ENGL 393H, Blended s1

Crane ENGL 393H

ENGL 393H, Blended Technical Writing (honors) Fall 2017

Instructor: Dr. Christopher “Chip” Crane Section: BL01 Meeting time & place:

Office: Tawes Hall (TWS)1204 (main entrance and down the right-hand hallway) Office Hours: Mon 2:00-3:15 (basically before class) or by appointment Email: [email protected] Cell phone: 410-507-6938

Course Description The primary purpose of this course is to prepare you to write technical material clearly when you enter the workplace. What is technical material? What is technical writing? You might be surprised at the wide range of documents we consider “techincal writing.” During this course we will examine and practice creating some of those.

The course will involve some lecture, a lot of dicsussion, a good bit of reading, and several writing assignments.

Course Objectives If you engage fully with the material and assignments in this course, you should learn to  design sentences, paragraphs, sections, chapters, visual components, and entire documents for clarity and accessibility for a specific audience, purpose and context  understand how writing contributes to your future career in a technical field;  analyze the various roles that documents play in your particular field;  research some genres and styles particular to their intended career field;  design projects that exemplify a particular genre and style;  collaborate with others in evaluating and improving one another’s work;  integrate visual rhetoric into documents;  develop documents for employment and professional school applications;  understand moral and ethical issues as they relate to health writing and research;  customize the design and development processes for a document project in accordance with professional standards, specifications, and style guides.

Technical Proficiencies In order to succeed in this course, you will need the following skills: • exchanging email, including file attachments

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• downloading files from the Internet (with proper attribution) • completing files in a word processor, including the insertion of graphics files • creating a formatted résumé and brochure • giving computer-based presentations

Assignments and Grading All PWP courses require six graded assignments totaling at least 25 pages of writing, not including rough drafts. The following summarizes the Major Writing Assignments (MWA) in the course and their respective proportions of the overall course grade, along with the proportions of other components of your grade:

MWA# 1. What Is It?: Definition and Desription Assignment – 10% 2. Proposal with Executive Summary– 10% 3. Science vs. the Media: Using and Evaluating Sources –10% 4. How Do You Do It?: Procedures and Instructions – 10% 5. Major Document (i.e. Final Project), including several graded elements – 30% Note: The Major Document is a course requirement; you must complete it to pass the course. You cannot just take a 0 on it an hope to pass. 6. Job or Internship Application Materials: Resume & Cover letter – 10%

Other graded components  Discussion posts, reading quizzes, and other short writing exercises – 10%  Class participation – 10% (includes attendance, online participation, peer review exercises, in-class activities, class discussion contribution, assembly of final portfolio, and general professionalism)

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Grading Scale For all numerically graded assignments

A+ = 100 C = 73- 75 A = 93-99 C- = 70-72 A- = 90-92 D+ = 66-69 B+ = 86-89 D = 63- 65 B = 83- 85 D- = 60-62 B- = 80-82 F = 59 or below C+ = 76-79

Note: Short writing assignments, reading quizzes, and peer review worksheets will usually receive a √ , √ +, or √ -. These indicate that your work was at, above, or below my expectations, respectively. These marks, the initiative you take with revisions, and actual improvement you show will count toward your homework and class participation grades.

Course Policies Please read the university’s Course Related Policy page for standard policies that apply to all courses.

Professionalism With few exceptions, attendance is required. No excuses. If you miss a session, including one of our scheduled conferences, you are expected to explain your absence in an email to me; you must also stay current with the class by contacting another student. We will often cover essential material in class for which you are responsible whether absent or not. Tardiness to class is unprofessional and unacceptable.

Late work is also unacceptable. Unless I specify otherwise, assigned work must be turned in to me in class on the due date. I will occasionally extend a deadline for special circumstances, but you should discuss your circumstances with me at least a week in advance. The penalty for late work submitted without prior arrangement is a letter grade (10 points) for each work day (M-F) past the due date it is late. Also, missing required draft submissions or workshops may result in a reduction in the final grade for the project.

Timeliness (of your attendance and your assignments): is really an element of the overall high level professionalism I expect from you. You are far enough along in your academic careers to be training for (or at least looking ahead to consider) a specific profession. I expect, therefore, that you will conduct yourselves in class and in your work like the professionals you aspire to become.

Attendance: I expect you to inform me in advance of medically necessary absences and present a self-signed note documenting the date of the missed class(es) and testifying to the need for the absence. This note must include an acknowledgement 3 [Type text] [Type text] [Type text]

that (a) the information provided is true and correct, and (b) that the student understands that providing false information to University officials is a violation of Part 9(h) of the Code of Student Conduct. The university’s policies on medical and other absences can be found at: http://www.umd.edu/catalog/index.cfm/show/content.section/c/27/ss/1584/s/1540

Prolonged absence or illness preventing attendance from class requires written documentation from the Health Center and/or health care provider verifying dates of treatment when student was unable to meet academic responsibilities.

Absence due to religious observance will not be penalized; however, it is the student’s responsibility to notify the instructor within the first 3 weeks of class regarding any religious observance absence(s) for the entire semester. The calendar of religious holidays can be found at http://faculty.umd.edu/teach/attend_student.html#religious

Class Participation Class participation is essential. Contribute constructively to the course, even if by simply asking good questions. All of you have had experiences from which other students in the class can benefit. Professional communication includes a set of crafts that are practiced differently in different fields; therefore, you add to one another’s fields by working together. Even if you are just beginning to take courses in your major, you have knowledge that neither I nor the other students in the class possess. Even if you are more advanced in your major studies, you still need to be exposed to other fields.

I will consider the following classroom activities as detrimental to class discussion and class participation and therefore detrimental to your grade: • computer use unrelated to the course, including unauthorized emailing or messaging • use of a cell phone for conversation or text messaging • misuse of computer equipment during course activities

I may, from time to time, remind the class or specific individuals of the unprofessionalism of these activities; however, I may choose not to disrupt class with a comment and yet still make a note in my records. If you do these things in class, it should not surprise you if at the end of the semester your grade is significantly lower than the sum of just your assignment grades.

Office Hours / Contacting Me / Conferences My office hours and contact information are at the top of this syllabus. Normally I will be in my office during these times, though I may occasionally be out. I encourage you, therefore, to schedule an appointment with me during these times so I will know to expect you. If these hours will not work for you, we may be able to find another time to meet or else confer via phone or email.

If you email me with a question, I will normally get back to you within one working day

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(24 hours during the week) and at the most within 72 hours. I usually do not check my UMD email account over the weekend. As part of participation and attendance, you will confer with me on your Long project twice during the semester. Being absent from a scheduled conference counts as a class absence.

Writing Center I encourage all of you to make use of the Writing Center. Through an interactive consultation, a tutor can help you at any stage of the writing process. The Writing Center will not turn a D quality paper to an A paper for you, but the staff can help you develop the skills you need to successfully move your paper to the next step in the process. The Writing Center is located near the entrance to Tawes across from the PWP Office and provides appointment and walk-in hours during the week. Although the staff will not “correct” or “proofread” your papers, they can help you review and improve your English composition skills. Your visits to the WC are documented and forwarded to me.

Career Center Students may wish to make use of the resources of the Career Center, particularly in preparing job, internship, graduate school, or professional school application materials. If you do use the center, please be aware that their approach to some job application materials may differ from what we cover in the course assignments. Our work together will focus on the rhetorical situation between writer and reader, which may differ from the more practical criteria in vogue in one or another job market.

Pre-Professional Office The pre-professional office (health) provides information and support on the application process for graduate and professional schools.

Academic Integrity Plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty are not acceptable in this or any course. Please visit the website of UMD’s Professional Writing Program for more information on these policies, as you will be held strictly to them. The University of Maryland, College Park has a nationally recognized Code of Academic Integrity, administered by the Student Honor Council. As a student you are responsible for upholding the standards of the Code for this course. For more information on the Code of Academic Integrity or the Student Honor Council, please visit http://www.studenthonorcouncil.umd.edu/whatis.html.

The student-administered Honor Code and Honor Pledge prohibit students from cheating on exams, plagiarizing papers, submitting the same paper for credit in two courses without authorization, buying papers, submitting fraudulent documents and forging signatures. For every writing assignment not specifically exempted by me, students must write by hand and sign the following pledge: I pledge on my honor that I have not given or received any unauthorized assistance on this examination (or assignment). Allegations of academic dishonesty will be reported directly to the Student Honor

Council: http://www.shc.umd.edu .

Course Evaluations At the end of the course, I will ask you to complete two evaluations. One is the standard university produced evaluation that you can complete on-line. The second is a departmental evaluation at the end of the semester. You cannot complete this on-line. It is a paper evaluation that must be done in class. Your participation in this official system is critical to the success of the process, and all information submitted to CourseEvalUM is confidential. (Instructors can only view group summaries of evaluations and cannot identify which submissions belong to which students.)

Students with disabilities: The University of Maryland is committed to providing appropriate accommodations for students with disabilities. Students with a documented disability should inform the instructors within the add-drop period if academic accommodations are needed. To obtain an Accommodation Letter prepared by Disability Support Service (DSS), a division of the University Counseling Center, please call 301- 314-7682, e-mail [email protected], or visit the Shoemaker Building for more information.

Copyright notice Class lectures and other materials are copyrighted and they may not be reproduced for anything other than personal use without written permission from the instructor.

In Case of Inclement Weather or Emergency which closes the University or otherwise causes the cancellation of class, you should continue with all reading assignments and other work as scheduled unless you hear otherwise from me via email or ELMS/Canvas posting.

Academic Accommodations for Students Who May Experience Sexual Misconduct The University of Maryland is committed to providing support and resources, including academic accommodations, for students who experience sexual or relationship violence (as defined by the University’s Sexual Misconduct Policy). To report an incident and/or obtain an academic accommodation, contact the Office of Civil Rights and Sexual Misconduct at 301-405-1142. If you wish to speak confidentially, contact Campus Advocates Respond and Educate (CARE) to Stop Violence at 301-741-3555. Disclosures made to faculty are not confidential and must be reported to the Office of Civil Rights and Sexual Misconduct. For more information visit www.umd.edu/Sexual_Misconduct/.

Diversity The University of Maryland values the diversity of its student body. Along with the University, I am committed to providing a classroom atmosphere that encourages the equitable participation of all students regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, national origin, race, religion, or sexual orientation. Potential devaluation of students in the classroom that can occur by reference to demeaning stereotypes of any group and/or overlooking the contributions of a particular group to the topic under discussion is inappropriate. (See Statement on Classroom Climate,

6 Crane ENGL 393H http://www.umd.edu/catalog/index.cfm/show/content.section/c/27/ss/1584/s/1541).

This syllabus is subject to change. Students will be notified in advance of important changes that could affect grading, assignments, etc.

Required Texts Columbia Accident Investigation Board Report (CAIB), NASA, 2003. Available for free download in a few places, including  http://caib1.nasa.gov/news/report/pdf/vol1/full/caib_report_volume1.pdf  http://history.nasa.gov/columbia/CAIB%5Freportindex.html Note: You will need to bring a hard or electronic copy to class on days when we discuss readings.

Readings in these texts are listed below. You should complete all reading prior to class on the day assigned. Other required readings may be in the form of handouts (in hard copy or on ELMS) or web-based articles and other links as assigned during the semester.

Various science articles linked in ELMS or the syllabus

Various document examples linked in ELMS or the syllabus

Course Reading and Major Assignment Schedule (Changes will be promulgated via email and Canvas)

CAIB = The Columbia Accident Investigation Board report, available at NASA’s website (see link under “Required Texts,” above”). Week 1 Online  Reading and Discussion post: CAIB Intro & Ch. 1  Self-reflective essay #1

Aug 31  Course Intro—What Is Technical Writing?  Discuss CAIB Intro & Chapter 1  Definition exercise (in class) Week 2 Online Article & Discussion Post: “Partial Recall” by Michael Specter Reading and Discussion Post: CAIB Ch 2

Sept 7  Intro to Technical Communication  Writing Definitions & Descriptions & overview of Major Writing Assignment (MWA) 1

Week 3 Online  Reading and Discussion post: “A Question of Corvids,” Shiela Webster Boneham Reading and Discussion Post: CAIB sections 3.1-3.2 (pp 49-55) & Sections 3.4-3.6 (pp 59-73)

Sept 14 Audience & Purpose What makes a good document? – Discuss grading rubric Friendly Feedback: Peer Review Very rough draft of MWA1 due--Practice peer review in class  Reading and Discussion: CAIB Sections 5.1, 5.3, 5.5, 5.6, 5.8

 MWA1 Rough Draft: Definition/Description Draft DUE in ELMS Fri

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 Peer Review online DUE Mon morning

Week 4 Online MWA1: Definition/Description DUE Weds Reading and Discussion Post: “Phineas Gage: Neuroscience’s Most Famous Patient,” by Sam Kean + “Curious,” by Kim Todd

Sept 21  Reading and Discussion Post: “The Health Effects of a World Without Darkness,” by Rebecca Boyle Writing Procedures and Instructions Preparing for MWA2 Editing and revision discussion: 1. Organization 2. Does grammar matter?

Week 5 Online Reading and Discussion Post: “Chasing Bayla,” Sara Schweitzer  Editing and revision exercise

Sept 28 Final Project (MWA5) Introduction & Discussion Editing and revision discussion: Passive Voice & Concision CAIB Ch 6 (6.1-6.2, pp 121-139) MWA 2: Rough Draft, Proposal & Executive Summary DUE Fri

Week 6 Peer Review online Due Mon

Online  MWA 2: Proposal & Executive Summary Final Draft DUE Tues, Oct 3  Reading and Discussion Post: CAIB visuals, TBD  Reading and Discussion Post: “The Aftershocks,” by David Wolman“

Oct 5 Final Project Proposal Memos (discussion) CAIB – Assorted visuals Visual Rhetoric on the Web

Researching & Source Selection Discuss MWA 3

Week 7 Online  Reading and Discussion Post: “No Risky Chances,” by Atul Gawande

Oct 12 – NO CLASS: PROJECT CONFERENCES round 1 *See “Pages” in ELMS for conference sign up/schedule

 MWA 5 Final Project Proposal Memo DUE (at conference)

 MWA 3: Evaluating Sources: Experts vs. the Media Draft DUE Fri

Week 8  Peer Review DUE Mon

Online  MWA 3: Evaluating Sources: Experts vs. the Media Final Draft DUE Tues  Reading and Discussion post: CAIB, opening summaries of o Ch 4 (p 85), o Part Two (p 97), o Ch 5 (p. 99), o Ch 6 (p. 121), o Ch 7 (p 177), o Ch 8 (p.195, 1st paragraph), and o Ch 9 (p. 207)

Oct 19 –NO CLASS (due to project conferences last week) Self-reflective Essay #2 due Make up project conferences online as needed

Week 9 Online Discussion: CAIB Ch 7 (assigned sections)

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Oct 26 Document and Page Design & Graphics Email and Other Workplace Correspondence Executive Summaries

MWA 4: Proposal and Executive Summary Draft DUE Fri

Week 10 MWA 4: Proposal and Executive Summary Peer Review DUE Mon

Online  MWA 4: Proposal and Executive Summary Final Draft DUE Tues  Reading & Discussion Post: “A Pioneer as Elusive as His Particle,” by Dennis Overbye

Nov 2  Reading & Discussion: “At Risk” and “Desegregating Wilderness,” both by Jourdan Imani Keith Different kinds of reports

Week 11 Online  Reading & Discussion Post: CAIB Ch 8

Nov 9 NO CLASS: PROJECT CONFERENCES round 2 *Final project Conferences; sign up on ELMS

MWA5 Final project outline & annotated bibliography due (at conference)

Week 12 Online  Peer discussion online of Final Project outlines

Nov 16 Resumes and Cover Letters Bring resume very rough draft to class for resume scanning exercise Effective Oral Presentations Practice presentations

MWA 5 Final Project Rough Draft DUE Fri

Week 13 MWA5 Final Project Peer Review DUE Mon

Online - Nov 21  MWA 5: Final Project DUE Tues at midnight

Nov 23 – THANKSGIVING BREAK

Week 14 Online Reading & Discussion Post: CAIB Part 3: Ch 9-11 MWA6 Rough Draft of Resume & Cover Letter DUE Wed

Nov 30 Oral Presentations

MWA6 Peer review DUE Fri MWA 6 Resume & Cover Letter DUE next MONDAY

Week 15 MWA6 Resume and Cover Letter Due Mon

Online  Self-reflective essay #3 DUE

Dec 7 (last day of class) Oral Presentations