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English 260, section 1 -- Introduction to Professional and Technical Writing

Overview and Objectives :: Homework & Schedule :: Assignments & Grading

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ENGL 260: Intro to Prof Writing. An introduction to the principles and practices of the field of professional and technical writing. Provides an overview of common document genres and the technologies that writers use to produce them. Includes exploration of the professional writing workplace through guest lectures, field observations, and readings of workplace narratives. Prerequisite: All reading and writing Basic Skills requirements must be completed before enrolling in this course.

Overview:
What is professional and technical writing? How much writing is really involved? Are creating web pages and generating computer software manuals the only careers available? This course looks at some theoretical underpinnings of the field, and tackles some issues that are addressed in the field today. We will also begin to fashion a PTW portfolio for use in securing internships and future opportunities. Additionally, an overview of the PTW program will give students a road map to completion of the major and minor programs. This road map includes addressing these areas:

• Audience, Purpose, Genre, Context
• Collaboration
• Document Design
• Language and Conventions
• Project Management
• Tools and Technologies

Course objectives are designed to enable students to:

• gain a better understanding of PTW theory and application
• develop strategies for critical reading and analyzing texts, and writing for an audience
• locate an interest in the field and pursue it through research and reporting

If you need to contact me by e-mail at "fidallas@svsu.edu," the subject line should contain your last name, course and section number to prevent your e-mail from being misplaced as possible spam.

The reading assignments and scenario responses are to help you engage with some of the issues in professional and technical writing--from the classroom to the workplace. This course will also provide an opportunity for you to BEGIN your portfolio; this is a continual project that will require you to fashion documents for a broader audience--your long report assignment could be included as an initial document that you revise and edit. The final exam will allow you to put your "lessons learned" into practice.

NOTE: All responses and work for the course (course portfolio) will be burned to CD and turned in at the final exam period. (This CD will be your *ticket* to entrance to the final).

Required Texts:

• (STC) Kynell & Stone. Scenarios for Technical Communication. Pearson, 1999. ISBN 0205275249
• (PTSC) Lutz & Storms. The Practice of Technical and Scientific Communication: Writing in Professional Contexts. Greenwood, 1998. ISBN 1567503624
• (NDDB) Williams. Non-Designer's Design Book, Pearson, 2004, 2nd ed. ISBN: 0321193857

Other resources:
Student Technology Center, 2nd Floor, Zahnow Library http://www.svsu.edu/library/stc/
The Writing Center, Science East 123 http://www.svsu.edu/writingcenter/

Course weekly schedule:
Activities are DUE on the date indicated by the course schedule. Please review to plan your time wisely.

Syllabus response -- 5 points:
Read over the syllabus. Comment on things you like and things you don't like. Address any questions that you have. We will talk about these items in class if you choose. Please see the format below for written responses.

Discussion -- 10 points:
A large part of this course will focus on in-class and online discussions of the topics presented through the reading assignments. In order to understand PTW, it is necessary to discuss its historical place in teaching and its resultant position in the workplace.

Scenario response defenses for chapters -- 40 points:
A response to assigned chapters in Scenarios for Technical Communication is due as a part of the reading assignment. Responses should primarily focus on how to defend your particular interpretation, with the understanding that other responses are possible. Review pages 4-5 and 17-18 for guidelines to framing your responses. You may have to undertake outside research to complete your scenarios. Cite your resources using APA format. Please ensure that you do not use wikipedia.com for this purpose.

Each response will be typed for this class. The response should be formatted as an actual document, and contain the following information as part of the document or listed on a cover page:

[your name]
English 260-01
Dr. Dallas
[date]

This document should be your response to the scenario in question, and consider audience choices. Drop your response in the "Drop Box" in VSpace one day before the date due. You should name your file by this format: [lastname+scenario number], or "Dallas2." Please ensure your original file has the same name, or change it in the Properties box in the document.

Quizzes -- ??? points:
There will be no quizzes unless the lack of class discussion dictates otherwise.

Workplace choices -- 10 points:
In-class presentations from chapters in The Practice of Technical and Scientific Communication (PTSC) will offer you different perspectives on "what is" technical writing. The point is to provide a wider scope of information and access to ideas and issues that may impact your future career choices. These presentations will be an opportunity to investigate and share how technical writing is undertaken in various jobs.

Portfolio -- 10 points:
A record of your work and abilities in technical writing is evidenced by your portfolio. This item can be in whatever format you desire. The beginnings of this work will occur in this course, by generating a resume and cover letter which conforms to the requirements for consideration of a PTW internship.

Long report -- 15 points:
This report format will provide you the opportunity to explore a problem or situation through research, and then offer a solution based upon your insight. This report can focus on a specific interest or on a perceived need. The letter of transmittal, which is a part of this report, will be presented in class. More details on this report will be provided later.

Final exam -- 10 points:
The final exam will be a scenario that requires you to provide a response defense, and then write a document (letter or memo) as a result of that defense.