ENGL 421 Syllabus Fall 2020 PDF

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ENGLISH 421: TECHNICAL WRITING Fall 2020 (August 24 to December 12) | Instructor: Maryam Ghafoor Pronouns: She/her/hers Office: Heavilon 309E Email: [email protected] Virtual Office Hours: F: 8:30-9:20 COURSE DESCRIPTION English 421 helps students become better technical writers across global audiences, for multiple purposes, and in a variety of media. The work of the course is centered on presenting technical material in written and visual formats that demonstrate an awareness of audience needs and contexts, achieve implicit and explicit rhetorical purposes, and work to effectively address workplace, social, or global problems. Communication across multiple audiences and for multiple purposes continues to be a desired skill set in technical and professional fields. Beyond field-specific knowledge and experience, successful and ethical communication drives the professional world. This class, in content and form, models these successful communication practices. Working individually and in teams, students learn effective strategies for communicating about and with technology, particularly in networked workplaces and through usability testing. To achieve success in this course, students must display the ability to succeed in their future workplaces by developing a variety of informative and visually effective print and electronic documents. COURSE OUTCOMES By the end of this course, students will be able to: • Use technical writing theories and approaches to analyze and solve problems individually and in teams • Communicate complex technical information, processes, and procedures via a variety of media, genres, and technologies to a range of audiences and stakeholders • Adapt written genre conventions and expectations to both technical and non-technical audiences with changing organizational needs • Apply primary and secondary research methods and strategies to produce technical documents • Demonstrate awareness of both the technical and human needs of users, paying special attention to cultural diversity and global sensitivity • Interpret, contextualize, explain, and visualize data sets in the context of specific rhetorical contexts or problems • Successfully function in different capacities in various team-based settings REQUIRED MATERIALS • Technical Communication (Twelfth Edition) by Mike Markel and Stuart A. Selber, Bedford St. Martin’s, ISBN: 9781-319 -05861-6 • Team Writing: A Guide to Working in Groups by Joanna Wolfe, Bedford St. Martin’s, ISBN: 978-0-312 -56582-4 These textbooks should come in a bundle package that’s cheaper for students. Please purchase the e-book rental version of our textbook. All other required readings can be found on Brightspace under the relevant weekly modules.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM COURSEWORK Each student will be responsible for completing, whether individually or as part of a team, 3 major projects. Each project will have multiple components that contribute to the final project. You must complete all of the projects in a timely manner in order to pass the course. Just like in the working world, you are required to submit your work on time. Late submissions will be deducted one letter grade per day late. Project 1 - Redesign Portfolio (200 points): Students will take previously designed documents and rewrite and redesign them with respect to visual appeal, accessibility, audience, and clarity. The portfolio will be introduced by a memo detailing and explaining revision choices. Project 2 - Technical Documents Project (200 points): Students will work in teams to develop a short series of related technical documents, which may include technical descriptions, instruction manuals, troubleshooting guides, and descriptive diagrams. In any technical career, you will find that the ability to accurately describe things, places, or processes is essential. You will select a thing, place, or process to describe and use rhetorical strategies to compose a clear and effective technical document. For the second part, you will compose a set of instructions or procedures/protocols that document how to complete some task. For the third, you must create an original, visually appealing and nuanced descriptive diagram. Project 3 - Formal Report (250 points): Students will work in teams to execute a collaborative project: a factual, data-centered response to a research question. The formal written report will be accompanied by four external documents, some of which might include an infographic, FAQ, brochure, video, or podcast. Peer Workshops (75 points): Students will participate in regular peer workshops in which they review, critique, and offer constructive criticism of peer work in both oral and written forms. Additional Assignments (275 points): Students will complete other minor assignments throughout the semester, including participation in the discussion board (10 pts each), reading quizzes (5 pts each), and exercises (10 pts each). Discussion board posts and responses will always be due on Wednesdays and Fridays. Quizzes, exercises, and major project submissions will always be due on Sundays. GRADING The course grade will be determined as follows: Assignment

Points*

Project 1 Peer Workshop

200 25

Project 2

200

Peer Workshop Project 3 Peer Workshop

25 250 25

Exercises (10)

100

Discussion Posts (10) plus in-class writing Quizzes (10)

125 50

TOTAL

1000

Letter Grades/Point Range A+ = 1000–970 A = 969–940 A- = 939–900 B+ = 899–870 B = 869–840 B- = 839–800 C+ = 799–770 C = 769–740 C- = 739–700 D+ = 699–670 D = 669–640 D- = 639–600 F = Below 600

*You must complete all three projects to pass the class. **No rounding up. All grades are final. GENERAL COURSE POLICIES English 421 Syllabus Fall 2020 | page 2

Online Participation: Your success in this class is largely dependent on your regular engagement and daily efforts. Every week, you will be set a list of tasks in the form of assignments, discussions, quizzes, and peer workshop to help you accomplish the shared objectives of this course. Developing relationships with your instructor and your peers also helps you in successfully achieving your goals. In instances when you are unable to participate actively in the class, you are responsible for reaching out to a classmate or to me as early as you can so we can identify appropriate adjustments or alternatives to completing satisfactory work and meeting the course objectives. If you do not participate for 3 weeks or longer, you will receive an automatic fail. Teamwork: Being a “team player” is often listed as priority in hiring in technical work environments. One of the goals of this course is to develop our teamwork skills by working with our peers in collaborative, team-based writing projects. You will have the opportunity to participate on a team in a variety of roles; offer and receive feedback from peers; develop proposals, conflict resolution plans, and team calendars; and establish effective modes of communication within a team setting. Your own contributions and involvement will be assessed by both you, your team, and your instructor. Late work: As with the real-world work environment, you are expected to organize your time and work hard to meet deadlines. Late work will not be accepted after the first late submission. Most assignments and lessons are posted well in advance. Plan accordingly. Assignments are always due on Wednesdays and Fridays. Major projects are due on Sundays. Please email me an assignment if you are having trouble submitting. Please also reach out if something comes up. I will accept your first late submission with a 20%-point deduction and no longer accept late assignments after that. Contacting the Instructor: Please contact me via email at [email protected] I will respond within 24 hours on the weekdays (36 at most). I will not respond until Monday during the weekends because this is my professional boundary I maintain for my personal life (and sanity). Please do not expect a reply after 7:00 pm EST. I will be keeping regular virtual office hours F from 8:30-9:30 AM. You can instant message me by clicking on the envelope icon at the top of the screen on Brightspace. Additionally, I will make myself flexible to meet with students during the day as needed. Please send me an email to arrange a time to meet via WebEx, and I will send you an invitation with a link for the scheduled time. Please be prepared to use the “screen share” feature so we can look at your work together in real time. These meeting prove to be extremely beneficial to students to take advantage of them, so please don’t hesitate to reach out. EMAIL POLICY: Emails must be professional, addressed to me, and signed with your name AND YOUR SECTION NUMBER. They must have a clear Subject. Do not attach homework or assignments to a blank email. If you have issues submitting an assignment on Brightspace, do not wait for my reply to your email. Please attach the homework assignment to the initial email you send me so that you and I both have proof you submitted the assignment on time. Since this is an online course, I expect you to be familiar with technology and to be self-motivated. Emails are our main modes of communication, but I do have responsibilities and concerns beyond this class. I’d love to spend less time answering the same emails with cut and copied responses. Many redundancies can be avoided by following the checklist below. I read every single email you send, but I reserve the right to ignore any emails that do not follow these guidelines, even if they include important information and/or an assignment.

English 421 Syllabus Fall 2020 | page 3

A Checklist of What You Should Do Before Emailing Me: 1. First, read the syllabus and course schedule. There are T-shirts and memes for this exact reason. Then, read the syllabus again. 2. Check Course Announcements. Often, important information will be listed there. 3. Check the Discussion Board entitled “Casual Conversations.” This is a Discussion Board entirely for your own benefit. Here, you can interact with your peers and ask each other questions about the course. I see this functioning in the same vein as an online forum. This forum helps you and your peers build teamwork skills by problem-solving amongst yourselves. I am subscribed to this discussion board so I do receive emails when you post to this. I will also answer questions here that the whole class can see, which is nice for everyone! 4. After following the above steps, please do email me with a specific subject, header, SECTION NUMBER and question. I’ll gladly respond to well-crafted and well thought-out emails! WEBEX OFFICE HOURS: Virtual Office Hours are a synchronous session WebEx discuss questions related to the work for the class. Office hours will be held on Fridays from 8:30-9:20 AM EST. To connect to the weekly session, go to https://purdue.webex.com/meet/mghafoor LATE WORK: Late work will not be accepted after the first late submission. Most assignments and lessons are posted well in advance. Plan accordingly. Assignments are always due on Wednesdays and Fridays. Major projects are due on Sundays. However, if something unexpected and unplanned comes up, communicate with me via email. I am also happy to meet via WebEx or in person. If you know there will be a conflict ahead of time, please give me at least 72 hours notice. Journal, analysis, and assignment submissions will no longer be available for your submission 24 hours after the due date. Please email me an assignment if you are having trouble submitting. Please also reach out if something comes up. I will accept your first late submission with a 20% point deduction and no longer accept late assignments after that. MAINTAINING A RESPECTFUL CLASS ENVIRONMENT: Please conduct yourself respectfully and conscientiously in all situations in the online forums, discussion posts, and in assignments. Belittling, threatening, or disrespectful speech or behavior will not be tolerated. Should you engage in inappropriate activities, I reserve the right to delete any inappropriate posts you make, and your professional ethos will be negatively affected. Academic Integrity: Academic Integrity is one of the highest values that Purdue University holds. Individuals are encouraged to alert university officials to potential breaches of this value by either emailing [email protected] or by calling 765-494-8778. While information may be submitted anonymously, the more information that is submitted provides the greatest opportunity for the university to investigate the concern. Incidents of academic misconduct in this course will be addressed by the course instructor and referred to the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities (OSRR) for review at the university level. Any violation of course policies as it relates to academic integrity will result minimally in a failing or zero grade for that particular assignment, and at the instructor’s discretion may result in a failing grade for the course. In addition, all incidents of academic misconduct will be forwarded to OSRR, where university penalties, including removal from the university, may be considered. Purdue Honor Pledge: As a Boilermaker pursuing academic excellence, I pledge to be honest and true in all that I do. Accountable together - we are Purdue. Nondiscrimination Policy: All class participants are expected to conduct themselves in a respectful and sensitive manner towards others and the course material. Purdue University is committed to maintaining a community which recognizes and values the inherent worth and dignity of every person; fosters tolerance, English 421 Syllabus Fall 2020 | page 4

sensitivity, understanding, and mutual respect among its members; and encourages each individual to strive to reach his or her own potential. In pursuit of its goal of academic excellence, the University seeks to develop and nurture diversity. The University believes that diversity among its many members strengthens the institution, stimulates creativity, promotes the exchange of ideas, and enriches campus life. Purdue’s nondiscrimination policy can be found at http://www.purdue.edu/purdue/ea_eou_statement.html. You should familiarize yourself with the following websites related to Purdue’s rules and regulations: •

Purdue University’s Student Conduct Code, available at http://www.purdue.edu/studentregulations/student_conduct/index.html

•

The Dean of Students’ “Academic Integrity: A Guide for Students,” available at http://www.purdue.edu/odos/osrr/academicintegritybrochure.php

•

Purdue University’s student regulations, available at http://www.purdue.edu/studentregulations/student_conduct/regulations.html plagiarism is under Student Conduct, B, 2, a.

The section on

Plagiarism (the unacknowledged use of another’s work, in full or in part) is unacceptable under any circumstances. Offenders will receive a zero for the course and will be reported to the Dean of Students. __________________________________________________________________ GRIEF AND BEREAVEMENT POLICY Purdue University recognizes that a time of bereavement is very difficult for a student. The University therefore provides the following rights to students facing the loss of a family member through the Grief Absence Policy for Students (GAPS). GAPS Policy: Students will be excused for funeral leave and given the opportunity to earn equivalent credit and to demonstrate evidence of meeting the learning outcomes for missed assignments or assessments in the event of the death of a member of the student’s family. [….] A student should contact the ODOS to request that a notice of his or her leave be sent to instructors. The student will provide documentation of the death or funeral service attended to the ODOS. Given proper documentation, the instructor will excuse the student from class and provide the opportunity to earn equivalent credit and to demonstrate evidence of meeting the learning outcomes for missed assignments or assessments. If the student is not satisfied with the implementation of this policy by a faculty member, he or she is encouraged to contact the Department Head and if necessary, the ODOS, for further review of his or her case. In a case where grades are negatively affected, the student may follow the established grade appeals process. LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT As this is a distance learning course we will not be meeting in a single physical space. Still, physical lands and territory support our learning. From the buildings on Purdue University’s West Lafayette campus that house servers for our data and network hardware to the various places where we reside while studying and working in this class. This land acknowledgement, while not enough, in an important decolonial practice in recognizing the indigenous lands that support our learning. Please take a moment to visit this interactive site to https://nativeland.ca/ to learn about the people on whose land we reside and depend for this class. __________________________________________________________________ UNIVERSITY RESOURCES University resources are abundant on this campus. Should you want to use them, please feel free to contact the Disability Resource Center (DRC), Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), and other campus health, study, and student resources. The Purdue Writing Lab is also an excellent resource, and has online and satellite locations, as well as their main office in Heavilon Hall.

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Accessibility and Accommodation Purdue University strives to make learning experiences as accessible as possible. If you anticipate or experience physical or academic barriers based on disability, please let me know immediately so that we can discuss options. You are also encouraged to contact the Disability Resource Center at: [email protected] or by phone: 765-494 1247. If you’re struggling and need mental health services: Purdue University is committed to advancing the mental health and well-being of its students. If you or someone you know is feeling overwhelmed, depressed, and/or in need of mental health support, services are available. For help, such individuals should contact Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at (765)494-6995 and online during and after hours, on weekends and holidays, or by going to the CAPS office of the second floor of the Purdue University Student Health Center (PUSH) during business hours. If you find yourself beginning to feel some stress, anxiety and/or feeling slightly overwhelmed: Try WellTrack. Sign in and find information and tools at your fingertips, available to you at any time. If you need support and information about options and resources: Please see the Office of the Dean of Students, for drop-in hours (M-F, 8 am- 5 pm). __________________________________________________________________ MAJOR CAMPUS EMERGENCY In the event of a major campus emergency, course requirements, deadlines, and grading are subject to change that may be necessitated by a revised calendar or other circumstances beyond the instructor’s control. Relevant changes to this course will be posted on Brightspace and I will send an email. In the Event a Student is Quarantined or Isolated If you become quarantined or isolated at any point in time during the semester, in addition to support from the Protect Purdue Health Center, you will also have access to an Academic Case Manager who can provide you academic support during this time. Your Academic Case Manager can be reached at [email protected] and will provide you with general guidelines/resources around communicating with your instructors, be available for academic support, and offer suggestions for how to be successful when learning remotely. Importantly, if you find yourself too sick to progress in the course, notify your academic case manager and notify me via email or Brightspace. We will make arrangements based on your particular situation. The Office of the Dean of Students ([email protected]) is also available to support you should this situation occur. Attendan...