SYLLABUS FOR ENGLISH 317 001
Technical and Business Writing
Spring 2006, TR 8-9:15 a.m., PA 205

Instructor: Todd Bunnell
Phone: 329-7392
Offices/Hours: 210 Painter, TR 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
E-mail address/web site: tbunnell@muw.edu <www2.muw.edu/~tbunnell>

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 eight (8) formal writing assignments from the following forms: feasibility report/proposal; instruction/process; mechanism description; extended definition/analogy; journal summary; film review; feature article; book review. The lowest paper (from the 10 percent papers) will be dropped. 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 with the lowest paper (from the ten percent papers) being dropped:

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

Technical papers
1. Instruction/Process 10%
2. Mechanism Description 10%
3. Extended Definition/Analogy 10%
4. Journal Summary 5%
5. Film Review 10%
6. Feature Article 20%

Final
1. Book Review and Presentation 30%

Tests and Quizzes
1. Tests, quizzes and in-class work 5%

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 3, 8-11 A.M.) wherein each student will submit the review and also give a brief but direct oral presentation.

Please be considerate of your classmates and of the instructor by turning off all cell phones before entering class. If there is a special circumstance, please notify me in advance.

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 SIX (6) absences with absolutely no penalty. On the seventh absence, the student will automatically receive a failing grade for the course. You are responsible for being aware of your own absences. I will not notify you of the number of absences you have, but you are welcome to check with me. Note: There is no difference between an excused absence and an unexcused absence. Excessive tardies will add up to an absence.

IMPORTANT DATES
February 8 -- Last day to drop a course without receiving a grade of WP/WF
March 8 -- Last day a course may be dropped
April 7 -- Last day to withdraw from the university