Syllabus for Communications for Engineers ENC 3246
Communication for Engineers ENC 3246
Course description for ENC 3246
Focuses on writing concerns of engineers. Deals with the content, organization, format, and
style of specific types of engineering documents. Provides opportunity to improve oral
presentations. [absolute minimum description. feel free to add here]
Course objectives for ENC 3246


Students will learn to communicate effectively (g), as individuals and across
multidisciplinary teams (d), orally and in writing.
Students will increase their understanding of professional and ethical responsibility (f),
especially as it applies to the analysis and interpretation of data (b) in visual formats.
Learning outcomes
Students will achieve these objectives by:
 making arguments based on numbers and data. These arguments include technical
reports, proposals, executive summaries, progress reports, and presentations
 practicing syntactical strategies for communicating technical information clearly,
efficiently, and concisely.
 creating data displays, including tables and graphs, that accurately and ethically
present data.
 presenting research informally and formally with supporting slides and other
documents.
 researching ethics for engineers, including codes from professional organizations and
citation systems, and reflecting on how their communication intersects with those
standards.
Textbooks
David Beer & David McMurrey’s (2009) A Guide to Writing as an Engineer (3rd Edition). The 4th
edition will come out sometime this spring. We’ll make the switch to the new edition as soon
as possible.
Stephen Few (2012). Show Me the Numbers: Designing Tables and Graphs to Enlighten (ISBN13: 978-0970601971 | Edition: Second)
We’ll supplement these with Wolfe et al’s Writing about Data Exercises (syntax_exercises.pdf). I
call them syntax drills on the calendar. [instructors, you must digitize these exercises for
Canvas and remove the answers. Make them self-grading and save yourself tons of time]
Policies
[Add your policies here in accordance with USF’s policies]
Syllabus for Communications for Engineers ENC 3246
Grading
Communicating Engineering Project: 75% total

Project proposal: 15%

Progress report: 15%

Presentation slides and handout: 15%

Technical report: 30%
Syntax drills and data visualization homework: 15% total
In class work and quizzes: 10% total
Calendar
Week
Week 1
Day 1
Agenda:
 Introductions
 Review syllabus
 Talk about syntax
Day 2
Agenda:
 Introduce Project Proposal
Assignment
 Establish teams (4-5 members) and
set up Team Minutes
Homework:
Homework:
Syntax drill: Joining Sentences with
Syntax drill: Presenting Bad News: Joining
Subordinators Exercises pp. 4-6 [all
Sentences to Show Concession
syntax drills are due before the start of the
Exercises pp. 9-11
next class. Set up individual dropboxes for
them on Canvas that close at the start of
class time]
Read Show Me the Numbers
INTRODUCTION pp. 1-14
Read A Guide to Writing as an Engineer
Chapter 1 Engineers and Writing pp. 1-12 Read A Guide to Writing as an Engineer
6 [all reading assignments are due before
Chapter 4 Letters, Memos, Email pp. 75the start of the next class. Set up
96
password protected reading quizzes
on Canvas OR THEY WILL NOT DO
THE READING]
Read A Guide to Writing as an Engineer
Chapter 2 Eliminating Sporadic Noise in
Engineering Writing pp. 13-44
Read A Guide to Writing as an Engineer
Chapter 5 Writing Common Engineering
Documents pp. 97-128
Week 2
Agenda:
 Project Proposal
 Email and Memos (for Reflection
Memo due with all major
deliverables)
Agenda:
 Project Proposal
Syllabus for Communications for Engineers ENC 3246
Homework:
Syntax drill: Coordinators, Subordinators, and
Transitions Exercises pp. 16-17
Homework:
Syntax drill: Transitional Phrases Exercises
pp. 19-25
Read A Guide to Writing as an Engineer
Chapter 3 Guidelines for Writing NoiseFree Engineering Documents pp. 45-74
Read A Guide to Writing as an Engineer
Chapter 8 Accessing Engineering
Information pp. 165-198
Read Show Me the Numbers Chapter 2:
SIMPLE STATISTICS TO GET YOU
STARTED pp. 15-381 [all SMtN
exercises are due before the start of the
next class. Set up individual
dropboxes for them on Canvas that
close at the start of class time]
Week 3
Agenda:
 Project Proposal
 Research
Agenda:
 Project Proposal Team Meetings
 Introduce Team Evaluations (to be
completed independently and
uploaded at the same time as each
major assignment)
Homework:
Syntax drill: Reporting Data: Overview
Exercises pp. 26-28
Homework:
Finish Project Proposal (due next class)
Finish individual Team Evaluations (only
individual deliverable for the project,
everything else is collaborative. Due at
the same time as the project)
Read Show Me the Numbers Chapter 3:
DIFFERING ROLES OF TABLES AND
GRAPHS pp. 39-52
Week 4
Due: Project Proposal
Agenda:
 Introduce Progress Report
Assignment
1
Agenda:
 Progress Report
 Elevator Pitch
 Summarizing in person (and on
paper for later)
SMtN only has a handful of exercises. It’s the only downside to the book. We’ll have to come up with exercises (as
a group) so that the students have something to turn in for every chapter, starting with Ch 2 or 3)
Syllabus for Communications for Engineers ENC 3246
Week 5
Homework:
Syntax drill: Reporting Data I: "Digesting"
simple data Exercises pp. 34-36
Homework:
Syntax drill: Reporting Data II: Digesting
Multiple Data Points Exercises pp. 39-40
Read Show Me the Numbers Chapter 4:
FUNDAMENTAL VARIATIONS OF
TABLES pp. 53-60
Read Show Me the Numbers Chapter 5:
VISUAL PERCEPTION AND
GRAPHICAL COMMUNICATION pp. 6186
Read A Guide to Writing as an Engineer
Chapter 9 Engineering Your Speaking pp.
199-221
Read A Guide to Writing as an Engineer
Chapter 11 Ethics and Documentation in
Engineering Writing pp. 251-266
Agenda:
 Progress Report
 Ethics (professional codes and
citation systems)
Agenda:
 Progress Report
 Ethics (professional codes and
citation systems)
Homework:
Syntax drill: Reporting Data III: Digesting data
with exceptions Exercises pp. 44-46
Homework:
Syntax drill: Reporting Data IV: Emphasizing
Differences Exercises pp. 52-53
Read Show Me the Numbers Chapter 6:
FUNDAMENTAL VARIATIONS OF
GRAPHS pp. 87-136
Read Show Me the Numbers Chapter 7:
GENERAL DESIGN FOR
COMMUNICATION pp. 141-154
Exercise Show Me the Numbers PRACTICE
IN SELECTING TABLES AND GRAPHS
pp.137-140
Week 6
Agenda:
 Progress Report Team Meetings
 Reminder: Team member evaluations
Due: Progress Report
Homework:
Syntax drill: Reporting Data V: Condensing
Data Exercises pp. 56-57
Homework:
Syntax drill: Statistical Information as a
Modifier Exercises p. 60
Finish Progress Report (due next class)
Read Show Me the Numbers Chapter 8:
TABLE DESIGN pp. 155-184
Finish individual Team Evaluations (only
individual deliverable for the project,
everything else is collaborative. Due at
the same time as the project)
Agenda:
 Elevator talks in class
Exercise Show Me the Numbers PRACTICE
IN TABLE DESIGN pp. 185-190
Syllabus for Communications for Engineers ENC 3246
Week 7
Agenda:
 Introduce Presentation Slides and
Handout Assignment
 IMRaD basics
Agenda:
 Presentations
Homework:
Syntax drill: Reporting Data: Review Exercises
pp. 66-67
Homework:
Syntax drill: Reporting Data: The Challenger
Disaster Exercises pp. 71
Syntax drill: Using Active vs. Passive Voice
100 Exercises pp. 101-104
Read Show Me the Numbers Chapter 10:
COMPONENT-LEVEL GRAPH DESIGN
pp. 205-256
Read Show Me the Numbers Chapter 9:
GENERAL GRAPH DESIGN pp. 191-204
Week 8
Agenda:
 Presentations
Agenda:
 Document Design (slides and
handout)
Homework:
Syntax drill: Reporting Data: Graphics
Exercises pp. 76-77
Homework:
Syntax drill: Organizing the Technical Report:
The IMRAD format Exercises pp. 83
Read Show Me the Numbers Chapter 11:
DISPLAYING MANY VARIABLES AT
ONCE pp. 257-270
Exercise Show Me the Numbers PRACTICE
IN GRAPH DESIGN pp. 287-294
Read Show Me the Numbers Chapter 12:
SILLY GRAPHS THAT ARE BEST
FORSAKEN pp. 271-286
Week 9
Read Show Me the Numbers Chapter 13:
TELLING COMPELLING STORIES
WITH NUMBERS pp. 295-306
Agenda:
 Document Design (slides and
handout)
Agenda:
 Presentation team meetings
 Reminder: Team member
evaluations
Homework:
Syntax drill: Introductions: Defining the
Report’s Purpose Exercises pp. 84-85
Homework:
Finish Presentation Slides and Handout (due
next class)
Finish individual Team Evaluations (only
individual deliverable for the project,
everything else is collaborative. Due at
the same time as the project)
Syntax drill: Methods: Helping Readers Jump
Around Exercises pp. 88-89
Read Show Me the Numbers Chapter 14: THE
INTERPLAY OF STANDARDS AND
INNOVATION pp. 307
Syllabus for Communications for Engineers ENC 3246
Week 10
Due: Presentation slides and handout
Agenda:
 Project presentations in class
Homework:
Syntax drill: Discussion: Explaining What it All
Means Exercises pp.92-93
Agenda:
 Project presentations in class
Homework:
Syntax drill: The Executive Summary or
Academic Abstract Exercises pp. 96-99
Read A Guide to Writing as an Engineer
Chapter 6 Writing an Engineering Report
pp. 129-150
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
Week 14
Week 15
Agenda:
 Introduce Technical Report
Assignment
 IMRaD beyond the basics
Agenda:
 IMRaD: focus on Introductions
Homework:
Syntax drill: Parallelism: Maintaining
Consistency Exercises pp. 107-108
Homework:
TBD
Agenda:
 IMRaD: focus on Methods
Agenda:
 IMRaD: focus on Results vs
Discussion
Homework:
TBD
Homework:
TBD
Agenda:
 IMRaD: focus on Results vs
Discussion
Agenda:
 IMRaD: focus on Results vs
Discussion
Homework:
TBD
Homework:
TBD
Agenda:
 Supra level document design
Agenda:
 Supra level document design
 Course evaluations
Homework:
TBD
Homework:
TBD
Agenda:
Due: Technical Reports
Syllabus for Communications for Engineers ENC 3246


Technical Report Team meetings
Reminder: Team member evaluations
Homework:
Finish Technical Report (due next class)
Finish individual Team Evaluations (only
individual deliverable for the project,
everything else is collaborative. Due at
the same time as the project)
Agenda:
 Goodbyes!