ENGL421: Technical Writing (ViEW)

Fall 2000

office hours: before class & by appointment

office location: heavilon 303coffice phone: 49-62803email:
RebeccaL@purdue.eduhome page:
http://icdweb.cc.purdue.edu/~rebeccal/421

class mailing list:
see your career acct. interface

 
 

course descriptionrequired materialscourse policiesrequired assignmentsgradingweb resourcestop

course description 

This technical writing course will help you learn effective strategies for communicating with other people about and with technology, particularly in networked workplaces. As part of your development as a professional, you will learn to:

Become a better professional communicator through contextual research and analysis. 

Collaborate with your colleagues in project teams.

Analyze writing situations and respond to them through writing.

Use the computer as a versatile writing technology.

Design visually effective pages and screens. 

The ViEW component of English 421:  A fundamental assumption of this course is that an increasing amount of workplace writing will take place online -- not merely as documents word processed then printed out, but in email, realtime remote discussion, and other forms. In order to help you learn to communicate online more effectively, much of your work in this course (more than half) will take place in virtual spaces. Many of your course materials exist as web documents; all major and some miscellaneous assignments contain an email component; and your classroom will sometimes be a physical computer lab but also frequently a virtual space called "ProNoun" or "the MOO." You'll learn how to access and use these resources and be given userids and passwords as needed during the first few class periods. A unique aspect of this section of English 421: Technical Writing is our opportunity to learn to navigate, communicate, and be productive in a virtual workspace. It is my hope that you will take full advantage of these opportunities over the course of the semester.

course descriptionrequired materialscourse policiesrequired assignmentsgradingweb resourcestop

required materials

The syllabus, schedule, and project materials will be made available to you through this course website.

Your course "textbook" (PWOnline) exists as a website. 

Professional Writing Online
http://cw.abacon.com/bookbind/pubbooks/pwonline_ab/chapter1/deluxe.html

Among course materials will be numerous sample documents, including samples from previous English 420 students. It is important that you understand how to use these models. Generally, your instructor will lead class discussions of samples, critiquing them to discern their strengths and weaknesses and generating from this discussion principles and tactics for business writing. You should then apply the principles and tactics to your own projects. 

Our class will meet in not only a computer lab but also a virtual space called "ProNoun":
 

http://linnell.english.purdue.edu:7000

Online participation (the MOO) 

The high degree of online communication and work required in this course means that you'll be responsible for ensuring that you have reliable access to the Internet and that your system is configured properly for participating actively in all course assignments and activities. We'll discuss the general requirements in more detail in class, but you'll be responsible for figuring
out the best method for your own access. You can use PUCC labs or home systems, Windows, Mac, Linux, or whatever setup you like, provided that system allows you to participate fully (including figuring out how to translate files into formats that your classmates and instructor can read). If your primary setup fails, you need to have backup plans. If you do not have a system at home or cannot get your system configured, you will be able to use any of the standard PUCC labs. One of your first course assignments will be completing a technology checklist and solving any technology access problems that you may encounter. 

course descriptionrequired materialscourse policiesrequired assignmentsgradingweb resourcestop

course policies 

technology requirements

In order to participate fully in the course, you should be able to use the technology platform and applications listed below. 
 

Mac OS System

Microsoft Office--particularly Word and PowerPoint

Netscape Communicator

ProNoun MOO client

Netscape Messenger which allows you to send and receive email attachments during class

technology responsibilities

Because the exchange of information and materials in this class will be almost entirely electronic, familiarity with certain technologies is crucial for participation and success in the course. If you need any assistance now or at any point during the semester, please do not hesitate to ask. Electronic documentation has been provided to help facilitate your use of classroom technologies. Thus, you should be able to fulfill the responsibilities in the list below.
 

Have access to your Career Account

Set up your @purdue.edu email address.

Subscribe to the class mailing list.

Become proficient sending and receiving email attachments via Netscape Messenger.

Check the course calendar before the beginning of each class.

Become proficient participating in the class MOO space--ProNoun.

Become more proficient with unfamiliar computer technologies and applications.

Maintain back-up copies of all assignments via your home directory, disks, and/or email attachments to yourself.

collaborative work

Collaborative work is a required component of our technical writing course. In fact, a majority of your work in the course will be co-authored assignments. You and your team members are responsible for updating one another and me about assignment development and progress. In addition, you also are responsible for negotiating together all aspects of your work including planning, drafting, revising, file managing, and scheduling of assignments.

attendance & punctuality

Attendance is required at all scheduled electronic and face-to-face (F2F) meetings. Since you will working in project teams, you also will be required to attend any scheduled out-of-class meetings with your team to complete course assignments.

Six absences will result in your final grade being lowered by  a letter grade.  Eight absences will result in a failing grade for the course. 

Being excessively or regularly late for class or team meetings, both electronic and F2F, can also be counted as an absence.

Additionally, extended inactivity in the MOO can also be considered absence. 
 

late work

The majority of missed class assignments cannot be "made up." If a serious and unavoidable problem arises, however, you  should contact me as soon as possible, prior to the deadline, to request an extension.  Such extensions are the exception rather than the rule and are granted (or not) on a case-by-case basis. 

course descriptionrequired materialscourse policiesrequired assignmentsgradingweb resourcestop

required assignments

You will complete 3 major projects for this course as well as a number of homework assignments, workshops, and other activities. Consult the Projects page for addtional information about the major course projects.

The 3 major projects are as follows:

Project 1: Software Learning  Initiative (Collaborative)

Project 2: Case (Individual)

Project 3: Client Website Consulting Project (Collaborative)

You must complete all major projects to pass the course.

For each project you must submit multiple components of your work (including preliminary assignments, research notes, drafts, etc.). Since one of the principle grading criteria is production (See Production section below.), I need to see your writing process and not just its outcome. For each project, I will provide a document stating the project's components.
 
 

course descriptionrequired materialscourse policiesrequired assignmentsgradingweb resourcestop

grading

grading breakdown

Each of the 3 major projects in the course will be comprised of several components, each of which will be worth a percentage of your final grade.

Project 1: Software Learning Initiative Project 20%

Project 2: Case 20%

Project 3: Client Website Consulting Project 40%

Participation: Class Work, Homework, & Attendance 20%

All assignments will be graded on the standard letter-grade scale:
 

A=100-90

B=89-80

C=79-70

D=69-60

F=59 or below

grading criteria

Specific criteria for each larger assignment will vary depending on its required components. The three general criteria below, however, will remain consistent.

PURPOSE:How effective is the document? Does it

accomplish its intended task?

meet its goals and the demands of its context (both academic and organizational)?

solve a problem or address a significant organizational need or help people?

provide a sound argument in support of its claims?

meet readers' needs?

improve relations between people?

provide relevant, useful, and accurate information?

PRODUCT:How well constructed is the document? Does it:

demonstrate orderly and coherent presentation of material?

display effective design and formatting?

use visuals effectively?

present professional tone and style?

demonstrate careful proofreading and editing?

PRODUCTION:How effectively was the document produced? Does it:

exhibit a considered writing process? 

reveal quality of planning, collaboration, research & invention, drafting, editing, proofreading?
 
 

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course descriptionrequired materialscourse policiesrequired assignmentsgradingweb resourcestop

web resources 

ProNoun: course MOO space

WWW access: http://linnell.english.purdue.edu:7000
Telnet access: telnet://linnell.english.purdue.edu:7777
 

 
Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab)

http://owl.english.purdue.edu

For help with editing, grammar, and basic writing skills, the Purdue OWL offers online help as well as face-to-face, drop-in tutorial help in Heavilon Hall 224.
 

PW documentation web site

http://addison.english.purdue.edu/newpw/doc/newindex.html

For help with learning technology applications like Netscape Mail, PowerPoint, Excel, etc.
 

Computers & Composition documentation web site

http://addison.english.purdue.edu/candc/compdoc.htm

For help with learning technology such as Account Summary Application, Netscape Mail, HTML, etc.
 

PUCC information

http://labinfo.cc.purdue.edu/

For information about open labs on the Purdue campus. If you need personal help with your Purdue career account--e.g., you lose your password, your password doesn't work--then you can get help in Math 231.
 

professional writing web site

http://addison.english.purdue.edu/pw
 
 
 

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course descriptionrequired materialscourse policiesrequired assignmentsgradingweb resourcestop
page last updated: 8.18.00
corrections and suggestions to:RebeccaL@purdue.edu