This document outlines the syllabus for a technical writing course offered in the spring of 2011. The course focuses on practical types of writing used in business and industry. Students will be divided into four mock organizations and complete writing assignments from the perspective of their assigned organization. Assignments include application materials, writing assignments, exams, and a final portfolio. Students will be evaluated based on their application assignments, writing assignments, in-class exercises, exams, portfolio, participation, and attendance. The course aims to enhance students' writing skills and develop their understanding of technical writing's ethical and cultural implications.

1. TECHNICAL WRITING<br />COMM 4240.01<br />Spring 2011 MWF 2:00 - 2:50 Pm; PE 121; CRN 12135<br />INSTRUCTOR:Bridget Sheffer <br />EMAIL ADDRESS: bridgetsheffer@gmail.com<br />PHONE:435-610-1049<br />OFFICE HOURS: by appointment<br />TEXT<br />Technical Communication: A Reader-Centered Approach, 6th ed.<br />Paul V. Anderson. Wadsworth, 2007. <br />CLASS BLOG<br />http://suu-technicalwriting.blogspot.com/<br />INSTITUTIONAL INFORMATION<br />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.<br />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.<br />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:<br />http://www.suu.edu/emergency<br />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.<br />A.D.A.: “If you are a student with a medical, psychological, or learning disability or think you might have a disability and would like accommodations, contact the Disability Resource Center (652-7516) in the Student Services Center. The Disability Resource Center will determine eligibility of the student requesting special services and determine the appropriate accommodations related to their disability.”<br />General description of the course:<br />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.<br />Course Objectives:<br />To enhance writing simply, clearly and effectively <br />To develop a broad perspective on the ethical and cultural implications of technical writing<br />To exercise analytical, communication, and presentation skills <br />To improve team work<br />Understand and use the superstructures: reports, letters, memos, etc<br />Our Organizations<br />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 four “organizations.” Each assignment will be done under the interface of the organization. The organizations will be as follows: an educational organization; a private corporation; a non-profit organization; and a government organization. You will apply to the organization with a resume and cover letter, and then you will help create the organization. Your attendance will be critical for the functioning of “your” organization. <br />EVALUATIONS & ASSIGNMENTS<br />Application Assignments<br />Each application assignment is worth 50 points. Application assignments include:<br />Application (Cover) Letter<br />Resume and/or CV<br />Flow Chart<br />Website/New Media<br />Brochure<br />Instructions with graphics<br />Information page with graphics<br />Writing Assignments<br />Each writing assignment will be assigned a different point system. Writing assignments include:<br />Announcement Email (25pts)<br />Project Proposal (200 pts)<br />Project Report (100 pts)<br />User Test & Report (200 pts)<br />Workshop Wednesdays<br />Workshop Wednesdays are to provide you time to work with your “organization.” <br />Writing Well Fridays<br />Writing well Fridays will be reviews on writing technicalities, such as grammar. These in-class assignments will be worth 25 points each.<br />Mid-term Exam<br />The mid-term exam will be a “perfect essay.” It will be an individual progress report on your organization using the “perfect essay” method. This exam will be worth 100 points.<br />Portfolio <br />The final project will be a portfolio of the work you and your organization have done throughout the semester with a final progress report on the class. In the final progress report, you will answer the following questions:<br />Have I improved my writing skills?

2. How has the class improved my writing skills ?

3. In what ways has this class enhanced my view of culture and ethical impact of technical writing?Attendance & Participation<br />Attendance is critical for your organization; and participation makes class more fun for all of us. Attendance will be worth 150 points.<br />Evaluation criteria summary: Value Application Assignments 350<br />Writing Assignments 525<br />Writing Well Exercises 275<br />Mid-term “Perfect Essay” 100<br />Portfolio 100<br />Participation/Attendance 150 Total:1500 <br /> <br />COURSE EXPECTATIONS<br />Reading <br />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.<br />Professional Writing Standards 1. Review and follow the guidelines regarding plagiarism. <br />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.<br />Late or Make-up Work<br />No late work accepted. For extenuating circumstances, please see me.<br />PLAGIARISM!<br />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.<br />TECHNOLOGY<br />Your electronic devices<br />Pagers and cellular phones that go off during lectures and presentations are a distraction. All electronic devices are to be SILENCED during class, either off or in the vibrate mode. Please do not leave class to answer your phone. You may be asked to leave class.<br />INSTRUCTIONAL METHOD <br />Lectures, discussions, and multimedia.<br />COURSE CALENDAR<br />DateTopicAssignment Due1.10Review Syllabus & Class Introductions1.12Chapter 2: Resumes1.14Resume & Cover Letter Guest Speaker1.17Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday NO CLASS1.19Chapter 2: Cover letter1.21Ethics & Culture: Job SearchingResume & Cover Letter1.24Chapter 3: ObjectivesOrganizational Assignments Given1.26Chapter 11: Front & BackWorkshop Wednesday1.28Writing Well Organizational Flow ChartChapter 20: Letters, Memos & Emails1.31Chapter 18: Websites & Social Networking2.2Chapter 4: UsabilityWorkshop Wednesday2.4Writing WellEthics & Culture:Web Design & UsabilityAnnouncement Email/Memo2.7Chapter 5; Persuasion2.9Chapter 22: ProposalsWorkshop Wednesday2.11Chapter 22: ProposalsWriting WellOrganizational Website 2.14Chapter 6: Research2.16Chapter 7: DraftingWorkshop Wednesday2.18Writing WellEthics & Culture: Persuasion & ResearchOrganizational Brochure2.21President’s Day NO CLASS2.23Chapter 8: StyleWorkshop Wednesday2.25Writing WellChapter 17: Presentations2.28Chapter 17: Presentations3.2Chapter 9: Beginning CommunicationWorkshop Wednesday3.4Writing WellChapter 10: Ending Communication3.7Mid-term Exam: Perfect Essay3.9Project Proposal & Presentations3.11Project Proposal & Presentations3.14-3.18SPRING BREAK3.21Chapter 12: Graphics3.23Chapter 23: InstructionsWorkshop Wednesday3.25Writing WellEthics & Culture: GraphicsOrganization Instructions with graphics3.28Chapter 13: Pages & Documents3.30Chapter 13: Pages & DocumentsWorkshop Wednesday4.1Writing WellCatch-up Lecture DayOrganizational Information Page with graphics4.4Chapter 14: Revisions4.6Chapter 15: TestingWorkshops4.8Writing WellEthics & Culture: Testing4.11Chapter 15: Testing4.13Users Tests Workshop Day4.15Writing WellEthics & Culture: Intellectual Property4.18Chapter 21: Reports4.20Ethics & Culture: Culture & Gender in PresentationsUser Tests & Report4.22Good Friday RecessNo Class4.25Chapter 19: Managing Clients4.27Chapter 19: Managing Service LearningOrganizational Progress Report4.29Study DayNo ClassFINALThursday, May 51 – 2:50Portfolio and Service Learning Extra Credit Essay<br />Service Learning Extra Credit Project<br />For extra credit, you may engage in a personal service project. Upon the conclusion of the service given, you are to write a one page, double-spaced report. For example, last semester—as a class—two opportunities were used: we donated to the Samoan relief fund; and we donated to the local cancer treatment center. We will discuss the more as it gets closer. The short half-page report will be done on Thursday, May 5th with your final Portfolio. The project will be worth 25 points.<br />