SYLLABUS FOR ENGLISH 317 001
Technical and Business Writing
Spring 2004, TTh 8-9:15 a.m., PA 205

Instructor: Todd Bunnell
Phone: 241-6235
Offices/Hours: 411 Reneau, MWF 11 a.m.-Noon; TTh 9:30-11 a.m.
E-mail address: tbunnell@muw.edu

TEXT
Technical English, Pickett and Laster, 8th Ed.

COURSE CONTENT
This course introduces students to various forms, styles, and techniques of business and technical writing. Emphasis is on the development of each stage of each form and on the editing process involved with each paper.

GOALS
*To familiarize students with various forms of business and technical writing
*To give students a chance to develop clear and coherent writing skills
*To help students improve and to feel comfortable with editing skills
*To give students an idea of what might be expected of them in a writing-related career
*To show how students might use writing in business, industry, and professional jobs

COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Students will submit seven (7) formal writing assignments from the following forms: feasibility report/proposal; instruction/process; mechanism description; extended definition; film review; analogy; book review. Students should also expect in-class quizzes regarding reading material, in-class writing and editing exercises and quizzes, an in-class letter quiz, and various in-class activities.

METHOD OF EVALUATION
The final grade will be determined as follows:

Business paper
1. Feasibility Report/Proposal 10%
(submitted via e-mail)

Technical papers
1. Instruction/Process 10%
2. Mechanism Description 10%
3. Extended Definition 10%
4. Film Review 10%
5. Analogy 10%

Final
1. Book Review and Presentation 30%

Tests and Quizzes
1. Tests, quizzes and in-class work 10%

These writing assignments will be completed outside of class. For the technical papers, a plan sheet for most of the assignments (found in your textbook) or, in some cases, a rough draft, must be submitted one (1) class period in advance of the paper due date. All papers should be typed, single-spaced for the business paper and double-spaced for technical papers, and should use standard margins, spacing, font-size, pagination, etc. Graphics are not necessary but if used make sure that they are incorporated into your papers at beneficial points and make sure that they are neatly arranged.

Due dates should be considered deadlines -- consider them as you would professional deadlines which must be met! Also, deadlines will not be assigned until close to the actually due date to better simulate a real working environment. Late papers will be accepted but will be docked one letter grade for EACH DAY (including weekends) they are late. NO EXCEPTIONS! However, the lowest a late paper will be counted will be 50% and thus a late paper is better than no paper at all (0%). In-class work (besides the two-part writing/editing quiz and the letter quiz) cannot be made-up.

The book review will be due at the time set for the final examination (WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 8-11 A.M.) wherein each student will submit the review and also give a brief but direct oral presentation.

It is the responsibility of students who have professionally diagnosed disabilities to notify the instructor so that necessary and appropriate modifications can be made to meet any special learning needs.

ATTENDANCE
Since this is a professional writing course, treat absences as you would absences from a job. If a writing assignment is due on the day on which you are absent, you are still not excused from the deadline. Each student is allowed a maximum of FIVE (5) absences with absolutely no penalty. Note: There is no difference between an excused absence and an unexcused absence. An absence is an absence is an absence. After the fifth absence, each subsequent absence will result in a lowering of your final grade by five (5) percentage points.

IMPORTANT DATES
January 30 -- Last day to drop a course without receiving a grade of WP/WF
February 27 -- Last day a course may be dropped
April 23 -- Last day to withdraw from the university