Heartland Community College
Division: Humanities and Fine Arts
COURSE PREFIX & NUMBER: ENGL 107
COURSE TITLE: Technical Writing
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION:
Dirk Wethington, Instructor
CREDIT HOURS: 3
CONTACT HOURS: ONLINE
LECTURE HOURS: 3
LABORATORY HOURS: 0
CATALOG DESCRIPTION:
Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of ENGL 101 or consent of the department. A
study of the characteristics, concepts, and procedures involved in the preparation of
scientific, technical, and industrial communications, providing models for and practice in
writing descriptive, instructional, and analytical material, professional correspondence,
and informal and formal reports. This course also includes attention to elements used to
augment reports (illustrations, abstracts, summaries) and organizational patterns for oral
and written presentations whose purpose and audience are clearly demarcated. Emphasis
is upon current practice in professions and trades.
TEXTBOOK/S:
Johnson-Sheehan, Richard. Technical Communication Today. 4th ed. Boston, Mass.: Pearson,
2012.
RELATIONSHIP TO ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND
TRANSFERABILITY:
ENGL 107 is classified as a vocational course, and therefore is not a part of the A.A. or
A.S. degree. ENGL 107 might transfer to colleges and universities within certain select
programs. However, since ENGL 107 is not part of either the General Education Core
Curriculum or a baccalaureate major program described in the Illinois Articulation
Initiative, students should check with an academic advisor for information about its
transferability to other organizations.
COURSE OBJECTIVES (Learning Outcomes):
CODE
CO4
CO5
STATEMENT
Students are self-reflective of the
communication process.
Students communicate ethically through
monitoring their behavior and interactions
with others.
QUALITIES/DOMAIN LEVEL
Students objectively analyze their own communication and
modify it when necessary.
Students recognize the meanings and values associated
with their communication and take these into account
during the communication process.
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DI2
PS3
PS4
CT3
Students consider the views of others in
light of those persons’ experiences and
particular understandings.
Student identifies the type of problem and ,
from multiple problem solving methods,
chooses the best method and solves the
problem.
Student analyzes the situation, explores
different outcomes from multiple
frameworks, applies the appropriate
solution, and analyzes the results, and
refines the solution.
Students generate an answer, approach, or
solution through an effective synthesis of
diverse sources and arguments and provide a
rationale.
Responding
Student tries to apply multiple strategies to solve problems.
Student shows ability to solve problems which have not
been previously demonstrated by the instructor. Student is
not as dependent on the instructor.
Student sees problem solving as a process and is not
satisfied with first answer to problem—reviews answer for
validity. Student transfers problem solving ability across
the disciplines.
Students use creative thinking to produce a produce, idea,
or method that is new to them. (Designing your own)
Students completing this course should be able to effectively gather, interpret, and
present data in a variety of modes, using structures appropriate to specific audiences and
purposes. They should be able to:
1.
Identify the specific situations in which a writer needs to summarize material
from other writers, and distinguish the principal types of summary, explain the
purposes for which each is suited, and write examples of each type.
2.
Write clear and precise instructions and explanations of procedures and processes.
3.
Write both general and specific descriptions of industrial or professional tools and
machinery from a variety of points of view, using accurate and appropriate
terminology.
4.
Describe the conditions under which terms and concepts need to be defined and
write clear definitions appropriate to the knowledge level of a given audience.
5.
Write an analytic paper in a manner and structure appropriate to the selected
audience and writing context.
6.
Write effective, formally correct examples of most common forms of business
and professional communication pertinent to the student’s career path.
7.
Write formal and informal reports reflecting a variety of modes and purposes.
8.
Distinguish between the formal requirements and audience demands imposed by
written and oral communication and adapt any written assignments from this
course to an effective oral presentation.
COURSE/LAB OUTLINE:
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1. Writing as a Process
2. Collaboration in Writing
3. Writing Summaries and Abstracts
4. Writing Instructions and Specifications
5. Describing Processes
6. Describing Mechanisms
7. Analyzing
8. Evaluating
9. Writing Letters and Memoranda
10. Writing Reports
11. Using Graphics
12. Editing
13. Accessing Information
14. The Role of the Internet
METHOD OF EVALUATION:
Course grades will be determined as follows:
Blackboard assignments, discussions, surveys
70%
Final document/manual
30%
Final grades will be determined according to the following scale:
92-100%
83-91%
74-82%
65-73%
Below 65%
=
=
=
=
=
A
B
C
D
F
REQUIRED WRITING AND READING:
Several major writing projects and regular minor writing assignments. Reading assignments
include the textbook and links from the instructor. All assignments and responses will be
managed through the Blackboard site for this course.
While it’s not out of the question, there are no face-to-face class session currently planned. All
course work will be facilitated through Blackboard.
I would strongly encourage you to “check in” to the site at least four times a week, more if
possible. Online discussions, lecture material and presentations, announcements and assignments
will be posted and updated on a weekly basis, and success will require your active participation.
Any time you have questions, email me – sooner rather than later. If you have questions about
an assignment, are confronting some challenges in completing your work, want some feedback
on some work – just let me know.
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Course Policies:
Grading Policy: Grading in this course will be consistent with grading criteria set forth in
Policies and Procedures documents and email communications including rubrics for such
assignments.
Participation: Participation and submission of assignments is necessary for students who
wish to improve their technical writing skills.
Online Participation: Students will be asked to participate online in small group, and
partner discussions as well as turn in written assignments and group work.
Incompletes: Consistent with departmental policy; make an appointment with the instructor
to discuss whether an individual case qualifies for a course incomplete. Individual units and
assignments will be graded as 0/F, not incomplete.
Extra Credit: None
Make-up of tests and assignments: Students will be allowed to turn in ONLY 2
assignments late (save these for sick days).
The final project may not be turned in late.
Deadlines: Because your time is valuable, and so is mine, deadlines are firm. If you have to
miss a deadline, refer to the “make-up of tests and assignments” policy.
Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a fundamental principle of collegial life at Heartland Community College
and is essential to the credibility of the College’s educational programs. Moreover, because
grading may be competitive, students who misrepresent their academic work violate the right of
their fellow students. The College, therefore, views any act of academic dishonest as a serious
offense requiring disciplinary measures, including course failure, suspension, and even expulsion
from the College. In addition, an act of academic dishonesty may have unforeseen effects far
beyond any officially imposed penalties.
Violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to cheating, aiding or
suborning cheating or other acts of academic dishonesty, plagiarism, misrepresentation of data,
falsification of academic records or documents and unauthorized access to computerized
academic or administrative records or systems. Definitions of these violations may be found in
the college catalog.
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Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the presenting of others’ ideas as if they were your own. When you write a paper,
create a project, do a presentation or create anything original, it is assumed that all the work,
except for that which is attributed to another author or creator, is your own. Plagiarism is
considered a serious academic offense and may take the following forms:
1
Copying word-for-word from another source and not giving that source credit.
2
Paraphrasing the work of another and not giving that source credit.
3
Adopting a particularly apt phrase as your own.
4
Using an image or a copy of an image without crediting its source.
5
Paraphrasing someone else’s line of thinking in the development of a topic as if it
were your own.
6
Receiving excessive help from a friend or elsewhere, or using another project as
if it were your own.
Note that word-for-word copying is not the only form of plagiarism.
The penalties for plagiarism may be severe, ranging from failure on the particular piece
of work, failure in the course or expulsion from school in extreme cases.
[Adapted from the Modem Language Association’s MLA Handbook for Writers of
Research Papers. New York: MLA, 1995: 26]
Academic Support Center Services:
Library
The Library, located in the Student Commons Buildings at the Raab Road campus, provides
Heartland students with a full range of resources including books, online journal databases,
videos, newspapers, periodicals, reserves, and interlibrary loan. Librarians are available to assist
in locating information. For more information, please call the Library (309) 268-8200 or (309)
268-8292
Tutoring Services
Heartland Community College offers tutoring in various forms at no cost to Heartland students at
the Tutoring and Testing Center in Normal and at the Pontiac and Lincoln Centers. Tutors are
available at convenient times throughout the week. Study groups are also available by request.
For more information about services available at each location, please call the Tutoring and
Testing Center in Normal (309) at 268-8231, the Pontiac Center at (815) 842-6777, or the
Lincoln Center at (217) 735-1731.
Testing Services
The Tutoring and Testing Center provides a secure testing environment for students who are
enrolled in online, hybrid, and other distance learning courses; have a documented disability; or
need to take a make-up exam. Testing accommodations for students having documented
disabilities must be arranged by the student through the Office of Disability Services, and
Testing Services will only administer make-up exams at the request of the instructor. Contact
Testing Services at (309) 268-8231 for more information.
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Writing Services: Writing Services is open to all HCC students working on their writing. HCC
writing faculty help students apply course outcomes to their papers. Visit the Tutoring and
Testing Center or call the TTC for an appointment: 268-8231.
Open Computing Lab
The Open Computing Lab provides free computing for HCC students at convenient times
throughout the week. The computer lab is staffed by trained Lab Assistants and offers the use of
approximately 70 computers, a scanner, a laser printer, and an electric typewriter.
Specifications for written materials: MLA or APA style required (option depending on
major).
Syllabi disclaimer: The syllabus is subject to revision.
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