UMUC-Europe Syllabus

(Formerly COMM 293. Fulfills the general education requirement in communications.) Prerequisite: WRTG 101, ENGL 101, or equivalent. An introduction to the process of technical writing. Discussion covers conducting audience and needs analyses; organizing and writing clear, precise, grammatically correct technical prose; and producing a variety of routine technical reports and correspondence. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: COMM 293 or WRTG 293.

Course Goals/Objectives:

After completing this course, you should be able to •define technical writing •list the attributes of effective technical writing •implement a full writing process to plan, organize, write, and edit documents more effectively •analyze the audience for a technical writing document •define the purpose of a technical writing document •distinguish between clear, jargon-free writing and writing that is unnecessarily wordy and riddled with jargon •design documents that provide easy access to information for various readers •use graphics that clarify and support the purpose of a document •work collaboratively to prepare a technical document •plan, design, develop, write, edit, and package different types of technical communication-business correspondence, instructions, formal reports, proposals, job correspondence (resume and cover letter) •prepare and deliver a technical presentation

Course Introduction:

In today's business environment, the ability to communicate information clearly and effectively is essential. Numerous surveys and reports indicate that written and oral communication skills are highly valued qualities in business and industry. Job advertisements, especially for technical positions, frequently list excellent written and oral communication skills as a job requirement. Technical Report Writing is an introduction to the process of technical writing and to points of interest within the profession. The course includes discussions of technical writing methods supported by exercises in analyzing potential audiences, understanding the writer's subject matter and purpose, generating and organizing ideas, and raising awareness of stylistic devices that influence clarity, precision and conciseness. Students will practice methods of conceiving and designing a range of products, such as visual aids and technical reports, as well as methods in researching technical subject matter and documenting sources. Students will produce a variety of technical reports and correspondence. The possibilities include extended definitions; descriptions of human actions, natural processes, and mechanisms; sets of instructions; formal and informal reports; letters of application for employment; and résumés. Students will also be given the opportunity to present technical material orally.

Grading Information and Criteria:

Assignments Assignment 1: Extended Definition 10% Assignment 2: Description 10% Assignment 3: Instructions 10% Assignment 4: Informal Report/Memo/Letter 10% Assignment 5: Cover Letter and Resume 10% Assignment 6: Formal Report/Proposal (or feasibility report, or recommendation) 25% Assignment 7: Oral Presentation [or Exam] 10% Assignment 8: Class Participation (may include additional small assignments, peer review as well as working collaboratively to produce any of the writing tasks) 15% Assignment Grading Criteria: Assignment grades will be comprised of three components: * Content. The clarity of your ideas and how thoroughly you develop your topic-60%. * Organization and Layout. Logical organization with a beginning, middle, and end; use of layout features to make information accessible-20%. * Grammar, Usage, and Style. Effective word choice and sentence construction; correct spelling and punctuation-20%

Other Information:

Any other information the instructor wishes to add. This might include: * General expectations of students, such as hours per week students should expect to devote to the class * Turnaround time for faculty to respond to email and return papers * Unique class procedures or activities (such as cooperative learning exercises, panel presentations, case study methods, class journals or learning logs) * Supplemental objectives (such as development of skills like teamwork, writing, oral presentation; integration of knowledge on focus topics) * Optional activities such as study groups

Project Descriptions:

Assignments for this course will include various types of technical communication. The following are samples of suggested assignments: Assignment 1: Extended Definition(s) Instructions: Write an extended definition of a term in your major field of study for two different audiences. Each definition should use at least two methods of defining the term. Identify the audience for each definition. You could, for example, define heart attack for a non-technical audience and myocardial infarction, the medical term for heart attack, for an expert audience. Details: Minimum length is 1 page, double-spaced. Assignment 2: Description Instructions: Write a technical description to help the user accurately visualize the thing being described. The subject of your technical description may be an object (a microchip), a mechanism (a flat-bed scanner), a place (an office layout), or a process (how the electoral college works). The technical description should present the process, object or mechanism logically and understandably. Your readers should be able to grasp the overall structure, steps, or sequence of events of the process, object, or mechanism from your description. Details: Minimum length is 1 page, double-spaced. Assignment 3: Instructions Instructions: Write a set of instructions that will describe how to perform an activity related to the technical topic. The instructions should describe how to perform a complete activity with several major steps, as well as minor steps. Remember to include, as appropriate, the various types of information for instructions, such as cautions and warnings. Details: This paper should include any graphics necessary for performing the task and should follow basic principles of document design. Minimum length is 2 pages, double-spaced. Assignment 4: Informal Report Instructions: Write an IMRD (Introduction, Methodology, Results, Discussion) in which you explain a topic you have investigated (upon approval of instructor). The report could be a lab report or a report of any investigation. Details: Minimum length is 2 pages, double-spaced. Assignment 4: Memo and/or Letter Instructions: Write a business letter in response to a situation identified by your instructor. Details: Minimum length is 1 page, single-spaced, using a standard business letter format. Assignment 5: Cover Letter and Resume Instructions: Identify a possible job opening in your career field. Write a resume using the format for either a chronological or functional resume. Write a cover letter to submit with the resume for the job opening. Details: Minimum length for the resume is 1 page, single-spaced. Minimum length for the cover letter is 1/2 of a page, single-spaced. Assignment 6: Formal Report/Proposal Instructions: Write a proposal in which you suggest a solution to a problem or the feasibility of implementing a solution to a problem. Explain the problem and the solution, how the solution meets the criteria required or eliminates the causes of the problem. Explain cost and implementation, the personnel who will carry out the proposal (if necessary) and why other solutions will not work. Use visual aids in your report and consult your textbook for format. Details: Consult your textbook for format. Your formal report should be minimum 5 to 8 pages, double-spaced and should include the following: A letter of transmittal, a title page, a table of contents, a list of illustrations, a summary or abstract, an introduction, a discussion or body, a conclusion with recommendations. Assignment 7: Oral Presentation Instructions: Write an outline for a brief (5 to 8 minutes) oral presentation on the subject of your Formal Report/Proposal (Assignment 6). Use a visual aid in the presentation

Academic Policies:

Cases of plagiarism are handled consistent with current UMUC guidelines. See the UMUC policies at the following URL: http://www.umuc.edu/policy/

Course Schedule:

Meeting 1 Introduction to Technical Communication; Defining Technical Writing; Understanding Audience Required Readings [Riordan & Pauley]: Chapter 1: Definition of Technical Writing Chapter 2: Defining Audience Meeting 2 Technical Writing Process; Writing Technical Definitions; Review of Writing Basics Required Readings [Riordan & Pauley]: Chapter 3: The Technical Writing Process Chapter 9: Defining Appendix A: Brief Handbook for Technical Writers Meeting 3 Preparing an Effective Technical Document; Structural & Style Elements; Collaborative Writing Required Readings [Riordan & Pauley]: Chapter 4: Technical Writing Style Assignment 1: Extended Definition draft Meeting 4 Writing a Technical Description; Organizing and Abstracting Information Required Readings [Riordan & Pauley]: Chapter 6: Summarizing and Outlining Chapter 10: Describing Assignment 1: Extended Definition due Meeting 5 Gathering & Documenting Information; Research; Review of Writing Basics Required Readings [Riordan & Pauley]: Chapter 5: Researching Appendix B: Documenting Sources Assignment 2: Description draft Meeting 6 Writing Instructions Required Readings [Riordan & Pauley]: Chapter 11: Sets of Instructions Assignment 2: Description due Meeting 7 Developing Visual Elements; Document Design Required Readings [Riordan & Pauley]: Chapter 7: Designing Pages Chapter 8: Using Visual Aids Assignment 3: Instructions draft Meeting 8 Writing Formal Reports and Proposals Required Readings [Riordan & Pauley]: Chapter 14: Formal Reports Chapter 15: Recommendations and Feasibility Reports Chapter 16: Proposals Assignment 3: Instructions due Meeting 9 Professional Communication I: Writing Informal Reports, Memos, & Letters Required Readings [Riordan & Pauley]: Chapter 12: Memorandums and Informal Reports Chapter 19: Letters Meeting 10 Writing Workshop; Collaborative Writing Assignment 4: Informal Report/Memo/Letter draft Meeting 11 Professional Communication II: Cover Letters & Resumes Required Readings [Riordan & Pauley]: Chapter 20: Job Application Materials Assignment 4: Informal Report/Memo/Letter due Meeting 12 Interviewing techniques; Formal Reports Revised Assignment 5: Cover Letter & Resume draft Assignment 6: Outline for Formal Report/Proposal Meeting 13 Writing Workshop; Collaborative Writing Assignment 5: Cover Letter & Resume due Assignment 6: Formal Report/Proposal draft Meeting 14 Making Oral Presentations Required Readings [Riordan & Pauley]: Chapter 18: Oral Reports Assignment 6: Formal Report/Proposal due Meeting 15 Oral Presentations/Exam Assignment 7: Oral Presentations Or Final Exam Meeting 16 Return of all work. Final discussion.