Course Design Guide
ENG/221 Version 5
1
Course Design Guide
College of Information Systems & Technology
ENG/221 Version 5
Technical Writing Fundamentals
Copyright © 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved.
Course Description
This course covers the fundamentals and best practices of using written communication in business and in the
information technologies. Topics include strategies, techniques, and nuances for producing e-mails, memos,
reports, proposals, project specifications, and user manuals, as well as other technical documents.
Policies
Faculty and students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained
within the following two documents:


University policies: You must be logged into the student website to view this document.
Instructor policies: This document is posted in the Course Materials forum.
University policies are subject to change. Be sure to read the policies at the beginning of each class. Policies
may be slightly different depending on the modality in which you attend class. If you have recently changed
modalities, read the policies governing your current class modality.
Course Materials
Dobrin, S. I., Keller, C. J., & Weisser, C. R. (2010). Technical communication in the twenty-first century (2nd
ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Gerson, S. J., & Gerson, S. M. (2012). Technical communication: Process and product (7th ed.). Upper Saddle
River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
All electronic materials are available on the student website.
Week One: The Technical Writing Process
Oct 29 – Nov 4
Details
Objectives
1.1 Identify how writing methods are used in the corporate environment.
Compare differences between technical and expository writing.
Reading
Read the Week One Read Me First.
Reading
Read Ch. 1, “An Introduction to Technical Communication,” of Technical Communication
Process and Product.
Reading
Read Ch. 2, “The Communication Process: Prewriting, Writing, and Rewriting,” of Technical
Communication Process and Product.
Reading
Read Ch. 3, “Clarity, Conciseness, Accuracy, and Ethics in Technical Communication,” of
Technical Communication Process and Product.
Due
Points
Course Design Guide
ENG/221 Version 5
Participation
Participate in class discussion. Participation is counted for posts
made in the main folder only. Each student must respond to
four students each week after they have posted their response
to the discussion questions/activity. Each response must be a
minimum of 150 words.
Learning Team
Instructions
User Manual and
Presentation
(Preparation)
Begin preparation for completing the User Manual and Presentation
due in Week Five.
Select one of the following tools as the focus of your user manual
and presentation:




Student website
University Library
Virtual Organizations
Online discussion forums
Write a 15- to 20-page user manual for your selected tool.
Provide effective, clear, concise, accurate, and coherent written
communication that introduces first-time students to your tool.
Include the following items in your manual:








Table of contents
Headers and footers that include page numbers, copyright
information, and other necessary information
Headings
Appropriate font
Written instructions for accessing, navigating, and using the
selected tool
Visual elements, such as images, flowcharts, tables, and
screenshots
Effective page layout, including the order of information, use of
whitespace, and highlighting
Terminology definitions, a key to define any symbols or
diagrams used, and any other necessary information to help the
user navigate the manual
Create a 7- to 10-slide annotated or narrated Microsoft®
PowerPoint® presentation that could be presented in a student
orientation meeting to introduce your team’s tool.
Include the following in your presentation:




Speaker notes
Introduction slide
Conclusion slide
Headings
See
instructor
policies
2
2
Course Design Guide
ENG/221 Version 5




3
Graphics
Easy-to-read fonts
Appropriate contrast
Effective slide design and layout, including the amount of
information and use of white space
Note. For tips on how to add narration to your presentation, refer to
the University of Phoenix Material: Recording a Narration located on
the student website.
Individual
Workplace
Communication
Comparison
Complete the University of Phoenix Material: Workplace
Communication Comparison located on the student website.
Discussion
Question
Supporting
Activity
Establish Your
Purpose and the
Delivery Medium
Resources: SkillSoft (2012). Writing for Technical Professionals:
Preparation and Planning.
11/4
10
11/2
2
Note. This Week One assignment is recommended as an in-class
activity for local campuses.
Complete Establish Your Purpose and the Delivery Medium module
in Skillport.
Write a 200- to 300-word response to the following questions:
What are the four main purposes of technical writing? What is the
goal of informative writing? What is the aim of instructional writing?
What is the purpose of reference writing? What is the aim of
persuasive writing? When should a document be delivered online?
Your response must be made by day 4 each week to allow
enough time for all students to review your post and respond
with their participation posts.
Discussion
Question Two
Respond to the second discussion question posted in the main
folder
11/3
2
Learning Team
Charter
Create and post a learning team charter. Remember that the team
charter is used as the ground rules for the team and as a conflict
resolution tool if necessary. The statements made must be
collaborative – no “I” statements.
11/4
2
Due
Points
Week Two: Technical Writing in the Corporate Environment
Nov 5 - 11
Details
Objectives
2.1 Identify intellectual property issues in the corporate environment.
Design a memo with appropriate formatting for the corporate environment.
Reading
Read the Week Two Read Me First.
Course Design Guide
ENG/221 Version 5
4
Reading
Read Ch. 4, “Communicating Effectively to Your Audience in a Multicultural World,” of
Technical Communication Process and Product.
Reading
Read Ch. 6, “Routine Correspondence—Memos, Letters, E-mail Messages, Instant
Messages, and Text Messages,” of Technical Communication Process and Product.
Reading
Read Ch. 4, “Ethics and the Workplace Writer,” of Technical Communication in the TwentyFirst Century.
Reading
Read Ch. 6, “Researching and Evaluating Source Material,” of Technical Communication in
the Twenty-First Century.
Participation
Participate in class discussion.
See
instructor
policies
2
Individual
Corporate Memos
Select and complete one of the following assignments.
11/11
10
Option 1: Web Conferencing Programs Research Memo
Read the following scenario:
Your manager wants to use web conferencing to hold weekly status
meetings, but has not decided on a program. You have been
assigned to do some basic research on available web conferencing
programs.
Research and compare different web conferencing programs using
the Internet.
Write a memo to your manager that describes the web conferencing
program you believe is the best choice. Explain why you selected
this program.
Include a list of all web conferencing programs you reviewed.
Consider using a table to present your references.
Format the memo properly for management review. Use the course
texts as a resource.
Include a minimum of two citations from your research.
Option 2: Memo Evaluation
Use a memo you have written, one that one of your peers or your
manager has written, or one of the following from the University of
Phoenix Virtual Organizations’ intranet sites:


Riordan Manufacturing: China Relocation Memo located under
Finance & Accounting > Communications
Riordan Manufacturing: HR Integration Project Manager Memo
located under Human Resources > Communications
Course Design Guide
ENG/221 Version 5


5
Kudler Fine Foods: Training for New Cash Registers Memo
located under Administration > Communications
McBride Financial Services: Programming Languages E-mail
located under Administration > Communications
Evaluate the memo using the following criteria:





Organization
Clarity
Tone
Writing style
How you reacted to the memo
Write a 300- to 500-word report in which you comment on each of
the criteria and make suggestions for improvement.
Discussion
Question
Supporting
Activity
Intellectual Property
Overview
Resources: SkillSoft (2012). Intellectual Property Overview.
11/8
2
11/10
2
Due
Points
Complete Intellectual Property Overview module in Skillport.
Write a 200- to 300-word response to the following questions:
What is intellectual property? What do intellectual property laws
define? What are the categories of intellectual property protections?
What international treaties are in place for protection of U.S.
intellectual property?
Discussion
Question Two
Respond to the second discussion question posted in the main
folder
Week Three: Writing Reports and Proposals
Nov 12 – 18
Details
Objectives
3.1 Implement effective document design in technical writing.
Develop a request for proposal.
Course Design Guide
ENG/221 Version 5
6
Reading
Read the Week Three Read Me First.
Reading
Read Ch. 9, “Document Design,” of Technical Communication Process and Product.
Reading
Read Ch. 10, “Using Visual Aids in Technical Communication,” of Technical Communication
Process and Product.
Reading
Read Ch. 16, “Short, Informal Reports,” of Technical Communication Process and Product.
Reading
Read Ch. 17, “Long, Formal Reports,” of Technical Communication Process and Product.
Reading
Read Ch. 18, “Proposals,” of Technical Communication Process and Product.
Reading
Read Ch. 20, “Proposals and Requests for Proposals,” of Technical Communication in the
Twenty-First Century.
Participation
Participate in class discussion.
Individual
Request for
Proposal
Read the following scenario:
See
instructor
policies
20
11/18
You are a manager or supervisor of a company, and you need to
acquire trainers to train your staff on using Microsoft ® Office®
programs. You must request proposals from various training
companies and trainers to fill this need.
Write a 3- to 5-page request for proposal (RFP) and include the
following:

Introduction to the company
o
o

Introduction to the project
o
o
o
o

Description of your company
Your company’s business goals
Project goals
Time allocated to complete the project
Budget for the project
Description of the needed training
Administrative information
o
o
o
Desired qualifications
Requirements for formatting and submitting proposals
Confidentiality notice of all proposal submissions
2
Course Design Guide
ENG/221 Version 5
o
o
o
o
o

7
Employer and organizational reference requirements
Contact information for clarification or questions
Deadline for proposal submission
Timeframe for vendor selection
Selection criteria
Other items that may be important for inquiring candidates
Format the RFP using examples from your textbooks or additional
research and consistent with APA guidelines. The following must be
included:




Discussion
Question
Supporting
Activity
The Essentials of
Technical Writing
Cover page
Page numbers
Headers and footers
Headings
Resources: SkillSoft (2012). Writing for Technical Professionals:
Effective Writing Techniques.
11/15
2
11/17
2
Due
Points
Complete The Essentials of Technical Writing module in Skillport.
Write a 200- to 300-word response to the following questions:
What is page design and why is it important? What types of
mistakes are common in technical writing?
Discussion
Question Two
Respond to the second discussion question posted in the main
folder
Week Four: Writing Technical Instructions and User Manuals
11/19 – 11/25
Details
Objectives
4.1 Determine criteria for writing a user manual.
4.2 Develop a user manual with appropriate visual elements.
Design effective written communication for user manuals and technical instructions.
Reading
Read the Week Four Read Me First.
Reading
Read Ch. 12, “Technical Descriptions and Process Analyses,” of Technical Communication
Process and Product.
Reading
Read Ch. 13, “Instructions, User Manuals, and Standard Operating Procedures,” of
Technical Communication Process and Product.
Reading
Read Ch. 18, “Technical Instructions,” of Technical Communication in the Twenty-First
Century.
Course Design Guide
ENG/221 Version 5
Reading
Read Ch. 19, “Manuals,” of Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century.
Participation
Participate in class discussion.
Individual
User Manual
Critique
Write a 2- to 3-page critique of an online user manual. You may
download manuals from a website of your choice. Include the
manual link in your submission.
See
instructor
policies
8
2
10
11/25
Identify and describe the criteria you used to critique the selected
manual. Provide at least five criteria.
Provide positive and negative examples from the online manual that
represent each aspect of your designated criteria.
Format your critique consistent with APA guidelines.
Discussion
Question
Supporting
Activity
Short Answer
Question: User
Manual Criteria
Write a 200- to 300-word response to the following question:
Discussion
Question Two
Respond to the second discussion question posted in the main
folder
11/22
2
11/24
2
Due
Points
Why is it important to establish the necessary criteria before writing
a user manual? What criteria are frequently missing or vague in user
manuals and instruction? Provide examples of missing or vague
criteria you have recently seen.
Week Five: Preparing Presentations
11/26 – 12/2
Details
Objectives
5.1 Implement effective layout and design in presentations.
Develop a professional slideshow presentation.
Reading
Read the Week Five Read Me First.
Reading
Read Ch. 19, “Oral Communication,” of Technical Communication Process and Product.
Reading
Read Ch. 5, “Technical Communication in a Transnational World,” of Technical
Communication in the Twenty-First Century.
Reading
Read Ch. 23, “Presentations,” of Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century.
Participation
Participate in class discussion.
See
instructor
policies
2
Course Design Guide
ENG/221 Version 5
Learning Team
User Manual
Finalize and submit the user manual. See week one for full
description.
12/2
20
Discussion
Question #1
Supporting
Activity
Basic Presentation
Skills: Creating a
Presentation
Resources: SkillSoft (2012). Basic Presentation Skills: Creating a
Presentation.
11/29
2
Complete Basic Presentation Skills: Creating a Presentation
module in Skillport.
Write a 200- to 300-word response to the following questions:
What are the most effective practices in creating and delivering a
technical business presentation?
Copyright
University of Phoenix® is a registered trademark of Apollo Group, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.
Microsoft®, Windows®, and Windows NT® are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
All other company and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Use of these marks is not
intended to imply endorsement, sponsorship, or affiliation.
Edited in accordance with University of Phoenix® editorial standards and practices.
9