Summer - no office hours
If you have a disability (learning, mental, physical) that affects your ability to participate effectively and have access to any program or service at Amarillo College please contact Disability Services at (806) 345-5639 . Our offices are located in the Student Service Center office 112. More information may be found at www.actx.edu/disability.
Disability Services facilitates access to all programs and services according to the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as other federal and state laws.
Amarillo College is committed to providing equal access to all programs and services, including all working, learning, and service environments that affect equal access for persons with disabilities. This commitment to provide equal access and opportunity for persons with disabilities is in compliance with federal and state law. Amarillo College also strives to provide Electronic and Information Resources (EIR) that are accessible to all authorized users.
If you find you are unable to access material in an accessible format please contact the Disability Services Office at (806) 345-5639 . This office will work in conjunction with other campus resources to address and accommodate your issue in a timely manner.
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
Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016
Students who wish to withdraw from a course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdrawal Request form by the course withdrawal deadline.
NOTE: Students who are attending Texas institutions of higher education, for the first time fall 2007 and later, may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career. This withdrawal limitation does not include dual credit or developmental classes (Senate Bill 1231 Rule 4.10.) For more information on Drop and Withdrawal Policies, please visit the Registrar's Office Web site.
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 .
ENGL-2311-004 Technical and Business Writing
<p>Prerequisite: ENGL 1301</p>
Intensive study of and practice in professional settings. Focus on the types of documents necessary to make decisions and take action on the job, such as proposals, reports, instructions, policies and procedures, e-mail messages, letters and descriptions of products and services. Practice individual and collaborative processes involved in the creation of ethical and efficient documents.
Student ResourcesStudent Resources Website
Upon successful completion of this course, students will:
The English Department takes plagiarism seriously.
Plagiarism is defined as the following: the use of someone else’s exact words that are neither quoted nor cited; paraphrasing someone else’s words without citing them; or using someone else’s research without citing it.
Student plagiarism in the Amarillo College English Department is internally tracked. To clarify, records will be kept in the Department of those students who have plagiarized. At the beginning of each new semester, the names of students who plagiarized the previous semester will be sent to all English Department faculty.
Plagiarism may receive a penalty of a zero. A subsequent infraction will be deemed a reason for expulsion from the class. At this point, the case will be referred to the Vice President of Student Affairs.
Note: Self-plagiarism will be discussed with the class by each instructor and infractions for such are left up to the individual instructor’s discretion.
Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:
Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact your advisor, the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.
(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)
Online Course
Required Textbook
|
Gurak, Laura J. and John Lannon. Strategies for Technical Communication in the Workplace. 3rd ed. 2016.* *Be sure to purchase the New 2016 MLA Update Edition.
IMPORTANT: You MUST have the textbook to be successful in this class. The concepts you need to know to successfully complete the assignments are in the textbook. |
Other Supplies
Students need frequent access to:
If you have computer software difficulties, call 371-5000 immediately for help. As a back-up, computers are available in the English Writing Lab, Ordway Hall on the Washington Street Campus. Bring a USB drive to save your work, or work in Google Drive so your work is not lost. Check the English Computer Writing Lab Policies (www.actx.edu/english/) for open hours and other information.
Course Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will:
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".
Behavior
CODE OF STUDENT CONDUCT: All rules and regulations set forth in the “Student Code of Conduct” section in the current edition of the Students’ Rights and Responsibilities publication will be followed in this course (see link above).
Disrespect will not be tolerated. While students are expected to express their own ideas and opinions in the discussion section of this course, students are also expected to use words that are appropriate for a classroom situation. No cursing, personal insults, or disrespectful language will be tolerated. Violation of this rule will result in the loss of points for discussion contributions
The discussion forums in this class provide a great opportunity for you to practice your technical writing style. Proofread and spell-check your discussion posts, and check your posts and replies for clarity and accuracy. As with emails, avoid using text-message style abbreviations. In addition, proofread your posts for tone. A successful writer is ever-mindful of his/her audience, and your posts should be courteous and professional—even if you are disagreeing with a classmate. Discussion posts with numerous spelling and grammar errors an inappropriate tone will not receive credit.
For full discussion credit, always respond thoroughly to at least two classmates.
Other Responsibilities
Grade Determination
Students can earn a total of 1000 points, including discussions, quizzes, and all assignments.
Grades will be based on the following system:
A 90-100=high achievement (895 – 1000 points)
B 80-89= above average achievement (795 – 894 points)
C 70-79= satisfactory achievement (695 – 794 points)
D 60-69= unsatisfactory achievement (595 – 694 points)
F 0-59= unacceptable (0 – 594 points)
Points for Activities
| Category | Activity and Points | Total Points |
|
Discussions 8 discussions |
Intro. Disc. = 25 Week 1 Disc. = 25 Week 2 Disc = 25 Week 3 Disc = 25 Ch 3 Disc = 25 Research Disc. = 25 Week 5 Disc. = 25 Week 6 Disc. = 25 |
200 |
|
Quizzes and Misc. 10 quizzes |
Syllabus Quiz = 14 Ch. 1 Quiz = 15 Ch. 4 Quiz = 14 Ch. 5 Quiz = 16 Ch 18, 19, 20 Quiz = 25 Ch. 6 Quiz = 17 Ch. 2 Quiz = 20 Ch. 10 Quiz = 17 Ch. 8 Quiz = 20 Ch. 17 Quiz = 17 Report Topic = 25 |
200 |
|
Writing Assignments 4 major writing assignments |
Claim Letter = 50 Proposal = 100 Formal Analytical Report = 200 Resume = 100 |
450 |
| Final Exam |
Multiple Choice = 50 Writing Prompt = 100 |
150 |
| Total Points | 1000 |
Discussions: For full credit in the discussion forums, your initial thread must be the minimum word count specified on the discussion, and you must respond to at least two classmates.
Assignment Criteria and Feedback Policy
A rubric is provided for each writing assignment that will set forth the criteria for grading.
Timely instructor feedback is important for student success. However, writing assignments often take time to grade, and I strive to give helpful comments on each assignment. To that end, I will make every effort to grade your written work quickly:
Tutoring
TUTORING: You can use SMARTHINKING (click), online tutoring available through the AC website. Be advised that the Smartthinking tutoring service has a 2-3 day turnaround, so you need to submit work well before the due date to be sure to receive timely feedback from a tutor.
If you are near the AC campus, you are welcome to visit the Writer's Corner (click) located in Ordway Hall to get help with your assignments.
Assignment Submission and Late Work
Assignment Submission:
Late work will not be accepted. Because this is a fast-paced 8-week course, you must complete assignments by the due date. Most assignments are due on Saturdays by 11 p.m.; however, there are exceptions, so please check the course calendar for specific due dates. Any assignment turned in after the due date at 11 p.m. is late. I understand that technical problems occur and life issues sometimes interfere with assignments, but I am counting on your commitment to this class despite life's setbacks. When you can, work on assignments ahead of their due dates. If a situation arises that interferes with your turning in work in a timely manner, please email or call me.
"Attendance" in an Online Course
Log in every day. In an online course, participation is extremely important. Although most assignments are due Saturdays by 11 p.m., please work ahead of schedule, as much is due each week. Lack of participation and submission of assignments in a timely manner will be taken into account when the final grade is determined. You hurt yourself when you fall behind schedule.
Students are expected to participate actively in this online course. Participation means:
Reading assigned chapters and completing discussions and quizzes before the due date.
Logging in to the course every day, at least to check mail and read announcements. I watch when students last logged in.
Checking email regularly in your Amarillo College GMail account. I frequently send emails that explain course updates or include course notes, so please check your AC Gmail account as often as possible.
Completing and submitting weekly assignments by due dates
Reading and posting discussion messages as assigned.
Taking online quizzes and final exam.
Course Outline
Click on the course calendar link within the course for assignment due dates.
This outline gives you an idea of which chapters will be read and when major assignments are due. Check your class calendar in Blackboard for specific due dates.
This course outline is subject to change, so regularly check your Blackboard course calendar and email for updates.
Module 1: Principles of Workplace Writing
Week 1
Introductions: Intro. Discussion, Syllabus Quiz
Read Chapters 1, 3, and 4
Ch. 1 Quiz
Ch. 3 Discussion and Week 1 Discussion
Module 2: Common Workplace Correspondence
Week 2
Read Chapters 6 and 10
Ch. 6 Quiz, Ch. 10 Quiz
Week 2 Discussion, Report Topic Discussion
DUE: Claim Letter and Report Topic
Week 3
Read Chapters 18, 19, 20
Ch 18-20 Quiz, Week 3 Discussion
Report Topic Discussion: Brainstorm topic for analytical report.
Module 3: Research and Report Writing
Week 4
Read Chapters 8, 2, and 17
Ch. 8 Quiz, Ch. 2 Quiz, Ch. 17 Quiz
Week 4 Discussion
DUE: Proposal Assignment
Week 5
Read Chapters 15 and 16 (Reports)
Ch. 15 and 16 Quiz
Research for Report
Week 6
Read Chapter 5, Structuring Information
Ch. 5 Quiz
Week 6 Discussion
Research and Draft Report, Submit Rough Draft
Module 4: Job Search Materials
Week 7
DUE: Analytical Report Final Draft
Read Chapter 9
DUE: Resume
Week 8
Review and Final Exam
Final Exam:
Information about final exam will be posted in Blackboard.
08/07/17 3:20 PM
08/20/17 2:16 PM