Course Syllabus

Fall 2024 | ENG-2135-VO01 - Technical Writing & Research

Online Class

Online courses take place 100% online via Canvas, without required in-person or Zoom meetings.

Faculty

Tib Di Giulio
View Faculty Credentials
View Faculty Statement
Hiring Coordinator for this course: Cindy Swanson

General Education Requirements

CCV Writing and Research

Note

Many degree programs have specific general education recommendations. In order to avoid taking unnecessary classes, please consult with additional resources like your program evaluation, your academic program catalog year page, and your academic advisor.

Courses may only be used to meet one General Education Requirement.

Course Description

This course examines the principles and methods of technical writing. Students explore a variety of methods and approaches for creating technical texts, including documents that demonstrate proficiency in the writing of reports, correspondence, manuals, proposals, articles, and specifications. Students must complete a final research paper achieving a grade of C- or better in order to pass this course. This course fulfills the research and writing intensive requirement. Prerequisite: English Composition.

Essential Objectives

1. Explore a broad range of texts and published articles from a variety of sources modeling technical writing through reading, writing, and critical discussion.
2. Generate, draft, and revise a variety of technical reports, proposals, graphic aids, manuals, and correspondence, including memos, emails, resumes, and manuals.
3. Critically examine, analyze, and evaluate underlying strategies related to technical writing and communication across different professions and applications, such as instruction and manual writing in manufacturing, or procedural documentation in nursing.
4. Develop strategies and implement skills for addressing the needs of both specific and multiple audiences across different technical rhetorical situations.
5. Apply the principles of technical writing to the student’s chosen field of study, including preparations for workplace interviews, presentations, and reports.
6. Incorporate layout integration and document design into technical documents, including page-design elements suitable for both electronic and print materials.
7. Work collaboratively to produce a group conceived, drafted, and edited technical document.
8. Evaluate completed documents in real-world settings and reflect on their practical application.
9. Demonstrate information literacy skills: distinguish between and utilize both primary and secondary sources; perform library and web-based literature searches; and evaluate data and resources for credibility, reliability, and validity.
10. Demonstrate the ability to apply either APA or MLA citation styles in academic writing by parenthetically citing sources in the text and correctly compiling them in the relevant end sources page.
11. Design, create, and revise a final technical document project, such as—but not limited to—a technical manual, report, or analysis that integrates five or more scholarly and professional sources, including primary and secondary evidence as needed, to address an academic research question or professional issue and demonstrate writing proficiency by achieving a grade of C- or better.

Required Technology

More information on general computer and internet recommendations is available on the CCV IT Support page. https://support.ccv.edu/general/computer-recommendations/

Please see CCV's Digital Equity Statement (pg. 45) to learn more about CCV's commitment to supporting all students access the technology they need to successfully finish their courses.

Required Textbooks and Resources

ENG-2135-VO01 Link to Textbooks/Resources Information for this course in eCampus.

The last day to use a Financial Aid Advance to purchase textbooks/books is the 3rd Tuesday of the semester. See your financial aid counselor at your academic center if you have any questions.

Methods

eaching Methods

This course will employ a variety of teaching methods designed to engage students in both individual and collaborative learning experiences. The primary methods include:

1. Online Discussions:
Active participation in online discussions is a crucial component of this course. These discussions will take place on our designated learning platform, where students will be expected to contribute thoughtfully to prompts, engage with peers’ posts, and reflect on different perspectives. Online discussions are designed to foster a community of inquiry, where ideas can be explored in depth and connections to course material can be made.

2. Essays and Written Assignments:
Students will be required to complete several essays and written assignments throughout the course. These assignments are intended to develop critical thinking, analytical skills, and the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly in writing. Essays will vary in length and complexity, and may include both research-based and reflective components. Clear guidelines and rubrics will be provided to help students meet expectations.

3. Reading Assignments:
Course readings will be assigned regularly and are essential for a successful understanding of the material. Students are expected to complete all readings before participating in discussions or completing related assignments. These readings will serve as the foundation for online discussions, essays, and other class activities.

4. Peer Review and Collaboration:
Collaborative learning is an important aspect of this course. Students will engage in peer review exercises, providing constructive feedback on classmates’ work. This process not only helps improve writing and analytical skills but also encourages the development of critical thinking and the ability to evaluate diverse perspectives.

5. Multimedia and Online Resources:
Throughout the course, various multimedia resources, including videos, podcasts, and interactive content, will be utilized to complement readings and discussions. These resources are designed to cater to different learning styles and provide additional context or contemporary perspectives on course topics.

6. Instructor Feedback:
Regular feedback will be provided on assignments and participation in discussions. The goal of this feedback is to guide improvement, clarify misunderstandings, and encourage deeper engagement with the material. Students are encouraged to use this feedback to refine their work and approach to learning.

Evaluation Criteria

Evaluation and Grading

Your final grade for this course will be based on a variety of assignments designed to assess your understanding, engagement, and application of the material. The breakdown is as follows:

1. Online Discussions (15%)
Weekly discussion topics are a critical component of this course. You are expected to contribute to the discussions with thoughtful, reflective, and well-supported posts. Additionally, you should engage with your peers by responding to their posts to foster a collaborative learning environment.

• Week 1: Introduce Yourself
• Week 2: Better Instructions or Intuitive Products?
• Week 3: Know Your Audience
• Week 4: Man v. Machine?
• Week 5: The Career Frontier
• Week 6: The Career Mindset & Writing Effective Summaries
• Week 7: Résumé Roundtable
• Week 8: Digging into Our Biases
• Week 9: Data Visualization Project | Finding Examples
• Week 10: Data Visualization Show & Tell
• Week 11: Data Visualization Presentations
• Week 12: Proofreading & Polish
• Week 13: Progress Report
• Week 14: Dear Past Me...
• Week 15: Take-Aways and Farewell!

2. Written Assignments and Essays (40%)
You will be completing various written assignments, including essays and project deliverables, throughout the course. These assignments are designed to develop your analytical skills and your ability to articulate complex ideas clearly.

• Instruction Manual Project (Weeks 1-4)
  • Week 1: Topics & Planning Essay
  • Week 2: Steps & Visuals Essay
  • Week 3: Testing & Feedback Essay
  • Week 4: Final Project Due
• Résumé Project (Weeks 5-7)
  • Week 5: Personal Mission Statement
  • Week 6: Drafting & Reviewing Essay
  • Week 7: Final Résumé Due
• Data Visualization Project (Weeks 8-11)
  • Week 8: Searching for Data
  • Week 9: Drafting Your Visualization
  • Week 10: Annotated Source List
  • Week 11: Final Project Due
• Final Project (Weeks 12-14)
  • Week 12: Final Project Proposals
  • Week 14: Final Project Due

3. Learning Logs (15%)
Each week, you will complete a learning log that reflects on your experiences and learning progress. These logs encourage ongoing self-assessment and deeper engagement with course content.

4. Quizzes and Surveys (10%)
To ensure that you are staying on track and retaining important concepts, there will be periodic quizzes and surveys. These will assess your understanding of key topics and help you reflect on your study habits.

• Week 1: Study Skills & Habits Survey
• Week 15: Final Study Skills & Habits Survey

5. Mid-Term and Final Reflections (10%)
Midway through the course, you will complete a reflection essay to evaluate your progress and set goals for the remainder of the term. At the end of the course, you will submit a final reflection, either as an essay or a presentation, summarizing your learning journey and outcomes.

• Week 7: Mid-Term Reflection Essay
• Week 15: Final Reflection Essay or Presentation

6. Participation and Engagement (10%)
Active participation in all aspects of the course, including discussions, peer reviews, and collaboration activities, will contribute to your final grade. Engagement is key to your success in this course, and consistent, thoughtful participation will be rewarded.

Grading Criteria

CCV Letter Grades as outlined in the Evaluation System Policy are assigned according to the following chart:

	High	Low
A+	100	98
A	Less than 98	93
A-	Less than 93	90
B+	Less than 90	88
B	Less than 88	83
B-	Less than 83	80
C+	Less than 80	78
C	Less than 78	73
C-	Less than 73	70
D+	Less than 70	68
D	Less than 68	63
D-	Less than 63	60
F	Less than 60
P	100	60
NP	Less than 60	0

Weekly Schedule

Attendance Policy

Regular attendance and participation in classes are essential for success in and are completion requirements for courses at CCV. A student's failure to meet attendance requirements as specified in course descriptions will normally result in a non-satisfactory grade.

• In general, missing more than 20% of a course due to absences, lateness or early departures may jeopardize a student's ability to earn a satisfactory final grade.
• Attending an on-ground or synchronous course means a student appeared in the live classroom for at least a meaningful portion of a given class meeting. Attending an online course means a student posted a discussion forum response, completed a quiz or attempted some other academically required activity. Simply viewing a course item or module does not count as attendance.
• Meeting the minimum attendance requirement for a course does not mean a student has satisfied the academic requirements for participation, which require students to go above and beyond simply attending a portion of the class. Faculty members will individually determine what constitutes participation in each course they teach and explain in their course descriptions how participation factors into a student's final grade.

Accessibility Services for Students with Disabilities:

1. Provide disability documentation to the Accessibility Coordinator at your academic center. https://ccv.edu/discover-resources/students-with-disabilities/
2. Request an appointment to meet with accessibility coordinator to discuss your request and create an accommodation plan.
3. Once created, students will share the accommodation plan with faculty. Please note, faculty cannot make disability accommodations outside of this process.

Academic Integrity