English 305: Technical Writing

http://www.as.wvu.edu:8000/clc/Members/sbaldwin/courses/engl305f05

Professor Sandy Baldwin
charles.baldwin at mail.wvu.edu
293-3107x33490
Office Hours: T,R 1000-1120, STA 139, and by appointment.

Course Description

English 305: Technical Writing is designed to introduce students to the expectations for and forms of writing common to professional office settings. It does this by helping students define and practice significant genres and by helping students understand the rhetorical situations of professional writing. This course introduces you to strategies for translating between discipline-specific knowledge and interested outsiders. While this may include topics traditionally understood as "technical," such as those in engineering, architecture, and computer science, technical writing encompasses any topic which must be explained to an involved, but not expert, audience.

This course explores the forms of technical writing that are common in the professions, including object and process descriptions, instructions, persuasive analyses, and science popularizations. Drawing on the expertise developed in your major, you will explore technical writing through topics and issues important to the work you plan to do. Because a primary assumption of this course is that all writing emerges from and responds to a particular problem, audience and purpose, the course focuses on helping you develop multiple strategies for your writing toolbox.

Course Goals

Students who successfully complete English 305 should be able to:

• write for both expert and lay audiences;
• identify and use genres typical of technical writing;
• analyze the needs of the user and respond to those needs in written and visual rhetoric;
• advocate for the user;
• design usable, accessible, clear documents;
• work collaboratively;
• understand writing processes.

Required Texts Available at the WVU Bookstore

• Professional Writing and Rhetoric: Readings from the Field, Ed. Tim Peeples (PWR)

• Paul Dumbrowski, Ethics in Technical Communication (ETC)

Grade Breakdown

• 80% Four Projects @ 20% each
  1. Organizational Writing Interview and Guide
  2. Description Project
  3. Instruction Project
  4. User Report Group Project

• 10% Ungraded Informal Writing
• 10% Participation

Ungraded Informal Writing

Ungraded Informal Writing is typically exploratory, working towards different aspects of a project. This work is assigned and collected throughout the course. You will receive a response and an assessment based on a four point scale.

Portfolios

At midterm, you will collect completed work into a portfolio and write a letter explaining your progress in the course. You will receive a letter in response, including a provisional midterm grade. At the end of semester, you will again collect your portfolio as the basis for your final grade.

Attendance

You are allowed two unexcused absences. Additional absences will negatively affect your course grade. More than four unexcused absences will result in a failing grade.

Academic Integrity

West Virginia University expects that every member of its academic community shares the historic and traditional commitment to honesty, integrity, and the search for truth. Academic dishonesty includes plagiarism, cheating and dishonest practices; and forgery, misrepresentation, or fraud. Here is WVU's Academic Dishonesty/Plagiarism Policy.

Social Justice Statement

"West Virginia University is committed to social justice. I concur with that commitment and expect to maintain a positive learning environment based upon open communication, mutual respect, and nondiscrimination. Our University does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, age, disability, veteran status, religion, sexual orientation, color or national origin. Any suggestions as to how to further such a positive and open environment in this class will be appreciated and given serious consideration. If you are a person with a disability and anticipate needing any type of accommodation in order to participate in this class. Please advise me and make appropriate arrangement with Disability Services (293-6700)."

Schedule (Activities & homework with each project)

Aug 23

Introduction to course and class. Why is good writing important?

Aug 25

Introduction to Project 1. Read Faigley in PWR.

Aug 30

Interviewing. Read Driskoll in PWR.

Sep 1

Research Strategies.

Sep 6

Audience Analysis.

Sep 8

Document Design. Read Anson and Forsberg in PWR.

Sep 13

Workshop.

Sept 15

Introduction to Project 2. Project 1 Due.

Sep 20

Read Miller in PWR.

Sep 22

Notes

Sep 27

Read Spilka in PWR.

Sep 29

Class Cancelled. Read Regli in PWR

Oct 4

Read Kostelnick in PWR. Notes

Oct 6

Group Workshop.

Oct 7

Midsemester. Project 2 and Portfolios due to Sandy by 6pm.

Oct 11

Introduction to Project 3 Read Johnson in PWR

Oct 13

Oct 18

Read Killingsworth and Jones in PWR

Oct 20

Oct 25

Read Bernhardt in PWR

Oct 27

Nov 1

Workshop

Nov 3

Introduction to Project 4

Nov 4

Project 3 Due to Sandy by 6pm.

Nov 8

Read Ornatowski in PWR. Notes

Nov 10

Nov 15

Read Chap 1-2 in ETC

Nov 17

Nov 22

Thanksgiving

Nov 24

Thanksgiving

Nov 29

Read Chaps 4-7 in ETC

Dec 1

Workshop.

Dec 6

Workshop.

Dec 8

Conclusions.

Dec 13

Project 4 and Portfolio Due.