English 360 Syllabus

Technical & Professional Writing
English 360
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Spring 2006

Time: TR 2:10–3:25

Place: HSS 207 (LRC Mac Lab)

Phones: 974-6952 (o); 5401 (sec); 6926 (fax)

Office hrs.: TBA

Course Description
This course is based upon principles of effective communication derived from various bodies of rhetorical theory and from academic and professional research. It is designed for students planning careers in science, technology, business, education, and government who will need superior communication skills after they graduate.

Though the course focuses on technical/professional writing, it also offers instruction in principles of visual and oral communication that good communicators must master. Throughout the semester, you will:

• Learn principles of effective technical/professional communication,
• Apply those principles as you compose and deliver various communications, and
• Receive frequent evaluations of your progress from your instructor and your peers.

Required Text
Anderson, Paul, Technical Writing: A Reader-Centered Approach, 5th edition. Thomson-Wadsworth, 2003.

Recommended Texts
Harbrace College Handbook (latest edition).

Webster's New International Dictionary of the English Language (latest edition) or The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (latest edition).

Note: Additional readings for the course may appear under the Hirst 360 link. I will announce any such readings on my message board and make clear your responsibility for them.

Workload
The workload for this course is heavy. You will read much of Anderson's 600-page text, give an oral/visual presentation to the class, and produce formal, word-processed, well-laid-out documents–many of them incorporating illustrations, graphs, and tables–including an approximately 25-page report.

Grading

Assignments	Points
Personal Statement	5
Instructions	15
Homework	10
Proposal for report	10
Report	35
Participation	5
Oral report	10
Quizzes	10
Extra Credit	TBA

Final points	Course Grade
100--90=	A
89.9--85=	B+
84.9--80=	B
79.9--75=	C+
74.9--70=	C
69.9--60=	D
59.9--00=	F

Extra Credit for class presentations, materials that benefit class, submissions to Transcript, attendance at STC/ETC meetings, and STC/ETC-related service. Points TBA.

Absenteeism
A course like this functions most effectively as a community of thinkers and communicators. When members are absent too often, the entire community suffers. To encourage good attendance, I have established the following rules:

1) Everyone starts out the semester with five "participation points"; that's like getting a free "A" on a five-point quiz. You keep these points if you never log an unexcused absence.

2) You lose two points for every unexcused absence. This extends past the five-point range if your absences warrant. I will excuse you if you are absent for reasons of illness, personal tragedy/emergency, important professional opportunity, or jury duty. Please do not ask to be excused for any other reason.

Homework & Quizzes
Homework is collaborative. I will assign homework teams. Each team will email me one MS Word or PDF file for each assignment. Some homework assignments may be added during the course of the semester.

Quizzes are announced. You may make them up only if you miss them for valid reasons (family emergency, medical problem, important career opportunity).

Schedule for Technical & Professional Writing
Spring 2006

All reading and homework assignments are from the Anderson text unless otherwise noted.

January
12 Meet in CN 317, then move to HSS 207 (LRC Mac Lab). Meet in HSS 207 thereafter.

Course objectives, structure, and policies. Points. Document Analysis Worksheets. Announcement of assignment #1: Personal statement (for real or projected application to grad school, scholarship, or award). Include DAW and instructions from real or imagined application. Review of grammar & mechanics.

17 Grammar & mechanics, continued.

Chapter 1: "Communication, Your Career, and This Book." Homework #1 due: Two brief reports, one to your boss (Mickey Chelini) and one to Ballinger as if you were Chelini. See Case: Selecting the Right Forklift Truck on page 21.

19 Grammar & mechanics, continued. Read Ch.3: " Defining Your Communication's Objectives" (no homework) and Ch. 22, "Instructions." Announcement of assignment #1: Set of Instructions.

24 Homework #2 due: all excercises on page 578 ("Expertise," "Online," "Collaboration").

Intro to Style Units

26 Style Unit 1

31 Style Unit 2

February
2 Style Unit 3.

7 Discuss assignment #1, Set of Instructions. Read Ch. 5: Planning Your Persuasive Strategies.
Announce assignment #3: Proposal for Report.
Style Unit 4.

9 Style Unit 5. Read Anderson 21: Proposals.

14 Read Anderson 18: Creating Communications With a Team.

16 Quiz.

Style Unit 6.

21 Assignment # 2 (Proposal) due.

Discuss Report.

Style Unit 7.

23 Discuss proposals.

Read Anderson 20: Reports, pps. 457-473.

28 Read Anderson 20: Reports, pps. 474-532. Discussion.

March
2 Style Unit 8 , Style Unit 9.

7 Read Anderson 11: Creating Reader-Centered Graphics. Collaborative homework assignment TBA.