ENGL 210: Technical Business Writing: CHEN Syllabus, Fall 2014

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1 ENGL 210: Technical Business Writing: CHEN Syllabus, Fall 2014 Sections: 503 (MWF 11:30-12:20) Class meeting location: CHEN (MWF 1:50-2:40) Class meetings will periodically be held in the CHEN computer lab. Instructor: Dr. Christin Wilson Office: CHEN 201 Office Hours: Monday 3-4, Wednesday 10-11, Thursday and 1-3, and by appointment Phone: I am always willing to talk with you and answer questions about material or assignments. Outside of office hours, is generally the best way to get in contact with me; I check it several times each day, and will do my best to respond quickly. Sunday is the only exception. I will rarely read or respond to s on Sunday, but will respond to these s Monday morning. Please note, however, that due to FERPA laws, no grades can be discussed in , because is not secure. Please come see me during office hours or make other arrangements to talk to me face to face if you wish to discuss any aspect of your grade on any assignment. Course Description ( Undergraduate Catalog): Focus on writing for professional settings; correspondence and researched reports fundamental to the technical and business workplace- -memoranda, business letters, research proposals and presentations, use of graphical and document design; emphasis on audience awareness, clarity of communication and collaborative team-work In the CHEN sections of this course, we will focus on documents commonly written and used by engineers in the workplace. Course Outcomes (Adapted from Cindy Raisor, Texas A&M University, 2014): Outcomes Technical Communication Learning Outcomes All instruction and assessments will integrate the following technical communication essentials 1 Address the rhetorical aspects of the context (audience and purpose) in order to identify the message and approach (delivery). 2 Apply an inside-out approach to the process of writing and organizing the message. 3 Apply editing strategies that facilitate clear understanding of the message. 1 Virtual Profile Memo ENGL 210 Assessments Instructions Collabo -rative Project Chem E- folio Case Study

2 ABET Outcomes The outcomes listed below have been defined using ABET criteria where clear communication is either explicitly stated or is implied. c Problem Solving Address the needs of a client in order to identify plausible solutions, propose criteria, evaluate opinions, and recommend a best solution. Strategic Planning Describe how, when, where, and by whom the problem or need will be addressed, creating a management plan or procedures that document the work according to the specifications of the client and the contextual restraints and present contingency plans that address any problems. Documentation Present research, steps, sources, and other information to that the user fully understands what was done, how, why, and by whom. d Collaboration and Conflict Management Identify potential threats to effective group progress and define potential solutions. Communicate with team members regularly and, when appropriate, learn and apply collaborative technology to facilitate communication. f Job-Related Ethical Scenario Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the context and the implications of various responses. Identify possible courses of action and discuss the pros and cons of each one. Decide on the best course of action and justify the decision. g Ability to Communicate Effectively Organize the information efficiently and coherently Prepare effective executive summaries. Employ effective document design strategies. Use a style, tone, and genre of communication appropriate for the context. Create graphics that help the user understand and remember the information. Incorporate and attribute researched information correctly. i Lifelong Learning Synthesize new concepts by making connections, transferring prior knowledge, and generalizing. Perform relevant searches for the information appropriate for the context, including the use of CHEN databases when needed. Demonstrate willingness to learn new material independently. Reflect on and describe learning style including strengths and weaknesses and develop strategies for overcoming weaknesses. 2

3 Textbooks: M. Markel, Technical Communication 10 th ed. New York: Bedford St. Martins, G. J. Alfred, C. T. Brusaw, and W. E. Oliu. Handbook of Technical Writing 10 th ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martins, D. Hacker and N. Sommers. A Writer s Reference for Multimodal Projects 7 th ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martins, Course Requirements and Grade Breakdown: Assignment Percent of Final Grade Virtual Profile Memo 10 Instructions 10 Collaborative Project 35 ChemE-folio 25 Case Study Reports 10 Professional Participation, In-Class Work, 10 Minor Assignments 100 Most major assignments will be further broken down into smaller assignments. Each assignment will be evaluated using a rubric, a set of grading criteria, specific to the assignment. These criteria appear in detailed grading rubrics that will be made available when the assignment is given. Grading Scale: This course will use a standard letter grading scale: A = B = C = D = F = below 60 Please note that I do not round grades under normal circumstances. Late Assignments: Late assignments will be accepted up with a deduction of 10% for each day the assignment is late, and a maximum deduction of 50%. (That is, they can be turned in any time after the 4 th day for 50% credit.) Rough drafts and other preliminary work for papers and projects will not be accepted after the final draft has been turned in. With proof a university-excused absence, you have 1 day for each excused day to submit the assignment to me without penalty. Please let me know as soon as possible if you need to submit an assignment late (with or without penalty). 3

4 Attendance, Participation, and Etiquette Your participation grade will be based on attendance, attitude, preparation for class, and participation in class discussions, in-class activities, and group work. There are some courses in which you can be highly successful by working on your own and taking a midterm and final; this is not one of them. You are expected to contribute to the discussion on a daily basis, and your level of participation will be reflected as part of your grade. Active listening is just as much a part of participation as speaking. I do not have an attendance policy per se, but if you are not present, you cannot participate. If you do miss class, you are expected to check ecampus for any handouts, news, assignments, etc. and to get notes concerning the discussion from another member of the class. It is very important to respect not only the instructor, but also your classmates. You are expected to act professionally at all times and to respect your classmates rights to their opinions and beliefs. Realistically, you will not always agree with what is being said, but be respectful: do not interrupt or insult others, dominate the floor, or raise your voice. Grade of "I": Requests for Incompletes must be addressed to both the instructor and to Dr. Chris Murray, Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies. All documentation must be in order (medical excuses, or other specific and detailed evidence), or no Incomplete grade will be entered in the final grade sheet. Also, in the process of determining if an Incomplete grade is warranted, your college advising office will be contacted to verify your reason for requesting a grade of Incomplete, so students should consult them, as well. Requests for the Incomplete grade will be considered only if the student has a valid, verifiable reason and/or qualified medical excuse. Specific requirements for the granting of an Incomplete grade include: the student must already have a grade of C or above, there must be a record of good attendance prior the reason for the request for the I grade (whether caused by illness or emergencies), and the student must have already completed at least 60% of the work in the course. Remember that keeping in touch with me, even if an illness or other serious situation is preventing you from completing assignments, is the responsible and professional course of action. Academic Integrity: "An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal, or tolerate those who do. It is the student s responsibility to know the Aggie Honor Code and to understand what constitutes scholastic dishonesty and to avoid it all costs. Anything (particularly plagiarism and cheating on quizzes or projects) that appears to be a violation of the Aggie Honor Code may result in an F in the course and will be reported to Dr. Christine Murray, Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies in English and to your college dean. Please see the online University Student Rules for more information about the university policies regarding scholastic dishonesty, including plagiarism. 4

5 Recycled Papers: If a student has taken this course before and already completed assignments or has taken any similar course and completed assignments, the previously completed assignments cannot be used for credit in this course. Use of recycled papers from another section of this course or from another course will be considered unethical, misleading submissions, thus, penalties will be applied and the student risks a zero on the assignment and an F in the course. Use of Copyrighted Materials: Courseware, Handouts, and Resources: The courseware, learning activities, and downloadable resources used in this course are copyrighted. This refers to all course materials generated for this class, which include but are not limited to course videos, courseware interfaces, quizzes, syllabi, learning activities, sample papers, and custom graphics. Because these materials are copyrighted, it is illegal for you to copy or redistribute any of this information without the expressed written consent of the author(s) and/or publishers, and the university. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact Disability Services, in Cain Hall, Room B118, or call For additional information visit 5

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