ENGLISH 2311 – Introduction to Technical Communication Instructor: Instructor’s Office: Office Hours: Email: Course Website: Textbook:

SYLLABUS

David A. Edgell, M.A. English 424 Mondays & Wednesdays 11:00 – 12:00 (email for additional times) [email protected] (DAEDGELL2311) http://moodle.english.ttu.edu (login and pick the correct section) Markel, Mike. Technical Communication. 9th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2010.

CONTACTING ME: If you need assistance with your writing for this course or have questions, please visit me during my office hours. If you need to contact me via email, you must use the email address listed above. I usually check my email daily during the week and at least once during the weekend, so you should receive a response in 2436 hours. I will treat you and your classmates in a professional manner and I expect the same from you. If you are writing me an email, for the best response, you should write it as if it was a piece of business correspondence with proper address and you should include a relevant subject line. Please feel free to make an appointment to see me in my office for more complicated issues. REQUIREMENTS: • Read all the policy statements on the course website (http://moodle.english.ttu.edu). • Read the English Department’s policies concerning ethics: (http://www.english.ttu.edu/linked_files/Ethics_in_English_for_Students.pdf). • Turn in all assignments. Materials: • Purchase the text listed above. Complete the readings and bring your textbook to class everyday. • Bring paper, a pen or pencil, and be ready to write in each class. You are required to bring additional materials to class on certain days as specified on the course website. • Electronic storage media to hold copies of all work completed and submitted for the course. USB/flash/pen drives are available from the Texas Technology store located in the SUB. • You will need to purchase two folders and other material necessary to submit your work. Technology Requirements: • Course website: You are required to set up an account on the course website: http://moodle.english.ttu.edu You are required to read announcements on the course website and check the course website for materials and readings for the next class. • Email: You are required to have an active TTU email account and check it daily. • Internet Access: You are required to have access to the Internet (provided at the TTU Library or in the Advanced Technology Learning Center in the basement of the Library). You will also need to have a valid eraider login to access the computers in the classroom. POLICIES: Attendance: Regular, punctual attendance is required for this course and it is my expectation that you will attend every class. You are required to sign a daily attendance sheet to be counted as present and you will be counted as absent if you do not sign in. If you are tardy, you are responsible for signing in late. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to contact a classmate and have them update you on material covered in class. Do not email me to find out what you missed in class or what we covered. Similarly, do not email me to for homework assignments. Refer to the course website to answer these questions. After your fourth absence (excused or unexcused), 5% of your final grade will be deducted for each additional absence. Your Dean may be notified in accordance with University policies. After your second tardy, 1% of your final grade will be deducted per tardy. I consider students tardy when they arrive at any time after the beginning of class. If you leave class early without my permission, I will count you as absent for that class. Students cannot attend other sections or courses for attendance or participation points.

ENGLISH 2311 – Introduction to Technical Communication

SYLLABUS

Participation: I expect you to prepare for class and to participate in class activities and discussions. I expect every student to actively participate in class to succeed in this course. There will be daily exercises during the semester that will contribute to your participation grade. Most class participation exercises will be outlined on the course website, but some may occur as needed without advance notice. Unannounced exercises may occur or not occur on any day that class meets. I encourage questions. If you are uncertain about something, there is probably another person who has the same question. If you have a question during class, please raise your hand and wait until I acknowledge you. If I do not see your raised hand, please wait until there is a pause. Treat the other members of class the way you would wish to be treated. You are preparing yourselves for a professional career, now is the time to start. On any day, there may be 19 other people in this classroom and I have to try to serve everyone’s needs. I will not tolerate any belittling or aggressive behavior or language. Students are to be tolerant of others, and of ideas or opinions that differ from their own. I will not hesitate to politely remove a student or group of students from class if they are persistently disrespectful or disruptive. Those students will be marked absent for that day. Students cannot make up missed class participation points due to an unexcused absence or tardy. If you have an excused absence, I will assign you work of equal or greater difficulty, but you will need to meet with me before your excused absence. RESTRICTIONS: Electronic Devices: Students should not use cellular phones, music players, and other unauthorized electronic devices during class because they are disruptive to other students and the instructor. Turn off these electronic devices before coming into the classroom. In the event that a disruption occurs, students using these devices may be counted tardy, absent, or may be asked to leave the classroom. Student use of personal laptops or tablets is at my discretion. I reserve the right to close the lid of your laptop, confiscate or answer your cell phone, or have you put away any device for the remainder of class. Crossword and Sudoku puzzles may build your vocabulary or math skills, but they are not appropriate during a writing class. During this course, you will need to complete work in class using the available computers located in the classroom. This time is scheduled so that you can get a head start on your assignments and have a chance to ask me questions while you work. Do not access or check any website that does not directly apply to the assignment. Deadlines: Deadlines for turning in your work are firm. I will accept late major course assignments; however, late course assignments will receive a 20% deduction from the assigned grade for every calendar day it is late. An assignment turned in after the end of class is late. I will not accept late class participation assignments. Students cannot submit revisions after the due date. You can email me late assignments. I will not accept a final portfolio after the assigned time. Assignment Review: You can request a change of grade on any major assignment. You will have three calendar days after the day I return the assignment to the class to request a review of your work and assignment grade. I will not accept a request beyond three days. To request a review, you must write me a formal email explaining which assignment needs to be reviewed and a detailed explanation as to why you are requesting a grade change. You should include a short summary of the criteria met for the assignment and a suggested grade you think the work should earn and why. After my review, your grade may increase, decrease, or stay the same. I reserve the right to assess your work and assign the final grade for each assignment and overall course grade. I also reserve the right to review & change the grade of any assignment at any time during the semester or within the timeframe after the course, as allowable by TTU. Extra credit is not permitted in this course. ENGL 2311 Spring 2011 -- Page 2

ENGLISH 2311 – Introduction to Technical Communication

SYLLABUS

COURSE OUTCOMES & ASSESSMENT METHODS: Analyze communication contexts rhetorically by understanding audiences, purposes, and situations • You will write technical documents that will be assessed for appropriate rhetorical responses to particular audiences, purposes, and situations. • You may complete various exercises and worksheets to help you analyze rhetorical situations. Create technical documents that solve problems and improve situations through communication • You will write technical documents that will be assessed for their effectiveness in solving problems and improving situations through communication. • You may complete peer-review and usability testing activities to help you create successful documents. Write effective technical prose • You will write technical documents that will be assessed for correctness and appropriate technical style. • You may complete style, editing, and grammar exercises. Design convincing and usable documents • You will design technical documents that will be assessed for successful visual communication, including usability, typographic clarity, and effective graphics. • You may complete exercises and analyses of technical graphics and typography. Analyze and apply the ethical responsibilities involved in technical communication • You will create technical documents that successfully negotiate the needs and rights of users and the corporations, governments, and agencies for which you might someday work. • You may complete exercises and hold discussions about ethical dilemmas in workplace writing. Communicative effectively with diverse audiences • You will create at least one technical documents focusing on communicating with an audience from a different culture. • You may complete exercises and hold discussions about different approaches to communication between cultures, such as localization and globalization. Collaborate on communication projects • You will complete at least two collaborative assignments (units 4 and 5), requiring you to manage a documentation project with a team of other students. • You may also complete exercises and activities that involve group or pair activities. RESOURCES: Textbook Website: http://bedfordstmartins.com/techcomm9e University Writing Center: http://english.ttu.edu/uwc01 English Building, First Floor East English Department Website: http://english.ttu.edu English Department Ethics Policies: http://www.english.ttu.edu/linked_files/Ethics_in_English_for_Students.pdf Support Operations for Academic Retention (SOAR): http://www.depts.ttu.edu/passcntr TECHniques Center website: http://www.depts.ttu.edu/techniques Office of the Ombuds website: http://www.depts.ttu.edu/ombuds Link on Amazon for the textbook: http://www.amazon.com/Technical-Communication-2009-2010Updates/dp/0312692161/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1293945674&sr=8-2 ACCEPTANCE OF THESE POLICIES: Continued enrollment in Mr. Edgell’s course sections constitutes acceptance of this syllabus and acceptance of any additional course policies located on the course website. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Parts of this work have come from the syllabi of many other graduate students who have taught writing courses in the past. References cited upon request.

ENGL 2311 Spring 2011 -- Page 3

ENGLISH 2311 – Introduction to Technical Communication

SYLLABUS

ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE: This schedule is subject to change during the semester and is included for initial reference only. The schedule on the course website will be the official schedule and will determine deadlines for assignments. Day

Date

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Jan 12 W Jan 17 M Jan 19 W Jan 24 M Jan 26 W Jan 31 M Feb 2 W Feb 7 M Feb 9 W

9

Feb 14 M

10 11

Feb 16 W Feb 21 M

12

Feb 23 W

13 14 15

Feb 28 M Mar 2 W Mar 7 M

16

Mar 9 W Mar 14 M Mar 16 W Mar 21 M

Chapter 9

Mar 23 W Mar 28 M Mar 30 W Apr 4 M Apr 6 W Apr 11 M Apr 13 W Apr 18 M Apr 20 W Apr 25 M Apr 27 W May 2 M May 6 F May 7 Sa

Chapter 17 Chapter 12 Chapter 19

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 S 002 S 007

Read (before this class)

Assignment Due (before or during this class)

Chapters 1, 2 Chapter 14 Chapter 7 Pages 253-283 Pages 389-395 Pages 395-422 Pages 422-425 & Websites listed on course website Chapter 3, 10 Chapter 13 Read application materials Chapter 20 & pages 346-356 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 8

Chapter 16

University Holiday Login to the website* Business email introduction (25)

Unit

Introduction

Unit Weight 0

Correspondence

100

Job Search

100

Instructions & Documentation

150

Proposals

200

Presentations

100

Interview letter (25) 1 copy of job advertisements*

Draft copy of resume, interview questions* Job Interview* Job search portfolio (100)

Usability Testing* Team Lego™ instructions & individual memo (50) University Holiday University Holiday Documentation or instructions & memo (100) Project chart and team roles* Interview memo (50) Team proposal draft (50)

Chapter 21

Team Final Proposal (150) University Holiday

Team presentations (80/20) Final Portfolio due (before 7:00PM) (200) Final Portfolio due (before 10:00AM) (200) Homework, Quizzes, & Participation* Total Points

ENGL 2311 Spring 2011 -- Page 4

200 150 1000

ENGLISH 2311 – Introduction to Technical Communication

SYLLABUS

MAJOR ASSIGNMENTS: This is a breakdown of the number of points you can potentially earn for each assignment. Unit Assignments Your Grade Correspondence Business email introduction (Individual) Letter requesting interview (Individual) Interview memo (Individual) Job search Job search portfolio (Individual) Documenting Procedures Lego instructions and usability memo (Team) Documentation or instruction set and reflective memo (Individual) Proposing Actions Proposal draft (Team) Proposal portfolio (Team) Presentations Presentation (Team) Evaluations (Individual) Final Portfolio Portfolio containing revised materials from the course. (Individual) Class Participation Homework, quizzes, class participation, job advertisements, interview questions, draft of your resume, various other documents and class exercises. Total GRADES: Points 980 - 1000 921 - 979 900 – 920 880 – 899 821 - 879 800 - 820 780 - 799 721- 779 700 – 720 680 – 699 621 – 679 600 – 620 0 - 559

Weight 25 25 50 100 50 100 50 150 80 20 200 150

1000

Letter Grade A+ A AB+ B BC+ C CD+ D DF

SAMPLE GRADING SHEET:

Name,  Your  

Section  001     Major  Assignment  1:  Introductory  Email      

Criteria Audience Design Style & Editing Structure Completion Penalty (-) Total

Comments

Maximum 8 4 4 4 5 0 25 ENGL 2311 Spring 2011 -- Page 5

Grade 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

ENGLISH 2311 – Introduction to Technical Communication

SYLLABUS

GRADING STANDARD: You can achieve the best grade by following the standards in the table below. I will use this standard when I am grading your assignments and it would be in your best interest to check your work against these recommendations before you turn it in for grading.

ENGL 2311 Spring 2011 -- Page 6