Syllabus, Technical Writing, Fall 2024

ENGL 3764: Technical Writing (Fall 2024)

Instructor Contact Information

Name:Traci Gardner
Office:Shanks 214
Office Hours: Online most weekdays from 3PM to 8PM. See the Weekly Overview posts in each week’s Module for specific details.
Email: tengrrl@vt.edu

Find additional information about the course in these documents:

Course Description

English 3764: Technical Writing will enable you to gain an understanding of the theories, issues, and practices of technical communications you might encounter as in the workplace, such as general correspondence, proposals, reports, and presentations.

From a foundation based on the principles of rhetoric, you will learn to analyze writing situations, consider the needs of your audience, assemble researched and original evidence, and design final documents that are user friendly and visually persuasive. By the time this course is over, you should be able not only to understand these documents, but also to produce them with ease and with confidence.

Course Objectives

Having successfully completed this course, students will be able to perform the technical writing tasks defined by the learning objectives for the course:

Analyze the rhetorical situation and determine the appropriate audience or users of written communication, considering the needs of global audiences and people with disabilities.
Conduct research appropriate to workplace problem solving, such as literature review, evaluation of online resources, interview, and site inspection.
Interpret research findings with understanding of ethical and human implications.
Use conventions of various workplace genres, such as proposals, instructions, correspondence, reports, and slide decks, with understanding of how the genre conventions can be used as heuristics and as principles of arrangement.
Collaborate with classmates in planning, researching, writing, revising, and presenting information.
Apply principles of effective visual design for print and electronic presentation, including hierarchical, chronological, and spatial arrangements.
Identify and apply the principles of effective style in the composing of usable, reader-centered written communications.

Course Calendar

You can access the assignments for this course in two ways:

at the bottom of the Syllabus page (this page)
on the Assignments page

These sources do not provide links to readings for each assignment. You will find those only in the Modules for each week.

Course Structure

This course consists of weekly modules. Each one of those modules may include additional resource modules that supplement textbook readings and serve as ready-references.

Assignment links are found on the Course Calendar and at the bottom of the syllabus page.

Table: Project Modules and Resource Modules
Dates	Week	Course Focus	Major Project Target Dates
Unit 1: Foundational Information
Aug 26–30	Week 1	Course Intro Aug 30: Last Day to Add
Sep 3–6	Week 2	Rhetorical Awareness Sep 2: Labor Day, No classes or email
Sep 9–13	Week 3	Ethics & Tech Writing	Sep 13: Websites Analysis
Unit 2: Usability
Sep 16–20	Week 4	Plain Language
Sep 23–27	Week 5	UX & Document Design
Sep 30–Oct 4	Week 6	UX Document Revision Oct 4: User Doc Revision & Reflection Memo
Unit 3: Project Management
Oct 7–10	Week 7	Intro to Project Management Oct 8: Last Day to Drop; Oct 11: Fall Break, No classes or email
Oct 14–18	Week 8	Proposals and Group Logistics
Oct 21–25	Week 9	Submitting Your Proposal Oct 25: Proposal
Oct 28–Nov 1	Week 10	Conducting Research Oct 28: Last day to resign w/o penalty
Nov 4–8	Week 11	Submitting Your Progress Report	Nov 8: Progress Report
Nov 11–15	Week 12	Drafting the Body Sections of Your Report
Nov 18–22	Week 13	Documentation & Drafting Your Front & Back Matter Nov 20: Last day to reschedule exams
Nov 23–Dec 1		Thanksgiving Break. No classes or email (except emergencies)
Dec 2–6	Week 14	Submitting Your Report	Dec 3 Recommendation Report Dec 6: Grace Period for All Open Work Closes
Dec 9–11	Week 15	Evaluating Your Progress Dec 11: Last day of classes; Last day to withdraw
	Exam Week	Dec 13: Exam opens at 12:00 AM	Dec 18: Exam due by 11:59 PM (No Grace Period)

Texts & Materials

Original course modules (see home page), as well as selections from

Technical Writing Essentials: Introduction to Professional Communications in the Technical Fields. Suzan Last. University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. 1 January 2019.

Technical Writing. Michele DeSilva, et al. University of Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska. 1 October 2017.

An Introduction to Technical Communication. Sherena Huntsman. Boise State University, Boise, Idaho. No date.

Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL). Purdue University. West Lafayette, Indiana.

Howdy or Hello? Technical and Professional Communication. 2nd ed. Matt McKinney; Kalani Pattison; Sarah LeMire; Kathy Anders; and Nicole Hagstrom-Schmidt. Texas A&M, College Station, Texas. 2022.

Course Expectations

This course is 100% virtual; that is, we will never meet in the classroom. As a result, it is important that you understand how the course will be conducted and what will be expected of you as a student enrolled in it.

As your teacher, it is my responsibility to (among other things)

Answer any questions you might have that are not covered by the textbook or another reading,
Provide feedback to you about your work,
Grade your work as promptly as possible,
Use a grading rubric to help explain your grades,
Update your grades on Canvas, and
Inform you promptly of any alterations to the schedule, such as due date changes.

That said, in order to do well in this course, you must follow these policies:

Read All Announcements

Announcements are the primary way I keep in touch with you, so it’s imperative that you read every single one in its entirety. Not reading announcements will not be an excuse for not submitting work on time.

Be Aware of Due Dates/Times

Most (if not all) assignments are set to be due by 11:59 pm. You can, of course, upload your work earlier. All work should be uploaded in the appropriate manner to the appropriate page on the Canvas site.

Read All Materials and Review Examples

Specific chapters were chosen from three different Open Educational Resource textbooks to give you the best possible introduction to the material. Our Canvas site also includes course-specific resource modules. Please ensure that you read all of this material before working on assignments.
You will also find sample documents to most major assignment pages and some homework assignments. Review them. Pay attention to them. Many of them are real “A” level documents produced in this course.

Apply What You are Learning

Do your best to apply what you have read and the lessons you have learned from reviewing examples to producing and improving your own work.

Follow Assignment Instructions

Each assignment provides you with a description of the deliverable and the specifications, including page length, formatting, and other requirements. Assignments other than discussions include checklists that are designed to help you cover all requirements.

Conduct Yourself Professionally

For this course, just as for one that meets in a classroom, you are expected to be civil to other participants and to the instructor, to apply what you are learning about professional correspondence to any messages or discussion posts, and to contribute conscientiously to any discussions and group assignments.

Course Policies

Absences

Granted, it is difficult to take roll in an online course that has no set meeting times. However, it is somewhat common to get overwhelmed, particularly if you are taking more than one online course. Sometimes, students even disappear (so to speak) from online classes. And that’s truly what being absent means in a class that meets virtually: to go missing.
Don’t disappear and expect to make up missed work (daily work or major assignments). If you do disappear, expect that you will have to go to your dean (in person or via email) to provide me with an excuse before I will accept any missed work. If you cannot provide me with a legit excuse via your dean, the missed work will be entered as a zero (or zeroes).
In the end, you will get the grade you get. If you decide to skip three major assignments and all homework, that’s okay with me, as long as you realize you will not be permitted to make it up without documentation.
If circumstances prevent participation or timely completion of assignments, you must contact me in advance of due dates.

Incompletes

My department’s policy states, “Incompletes are for students who did their work during the semester but could not complete course requirements because of a problem or emergency at the end of the term.” As a result, I cannot offer Incompletes for anyone who failed to keep up during the term. If you find you have an impossible amount of work to complete by the end of the term, withdrawing from the course is likely the best solution.

Participation

Participants in this course should expect to spend about 8–10 hours per week involved in the activities and completion of assignments over the semester. This is similar to the time one would invest in a course in a traditional classroom setting.
This time invested is an average, with some weeks requiring more and some less time to complete all assignments and activities. Participation will be evaluated as the completion of all activities within the unit or module period.

Grading Policies

Effort Expectations Contract

There is only one letter grade in this course: the course grade I enter for you at the end of the term. Your course grade is determined by comparing the amount of work you have earned a Complete on to the expectations shown in the table below, which serves as a contract for course grades.

Table: Effort Expectations Contract for Each Grade Level
Grade Level	Effort Expectations
A	Earn a Complete on all of the following: Five Major Project Submissions 95% of the Submission Wrappers 95% of the Check-In Surveys 95% of the Weekly Activities (including Try-Its & Self-Checks)
B	Earn a Complete on all of the following: Four Major Project Submissions 85% of the Submission Wrappers 85% of the Check-In Surveys 85% of the Weekly Activities (including Try-Its & Self-Checks)
C	Earn a Complete on all of the following: Three Major Project Submissions 75% of the Submission Wrappers 75% of the Check-In Surveys 75% of the Weekly Activities (including Try-Its & Self-Checks)
D	Earn a Complete on the following: Two Major Project Submissions 65% of the Submission Wrappers 65% of the Check-In Surveys 65% of the Weekly Activities (including Try-Its & Self-Checks)
F	Earn a Complete on the following: Fewer than two of the Major Project Submissions 65% or less of the Submission Wrappers 65% or less of the Check-In Surveys 65% or less of the Weekly Activities (including Try-Its & Self-Checks)

Additional Assessment Guidelines

I do not average the percentages or make any other calculation with the numbers to determine your grade.
The different categories listed on the Effort Expectations Contract are not equivalent. The Major Projects category is the most important category.
You cannot pass the course without earning a Complete on at least Two Major Projects. If you have an F for the Major Projects category, you have an F as your course grade.
To earn a Complete for the group projects, you must participate fully in the projects as well as submit documents that meet the basic criteria.

Feedback on Individual Assignments and Class Activities

This course does not use letter or number grades on the work you submit. Research tells us grades are a terrible way to measure learning, so I don’t use them. Your work in this course is marked Complete or Incomplete, based on whether the work meets the expectations for the assignment.

If you want to learn more about grades and assessment, check out the work of Jesse Stommel, Alfie Kohn, and Susan D. Blum.

Complete

I mark your work Complete in Canvas when it meets ALL of the following requirements:

Submitted before the end of the Grace Period.
Matches the assignment.
Follows the Undergraduate Honor System and the Principles of Community.
Fulfills all of the criteria for the assignment (all criteria in the rubric are marked Yes).

Incomplete

I mark your work Incomplete when it falls into ANY of the following categories:

Submitted after the end of the Grace Period.
Is not finished.
Does not follow the Undergraduate Honor System and the Principles of Community.
Does not fulfill all of the criteria for the assignment (one or more criteria in the rubric is marked No).

If your work earns an Incomplete, you can revise and resubmit as long as the Grace Period for the assignment is open.

Complete and Incomplete Notation in Canvas

The Grades tool in Canvas keeps track of your work using a simple binary code:

Complete work is marked with a one (1) or a checkmark (✔) in Canvas.
Incomplete work is marked with a zero (0) or an X mark (❌) in Canvas.

This binary code does not bear any grade value. Your goal is to earn a Complete on as much work as you need to reach your goal for the course.

Submission Guidelines

Unless otherwise noted, all work for the course is completed in Canvas. You will submit your work on the specific assignment page. That page will identify what you need to write or the type of file to be uploaded (.doc, .docx, .pdf).
Suggested naming convention for all assignments: YourLastName_Assignment_Date or YourLastName-Assignment-Date. (EX: Smith_UserManual_F22).

Late Assignments

I accept late work for most of the assignments in this course, using a Grace Period system. You don’t need to ask in advance or explain why your work is late. Just take more time when you need it, as many times as you need it. Turn your work in when you can before the grace period ends.

For additional details, see the Short Guide.

Details on the Grace Period

The grace period covers most situations, whether a religious holiday, academic conflict, illness, or a personal issue. If you cannot meet a due date, use the grace period. The grace period occurs between the target due date and the last moment that you can submit work in the course.

Canvas indicates the end of the grace period as the “available until” date. If you turn in your work during the Grace Period, Canvas will mark the activity as Late. Don‘t worry about this late label. There is no grade penalty for work submitted during the grace period.

Grading Scale

This course uses the university’s default grading scale:

Table: Virginia Tech Grade Scale with +/-
Letter Grade	Numerical Range
A	93–100
A-	90–92
B+	87–89
B	83–86
B-	80–82
C+	77–79
C	73–76
C-	70–72
D+	67–69
D	63–66
D-	60–62
F	59–0

General Info & Services

Community, Principles of

This course adheres to the Virginia Tech Principles of Community:

We affirm the inherent dignity and value of every person and strive to maintain a climate for work and learning based on mutual respect and understanding.
We affirm the right of each person to express thoughts and opinions freely.
We encourage open expression within a climate of civility, sensitivity, and mutual respect.
We affirm the value of human diversity because it enriches our lives and the University. We acknowledge and respect our differences while affirming our common humanity.
We reject all forms of prejudice and discrimination, including those based on age, color, disability, gender, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, and veteran status. We take individual and collective responsibility for helping to eliminate bias and discrimination and for increasing our own understanding of these issues through education, training, and interaction with others.
We pledge our collective commitment to these principles in the spirit of the Virginia Tech motto of Ut Prosim (That I May Serve).

Honor Code

All work and participation in this course is governed by the Undergraduate Honor System, following this official university policy.

The Undergraduate Honor Code pledge that each member of the university community agrees to abide by states:

“As a Hokie, I will conduct myself with honor and integrity at all times. I will not lie, cheat, or steal, nor will I accept the actions of those who do.”

Students enrolled in this course are responsible for working according to the Honor Code. A student who has doubts about how the Honor Code applies to any assignment is responsible for obtaining specific guidance from the course instructor before submitting the assignment for evaluation.

Students are strongly discouraged from misusing sites such as Chegg and CourseHero, as well as misusing ChatGPT and other Generative Artificial Intelligence. Students are strongly encouraged to consult their faculty members regarding the use of such outside materials as the misuse of these sources may constitute a violation of the Honor Code. Ignorance of the rules does not exclude any member of the University community from the requirements and expectations of the Honor Code.

Ignorance of the rules does not exclude any member of the University community from the requirements and expectations of the Honor Code. Academic integrity expectations are the same for online classes as they are for in person classes. The Undergraduate Honor System is able to effectively investigate online incidents, including those related to Chegg, ChatGPT, and other AI tools. All university policies and procedures apply in any Virginia Tech academic environment.

For additional information about the Honor Code, please visit the Undergraduate Honor System page.

Support Sources

Academic Support Services

If you require academic support, such as tutoring or help developing time management skills, you should contact The Student Success Center (220 Gilbert Place, 231-8440).

Accessibility, Digital

Canvas: We will be using the Canvas Learning Management System. Learn about Canvas accessibility policies at the Accessibility Standards section of the LMS website. Click on the “Help” link in the vertical toolbar in Canvas for direct help.
Google Docs: For some of your homework assignments and all of your major assignments, you will draft your work in Google Docs. Check out the Belonging Website or review the Accessibility Features of each Google product for information about accessibility. Access support while you are working by clicking on the “Help” link in the primary toolbar across the top of your Google Doc.
Microsoft Word: You will be using Microsoft Word to finalize many of your homework assignments and all of your major assignments. Read more about accessibility at Microsoft’s accessibility statement page. Provide feedback or ask questions about Word and other products at Microsoft Support. Click on the “Help” link in the primary toolbar across the top of the page in Microsoft Word for assistance while you’re working on a document.
Pressbooks: You will be reading selections from three Open Educational Resource textbooks, which are free and available online. Pressbooks, the publisher of these textbooks, provides a clear statement about accessibility. Provide feedback or ask questions at Pressbooks Contact.
YouTube: For some assignments, you will have the opportunity to watch YouTube videos that will provide additional instructions about and insight into particular assignments. I will have created some of these videos, but not all of them. Although I have not found a direct accessibility statement created by YouTube, you can read an article about the service’s commitment to inclusive design. Provide feedback or ask questions at YouTube’s Help Center.
Zoom: My weekly office hours and other one-on-one meetings for this class will be held using Zoom. If you are interested, please check out Zoom’s accessibility policy. Provide feedback or ask questions at Zoom Support.
VT TLOS Accessibility Information: TLOS/Accessible Technologies/Web Accessibility/Access Policies provides information about accessibility goals, standards, and relevant laws and policies at VT.

Accommodations

Everyone needs special accommodations at some point because we all learn differently. I am happy to work directly with you or with the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) staff to make sure that you have the support you need.

How do I document what will help me?

To document what will help you the most, please contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) in 310 Lavery Hall (map link, above the Turner Place Dining Center) as soon as possible to ensure that you have the resources you need to participate in the class. The procedures and forms you need are also available on the SSD website.

When do I let you know what I need?

Please let me know what you need during the first week of the term so that I can be sure you have the resources you need as soon as possible. Also email me your documentation from the SSD office by the end of the first week of class if possible. If not possible, send the information as soon as you can. Because I am not on campus due to COVID-19, do not take your documentation to my office.

What if I do not have official documentation?

That’s okay too. I know that the official testing can be expensive and time-consuming. Send me a private message in Canvas that tells me what you need, and I will try to help.

I need extra time on projects.

No problem. If you need more time on a project or need to complete work in a less distracting environment, take the time you need. Check the late policy in the Course Policy Manual for more details.

Privacy

Please be aware of these privacy policies:

Canvas: Canvas’s privacy policy states, among other things, that the Learning Management System (LMS) is “committed to protecting the information we process by doing our best to ensure that the information is used only to support students and education.”
Google Docs: Information about Google’s privacy policies can be found on the Privacy Policy page of the website.
Microsoft Word: Privacy at Microsoft covers the company’s privacy policies.
Pressbooks: The publisher of our textbooks offers privacy policies, but they are primarily for writers who publish with the company.
YouTube: The page How Does YouTube Maintain User Privacy? covers the company’s privacy policies.
Zoom: Read the Zoom Privacy Statement.
FERPA: Student educational records are protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). These rights apply to all students age 18 and above, and it may benefit you to know your FERPA rights so that you can best protect your own educational records. Please visit the Office of the University Registrar’s Student Privacy (FERPA) Page for more information.

Technical Accessibility

You will need a working and reliable computer and Internet access that will allow the use of Canvas course site tools and any online resources provided. No special software is required but you will need access to MS Office products.

Canvas: Learn about Canvas Learning Management System’s accessibility policies at the Accessibility Standards section of the LMS website. Click on the “Help” link in the vertical toolbar in Canvas for direct help.
Google Docs: Check out the Belonging Website or review the Accessibility Features of each Google product for information about accessibility. Access support while you are working by clicking on the “Help” link in the primary toolbar across the top of your Google Doc.
Microsoft Word: Read about accessibility at Microsoft’s accessibility statement page. Provide feedback or ask questions about Word and other products at Microsoft Support. Click on the “Help” link in the primary toolbar across the top of the page in Microsoft Word for assistance while you’re working on a document.
Pressbooks: The publisher of the three OER textbooks we are using provides a clear statement about accessibility. Provide feedback or ask questions at Pressbooks Contact.
YouTube: Although I have not found a direct accessibility statement created by YouTube, you can read an article about the service’s commitment to inclusive design. Provide feedback or ask questions at YouTube’s Help Center.
Zoom: Check out Zoom’s accessibility policy. Provide feedback or ask questions at Zoom Support.
VT 4Help: To request assistance with technology or check on the status of a campus outage, please visit Virginia Tech 4Help or phone (540) 231- 4357.