Course Title: Technical Writing Course Prefix: ENGL Course No.: 1143 Section No.:

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1 Course Title: Technical Writing Course Prefix: ENGL Course No.: 1143 Section No.: P01 Department of Languages & Communication College of Arts & Sciences Instructor Name: Robert Kirschten Office Location: Hilliard 215 Office Phone: Fax: Snail Mail (U.S. Postal Service) Address: Prairie View A&M University P.O. Box 519 Mail Stop 2220 Prairie View, TX Office Hours: T TH: 9-9:30 am, 12:20-2pm, 4:50-5:00 pm; F: noon-5 pm Virtual Office Hours: None Course Location: Hilliard Hall Room 124 Class Meeting Days & Times: 9:30-10:50 TR Course Abbreviation and Number: ENGL 1143.P01 Catalog Description: Focuses on production of formal reports and presentations. A full-scale project will be developed through proposal and research with formal oral and written presentation of a documented technical project from the student's major field of study. Prerequisites: Prerequisite: "C" or better in ENGL 1123 Co-requisites: none Required Text: Technical Communication, Mike Markel, 9 th or 10 th Edition Access to Learning Resources: PVAMU Library: phone: (936) ; web: University Bookstore: phone: (936) ; web: Course Overview: Upon completion of the course, students will be able to work effectively, both individually and collaboratively. They will receive experience in conducting research and in creating, with appropriate graphics, the following types of documents, technical memos, manuals, career handbooks, proposals, progress reports, and formal presentations. At the end of this course, the student will(thecb outcomes): 1. to understand and demonstrate the writing and speaking processes through invention, organization, drafting, revision, editing, and presentation; 2. to understand the importance of specifying audience and purpose and to select appropriate communication choices; 3. to understand and appropriately apply modes of expression, i.e., descriptive, expositive, narrative, scientific, and self-expressive, in written and oral communication; 4. to apply the principles of communicating as process and the analysis of audience and purpose to assignments; 5. to participate effectively in groups with emphasis on listening, critical and reflective thinking, and responding; 6. to understand and apply basic principles of critical thinking, problem solving, and technical proficient in the development of exposition and argument; and 7. to develop the ability to research and write a documented paper and/or to give an oral presentation. 1

2 Course Evaluation Methods This course will utilize the following instruments to determine student grades and proficiency of the learning outcomes for the course. Exams written tests designed to measure knowledge of presented course material Exercises written assignments designed to reinforce and practice course concepts important to later reports Reports extensive written and oral assignments designed to measure ability to apply presented course material Instrument Value Total Memo 10% 100 Letters (2 letters worth 50 points each) 10% 100 Graphic Creation 7.5% 75 Midterm 7.5% 75 Article Critique 5% 50 Literature Review 5% 50 Proposal 7.5% 75 Rough Draft of Group Project 5% 50 Final Written Group Project Report 20% 200 Group Project Report Presentation 5% 50 Final 7.5% 75 Participation 10% 100 Total: 100% 1000 Grade Determination: A = points C = points F = points B = points D = points Course Procedures Taskstream: Taskstream is a tool that Prairie View A&M University uses for assessment purposes. One of your assignments will be considered an "artifact, an item of coursework that serves as evidence that course objectives are met. Taskstream also allows students to electronically post documents that can be used to create an electronic portfolio (e-portfolio) for future employment and/or educational endeavors. More information will be provided during the semester, but for general information, you can visit Taskstream via the link marked with a green puzzle piece in ecourses. Submission of Assignments: All assignments must be submitted through ecourses. Due dates are stated clearly on the syllabus so plan ahead. The work environment does not tolerate missed deadlines, so expect penalties for any late work just as you would experience on the job. Absence is NOT an excuse for missing an assignment due date. Athletes and those involved in ROTC, band, or other extracurricular activities will not be excused from this policy because of out-of-town events. Work may be handed in early, but not late. Formatting Documents: Microsoft Word is the standard word processing tool used at PVAMU. If you re using other word processors, be sure to use the save as tool and save the document in either the Microsoft Word, Rich-Text, or plain text format. Specific formats are crucial in technical writing; be sure to follow guidelines for every assignment. Exam Policy The midterm exam will be given on THURS, March 6 th, in keeping with the official University schedule. The final 2

3 exam will be administered between April 30 th and May 6 th, also according to the new, official University schedule. No early or make-up examinations will be allowed except under documented emergencies, like a major surgery scheduled months in advance. Making travel plans before the last day of final exams is not an emergency. References Student Center for Markel's Technical Communication COURSE CALENDAR This is a praxis course, which means you practice concepts as much as you read about them. Textbook readings show you how to do assignments; they are not busy work or optional. If you aren't prepared, your class time will be wasted. Please note that any time that the planned topics for a class session are finished early, we will go over effective sentences, grammar issues, and other writing tasks from Chapter 10 in our textbook. Week 1: Jan 14 & 15 Course Introduction T Course overview: syllabus, projects. Lecture: 6 characteristics of technical documents (Markel pp6-10). Lecture: 8 measures of excellence in technical communication (Markel, (pp10-15). R What s so important about rhetoric? Awkward sentences. Correcting common wording confusions. Grammatical lists, pp 222-5; evaluating documents for excellence. Plagiarism aka How to Lose Your Job (and Fail a class). Citation as part of technical communication excellence. Assignment(s) For TUES. read pp6-15 in Markel s Technical Communication. Use library copy on hold if necessary. For THURS read the handout about awkward sentences. For THURS read Markel, pp Note the four obligations to your employer and the definitions of fair use. Week 2: Jan 21 & 23 Ethics & Legal Considerations in Technical Writing (Chapter 2) T University closed in observance of MLK Jr. Day. Answer the short essay question on ecourses. 50 word min. You must use two direct quotes and cite correctly. R Lecture: considering audience (Chp. 5, pp82-85) Discuss letters of transmittal, claim letters and adjustment letters. Assignment (s): For TUES log into ecourses to complete the assignment. For THURS read pp and in Ch. 14 on letters. Note: Full block format on p371. Week 3: Jan 28 & 30 Audience & Professional Correspondence: Letters (Chapter 14) T 5 key elements to presenting yourself effectively, p364. Avoiding jargon, p367. Inclass exercise: inquiry letter p369. Claim letter assigned. DUE: Sunday Feb. 2 nd by 11 pm on ecourses. R Letter writing continued. Editing & proofreading your writing. In-class: claim letter and cover letter. Assignment (s): For TUES read pp90-99 in Chapter 5 on communicating across cultures. For THURS read pp in Ch. 14. Week 4: Feb 4 & 6 Professional Correspondence: Memos & s (Chapter 14) T Ethical Communication, pp Practice: Exercise 1 and Case 2, pp Commonalities between the engineering Codes of Ethics and other industries codes of ethics. Why are these important ideas for writing Adjustment letter assigned. DUE: Wednesday Feb 9 th by 11 pm on ecourses. R Memos vs. Letters; commonalities & differences. In-class: memo writing (format!) Assignment (s): For TUES ead Markel pp on memos in Ch.14 on memos. Pay special attention to the third formatting example on p377. For THURS read pp (Ch. 14) & pp in (Ch. 12). 3

4 For THURS read pp (Ch. 14) & pp in (Ch. 12). Week 5: Feb 11 & 13 Creating & Handling Graphics (Chapter 13 (8 th ed.) or Chapter 12 (9 th ed.)) T Memos vs. s. Is netiquette as important as rhetoric? Sample , p383.memo assigned. Due: Tuesday Feb. 16 th by 11 pm on ecourses. In-class: Edit s. Discuss pp (chp 12). Workshop: which format is best? pp , & 319. Discuss pp (chp 12). R Creation of, use of, and standards for graphics in tech writing. What does your data show? Use exercise #3 as a template. Exercise: creating and embedding a graphic. ***May meet in computer Lab*** Graphic assigned. DUE Feb. 19 th Assignment (s): For TUES read Markel pp on memos in Ch.14 on memos. Pay special attention to the third formatting example on p377. For THURS read pp on effective graphics in Ch. 12. For THURS watch the Graphs or Charts in Excel video. Week 6: Feb 18 & 20 Writing Lab Reports (Chp. 18), Article Critiques & Collaborative Work (ch 4) T Lab reports Format: Essential sections & Auxiliary sections; Drafting; Ethics (Ch 2&3). Understanding Academic Articles. What is their purpose? How are they similar to lab reports? How do they differ? In-class: read excerpts of academic articles & discuss. Article Review DUE Wed. Feb 28 th by 11 pm on ecourses R Discuss collaboration, including its advantages & disadvantages. Respond to question 1 on page 76. Google Drive and Docs tools for managing collaborative tasks. Project report assigned and groups formed. Assignment (s): For TUES read pp in Ch. 19. For THURS, read pp in Ch. 7 on organizing information. For THURS read pp in Ch. 9 on coherent paragraphs & read pp and in Ch. 6 For TUES THE 25 spend at least 30 min looking for potential project topics that fit your discipline/area of study. Take notes and bring ideas to class. (Visit my office hours.) Week 7: Feb 25 & 27 Topic Development Continued M Potential project topics: moving from idea (what) to report (how). W Library Day. Topic Development continued. Has the topic been narrowed down to an appropriate scope? Have the individual tasks assigned? Do all group members understand how to use Google Drive? Assignment (s): For TUES read pp and in Ch. 6. For THURS read pp in Ch. 9 on coherent paragraphs & read pp and in Ch. 6 Week 8: Mar 4 & 6 Writing Proposals & Midterm Exam T In-class: group creates Gantt Chart & Work Schedule Form which includes Spring Break. Group sets up Google Drive. Discuss exercise #1, p452, Ch. 16. (Bring notes.) Drafting your group s Gantt chart. Midterm Review. R Midterm on ecourses Assignment (s): Prepare for Midterm! During Spring Break: watch the Using Google Drive video on ecourses. During Spring Break: read pp58-68 and in Chapter 4. During Spring Break: read pp & (chp 16) & pp Mar 10 th Mar 15 th SPRING BREAK Week 9: Mar 28 & 20 Literature Review of Peer-reviewed source 4

5 T Conducting research. Library databases in appropriate field (i.e., engineering, nursing, etc.) Discuss source evaluation, pp R Lit review as recommendation. Writing the lit review: summary, analysis, brevity. Groups meet; adjust Gantt charts, p446. Assignment (s): For TUES read pp in Ch. 19. For THURS read pp in Ch. 7 on organizing information. For THURS, read pp in Ch. 9 on coherent paragraphs & read pp and in Ch. 6 Week 10: Mar 25 & 27 Project Reports T Discuss and revise draft of literature review in class. Lit. Review due on ecourses by 11 pm on Sunday Mar. 30 th R Discuss exercise #1, p452, Ch. 16. (Bring notes.) Revise the group s Gantt chart. Assignment (s): For TUES, read pp and in Ch. 6. For THURS, check out for Gantt chart creation. You can also make a Gantt Chart with Excel or by creating a table in MS Word. For Wednesday, read pp in Ch. 19. Week 11: Apr 1 & 3 Writing Proposals (RFP, RFQ, IFB etc.) T Examine and discuss (engineering) RFP/RFQ proposals. What is the difference? Inclass: Practice RFP proposal. Discuss coherent paragraphs & complete exercises. Proposal assigned. Due by 11 pm on Monday Apr. 7 th on ecourses. R Proposal writing continued. Discuss coherent paragraphs & complete exercises Assignment (s): For TUES, read pp in Ch. 19. For THURS, read pp in Ch. 7 on organizing information. For THURS, read pp in Ch. 9 on coherent paragraphs Week 12: Apr. 8 & st Century PowerPoint (PPT) Presentations T Fundamentals of good slide creation (colors, fonts, balance, text). Assertionevidence model of scientific presentation of slides. Examine samples, pp R Discussion of presentation delivery, pp Evaluating presentation success, pp Draw slots for presentations next week. Groups practice presentation(s). Assignment (s): For TUES, read pp & in Ch. 21. For TUES, watch the Using Google Presentations video. For THURS, download & read the PowerPoint on Bad Engineering Presentations at Week 13: Apr. 15 & 17 Collaborative Projects in Print & PPT T Library Day with Groups R Library Day with Groups Assignment (s): For Week 14, prepare group presentation. Time requirements: at least12 minutes. Group Project (DRAFT) DUE TUES during class. Each group must print and submit. Week 14: Apr. 22 & 24 Class Presentations T Presentations R Presentations Assignment (s): Presentations. Oral Presentation: >/= 12 mins.; Questions: <5 mins. Week 15: Apr. 29 TUES Last Day: Final Review 5

6 T Review for final exam. Group Project (FINAL) DUE TUESDAY Apr. 29 th by 5 pm Each group must print and submit a copy to me. 6

7 University Rules and Procedures Disability statement (See Student Handbook): Students with disabilities, including learning disabilities, who wish to request accommodations in class should register with the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) early in the semester so that appropriate arrangements may be made. In accordance with federal laws, a student requesting special accommodations must provide documentation of their disability to the SSD coordinator. Academic misconduct (See Student Handbook): You are expected to practice academic honesty in every aspect of this course and all other courses. Make sure you are familiar with your Student Handbook, especially the section on academic misconduct. Students who engage in academic misconduct are subject to university disciplinary procedures. Forms of academic dishonesty: 1. Cheating: deception in which a student misrepresents that he/she has mastered information on an academic exercise that he/she has not mastered; giving or receiving aid unauthorized by the instructor on assignments or examinations. 2. Academic misconduct: tampering with grades or taking part in obtaining or distributing any part of a scheduled test. 3. Fabrication: use of invented information or falsified research. 4. Plagiarism: unacknowledged quotation and/or paraphrase of someone else s words, ideas, or data as one s own in work submitted for credit. Failure to identify information or essays from the Internet and submitting them as one s own work also constitutes plagiarism. Nonacademic misconduct (See Student Handbook) The university respects the rights of instructors to teach and students to learn. Maintenance of these rights requires campus conditions that do not impede their exercise. Campus behavior that interferes with either (1) the instructor s ability to conduct the class, (2) the inability of other students to profit from the instructional program, or (3) campus behavior that interferes with the rights of others will not be tolerated. An individual engaging in such disruptive behavior may be subject to disciplinary action. Such incidents will be adjudicated by the Dean of Students under nonacademic procedures. Sexual misconduct (See Student Handbook): Sexual harassment of students and employers at Prairie View A&M University is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Any member of the university community violating this policy will be subject to disciplinary action. Attendance Policy: Prairie View A&M University requires regular class attendance. Excessive absences will result in lowered grades. Excessive absenteeism, whether excused or unexcused, may result in a student s course grade being reduced or in assignment of a grade of F. Absences are accumulated beginning with the first day of class. Student Academic Appeals Process Authority and responsibility for assigning grades to students rests with the faculty. However, in those instances where students believe that miscommunication, errors, or unfairness of any kind may have adversely affected the instructor's assessment of their academic performance, the student has a right to appeal by the procedure listed in the Undergraduate Catalog and by doing so within thirty days of receiving the grade or experiencing any other problematic academic event that prompted the complaint. 7

8 Additional Instructor Policies In an effort to respect the University and all students, class will begin promptly at the appointed time and will dismiss at the appointed time. I ask that all students be seated and in possession of course materials, a writing instrument, and paper when class begins. Three tardies will constitute one absence. Please speak to me if you foresee absences. I ask that you bring your textbook to each class. If you do not have a textbook, please note that you are still responsible for all assigned content. You may read the class copies which are on hold at the library. You may want to photocopy relevant pages. In addition, you will need paper and a writing instrument for each class. There were times when each student is required to take notes so please come prepared. The use of cellular phones, PDAs, and tablets are not allowed during the class period. The use of said items is completely prohibited; there are no exceptions. If you are encountering an emergency and must use any of these devices then I ask that you step outside the classroom. If you foresee stepping out of the class session, please speak to me before class begins. To disregard this rule is to appear to disregard the spirit of collective learning, community, and mutual respect, and this will negatively impact your class participation score. You may bring a drink to class, unless otherwise prohibited by University or building rules. I only ask that you use courtesy and common sense (i.e., no ice chewing or slurping). Please do not eat in class. If you believe you have extenuating circumstances that require you to eat a few crackers or an apple (i.e., medication), please speak to me prior to bringing food to class. As members of Prairie View A&M University, I ask that you extend respect to your peers regardless of origin, affiliation and/or orientation. I ask that this respect be communicated through the manner in which you speak, including your word choice and tone of voice, as well as through non-verbal cues, such as posture. For example, placing your head on the table while another person is speaking is not appropriate posture. Everyone is here to learn from their neighbor and this is easier to do when everyone is alert, engaged and polite. Any behavior deemed detrimental to the class and/or course instruction will result in a private conference with me, and may also result in a private conference with Dr. Palmer, Chair of the Department of Languages and Communications, and/or a grade penalty. I am very excited about spending this spring semester with you! 8