Technical Communication - ENGL 308

ENGL 308 001, Winslow, 1

ENGL 308 002 Technical Communication

Summer 2005

Updated July 11th, 2005

Andrew Winslow Office: CCIT 236 Pod C Office Hours: M-F 11-12PM & by appt. 626-1847

http://www.u.arizona.edu/~andreww/ [email protected]

Course Description: English 308 is a professional development course; students should develop practical skills applicable to their careers through the production of related workplace documents such as letters of application, memos, progress and technical reports, and oral presentations. Toward this end, students will engage in both workshop style and discussion based class sessions where practical matters regarding formatting, purpose, audience, style, situation, stance, and ethics may be addressed. This will be a collaborative effort, with multiple drafts for each document being reviewed by peers and the instructor. The ultimate goal of this course is to train students how to critically analyze and effectively respond to existing problems within their chosen disciplines and careers.

Required Materials: Selections from several and articles been placed on electronic reserve through the library, and can be accessed on the library website with the course password: “apophenia.” These textbooks are also available by request in office hours. Access to a computer with a word-processing program, preferably Microsoft Word version 6.0 ’95 or higher. Computers are available on campus at various locations. For information about locations and hours, please consult http://aws.ccit.arizona.edu/labs/ Two 3.5 floppy disks for standard “A” drives. One pair of headphones. Access to the course listserv: [email protected] One Pocket folder for turning in written assignments as indicated. A good attitude

Recommended Materials: ENGL 308 001, Winslow, 2

A college dictionary and thesaurus. Portable CD/MP3 player for in-class writing days Snacks Good Highlighter marker 2” three ring binder for photocopied articles Style manual or technical writing textbook appropriate to your field:

Gibaldi, Joseph. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 6 th ed. New York: MLA, 2003. American Psychological Association. (2003). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. (5th ed.).Washington, DC: APA. Markel, Mike. Technical Communication. 6th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2001.

Course Policies:

Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism: All UA students are responsible for upholding the Code of Academic Integrity, available through the office of the Dean of Students and online (http://www.arizona.edu/~studpubs/policies/cacaint.htm). Read carefully the summary of the Code that appears in the Student’s Guide.

Attendance: Attendance is essential; composition classes are workshop classes that include in-class writing, peer group work, and conferences. Student with more than two absences will be dropped with a grade of E for non-attendance. Only students doing passing work will be allowed to withdraw from the course with a W. Please contact me ahead of time if you must miss class.

Class Conduct: All UA students are responsible for upholding the Student Code of Conduct, which can be read online through UA Info (http://www.arizona.edu/~studpubs/policies/studcofc.htm). I reserve the right to dismiss any student who fails to address students or course material with appropriate respect.

Conferences: I will schedule individual or small-group conferences several times during the semester. You should come to your conference prepared to discuss your current work. I may cancel regular classes for these conferences; therefore, a missed conference in this case counts as an absence.

Disabilities Accommodations: Students with disabilities who require reasonable accommodations to fully participate in course activities or meet course requirements must register with the Disability Resource Center. If you qualify for services through DRC, bring your letter of accommodations to me as soon as possible.

Assignments: Students are responsible for the timely completion of all required work outlined on the syllabus. All assignments must be completed for a final grade and should always reflect the student’s best work. ENGL 308 001, Winslow, 3

Any assignment prepared outside of class should be appropriately formatted for the assignment; typically printed on a good stock white paper with black ink, 1-inch margins, typed in a readable font, and in good order (no tattered pages or trampled copies).

Students are encouraged to make two copies of each assignment: one for grading and one for records in order to insure credit for all work. In addition, due to the large amount of in-class drafting on PC laptops for this course, students should also make two backups of drafts on disk. Student work my also be displayed via disk for class workshop; therefore, it is necessary for students to keep electronic and hard copies of assignments with them during each class.

Finally, late assignments will be penalized 10% for each day late, starting immediately after the deadline. Weekends are not exempt from this policy. As with any professional working environment, deadlines in this class are firm and students are expected to finish their work on time.

Grading Policy: Though most workplaces only give ratings of Pass or Fail, this class is designed to create a close approximation to professional feedback within academic constraints. As such, it should be noted that these are high standards – more so than traditional academic settings. Also, students are graded on the writing product, and not necessarily the effort expended in creating it.

“A” Ratings: Exceptional. This is work that might lead to a promotion in the workplace; complete with awareness of rhetorical situation and effective use of rhetorical strategies. Author possesses an engaging style, no mechanical errors, logical organization, clear expression, substantial content, and logical argumentation. In general, this work is extremely difficult, but not impossible. “B” Ratings: Good. This is average and acceptable work; work that typically notes consistently above average, though not quite excellent. Author shows awareness of rhetorical situation and effective use of rhetorical strategies. Documents are generally professional and free of mechanical errors. Usually slightly above average in terms of the above criteria, but falls short of excellence in one or more categories. “C” Ratings: Competent. Draft level work that would probably be returned for revision in the workplace. Most documents begin in this stage, though should not remain after several editing sessions. Shows few mechanical errors, uses competent style, content, expression, and organization. “D-E” Ratings: Weak. Would be detrimental to the worker’s career. Below average in one or more of the above categories.

Major Assignments and Weights:

ENGL 308 001, Winslow, 4

Assignment Date % Resume Fri. 07/12 10 Memo Mon. 07/25 15 Instructions (Group Project) Wed. 07/27 10 Disciplinary Project Mon. 08/01 20 Final Project Wed. 08/10 20 Mon-Tues. 08/08- Oral Presentation 09 20 Journals and Pop Quizzes Various 5

Students must accumulate between 90%-100% of the total pts for a grade of A, 80%-89%, for a B, 70%-79% for a C, and so on. All assignments must be completed to receive a grade for the course. Due dates are inflexible and will not be changed for any reason. All assignments are due in class on the day posted without exception. Late papers must be signed in to ML 445; though there will be a 10% grade reduction for each day late.

Syllabus Schedule: Please Note that this is a tentative schedule. Reading assignments are subject to change with no less than 24 hours notice.

Key: for the “Lecture Topics Column” major project due dates are in bold; due dates for journal assignments (hard copies) are italicized. “ER” stands for “Electronic Reserve,” while all other reading assignments that are italicized denote material that is for your reference through library reserve.

DAILY SYLLABUS: Please note that this is a tentative syllabus of course assignments. As such, it is subject to change, but never with less than 24 hours notice either through an in-class announcement, notification on the listserv, or a posting on the website. Due to the flexible nature of the syllabus, it is the responsibility of each student to remain aware of any changes in assignments or deadlines. INSTRUCTOR’S NOTE: In addition, this is the only section of this technical writing class that I use creatively. As you will notice, I give each day’s topic an appropriate title based on famous quotes, television show episodes, etc.

Week One: Introductions, Definitions, Ethics

07/11 Through the Looking Glass: Introduction/ Basic Principles of Technical Writing Recommended: Markel: Preparing Job-Application Materials; Markel: Intro to Technical Writing

07/12 Litmus: Class Canceled in Lieu of Individual Interviews Writing Due: Resumés and Application Letters

07/13 Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics (1): Ethics ENGL 308 001, Winslow, 5

Reading Due: Markel: Understanding Ethical and Legal Considerations

07/14 Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics (2): Spin City and the Memo: Writing Due: Memo draft for peer review

07/15 Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics (3): Applying the Formula Reading Due: Katz – Ethic of Expediency

Week Two: Rhetoric, Tech Writing, PACS

07/18 Self-Inflicted Wounds (1): Technical Writing: Persuasion, Argument, Identification Reading Due: Herrick – Overview of Rhetoric

07/19 Self-Inflicted Wounds (2): Technical Writing: Purpose, Audience, Context, Stance (PACS) Reading Due: Markel – Intro to Tech Writing

07/20 Self-Inflicted Wounds (3): Technical Writing: Rhetorical Principles (PACS, Clarity, Brevity) Reading Due: Anderson – Defining Objectives

07/21 The Hidden Memo-ry (1): Writing good memos Reading Due: Reep – Letters, Memos, and Email

07/22 The Hidden Memo-ry (2): Writing good memos Writing Due: Memo Assignment Draft

Week Three: Usability; Instructions; Disciplinary project

07/25 Crackers Don’t Matter: Usability Reading Due: Barnum – Usability Writing Due: Final Memo

07/26 Beware of Dog (1): Writing good instructions Reading Due: Markel - Instructions

07/27 Beware of Dog (2): Writing good instructions Writing Due: Group Instructions Due

07/28 Different Destinations (1): Drafting Day for Disciplinary Project Recommended Reading: Reep – Types of Reports

07/29 Different Destinations (2): Drafting Day for Disciplinary Project

Week Four: Final Class Projects and Oral Presentation Preparation ENGL 308 001, Winslow, 6

08/01 Taking the Stone: Disciplinary Round Table/ Beginning the Final Projects Writing Due: Disciplinary Project Reading Due: Reep – Types of Reports 08/02 We’re So Screwed (1): Document Design Reading Due: Reep – Document Design; Moore and Fitz – Using Gestalt Theory

08/03 We’re So Screwed (2): Drafting in PowerPoint Reading Due: Review Above

08/04 We’re So Screwed (3): Principles of Oral Presentations Reading Due: Markel – Oral Presentations

08/05 We’re So Screwed (4): Work Exchange Writing Due: Drafts of Projects and Presentations

Week Five:

08/08 Into the Lion’s Den (1): Lamb’s to the Slaughter Writing Due: Oral Presentations

08/09 Into the Lion’s Den (2): Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing Writing Due: Oral Presenations

08/10 What we leave behind: Final Day of Classes Writing Due: Final Projects

Helpful Links

Bill Klein’s Technical Writing Resources Page: More links than you can shake a stick at. Compiled by Dr. Bill Klein at the University of Missouri-Saint Louis, a tech writing expert and academic professional.

University of Arizona Writing Center. An excellent resource for individual help here on campus. The writing center is staffed by writing professionals and undergraduate students who are trained to provide one-on-one assistance. Appointments can cover anything from close reading, style discussions, or assignment reviews.

The CATSCLAW Writing Center: This center specializes in helping student athletes by focusing on helping students become better writers as the first step in improving writing. The staff consists of several English Department graduate students and undergraduate writing instructors.

The Writing Skills Improvement Program: WSIP specializes in all levels of writing assistance. They regularly hold office hours and small meetings that ENGL 308 001, Winslow, 7 are focused on common first-year composition assignments. In addition, they hold seminars, workshops, and discussions for technical writing, dissertations, and drafting professional academic documents. Their entire staff is PhD qualified; an invaluable resource!

University of Arizona Library: Need I say more? The library has information and links for all your disciplinary, interdisciplinary, and recreational interests. Whether you’re looking for a Stephen King novel or Aristotle’s Topica, the library can point you in the right direction. Also, each librarian is a specialist in information management and have forgotten more about how to find information than the rest of us will ever know. I highly recommend developing friendly relationships with the librarians and visit them with problems as often as any professor. http://www.library.arizona.edu/askalibrarian/

Library Resources in Rhetoric and Composition, by Sheril Hook, Fine Arts/Humanities Librarian, 621-9919. Email her at [email protected].

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