In-Class Technical Writing

• Dr. Patricia Cearley
  
• Office: CM106, Levelland Campus
  
• Office Hours: MWF 10:00-11:00; TR 12:00-1:00
  
• Office Phone: 806-894-9611, ext2444
  
• Fax: 806-894-5274
  
• E-mail: pcearley@spc.cc.tx.us

Prerequisite: ENG131 and ENG132. This course includes preparation of written reports in scientific and technical fields.

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OBJECTIVES

By the end of the course, a student should be able to do the following:

1. To know the requirements of good style and organization in technical communication;
2. To understand the standards of visual elements in technical communication;
3. To write various types of technical reports;
4. To understand the twelve basic types of graphic aids and to incorporate such graphic aids in written and oral reports;
5. To present well-organized oral reports with confidence;
6. To work as a member of a writing team to produce a technical document;
7. To understand and use PowerPoint and basic HTML;
8. To realize the importance of meeting responsibilities on time; and
9. To understand and deal with the ethical issues of technical communication.

South Plains College will make accommodations to meet the individual educational needs of handicapped students, thereby allowing them equal access to post-secondary education. The student with a disability should contact the instructor if there is a need for special accommodation in this course.

Every student should purchase the following textbook:
Anderson, Technical Writing: A Reader-Centered Approach, third edition

Two (2) 3-1/2", 2HD disks, preferably preformatted for IBM

E-mail address

1. Chapter Tests
2. Major Examinations
3. Group Web Pages
4. Group Oral Reports
5. Individual and Group Written Assignments

• Use of the conventions of standard grammar;
• Use of the correct superstructure;
• Use of the principles of unity, coherence, and completeness,
• Use of logical, factual arguments to advance the thesis of the assignment;
• Use of well-constructed, original graphic aids to enhance the overall presentation of the project; and
• Use of appropriate page design.

No extra credit will be given.

Since the assignments will be on the In-Class Technical Writing Web Pages, no makeup work will be given.

Assignments are due by midnight on the due date, but may be handed in at any point before the due date. Assignments may be submitted by E-mail, Fax, snail mail, or hand-delivery to the instructor in class or to the "Hand In Assignments" file on the instructor's office door (CM106). Any work received after the midnight due date will have ten points deducted for every day the assignment is late. After one week, the assignment will be given a zero.

Since the student has several ways to deliver assignments on time, the professor will accept no excuses such as "I overslept," or "I couldn't figure out how to send the assignment through E-mail."

Attendance will be taken according at every class. At the beginning of every class, the student should sign the attendance sheet next to the instructor's computer. After the first two weeks, the professor will not remind students to sign the roll; therefore, if a student forgets to sign, that student will be counted absent.

The professor makes no distinction between excused and unexcused absences. Students are expected to attend all meetings of all classes in which they are enrolled. The student is responsible for being in class and turning all work in on time. Any student who misses four classes will be dropped from the course.

Any student who has missed no more than one class period will be exempt from taking the comprehensive final. If an exempted student wishes, he or she may take the final in an effort to raise his or her grade; however, once the final is started, it will be graded and become part of the student's final average.

Students who take the final will have their grades averaged as follows:

A	1270-1400 points
B	1140-1269 points
C	1010-1139 points
D	880-1009 points
F	0-879 points

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PLAGIARISM AND CHEATING

Failure to comply with this policy will result in a zero for the assignment and an F for the course.

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Last updated on 19 January 1998.