Special Topics in Professional, Technical, Business and Scientific Writing Syllabus for 2014-2015
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Instructor Information

Instructor

Jerry Terry (Curriculum Vitae)

E-Mail

jlterry@actx.edu

Phone

Office Location

Logistics Training Center 504

Office Hours

Monday thru Thursday 7:00 AM – 7:30 AM (East Campus) or by appointment

Course Information

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact disAbility Services (Student Service Center room 119, phone 371-5436) as soon as possible.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Administrative Drop Policy

N/A

Student Withdrawal Procedures

N/A

Privacy Statement

The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students. If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Course

ETWR-1391-002 Special Topics in Professional, Technical, Business and Scientific Writing

Prerequisites

Course Description

Topics address recently identified current events, skills, knowledge and/or attitudes and behaviors pertinent to the technology or occupation and relevant to the professional development of the student. This course was designed to be repeated multiple times to improve student proficiency.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Johnson-Sheehan, Richard. Technical Communication Strategies for Today, 2e, Pearson, 2015

Supplies

Student will need access to a computer and the Internet to obtain course material presented through Blackboard.

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Required Supplies:

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Student Performance

Course Competencies:

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Student will be able to:

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· Demonstrate effective critical reading skills

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· Demonstrate effective critical writing skills

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· Describe the basic components of safety, health and environmental systems as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

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· Perform internet research and demonstrate information literacy skills

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· Effectively implement study skills

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· Design and create an online career portfolio

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Students Rights and Responsibilities: Student Rights and Responsibilities

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Log in using the AC Connect Portal:

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In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu.

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If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

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Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

Communication

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The instructor will use AC email as the primary means of communicating with students. Students are responsible for e-mail messages sent to their AC email account; thus, students are responsible to check their AC email accounts. The instructor will only respond to emails sent from the student’s official AC email account and that identify the applicable class in the subject line or first sentence of the email. Further, emails should be professional using proper spelling, grammar, style and format, if the student expects a response.

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Academic Integrity

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Academic integrity is vital. Any acts of academic dishonesty will be penalized severely. The instructor has a zero tolerance policy in regard to academic dishonesty.

Grading Criteria

Evaluation and Grades

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Each student’s grade will be based upon his/her performance on each of the course sections. The course has six sections as follows:

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\ Grading Section \	\ Percentage \
\ Homework \	\ 20% \
\ Collaborations \	\ 20% \
\ Exams \	\ 10% \
\ Participation \	\ 30% \
\ Portfolio/Final Exam \	\ 20% \

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Grading Scale: A = 90 to 100, B = 80 to 89, C = 70 to 79, D = 60 to 69, F = Below 60

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Participation

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Students are expected to participate in class. Class participation includes asking relevant questions, adding to class discussions, participating in any group work, meaningfully evaluating the work of classmates and otherwise contributing to the educational experience of the class members.

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Students’ well-supported opinions are an important element of this class. Students should express their personal opinions in all written assignments, class discussions and presentations. However, it is important that students support their views and opinions with facts and logic. An unsupported opinion is of no value in this class.

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Homework Assignments

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Most lectures will have an associated assignment. This assignment may be writing a short paper, performing internet research, or solving problems. For assigned papers, please use Times New Roman 12 point font with double spaced text with one-inch margins. If the work involves solving problems, your work should either be neatly written and scanned or typed and saved as a pdf file before submission. Work that is illegible will not be graded and will receive a zero.

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Late Work

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Students are expected to complete assignments in a timely fashion. As part of this course, the “real world” will be simulated as it relates to lateness of assignments. That is, in the “real world” assignments not completed on time have an associated penalty (i.e. contract bid not accepted). In class, lateness of assignments will have a 25% late penalty for every day late, up to a maximum of 100%. For example, assume a 100 point assignment is due Monday. If the assignment is turned in on Wednesday, the assignment will be graded first as though no penalty existed, then 50 points (50% of 100) will be deducted for being late.

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Exams

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Exams will be given regularly throughout the course of the semester and will be unannounced. These exams will evaluate material previously covered in the course. Exams may include multiple choice questions, short answer responses, essays/summaries, and/or problems to solve. No makeup exams will be given.

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Portfolio

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This course will utilize an external online system for students to create and manage a professional portfolio. The portfolio will have an employment section with a resume and job history for each student. In addition, it will also have a list of courses with examples of student work with images from laboratory activities. The third section of the portfolio will be used for the student’s personal interests and community service. This portfolio will be used throughout the student’s technical education at Amarillo College and will have further requirements and grading in future coursework. The grading of the portfolio will be based on completeness of information and attention to creating a positive online image that can be used by the student in their pursuit of future employment in their field.

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Final Exam

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The final exam is designed to assess your understanding of, and the ability to apply, the factual material, theories, and concepts related to the course. The final exam is comprehensive and will cover the entire course. It will include a final presentation of the students’ online portfolio.

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Instructor's Statement

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As your instructor, I am always willing to discuss your grades with you and explain how your grade was determined. If a grading error has been made on my part, I am always willing to correct the error.

Attendance

Attendance in a class is regarded as requirement, and obligation for learning. Please remember the deadline for dropping a class at AC is published in the official Amarillo College Schedule of Classes and is October 7. If you stop attending class and do not officially drop the course by this deadline, you will receive an “F” for the course.

The attendance in the course will be monitored through the sign-in sheets in the classroom/laboratory. Attendance will affect the participation grade. If a student is late for class, the best grade s(he) can receive for participation is 70.

If a student misses class, it is his/her responsibility to get the notes from a classmate before the next class.

Calendar

I RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CHANGE THE SYLLABUS AND THE SCHEDULE AS NEEDED. YOU WILL BE INFORMED OF CHANGES EITHER ON THE COURSE WEBSITE OR BY EMAIL OR BOTH.

Day 1

Introduction – The instructor will introduce his/herself. The instructor will then allow each student a few minutes to introduce themselves.
The instructor will explain the Emergency Evacuation Procedures to the students including Fire, Imminent Threat, and Severe Weather. The instructor will show students the actual location of the emergency exits.
Syllabus – The instructor will read the course syllabus to the students and distribute a form acknowledging the reading of the syllabus and retain the forms upon signature by the student.
The instructor will read the “Effective Study Skills” located in the “Content” on Blackboard.
Homework Assignments:
- The purpose of this assignment is to reinforce effective study skills. Please study the “Effective Study Skills” and be prepared to test over the material the next time we meet for class.
- Students will create an account and login to https://www.workhands.us and create a digital portfolio using the instructions and tips list in the “Digital Portfolio” located in the “Content” on Blackboard. This assignment will be presented and graded on the last day of class. However, the portfolio must be created and the student must link to the instructor’s portfolio before the next time we meet for class, or it will be assessed a late penalty – see syllabus.
Classroom Assignment: The instructor will distribute the “Assignment 1 – Career Goals Summary”. This assignment will be assessed based on legibility (handwriting), spelling, grammar, and sentence structure.

Day 2

Classroom Collaboration – Effective Study Skills – The purpose of this assignment is to demonstrate students’ critical reading skills and collaborative team building skills. Please work with your team (groups of 4 – 5 students) to assemble a list of 50 “fill in the blank” questions as if you were designing a test over the material. Be prepared to take a test over this material near the end of today’s class.
Homework Assignments:
- Examination – Effective Study Skills Examination – The student will login to Blackboard and complete his/her exam over effective study skills. The exam consists of 50 multiple choice questions worth 2 points each. The student will have 30 seconds to answer each question. If a question is not answered, it will be counted as wrong.

Day 3

PowerPoint Presentations – The instructor will present the “Introduction to OSHA” PowerPoint presentation followed by the “Personal Protective Equipment” presentation.
Classroom Collaboration – Introduction to OSHA & PPE Collaboration – The purpose of this assignment is to demonstrate students’ critical reading skills and team collaboration skills. Please work with your team to assemble a list of 40 “fill in the blank” questions as if you were designing a test over the material. Be prepared to take a test over this material near the end of today’s class. The complete list of questions and answers, along with the Peer Group Members Assessments, are due by the end of the class. Grades for this exercise will be based on spelling, grammar, sentence structure, content, peer assessments and participation.
Homework Assignments:
- Examination – Introduction to OSHA & PPE – The student will login to Blackboard and complete his/her exam over Introduction to OSHA & PPE. The exam consists of 40 questions worth 2 ½ points each. The student will have 30 seconds to answer each question. If a question is not answered, it will be counted as wrong.
- The student will read chapter 1 in the textbook and be prepared to discuss the material covered at the next classroom meeting.

Day 4

This assignment must be completed and turned in before the end of class today. You must include the title of the assignment; names of each team member; the date; and the page number(s) at the top of the page.

Students will break into groups of 4 to 5 and complete the “Collaborative Project: Writing a Course Mission Statement” on pages 17 & 18 of the textbook. Do not use the course syllabus for this exercise. I want your expectations for the course, not mine.

Homework Assignments: This assignment is due at the beginning of the next class. You must include your name, the date and the title of the assignment at the top of the page.
Complete all 3 “Individual or Team Projects” from Chapter 1 on page 17 of the textbook.
Read Chapter 2 in the textbook and be prepared to discuss the content of the chapter during the next class.

Day 5

This assignment must be completed and turned in before the end of class today. You must include the title of the assignment; names of each team member; the date, and the page number(s) at the top of the page.

Students will break into groups of 4 to 5 and complete all 3 of the “Individual or Team Projects” on page 38 in your textbook.

Homework Assignments:

This assignment is due at the beginning of the next class. You must include your name, the date and the title of the assignment at the top of the page.

Read the Case Study, “Installing a Medical Waste Incinerator” on pages 40 – 43 in your textbook and write an essay explaining the answers to the 2 questions at the end of the case study.
Read Chapter 3 in the textbook and be prepared to discuss the content of the chapter during the next class.

Day 6

Classroom Assignments – This assignment must be completed and turned in before the end of the class today. You must include the title of the assignment; names of each team member; the date; and the page number(s) at the top of the page.

Students will break into groups of 4 to 5 and complete the “Collaborative Project” on page 66 of the textbook. In addition to the group report, write a summary explaining the answers to each question in the second paragraph.

Homework Assignments: This assignment is due at the beginning of the next class. You must include your name, the date and the title of the assignment at the top of the page.
Complete all 3 “Individual or Team Projects” from Chapter 3 on page 65 of the textbook.
Also, read the Case Study, “Not a Sunny Day” on page 67 of the textbook. Write 1 or 2 paragraphs answering the 2 questions at the end of the case study.
Read Chapter 4 in the textbook and be prepared to discuss the content of the chapter during the next class.

Day 7

This assignment must be completed and turned in before the end of the class today. You must include the title of the assignment; names of each team member; the date, and the page number(s) at the top of the page.
Students will break into groups of 4 to 5 and complete all 3 “Individual or Team Projects” and the “Collaborative Project” on page 89 in the textbook.

Homework Assignments: This assignment is due at the beginning of the next class. You must include your name, the date, and the title of the assignment at the top of the page.
Read the Case Study, “This Company Is Bugging Me” on page 90 of the textbook. Write an essay addressing the ethical issues concerning RFIDs.
Read Chapter 5 in the textbook and be prepared to discuss the content of the chapter during the next class.

Day 8

This assignment must be completed and turned in before the end of class today. You must include the title of the assignment; names of each team member; the date, and the page number(s) at the top of the page.
Students will break into groups of 4 to 5 and complete the “Collaborative Project” and “Revision Challenge” on page 123 of the textbook.
Homework Assignments: This assignment is due at the beginning of the next class. You must include your name, the date and the title of the assignment at the top of the page.
Complete all 3 “Individual or Team Projects” from Chapter 5 on page 122 of the textbook. Also, complete the case study, “The Nastygram” by writing a professional memorandum to Dr. Alice Keenan, MD, Director of AIDS Center, in response to her memorandum.
Read Chapter 6 in the textbook and be prepared to discuss the content of the chapter during the next class.

Day 9

This assignment must be completed and turned in before the end of class today. You must include the title of the assignment; names of each team member; the date, and the page number(s) at the top of the page.
Students will break into groups of 4 to 5 and complete the “Collaborative Projects” and “Revision Challenge” on page 154 in the textbook.
Extra Credit:

Student that want to receive extra credit may read the case study, “In the Vapor” and submit an essay that addresses all of the questions at the end of the case study. Do not just answer the questions. This should be a free-flowing essay that addresses each of the questions. This assignment will be submitted along with your homework. Students will be given the option to replace a previous assignment grade with the grade received on this assignment.

Reminder!!!!

One member of each team must bring an everyday household appliance (toaster, blender, hot air popcorn popper, clock radio, MP3 player, etc.) to the next class for the collaborative project.

Homework Assignments: This assignment is due at the beginning of the next class. You must include your name, the date and the title of the assignment at the top of the page.
Complete all 4 “Individual or Team Projects” from Chapter 6 on pages 153-154 in the textbook.
Read Chapter 7 in the textbook and be prepared to discuss the content of the chapter during the next class.

Day 10

This assignment must be completed and turned in before the end of class today. You must include the title of the assignment; names of each team member; the date, and the page number(s) at the top of the page.
Students will break into groups of 4 to 5 and complete the “Collaborative Projects” on page 195 of the textbook.
Homework Assignments: This assignment is due at the beginning of the next class. You must include your name, the date, and the title of the assignment at the top of the page.
Complete #1, #2, and #4 of the “Individual or Team Projects” from Chapter 7 on page 195 of the textbook.
Read Chapter 10 in the textbook and be prepared to discuss the content of the chapter during the next class.

Day 11

This assignment must be completed and turned in before the end of class today. You must include the title of the assignment; names of each team member; the date, and the page number(s) at the top of the page.
Students will break into groups of 4 to 5 and complete the “Collaborative Project: Problems in the Community” on pages 301 & 302 of the textbook.
Homework Assignments:
This assignment is due at the beginning of the next class. You must include your name, the date, and the title of the assignment at the top of the page.
Complete all 3 “Individual or Team Projects” from Chapter 10 on page 301 of the textbook.
Read Chapter 11 in the textbook and be prepared to discuss the content of the chapter during the next class.

Day 12

This assignment must be completed and turned in before the end of class today. You must include the title of the assignment; names of each team member; the date, and the page number(s) at the top of the page.
Students will break into groups of 4 to 5 and complete the “Collaborative Project” on page 340 of the textbook.
Homework Assignments: This assignment is due at the beginning of the next class. You must include your name, the date and the title of the assignment at the top of the page.
Complete all 4 “Individual or Team Projects” from Chapter 11 on page 339 in the textbook.
Read Chapter 12 in the textbook and be prepared to discuss the content of the chapter during the next class.

Day 13

This assignment must be completed and turned in before the end of class today. You must include the title of the assignment; names of each team member; the date, and the page number(s) at the top of the page.
Students will break into groups of 4 to 5 and complete the “Collaborative Project” on page 365 of the textbook.
Homework Assignments: This assignment is due at the beginning of the next class. You must include your name, the date and the title of the assignment at the top of the page.
Complete all 3 “Individual or Team Projects” from Chapter 12 on pages 364-365 in the textbook.
Read Chapter 13 in the textbook and be prepared to discuss the content of the chapter during the next class.

Day 14

This assignment must be completed and turned in before the end of class today. You must include the title of the assignment; names of each team member; the date, and the page number(s) at the top of the page.
Students will break into groups of 4 to 5 and complete the “Collaborative Project” on page 392 of the textbook.
Homework Assignments: This assignment is due at the beginning of the next class. You must include your name, the date and the title of the assignment at the top of the page.

Complete all 4 “Individual or Team Projects” from Chapter 13 on page 391 in the textbook.

Read Chapter 15 in the textbook and be prepared to discuss the content of the chapter during the next class.

Day 15

This assignment must be completed and turned in before the end of class today. You must include the title of the assignment; names of each team member; the date, and the page number(s) at the top of the page.
Students will break into groups of 4 to 5 and complete the “Collaborative Project” on page 457 of the textbook.
Homework Assignments: This assignment is due at the beginning of the next class. You must include your name, the date and the title of the assignment at the top of the page.
Complete all 4 “Individual or Team Projects” from Chapter 15 on page 456 in the textbook.
Each student will be prepared to present his/her digital portfolio during the next classroom meeting. Please incorporate all of the information you have learned throughout this course to prepare for this presentation. Your grade on your portfolio and presentation will count as your final exam.

Day 16

Classroom Assignments – The student will present his/her digital portfolio to their classmates. This assignment will be graded based on:
- Created on-time? (20%)
- Professional appearance (20%)
- Spelling and grammar (20%)
- Content – Utilizing skills learned through this course (20%)
- Presentation (20%)

Additional Information

Additional Instructor Contact Information

Amarillo College East Campus

Manufacturing Education Center (MEC) 105B

Phone # 806-335-4280 (voice mail)

Email jlterry@actx.edu (best way to contact me)

I will usually return all email within 24 hours, Monday-Friday. If I do not reply within that time period, please contact me again.

Catalog Year: 2014-2015

Disability Statement: Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact disAbility Services (Student Service Center room 119, phone 371-5436) as soon as possible.

Course Title: ST: Technical Communication

Course Name and Number: ETWR 1391

Course Section: 002

Semester: Fall

Prerequisites: N/A

Course Description: Topics address recently identified current events, skills, knowledge and/or attitudes and behaviors pertinent to the technology or occupation and relevant to the professional development of the student.

Department Expectations: All students in Technical Education are expected to abide by the Professional Code of Conduct. A copy is available on the main content page of the Blackboard course. Students will not be able to attend courses if not in compliance by the third class day.

Hours: (3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Syllabus Created on:

11/30/-1 12:00 AM

Last Edited on: