ENGL 2311 Technical Writing (Fall 2017)
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.
Office Hours:
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Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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Office 10-11
Office 12:30-2
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Office 5:30-6:30
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Office 10-11
Office 12:30-2
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Available via the CANVAS INBOX in real time from 8 a.m. till 10 a.m. |
Available via the CANVAS INBOX in real time from 8 a.m. till 10 a.m.
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Contact me any time, 7 days a week, via the CANVAS INBOX. It might be a few hours, but I will check at least daily throughout the semester--especial when major assignments are due.
Textbook:
Tebeaux, Elizabeth and Sam Dragga. The Essentials of Technical Communication, 3rd ed. Oxford University Press, ISBN: 978-0-19-9379996.
[Rev. Fall 2014]
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]
Core Objectives
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]
Grading Policy and Procedures (Categories of Assignments)
- Discussions and Attendance/Participation: 40%
- Written Assignments: 20%
- Midterm, Major Papers, Final: 40%
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Grades are holistic, based on the following rubric:
- A: Clearly superior
- B: Excellent
- C: Good
- D: Passable
- F: Not appropriate for a college level-writing course
The last day to withdraw is November 9
Scholastic Integrity
Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but not be limited to cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion. SeeStudent 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]
Attendance Policy
Regular and punctual attendance is expected of all students in all classes for which they have registered. All absences are considered to be unauthorized unless the student is absent due to illness or emergencies as determined by the instructor. It is the student responsibility to provide documentation as to the emergency for approval and judgement by the faculty member. Approved college sponsored activities are the only absences for which a student should not be held liable and only when provided by a college official ahead of the absence. Valid reasons for absence, however, do not relieve the student of the responsibility for making up required work. Students will not be allowed to make up an examination missed due to absence unless they have reasons acceptable to the instructor. A student who is compelled to be absent when a test is given should petition the instructor, in advance if possible, for permission to postpone the exam. Student will be dropped from a class by the Registrar upon recommendation of the instructor who feels the student has been justifiably absent or tardy a sufficient number of times to preclude meeting the course’s objectives. Persistent, unjustified absences from classes or laboratories will be considered sufficient cause for College officials to drop a student from the rolls of the College. From Board Policy FC (LOCAL)
Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is November 9, 2017.
ADA Statement
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.
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 (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
[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-free Campus
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]
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Calendar of the Course
Week One: August 28-September 3
Institutional Focus: Personal Responsibility (PR)- to include the ability to connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision-making
Proposal: A Film in Six Episodes on the Carolina Backcountry 1763-1783
Next Week: Create and bring a computer generated Resumé
Week Two: September 4-10 Labor Day Holiday
Resumé
Week Three: September 11-17
Research Planning: Who, What, When, Where, How?
The Ethical Annotated Bibliography
Week Four: September 18-24
Presentations of Initial Research
Week Five: September 25-October 1
Plots and Characters and sellable conflicts for six episodes
Week Six: October 2-8
Formal Memo reporting status
Week Seven: October 9-15
Formal Proposal
Week Eight: October 16-22 Midterm
Panel Presentations
Week Nine: October 23-29
Log Lines, Titles, Elevator Pitches
Week Ten: October 30-November 5
The Brief
Week Eleven: November 6-12 November 9: last day to withdraw
Research Consolidation and Final Report
Week Twelve: November 13-19
Formal Submission Memo
Week Thirteen: November 20-26 Thanksgiving Holiday
Workshop: The Final Proposal
Week Fourteen: November 27-December 3
Final Proposal Heading Final Portfolio.
Week Fifteen: December 4-10
Exit Interview Letter and Revised Resumé
Week Sixteen: December 11-14
Final Exams