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ENGLISH 165: TECHNICAL AND PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATIONS
Welcome to Technical and Professional Communications (English 165) over the Internet.
Please read the information below. There is information about accessing the course and the course delivery system, and a
brief course description.
ACCESSING THE COURSE. You will not receive instructions for accessing the course web site until about 1 week
before instruction begins (May 21). In order to receive this information, as soon as you have enrolled and paid your
tuition and fees, send an email message to your instructor. The instructor for Summer 2001 is Dr. Janice Jake
(jakej@midlandstech.com). You may also email the instructor anytime for more information about the course.
COURSE DELIVERY SYSTEM. English 165 is taught using WebCT. It includes a space for the syllabus, assignments,
discussion, chat rooms, amd its own mail system. Review the online WebCT Tutorial before you attempt to log onto the
course site. Go to the MTC home page (www.midlandstech.com) , click on Distance Learning and then go to link to the
WebCT Tutorial under "New to Distance Learning".
COURSE DESCRIPTION
ENGLISH 165: TECHNICAL AND PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATIONS
INSTRUCTOR CONTACT INFORMATION: Instructor: Dr. Janice Jake
Email: jakej@midlandstech.com; Voice mail: 822-3345 (until May 15)
TEXTBOOK: Allen, Jo. 1998. Writing in the Workplace. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS: Word processor with presentation program (Microsoft Office or Corel), internet
browser
PREREQUISITE: ENG 101
COURSE DESCRIPTION: ENG 165 develops practical written and oral professional communication skills. The course
is oriented to current needs in business and industry, and assignments are drawn from students' majors.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: After completion of the course, the student will be able to analyze various audiences to
determine the appropriate style, structure, and format in writing and presenting. The student will also be able to use the
critical and analytical skills required in various modes including research papers.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
1. Follow the requirements of the English Department "Student Responsibilities" handout (These will be posted online in
the course notes). Attendance is required. (For an summer Internet section, you must have an "online presence" 3 times a
week to do your assignments and participate in discussion.)
2. Turn in all writing assignments and complete all daily work, drafts, quizzes, and exams.
3. Complete a portfolio of written assignments written for a variety of audiences in a variety of rhetorical situations
common to business and technical communications.
4. Produce papers that look professional and reflect an understanding of the rules of American Standard English. (All
out-of-class written assignments will be word processed.)
5. Complete various group projects designed to build team-working and collaborative skills.
6. Complete various presentational (including oral) and electronic communications activities.
7. Complete a research project to include various reports that reflect an ability to conduct research and document
sources.
ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING
Assignments are graded as follows: 100-90=A, 89-80=b, 79-70=C, 69-60=D. Revised assignments may be resubmitted
for regrading before the last day of class. No revised assignments are accepted during exam week.
PART 1 ASSIGNMENTS-20%
Research/Library Assignment I: Popular vs. professional treatment of an issue in your field.
Graphic Assignment: Examples of how graphics are used in transactional writing and advertising.
Definition Assignment: Definitions in a professional field, terms, objects/mechanism, process
Process Oral Presentation (based on Definition Assignment)
Translation Paper: Rewriting a technical passage for a general audience
PART 2 ASSIGNMENT-20%
Collaborative Manual Assignment: Group project on a negotiated topic in your major with the following parts: 1)
identification of manual topic, audience, and plan; 2) manual progress report; 3) rough draft; and 4) final draft with
validation by classmates
PART 3 ASSIGNMENT-20%
Collaborative Research Project: Group project in which members research a topic, identify a professional target
audience, research objectives, and appropriate research methodologies, and draw conclusions. Requirements include 1) a
research proposal, 2) research assignment II, 3) progress reports as needed, 4) a complete rough draft (with instructor
comments), 5) a final draft, 6) a presentation of the goals, methodology, and findings of the paper
PART 4 ASSIGNMENT-15%
Recommendation Report on Globalization: Individual report with the following parts: 1) identification and proposal report,
2) rough draft, and 3) final draft of the recommendation report, and 4) presentation
PART 5 ASSIGNMENT-15%
Job Application Package: Job identification and evaluation of fit, resumes, letter of application, follow-up letter, mock
interview.
ADDITIONAL ASSIGNMENTS-10%
Short reports, memos, professional correspondence, in-class writing, class participation (discussion).
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