SYLLABUS FOR ENGLISH 317 001
Technical and Business Writing
Fall 2006, TR 2-3:15 p.m., PA 205

Instructor: Todd Bunnell
Phone: 329-7392
Offices/Hours: 210 Painter, MWF 10 a.m. - Noon
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 (3-5 pages) 20%

Final
1. Book Review (5-7 pages) and Presentation 30%

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

These writing assignments will be completed outside of class. For many of these papers, 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. All papers, besides those noted, should be about 1 1/2 to 2 pages in length. 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.

No research is needed for these papers, but if you do choose to use or consult outside sources for any reason, please remember to use correct documentation. Any paper using outside sources that is not documented will be considered plagiarized and will receive a zero. Under extreme causes, a plagiarized paper will result in an F for the course. When in doubt, feel free to ask me.

Due dates should be considered deadlines -- consider them as you would professional deadlines which must be met! 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, DEC. 6, 3-6 PM) 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.

GRADING SCALE
100-95 A 94-92 A- 91-89 B+ 88-86 B 85-83 B- 82-80 C+ 79-77 C 76-74 C- 73-71 D+ 70-68 D 67-65 D- 64-0 F

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 (three) will add up to an absence.

IMPORTANT DATES
September 20 -- Last day to drop a course without receiving a grade of WP/WF
October 18 -- Last day a course may be dropped
November 10 -- Last day to withdraw from the university

WEEK 1 (August 17) -- Introduction to the course.

WEEK 2 (August 22-24) -- Word choice. Writing Effectively. Begin Chapter 3. Simplifying exercises.

WEEK 3 (August 29-31) -- Simplification and Combination exercises. Writing Exercises. Begin Chapters 4/15. Wordiness exercises. Begin layout of letters.

WEEK 4 (September 5-7) -- Letter layout continued. Editing Quiz #1. Letter exercises. Letter quiz.

WEEK 5 (September 12-14) -- Begin Chapters 13/14. Feasibility Reports. Proposals. Exercises.

WEEK 6 (September 19-21) -- Continue Feasibility Report and Proposal exercises. FEASIBILITY REPORT/PROPOSAL DUE VIA UNATTACHED EMAIL BY 5 PM. Begin Chapter 9. Instruction and Process.

WEEK 7 (September 26-28) -- Instruction and Process. Instruction and Process rough draft due.

WEEK 8 (October 3-5) -- INSTRUCTION/PROCESS FINAL DRAFT DUE. Begin Chapter 10. Mechanism Descriptions. Exercises.

WEEK 9 (October 12) -- Mechanism Description continued.

WEEK 10 -- (October 17-19) -- Mechanism Description rough draft due. MECHANISM DESCRIPTION FINAL DRAFT DUE. Begin Chapter 11. Definition.

WEEK 11 (October 24-26) -- Definition . Exercises. Analogy. Definition rough draft due.

WEEK 12 (October 31 - November 2) -- DEFINITION FINAL DRAFT DUE. Begin Chapter 12. Review/Summary.

WEEK 13 (November 7-9) -- Review/Summary continued. On-line review analysis. JOURNAL REVIEW DUE.

WEEK 14 (November 14-16) -- Film Review. Feature proposal due.

WEEK 15 (November 21) -- FILM REVIEW PAPER DUE. Review for Quiz #2. Feature paper discussion.

WEEK 16 (November 28-30) -- Quiz #2. FEATURE PAPER DUE.