English 113: Technical Communication Winter Semester 07
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English 113: Technical Communication Winter Semester ‘07
Instructor: Dr. Ray Lacina
Office/Phone: S-9 (in the basement Fine Arts)/989-686-9389
E-mail:
Office Hours: Monday 2:00-3:00, Tuesday 12:00-2:00, Wednesday 12:00-2:00
Additional times available by appointment
INTRODUCTION
You are a person. I know that. But, if you’re entering the workforce, you are also – and will always be – a kind of a business. You will be offering your abilities, training and sweat – your product – to your employer, your coworkers and, of course, to the customers of your company – all of whom are your customers. As everyone knows, any business thrives by identifying and meeting the needs of its customers. This is why Coca Cola is flavored with sugar and not vinegar – who would want to cool their thirst with a can of vinegar?
It is the goal of this course to help you – the business – communicate effectively with all of your customers – your employers, coworkers and the customers of the company for which you work. The key to successful technical communication is, I believe, remembering that your readers are your customers – and any document that doesn’t meet their needs is a failure.
EXPECTATIONS
There are a few things I expect from you, and, in turn, there are things you can expect from me.
Your job will be to:
Attend every class fully prepared – reading done, homework completed, assignments ready.
Note: The attached schedule of assignments is TENTATIVE. Readings and homework assignments are subject to change – I will tell you at the end of each session what I expect to be done for the following class period. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to find out what homework is due for the next session.
Engage actively in your learning process.
Listen carefully to the advice of your peers and your instructor, and don’t be afraid to ask questions if that advice is unclear.
My job is to help you improve your writing. I can’t, in the traditional sense, teach you. I can introduce you to methods and techniques used by effective writers. I can share my own experiences as a writer and reader (and a long-time student) with you. I can also offer you informed advice about your own writing – a sort of writing “coach.”
COURSE GRADES
150 Quizzes on Reading/Discussions Boards
200 Technical Report
250 5 Individual Assignments
· Resume/Letter of Application (75)
· Memo (25)
·Business Letter (25)
· Technical Report Proposal/Abstract (50)
·Instructions Process Description (75)
100 Presentation
300 Group Projects
COURSE POLICIES
Attendance: You must attend class in order to learn and you are expected to attend regularly. I also expect you to arrive at each session on time, and to remain until the end of the class, and so three late arrivals or early exits will be counted as a full absence.
Late work: Homework will be collected the day it is due. Essays will be collected at the beginning of the class period in which they are due. Late papers will drop one grade for each day they are late. Quizzes on the reading cannot be made up.
Plagiarism: Representing someone else’s work as your own is a serious offense and will result in an “E” for the assignment, and may result in a failing grade for the course. Delta’s policies on plagiarism can be found in the Delta College Catalog or at www.Delta.edu/~english/plagiar.html.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
REQUIRED TEXTS
Technical Communication: Tenth Edition by John Lannon
• A collegiate dictionary is highly recommended.
REQUIRED MATERIALS
• A spiral-bound, college-ruled notebook with perforated pages to be used for notes and homework.
• A folder for submitting work.
Strongly Recommended: Storage device (Flash drive or floppy disk)
OUTCOMES AND OBJECTIVES
According to the standards set by Delta’s English Division, a successful stud ent in this class should be able to master the following outcomes and objectives:
Outcome: Explain the general administrative operations of a business.
Objectives: 1. Appreciate the trust relationship between businesses and clients.
2. Produce a written resume which demonstrates past experience, education, and community and professional involvement.
3. Prepare for a professional interview process.
Outcome: Demonstrate the ability to produce professional correspondence and documents.
Objectives: 1. Properly lay out and write a business letter.
2. Properly lay out and write the content of a memo.
3. Properly lay out and write reports.
4. Identify the differences between general written grammar rules and the guidelines which are specific to professional writing in business and industy.
5. Analyze an audience.
Outcome: Analyze work situations, in writing or group discussion.
Objectives: 1. Demonstrate the critical thinking skills required of a professional.
2. Demonstrate the group process skills required of a professional.
Outcome: Demonstrate the basic speaking skills required of a professional.
Objectives: 1. Prepare a written version of an oral presentation.
2. Give extended oral explanations of work done.
3. Provide mature oral explanations of professional problem solving.
4. Work at a mature level in small (interpersonal) groups, particularly to solve problems.
Outcome: Select, design, and construct graphic aids accurately and appropriately for use in written documents or oral presentations.
Objectives: 1. Identify purpose and audience.
2. Identify proper use of
§ Tables.
§ Charts.
§ Illustrations.
§ Computer Graphics.
3. Incorporate Visuals
§ In written reports.
§ In oral reports.
§ In electronic messages.
Outcome: Write clear and effective memos, letters, and reports which
Objectives: 1. Request assistance.
2. Provide information.
3. Provide instruction.
4. Register a complaint.
5. Respond to a complaint.
6. Report and incident.
7. Report progress of work done.
8. Report completion of work done.
9. Provide details of an investigation.
10. Provide the results of an evaluation.
11. Provide recommendations.
12. Describe a process.
13. Describe a mechanism.
14. Abstract an article or report.
Outcome: Produce and write a researched technical report.
Objectives: 1. Demonstrate familiarity with professional journals.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the interview process.
3. Demonstrate familiarity with professional and academic formats for long, formal written reports.
Outcome: Demonstrate general familiarity with communication technology.
Objectives: 1. Identify current types of audio-visual equipment and explain
their use.
2. Demonstrate general familiarity with a computer word
processing system.
Outcome: Demonstrate professional conduct.
Objectives: 1. Identify appropriate ethical behavior.
2. Identify professional liability concerns.
3. Identify the importance of networking, teamwork, and workplace cooperation.
Tentative Schedule of Readings
1/8 / Introduction to Course
1/15 / Unit One: Give the People What They Want! (Analyzing and Targeting Your Audience)
1/22 / Unit One cont.
1/29 / Unit One cont.
Due: Resume/Letter of Application
Introduction: Group Work
Small Group Exercise 1
2/5 / Unit One conclusion
Due: Memo, Letter
2/12 / Unit Two: Absolute Beginners (Process Writing/Instructions)
2/19 / Unit Two cont.
2/26 / Unit Two concl.
Due: Instructions/Process Description
Small Group Exercise 2
3/12 / Unit Three: The Technical Report
3/19 / Unit Three cont.
Due: Technical Report Proposal
3/26 / Unit Three cont.
4/2
/ Unit Three cont.
4/9 / Unit Three cont.
Small Group Exercise 3
4/16 / Unit Three concl.
Due: Technical Report
4/23 / TBA