SYLLABUS
Technical Communication (661.110) – Sec. 6 – Tuesday – 3-5:45
January 27 to April 28 - 2009
Room – Hodson 216
Instructor:
Peter Porosky
Professional Communication Program
The Center for Leadership Education
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, Maryland 21218
Office: 106 Whitehead Hall
Hours: Wednesdays = noon to 3 pm. or by appointment
Email: peterporosky@yahoo.com
Phone: 410-516-6745
Biography:
Peter H. Porosky has been a college teacher since 1965. He has taught at the University
of Arizona, George Washington University, the University of Maryland (both in the
United States and Europe), Johns Hopkins University, and Elizabeth City State
University (North Carolina). He has also originated and served as a Director of two major
writing programs, at the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins.
In addition, he teaches Online for both the University of Phoenix and Elizabeth City State
University, as well as on campus at Johns Hopkins and ECSU.
Currently, he has been hired by the United States Government in Washington, D.C. to
teach Federal employees the New Grammar and other researched innovations concerning
the English language and the writing process. He acts as a consultant and makes speeches
regarding his research to various interested groups.
He has been a practicing free-lance writer for the same length of time, having published
five trade books and three novels, plus numerous short stories, poems, articles and
translations (Russian). He is currently working on a major textbook on technical
communication. He also acts as a professional writing consultant and has obtained
nationwide publication for over fifty clients, including one who appeared on the Oprah
Winfrey television show. He currently lives with his wife Linda on the Outer Banks of
North Carolina.
Description:
Technical Communication introduces you to a variety of technical
and business writing theories and practices designed to be
applicable to the production of technical communication in the real
world. It teaches the fundamentals of good technical writing,
including protocols for application letters/resumes, object and
process descriptions, instructions and short and long reports. You
will learn how to meet the challenge of communicating special
information to a variety of audiences. In addition, there will be
instruction in oral presentation and in depth practice on both an
individual and collaborative basis. Students will learn how to
enhance their communications with technically based media.
Objectives:
1 – This course will make you conversant with the basic forms,
formats and techniques of technical writing so that you will be
thoroughly prepared to take part in real-world fields.
2 – This course will give you the latest research information on
language in general and the writing process specifically so that you
will become a highly confident and skilled writer.
3 – This course will provide practice in all necessary skills so that
you can apply your knowledge of the writing process to a myriad
of different tasks and genres.
Text:
Strategies for Business and Technical Writing, Harty, sixth edition
The Little Brown Essential Handbook for Writers, Aaron
Student Packet, available online from the instructor
Recommended:
Technical Communication, tenth edition, Lannon.
Requirements:
Writing:
Paper #1 – Resume/Application Letter
Paper #2 – Definition for Two Audiences
Paper #3 – Description Object
Paper #4 – Description Process
Paper #5 – Instructions/Brochure [Group]
Paper #6 – Progress Report
Paper #7 – Long Formal Report/Proposal (Group)
[plus 3 pages]
[plus 3 pages}
[plus 3 pages)
[plus 3 pages]
[plus 4 pages]
[plus 5 pages]
[10 pages]
Note: specific instructions for all assignments are available in the
student packet.
In addition to the above papers, there will be numerous in-class
writing exercises that provide practice of the principles and
procedures inherent in the text and my lectures.
Oral:
There will be an oral presentation covering the material in Paper
#6 – again, specific instructions regarding this presentation are
available in the student packet. (Group)
Workshops:
Each major paper will be presented in a Peer Workshop activity,
and the following procedures will be followed:
1 – You will bring a near final draft of each assignment on
the days so indicated by the schedule below. You will make two
identical copies of this draft. Attendance will be taken on these
days, and if you happen to miss the Workshop, access to my
comments or your students’ comments will not be available.
Missing the workshop does not remove your responsibility to meet
the due date of the final draft.
2 – Each assignment will have a specific rubric or list of
expected goals to reach, and you need to be thoroughly familiar
with these objectives both in the production of your own work and
your appraisals of others’ work. You will respond to a written form
in your appraisals and give your responses to the student writers in
question. In turn, they will do the same, and when you turn in your
final draft copy of your assignment, you will attach: a/ the original
near final draft; and b/ a copy of the appraisers’ responses. In your
appraisal, you will respond to the specific objectives, as well as all
other issues of style, coherence and rhetoric that you are capable of
discerning. You will make WRITTEN comments on the drafts, as
well as on the response sheets. Then you will discuss these
comments with each writer prior to leaving the Workshop.
At the end of each workshop, you will receive a
response from me in written form on the second, identical draft
copy. You will attach this response to the final draft.
3- After you receive the graded final draft from me, the
Peer Workshop groups will be reconvened to note the pluses and
minuses of the review process. If it seems that you are not
participating fully in the workshop process, it may occur that you
receive actual grades on your review performances.
4- You will revise each assignment along the lines directed
by me. The assignment will not be credited until this revision is
completed, but the revision will NOT receive a new grade.
Assignment Policies:
1- All drafts should be typed in 12 font type and computer
printed.
2 – All drafts should be single-sided.
3 – All drafts should be free of mechanical/grammatical
errors.
4 – All drafts should be turned in on time unless a
reasonable reason for lateness is presented to me. No assignment
will be accepted after the last day of class in any given term.
5 – All drafts will be formatted according to the specific
instructions in each assignment sheet.
6 – No extraneous cover sheets or folders should be used
with the exception of the final term portfolio.
7 – Except when asked to do so, do not send any
assignments to me via email. Bring the final draft on the day of
your return to class.
Attendance:
Attendance will be taken on a regular basis, via the production of
day-to-day exercises and workshops. If you miss a particular
exercise or assignment on an excused basis, you can turn it in by
the second day after your return to class. More than two unexcused
absences will negatively affect your grade. Remember that any
absence does not relieve you of the responsibility to complete all
assignments.
Grading:
Final grades will be determined by the following criteria:
1- Completion of ALL assignments and exercises and the
quality of your performance.
2- Attendance
3 – Participation in workshops and collaborative
assignments. These class days are especially crucial to your
progress in the course and my measurement of that progress.
4 – Class discussions
5 – If you dispute a particular grade on an assignment or
the final grade in the course, please feel free to discuss your
concern with me, prior to going to any higher authority.
6 – If you have a severe unforeseen crisis or dire
emergency in your life, it may occur that you might receive an
Incomplete Grade. I will only give this grade in the most crucial of
circumstances, and the reason must be documented. Do NOT
attempt to use this recourse for any other reason, but do
communicate to me what is happening in your life that might
affect the completion of the course.
7 – The final grade will be determined by an overall
average of your seven primary grades, but some recognition may
be given to improvement. Of the papers, the grade for Paper # 5 is
the most important since it is your final individual assignment
Online Portfolio:
You will email me copies of all papers, exercises and class
assignments at the end of the term in one collection/or portfolio.
These should be kept in the order they were produced and there
can be no missing copies.
Plagiarism:
Johns Hopkins University’s policy on theft of other people’s ideas
and work is also my policy. Familiarize yourself with this policy at
the library or at any other source. Any attempt at plagiarism will
result in an automatic failing grade, as well as probable action by
the University itself.
Ethics:
The strength of the university depends on academic and personal
integrity. In this course, you must be honest and truthful. Ethical
violations include cheating on exams, plagiarism, reuse of
assignments, improper use of the Internet and electronic devices,
unauthorized collaboration, alteration of graded assignments,
forgery and falsification, lying, facilitating academic dishonesty,
and unfair competition. Unethical practices include any use of
someone else’s work without their permission or permission of the
instructor. Report any violations you witness to me. You may
consult the Associate Dean of Student Affairs, and/or the
Chairperson of the Ethics Board beforehand. See the guide on
“Academic Ethics for Undergraduates” and the Ethics Board Web
Site (http://ethics.jhu.edu) for more information.
Class Behavior:
The usual courtesies will hold sway. Lateness should be avoided,
but if unavoidable, please let me know the reason(s). Talking to
other students while class is in session is not permitted except
during workshops. If you have a question, ask me, not your
neighbor. Talking to one’s friend nearby is an understandable way
to make you feel more comfortable in the class, but it distracts me
as well as your fellow students, and it should be avoided.
Disabilities:
If you have a disability, present me with the required
documentation, and accommodations will be made.
Schedule:
WEEK ONE: [It is recommended that you fill in the appropriate
dates where applicable.]
Class Introduction
Discussion Paper #1 [Resume/Application Letter]
WEEK TWO:
Rough Draft Paper #1 due
Discussion Paper #2 [Definition for Two Audiences]
WEEK THREE:
Final Draft Paper #1 due
Rough Draft Paper #2
WEEK FOUR:
Final Draft of Paper #2 due
Discussion Paper #3 [Description of an Object]
WEEK FIVE:
Rough Draft Paper #3
Discussion Paper #4 [Description of a Process]
WEEK SIX:
Final Draft of Paper #3 due
WEEK Seven:
Rough Draft Paper #4
Organization Paper #5 [Instructions Brochure]
SPRING BREAK – MARCH 16-22
WEEK Eight:
Final Draft Paper #4 due
WEEK NINE:
Discussions of Paper #6 [Progress Report], Paper #7
[Proposal}, and the Oral Report [Paper #7]
WEEK TEN: November 10/12
Final Draft Paper #5 due
WEEK ELEVEN:
Final Draft Paper #6 due
WEEK TWELVE:
Nothing due
WEEK THIRTEEN:
Final Draft Paper #7 due
Oral Presentations due
Last day of class/Have a good summer!