TECM 2700
Technical Writing
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Spring 2014

Instructor James Bates

Office Hours Tuesday: 12:30–1:30, GAB 543 Wednesday 4:50–5:50, GAB 543 Thursday: 12:30–1:30, GAB 543

Phone 940-565-4458 (office number for the Department of Linguistics & Technical Communication. You may leave a message with the staff. )

E-Mail jamesbates@my.unt.edu

Textbook Sims, Brenda R. Technical Communication. 2nd ed. Kendall Hunt, 2013 (Available in hard copy or eBook). You may order the eBook directly from the publisher at http://www.kendallhunt.com/store-product.aspx?id=68471. You must have the Webcom2.0 access code with the book you purchase. ISBN: 978-1-4652-0242-0

Meeting Times
& Locations Section 031: T/R 9:30–10:50, Audb 306
Final Exam: Thursday, 8 May, 8:00–10:00 am, Audb 306

Section 019: T/R 11:00–12:20, Audb 306 Final Exam: Tuesday, 6 May, 10:30 am–12:30 pm, Audb 306

Course Objectives The objectives of TECM 2700 include the following: * learn to write clearly, concisely, and correctly * learn the value of good writing skills in business and industry * learn and practice writing various technical documents common in business and industry

* use word processing and graphics software to create effective technical documents * learn to write as a member of a team

Evaluation Style Exam 11 February 100 pts. Design Case Study 25 February 100 pts. Correspondence Case Study 25 February 50 pts. Job Materials Case Study 6 March 100 pts. Proposal 1 April 100 pts. Team Instructions 8 April 100 pts. Team Feasibility Report 17 April 100 pts. Formal Project 1 May 200 pts. E-Portfolio 1 May 100 pts. Professionalism* continuous 50 pts. Maximum Score: 1000 pts. * Professionalism includes adhering to university and classroom policies, avoiding disruptive behavior (e.g., leaving class prior to dismissal), and meeting obligations (e.g., attending scheduled conferences).

LTC Orientations The lab staff will show you how to do several things essential to succeeding in this course. I strongly recommend that you attend class on orientation days because, while the lab staff will answer individual questions, they will not provide orientations to one person. Orientation Dates Lab Orientation 16 January E-Portfolio Orientation 21 January Brochure Orientation 23 January Graphics Orientation 18 February Booklet Orientation 27 March

Grade Range A = 900–1000 B = 800–899 C = 700–799 D = 600–699 F = 000–599 Note: At the end of the semester, if you have accrued a score of 894 points, you will receive a B. If you have accrued a score of 794 points, you will earn a C. If you have accrued a score of 694 points, you will earn a D. If you have accrued 594 points, you will earn an F. I will only make exceptions to this policy for those who have accumulated no absences.

Policies Note: Policies are subject to change. If I alter the policies, I will announce changes in class and post a revised syllabus on Blackboard. * You must attend class regularly. You cannot perform well in this course unless you attend class. If you miss class for any reason, you are responsible for all material covered and all assigned work. * Do not use portable electronic devices (phones, tablets, mp3 players et al.) during class. Put your phone on silent (not vibrate) before the start of class. Please respect your classmates by following this policy. If I see you using one of these devices during class (for any reason), I will count you absent. * Unless directed otherwise, submit a hard copy of all assignments to me and an electronic copy to turnitin via blackboard. If you fail to submit an electronic copy of your assignment, I may reduce your grade on the assignment. * I will take attendance at the beginning of every class. If you accrue more than 4 absences (i.e., 5–6), I may lower your grade one letter. If you accrue more than 6 absences (i.e., 7+), I may lower your grade two letters, and you will receive an automatic zero for your professionalism score. If you have a university-approved absence, you must let me know in advance and provide official documentation of the absence. * If you miss more than one scheduled team meeting, I may reduce your grade on the team project. This includes meetings in class. * If you do not prepare an assignment according to instructions regarding format, organization, and style, you may receive a grade of zero for that assignment. * Make copies of your formal report and any other documents that you would like to keep. I will keep your formal project and other documents on file for one year. * Check your UNT email address for communication from me. I use only UNT email addresses to communicate with students. For suggestions regarding email etiquette, refer to your textbook pgs. 361 & 364

Acceptable Student Behavior Student behavior that interferes with an instructor’s ability to conduct a class or other students' opportunity to learn is unacceptable and disruptive and will not be tolerated in any instructional forum at UNT. Students engaging in unacceptable behavior will be directed to leave the classroom and the instructor may refer the student to the Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities to consider whether the student's conduct violated the Code of Student Conduct. The university's expectations for student conduct apply to all instructional forums, including university and electronic classroom, labs, discussion groups, field trips, etc. The Code of Student Conduct can be found at www.unt.edu/csrr. Academic Integrity I follow UNT’s policy for academic dishonesty. You can access these guidelines and the UNT policy at http://policy.unt.edu/sites/default/files/untpolicy/pdf/7-Student_Affairs-Academic_Integrity.pdf. You are responsible for knowing and following the student standards for academic integrity.

Disability Accommodation The University of North Texas makes reasonable academic accommodation for students with disabilities. Students seeking accommodation must first register with the Office of Disability Accommodation (ODA) to verify their eligibility. If a disability is verified, the ODA will provide you with an accommodation letter to be delivered to faculty to begin a private discussion regarding your specific needs in a course. You may request accommodations at any time; however, ODA notices of accommodation should be provided as early as possible in the semester to avoid any delay in implementation. Note that students must obtain a new letter of accommodation for every semester and must meet with each faculty member prior to implementation in each class. For additional information see the Office of Disability Accommodation website at http://www.unt.edu/oda. You may also contact them by phone at 940.565.4323. Essential competencies for this course include the ability to * read and analyze technical documents * write clear, concise, and visually appropriate technical prose for the intended readers in response to various types of assignments * work in a team to discuss, write, edit, and publish technical documents * use a personal computer with word processing, e-mail, website design, and graphics software applications * work effectively as part of a team * follow the rules of standard grammar, usage, spelling, and punctuation

Incompletes In order to earn an incomplete (I) in this course, you must have completed 70% of the available credit for the course and not be subject to a grade reduction because of absences.

UNT Writing
Lab I encourage you to use the UNT Writing Lab. I will give five bonus points for each major assignment (except the Style Exam) to any student who takes a draft to the Writing Lab for a half-hour session with a technical writing tutor. Proof of the visit (i.e., a copy of the tutor’s evaluation form) must be attached to the final draft of the assignment in order to receive credit for the visit. Students may walk into the lab for a session or schedule appointments in person or by calling (940) 565-2563. More information about the Writing Lab can be found online at http://www.unt.edu/writinglab/ or by visiting its Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Denton-TX/UNT-Writing-Lab/49219633770.

Succeed I want you to succeed at UNT and in this class. I encourage you to visit the “Succeed at UNT” website: www.succeed.unt.edu.
Readings and Assignments

Note: This schedule is subject to change. If I alter the schedule, I will announce changes in class and post a revised syllabus on Blackboard.
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January 14 What we’ll do in class Introduction to the Course Introduction to the Formal Project Introduction to the E-Portfolio Assignment
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January 16 What we’ll do in class What Makes Technical
Communication Excellent Orientation to the Computer Lab

What to read Chapter 1 In Class Exercise 1, page 15
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January 21 What we’ll do in class Writing for Your Readers E-Portfolio Orientation What to read Chapter 2 In Class Real World Experience, page 44
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January 23 What we’ll do in class Organizing Information for Your Readers Brochure Orientation What to read Chapter 6 In Class Real World Experience, page 184
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January 28 What we’ll do in class Style What to read Chapter 7 What’s due Exercises 1-6, pgs. 203-206
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January 30 What we’ll do in class Style What to read Chapter 8 What’s due Exercises 1-11 on pages 231-234

February 4 What we’ll do in class Practice Style Exam What to read Review Chapters 7-8 What’s due Practice exam at the end of class
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------------------------------------------------- February 6 What we’ll do in class Review of Practice Exam
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February 11 What we’ll do in class Style Exam What to read Review Chapters 7-8 and your practice exam ______________________________________________________________________________ February 13 What we’ll do in class Designing Documents and Graphics Introduction to Design Case Study Workshop: Design Case Study What to read Chapters 10 and 11 ______________________________________________________________________________ February 18 What we’ll do in class Graphics Orientation Workshop: Design Case Study What’s due Draft of case study at the beginning of class February 20 What we’ll do in class Letters, Memos, and E-Mail Workshop: Correspondence/Design Case Studies What to read Chapter 12 ______________________________________________________________________________ February 25 What we’ll do in class Workshop: Correspondence Case Study What’s due Tentative formal project topic e-mailed to me by the end of class Correspondence case study at the end of class Design Case Study at the end of class
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Febrary 27 What we’ll do in class Ethics, Resumes, and Letters of Application Workshop: Job Materials Case Study What to read Chapters 4 and 13 What’s due Exercise 1, page 425, at the end of class You cannot complete the Job Materials Case Study without first completing this assignment
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March 4 What we’ll do in class Workshop: Job Materials What’s due Draft of resume at the beginning of class
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March 6 What we’ll do in class Workshop: Job Materials What’s due Resume and letter of application at the
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end of class (hard copy and turnitin)
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March 10–16 What we’ll do in class Nothing
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------------------------------------------------- Homework Assignment Not dying
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March 18 What we’ll do in class Building Persuasive Arguments Workshop: Proposal What to read Chapter 9
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March 20 What we’ll do in class Proposals Workshop: Proposal What to read Chapter 16
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March 25 What we’ll do in class Workshop: Proposal
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March 27 What we’ll do in class Booklet Orientation
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April 1 What we’ll do in class Collaboration and Instructions Workshop: Team Instructions What to read Chapters 3 and 18 ------------------------------------------------- What’s due Proposal at the end of class (hard copy and turnitin)
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April 3 What we’ll do in class Workshop: Team Instructions What’s due Topic for instructions due at the end of
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class
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April 8 What we’ll do in class Workshop: Team Instructions What’s due Team instructions due at the end of class
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April 10 What we’ll do in class Feasibility Reports Workshop: Team Feasibility Study What to read Chapters 15 & 20 What’s due Team Feasibility Study topic at the end of class _____________________________________________________________________________ April 15 What we’ll do in class Workshop: Team Feasibility Study __________________________________________________________________________________ April 17 What we’ll do in class Workshop: Team Feasibility Study What’s due Feasibility report at the end of class (hard copy and turnitin) __________________________________________________________________________________ April 22 What we’ll do in class Workshop: Formal project/E-Portfolio ------------------------------------------------- April 24 What we’ll do in class Workshop: Formal project/E-Portfolio
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------------------------------------------------- April 29 What we’ll do in class Workshop: Formal project/E-Portfolio
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May 1 What we’ll do in class Workshop: Formal project/E-Portfolio What’s due Formal project at the end of class (hard copy and turnitin) E-Portfolio at the end of class Any assignment not turned in by the end of class will receive an automatic deduction of 20%
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Final Exam (PowerPoint presentations of Team Feasibility Study)
Section 031: T/R 9:30–10:50, Audb 306
Final Exam: Thursday, 8 May, 8:00–10:00 am, Audb 306

Section 019: T/R 11:00–12:20, Audb 306
Final Exam: Tuesday, 6 May, 10:30 am–12:30 pm, Audb 306