COURSE SYLLABUS
Fall 2013
Lecture: TR, 1:30-2:45, MEIGS 124
ENG 21403: Business & Technical Writing
English Department
Professor:
Phone:
E-mail:
Office:
Office Hours:
Office Fax:
Secretary:
Dr. April Julier
740.245.7280
ajulier@rio.edu
Allen Hall 204D
M 11:30-12:20
T/Th 10:00-11:20
740.245.7432
740.245.7254 (only use if absolutely necessary)
Course Description
A study of the kinds of writing required in the business and technical worlds such as memos, letters,
proposals, feasibility studies, progress reports, recommendations, and technical descriptions and
instructions with emphasis on letters and short reports.
Prerequisites
ENG 11103 with a grade of C or better.
Credit Hours
3 credit hours
Required Textbook
Munger, Roger. Document-Based Cases for Technical Communication. Bedford.
ISBN-10: 978-1-4576-1502-3
Wolfe, Joanna. Team Writing: A Guide to Working in Groups. Bedford.
ISBN-10: 0312565828
General Education Outcomes: The following outcomes have been adopted for the General
Education Program:
1. Demonstrate effective communications skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
2. Demonstrate and value individual thinking, self-awareness, and ethical behavior in civic and
community responsibility.
3. Demonstrate appropriate technological literacy and skills for personal and professional use.
4. Use appropriate critical thinking skills to solve problems.
Course Outcomes: The following outcomes have been adopted for this course. All outcomes listed
below have direct relevance to course material. Upon completion of this course students will be able
to:
1
1. Recognize the difference between academic and technical writing.
2. Assess the writing and communicative needs of a variety of audiences/purposes/contexts.
3. Develop documents that communicate successfully (documents that are usable to specific
audiences/purposes/contexts).
4. Compose useable documents that incorporate graphic elements.
5. Determine the form of expression most effective for various audiences/purposes/contexts.
6. Write collaboratively with (at least) one writing team/group.
7. Organize and communicate effectively in writing teams/groups in order to achieve
communicative goals and meet deadlines.
8. Evaluate and revise their work.
9. Critically and thoughtfully respond to the work of others.
10. Follow work limits and professional standards of clarity and proofreading.
Course Assignments
Grading Scale
Team Charter
(schedules, minutes, agendas)
Case 1- Graphics & Usability
Case 3 – Memos, Letters, Emails
Case 6 – Instructions
Case 7 – Lego Case
In-Class Work
Workspace Upkeep
Reflection Memos & Letters
Final Reflection Letter
5%
93-100 A
90-92 A87-89 B+
83-86 B
80-82 B-
10%
15%
10%
15%
10%
5%
20%
10%
100%
77-79 C+
73-76 C
70-72 C67-69 D+
63-66 D
60-62 D59-below F
WHAT WE ARE DOING THIS SEMESTER
Team Charter (5%)
After meeting with your writing team, your first formal assignment will be to compose a Team
Charter. The purpose of this Charter will be to determine the Project Manager rotation for the
semester as well as establish your rules and policies for collaboration in the course. You can read
more about the Team Charter in Chapter 4 of Team Writing. This Charter will be handed in to April
and posted on your Team Blog Space.
Workspace Upkeep (5%)
Each writing team will create a page on our online class space (hosted by PBWorks). You will be
responsible to maintaining and posting to this space (1) task schedules, (2) meeting agendas, and (3)
meeting minutes. You can also use this space to exchange work with your writing team. To earn the
5% associated with Workspace Upkeep, you must customize and organize your workspace so that all
team members, April, and other teams can access your work easily. You should have clear headings
for each case and each task. You can see samples of what past pages looked like in class, and you
can read more about what you might want to post on your Team Blog in Chapter 3 of Team Writing.
2
Case 3 – Memos, Letters, Emails (15%)
This case will offer you practice writing in the forms of memos, letters, and emails. More
importantly, you will continue to experiment with analyzing the needs of a specific audience within a
specific context. You will complete Task 1, Task 2, and the Moving Beyond activity for Case 3. The
purpose of the documents you create in this case will be determined by the needs of your audience.
At the conclusion of Case 3, you will also compose the Reflection assignment as part of your
Reflection Memo & Letter grade (20%).
Case 6 – Instructions (10%)
This case will offer you more complicated practice with creating documents for outside
readers/audiences. You will continue to analyze the needs of specific audience members, as you
compose emails and interview questions to solicit information to complete information guides for a
medical machine. You will complete Task 1, Task 2, and Task 3 in Case 6. At the conclusion of
Case 6, you will also compose the Reflection assignment as part of your Reflection Memo & Letter
grade (20%).
Case 7: Lego Case (15%)
Case 7 asks you to blend technical writing with your imagination. For this case, you will work with
your team to build a Lego structure. As you build, you will create How-to-Directions that another
team will use to build your Lego creation. In order to evaluate the success of your directions, you
will share two drafts with other writing teams. They will offer you feedback for revision than you
can then use to revise and re-present your directions.
In-Class Work (10%)
Because you will have a writing team, I will make at least one class session a week open for team
building and collaboration. If you aren’t in class, you will not only lose participation credit, but you
will also fall behind in whatever project your team is working on. Occasionally, I will ask that you
respond briefly to a reading we do in the semester (check the Course Schedule at the end of the
syllabus and on PBWorks). The purpose of these responses will be to help you prepare for class
discussion. Thus, your completion of them will factor into your In Class Work grade.
Final Reflection Letter (10%)
In a letter to April, discuss (a) what you learned from your writing and collaboration this semester,
(b) how you could relate the writing and collaboration you did on specific cases to work situations
you will face in your chosen career, and, if applicable, (c) the ways in which your writing and
collaboration has begun to affect situations you face currently at work.
You should, as much as possible, refer to and quote specific examples from your writing
(cases & reflections) throughout the semester. You can paraphrase your experiences, but I would
love to see you actually re-read and reflect on your earlier Case Reflections. What did you learn?
How did your thinking progress? What would you still like to know?
This response should take the form of a formal letter. The heading information, opening,
closing, etc. should NOT be included in the word count. Only include the core/body of the letter in
your word count. In order to get credit for the Final Exam, you must have this letter completed,
typed, printed and in an addressed envelope by the start of the Final Exam period. My address on
campus is: Dr. April Sikorski / Assistant Professor / University of Rio Grande / P.O. Box 500 /
Wood Hall 251 / Rio Grande Ohio 45674.
Include a Word Count at the bottom of the page!
3
PLEASE DO NOT MAIL THESE LETTERS OUT. BRING THEM TO YOUR FINAL EXAM
PERIOD.
POLICIES
Attendance Policy
Students are permitted two weeks of absences this semester total for both class days and workshop
days; this two weeks is equivalent to eight classes for a four-day-a-week section. These are neither
excused nor unexcused absences; students receive eight to use as they so choose. Notes of any kind
are unnecessary as the absences are neither excused nor unexcused. For every absence beyond eight,
a student’s final grade will be docked 2%. For example, if a student earns 90% in the class but
misses ten classes, that student’s grade will drop to an 86%.
Students are still responsible for a missed day’s work. Missed exams and/or quizzes may be made
up at the discretion of the instructor. If a student has an extended medical emergency, an
incomplete grade may be option with proper medical documentation.
School-sponsored events (i.e. field trips and sporting events) are excused. However, it is the
responsibility of the student to submit any work due on the day of the absence before leaving for the
school-sponsored event. Work submitted after the absence will be held to the late work policy.
Athletes should keep in mind that missing more than eight classes – whether excused or part of the
standard eight absences – will make it very difficult to pass this class.
NF Grade Policy
A student who misses two weeks of consecutive classes will be given an “NF” (non-attending “F”)
as the final course grade. Contacting the professor via email and/or phone is not enough to keep a
student from receiving an “NF.” One’s presence in the class is the only thing that will keep a
student from receiving an “NF.” If a student is going to miss two weeks of consecutive classes, it is
his/her responsibility to request an incomplete from a faculty member (see the Incomplete Policy).
Receiving an “NF” may affect the student’s financial aid.
4
DATE
CLASSWORK
Reading Due
(completed by start of
class)
Workspace
Upkeep Due
Projects Due
AUGUST
Tuesday 8.27
Hello!
Discuss the Syllabus.
Diagnostic writing.
Diagnostic DUE
Present Diagnostics
Thursday 8.29
SEPTEMBER
Tuesday 9.3
Thursday 9.5
Tuesday 9.10
Thursday 9.12
Finish Diagnostic
Presentations (if
necessary)
Discuss responses to
Team Writing reading
READ
Team Writing CH 3
& CH 4
(p 27-48)
Response (200
words MAX)
What caught your
attention?
What did you learn?
What do you
disagree with?
PBWorks Intro.
Discuss Team Charter
Create Writing Teams
choose a group name
chose a PM for
Charter
Assignment
Begin work on Charter
(establish task
schedule)
(1) EVERYONE-Complete &
Print Team Prep
Worksheet
Create Team Page
*PM delegate
responsibiliities
Writing Team Meeting &
Working Group
Meeting Suggestions:
1. Assess Team Skills
(use Prep Worksheet)
2. Revise Task
Schedule (if necessary)
READ
Team Writing CH 1
& CH 2
(p 3-26)
PM: post task
schedule for Charter
assignment (9.109.19)
TEAM PAGE
post minutes from
Tues
PM--post meeting
agenda for today
*Writing Team Meeting
& Working Group
*Discuss Reflection
Memo Assignment
(reflect on Charter
5
Response (200
words MAX)
What caught your
attention?
What did you learn?
What do you
disagree with?
Tuesday 9.17
Thursday 9.19
Tuesday 9.24
project)
Discuss reviewing
writing (ch 6)
Writing Team Meeting &
Working Group
(revision/feedback)
READ
Team Writing CH 6
(59-79)
Discuss CASE 3
(Document-Based
Cases book)
--discuss memos &
letters
Working Groups-Assign PM
Read Case 3
In Document-Based
Cases book
Working Groups
(propose charter
revisions, if necessary)
Read & Respond
to Axel’s letter.
Write your criticism
and comments in
the margins of your
book.
Working Groups
Thursday 9.26
TEAM PAGE
POST minutes
from
PM--post meeting
agenda
POST Charter Draft
1) TEAM CHARTER
DUE
PRINT to hand in &
POST to Team
Page by start of
class
2) Reflection memo
DUE
TEAM PAGE
PM--Post task
schedule for Case
1 (9.24-10.17)
PM—Post agenda
for today
TEAM PAGE
Post minutes from
last class
PM--post agenda for
today
OCTOBER
Tuesday 10.1
Thursday 10.3
TEAM PAGE
Post minutes from
last class
PM--post agenda for
today
TEAM PAGE
Post minutes from
last class
PM--post agenda for
today
TEAM PAGE
Post minutes from
last class
PM--post agenda for
today
TASK 2 DUE
Post to page & Print
TEAM PAGE
PM--post agenda for
today
Working Groups
Discuss Case 3: Task 2
Working Groups
Workshop Sample
Letters from Task 1
Working Groups
Tuesday 10.8
Thursday
10.10
Discuss Moving Beyond
Project
Working Groups
Tuesday 10.15
6
TASK 1 DUE
Post to page &
Print
MARCH
Thursday
10.17
Tuesday 10.22
(Midterm
Grades Due)
Moving Beyond
DUE
(letter & stamped
envelope)
Post to page & Print
2 copies
Working Groups
Discuss Individual
Reflection Emails
Discuss CASE 7
Working Groups: Assign
a new PM
Begin work on Task 1
Read Case 7 in
Document-Based
Cases book.
TEAM PAGE
PM--post task
schedule for CASE
7 & agenda for
today
TEAM PAGE
Post minutes from
last class
PM-- agenda for
today
TEAM PAGE
Post minutes from
last class
PM-- agenda for
today
Working Groups
Thursday
10.24
Tuesday 10.29
INDIVIDUAL
REFLECTION
EMAIL Case 3 DUE
(sent by/before
start of class)
250 words max
(Assignment p.28)
Discuss & Begin work
on Task 2
Working Groups
Thursday
10.31
Case 7: Task 1
Print to hand in.
Post to workspace.
Email to April (by
start of class).
NOVEMBER
Tuesday 11.5
TEAM PAGE
Post minutes from
last class
PM-- agenda for
today
TEAM PAGE
Post minutes from
last class
PM-- agenda for
today
TEAM PAGE
Post minutes from
last class
PM-- agenda for
today
TEAM PAGE
Post minutes from
Discuss & Begin work
on Task 3 & 4
Working Groups
Thursday 11.7
Working Groups
Tuesday 11.12
Thursday
Discuss Moving Beyond
(p, 75)
7
Case 7: Task 2
Print slides to hand
in.
Post to workspace.
Case 7: Task 3 & 4
Print slides &
11.14
Begin work on Moving
Beyond Project
last class
PM-- agenda for
today
TEAM PAGE
Post minutes from
last class
PM-- agenda for
today
Working Groups
Tuesday 11.19
Thursday
11.21
Tuesday 11.26
Thursday11.28
Moving Beyond
Presentations During
Class
LEGO CASE
Working Group (assign
PM if you want)
--Build legos
--begin writing How-to
Draft 1
--create revision
schedule
NO CLASS ~
Thanksgiving Break
handout to hand in.
Post to workspace.
Moving Beyond
Due
TEAM PAGE
PM--post
task/revision
schedule for LEGO
CASE
TEAM PAGE
PM--post
task/revision
schedule for LEGO
CASE
TEAM PAGE
PM--post
task/revision
schedule for LEGO
CASE
How-to Draft 1
DUE
Post to page & Print
TEAM PAGE
PM--post
task/revision
schedule for LEGO
CASE
How-to Draft 1
DUE
Post to page & Print
TEAM PAGE
PM--post
task/revision
schedule for LEGO
CASE
How-to Draft 1
DUE
Post to page & Print
TEAM PAGE
PM--post
task/revision
schedule for LEGO
CASE
How-to Draft 2 DUE
Post to page & Print
How-to Draft 2 DUE How-to Draft 2 DUE
Post to page & Print Post to page & Print
DECEMBER
Tuesday 12.3
Thursday 12.5
Last Class
Tuesday
12.10-12.13
Swap How-to Draft 1 &
Legos with another
team
--Attempt to use other
team's How-to Draft to
build Legos
--Critique How-to Draft
(feedback for other
team)
Regroup with your team
(with feedback) and
begin to revise
Swap How-to Draft 2 &
Legos with another
team
--Attempt to use other
team's How-to Draft to
build Legos
--Critique How-to Draft
(feedback for other
team)
Regroup with your team
(with notes) and begin
to revise
Swap How-to Final with
another team
--Attempt to use other
1) How-to
FINAL DUE
2) Final
8
3) How-to
FINAL DUE
4) Final
5) How-to
FINAL DUE
6) Final
Final Exams
team's How-to Draft to
build Legos
--Critique How-to Draft
(use rubric--to be
provided)
Reflection
Due
9
Reflection
Due
Reflection
Due