GENESEE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

COURSE INFORMATION OUTLINE

COURSE NO.: ENG 106 TITLE: Technical Writing

CREDIT HOURS: 3 CONTACT HOURS: 3

FULL CATALOG DESCRIPTION:

Examines the special rhetoric of technical communication. Focuses on the fusion of process and product in the organizing of usable information. Considers audience/user needs, information design, visual forms, engaging in description and definition, creating process explanations, developing proposals, organizing reports, and writing instructions. Develops critical thinking skills through analysis of conventions applied in document design. Use of computers required. Prerequisite: ENG 101

COURSE OBJECTIVES (STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES):

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

1. Identify, through discussion and short-answer or paragraph-length writing the rhetorical situations where technical writing occurs by examining example documents and case studies

2. Identify, and differentiate among, purposes and document users (audiences) while composing documents (definitions, descriptions, process explanations, manuals, training materials, promotional materials, public information materials, proposals, reports, and resumes) addressing those concerns;

3. *Confirm document usability—primarily determining context (situation, audience, purpose) for which document is created, and considering document design--by creating and applying rubrics (which draw on professional technical writing standards and conventions as recommended by universal standards across fields, as well as field-specific organizations) to a document;

4. Address and apply information design--hard copy and Internet--with attention to textual elements, spatial elements, and graphic elements by designing and composing documents that incorporate both text and visuals;

5. Develop and apply effective collaborative skills (while locating, recording, organizing, and using information pertinent to a workplace project) by presenting group process in stages including initial oral discussion and modification of project and determining of team member skills, written progress memos, and completed project e-format, followed by oral presentation of project itself and post-presentation oral debriefing on the process;

*This course objective has been identified as a student learning outcome that must be formally assessed as part of the College’s Comprehensive Assessment Plan. All faculty teaching this course must collect the required data (see Assessing Student Learning Outcomes form) and submit the required analysis and documentation at the conclusion of the semester to the Office of Assessment and Special Projects.

INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES:

Lecture, small- and full-group discussion, individual and collaborative team work, case studies, frequent writing in and out of class, online networking, and online library work.

CRITERIA FOR GRADING:

A student’s final grade is determined on the basis of successful completion of all assigned projects and case studies, class attendance and participation.

REQUIRED TEXT(S):

To be determined by full-time faculty.

SUPPLEMENTARY READING/PRINCIPAL REFERENCES:

Discretion of the instructor.

BRIEF OUTLINE OF COURSE CONTENT

COURSE NO. ENG 106 TITLE: Technical Writing

I. Review of English 101 concepts, and introduction to technical communication

II. Collaboration techniques

III. Textually-based writing and using Information Design techniques

A. Discussion of rhetorical situations in technical communication associated with information design;

B. Discussion of specific concepts and accompanying vocabulary which are characteristic of information design;

C. Discussion of impact of various rhetorical situations on writing strategies;

D. Assessment of information design, via development and application of rubrics;

E. Application of information design to a variety of assignments, including case studies, definitions, descriptions, instructions, proposals. Reports, correspondence, and resumes.

IV. Textual/Visual writing and using Visual Forms

A. Discussion of rhetorical situations in technical communication associated with visual forms;

B. Discussion of specific concepts and accompanying vocabulary which are characteristic of visual forms;

C. Discussion of impact of various rhetorical situations on writing strategies involving visual forms;

D. Assessment of information design, via development and application of rubrics;

E. Application of visual forms to a variety of assignments, including case studies, definitions, descriptions, instructions, proposals. Reports, correspondence, and resumes.

Description Revised: Spring 2004

Dated: Fall 2002

Revised: Summer 1989