Introduction to Technical Communication – ETC 200, Section 1

Murphy 106 MWF 10:00-10:50

Instructor

Dr. Michael Charlton

mcharlton@missouriwestern.edu

Eder Hall 212F

Office Hours: MW 1:00-3:30 and by appointment

Course Description

This course is designed to introduce you to the rapidly growing (and, not incidentally, highly lucrative) field of technical communication. A technical communicator is a professional writer responsible for inventing, transmitting, or translating a technical topic to a broader audience, from scientists and engineers to supervisors and management or even to the general public. It is a complex and difficult job but also a highly rewarding one.

In this course we will explore some of the most common genres of technical writing, such as proposals, progress reports, process descriptions and instructions, and application materials. We will also examine many of the larger issues in the field, such as rhetorically appealing to audience members, ethical standards for writing, and using layouts and visuals effectively.

Required Materials

• Pfeiffer, Technical Communication: A Practical Approach, Sixth Edition
• A USB drive or other portable storage to save and maintain your work

Assignments and Grades

We are going to follow the current trend in business by being largely paperless. All major assignments, including rough drafts and final portfolios, will be submitted electronically to the course’s Blackboard site. Assignments will also be graded and returned electronically.

The major portion of the course grade will be in the four portfolios. The portfolios consist of documents grouped together by genres (for example, letters) or a single long document (for example, the proposal). The fourth portfolio is the proposal, which will also include a short oral presentation. For the final exam, the student will select and revise chosen documents from the earlier portfolios as part of a fictional “employment application” to a prospective employer; this portfolio will also include a resume and a cover letter explaining your strengths as a technical communicator and show how these strengths are reflected in the portfolio itself.

The final portion of the course grade will consist of class participation (including class discussion and in-class group work), quizzes, and homework.

No late work will be accepted.

Portfolio 1 (“Positive” and “Negative” Letters, Sales Letter) – 20% (200 points)

Portfolio 2 (Process Description, Instructions) – 20% (200 points)

Portfolio 3 (Progress Report, Recommendation Report) – 20% (200 points)

Portfolio 4 (Proposal and Oral Presentation) – 20% (200 points)

Final Exam (Revised Highlights, Resume, Cover Letter) – 10% (100 points)

Class Participation, Quizzes, and Homework – 10% (100 Points)

100% (1000 points total)

A = 90-100% (900-1000 points earned)

B = 80-89% (800-899 points earned)

C = 70-79% (700-799 points earned)

D = 60-69% (600-699 points earned)

F = 0-59% (0-599 points earned)

Final Exam

Monday, December 8^th 8:30-10:20

Attendance

You are allowed five unexcused absences. The sixth unexcused absence will result in automatic failure of this course. Students representing the university in officially sanctioned activities must give notice before their absence. All absences due to illness must be documented in order to be excused.

Academic Misconduct

Academic honesty is required in all academic endeavors. Violations of academic honesty include any instance of plagiarism, cheating, seeking credit for another’s work, falsifying documents or academic records, or any other fraudulent activity. Violations of academic honesty may result in a failing grade on the assignment, failure in the course, or expulsion from the University. When a student’s grade has been affected, violations of academic honesty will be reported to the Provost or designated representative on the Academic Honesty Violation Report forms.

Please see the 2008-09 Student Handbook for specific activities identified as violations of this policy and the student due process procedure. This handbook is also available online at http://www.missouriwestern.edu/handbook/index.pdf

Special Needs

Any student who has a special need or disability that might affect performance in this course should contact the appropriate MWSU coordinator for assistance. Also, let me know immediately so that arrangements can be made to make sure your needs are met as quickly and completely as possible.

Final Notes

Please visit me in my office. If you cannot come by during my posted office hours, please make an appointment.

I encourage lively discussion but please show appropriate respect for the learning environment, including your peers.

Please turn off all cell phones upon entering the classroom. Any student caught with a ringing cell phone will receive a very stern look. On the second occasion, the student will be marooned on a barren island without cell reception for the rest of his or her natural life to consider his or her actions. On the third occasion, the student’s class participation grade will be lowered. The same penalties apply for inappropriate web-surfing or other behavior disruptive to the classroom.