AGRI 2030 Technical Communications COURSE OUTLINE January - April 2013

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1 University of Manitoba Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences Department General Agriculture AGRI 2030 Technical Communications COURSE OUTLINE uary - April 2013 No. of Credits: 3 Instructor: Contact me by: Office hours: Classes: Place of course in the program: Required text: Website: Other supplies: Barbara Metrycki Phone: ; Barb_Metrycki@umanitoba.ca Room 370 Agriculture Mondays and Wednesdays, 1-4 p.m., or by appointment Two 75-minute es per week (Tuesday es are held in the microcomputer lab, Room 137 Ag), plus one to three hours of individual and/ or group work outside of Second year - a W course Communications AGRI 2030, available from the University of Manitoba bookstore The website provides resources, assignments and samples of writing from previous students. A writer s handbook of student s choice A portfolio or report cover Student learning responsibilities You are expected to take responsibility for your learning in this course, using the resources provided. It is expected that you ll come to prepared, ready to contribute to case studies, and to critiquing or editing exercises. You are responsible for the content of any missed es and assignments. In the public speaking sections of the course, attendance is mandatory. In these es, you not only form the audience for others but also provide valuable feedback. In addition, the commentary that follows speeches provides valuable learning not covered elsewhere. 1

2 Calendar description Lectures and workshops to develop written and oral communication skills for preparing and presenting scientific and technical reports. Basic composition skills, communication graphics and résumé techniques are included. Prerequisite: 24 credit hours of University. Instructional methods Case studies, written assignments, group work, lectures, and critiquing yourself and others Course objectives Good communications skills lead to career success. The course aims to: Introduce communications strategies for various audiences and situations Develop students abilities to transmit technical information clearly Develop students abilities to research effectively Enhance students proficiency in document design By the end of this course, students should be able to: Choose an appropriate communication strategy for an audience or reader Define technical writing and its uses Analyze audience role in technical writing Organize the shorter writing tasks: Write persuasively and connect with readers Recognize and follow the format of an effective professional message Gather and interpret relevant scientific information Use visuals and graphic formatting to enhance communication Avoid plagiarism by adhering to correct referencing principles Write a professional report Write a professional-looking résumé Avoid common grammatical errors in writing Organize information and communicate through public presentations Speak confidently and authoritatively, with or without, speech notes. Policy on assignments Students final grades will be a percentage based on the successful completion of assignments and test materials. Class conduct Students must turn off cellular phones and pager carried into or the computer lab or put them on silent mode. Personal sound systems, e.g. ipod, may not normally be used in the es. Late assignments Marks will be deducted on a graduated scale from late assignments unless a written request to submit an assignment late has been approved. This request should state the reason for the late submission. 2

3 Details on the grammar requirement The percentage of each assignment and test allotted to grammar will be 20%. Those who experience difficulties with grammar are encouraged to: Find your common writing errors in a writer s guide of your choice; Obtain remedial help from the Learning Assistance Centre on campus, phone: Plagiarism and academic dishonesty According to the University of Manitoba s Undergraduate Calendar, To plagiarize is to take ideas or words of another person and pass them off as one s own. In order to help students avoid plagiarism, this course devotes a to the issue of how and when to cite sources in written work. As the Calendar states, It will also be considered plagiarism and/or cheating if a student submits a term paper written in whole or in part by someone other than him/herself, or copies the answer or answers of another student in any test, examination or take-home assignment. Plagiarism or any other form of cheating in assignments... examinations or term tests is subject to serious academic penalty (i.e.: suspension or expulsion.) A student found guilty of contributing to cheating is also subject to serious academic penalty. 3

4 Assignment Schedule* # Assignment Skill % Due A Grammar assessment Writing N/A In - uary 17 The grammar component of each assignment will total 20%. Letter (G) 1. 1 Chicken and Egg Writing 10% uary Technical bulletin (I) a) Proposal. You will need to write an proposal about your choice of a professor at this University to interview, and b) Bulletin. Subsequently, interview him or her about his or her current research. This research will be the topic of your technical bulletin. (video optional) Writing 3. 5 Investigative report (I) Writing Proposal 3% Bulletin 12% TOTAL 15% 15% Proposal: uary 29 Bulletin: February 26 First draft: 5 Final: 12 Résumé and cover letter (I) Writing 15% Oral presentation and (I, G) Group-organized meeting Speaking/writing 15% 26,28 and April 2, 4 6. Summaries (I) Minimum 3 Writing 5% Various 7. FINAL EXAM 25% To be announced 7 4

5 Weekly Content and Activities* Week Weekly content and activities Students weekly work Evaluation 1 8/10 a Course introduction; What is technical communication b Understanding the communicative situation Read: Understanding the communicative situation, p-1 Read: Common faults of professional writing, p-15 Read : Writing memos and letters 2 15/ / /31 a , memo, letters b: Parts I and II - Case study: Has cruel practice been proven? a , memo, letters - Problem-solving approach to writing: SIDCRA b Part III- Scientific article. Case study cont.: Has cruel practice been proven? a Language and style Definitions Read Part I and II - Case study: Has cruel practice been proven? p-69 Find and read Part III Scientific article: Has cruel practice been proven? p-69 (on Library reserve or online) b Technical bulletin Style and Research Interview Read: Classifying reports, p-53 Assignment #1 - Letter (G) Grammar Assessment Assignment #2 Technical Bulletin (I) SUMMARY #1 Assign #2 Technical bulletin proposal DUE (I) Assignment #1 Letter DUE Read Banana Split case on course website 5 Feb 5/7 a What is a report b Case study: BANANA SPLIT: TO EAT OR NOT TO eat READ CASE IN POINT Assignment #3 Report (I) 5

6 Week Weekly content and activities Students weekly work Evaluation 6 Feb 12/14 a SIDCRA CASE IN POINT- A case study using the POP analytical model SUMMARY #2 b GM Pros and Cons- A case study developing advantages and disadvantages in the POP analytical model Read: Do You Know the Rules about Academic Integrity and Plagiarism? Read: Documenting Sources MID-TERM BREAK 7 Feb 26/28 a Report headings, tables, figures, conclusions and reference list Assignment #2 Technical Bulletin DUE b Referencing electronic research 8 5/7 a Critique draft reports b Résumé and cover letters Read: Résumé- p-31 First draft of report DUE Assign # 4 Résumé and cover letter (I) SUMMARY #3 9 12/ /21 a Résumé and cover letters b Meeting Roles a Presentation work plan b Presentation delivery techniques Read: Preparing an Effective Oral Presentation Assign #3 Report DUE Grammar Assessment #2 Assign #5- Meeting and Oral Presentation (I) 6

7 Week Weekly content and activities Students weekly work Evaluation 11 26/28 a Oral presentations in b Oral presentations in Assign # 4 Résumé and cover letter DUE / Assign #5 Meeting and Assign #5- Meeting and 12 April 2/4 a Oral presentations in b Oral presentations in Assign #5- Meeting and Assign #5 Meeting and 13 April 9 a Course review and evaluation * Subject to change, with notice a Tuesday, Room 137 b Thursday, Room 138 or 134 Agriculture I Individual G- Group 7