English 235 — Sanders

Schedule–Winter 2009

Week of	Topic	Reading *	Assignment Due §
Jan. 5	Introduction; Job App. Writing a Resume Writing an Instruction Collaboration	Pp. 2–12, 15–22. Pp. 389–402, 421. Pp. 491–521. Pp. 97–107.	Read these materials to prepare for writing the resume
On Jan. 11	[by midnight]		Resume
Jan. 12	Descriptions Definitions Audience Analysis Document Editing	Pp. 463–478. Pp. 440–457. Pp. 26–38. Pp. 671–697; 512-517; 42–44.	Read these materials to prepare for writing the Instruction
By Jan. 18	[by midnight]	(topic proposal—project for a real client—in an	e-mail message)
Jan. 19	Research Clarity and Style Documentation	Pp. 115–121, 123–135, 138–146, 150–170. Pp. 216–249. Pp. 635–669; 510–512.	Read these materials to prepare for writing the Analysis
On Jan. 25	[by midnight]		Instruction
Jan. 26	Analysis Specifications	Pp. 561–595. Pp. 479–485.	Read these materials to prepare for preparing Analysis and bibliography
On Feb. 1	[by midnight]		[bibliography to support Analysis] •
Feb. 2	Writing Persuasively Organizing Document Design	Pp. 49–72. Pp. 195–213. Pp. 298–321.	Read these materials to prepare for writing the Analysis
On Feb. 8			[nothing due]
Feb. 9	Proposals Methodology	Pp. 523–556. Pp. 719, 726.	Read these materials to prepare for writing the Proposal
On Feb. 15	[by midnight]		Analysis
Feb. 16	Correspondence	Pp. 327–351; 360–371.	Read these materials to prepare for writing Letter of transmittal
On Feb. 22	[by midnight]		[Letter of Transmittal for Proposal Report] •
Feb. 23	Formal Reports Document “Supplements”	Pp. 699–708, 716–734. Pp. 583; 598–606.	Read these materials to prepare for writing the proposal
On Mar. 1	[by midnight]		Proposal Report
Mar. 2	Developing a Graphic	Pp. 253–293.	Read these materials to prepare for creating a graphic
On Mar. 8	[by midnight]		[Graphic that could be used for Final Report] •
Mar. 9	Executive Summary	Pp. 174–188, 603–604. [See especially p. 184.]	Read these materials to prepare for writing an Executive summary
On Mar. 15	[by midnight]		[Executive Summary For Final Report] •
Mar. 16	Progress Report	Pp. 718–720; 331–335.	Read these materials to prepare for writing a Final report
Before Mar. 15			Progress Report^¶
Mar. 19	[by midnight]		Final Report

* You will find reading assignments in John M. Lannon, Technical Communication, 11^th ed. New York: Longman, 2008.

§ Written assignments will be made by memoranda.

¶ Due midday this week, not later than midnight March 18. See Policy 1.1 below.

The assignments for the course will be valued as follows:

Resume [minor] Instruction Analysis Report Proposal Report

2.5% 20% 25% 20%

Progress Report [minor] Final Report • Miscellaneous Assmts. Reward for evaluating course

5% 25% 2.5% 5%

Policies

1. Submitting Assignments.

1.1 All graded assignments are due by midnight (11:59 p.m.) Sunday of the week due (except the Final Report). [Due dates appear in blue bars.]

1.2 To complete the class, you must submit all major assignments (Instruction, Analysis, Proposal, Final).

1.3 You may negotiate an extended due date. The extension must be mutually acceptable.

1.4 At the end of the quarter, send me an e-mail confirming that you have evaluated the course on the evaluation site.

2. Rewriting Assignments.

2.1 A paper graded 2.50 or below may be rewritten.

2.2 Rewriting, to receive credit, must address major structural, design, or content aspects of the paper. (Mere correcting of mechanical errors does not

constitute rewriting.)

2.3 Rewritten assignments must be submitted not later than 10 working days after having been returned—but in no case during the last week of the quarter.

2.4 The Final Report may not be rewritten.

4. Conflicts between BelConCo and textbook specifications.

4.1 You will see differences between how BelConCo describes project criteria and how Lannon does.

4.2 BelConCo specifications always supercede Lannon.

5. Intellectual honesty and ethics.

5.1 Using others’ ideas or words without acknowledgment constitutes intellectual dishonesty. (See also Lannon, p. 87, 636–638.)

5.2 An intellectually dishonest paper automatically receives a grade of “0.”

6. Dignity and respect.

6.1 The college’s “Affirmation of Inclusion” sets forth the expectation that we will all treat one another with dignity and through respectful language—regardless of whether or not we agree philosophically. In line with the principle of free speech in a free society, we have the right to express unpopular ideas as long as we don't show disrespect for reasonable people who might believe otherwise.

6.2 In online messages, we can easily express disrespect—consciously or unconsciously. We should spotlight such messages so the behavior can change. Students who continue to behave disrespectfully in English 235 may be removed from the class.

Philosophy

1. Assignments “build” on one another. For example:

• the resume and the Instruction introduce the ideas of document design, use of heads, use of action verbs, attention to audience.

• the Analysis (with recommendation) Report introduces concepts of research, documentation, and analysis.

• the Proposal Report introduces concepts of methodology, project

planning.

Each assignment demonstrates your application of materials and concepts.

2. The course focuses on succinctness and clarity of expression, on audience awareness (complexity, diction, and tone), and on document design.

3. Should questions or problems arise, you can e-mail me: <craigs11@mindspring.com>