English 3373: Technical Writing

Transcription

1 1 English 3373: Technical Writing Instructor:AlanCochrum CourseInformation:Section :1 1:50p.m.MWF,PrestonHall310 Office/Hours:605CarlisleHall,9:30 10:30a.m.MWForbyappointment E mail:[email protected] Phone(messagesonly): ClassRaisonD être.youmightthinkthattechnicalwritingislimitedtothefieldsofscienceandcomputer technology.itisnot.forinstance,thissyllabusisatechnicaldocument.youcanthinkoftechnicalwritingas workplacecommunication.theworkplaceinvolvescommunicationbetweenandamongprofessionals.thinkof technicalwritingasaconversationwithhighlyspecificaims.technicalwriterscreatedocumentsthatuse descriptionandexplanationinordertopersuadeorenablereaderstotakeaction.consequently,effective technicalwritersmusthave(1)aclearunderstandingofthesubjectmatter,(2)athoroughawarenessofthe intendedaudience(s),and(3)astrongmasteryoftherequiredwritingformsorgenres.wewillstudytheseand muchmoreinthisclassviareading,writing,groupwork,andlotsofpractice. Technical/workplacewritingcantakemanyforms,includingletters,memos,reports,proposals,presentations,and manuals.sincetherearesomanyforms,it'snotpossibleforstudentstolearneverythingtheymighteventually needforaworkplaceinthisonecourse.inparticular,thissection scoverageoftechniquesandstylesspecificto Internet basedwork forinstance,settingupwebpages,etc. willbeminimal.studentscan,however,gainan appreciationfor(andrefineskillsneededtodevelop)writingthatisclear,concise,well organized,andhonest andthoseabilitiescanbeusedinmanydifferenttasksandprofessionalsettings. Clearwritingisexpressedinamannerthatissuitableforanintendedaudience.Concisewritingsaysallithasto butnotmore.well organizeddocumentsareeasytofollowbecauseformandlogicworktogether.factsand figures,sourcesandstatements,interpretations,andconclusionsmustbemeticulouslyhonestinordertoestablish andmaintaintheauthor'sintegrityandauthorityandtoenablereaderstoaccomplishthedesiredtask. CourseDescription:English3373isanintegratedcourseincriticalthinking,reading,andwriting.Focusincludes processesofresearching,drafting,editing,revising,anddesigningtechnicalreports,proposals,manuals,resumes, andprofessionalcorrespondenceforspecificaudiences. ExpectedLearningOutcomes.BytheendofENGL3373,studentsshouldbeableto: RhetoricalKnowledge Useknowledgeoftherhetoricalsituation author,audience,exigence,constraints toanalyzeand constructtexts Composetextsinavarietyofgenres,expandingtheirrepertoirebeyondpredictableforms Adjustvoice,tone,diction,syntax,levelofformality,andstructuretomeetthedemandsofdifferent rhetoricalsituations Writing Usewriting,reading,anddiscussionforlearningandcommunicating. Writewithclaritytocommunicateeffectivelywiththetargetedaudience. Adaptwritingfordifferentstylesorformsincludingreflections,primaryresearch,letters,andproposals. Respondcriticallytocoursematerial,usingsynthesisandanalysis. OralExpression Expressideasorargumentsinoralform. Synthesizeinformationinaspokenform. Paraphraseideasfromclassdiscussionsinoralform.

2 Developactivelisteningskillsincludingparaphrasingandsynthesizingideasexpressedinclass. CriticalThinkingandAnalysis Developmethodsandstrategiesforanalyzingandinterpretingtexts. Recognizeandsynthesizemultipleinterpretationsofasingletext. Explainthedifferencesamongdifferenttypesofcriticalanalyticalapproaches. Evaluateoral,visual,orwrittenworkplacewritingforsoundorfaulty(fallacious)reasoning. Processes Developcriticalunderstandingofone sownwritingandwritingprocess. Practiceflexiblestrategiesforgenerating,revising,andeditingtexts Practicewritingasarecursiveprocessthatcanleadtosubstantivechangesinideas,structure,and supportingevidencethroughmultiplerevisions Usethecollaborativeandsocialaspectsofwritingprocessestocritiquetheirownandothers works Research Utilizepropercitationandbibliographicform. Identifyandlocateavarietyofsourcesrelevanttoresearchtopic. Utilizeresearchmaterialstomakeandpresentaneffectivetechnicaldocument. Respondcriticallytothewritingofothersinprimaryandsecondarysources. Conventions Applyknowledgeofgenreconventionsrangingfromstructureandparagraphingtotoneandmechanics Summarize,paraphrase,andquotefromsourcesusingappropriatedocumentationstyle Controlsuchsurfacefeaturesassyntax,grammar,punctuation,andspelling Employtechnologiestoformattextsaccordingtoappropriatestylisticconventions RequiredMaterial TechnicalCommunication,9thedition,byMikeMarkel. ixvisualexercisesfortechcommbyball&arola(cd ROM) Assignments.Abriefdescriptionofthemajorassignments: TechnicalDescription:Awrittendescriptionofadevice,appliance,othermachine,etc.,suitableforusein areferenceworkormanual.thedescriptionshouldincludetheobject sdimensionsandimportantfeaturesaswell asanoutlineofhowitworks.forinstance,youmightdescribeastove,apiano,oranamusementparkride. Instructions:Writteninstructionsonhowtouseaparticulardevice,consistingofatleast20steps,with illustrations.youmayusethesameobjectcoveredbythetechnicaldescriptionassignment,oradifferentone. JobApplication:Youwillputtogetheraprofessionalresumeandcoverlettersuitableforajobsearchin youracademic majorarea. WhitePaper/Report:Youwillwriteamulti pagereportsuitabletoyourprofession.examplesmight includeapurchaserecommendationforahospitaloracritiqueofanewlaptopcomputer. Assignmentsmayincludepeerreviewworkshops.Peerreviewparticipationiscountedaspartoftheassignment.Itis veryimportantthatyouattendclassonpeerreviewdays,asyouwillnotbeabletomakeupthesepoints. Yourfinalgradeforthiscoursewillconsistofthefollowing: TechnicalDescriptionassignment 20% JobApplicationassignment 20% Instructionsassignment 20% WhitePaper/Reportassignment 25% Quizzes/Exercises 15% Gradesforworkandthecoursearescaledasfollows: 2

3 A Excellentworkthatfulfillsassignmentcriteriawithexceptionalskill,quality,style,orsophistication B Goodworkthatmeetsassignmentcriteria C Acceptableworkthatonlymeetsassignmentcriteriaand/orcontainsnotableflawsthatshouldhavebeen remediedinplanning,drafting,revising,orconferringwiththeinstructor D Workthathasnumeroussevereflawsordoesnotmeetassignmentcriteria. >60F Workthatisincompleteorisunsatisfactoryduetoseriousflaws,negligence,ordishonesty. Keepallpapersuntilyoureceiveyourfinalgradefromtheuniversity.Youcannotchallengeagradewithout evidence. LateAssignments.Assignmentsaredueatthebeginningofclassontheduedatespecified.Assignmentsturnedinafter theclasshasbegunwillreceiveaten percentdeductionunlesstheinstructorhasagreedtolatesubmissioninadvance oftheduedate.foreachcalendardayfollowing,theworkwillreceiveanadditionaltenpercentdeduction.ifyoumust beabsent,yourworkisstilldueontheassigneddate. Attendance.Improvementinwritingisacomplexprocessthatrequiresagreatdealofpracticeandfeedbackfrom readers.regularattendanceisthusnecessaryforsuccess.studentsareexpectedtoattendclassregularlyandto arriveontime.frequentinstancesofabsenceandlatenesscanhurtyourfinalgrade.amongotherfactors,daily quizzescannotbemadeupexceptincaseofanexcusedabsence militaryservice,religiousholidays,orofficial universityactivities(suchasparticipationinateamsport).studentsmustinformtheinstructorinwritingin advanceofanexcusedabsence. Classroombehavior.Classsessionsareshortandrequireyourfullattention.Allcellphones,pagers,MP3players, etc.,shouldbeturnedoffandputawaywhenenteringtheclassroom;allearpiecesshouldberemoved.laptop useisrestrictedtonotetakingorsimilarlesson pertinentactivity;abuseofthisprivilegewillresultinabanonthe machine.newspapers,crosswords,magazines,bulkybags,andotherdistractionsshouldbestoredsothatyoucan concentrateonthereadingsanddiscussionseachday.bringthepertinenttextbook(s)andcopiesofreadings (annotatedandcarefullyread)toclass. Youarerequiredtoparticipateinalldiscussionsandactivitiesinathoughtfulandengagedway.Vigorous debatesareoftenpartofuniversitylife;iexpectyoutoexpressyourselvesfreely,butharmfuloroffensive languagewillnotbetolerated.fellowstudentsandfacultymembersaretobeaddressedandtreatedwithrespect. Inaddition,studentsareexpectedtodressinamannerappropriatetoanacademicsetting. AccordingtoStudentConductandDiscipline,"studentsareprohibitedfromengaginginorattemptingtoengagein conduct,eitheraloneorinconcertwithothers,thatisintendedtoobstruct,disrupt,orinterferewith,orthatin factobstructs,disrupts,orinterfereswithanyinstructional,educational,research,administrative,orpublic performanceorotheractivityauthorizedtobeconductedinoronauniversityfacility.obstructionordisruption includes,butisnotlimitedto,anyactthatinterrupts,modifies,ordamagesutilityserviceorequipment, communicationserviceorequipment,orcomputerequipment,software,ornetworks (UTAHandbookor OperatingProcedures,Ch.2,Sec.2 202).Studentswhodonotrespecttheguidelineslistedaboveorwhodisrupt otherstudents learningmaybeaskedtoleaveclassand/orreferredtotheofficeofstudentconduct. AcademicIntegrity.ItisthephilosophyofTheUniversityofTexasatArlingtonthatacademicdishonestyisa completelyunacceptablemodeofconductandwillnotbetoleratedinanyform.allpersonsinvolvedinacademic dishonestywillbedisciplinedinaccordancewithuniversityregulationsandprocedures.disciplinemayinclude suspensionorexpulsionfromtheuniversity."scholasticdishonestyincludesbutisnotlimitedtocheating, plagiarism,collusion,thesubmissionforcreditofanyworkormaterialsthatareattributableinwholeorinpartto anotherperson,takinganexaminationforanotherperson,anyactdesignedtogiveunfairadvantagetoastudent ortheattempttocommitsuchacts"(regents RulesandRegulations,Series50101,Section2.2) Youcangetintroubleforplagiarismoracademicnegligencebyfailingtoproperlycreditsomeoneelse swork.itis yourresponsibilitytofamiliarizeyourselfwiththeconventionsofcitationbywhichyouindicatewhichideasare

4 4 notyourownandhowyourreadercanfindthosesources.ifyouhaveaquestion,askme.studentscaught plagiarizingorcheatingwillbereferredtotheofficeofstudentconduct. AmericanswithDisabilitiesAct.TheUniversityofTexasatArlingtonisonrecordasbeingcommittedtoboththe spiritandletterofallfederalequalopportunitylegislation,includingtheamericanswithdisabilitiesact(ada).all instructorsatutarlingtonarerequiredbylawtoprovide"reasonableaccommodations"tostudentswith disabilities,soasnottodiscriminateonthebasisofthatdisability.anystudentrequiringanaccommodationfor thiscoursemustprovidetheinstructorwithofficialdocumentationintheformofalettercertifiedbythestaffin theofficeforstudentswithdisabilities,universityhall102.onlythosestudentswhohaveofficiallydocumenteda needforanaccommodationwillhavetheirrequesthonored.informationregardingdiagnosticcriteriaandpolicies forobtainingdisability basedacademicaccommodationscanbefoundatwww.uta.edu/disabilityorbycallingthe OfficeforStudentswithDisabilitiesat(817) DropPolicy.Studentsmaydroporswap(addinganddroppingaclassconcurrently)classesthroughself servicein MyMavfromthebeginningoftheregistrationperiodthroughthelateregistrationperiod.Afterthelate registrationperiod,studentsmustseetheiracademicadvisortodropaclassorwithdraw.undeclaredstudents mustseeanadvisorintheuniversityadvisingcenter.dropscancontinuethroughapointtwo thirdsoftheway throughthetermorsession.itisyourresponsibilitytoofficiallywithdrawifyoudonotplantoattendafter registering.studentswillnotbeautomaticallydroppedfornon attendance,andicannotdropyoufromthe class.repaymentofcertaintypesoffinancialaidadministeredthroughtheuniversitymayberequiredasthe resultofdroppingclassesorwithdrawing.contactthefinancialaidofficeformoreinformation. WritingCenter.TheWritingCenter,Room411intheCentralLibrary,offersguidanceonanywritingyouare assignedwhileastudentatut Arlington.WritingCenterhoursare9a.m.to7p.m.MondaythroughThursday;9 a.m.to1p.m.friday;and2p.m.to6p.m.sunday.appointmentsarefor45minutes;studentsshouldbringa printedcopyoftheirassignmentsheet,anyinstructororpeercomments,andtheirdrafttotheappointment.you mayregisterandscheduleappointmentsonlineathttp://uta.mywconline.com. WritingCenterconsultantsassiststudentswithallaspectsofwriting,fromunderstandinganassignment torevisinganearlydrafttopolishingafinaldocument.however,thewritingcenterisnotadocumentediting service;consultantswillnotcorrectoridentifyeverygrammarorspellingerror,norwilltheyrewritestudent assignments.theywillhelpstudentsfocusonimprovingtheirwritingskillsandhelpstudentsbecomebetter editorsoftheirownwriting,whichincludeslearningtoidentifyandcorrecttheirowngrammar,punctuationand editingerrors. Inadditiontoone on oneconsultations,thewritingcenterwilloffergrammarworkshopsperiodically throughoutthesemester.duringtheseworkshopsstudentswillfocusonidentifyingandcorrectingoneofthe mostcommongrammarerrorsandthenwillparticipateinaconsultant ledrevisingandeditingsession.formore informationonthese,pleaseseetheircalendaratwww.uta.edu/owl. AcademicResources.TheUniversityofTexasatArlingtonprovidesavarietyofresourcesandprogramsdesigned tohelpstudentsdevelopacademicskills,dealwithpersonalsituations,andbetterunderstandconceptsand informationrelatedtotheircourses.theseresourcesincludetutoring,major basedlearningcenters, developmentaleducation,advisingandmentoring,personalcounseling,andfederallyfundedprograms.for individualizedreferralstoresourcesforanyreason,studentsmaycontactthemaverickresourcehotlineat orvisitwww.uta.edu/resourcesformoreinformation. ElectronicCommunicationPolicy.AllstudentsmusthaveaccesstoacomputerwithInternetcapabilities.Students shouldchecke maildailyforcourseinformationandupdates.iwillsendgroup sthroughmymav.iam happytocommunicatewithstudentsthroughe mail.however,iaskthatyoubewiseinyouruseofthistool. Makesureyouhaveconsultedthesyllabusforanswersbeforeyousendmeane mail.idonotmonitormye mail 24hoursaday;Icheckitperiodicallyduringtheschoolweekandoccasionallyontheweekend. TheUniversityofTexasatArlingtonhasadoptedtheUniversity MavMail addressasthesoleofficialmeansof communicationwithstudents.mavmailisusedtoremindstudentsofimportantdeadlines,advertiseeventsand

5 5 activities,andpermittheuniversitytoconductofficialtransactionsexclusivelybyelectronicmeans.forexample, importantinformationconcerningregistration,financialaid,paymentofbills,andgraduationarenowsentto studentsthroughthemavmailsystem.allstudentsareassignedamavmailaccount.studentsareresponsiblefor checkingtheirmavmailregularly.informationaboutactivatingandusingmavmailisavailableat evenaftertheygraduatefromutarlington. ConferencesandQuestions:Ihaveregularlyscheduledofficehourseachweek.Thesetimesarereservedfor studentstodropbyortomakeanappointmenttodiscusscourseassignments,grades,orotherclass related concerns.iwillbehappytomakeotherappointmenttimesforyouifyourclassscheduleconflictswithregular conferencetimesorifiamnotavailableoncertaindays.ifyoureceiveagradeonanassignmentorquizabout whichyouhavequestions,pleasewaittwenty fourhoursbeforediscussingitwithme.thisgivesyoutimeto processtheassignmentcommentsandtothinkabouthowyourcourseworkmeetstherequirementssetforthfor eachassignment. SyllabusandScheduleChanges.Duringthecourseofthesemester,Imayhavetoalter,add,orabandoncertain policies/assignments.instructorsreservetherighttomakesuchchangesastheybecomenecessary.studentswillbe informedofanychanges. CourseSchedule.Assignmentsaredueonthedaytheyarelisted,asarereadings. ClassCalendar Week18/26 Friday Introduction/CourseOverview/SyllabusDiscussion Week28/29 9/2 Monday TCChapter1:IntrotoTechnicalCommunications. Wednesday TCChapter5:AnalyzingYourAudienceandPurpose Friday Week39/05 9/09 Monday LaborDayholiday noclass Wednesday Intro:TechnicalDescriptionassignment. TCChapter20:WritingDefinitions,Descriptions,andInstructions. Friday Week49/12 9/16 Monday TCChapter6:ResearchingYourSubject. Classcensusdate. Wednesday TCChapter4:WritingCollaboratively. Friday

6 6 Week59/19 9/23 Monday PeerReview:TechnicalDescriptionfirstdraft. Wednesday TCChapter7:OrganizingYourInformation. Friday Week69/26 9/30 Monday Due:TechnicalDescriptionfinaldraft.Intro:JobApplicationassignment TCChapter15:PreparingJob ApplicationMaterials. Wednesday TCChapter8:CommunicatingPersuasively Friday Week710/3 10/7 Monday TCChapter2:UnderstandingEthicalandLegalConsiderations Wednesday TCChapter9:WritingCoherentDocuments Friday Week810/10 10/14 Monday TCChapter10:WritingEffectiveSentences Wednesday PeerReview:JobApplicationassignment Friday Week910/17 10/21 Monday Due:JobApplicationassignment Intro:Instructionsassignment TCChapter3:WritingTechnicalDocuments Wednesday Friday Week1010/24 10/28 Monday TCChapter14:WritingLetters,Memosand s Springregistrationbegins. Wednesday Friday

7 7 Week1110/31 11/4 Monday TCChapter11:DesigningDocumentsandWebSites Wednesday TCChapter12:CreatingGraphics Friday Lastdaytodrop. Week1211/7 11/11 Monday TCChapter21:MakingOralPresentations Wednesday PeerReview:Instructionsassignment Friday Week1311/14 11/18 Monday Due:Instructionsassignment.Intro:Reportassignment TCChapter17:WritingInformationalReports Wednesday Friday Week1411/21 11/25 Monday TCChapter19:WritingRecommendationReports Wednesday Friday Thanksgivingholiday noclass Week1511/28 12/02 Monday TCChapter18:WritingLabReports Wednesday Peerreview:Reportassignment Friday Week1612/5 12/09 Monday TCChapter16:WritingProposals Wednesday TCChapter22:ConnectingWiththePublic Friday Due:Reportassignment.

8 8 ENGL1301SyllabusContract I have read and understood the syllabus, and I agree to abide by the course policies. Print Name Date Signature Date