English 303
Fall 2014
Ms. Hardie
email: jhardie@latech.edu
Phone: 257-5241
Prerequisite: English 101, 102
Office: 252 GTM
Office Hours: MWF 8:30-9:30; MW 11:00-12:00
1:10-2:00; 3:50-4:00; TTh 8:30-10:00
Texts & Materials: Markel, Mike. Technical Communication. 10th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's,
2012.
Technical Writing Course Packet, Fall 2014-Summer 2015
Folder for submitting projects (letter sized)
Course Objectives: In this course students will
--learn to write clearly and concisely for varied professional audiences
--master a variety of strategies and textual elements for workplace writing
--develop more sophisticated research skills, and
--create documents that use format and design strategies to support content
Moodle & Tech e-mail: Assignments, policies, syllabus and other course documents are posted on
Moodle. In the case of an emergency (personal or campus-wide) the course can be administered
through Moodle. Also check your Tech e-mail daily for class and other university news.
Moodle Quizzes: It is important that you follow the directions for quizzes exactly. If you experience
problems, please e-mail me and then check both Moodle and your Tech e-mail for further instructions.
Students are allowed to retake one quiz for technical glitches; retakes must be done within two days. If
you have questions about your quiz score, come by during office hours. I do not review quizzes by
email.
Emergencies: All Louisiana Tech students are strongly encouraged to enroll and
update their contact information in the Emergency Notification System. It takes just a few seconds to
ensure you're able to receive important text and voice alerts in the event of a campus emergency. For
more information on the Emergency Notification System, please visit:
http://www.latech.edu/administration/ens.shtml. My phone is on during the class for emergencies.
Attendance: From the Tech Policy: "Upon registration, students accept the responsibility to attend
regularly and punctually all classes in which they are enrolled. Failure to do so may jeopardize a
student's scholastic standing and may lead to suspension from the College or University
The student is responsible for making arrangements satisfactory to the instructor regarding absences
including prior notification of planned absences, providing documentation if needed, and making up of
examinations and work as required. For other emergency absences, the student shall submit excuses for
class absences to the appropriate instructor within three class days following the student's return to
his/her respective class." Students who miss more than 20% of classes will lose 5 points per absence
from their final grade. Emergencies will be handled on a case by case basis if I am notified in a timely
manner and proper documentation is provided.
I take roll at the beginning of the class. It is your responsibility to make sure that you are on the roll.
Please remind me that day at the end of class. Coming in late is disruptive to both your classmates and
me; please be courteous when unavoidable circumstances dictate late arrivals (see weather exceptions
below). Students will be allowed one excessive late (more than five minutes) day. After one tardy,
students will not be counted as present (though you may stay for class); no participation credit will be
recorded for any collaborative activity that day. Students who leave a class early (without permission)
will be counted as absent for the entire class.
Class Collaboration: One of our classroom activities is practicing techniques or critiquing sample papers.
If you are absent, you receive no points.
Rough Draft Workshop: To receive participation credit for the rough draft workshop, you must bring
two copies of your resume/cover letter and respond to two other students' work with memos.
Late Papers: Late papers will be penalized one third of a letter grade per week day for the first two days
(Monday through Friday); i.e. an A- becomes a B+ if it’s one day late, a B if it’s two days late, etc. Papers
more than two days late will be penalized a letter grade per day. Papers are also counted as late if they
are not turned in at the beginning of class. No papers are accepted after the last class of the term. In
the event of bad weather (snow, heavy rain, thunderstorms, etc.) power outages, or traffic tie-ups, the
usual restrictions will not apply.
Papers submitted more than one day late will receive a grade only (no comments) and may not be
returned at the same time as the assignments received on time.
Grades: Your final grade for the course is based on the following percentages:
Persuasion/Lit Review
Definition
Description Brochure
Proposal
Technical Report
Resume/Letter
Class Collaborations/RD
5 Moodle Quizzes
Grading Scale:
A
B
C
D
F
10%
10%
in class
15%
10%
30%
10%
5%
in class
10% total (2% per quiz) Dates TBA
90-100
80-89
70-79
60-69
59 and below
Technical Writing is a class to prepare students for writing in the workplace. Projects that do not follow
the assignment are not acceptable and will receive an F (50 points). It is important to learn how to
follow directions. Technical reports that are inadequate in length or do not use the required secondary
sources will receive a failing grade.
A Directive from the Vice-President of Academic Affairs: "in the event of a question regarding an exam
grade or final grade, it will be the responsibility of the student to retain and present graded materials
which have been returned for student possession during the quarter. Students should submit projects
in a folder. The folder will be returned with the graded paper, and then resubmitted with the next
assignment.
Office Hours: Because projects for this class are individually chosen, I encourage students to come to
my office hours to discuss their current projects. I am always happy to answer your questions about
writing; however, I cannot review projects by email.
Plagiarism: All students enrolled in 303 must sign and return the original copy of the plagiarism
statement found in the Technical Writing Course Packet by the end of the second week of classes. No
papers can be graded until a signed sheet is received. A hold will also be placed on registration until the
plagiarism statement is received.
We discuss how to avoid plagiarism in class. Papers that commit plagiarism by using sources incorrectly
(committing mosaic plagiarism, for ex) or not citing sources both internally and in an end list (Works
Cited or References) will receive an F (50). A paper copied from another student, bought from any other
source or containing unattributed or bogus sources will receive a 0. I reserve the right to ask for copies
of any source you use. Students who steal or buy work from any source will be reported to Judicial
Affairs.
Academic Honor Code: In accordance with the Academic Honor Code, students pledge the following:
Being a student of higher standards, I pledge to embody the principles of academic integrity.
Turnitin.com: All students are required to submit papers to Turnitin.com. No paper will be graded or
returned until submission is completed. Students have 2 days after a paper is due to submit their essay.
Papers not submitted within five days of assignment due date will receive a one letter grade deduction
for the paper; papers not submitted within two weeks will receive an F. Any paper not submitted to
Turnitin.com by the last day of the class will receive an F. Be sure you get a receipt for Turnitin.com or
your project may not have been properly submitted.
Computer Classroom: The computers are available for classroom collaborative projects and viewing
materials for the class. Due to grant constraints, students are not allowed to print out assignments in
class. To save energy, computers may only be turned on when necessary.
Classroom Decorum: A classroom should be a friendly yet professional place. The focus of the
classroom should be work; therefore, cell phones should be put away during class. Please inform me if
you have a one-day emergency that requires you to step out of class to answer an emergency call.
Tablets and laptops are permitted for note taking. Web surfing, e-mail checking etc. is heavily
discouraged.
Disabled Student Services: Qualified students needing testing or classroom accommodations based on a
disability are encouraged to make their request to me at the beginning of the quarter either during
office hours or by appointment. Note: Prior to receiving disability accommodations, verification of
eligibility from the Testing and Disability Services Office is needed. Disability information is confidential.
Information for Testing and Disability Services may be obtained in Wyly Tower 318 or
www.latech.edu/ods.
303 Assignments
For all assignments, material from your personal experience must be explained in a brief cover memo
to me.
Journal/Professional Organization E-Mail: Send me an e-mail stating the name of the professional
organization and peer-reviewed journal you will use for the literature search/persuasion memo.
Students who do not provide the necessary information in an e-mail by the due date will have a 5-point
deduction from their persuasion grade. Print out the return e-mail with my okay and submit this with
your persuasion memo.
Literature Search/Persuasion: In this first assignment you are exploring your profession and the
professional literature you will need to master. To do this you need to examine at least one year of back
issues of your professional journal to find the most important topic in your profession.
Your boss, L.P. Broadstreet, has asked all employees of your division to submit topic ideas for the next
meeting of your professional association, which your company is hosting. You are determined to stand
out from your colleagues by preparing the strongest presentation. Using the journal and organization
you have already chosen, research a topic and write a memo to L.P., recommending a compelling topic
and explaining your ideas about this important meeting. To bolster your contention that you have
chosen the most important topic in the field, you will support your ideas with an attached bibliography
of research sources. In addition to articles from your professional journal, find at least three other
sources. Choose from the following: a database search, a U. S. government document, a book, a major
newspaper, a professional web site, conference proceedings, discussion board, or blog. (At least two
sources must be non-web sources). The majority of the sources should be published within the last two
years. You may divide your sources into Works Cited and a Bibliography of additional resources. Your
goal is to have your topic chosen and to be visible as the planner of an informative and dynamic
meeting.
Using correct format, write a persuasive memo of approximately 325-500 words. Cite all sources used.
Definition: You will demonstrate the techniques we’ve learned in an in-class writing. Definitions are
submitted through Turnitin.com during the class period.
Description (Mechanism or Process) Brochure: You and your organization provide a service (a
marketing campaign, medical procedure, or technical writing training program, for ex.) or mechanical
product (biometric security system or other equipment with a number of identifiable parts) and you
have decided to create a brochure that explains the product or service to clients. Your goal is to explain
the service or product clearly, not to persuade the client to buy the service or product. A clear
explanation will explain the value of your product or service. Your reader is usually a lay reader or
manager. Choose a product or service that is plausibly unknown (no simple object like staplers or
computers); usually new or technically complex projects are more successful.
Use a part of your tech report topic as your process or mechanism. You may adapt the material to a
separate audience who would plausibly need an explanation of it.
Using correct format, design a brochure of approximately 350-500 words in which you explain the
process or mechanism. Use graphics, headings, and divisions to create an attractive brochure. This
assignment is your chance to demonstrate mastery of format. Because this is still a classroom, cite all
sources used. Please print your brochure in color.
Proposal: This memo, written to me, is a proposal about the topic you have chosen for your technical
report. In it you are to discuss both the methodology you will use in your report as well as your
qualifications to write the report. The proposal will consist of the following parts: Introduction or
Background, Statement of Problem, Proposed Solution, Scope and Methods, Qualifications, Conclusion,
and a Bibliography of the sources you plan to use. The majority of your research should come from
professional journals and sources published within the last two years. You should have at least 6
sources; most successful papers have 8 to 12 (or more) sources.
Proposals are submitted digitally through Turnitin.com.
Technical Report: Your technical report is designed to persuade your company or organization to adopt
your idea for doing something better or for fixing something they may not even know is wrong. You will
use one of the following basic strategies.
3 Option/Recommendation: Your company needs a new technique, procedure, process,
system, etc. You are asked to examine the options your company has and to recommend the proper
system, etc. To do this you must establish criteria for weighing your choices, include at least three
options in your examination, and recommend one outcome.
Problem/Recommendation: Your company or organization has a problem that they don’t know
they have. Or, they do not realize how serious the problem is or how it could affect your company.
Your job is to persuade your board of directors that the company faces a serious problem, show why this
is such a serious problem, and recommend the proper thing to be done to assure the success of the
company or organization. (Sometimes an organization has a serious problem because they are trying
the wrong solution to the problem.)
Your report must be based on viable techniques and strategies in use in industry or organizations.
Examples based upon what other companies have done well and badly help you make your case.
Your technical report will follow the format outlined in class. Your audience is the president/board of
directors or other decision maker. The body of the report must be a minimum of 2,000 words, not
including accompanying materials. You must have a letter/memo of transmittal, title page, abstract,
table of contents, executive summary, introduction, and references or works cited. You must also
demonstrate competence in format through your use of sections and headings. Graphics and tables are
not required, but enhance the majority of reports. You may include an appendix.
Cite all sources used.
I reserve the right to ask for a printout of any of your sources. Otherwise, it is not necessary to print
them out.
Please put all your work in a manila folder or envelope. Do not use plastic binders; they are difficult for
a left-hander to manipulate.
Resume/Letter of Application: In this assignment you will use the strategies you’ve learned all quarter
about audience, explanation, and argument to design an effective resume package. Your cover letter
will be written to a real person in a real organization, explaining why you are qualified for and interested
in pursuing an application with that organization. You may apply for a position following graduation (and
may post date your materials appropriately), an internship, or a summer job that will enhance your
professional skills. The accompanying one page resume will highlight your qualifications, education, and
skills. Do not apply for graduate school; the application is not equivalent to a resume and cover letter.
Do not make up qualifications or inflate your G.P.A.; doing so will give you an F on the assignment.
In order for me to accurately gauge the qualifications this company is looking for, you must provide me
with a copy of an advertisement, or a brochure outlining the qualifications the organization expects, or a
memo explaining your application. Also include the rough draft comment memos for your project. You
must be even more vigilant in proofreading and copy editing than usual. Any resume/letter with one
typo, grammar or format error can receive no better than a B, a resume/letter with two typos, etc. can
receive no better than a C, etc. Remember that employers look for ways to reduce the number of
applicants. A sloppy resume can be one deciding factor.
303 Syllabus
Fall 2014
Tues/Thurs
Reading Assignment
Due Date
September
4
9
11
16
18
23
25
30
Chapters 1-5, Packet p. 1-7
Ch. 6, 8, 14 p. 370-6,385-393 (Memo/E-mail)
Ch. 10, Appendix A,B, C, Packet. P. 9-10, 15-28
Packet, p. 32-35
Chapter, 20 pp. 563-573 (Definitions) Packet, p. 56-58
In Class
Jour/Org/Email1
Persuasion
Definition (DS)
Ch. 16
October
2
7
9
14
16
21
23*
28
30
November
4
6
11
13
Packet pp. 14, 35-55, 82-89 (ideas only, format varies)
Chapters 9, 20, pp. 573-583
Chapters 11, 22, Packet p. 90-116 (format varies)
Ch.7, 12, Packet p. 8, 29-31
Brochure In-Class Work Day
Chapter 19
Packet, p. 72-100 (some format variations)
Proposal (DS)
Brochure
Tech Report In-Class Work Day
Ch. 14, pp. 376-384 (Letters), Ch. 15, Packet, p. 61-71
Technical Report
Letter/Resume RD Workshop Packet p. 63
Resume/Letter
Moodle Quizzes (dates TBA, available Thursday 6 p.m. through Sunday 11:55 p.m.)
Quiz 1: Memo Format/Persuasion/Research (Chapters 1-5, 6, 8, 14)
Quiz 2: Definitions/Descriptions (Chapters 7, 20)
Quiz 3: Document Design/ Graphics (Chapters 11, 12)
Quiz 4: Proposals/Technical Reports (Chapters 16, 17, 19)
Quiz 5: Resumes/Letters (Chapters 14, 15)
*Friday, October 24 is the last day to drop/resign with W grade
Graduating Seniors resume/cover letter is due Monday, November 10 by noon
DS is digital submission only through Turnitin.com. Projects are due at 5 p.m. Definitions are submitted
during class.
1
E mail is due 15 minutes before class begins