School of Advanced Technology
ENL1813T
Communication 1
Professor’s Name:
Leann Nicholson
Course Number:
1813T
Email:
nicholl@algonquincollege.com
Course Section:
050
Phone:
727-4723 ext. 2219
Academic Year:
2010-2011
Office:
B312a
Out of Class
Assistance:
Tues 10-12
Thurs 10-12
Or by appointment
Term:
Academic Level:
Fall
02
Section Specific Learning Resources
Three recommended texts:
[1] Leslie C. Perleman, James Paradis, Edward Barrett, The Mayfield Handbook of Technical and Scientific
Writing. 1998 [On-line], [2006 Aug 1] Available http://www.mhhe.com/
mayfieldpub/tsw/home.htm.
[2] John M. Lannon, Don Klepp, Technical Communication. (first or second Canadian ed) Toronto: Pearson, 2003
[3] Ron S. Bliq, Lisa Moretto, Technically Write. (second ed.) Toronto: Prentice Hall, 2003
There are more resources (articles, links) provided on Blackboard.
Learning Schedule
Date
Topics
Assignments /due
dates
Week 1
Intro to course
 Schedule information
 Course rules
 Blackboard
Intro to technical communication
 Forms of technical communication
 Communicating in a professional
environment
 Technical writing vs. academic
writing
Intro to final presentation
assignment
10 Sept
Week 2
13 & 17 Sept
In-class writing assignment
CLRs
CLR 1
Week 3
20 & 24 Sept
Week 4
27 Sept & 1
Oct
Week 5
4 & 8 Oct
Week 6
15 Oct – No
class Oct 11
Week 7
18 & 22 Oct
Week 8
25 & 29 Oct
Week 9
Communicating through technology
 How technology affects
communication
 ICTs for specific communication
strategies
 Using ICTs in a professional
environment
Workplace Correspondence:
 Effective & appropriate workplace
communication strategies
 Letter/memo formats
 Professional emails
 Informal reports
Research & Documentation of Secondary
Sources:
 Critical analysis for reading
 Primary and secondary
resources
 Identifying credible and noncredible online sources
 Paraphrasing and quoting
 Citation and documentation
Summary Writing
 Reading and summarizing
technical documents/manual

Definitions & Descriptions
 Defining technical terms
 Different technical descriptions
 Descriptions of mechanisms
Process Descriptions
 Describing processes
 Process analysis vs. instructions
 Format & components
Process Descriptions - continued
 Writing a process
In-class exercise
CLR 7
Research into and decision
on final presentation
Report assignment 10%
CLRs 1, 5,
6, 7
In-class research and
referencing assignment
CLRs 2, 5,
6, 7
Deadline to establish
meeting
In-class summary writing
assignment
Report assignment due
In-class description
assignment 5%
Presentation topic
deadline
In-class instructions
exercise
CLR 1
CLR 1
CLRs 1, 4
In-class process description
assignment 5%
CLRs 1, 4
In-class listening
assignment 5%
CLRs 3, 4,
7
Presentation accompanied
by written document
CLRs 1, 2,
3, 4, 5, 6,
7
1 & 5 Nov
Week 10
Week 11
Oral Presentation Skills
 Importance of non-verbal
communication
 Different styles of oral
communication
 Importance & use of visuals
 Critique and Listening Theory
TBA
15 & 19 Nov
Week 12
TBA
22 & 26 Nov
Week 13
Presentation & written document - 30%
8 & 12 Nov
29 Nov &
3 Dec
Week 14
Presentation & written document - 30%
6 & 10 Dec
Week 15
Final assessment week
Feedback reports – 20%
Presentation accompanied
by written document
Feedback reports – 20%
Exit interviews
CLRs 1, 2,
3, 4, 5, 6,
7
CLRs 2, 3,
4, 7
13 & 17 Dec
Other Important Information
Marks Distribution
In-class assignments
Informal meeting
Feedback reports
Final presentation with written report
Completion of in-class assignments (attendance & participation)
25%
15%
20%
30%
10%
COURSE INFORMATION
In ENL1813T, you will be taught to apply critical reading, writing, listening and speech
techniques in order to understand and present technical information as it is currently
communicated in your discipline at college and at work. You will also apply learning
techniques to practice and emulate common technical communications strategies.
CLASS ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION
Prompt and regular attendance is essential for success in this course. If you are absent,
it is your responsibility to obtain the notes, assignment details, and information that you
missed, and you are expected to participate actively in class activities. Not doing so will
make success on assignments much more difficult.
In-class assignments: There are eight in-class assignments that make up your
attendance and participation mark. The assignments designated as “in-class” are
expected to be completed during the class time – no exceptions.
If you are not happy with your mark, you may be able re-submit the assignment with
permission. If you miss an in-class assignment, there will be a make-up assignment
posted in the last 2 weeks of class to recover 5% of your final mark.
Oral presentations: Attendance is mandatory. If you choose to do an in-class
presentation, you are expected to give your oral presentation on the scheduled day, and
to attend the presentations of your classmates. Schedules for oral presentations will
be created during an earlier class and posted on Blackboard/website.
Only medical or emergency reasons will be accepted as excuses for an individual
absence from an oral presentation. You are required to submit a written memo to
me in a case of absence due to emergency. Otherwise the resulting mark will be
zero (0) for the missed presentation. Any person not ready to present their oral
presentation on the date arranged will receive a mark of zero (0).
SUBMISSION OF ASSIGNMENTS
All written assignments will only receive full marks if they are submitted on the
scheduled due dates. Late assignments will lose 5% per day, including weekends,
and will not be accepted more than one week late.
All written assignments should be single-spaced and handed in as hard (paper)
copies in class unless otherwise specified. Electronic copies will be submitted only
for specified assignments and with my permission.
Electronic devices
Electronic devices are permitted in class; however, the device must be muted and
cannot be a source of distraction during class time.