This document provides information about the Technical Writing COMM4240.01 course for Spring 2011 at Dixie State University. It includes the instructor details, required texts, institutional policies, a general course description and objectives. The course will focus on practical business and technical writing and students will produce various documents and presentations in fictional organizations composed of their classmates. Assignments include application documents, chapter presentations, instructions, memos, proposals and exams. Attendance, participation and following writing standards are expected. The course calendar outlines weekly topics and assignment due dates.

1. TECHNICAL WRITING
COMM4240.01
Spring 2011
INSTRUCTOR: Bridget Sheffer, M.A. CRN: 30460
EMAIL ADDRESS: sheffer@dixie.edu TIME: 2:00-2:50 pm
sheffer@dixie.edu
PHONE: 435-610-1049 CLASS: Centrum 221
TEXT: 435-610-1049
OFFICE HOURS: by appointment FINAL EXAM: Friday, December 14, 2012 from 1-2:50
TEXT
Technical Communication: A Reader-Centered Approach, 7thed.
Paul V. Anderson. Wadsworth, 2011.
Supplemental texts:
Elements of Style (Abbreviated “Style” in Course Calendar)
William Strunk, Jr.
On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Non-fiction (Abbreviated OWW)
William Zinsser
INSTITUTIONAL INFORMATION
Academic Integrity: Scholastic dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest
extent. You are expected to have read and understood the current issue of the student handbook
(published by Student Services) regarding student responsibilities and rights, and the intellectual
property policy, for information about procedures and about what constitutes acceptable on-campus
behavior.
Sexual Harassment: Sexual harassment has no place in this class, on this campus or in your life. If you
encounter unlawful sexual harassment or gender-based discrimination, please contact the Counseling
and Psychological Services Office at 865-8621.
Emergency Management Statement: In case of an emergency, the University’s Emergency Notification
System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using
the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize
themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information
about the University’s emergency management plan can be found at:
http://www.suu.edu/emergency
HEOA Compliance Statement: The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file
sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law. Detailed information can be
found on the SUU website at http://www.suu.edu/it/p2p-student-notice.html.
A.D.A.: “If you are a student with a medical, psychological, or learning disability or think you might have
a disability andwould like accommodations, contact the DisabilityResourceCenter (652-7516) in the
StudentServicesCenter. The DisabilityResourceCenter will determine eligibility of the student requesting
special services anddetermine the appropriate accommodations related to their disability.”

2. General description of the course:
This course focuses on practical types of writing used in business and industry. Using principles of
analyzing and planning to meet the reader’s informational needs, students produce
proposals,instructions and the various types of informative and persuasive reports used in organizations.
Course Objectives:
1. To enhance writing simply, clearly and effectively
2. To develop a broad perspective on the ethical and cultural implications of technical writing
3. To exercise analytical, communication, and presentation skills
4. Understand and use the superstructures: reports, letters, memos, etc
Our Organizations
Technical writing encompasses a large group of writing categories—generally focused on
business writing. Since the class is designed for organizational writing, the class will be divided
into “organizations.” Each assignment will be done under the interface of the organization. You
may be a sole proprietor (one person in the group) or your group may have up to 4 people.
Your attendance and participation will be critical for the functioning of “your” organization.
EVALUATIONS & ASSIGNMENTS
Personal Application Assignments
Each application assignment is worth 50 points. Application assignments include:
Application (Cover) Letter
Resume and/or CV
Introduction Speech with speech outline
Organizational Application Assignments
Each application assignment is worth 50 points. Application assignments include:
Chapter Presentation (100 points)
Instructions with graphics
Memo
Website/New Media
Writing Assignments
Each writing assignment will be assigned a different point system and will be peer-reviewed.
More details on these assignments will be given later. Writing assignments include:
Announcement Email (25pts)
Project Proposal (200 pts)
Workshop Wednesdays
Workshop Wednesdays are to provide you time to work with your “organization.”
Writing Well Fridays
Writing well Fridays will be reviews on writing technicalities, such as grammar. These in-class
assignments will be worth 25 points each.
Mid-term Exam
The mid-term exam will be a “perfect essay.” Topic will be assigned later.

3. Final Exam
The final exam will be an essay accounting for your personal contribution to the group. The
essay will also request you to account for each group member and their perceived
participation. The essay may be completed any time during finals week and uploaded to
canvas by December 14th. Privacy will be respected.
Attendance &Participation
Attendance is critical for your organization; and participation makes class more fun for all of us.
Attendance will be worth 150 points.
Evaluation criteria summariesand writing assignments will be
managed on Canvas.
COURSE EXPECTATIONS
Reading
This course requires completing regular reading, writing and research exercises both in class
and out of class. READING ASSIGNMENTS SHOULD BE DONE PRIOR TO CLASS DISCUSSIONS.
Professional Writing Standards
1. Review and follow the guidelines regarding plagiarism.
2. Submit all formal writing word-processed, double-spaced, in 12-point type.
3. Conform to a standard academic citation style.
4. Use standard word-processing fonts.
Late or Make-up Work
No late work accepted. For extenuating circumstances, please see me.
PLAGIARISM!
This is the use of another source’s words, ideas or statistics without their permission and/or
proper citation. Anyone who plagiarizes material in my class will receive a grade of zero on that
assignment. I also reserve the right to assign you an “F” for the course and/or refer you to our
chair for further sanctions. Please keep in mind that one can be expelled from the college for
academic dishonesty.
COURSE CALENDAR
Date Topic Assignment Due
8.27 Introduction to Class
8.29 Chapter 1: Intro to Technical Writing
8.31 Chapter 19: Oral Presentations
9.3 Introduction Speeches Speech Sentence Outline
9.5 Introduction Speeches
Introduction Speeches
OWW Simplicity Quiz
9.7 OWW: Chapter 2, Simplicity
OWW Audience Quiz
OWW: Chapter 5, Audience
9.10 Chapter 14: Designing

4. 9.12 Chapter 17: Communicating Globally
Chapter 18: Team Communication
9.14 Create Organizational Groups OWW Clutter Quiz
OWW: Chapter 3, Clutter
9.17 Chapter 22: Letters & Memos Pick a presentation chapter
9.19 Chapter 2: Resumes
Resume & Cover Letter Guest Speaker Informational Email
9.21 Announcing the creation of
your organization
9.24 Chapter 3: Objectives
9.26 Chapter 9: Style
Chapter 15: Revising Drafts OWW Style Quiz
9.28 OWW: Chapter 4, Style Resume & Cover Letter
Chapter 27: Writing Instructions
10.1
Chapter 4: Usability
10.3
Chapter 8: Drafting
10.5 OWW Words Quiz
OWW: Chapter 6, Words
10.8 Chapter 13: Graphics
10.10 Chapter 16: Testing Drafts
Chapter 24: Writing Empirical Research OWW Usage Quiz
10.12 OWW: Chapter 7, Usage Instructions with Graphics
10.15 Chapter 23: Writing Proposals
10.17 Chapter 5: Planning Persuasion
Chapter 10: Beginning Communication
10.19 OWW: Chapter 8, Unity OWW Unity Quiz
Reviewing the “Perfect Essay”
10.22 NO CLASS: Fall Holiday
10.24 Midterm Essay Midterm Essay
Chapter 15: Revising Your Drafts
10.26 OWW Quiz
OWW: Chapter 9: The Lead & Ending
10.29 Chapter7: Analyzing Information
10.31 Chapter 25: Feasibility Reports
Chapter 26: Progress Reports Interoffice Memo Due
11.2 OWW: Chapter 10, Bits & Pieces OWW Quiz
11.5 Chapter 6: Gathering Information
11.7 Group Work Day
11.9 Chapter 11: Ending Communication
11.12 Proposal Presentations Organizational Proposal
11.14 Proposal Presentations
11.16 Proposal Presentations
11.19 Elements of Style
11.21 No Class-Thanksgiving Holiday

5. 11.23 No Class-Thanksgiving Holiday
11.26 Elements of Style
11.28 Elements of Style Style Review Quiz
Chapter 21: Managing Projects
11.30 OWW Quiz
OWW: Chapter 16, Business Writing
12.3 Developing & Writing for Social Media
12.5 Group Work Day
12.7 Review, Questions & Answers Social Media Site
Study Day
12.10 No Class
Thursday, May 5
FINAL 1 – 2:50