HomeMy WebLinkAboutENG-202
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Bergen Community College
Division of Humanities
Department of English
Course Syllabus
ENG-202
Technical Writing
Semester and year:
Section Number:
Meeting Times:
Locations:
Instructor:
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Phone:
Departmental Secretary:
[optional] Office Hours:
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Course Description:
This course is an introduction to the theory and practice of expository/analytical
writing, with an emphasis on critical thinking/writing in the workplace. Students
will explore the theory and practice of writing in a range of fields: business,
scientific, and industrial. Students will examine a variety of professional writing
samples to learn the skills needed to successfully communicate through
professionally written emails, memos, business letters, and various types of
reports and analyses.
Prerequisite: ENG-101 Composition I
Corequisite: None
Required Course for AAS Degrees
Student Learning Outcomes: As a result of meeting the requirements in this
course, students will be able to
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Student Learning Outcome: Means of Assessment:
1. Use critical reading skills to
summarize various technical
documents, understand and evaluate
these texts, and explain how technical
writing techniques work to create
clear, professional documents.
-Compose at least four multi-
paragraph, technical documents both
digital and print in a variety of genres
(e.g., informational, procedural,
proposal) of at least 500 words.
-Complete other writing exercises
such as summaries, journals, reading
responses, reading comprehension
questions, quizzes on reading
assignments, letters, etc.
- Read, interpret, and analyze a wide
variety of technical works with respect
to rhetorical situation.
- Comprehend and apply various
technical terms to texts assigned by
your instructor.
- Create a 7-10 page document using
primary and secondary sources,
integrating and citing them in
according to appropriate style guide
requirements.
-Produce papers and other technical
documents that adhere to appropriate
style guide requirements and
demonstrate effective proofreading
and editing.
- Complete class discussions and other
in-class (individual or group) activities
necessary to produce quality
academic prose.
2. Compose personal and academic
responses to written works using
appropriate terminology
-Compose at least four multi-
paragraph, technical documents both
digital and print in a variety of genres
(e.g., informational, procedural,
proposal) of at least 500 words.
-Complete other writing exercises
such as summaries, journals, reading
responses, reading comprehension
questions, quizzes on reading
assignments, letters, etc.
- Comprehend and apply various
technical terms to texts assigned by
your instructor.
- Create a 7-10 page document using
primary and secondary sources,
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integrating and citing them in
according to appropriate style guide
requirements.
-Produce papers and other technical
documents that adhere to appropriate
style guide requirements and
demonstrate effective proofreading
and editing.
3. Employ a process approach to
continue the development of your
writing style.
-Compose at least four multi-
paragraph, technical documents both
digital and print in a variety of genres
(e.g., informational, procedural,
proposal) of at least 500 words.
-Complete other writing exercises
such as summaries, journals, reading
responses, reading comprehension
questions, quizzes on reading
assignments, letters, etc.
- Comprehend and apply various
technical terms to texts assigned by
your instructor.
- Create a 7-10 page document using
primary and secondary sources,
integrating and citing them in
according to appropriate style guide
requirements.
-Produce papers and other technical
documents that adhere to appropriate
style guide requirements and
demonstrate effective proofreading
and editing.
4. Justify the validity of your approach
to technical assignments.
-Compose at least four multi-
paragraph, technical documents both
digital and print in a variety of genres
(e.g., informational, procedural,
proposal) of at least 500 words.
-Complete other writing exercises
such as summaries, journals, reading
responses, reading comprehension
questions, quizzes on reading
assignments, letters, etc.
- Read, interpret, and analyze a wide
variety of technical works with respect
to rhetorical situation.
- Create a 7-10 page document using
primary and secondary sources,
integrating and citing them in
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according to appropriate style guide
requirements.
-Produce papers and other technical
documents that adhere to appropriate
style guide requirements and
demonstrate effective proofreading
and editing.
- Complete class discussions and other
in-class (individual or group) activities
necessary to produce quality
academic prose.
5. Employ quotations and paraphrases
from primary and secondary sources
in your writing and document them
that adhere to appropriate style guide
requirements.
- Compose at least four multi-
paragraph, technical documents both
digital and print in a variety of genres
(e.g., informational, procedural,
proposal) of at least 500 words.
- Create a 7-10 page document using
primary and secondary sources,
integrating and citing them in
according to appropriate style guide
requirements.
-Produce papers and other technical
documents that adhere to appropriate
style guide requirements and
demonstrate effective proofreading
and editing.
6. Revise your assignments, editing
and proofreading for clarity,
correctness, and coherence.
- Compose at least four multi-
paragraph, technical documents both
digital and print in a variety of genres
(e.g., informational, procedural,
proposal) of at least 500 words.
- Create a 7-10 page document using
primary and secondary sources,
integrating and citing them in
according to appropriate style guide
requirements.
-Produce papers and other technical
documents that adhere to appropriate
style guide requirements and
demonstrate effective proofreading
and editing.
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Course Texts and/or Other Study Materials:
Technical Communication 15th Edition by John M. Lannon and Laura J. Gurak
ISBN: 0-13-520322-8 (available for purchase or rental at the BCC Bookstore)
Research, Writing, and/or Examination Requirement(s):
1. Compose at least four multi-paragraph, technical documents both digital
and print in a variety of genres (e.g., informational, procedural, proposal) of
at least 500 words. (SLO 1-7)
2. Complete other writing exercises such as summaries, journals, reading
responses, reading comprehension questions, quizzes on reading assignments,
letters, etc.
(SLO 1-4)
3. Read, interpret, and analyze a wide variety of technical works with respect
to rhetorical situation.
(SLO 1, 4)
4. Comprehend and apply various technical terms to texts assigned by your
instructor. (SLO 1-3)
5. Create a 7-10 page document using primary and secondary sources,
integrating and citing them in according to appropriate style guide
requirements. (SLO 1-7)
6. Produce papers and other technical documents that adhere to appropriate
style guide requirements and demonstrate effective proofreading and editing.
(SLO 1-7)
7. Complete class discussions and other in-class (individual or group) activities
necessary to produce quality academic prose. (SLO 1-2, 4)
Grading Policy:
Major Assignments: 60%
Short Assignments and Homework: 10%
Quizzes: 10%
Student Engagement and Participation: 20%
Attendance Policy:
Individual attendance policies vary by instructor. The college-wide policy follows.
BCC Attendance Policy:
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All students are expected to attend every scheduled meeting of each course in
which they are registered. Attendance and lateness policies and sanctions are to
be determined by the instructor for each section of each course. These will be
established in writing on the individual course outline. Attendance will be kept
by the instructor for administrative and counseling purposes.
Append a statement on the departmental/discipline attendance policy (if any).
Append a statement on the attendance policy for the course.
Academic Integrity Policy: Bergen Community College is committed to academic integrity – the honest, fair, and continuing pursuit of knowledge, free from fraud or deception. Students are responsible for their own work. Faculty and academic support services staff will take appropriate measures to discourage academic dishonesty. The College recognizes the following general categories of violations of academic integrity. Academic integrity is violated whenever a student does one or more of the following: 1. Uses unauthorized assistance in any academic work. ● copies from another student’s exam ● uses notes, books, electronic devices or other aids of any kind during an exam, when doing so is prohibited ● steals an exam or possesses a stolen copy of any exam 2. Gives unauthorized assistance to another student ● completes a graded academic activity or takes an exam for someone else ● gives answers to or shares answers with another student before or during an exam or other graded academic activity ● shares answers during an exam by using a system of signals 3. Fabricates data in support of an academic assignment ● cites sources that do not exist ● cites sources that were not used ● submits any academic assignment which contains falsified or fabricated data or results 4. Inappropriately or unethically uses technological means to gain academic advantage ● inappropriately or unethically acquires material via the Internet or by any other means ● uses any devices (electronic or hidden) for communication or unauthorized retrieval of information during an exam ● Uses Large Language Models or other Artificial Intelligence programs to generate writing that the student then passes off as his or her own. (more below) AI Policy: AI use not specifically allowed by the instructor falls under the academic integrity category of unethical use of technology as delineated under item 4 above and is subject to the same potential penalties.
Student Support Services
Bergen Community College provides exemplary support to its students and offers
a broad variety of opportunities and services. A comprehensive array of student
support services including advising, tutoring, academic coaching, and more are
available online at https://bergen.edu/currentstudents/.
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Sidney Silverman Library Online Resources: General Search and Databases: Library | Bergen Community College
Guides BY SUBJECT - LibGuides at Bergen Community College
Accessibility Statement
Bergen Community College is committed to ensuring the full participation of all
students in its programs. If you have a documented disability (or think you may
have a disability) and, as a result, need a reasonable accommodation to
participate in this class, complete course requirements, or benefit from the
College’s programs or services, contact the Office of Special Services (OSS) as
soon as possible at 201-612-5270 or www.bergen.edu/oss. To receive any
academic accommodation, you must be appropriately registered with OSS. The
OSS works with students confidentially and does not disclose any disability-
related information without their permission. The OSS serves as a clearinghouse
on disability issues and works in partnership with faculty and all other student
service offices.
Student Support Services
Bergen Community College provides exemplary support to its students and offers
a broad variety of opportunities and services. A comprehensive array of student
support services including advising, tutoring, academic coaching, and more are
available online at https://bergen.edu/currentstudents/.
Sidney Silverman Library Online Resources:
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Guides BY SUBJECT - LibGuides at Bergen Community College General Search and Databases: Library | Bergen Community College
Tentative Course Outline:
Week 1
Course Introduction
Communicating in the Work Place
SLOs: 1-2
Week 2
Addressing Technical Audiences
Preparing Correspondence: emails, memos, letters
SLOs: 1-3
Week 3
Planning and Drafting a Technical Document
Technical Description
MLA format
SLOs: 1-3
Week 4
Revising and Editing a Technical Document
Peer Editing for Technical Description assignment
SLOs: 1-4, 6
Week 5
Ensuring Usability
Designing Technical Information
SLOs: 1-5
Week 6
Final Draft of Technical Description due
Process Explanation
SLOs: 1-4
Week 7
Using Research in Technical Documents
Documenting Sources in Technical Documents
Peer Editing for Process Explanation assignment
SLOs: 1, 3-6
Week 8
Using Visual Forms
Preparing Reports
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SLOs: 1-4
Week 9
Preparing Reports cont.
Preparing Project Proposals
Final Draft of Process Explanation due
SLOs: 1-6
Week 10
Project Proposal due
Designing Electronic Communication
SLOs: 1-3
Week 11
Oral Communication and Presentation (Power Point)
SLOs: 1
Week 12
Peer Editing for Research document
Understanding Culture in the Workplace
Week 13
Collaborating in the Workplace
Resumes and Cover Letters
SLOs: 1-3
Week 14
Final Draft of Research Document due
Drafting Resume and Cover Letter (in class)
Week 15
Final Draft of Resume and Cover Letter due
NOTE: This schedule is a sample. Actual schedules will vary by instructor.