library. Its open hours are usually announced at the beginning of each semester. If you need extra time in class for projects or special accommodations because you have a disability, I will be glad to help you in this regard as soon as you provide me with documentation from the Office for Students with Disabilities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Course Calendar

Spring 2009 ENGL 404 Technical Writing

Topics and Class Activities are in green or blue boldface;

Assignments due are listed in red boldface and all caps; Homework listed in boldface and caps/lowercase

 

Subject to change as needed                                                                                                                             

week

Monday

to do before next class

1

1/12

Introduction to Course and Syllabus;  Technical Writing Essentials—Audience and Purpose; Memo Format and Email Attachments

Write “Memo About Myself” and send as attachment in an email message to wendywarrenaustin@hotmail.com

Technical Writing Essentials—Process, Revision, and Group Work; Peer Editing Tools; Downloadable templates; ABC Approach

·        Read 4 chapters: 1, 2, 3, and 16

·         Do p. 65  ex. 4

·         Do p. 233 ex. 4

·         Have at least one of the 2 memos looked at by another class member for suggestions for improvement.

 

1/19         Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday—class does not meet today

Don’t forget to finish homework for next week!

2

1/26

DUE: p. 65 ex. 4 (Inventory Control Memo) and

          p. 233 ex. 4 (Explanation of Project Delay)

Ethics and Globalism in the Workplace;

Style in Technical Writing

Do Ch. 3 “Communication Challenge”   and p. 95 ex. 5;  Do 1st  and 2nd part of p. 127 ex. 6  Split p. 624-626 ex. 1-7 into  groups of 3 or 4; review in class

·        Read Chapters  4 and 5

·         Complete Portfolio Assignment 1

·         Do p. 627 ex. 8 a-o

·         Do Communication Case #5 from ch. 7 Companion Web Site

 

3

2/2

DUE: PORTFOLIO ASSIGNMENT 1 (3 Descriptions)

          Communication Case #5 (emailed)

           p. 627 ex. 8 a-o (15 sentences)

Page Design Principles;  Introduction to MS Publisher (for Web Site); Do 3rd part of p. 127 in class; Editing practice

·        Complete Portfolio Assignment 2

·         Do p. p. 673  ex. 1 (1-50)

·        Do p. 675  ex. 2 (1-35)

4

2/9

DUE: Portfolio Assignment 2 (EDITING)

DUE: p. 673 ex. 1 (1-50) (grammar) ; p. 675 ex. 2 (usage)

Editing Symbols;  Patterns of Organization

Complete Web Page for Electronic Portfolio

in-class activity—Speech Pathology booklet  CW Interactive Assignment #3

·        Read chapter 10 and 14

·         Do p. 161 ex. 12 (argument memo)

·         Do Portfolio Activity 1 from ch. 14 Companion Web Site

5

2/16

DUE: p. 161 ex. 12 (argument memo)

          Activity 1 (List of 10 potential sources on possible

          topics)

Informal Proposals and Formal Reports;  Grants, Feasibility Studies, Bids and Formal Proposals; Technical Research and Documentation in Reports; Set up a Gantt Chart

·        Read ch.  6 (to p. 181) and 12

·         Complete informal proposal for formal report (include Gantt chart)

6

2/23

DUE: PORTFOLIO ASSIGNMENT 3 (Informal Proposal)

Use of Excel for Graphics; Tips for 8 Types of Graphics; Focus on  Process Descriptions; Misuse of Graphics and  Correct Use of Caution/Warning labels; Do p. 482 ex. 1. —put each graphic on its own page and number 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e

·        Read ch. 15

·         Finish p. 482 ex. 1 a-e if not complete

·         Complete Portfolio Assignment 4 (Process Graphic)

 

 

spring break

 

7

3/9

DUE: Portfolio Assignment 4 (Process Graphic)

Resumes—Essential Parts; 5 Key Principles; Design Formats And Techniques;  In-class activity—revising Williamson and Dawson resumes

 

·        Go to Career Center to complete checklist

·         Work on resumes and cover letters

·         Work on Formal Report

·         Get a head start on Ch. 6 reading and 2 memos

8

3/16

DUE: Career Center Checklist

Cover Letter Principles and Persuasive Techniques

Cover Letter—Format And You-Attitude In-class activity—revising Larry Campbell letter

Packaging Print Resumes; Electronic Resumes—Scannable, Faxable, Attachments, and Emailed

·        Read rest of ch. 6 (p. 181-206)

·         Do p. 192 ex. 4 (PARS)

·         Do p. 193  ex. 8 (Kiddieworld accident reporting)

·         Complete Resume and Cover Letter Package

 

9

3/23

DUE: RESUME/COVER LETTER PACKAGE

         p. 192  Ex. 4 (memo about PARs)

         p. 193  Ex. 8 (memo about Kiddieworld accident reporting)

Instructions—Examples, Parts Needed;  Booklet layout in Word and Publisher; Parallelism, Chunking, And Introductions To Instructions; Create “A Day in the Life” practice booklet

·        Read ch. 11

·        Work on Portfolio Assignment 5

10

3/30

Resume Revisions; Formatting Graphics For Booklets And Brochures ; Cautions, Warnings, and Notices, Liability Issues;   How to Change Files into PDFs;  Web Content Development Workshop for Instruction Booklets

 

·        Complete Portfolio Assignment 5 (Instructions)

·         Convert Portfolio Assignments 1, 2, 3, and 4 to pdf form

·         Revise resume and convert resume to pdf form

11

4/6

DUE: PORTFOLIO ASSIGNMENT 5 (instructions)

Site Structure and Navigation Design; Usability Testing and Site Publishing; Do problem analysis report in class (p. 275  ex. 8);  Write up “blurbs” under projects list

·        Read ch. 8

·         Do p. 278 ex.14; Read ch. 9

12

4/13

DUE: p. 278 #14 (Progress report)

Informal Reports; Formatting and Assembling the Formal Report; Report Introductions; Do p. 308 ex. 4 in class; Put headings in formal report

 

·        Complete web portfolio

·         Write intro to formal report

·         Create cover and title page

·         Bring complete formal report draft to class (minus trans.  letter, exec summary, t of c)

13

4/20

DUE: WEB PORTFOLIO W/ 5 ASSIGNMENTS AND RESUME

Writing a Transmittal Letter and Executive Summary; Creating a Table of Contents; Headers and Footers and Pagination in Reports

·        Read ch. 13

·         Complete Formal Report (with Trans. Letter, Exec. Summary, T of C, Pagination) and Have it Bound

·        Prepare 5-min. Presentation and handout

14

4/27   Final Exam Time (same as regular class time)

DUE:  FORMAL REPORTS and PRESENTATIONS

Presentations of Formal Report