The North Central Texas College (NCTC) Course Syllabus provides the following as required by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB):

1. a brief description of the course including each major course requirement, assignment and examination;
2. the learning objectives for the course;
3. a general description of the subject matter of each lecture or discussion; and
4. any required or recommended readings. 

Contact information for the instructor is also provided. The Course Syllabus also provides institutional information to indicate how this course supports NCTC’s purpose and mission. Information specific to a particular section of the course will be included in the Class Syllabus and distributed to enrolled students. 

REQUIRED OR RECOMMENDED COURSE MATERIALS

The Essentials of Technical Communication

COURSE REQUIREMENTS, EVALUATION METHODS AND GRADING CRITERIA

• Quizzes: 10%
• Weekly Memos and Discussion Board Postings: 20%
• Cover Letter and Resume: 5%
• Evidence of Writing Process: 5%
• Manual: 20%
• Research Proposal: 5%
• Research Report: 30%
• Oral Presentation: 5%

INSTITUTIONAL LEARNING GOALS 

• A quality general education curriculum in all associate degree programs.
• Quality freshman and sophomore level courses in arts and sciences which parallel the lower division offerings of four-year colleges and universities.
• Quality technical programs leading directly to careers in semi-skilled and skilled occupations, and quality technical education programs up to two years in length leading to certificates and associate degrees.
• Quality programs and services in support of adult literacy and basic skills development as a mean of workforce enhancement and expanding access to higher education.

PROGRAM PURPOSE STATEMENT

NCTC seeks to implement its goal of providing quality freshman and sophomore level courses in arts and sciences that parallel the lower division offerings of four-year colleges and universities by offering a coherent sequence of courses with appropriate breadth and depth to prepare student for transfer to a university.

DEPARTMENTAL PURPOSE STATEMENT

The Department of English, Speech, and Foreign Language provides quality instruction to students pursuing their academic and career goals.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students who successfully complete English 2311 will meet the following learning outcomes:

1. Recognize, analyze, and accommodate diverse audiences.
2. Produce documents appropriate to audience, purpose, and genre.
3. Analyze the ethical responsibilities involved in technical communication.
4. Locate, evaluate, and incorporate pertinent information.
5. Develop verbal, visual, and multimedia materials as necessary, in individual and/or collaborative projects, as appropriate.
6. Edit for appropriate style, including attention to word choice, sentence structure, punctuation, and spelling.
7. Design and test documents for easy reading and navigation.

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

Financial Aid, Scholarships, and Veterans Services: The Financial Aid Office is responsible for administering a variety of programs for students who need assistance in financing their education.  The first step for financial aid is to complete a FAFSA.  For more information, please visit your nearest Financial Aid Office. 

Disability Accommodations: The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides accommodations for students who have a documented disability. A disability is anything that can interfere with learning, such as a learning disability, psychological challenge, physical illness or injury. Accommodations may include extra time on tests, tests in a non-distracting environment, note taker in class, etc. On the Corinth Campus go to room 170 or call 940-498-6207.  On the Gainesville Campus go to room 110 in the Administration (100) Building or call 940-668-7731 ext. 4321.  North Central Texas College is committed to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, ADA Amendments Act of 2009, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-112).

Student Success: The Student Success Center is designed to help all students at NCTC develop tools to achieve their academic goals.  This program also links students to FREE tutoring, including a Writing Center, a Math Lab, and free 24/7 online tutoring and helps new students acclimate to college by providing computer lab services for prospective students.  All students are invited to visit the Student Success Center on the Corinth Campus go to rooms 170, 182, or 188; on the Gainesville Campus go to rooms 114 or 111; on the Flower Mound Campus go to room 111, on the Bowie Campus go to room 124.

Last day to Withdraw: Last day to drop a class with grade of “W” is November 9, 2017.

Student Rights & Responsibilities: NCTC Board policy FLB (Local) Student Rights and Responsibilities states that each student shall be charged with notice and knowledge of the contents and provisions of the rules and regulations concerning student conduct.  These rules and regulations are published in the Student Handbook published in conjunction with the College Catalog.  All students shall obey the law, show respect for properly constituted authority, and observe correct standards of conduct.

Scholastic Integrity – Plagiarism:  Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but not be limited to cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion. See Student Handbook “Student Rights & Responsibilities: Student Conduct [FLB- (LOCAL)]” #18. Disciplinary Actions [Student Handbook, p. 164, #5] “When cheating, collusion, or plagiarism has occurred beyond any reasonable doubt, the instructor may give the student or students involved an “F” on a particular assignment or in the course. [See Scholastic Dishonesty FLB (Local)] The instructor shall make a written report of the incident and of the planned action to his or her Department Chair. The Department Chair shall report the incident and action to appropriate instructional dean who shall review the case, notify the student and, if necessary, take further action. This may involve either probation or suspension of the student or students in question. If such disciplinary action is deemed necessary, the Dean of Student Services shall be notified, and the action shall be taken through that office.”

Plagiarism, which should be avoided at all costs, includes the following student actions:

1. Turning in someone else's ideas, opinions, theories, or work as your own;
2. Unintentionally or inadvertently turning in someone else's ideas, opinions, theories, or work as your own as the result of failing to document sources both internally and in the Works Cited;
3. Copying words, ideas, or images from someone without giving credit; Failing to put a quotation in quotations marks;
4. Giving incorrect information about the source of information, quotations, or images;
5. Changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit; and/or
6. Copying so many words, ideas, or images from a source that it makes up the majority of the student's work, whether or not the student gives credit.

Please be aware that I take plagiarism very seriously.  You may not have another person write, type, edit, or revise any parts of your Writing Assignments. You may not use someone else’s Writing Assignment or buy one from a “professional” source. You may not use material on the internet or in print sources without documenting it. Failure to follow the proper guidelines for documentation constitutes plagiarism. 

Considering the severity of the issue, if you ever have any questions or concerns regarding plagiarism, please consider this an open invitation to visit with me about the issue. If I discover that a student has committed intentional plagiarism, the Writing Assignment that has plagiarized materials will receive a zero, and I will recommend to the English Department Head that the student fail the course.

ADDITIONAL COURSE INFORMATION: EVALUATION OF MAJOR WRITING ASSIGNMENTS

• “A” Work:  This writing is excellent and demonstrates excellence in development, organization, style and tone, and mechanics. There is clear evidence of the writing process (invention, drafting, revision, editing, and proofreading).  
  • A = 95  
  • A- = 92  
  • A-/B+ = 90

• “B” Work: This is good work and delivers substantial information—that is, substantial in both quantity and interest-value. It is well-developed and unified around a clear organizing principle that is apparent early in the piece. There is evidence of the writing process.  
  • B+ = 87  
  • B = 85
  • B- = 82
  • B-/C+ = 80
• “C” Work: This is an average piece that is generally competent in its development, organization, style and tone, and mechanics.  It meets the needs for the assignment, has few mechanical errors, and is reasonably organized and developed. This piece also shows some evidence of the writing process. 
  • C+ = 77
  • C = 75
  • C- = 72
  • C-/D+ = 70

• “D” Work:  This is below-average work that lacks develop and/or is not effectively organized to facilitate reader’s understanding.  The paper also shows little or no evidence of the writing process. 
  • D+ = 67
  • D = 65
  • D- = 62

• “F” Work:  This work fails in all aspects of the evaluation criteria.  There is no evidence of the writing process and the paper fails in all aspects of development, organization, style, and mechanics.
  • F (work submitted and attempted) = 55
  • F (no work submitted or attempted) = 0

OTHER AREAS OF CONSIDERATION

Attendance Requirements: Attendance, in both online and face-to-face courses, is required.  Because this course progresses very quickly, I reserve the right to block from this course students who fail to complete assignments for more than one week. Students who are blocked MUST contact the registrar's office and withdraw from the course, or they will receive a semester grade of F. 

Email Correspondence: I reserve 24 hours to respond to students’ emails. Emails sent to me become my personal property and I may disclose them to third parties if I determine it’s necessary.  Emails constitute correspondence between instructor and student; therefore, remember your audience when sending me emails. Email correspondence may contribute positively or negatively to your professionalism grade.

Late-Work Policy: As a general rule, I do not accept late work. With that being said, if you have extraordinary circumstances that you discuss with me ahead of time (not after the assignment is due) and prove with documentation, I may allow a late submission. What is an extraordinary circumstance? A death in your immediate family, a hospitalization, your home flooded, etc. You can't proceed in the course until you complete the major assignments. I want you to be successful in this course, so it's imperative that work is submitted on time.

Professionalism: Your college courses are also opportunities for you to learn what it means to be a “professional” in your field. Therefore, I expect you to act like a “professional” student in this course. Consider these suggestions:

• Prepare and participate meaningfully in online discussion boards.
• Be assertive. (An assertive student exhausts all available resources of information before contacting me. In other words, read the assignment sheet closely before e-mailing me to ask how many sources are required in your paper, and if you are unsure how to cite a source, look it up in your handbook or a credible, online source—such as The Purdue Owl or a handbook.)
• Consider the quality (and effort) of required drafts, notes, and daily assignments.
• Turn in writing assignments on-time and as assigned.
• Mind the quality and tone of email correspondence.

Rough Drafts: For instruction manual and research report, you will be required to show evidence of the writing process by presenting several rough drafts. If you do not show evidence of the writing process, I will not evaluate your work.

Writing Assignments: All major writing assignments are required.  If you fail to turn in one of the major assignments (i.e., instruction manual, proposal, research report), you cannot pass the course. You must also complete/attempt all minor assignments in a unit. I reserve the right to administratively drop any student who does not submit all major and minor assignments.