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WRIT 321 Syllabus 1

WRIT 321: Advanced Technical Writing CRN 73722


Fall Semester 2014; 3 credits

Welcome to WRIT 321! This course will help prepare you for the typical writing and communication tasks
that you may encounter in the work world, especially if you must regularly communicate with co-workers or
the public.
Instructor: Dr. Henrietta Shirk
Email: hshirk@mtech.edu
Email is the best way to contact me; normally I will respond within 24 business hours.
Phone: (406) 496-4297
Office: Engineering Hall 212 (North Campus)
Office Hours: Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., and by appointment
This course is conducted entirely online. It is asynchronous (which means that you can access the course materials at any time during the
semester). However, all assignments are due and are to be posted on Moodle at the times and dates designated on the course schedule.

Course Details
This syllabus is a brief document that provides an overview of policies specific to this course. Please refer to
the Writing Program Policies document posted on Moodle for more information on policies that apply to all
writing courses (including this one, unless otherwise designated on this syllabus). That document also
provides additional information about general education outcomes for this course.

All policies, assignments and content in this syllabus are subject to change at the instructors discretion.
Changes will be announced in class, via Moodle, or via email.

Course (Catalog) Description
Emphasizes effective, clear and accurate scientific and technical communication. Focuses on writing theory and on
the process approach to writing. Rewriting is stressed. Written work integrated with major fields.
Prerequisite(s): Advanced standing or Consent of Instructor and current computer-usage skills. (Formally PTC
3216W.). Satisfies Communication and upper division Writing cores
Required for this Course
The following are required for participation in this course.

Textbooks
Alred/Brusaw/OliuHandbook of Technical Writing (10
th
Edition); Bedford/St. Martins
LunsfordEasy Writer (5
th
ed., Spiral bound); Bedford/St. Martins
Additional materials and readings are available on Moodle.

Other (including computer and technical skills required)
Regular (daily) access to Moodle, MS Office or other word processor, a printer, your Tech email, and
the Internet
Ability to open, produce, save, and email Word and PDF documents

Course Outcomes
Students will meet the following outcomes through analyzing professional documents and practicing varied
writing tasks. After successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
Consider and successfully address audience, purpose, and context.
Design professional-looking documents that incorporate clear, helpful, ethically produced graphics.
Revise documents until they are effective, clear, complete, concise, and correct.
Conduct research that is thoroughly evaluated, successfully integrated, and correctly cited.
Collaborate with partners despite obstacles to complete assignments.

See the entire list of expected course outcomes in the Writing Program Policies document posted on Moodle.

Final Exam Schedule
Your Final Project is your Final Exam for this course. It is due by midnight on Monday, December 15.
WRIT 321 Syllabus 2
Drop Schedule
Last Day to Withdraw without Class Appearing on Transcript Monday, October 20, 2014
Last Day to Drop with an Automatic W Monday, November 3, 2014

Policies
Policies will be followed as fairly and equally as possible, but be aware that your response to the course
(attitude, effort, participation, etc.) will affect the courses response to you when a judgment call needs to be
made. Poor interaction in the class discussion forums wont be rewarded with the benefit of the doubt, but
positive interaction likely will be. In short, past behavior always influences future fortune.

Please note that policies regarding acceptable behavior in this class (including your online persona and
presence) are discussed in the Writing Program Policies document posted on Moodle.

Accommodation
If you need an accommodation because of a serious, unavoidable issue (even a persistent issue), come talk to
me or send me an email. Ill do my best to work with you while trying to be fair to everyone in the course.

Americans With Disabilities Statement
Students with documented disabilities who believe they may need accommodations in this class are
encouraged to contact a Montana Tech Disability Services Coordinator (DSC) at either 496-4429 (North
Campus) or 496-3730 (South Campus). Any student who may need an accommodation due to a documented
disability should see me during my office hours. A letter from a Montana Tech Disability Coordinator
authorizing your accommodations is required.

Veterans and Active Military Personnel
Veterans and active duty military personnel with special circumstances are welcomed and encouraged to
communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor.

Attendance
While attendance is not taken in an online course, I do expect that you will log-in to the Moodle website
frequently on a weekly basis. This attendance will be especially important during the weeks in which
participation in your discussion forums is required.

Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty
Submitting parts or entire pieces of work that you did not originate (including using others ideas without
citation or using purchased/copied/borrowed materials) is considered plagiarism. The first instance of
plagiarism (no matter the assignment, the points value, or the importance) and/or cheating can result in an
F for this course and a report to administration. Please refer to the Writing Program Policies document
posted on Moodle and the student handbook for more information.

Evaluation Procedures and Criteria
All writing assignments must be typed and (usually) posted on Moodle. General assignment categories and
weighted value are as follows, and any necessary adjustments will be posted via Moodle. All asterisked items
(*) count as major assignments.

Self-Evaluations 10%
Mini User Manual*..................................... 15%
Project Proposal*.............................................................. 15%
Progress Report*....... 15%
Final Project: White Paper*........ 25%
Quizzes, Short Exercises, Participation, etc. .... 20%
*Major Assignment

Remember to keep back-ups of everything. I suggest using Google Docs or
putting your documents on the cloud (Dropbox) so you never have to worry
about a lost thumb drive, a broken computer, or the like. Lost files are not an
excuse for late work.
100-93 A
92-90 A-
89-88 B+
87-82 B
81-80 B-
79-78 C+
77-72 C
71-70 C-
69-68 D+
67-62 D
61-60 D-
59-0 F

WRIT 321 Syllabus 3
Feedback on Papers
Your major assignments will be graded using a rubric. Comments will be general and focus on strengths,
weaknesses, and ways to improve the document (or future documents). You will generally receive back
graded work within one week of your submission.

Grading and Late Papers
Your grade will be based on the degree to which what you write represents what the assigned reading
material presents. Whether what you write represents what the reading material presents is ultimately
determined by two criteria: logical coherence and completeness. What you write must logically cohere with
what is presented in the reading material and assignments, and what you write must represent completely
what is presented in the reading material and assignments. It is expected that you have basic grammar skills
and that you will address any deficiencies in this area by following the instructors recommendations for you.

Late assignments will be subject to a 10 percent per late day grade reduction. Assignments submitted more
than four days after they are due will not be accepted. Note: This requirement differs from Course Policies.

Extensions for major projects might be granted to accommodate special circumstances. If you decide to
seek an extension for a major project due to special circumstances, you must do so in writing (e-mail) no later
than one full week before that assignment is due. Extensions will be granted solely at the instructors
discretion, and you may be asked to provide written documentation that demonstrates that you need an
extension.

Brief Assignment Descriptions
NOTE: Detailed specifications will be posted on Moodle for each assignment, exercise, and activity required for this course.

Self-Evaluations (10%)
You will write an evaluation memo of yourself as a writer at the beginning of this course. You will also write a
mid-term document and an end-of-course document that will focus on your performance as a student in this
course and your development as a writer. Last, you will forecast your future development as a student in this
course or in your ultimate workplace and adjust or affirm your course goals.

Mini User Manual (15%)
You will write a small user manual as a member of a collaborative team. It is expected that you will
participate fully in all aspects of the writing process required for the creation of this user manual, as well as
assist your group in conducting a usability text and in editing/revising tasks.

Project Proposal (15%)
You will write a proposal for the topic of your final project (a white paper) for this class. Your proposal will be
written in collaboration with your assigned collaborative team (different from your mini user manual team).
The topic for your white paper must be approved by your instructor before you proceed with the project.

Progress Report (15%)
You will write an individual document that provides a check-in on your progress toward your final project (a
white paper) in this class. You will also focus on how the group process has worked within your collaborative
team and set personal and group goals for the success of the project for the rest of the semester.

Final Project: White Paper (25%)
This project will be a white paper report on a topic researched and written by your collaborative. It is
expected that you will participate fully in all aspects of the writing process required for the creation of this
white paper, as well as assist your group in creating a professional conference poster for the white paper,
creating a conference PowerPoint presentation with notes, and conducting editing/revising tasks.

Quizzes, Short Exercises, Participation, etc. (20%)
There will be several short exercises, quizzes, and discussion forums required for the course. The details and
requirements for these activities will be posted on a weekly basis. The exercises will contribute to your
learning strategies and skills for creating the major assignments, and the quizzes will be based on the
assigned course readings, posted materials, and discussion forums.

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