Please fill out the course evaluation: https://uw.iasystem.org/survey/225352

Course Schedule | Syllabus | Assignments | Discussions

Spring 2020 | MW 2:30-3:50 on Zoom | Office Hours: MW 1:00-2:00 on Zoom

Zoom: https://washington.zoom.us/j/3107065842
Online Learning for ENGL 299B

March 30: Course Introduction

Readings: None.

Assignments:

Complete the Student Survey
Discussion Prompt: First Day (Due after class.)

Agenda:

Meet your writing community
Get comfortable with online learning technologies
Review syllabus and assignments
Set course expectations
Introduce grading philosophy and growth mindset
Introduce first assignment sequence: resumé and cover letter
What is technical and professional writing?

First Sequence: Analyzing Your Audience, Writing Resumés and Cover Letters

April 1: Audience Analysis

Readings:

Technical Communication Chapter 5: Understanding Your Audience and Purpose (Note: Fair Use allows me to provide you with one chapter, but you will need your own copy of the textbook for future reading assignments.)

Assignments:

Discussion Prompt: Audience and Reading Technologies
Bring a job posting to class. It could be a job or internship that you want to apply for now. Or it could be the type of job that you want to target when you graduate.

Agenda:

Analyzing your audience (Slides | PollEverywhere)
Writing for multiple audiences
Writing for diverse cultures
Understanding why you are writing (purpose)
Activity: Audience Profile Sheet and your job posting

April 6: Introduction to Resumés and Cover Letters

Readings:

Technical Communication Pages 397-416 from Chapter 15: Writing Job Application Materials
9 Things Recruiters and Employers Look for in a Resume

Assignments:

Agenda:

Slides | PollEverywhere
Major sections of resumés and how to organize them
What to include and exclude in resumés
Action verbs and key words for resumés
Cover Letters
Activity: Analyze and critique a resumé and cover letter

April 8: Peer Reviews of Resumés

Readings:

Providing Feedback to Writers

Assignments:

Resumé and Cover Letter: First Draft due at 2:00pm.

Agenda

How to give useful peer feedback
Peer review session in groups of 3. We'll use Zoom Breakout Rooms, the feedback worksheet, Google Docs comments, and Canvas peer reviews.

April 13-15: 1:1 Writing Conferences, No Regular Class

Readings: None.

Assignments:

Agenda:

We will not meet at our regular class times this week.
Instead, you will meet 1:1 with me to review your assignment draft, ask questions, and get feedback.

Second Sequence: Writing Task Information, Writing to a Style Guide

April 20: The Writing Process and Doc Plans

Readings:

Technical Communication Chapter 3: Writing Technical Documents
What is a Documentation Plan?

Assignments:

Discussion Prompt: Writing Process

Agenda:

Slides
Iterative writing process
Getting started with writing
Researching technical topics and processes
Documentation plans
Second assignment sequence: Instructions.
Activity: Analyze and critique video instructions and picture instructions

April 22: Concept, TASK, and Reference

Readings:

Technical Communication Pages 551-568: Writing instructions
Farkas: The Logical and Rhetorical Construction of Procedural Discourse

Assignments:

Instructions: Doc Plan due by 2:00pm.
Discussion Prompt: Steps in Instructions

Agenda:

Slides
Concept, TASK, and reference information
Procedural rhetoric
Style guidelines for instructions: Imperative mood, etc.
Kinds of steps
Activity: Analyze and critique procedures
Peer Review: Doc Plans

April 27: Writing to a Style Guide

Readings:

Technical Communication Chapter 10: Writing Correct and Effective Sentences
GNOME-STYLE: Writing for Translation

Assignments:

Agenda:

Slides
Focus on clarity
How style guides are used
Writing for translation
Activity: Review Care for Dogs

April 29: Peer Review for Instructions

Readings: None.

Assignments:

Instructions: First Draft due by 2:00pm

Agenda:

How to give helpful peer feedback
Peer Review: First Drafts of Instructions

May 4-6: 1:1 Writing Conferences, No Regular Class

We will not meet at our regular class times this week.
Instead, you will meet 1:1 with me to review your assignment draft, ask questions, and get feedback.

Readings: None.

Assignments:

Second Draft and conference questions are due by 2:00 pm the day before your conference. Turn in on Canvas.
Final Draft is due Thursday, May 7 by 2:00 pm. Turn in on Canvas.
Reflection on the second assignment is due by Friday, May 8 at 2:00 pm. Turn in on Canvas.

Third Sequence: Writing Technical Reports and Business Emails

May 11: Introduction to Technical Reports

Readings:

Technical Communication Chapter 18: Writing Recommendation Reports
Wobbrock: Catchy Titles Are Good: But Avoid Being Cute

Assignments:

Discussion Prompt: Different Types of Technical Reports

Agenda:

Introduce the third assignment sequence: Technical Report and Business Email
Special Guest: Lou Stubecki
Slides
Major sections of technical reports
Types of technical reports: recommendation reports, lab reports, etc.
The purpose of the Executive Summary
Activity: Analyze and critique a summary

May 13: Titles, Headings, Lists, Paragraphs, Tables, Charts, and Graphics

Readings:

Technical Communication Chapter 9: Emphasizing Important Information
Technical Communication Chapter 12: Creating Graphics

Assignments:

Agenda:

Slides
Titles and headings
Lists
Paragraphs
Tables, charts, and graphics
Activity: Analyze and critique a technical report

May 18: Definitions & Descriptions, Organizational Patterns, Communicating Persuasively

Readings:

Technical Communication pages 535-551: Writing Definitions and Writing Descriptions
Technical Communication Table 7.1 on pages 149-150
Technical Communication Chapter 8: Communicating Persuasively

Assignments:

Discussion Prompt: Descriptions

Agenda:

Slides
Definitions and Descriptions: Activity
Organizational Patterns
Persuasive Writing
Logical Fallacies: Activity

May 20: Peer Review of Technical Report

Readings: None

Assignments:

Technical Report: First Draft due by 2:00pm.

Agenda:

Peer Review: First Drafts of Technical Report

May 25: Memorial Day, No Class

Readings:

None

Assignments:

None

May 27: Business Emails, Course Summary and Wrap-Up

Readings:

Technical Communication Chapter 14: Writing Correspondence
10 Tips for Writing Effective Business Emails
Effective Email Communication

Assignments:

Agenda:

Slides
Different forms of business communication
Activity: Choose the right form of communication
Focus on emails
Activity: Analyze and critique emails
Class Summary

June 1-3: 1:1 Writing Conferences

We will not meet at our regular class times this week.
Instead, you will meet 1:1 with me to review your assignment draft, ask questions, and get feedback.
Please fill out the course evaluation: https://uw.iasystem.org/survey/225352

Readings: None.

Assignments:

Second Draft and Conference Questions & Business Email are due by 2:00 pm the day before your conference. Turn in on Canvas.
Final Draft is due Wednesday, June 10 by 2:00 pm. Turn in on Canvas.
Reflection on the second assignment is due by Thursday, June 11 at 2:00 pm. Turn in on Canvas.

ENGL 299B: Technical and Professional Writing