COURSE SYLLABUS AND CALENDAR
Technical Writing Fall - 2017
ENGL 2311.400 Dr. White
Catalog Description:
Intensive study of and practice in professional settings. Focus on the types of documents necessary to make decisions and take action on the job, such as proposals, reports, instructions, policies, procedures, e-mail messages, letters, and descriptions of products and services. Practice individual and collaborative processes involved in the creation of ethical and efficient documents [Rev. Spring 2014 THECB]
Prerequisite: Satisfactory placement test score or passing grade in ENGL 0305.
Textbook and Required Materials:
Tebeaux, Elizabeth and Sam Dragga. The Essentials of Technical Communication, 3rd ed. Oxford University Press, ISBN: 978-0-19-9379996. [Rev. Fall 2014]
Instructor: Emily White, PhD Office Phone: (940) 498-6431
Email: ewhite@nctc.edu, or through Canvas Office: 339
Office Hours: Mon & Wed 8:00-9:30; 1:00 – 3:00
Tues & Thurs 8:00 – 9:30; 2:00 – 3:00
Friday – Programming/Tutoring
Or by appointment
Writing Assignment I 30%
Writing Assignment II 30%
Writing Assignment III 30%
Final Exam 10%
Learning Outcomes:
Students who successfully complete English 2311 will meet the following learning outcomes:
- Recognize, analyze, and accommodate diverse audiences.
- Produce documents appropriate to audience, purpose, and genre.
- Analyze the ethical responsibilities involved in technical communication.
- Locate, evaluate, and incorporate pertinent information.
- Develop verbal, visual, and multimedia materials as necessary, in individual and/or collaborative projects, as appropriate.
- Edit for appropriate style, including attention to word choice, sentence structure, punctuation, and spelling.
- Design and test documents for easy reading and navigation. [Rev. 8-2012 THECB]
Foundational Component Area: Communication
Courses in this category focus on developing ideas and expressing them clearly, considering the effect of the message, fostering understanding, and building the skills needed to communicate persuasively. Courses involve the command of oral, aural, written, and visual literacy skills that enable people to exchange messages appropriate to the subject, occasion, and audience.
- Critical Thinking Skills (CT)- to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information
- Communication Skills (COM)- to include effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through written, oral, and visual communication
- Teamwork (TW)- to include the ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal
- Personal Responsibility (PR)- to include the ability to connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision-making [Rev. 5-2014 THECB]
Scholastic Dishonesty:
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, #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 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:
- Turning in someone else's ideas, opinions, theories, or work as your own;
- 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;
- Copying words, ideas, or images from someone without giving credit; Failing to put a quotation in quotations marks;
- Giving incorrect information about the source of information, quotations, or images;
- Changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit;
- 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. [Rev. 3-20-2012–Plagiarism text added cb]
NOTE: Students who plagiarize in English 2311 will fail the course.
ACCESS:
North Central Texas College does not discriminate on the basis of disability for admission or access to its programs. The College is committed to providing equal access to its students with disabilities by providing appropriate accommodations; a variety of services and resources are made available through the ACCESS Department. Students are responsible for notifying the ACCESS Department of their need for assistance. Students with documented disabilities, such as mobility impairment, hearing or visual impairment, learning, and/or psychological disorders are eligible for services.
Attendance Policy:
Because each day of instruction is important, attendance to each class meeting is imperative and mandatory. Students who miss more than 6 classes will fail the course, regardless of your writing ability or current GPA. No exceptions. I will consider weather and traffic issues on a case-by-case basis. Remember that you have enrolled in a class for which consistent and habitual attendance is vital to your passing the class. It is your responsibility to be a member of the class for which you enrolled.
Please arrive to class on time. Students who arrive to class more than 10 minutes late two times throughout the term will be counted absent on their 3rd tardy. If late behavior becomes a problem, the door will be locked so as to not distract from students entering the room after class has begun.
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 distraction-reduced environment, volunteer 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 Building (100) or call 940-668-4209. Students on the Bowie, Graham, Flower Mound, and online campuses should call 940-668-4209 to arrange for an intake appointment with OSD.
North Central Texas College is on record as being 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).
http://www.nctc.edu/StudentServices/SupportServices/Disabilityservices/DisabilitiesFacultyResources.aspx
[Rev. 7/25/2012 per Brent Wallace/Mary Martinson]
EEOC Statement:
North Central Texas College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, or disability in the employment or the provision of services.
Tobacco Policy:
NCTC restricts the use of all tobacco products including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, electronic cigarettes, and smokeless tobacco on campus property. NCTC is aware that tobacco use influences underage students, which cumulates unsightly tobacco litter and interferes with assuring clean air for all who come to NCTC. NCTC recognizes the health hazards of tobacco use and of exposure to second hand smoke. Information on a tobacco cessation program is available for students, faculty, staff who wish to stop using tobacco products. We would like to "thank you" for your help in making our campuses Tobacco-Free. For questions or concerns, please contact the Office of Vice President of Student Services at 940-668-4240. [Rev. 5-2014].
Important Policies:
Do not: text, accept incoming calls, or use your cell phone, ipod, ipad, laptop, or any electronic device during class. Please place all electronics under your desk, in your backpack, or in your purse, and do not use them during class. This includes: leaving class, going to the bathroom, and listening to music or texting from the bathroom during class time. Students who use their phones in class for any reason will be asked to leave class, and will be counted absent for the day.
Do not wear ear buds to class, even if your stereo device is turned off.
You may bring a small, odorless snack or covered container of drink to class. Do not bring a meal to class. Do not bring wet foods to class. Do not bring any food item possessing an odor to class.
ENGL 2311.400
COURSE CALENDAR
Events subject to change; check email regularly for modifications and updates.
MONDAY, AUGUST 28:
ACTIVITY: Welcome! Syllabus; Course Calendar; Class Expectations.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30:
ACTIVITY: Discuss writing purposes with examples
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4:
ACTIVITY: Labor Day! No Classes.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6:
ACTIVITY: Discuss assignments.
READ FOR NEXT TIME: Chapter I (Characteristics of Writing at Work) pp. 3-13
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11:
ACTIVITY: Discuss Chapter I
READ FOR NEXT TIME: Chapter II (Writing for your Readers) pp. 15-34
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13:
ACTIVITY: Discuss Chapter II; Plagiarism Workshop
READ FOR NEXT TIME: Chapter III (Writing Ethically) pp. 38-55
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18:
ACTIVITY: Discuss Chapter III with examples.
READ FOR NEXT TIME: Chapter VII (Emails, Texts, Memos, and Letters) pp. 151-174
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20:
ACTIVITY: Discuss Writing Assignment I
ASSIGN: Writing Assignment I – Case Studies and Cover Letters
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25:
ACTIVITY: Workshop – Time Management
READ FOR NEXT TIME: Chapter XII (Resume’s and Job Applications) pp. 344-365
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27:
ACTIVITY: Discuss resumes and cover letters
MONDAY, OCTOBER 2:
ACTIVITY: Lab Day-Class Composition with conference.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4:
ACTIVITY: Peer Review – Writing Assignment I
DUE: Writing Assignment I (Friday, October 6 by 11:59 pm)
MONDAY, OCTOBER 9:
ACTIVITY: Documentary Analysis
READ FOR NEXT TIME: Chapter IX (Proposals and Progress Reports) pp. 233-272
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11:
ACTIVITY: Documentary Analysis
ASSIGN: Writing Assignment II –Informational Analysis of Documentary
MONDAY, OCTOBER 16:
ACTIVITY: Declare documentary for analysis.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18:
ACTIVITY: Compose essay in class.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 23:
ACTIVITY: Workshop
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25:
ACTIVITY: Peer Review – Writing Assignment II
DUE: Writing Assignment II (Friday, October 27 by 11:59 pm)
MONDAY, OCTOBER 30:
ACTIVITY: Discuss Writing Assignment III
ASSIGN: Writing Assignment III – Proposal and Oral Report
READ FOR NEXT TIME: Chapter XI (Oral Reports) pp. 309-335
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1:
ACTIVITY: Lab Day-Compose in class with conference
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6:
ACTIVITY: TBA
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8:
ACTIVITY: Peer Review I – Writing Assignment III
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 13:
ACTIVITY: Peer Review II– Writing Assignment III
DUE: Writing Assignment III (Tuesday, November 14 by 11:59 pm)
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15:
ACTIVITY: Presentations
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20:
ACTIVITY: Presentations
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22:
ACTIVITY: Thanksgiving Break. No Classes.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 27:
ACTIVITY: Presentations critique
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29:
ACTIVITY: Morgan Spurlock and Argument
MONDAY, DECEMBER 4:
ACTIVITY: TBA
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6:
ACTIVITY: Review for final exam
FINAL EXAM
Monday, December 11
9:30-10:50
Important Dates:
August 27 Last Day of 100% Refund for Courses Dropped
September 28 Last Day to withdraw from a class with a grade of 'W' for 1st 8 Week
October 23 Last Day of 100% Refund for Courses Dropped 2nd 8 Week Semester
November 9 Last day to withdraw from a class with 'W' for regular semester 16 Week Session
November 23 Last Day to withdraw from a class with a 'W' for 2nd 8 Week Session