English 314, Technical Writing, sections 1, 2, 4, and 6
Michael C. Satterwhite
Office: Carver 332
Office hours: 10:00-10:50/1:10-3:00 MWF and by appointment (Note:Fri. hours end at 12:00)
E-mail: msatterw@iastate.edu
Text: Technical Communication Today, Johnson-Sheehan, 4th edition
Wednesday Lab: Durham 91
Website: msatterw.public.iastate.edu (do not use www)
Introduction
This course is designed to introduce you to the most common forms of professional communication. To
the extent possible, we will seek real audiences for your communication and try to integrate the concerns
of your various majors in completing the assignments. The aims of the course are to help you analyze
and navigate various communication situations and the contexts in which they take place. Beyond what
you will find listed in the following sections, here are some key things to keep in mind:
1. Examples: The most complete examples of all types of documents exists on my website
listed above, not yet on the WebCT version. Not all of these documents have been converted
to PDF, so you might have difficulties when using a MAC.
2. Topic Choices: One of the best moves you can make to improve your success in the course is
to choose topics as early as possible, and even to combine topics for assignments. I believe in
efficiency; therefore, I will allow you to use documents you need to create for your job to
complete assignment requirements as long as they fit fairly well within the assignment
profile and I will be able to judge the results. (i.e.not way over my head). Also, it is
mandatory to run these types of topics past me.
3. Communication: Email is going to be your best bet, and I will try to respond to all emails
within 24 hours, if not before.
4. Compatibility: Most documents are created in PC-based Microsoft Office Products: Word,
Publisher, Excel, Power Point. If you are a MAC person or don’t have access to these
programs, you will likely need to find a way to work around these disadvantages.
Attendance
Be here. Regular attendance in this class is critical just as it will be in your professional life. You will be
allowed five absences, and wisdom dictates that you not use these absences unless necessary. There is no
distinction between excused or unexcused except where the absences impact quizzes, in-class writing
assign., and rough draft days. To make up these assignments, prior to the absence, authorization must be
obtained from me, or you will need evidence of the emergency (i.e. doctor’s note or towing receipt).
Missing scheduled meetings with myself or your writing team will be counted as an absence.
For every additional absence beyond the 5 allowed, you will lose 50 points from your daily grade. For
instance, 7 absences will result in a zero for the daily grade. Also, if you have passed the 5 absence limit,
you will not be allowed to make up daily assignments regardless of the circumstance. Also, some daily
grades cannot be made up even if there is no attendance problem. Consequently, wisdom dictates that
you use absences wisely, if at all, especially if you will be travelling for job interviews this semester.
Be on time. Interruptions are as annoying to your peers as they are to me. Coming to class after the
official start time will count as a “Late.” Coming to class more than five minutes late will result in an
absence. Two lates will count as an absence, and if you are beyond the limit of 5 absences, each late will
cost 25 points from the daily grade.
Assignment Requirements
Participation in this course requires the completion of ENG 150 and ENG 250 or the equivalents. If you
have not received a passing grade in these courses, you will not be allowed to continue in ENG 314.
For every assignment, the goal is a professional product. Assignments will be evaluated based on verbal
and visual content, organization, format, style, and mechanics. Late work will not be accepted unless
you obtain prior approval. Your chances for such approval will be significantly improved by submitting
a neat, professional memo to me stating the reasons why the assignment will be late. Without prior
contact, late assignments will be reduced 10 points for every business day the assignment is late.
Course failure, regardless of grade average, will result if:



any written assignment is guilty of plagiarism (this includes failure to properly cite
souces).
More than 10 absences or lates (2 lates = 1 absence) are recorded.
any graded out-of-class assignment is not completed.
Quizzes
Quizzes, if assigned, will cover the lectures, the assigned readings, and examples from my website.
These quizzes will generally be short answer, may occur without notice, and the only resource that may
be used to answer questions will be your notes.
Revisions
Revision means a thorough reworking of the paper; it does not mean merely fixing mechanical and
diction errors. You may not revise group proposals or in-class papers. Submit the revision with the
original within five calendar days after receiving the graded assignment back. The new grade will be an
average of the revised grade and the original grade.
Personal Responsibility
It is your responsibility to make sure you are caught up in the class. I only give lectures once and have
no desire to repeat the exercise if you happen to miss a class. This responsibility even extends to those
who add the class after the semester has begun. If you have special needs supported by documentation,
please let me know this first week.. To help you remain current, I will allow you to attend any of the
four sections of ENG 314 that I teach ( 8:00-Ross 29, 9:00-Ross 24, 11:00-Ross 26, and 12:10, Ross 27
on MWF). All labs are Wednesday in Durham at the corresponding section time slot.
"Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin,
pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S.
veteran. Inquiries can be directed to the Office of Equal Opportunity, 3350 Beardshear Hall, (515) 294-7612."
How much is what worth?
Task/Assignment
Daily Grade
Persuasive message
Bad Brochure revision
Technical/Process description
Instructions
Technical report/proposal (group grade)
In-Class Progress Report
Oral Presentation
(group grade)
Final exam ___
Total
Point Value
100
75
75
125
250
200
50
50
75
1000 pts.
Letter grades (percentage)
A+ =98
A =95
A- =92
A-- =90
B+ =88
B =85
B- =82
B-- =80
C+ =78
C =75
C- =72
C-- =70
D+ =68
D =65
D- =62
D-- =60
F =50