COM455: Technical Communication

COM455: Technical Communication
Credit Hours:
3
Contact Hours:
This is a 3-credit course, offered in accelerated format. This means that 16 weeks of material is covered in 8 weeks. The exact number of hours per week that you can expect to spend on each course will vary based upon the weekly coursework, as well as your study style and preferences. You should plan to spend 10-25 hours per week in each course reading material, interacting on the discussion boards, writing papers, completing projects, and doing research.
Course Description and Outcomes
Explore the various forms and media by which professionals convey technical information through mediums including manuals, proposals, and white papers.
Course Learning Outcomes:
1. Define the document’s purpose, format, context of use and genre.
2. Develop a triangulated research strategy that manages information and builds knowledge from primary sources, electronic sources, print sources, and empirical sources.
3. Analyze, synthesize and appraise information based on source reliability, bias, currency and verifiability.
4. Construct an individual writing process to overcome writer’s block such as free writing, logical mapping or outlining.
5. Recognize special problems and particular techniques of technical and scientific writing.
6. Demonstrate precision and clarity in reports, resumes, impact statements, and other technical communication documents.
7. Design documents that enhance readability, support text and make documents more attractive.
8. Use the four levels of editing: revision, substantive editing, copyediting, and proofreading as a form of quality control.
9. Prepare to deliver presentations using the appropriate technology.
Participation & Attendance
Prompt and consistent attendance in your online courses is essential for your success at CSU-Global Campus. Failure to verify your attendance within the first 7 days of this course may result in your withdrawal. If for some reason you would like to drop a course, please contact your advisor.
Online classes have deadlines, assignments, and participation requirements just like on-campus classes. Budget your time carefully and keep an open line of communication with your instructor. If you are having technical
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problems, problems with your assignments, or other problems that are impeding your progress, let your instructor know as soon as possible.
Course Materials
Textbook Information is located in the CSU-Global Booklist on the Student Portal.
Course Schedule
Due Dates The Academic Week at CSU-Global begins on Monday and ends the following Sunday.  Discussion Boards: The original post must be completed by Thursday at 12 midnight MT and Peer Responses posted by Sunday 12 midnight MT. Late posts may not be awarded points.  Mastery Exercises: Students may access and retake mastery exercises through the last day of class until they achieve the scores they desire.  Critical Thinking Activities: Assignments are due Sunday at 12 midnight MT.
Week # Readings Assignments 1  Chapters 1, 2, & 11 in Strategies for Technical Communication in the Workplace  Hobbs, R. (n.d.). Model copyright policy for using copyrighted materials in digital media production [Handout].  Library of Congress. (n.d.). Taking the mystery out of copyright. Retrieved from http://www.loc.gov/teachers/copyrightmystery/#/copyright/  Lessig, L. (2007, March). Lawrence Lessig on copyright laws that choke creativity [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/talks/larry_lessig_says_the_law_is_strangling_creativity.html  Temple University Media Education Lab. (2009). Document the fair-use reasoning process. Retrieved from http://mediaeducationlab.com/document-fair-use-reasoning-process  Purdue Online Writing Lab. (2011). Research and citation resources. Retrieved from http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/  Discussion (25 points)  Mastery (10 points) 2  Chapter 3 & Appendix A in Strategies for Technical  Discussion (25 points) SAMPLE
Communication in the Workplace  Mastery (10 points)  Critical Thinking (60 points) 3  Chapter 18 in Strategies for Technical Communication in the Workplace  Discussion (25 points)  Mastery (10 points)  Portfolio: Proposal Topic (0 Points) 4  Chapters 4, 5, 6, 7, 10 & Appendix B in Strategies for Technical Communication in the Workplace  Discussion (25 points)  Mastery (20 points)  Critical Thinking (95 points) 5  Chapters 8 & 9 in Strategies for Technical Communication in the Workplace  Discussion (25 points)  Mastery (10 points)  Critical Thinking (95 points) 6  Chapters 12, 14, & 15 in Strategies for Technical Communication in the Workplace  Discussion (25 points)  Mastery (10 points)  Portfolio: Audience Analysis and Content Outline (0 Points) 7  Chapters 16 & 17 in Strategies for Technical Communication in the Workplace  Discussion (25 points)  Mastery (10 points)  Critical Thinking (100 points) 8  Chapters 19, 20, 21, & 22 in Strategies for Technical Communication in the Workplace  Discussion (25 points)  Mastery (20 points)  Portfolio Project (350 points)
Assignment Details This course includes the following assignments/projects:
Module 2
Critical Thinking: Annotated Bibliography (60 Points)
Research and prepare an annotated bibliography containing at least five citations on a topic that interests you. Include at least one book, one Web article, and one journal. The CSU-Global Library is a good place to find citations for a book and a journal. More information on how to prepare an annotated bibliography can be found at:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/614/01/
Citations must be written in APA style and include the author’s name, date of publication, title, publisher, URL (if online source), and date of viewing (if online source). For each citation, write a critical evaluation, such as the author’s qualifications, appropriateness of date of research, credibility of publisher or website, and whether the information is fact and not opinion or propaganda. Each citation must be approximately 150-200 words. The bibliography must demonstrate proper grammar, spelling, and sentence structure.
Module 4
Critical Thinking: Cover Letter and Resume (95 Points) SAMPLE
Find a current ad listing a job that you are qualified for, or will be qualified for after you graduate. Prepare a one-page cover letter and one-page resume that respond to this job posting. For the resume, use the format on p. 167 of the textbook; for the cover letter, use the format on p. 173. Include a copy of the job listing with your assignment.
Your cover letter and resume should be well written and free of errors.
Module 5
Critical Thinking: Visualizing Data (95 Points)
For this assignment, you will use information graphics to create a visual presentation of enrollment information from several Colorado higher education institutions (universities or colleges).
The following guidance can help you in gathering enrollment data:
 Choose four (4) Colorado higher education institutions (not including Colorado State University or CSU-Global)
 Do an Internet search for each of these institutions using the following keywords: [name of institution] institutional research
 Explore the university or college’s institutional research site to find the data requested below
 If you run into any issues finding this information, contact your instructor as early in the week as possible
Use the data you’ve found to create the following graphics. The graphics must accurately represent the numerical data. Do not use data tables. Refer to Chapter 8 of the textbook to help you analyze the data and choose the proper graphic type. Cite the sources using APA style and write a caption for each graphic.
Graphic 1. Compare the Fall 2011 total enrollment for four (4) Colorado higher education institutions.
Graphic 2. Compare the Fall 2011 full-time and part-time enrollments for four (4) Colorado higher education institutions.
Graphic 3. Choosing one Colorado higher education institution, create a graphic showing student enrollment breakdown by age range in Fall 2011.
Graphic 4. Choosing one Colorado higher education institution, create a graphic showing the trends of both full and part-time students over a five (5) year period.
Module 7
Critical Thinking: FAQ Short Report (100 Points)
For this assignment you will be preparing a frequently asked questions (FAQ) list in a short-report format.
Choose your organization or an organization with which you’re familiar. Your FAQ will provide information to people who regularly contact the organization via e-mail, letter, or the website to request information. To answer these many inquiries, your FAQ list will provide answers to the ten most-asked questions about products, services, or the like. In addition to being posted on the organization’s website, this list can be sent as an e-mail attachment or mailed out as hard copy, depending on the reader’s preferences.
Conduct an audience analysis, define the purpose, and document your research. Prepare your FAQ in short-report format, paying careful attention to usability considerations.
Your report should be 3-4 pages in length, well written, and formatted to conform to CSU-Global guidelines for APA style.
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Module 8
Portfolio: Persuasive Proposal (350 Points)
Develop an unsolicited proposal for solving a problem, improving a situation or satisfying a need in your school, community or job. Address a clearly identified audience of decision makers.
Include the following elements in your proposal:
 Spell out the problem (and its causes) clearly and convincingly. Give enough detail for your audience to appreciate the problem’s importance. Answer this implied question: “Why is this such a big deal?”
 Point out the benefits of solving the problem. Answer this implied question: “Why should we spend time, money, effort to do this?”
 Offer a realistic solution. Stick to claims or assertions that you can support. Answer this implied question: “How do we know this will work?”
 Address anticipated objections to your solution. Consider carefully the audience’s skepticism on this issue. Answer this implied question: “Why should we accept the things that seem wrong with your plan?“
 Induce readers to act. Decide exactly what you want readers to do and give reasons they should be the ones to act. Answer this implied question: “What action am I supposed to take?”
Your proposal should be 10-12 written pages in length and include at least one visual. Include your revised audience analysis and content outlines. Be sure your paper is in conformity with CSU-Global guidelines for APA Style. Use the format provided from the first edition of your textbook. (Link to Sample Formal Proposal provided on Assignments Page)
Course Policies
In-Classroom Policies
For information on late work and Incomplete grade policies, please refer to our In-Classroom Student Policies and Guidelines or the Academic Catalog for comprehensive documentation of CSU-Global institutional policies.
Academic Integrity
Students must assume responsibility for maintaining honesty in all work submitted for credit and in any other work designated by the instructor of the course. Academic dishonesty includes cheating, fabrication, facilitating
Course Grading
20% Discussion Participation
10% Mastery Exercises 35% Critical Thinking Activities 35% Final Portfolio Paper
Grading Scale and Policies
A
95.0 – 100
A-
90.0 – 94.9
B+
86.7 – 89.9
B
83.3 – 86.6
B-
80.0 – 83.2
C+
75.0 – 79.9
C
70.0 – 74.9
D
60.0 – 69.9
F
59.9 or below
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academic dishonesty, plagiarism, reusing /re-purposing your own work (see CSU-Global Guide to Writing and APA Requirements for percentage of repurposed work that can be used in an assignment), unauthorized possession of academic materials, and unauthorized collaboration. The CSU-Global Library provides information on how students can avoid plagiarism by understanding what it is and how to use the Library and Internet resources.
Citing Sources with APA Style
All students are expected to follow the CSU-Global Guide to Writing and APA Requirements when citing in APA (based on the APA Style Manual, 6th edition) for all assignments. For details on CSU-Global APA style, please review the APA resources within the CSU-Global Library under the “APA Guide & Resources” link. A link to this document should also be provided within most assignment descriptions on your course’s Assignments page.
Netiquette
Respect the diversity of opinions among the instructor and classmates and engage with them in a courteous, respectful, and professional manner. All posts and classroom communication must be conducted in accordance with the student code of conduct. Think before you push the Send button. Did you say just what you meant? How will the person on the other end read the words?
Maintain an environment free of harassment, stalking, threats, abuse, insults or humiliation toward the instructor and classmates. This includes, but is not limited to, demeaning written or oral comments of an ethnic, religious, age, disability, sexist (or sexual orientation), or racist nature; and the unwanted sexual advances or intimidations by email, or on discussion boards and other postings within or connected to the online classroom.
If you have concerns about something that has been said, please let your instructor know.
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