Communications Studies (COMS) 363 - Lecture 97
PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION
Winter 2007
Saturdays 08:00-12:00 Location: SH 157  

Instructor:	Mr. Chris Ewart
Office Location:	SS 335
Office Phone:	210-9435
E-Mail:	cmewart@ucalgary.ca
Web Page:
Office Hours:	TBA

Course Description

This course enables students to improve their professional and practical writing and speaking abilities. Through practical assignments and discussions, students will learn audience-specific skill-sets while developing field-relative expertise for communicating their ideas.

Objectives of the Course

To provide students with the confidence and skills to write and present concise and effective documents for various audiences.

To affirm the importance of communicating effectively in the workplace and beyond.

To improve students' critical evaluation and revision skills.

Textbooks and Readings:

Alred, Gerald J., Charles T. Burshaw, and Walter E. Oliu. Handbook of Technical Writing. 8th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2006.

Additional materials/readings to be provided in class

Assignments and Evaluation

It is the student's responsibility to keep a copy of each submitted assignment.

Note: Please return assignments directly to the 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.

Assignment 1: Interview and Report on a Professional in your Field - 30%

Due: Jan. 27th

Assignment 2: Oral Presentation on Interview Discoveries - 15%

Beginning Feb. 10th

Assignment 3: Resume and Cover Letter - 15%

Due: Mar. 10th

Assignment 4: Summarizing, Evaluating and Improving an Advertisement - 25%

Mar. 24th - in class

Participation (including in-class written and oral assignments) - 15%

Registrar-scheduled Final Examination: No

Please note: If your class is held in the evening, the Registrar's Office will make every attempt to schedule the final exam during the evening; however, there is NO guarantee that the exam will NOT be scheduled during the day.

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.

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 wish help with your writing at any stage, including drafts, you are invited to contact the Writing Centre, SS110, 220-7255.

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. For details see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/info. 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 (SS110) 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/info

"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.

Schedule of Lectures and Readings

To be handed out in class.