Course Description and Goals

English 308 is designed to prepare students for professional and technical writing in their chosen field. Through regular exploratory writing, students will produce a final product that represents significant work in their field and is presented in written form appropriate to a particular, real audience and situation. This project will be published on the students' homepages, which they will create as part of this course. Writing assignment include the major research report and five to six short papers, such as a letter of application, resume, proposal, and progress report.

Course Policies

Attendance

In order to be successful in this class, regular attendance is absolutely essential. The class discussion of the chapters, the work in class and the lab, and the workshops will all aid in the completion of your assignments and your final project. I follow the English Department policy on attendance, which says you should be dropped after three absences. If your do miss any classes, make sure that you contact your classmates or myself to find out if you missed any assignments. A final reminder- you will be doing a group project in this course, and an absence for your group meetings will count as an absence for this class.

Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism

The Code of Academic Integrity, which is available through the Office of the Dean of Students, must be followed by all students at the University of Arizona. A violation of this Code may result in a failing grade in the course or expulsion. Violation of this Code in your future job may result in a lawsuit or getting fired!

Classroom Interaction

Your are expected to come to class prepared, cooperate with your classmates in small-group and group project activities, and be ready to participate actively in classroom discussions and activities.

Course Text

The text for the course is available at your friendly student bookstore and at Arizona Bookstore.

Markel, Mike. Technical Communication: Situations and Strategies, 5th Ed. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1997.

Office Hours

After class on Mondays and Wednesdays and by appointment in Babcock 3204.

Class Listserv

In order to facilitate communication in the classroom, everyone should join the class listserv. To do so, send mail to [email protected]. Leave the subject line blank, but in the text area type:

subscribe [email protected] your name (whatever your name is.

 

Daily Schedule

Mon. 8 June

                         Course Introduction

                         TC: Chapters 1 & 2

                        Due: Personal Profiles

 Tue. 9 June

                        Discussion: Writing Collaboratively

                        Discuss Group project and form groups

                        TC: Chapter 3

 Wed. 10 June

                        Class meets in CCIT 311

                        Review of the Internet and an introduction to Homepage design using                          Claris Homepage.

Thu. 11 June

                        Class meets in CCIT 311

                        Continuation of Homepage design.

                        Look over: Yale C/AIM Web Style Guide

Fri. 12 June

                        Discussion: Audience analysis and writing memos and reports

                        TC: Chapters 5 & 16

 Mon. 15 June

                       Discussion: Resumes

                         TC: Chapter 18

                        Due: Audience Profile Sheet

Tue. 16 June                     

                        Discussion: Proposals and Reports                      

                        TC: Chapters 15 & 17

 Wed. 17 June                       

                        Discussion: Continue Proposals and Reports

                        TC: Chapters 15 &17

                        Due: Rough Draft of proposals

Thu. 18 June

                         Group meetings for final proposals

 Fri. 19 June

                        Discussion: Arguments

                        TC: Chapters 8

                        Due: Project proposals

 Mon. 22 June

                         Meet in CCIT 311

                        Discussion: PowerPoint

                        Due: Resumes and Cover Letters

 Tue. 23 June

                        Meet in CCIT 311

                        Discussion: Design Elements

                        TC: Chapter 11

 Wed. 24 June

                         Meet in CCIT 311

                        Discussion: Integrating Graphics

                        TC: 12

 Thu. 25 June

                         Meet in CCIT 311

 Fri. 26 June

                        Group Conferences regarding Final Projects

                        Due: Homepage

 Mon. 29 June

                        Discussion: Definitions and Descriptions

                        TC: chapter 9

 Tue. 30 June

                        Discussion: Writing Instructions and Manuals

                        TC: Chapter 20

 Wed. 1 July

                        Discussion: Oral Presentations

                        TC: Chapter 21

                        Due: Process Assignment

 Thu. 2 July

            Group Work: Final Projects and Presentations

 Fri. 3 July

            No class!!

 Mon. 6 July

            Course Review and Evaluation

 Tue. 7 July

            Group Presentations

 Wed. 8 July

            Group Presentations

 Thu. 9 July

            Last Day of Classes!!!

            Due: Final Drafts of Group Projects