1. Ve300 Technical Communication – Summer 2016
Instructor: Dr. Pamela Mansutti
Office: Room 401 JI Building
Phone: 3420 4474
E-mail: pamela.mansutti@sjtu.edu.cn
Office Hours: Monday 12:00 – 1:30pm,
or by appointment.
Teaching Asssistants:
ZHANG Mingchen (Section 1 – Monday morning)
Office Hours&Location: Monday 1:00-2:00pm & Wednesday 3:00-4:00pm – E-reading Room.
Email: vincent_zmc@sjtu.edu.cn
LOU Guoyi (Section 2 – Monday afternoon)
Office Hours&Location: Monday 8:00-9:00pm – Yu Li Ming Center.
Email: louguoyi@sjtu.edu.cn
Overview: Technical communication is an important aspect of one’s career. Professionals write to apply
for positions, to propose projects, to help others understand their research, to analyze and solve
problems, to describe procedures and objects, to present visual information. The main purpose of this
course is to introduce you to technical communication on the workplace and to prepare you effectively
for it.
Course Objectives: By the end of this course you will be able to
 Identify and explain the importance of effective technical communication.
 Create an effective resume and cover letter.
 Write clear, concise, and accurate business letters and email.
 Design an effective visual for a specific purpose.
 Design and give a professional PowerPoint presentation.
 Collaborate with others to produce effective technical documents.
Requirements: For each technical communication assignment delineated below, instructions, scoring
rubric and resource materials will be provided on Sakai and in class at least one week prior to the due
date.
1. Resume and Letter of Application (Cover Letter). Create a 1-page document that highlights your
qualifications for a specific position or internship. Write a 1-page letter of application for a specific
position or internship. Both due May 30th.
2. Email. Produce a correctly formatted professional email. Due June 6th.
3. Visual. Design a visual—diagram, chart, table, graph, map, etc. Due June 13th.
4. Group PowerPoint Presentation. Collaborate with 5-6 classmates to make a 12-15-slide PowerPoint
presentation. Due June 27th and July 4th.
5. Peer Evaluations. You must evaluate ONE of the PowerPoint presentations given in class on June
27th. This evaluation must be submitted in the form of a memo on July 4th.
6. Class Participation. It is expected that you will attend all classes, take notes in each class, participate
in class discussions, and complete all class exercises. Class activities will be used to track
attendance and determine your class participation grade.
Course Evaluation:
PowerPoint Presentation 20% Resume 20%
Cover Letter 20% Email 10%
Visual 10% Peer Evaluation 10%
Class Participation 10%

2. Ve300 Technical Communication – Summer 2016
Grades:
A+ >=98 A 93 to <98 A- 90 to <93
B+ 88 to <90 B 83 to <88 B- 80 to <83
C+ 78 to <80 C 73 to <78 C- 70 to <73
Ground Rules:
1. If you are absent from class, you may make up the work if and only if the absence is excused
formally. It is your responsibility to see me about work missed due to an excused absence.
2. Assignments are due at the beginning of class. Work submitted after the beginning of class is late.
3. I reserve the right not to accept late assignments. Late assignments that are accepted will be
penalized 3 points each day that they are late. No assignment will be accepted if it is more than
three days past due.
4. If you need help, please contact me or the TA. I will be available for questions and extra help via
email and on Monday during office hours.
5. Extra credit will not be available in this course.
6. If I suspect you of violating the JI Honor Code, you will receive a “0” for the assignment and be
referred to the JI Honor Council. If the JI Honor Council determines that you have violated the JI
Honor Code, you may receive an “F” for the course.
7. Behavior—such as texting—that interferes with another student’s opportunity to learn is
unacceptable and will not be tolerated. If you engage in unacceptable behavior, you may be asked to
leave class.
Schedule (may be subject to changes):
DATE TOPICS ASSIGNMENTS DUE
May 16 Introduction to Technical Communication / Resumes
May 23 Letters of Application (Cover Letters)
May 30 Workplace Correspondence / Writing Efficiently and
Persuasively
Resume and Letter of
Application Due
June 6 Visuals / Professional Ethics Email Due
June 13 PowerPoint Presentations (lecture notes and learning
activities)
Visual Due
June 20 PowerPoint Presentations (preparation and planning)
June 27 PowerPoint Presentations
(presentation of final products and peer evaluations)
Group PowerPoint Due
July 4 PowerPoint Presentations / Course Evaluation
(presentation of final products)
Group PowerPoint Due
Peer Evaluation Due
Sakai: This syllabus, handouts for all assignments, reading materials, and important class
announcements will be posted on Sakai.
Textbook: There is no assigned text for the course. Reading materials will be provided as needed.