English 370.01:  Advanced Technical Communication *  *  * Spring 2002

Course Goals: This course will address the rhetorical techniques associated with major genres of technical and professional communication, including correspondence, reports, manuals, and proposals.  More specifically, we will examine the elements of style used in technical communication.

Course Objectives:

• Understanding the rhetorical underpinnings of technical communication
• Learning to analyze and produce technical documents of various genres
• Recognizing the stylistic elements of the various genres
• Understanding the discourse community as the foundation for stylistic choices
• Expanding your intellectual abilities as a result of the above

Our primary methodology will comprise the analysis of technical writing style, based largely on our text, and the rewriting of documents based on the principles advanced in our text.  You will complete a project (most likely in a group) in which you significantly revise one or more technical documents.  These should be actual documents in use by actual people.  The specifics of this requirement will be clarified later in the term.

Course Evaluation:
 

Daily Work	30%
Analytical Component	25%
Practical Component	25%
Final Exam	20%

Textbooks:

Jones, Dan.  Technical Writing Style.  Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1998.

Alred, Gerald, J., Charles T. Brusaw, and Walter E. Oliu.  The Technical Writers Companion.  Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2002.

Course Policies: Certain simple rules provide a basis for equal treatment and evaluation of all students. These rules are listed below.

• Attend all classes on time. This is something you can always get right. If you know of a conflict ahead of time, I need to know about it, too. If an emergent situation necessitates your absence, inform me as soon as you can. I will permit four (4) absences that's two (2) weeks.  Five (5) absences will result in your failing this class.
• Hand in work on time. Everything contributes to your final grade. Consider every assignment an important one (and consider any questions regarding missing anything important, should you miss class, answered). Moreover, contrary to popular myth, absence does not extend due dates or relieve you from responsibility. Thus, missing class as a method of excusing yourself from course policies will only cause an additional problem.
• Pay attention. Everything has the potential of being included on an exam or quiz. Review your notes--don't just take them down and leave them closed in your notebook. The key factor involved with paying attention, of course, is self-discipline. Anyone engaging in activities that are more suitable outside the classroom will be encouraged to relocate.  Thus, cell phones, and other distractions should be turned off before class begins.
• Do your own work. Lying, cheating, and plagiarizing always earns a zero (0) and may lead to disciplinary action by the University.
• Advise me of any special needs you may have immediately. WTAMU seeks to provide reasonable accommodation for all qualified persons with disabilities. This university will adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations as required to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the student's responsibility to register with the Disability Support Services and to contact the faculty member in a timely fashion to arrange for suitable accommodations.
• Other policies may be instituted as needed.

Daily Syllabus:
 
 

Jan 14 Course policies	18 Chapter 8: Style--Paragraphs and Chunks
16 Overview of Technical Communication	20 Exercise
23 Chapter 1: Technical Writing Style	25 Chapters 9 & 10: Style--Bias
28 Chapter 2: Discourse Communities	27 Exercise
30 Exercise	Apr 01 Chapter 11: Style--Ethical Questions
Feb. 04 Chapter 3: Choosing an Appropriate Style	03 Exercise
06 Exercise	08 Chapter 12: Style--Editing
11 Chapter 4: Persuading through Style	10 Chapter 12: Style--Editing
13 Chapter 4: Persuading through Style	15 Projects
18 Chapter 5: Style--Diction	17 Projects
20 Chapter 6: Style--Jargon	22 Projects
25 Exercise	24 Projects
27 Exercise	29 Projects
Mar 04 Chapter 7: Style--Sentences	May  01 Review
06 Exercise	03 Final Exam--10:30 a.m.

 

Copyright © 2002 Martin M. Jacobsen, Ph.D. as to this syllabus and all lectures; materials may not be reproduced without Dr. Jacobsen's written consent. Students are prohibited from selling (or being paid for taking) notes during this course to or by any person or commercial firm without the express written permission of the professor teaching this course.