Communications Studies (COMS) 363 - Lecture 20

Professional and Technical Communication

Spring 2008

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 18:30-21:00

 

Instructor:	Janine Falck
Office Location:	SS 209
Classroom:	SA 145
E-Mail:	janinef@athabascau.ca
Office Hours:	TR evenings, by appointment

 

Additional Information:

Students are expected to have a strong foundation of English grammar, usage, and mechanics, which will be tested on the second class meeting (May 20, 2008) following a review based on the Appendix of the course textbook.  

Course Description and Objectives:

COMS 363 offers an introduction to professional and technical communication, both written and oral. Students will learn the rhetorical dimensions of workplace settings as well as the process of planning, composing, and delivering professional and technical communication for various audiences.

Prerequisites:

Second-year standing and completion of the Effective Writing Requirement.

Textbooks and Readings:

Lannon, J.M., &  Klepp, D.  (2008). Technical communication.  (4^th Canadian ed.).   Toronto:  Pearson Longman.

Assignments and Evaluation

Writing test (presession study)               10%    (May 20)

In-class writing labs (4 @ 5% each)                20%    (May 22, June 3, 10, 12)

Letter                                                               15%    (May 29)

Instructions (oral presentation)                 15%    (June 17, 19)

Formal report                                                   30%    (June 24)

Final in-class project (technical description)       10%    (June 26)

It is the student's responsibility to keep a copy of each submitted assignment.  Please hand in your essays directly to your instructor if possible. If it is not possible to do so, a daytime drop box is available in SS110; a date stamp is provided for your use. A night drop box is also available for after-hours submission. Assignments will be removed the following morning, stamped with the previous day's date, and placed in the instructor's mailbox.

Students must submit all out-of-class assignments and complete the oral presentation and final in-class project to be eligible to pass the course.

Registrar-scheduled Final Examination:  

No.  In lieu of a final examination, the final in-class project is designed to incorporate many of the strategies for successful communication discussed in class throughout the term. 

Policy for Late Assignments

Assignments submitted after the deadline may be penalized with the loss of a grade (e.g.: A- to B+) for each day late.   No in-class assignments can be made up at a later date; in the case of illness, the student may qualify for an "n/a" grade on the assignment missed if medical documentation is provided to excuse the student's absence.

Writing Skills Statement

Faculty policy directs that all written assignments (including, although to a lesser extent, written exam responses) will be assessed at least partly on writing skills. For details see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/info. Writing skills include not only surface correctness (grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, etc) but also general clarity and organization. Research papers must be properly documented.

If you need help with your writing, you may use the Writing Centre.  Visit the website for more details: www.efwr.ucalgary.ca

Grading System

The following grading system is used in the Faculty of Communication and Culture:

A+ (96-100); A (92-95); A- (86-91); B+ (81-85); B (77-80); B- (71-76);
C+ (65-70); C (62-64); C- (59-61); D+ (55-58); D (50-54); F (0-49)

Plagiarism

Using any source whatsoever without clearly documenting it is a serious academic offense. Consequences include failure on the assignment, failure in the course and possibly suspension or expulsion from the university.

You must document not only direct quotations but also paraphrases and ideas where they appear in your text. A reference list at the end is insufficient by itself. Readers must be able to tell exactly where your words and ideas end and other people's words and ideas begin. This includes assignments submitted in non-traditional formats such as Web pages or visual media, and material taken from such sources.

Please consult your instructor or the Writing Centre (SS 106, efwr.ucalgary.ca) if you have any questions regarding how to document sources.

Students with Disabilities

If you are a student with a disability who may require academic accommodation, it is your responsibility to register with the Disability Resource Centre (220-8237) and discuss your needs with your instructor no later than fourteen (14) days after the start of the course.

Students' Union

For details about the current Students' Union contacts for the Faculty of Communication and Culture see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/su

"SAFEWALK" Program -- 220-5333

Campus Security will escort individuals day or night -- call 220-5333 for assistance. Use any campus phone, emergency phone or the yellow phone located at most parking lot booths.

Ethics

Whenever you perform research with human participants (i.e. surveys, interviews, observation) as part of your university studies, you are responsible for following university research ethics guidelines.  Your instructor must review and approve of your research plans and supervise your research.  For more information about your research ethics responsibilities, see

The Faculty of Communication and Culture Research Ethics site: http://www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/ethics

or the University of Calgary Research Ethics site: http://www.ucalgary.ca/research/compliance/ethics/info/undergrad/

Schedule of Lectures and Readings

May

15^th:  Introduction; writing review

20^th:  Writing test (presession study)

22^nd:  Memos and letters (Chapters 4, 11 & 22); writing lab

27^th:  Memos and letters, cont'd: formal reports (Chapter 19)

29^th:  Letters due; Group meetings

June

3^rd:    Short reports (Chapter 21); writing lab

5^th:    Reading Day:  no class

10^th:  APA documentation (Chapter 8); visuals (Chapter 12); writing lab

12^th:  Oral presentations (Chapter 24); Instructions (Chapter 16); writing lab

17^th:  Student oral presentations

19^th:  Student oral presentations

24^th:  Formal report due; Technical descriptions (Chapters 14 & 15)

26^th:  Technical description (final in-class assignment)