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

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-1391-003 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

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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.

Required Supplies:

Text Book·&n

Student Performance

Course Competencies:

Student will be able to:

·         Demonstrate effective critical reading skills

·         Demonstrate effective critical writing skills

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

·         Perform internet research and demonstrate information literacy skills

·         Effectively implement study skills

·         Design and create an online career portfolio

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".

Students 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

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.

Academic Integrity

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

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

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

Projects

In this course you will complete three, 5 page, Power Point projects and one presentation. Students will work in groups, brainstorming and creating a small business. Each individual project, will be a part of the final formal Power Point presentation

Discussions

Students are expected to participate in Blackboard Discussions. Each week there will be a new discussion, according to the weeks topic, you are required to participate in the disscussions and comment on other class members disucssions. 20%.

Students’ well-supported opinions are an important element of this class.  Students should express their personal opinions in all discussions  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.

Exams

There will be a Mid Term and Final Exam. These exams will evaluate voabulary and material previously covered in the course.  Exams will be posted on BlackBoard and may include multiple choice questions, short answer responses, essays/summaries, and/or problems to solve.  No makeup exams will be given.

Journal

To be announced

Attendence

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.  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 and affect your participation grade.

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

Late Work

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. 

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.  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 and affect your participation grade.

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

Calendar

Additional Information

Accessing AC Connect: It is the responsibility of the student to check email messages, announcements and the course using AC Connect. Students will submit all assignments and analyses using AC Connect unless noted on the assignment or by the instructor.

The Online course will be in AC Connect (Blackboard) There is a tutorial and information to help you navigate the new Blackboard system on the AC Connect Homepage. Students are strongly encouraged to utilize the information in order to adapt to the new system for completing assignments and discussions. There are new terms for posting work; for example to post a discussion you will have to create a "thread".

Please contact the AC Tech Help Desk for all problems you may have using the new system.

STUDENT ACCESS:  Any student who has a disability that may prevent him/her from fully demonstrating his/her abilities should contact the instructor as soon as possible to discuss the necessary accommodations for your participation in class. In addition, please contact: disAbility Services (Student Service Center room 119, phone 371-5436)

STUDENT RIGHTS & RESPONSIBILITIES:

You are responsible to be aware of “Student Rights and Responsibilities,” which is available online at:

 http://www.actx.edu/admission/files/filecabinet/folder2/Student_R&R_07_Hyper.pdf.