School of Arts and Sciences
Eastern Oregon University
Writing 320: Technical Writing
Spring 2004 WEB
3 credits
General Education: Language and Logic/Communication

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Instructor: Nancy Knowles, Loso Hall 146, 541-962-3795, fax 541-962-3596,nknowles@eou.edu
Mailing address: Department of English/Writing, Eastern OregonUniversity, One University Boulevard, La Grande, OR 97850
Office Hours: TBA

Catalog Description: Emphasis on the structure and style of disciplinary,specific, and technical writing, including genres such as reports, proposals,
instructions, correspondence, and documentation.
Prerequisites: WR 121 or equivalent, and upper-division standingor consent of instructor.

General Education Course Information

Technical Writing requires students to analyze and produce various professionaldocuments. In the process of such work, students apply theories about accuracy,clarity, completeness, concreteness, organization, and visual effectivenessto the writing of others and to their own work, growing both as creativewriters and as critical thinkers. Moreover, this course guides studentsin the purposes of various forms particular to the professional world.Such knowledge is incredibly valuable as students make the transition fromacademia to their careers because it instills a sense of confidence regardingprofessional communication. In essence, this course provides the communicationtools for students to take action as "engaged, knowledgeable citizens."This civic engagement is enacted during the course through the opportunityfor service-learning projects where students become writing volunteerswith real-world organizations.

Learning Outcomes: (Upon successful completion of this course,students should be able to...):

1. Read professional writing critically ("analytic reading"),
2. Generate, revise, and format effective, error-free professional documentsfor particular subjects, occasions, audiences, and purposes ("academicwriting"), and
3. Employ computer technology to compose visually pleasing print and electronictexts that include images ("symbolic technological systems").

Means of Assessment: (link with learning outcomes)

• Participation in electronic discussions (outcome 1; 10%)
• Assignments (Cover Letter & Resume, Proposal, and Web Design), andTerm Project written for an audience besides the instructor (outcomes 1,2, & 3; 80%)
• Written assessment of own work and the writing of classmates (outcome 1;10%)

Required Materials:

• Gurak, Laura J. and John M. Lannon. A Concise Guide to Technical Communication.New York: Longman, 2001. $46.67. Available through the EOU Bookstore <http://bookstore.eou.edu>.

Grading information,rules, and guidelines common to all my syllabi

Schedule:

Week 1	Introduction  Decide on Project
Week 2	Assignment 1: Resume and Cover Letter Arrange Project Informational Interview
Weeks 3 - 5	Assignment 2: Proposal  Assignment 3: Web Page
Weeks 6 - 10	Project

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Knowles 1/04