Syllabus for ENG-201-OL
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Technical Writing is a one-semester course specifically designed to recognize and address the relationship between effective communication and professional success. In particular, the course is designed to teach you how to communicate necessary information in clear and concise writing. As a result, it differs sharply from typical composition courses. Technical Writing focuses on the workplace and the needs of a professional, rather than on an academic setting and the needs of a student.
Technical Writing is designed to enable you to develop your communication skills through lessons that cover:
In addition to a college-level dictionary and thesaurus, you will need the following textbooks to do the work of the course:
Technical Writing is a three-credit online course consisting of eleven modules. Each module focuses on one or more specific topics relating to clear and concise communication. At the end of each module you will have a written assignment that you must submit to your mentor. In addition, at the end of Module 11, you will submit your Final Assessment. As you proceed through the course, you will move from general concepts and techniques to specific technical writing situations and activities. The first module addresses technical communication and the importance of a thorough knowledge of audience. Modules 2 through 4 explore the tools of today's technical writers: clear language, appropriate information design, relevant visuals to illustrate what is being discussed, and helpful technologies, particularly the computer. The fourth module also addresses the actual process of technical writing: planning, drafting, reviewing, and revising. Modules 5 through 11 address the specific technical writing strategies needed to successfully respond to seven specific situations requiring explanations, descriptions, definitions, summaries, reports, proposals, and correspondence. Both ENC-101 and 102 (English Composition I and II), or their equivalents are prerequisites, so this course will not address grammar, rhetoric, research, or documentation styles such as MLA or APA. These topics are, however, covered in the Handbook of Technical Writing, and you are encouraged to make frequent use of the Handbook. This course requires you to take a proctored midterm examination and complete and submit a final assessment. For details about each module's assignments (reading assignments, online discussions, and written assignments), click Assignment Modules in the navigation bar to the left of your screen. That will take you to a list of the individual modules that you can then click for the relevant assignments. (See also the course Calendar.)
Technical Writing requires you to participate in online class discussions. In addition to an ungraded introduction forum in Week 1, you are required to participate in five graded online discussions. Communication with the mentor and among fellow students is a critical component of online learning. Participation in online discussions involves two distinct activities: an initial response to a posted question (discussion thread) and at least two subsequent comments on classmates' responses. Meaningful participation is relevant to the content, adds value, and advances the discussion. Comments such as "I agree" and "ditto" are not considered value-adding participation. Therefore, when you agree or disagree with a classmate, the reading, or your mentor, state and support your agreement or disagreement. You will be evaluated on the quality and quantity of your participation. Responses and comments should be properly proofread and edited, professional, and respectful. For additional information on online discussions, see Online Discussions in the Online Student Handbook.
Technical Writing has eleven (11) written assignments, one for each of the eleven modules that make up the course. Each written assignment is designed to give you practical experience in specific areas of technical writing. For grading standards for all written work submitted for this course, see the Course Documents area of the course Web site. Prepare your written assignments using whatever word processing program you have on your computer. Include your name at the top of the paper, as well as the course name and code and the semester and year in which you are enrolled. Before submitting your first assignment, check with your mentor to determine whether your word processing software is compatible with your mentor's software. If so, you can submit your work as you prepared it. If not, save your assignment as a rich-text (.rtf) file, using the Save As command of your software program. Rich text retains basic formatting and can be read by any other word processing program. When satisfied that your assignment represents your best work, submit it to your mentor by means of the
>>View/Complete Assignment link provided at the bottom of the respective assignment page. Use the Browse button within this link to locate and submit your assignment file. This course requires you to take a proctored midterm examination. Consult the course Calendar for the scheduling of this exam. You may take the examination only during the designated exam week, at an approved location, and with an approved proctor. In this regard, you need to schedule your exam and submit your "Proctor Request Form" with the necessary documentation no later than the end of the first week of the semester (see Administrative Forms in the General Information area of the course Web site). If you are on a course extension and have not yet taken the midterm exam, you must let your examination proctor know when you plan to take the exam and contact the Office of Test Administration (609-984-1181) two weeks in advance to request that your exam be sent to the proctor. For more information on scheduling a proctored examination, see the section Examinations and Proctors in the Online Student Handbook.
The Final Assessment requires you to write a report and a cover letter. Together they will reflect your understanding of much of the material presented in the course, including writing in clear language; using appropriate document design and page layout; creating visuals; understanding of the technical writing process; the ability to use the Internet to obtain appropriate data; clearly writing explanations, descriptions, and definitions; and use of appropriate correspondence. For details about this requirement, see the Final Assessment area of the course Web site.
For grading standards for all written work submitted for this course, including the final assessment, see the Course Documents area of the course Web site. For details regarding the due date, see the course Calendar. Your grade in the course will be determined as follows: Letter grades for online participation, written assignments, examinations, and projects are based on the following numerical grades: Note:
To receive credit for the course, you must earn a letter grade of D or higher on the weighted average of all assigned course work (e.g., exams, assignments, projects, papers, etc.). You will receive a score of 0 for any work not submitted.
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