COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course will focus on various types of technical writing, including business letters (letters of inquiry, complaint, evaluation, and job application with resume), preparing tables, graphs, process descriptions, technical instructions, abstracts, grant proposals, and technical reports (progress, laboratory, survey, incident, inspection, feasibility and research). It will also focus establishing a professional web presence and an online portfolio.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
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INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Dr. Carolyn Stice
Email: crstice@alaska.edu
Phone: 505-835-4180
Office hours: By appointment
INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS
A variety of instructional methods will be used, including asynchronous delivery through videos and podcasts, public interaction on student WordPress sites, peer review using Google Docs, and social content aggregation using Raindrop.io. Assignments and assessments will incorporate Internet research, reading, reflection, peer review and evaluation as well as hands-on practice. Intra-cohort communication will be facilitated through asynchronous peer review and regular feedback on assignments submitted by cohort members.
CLASS MEETINGS
This course is conducted asynchronously. Optional meeting times will be scheduled as needed.
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR COURSEStudents are expected to have reliable Internet access and a computer with the ability to record and play sound and video. The most current versions of several applications will be used, including Google Chrome. Periodic online interaction with the instructor and the class cohort will occur using synchronous collaboration tools such as Google Hangouts. Access to a mobile device will be beneficial but not required. Account creation for several free online tools will be required to access and share information with the class. |
INSTRUCTIONAL METHODSA variety of instructional methods will be used, including asynchronous delivery through videos and podcasts, public interaction on student WordPress sites, peer review using Google Docs, and social content aggregation using Raindrop.io. Assignments and assessments will incorporate Internet research, reading, reflection, peer review and evaluation as well as hands-on practice. Intra-cohort communication will be facilitated through asynchronous peer review and regular feedback on assignments submitted by cohort members. |
HOSTING PLATFORM
Students will create a WordPress portfolio/blog site that will also serve as a platform for demonstrating learning objectives. This site can also be used later as a professional work portfolio. I recommend using the free version of WordPress, which can be found at www.wordpress.com. Please see the course website for more information.
COURSE READINGS & MATERIALS
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Technical Communication(w/LaunchPad Six-Month Access) ISBN: 9781319058616
Little Seagull Handbook (without Exer)(w/Access Code) ISBN: 9780393646313 Other assigned readings will be available online on our class site or through the UAF Rasmuson Library. Journal articles should be accessed through UAF Rasmuson library journal subscriptions or via Google Scholar. |
COURSE POLICIES
| 1. Email: Check your university email account regularly as I may contact you through your university account with any course changes and extra information. Please do not contact me via a non-university email account as I am bound by law not to respond. When sending an email, please identify your class (ENG 314 online) as part of the subject.
2. Academic Honesty: All work submitted in this course must be your own and must be written specifically for this course. The use of sources (ideas, quotations, and paraphrases) must be properly and scrupulously documented. We will thoroughly discuss ways to avoid accidental plagiarism, since the penalty for plagiarism is an “F’ for this course. Additional penalties, such as suspension or expulsion from the university, may be enforced. 3. Participation: There is no separate participation grade in this course. Participation is essential to every assignment and activity we will undertake. It is not possible to pass this course without active participation. Keep this in mind as you engage with the activities. Note that participation is an element in the assessment rubric for each assignment. |
4. Public Presence: As part of this course, you will be asked to participate in public spaces on the Internet. You will be writing posts and commenting on the posts of others. Due to the fundamental importance of the online portfolio in this course, using your real name and information on these public forums (at least to an extent reasonable, and not in every public space) will be for the most part, required. Contact your instructor directly if you have questions or concerns.
5. Writing Standards: Citations and references should adhere to the Modern Language Association (MLA) Formatting and Style Guide. Additionally, all of your blog and portfolio submissions (but not necessarily your peer reviews and comments) will be evaluated for proper spelling and grammatical usage. 6. Dropping the Course: If you decide not to complete the course you should drop by the last date for withdrawal to avoid an academic penalty. If you simply stop attending you might remain on my course list and receive an F. If you have serious problems that mean you miss a substantial portion of the course, you should consult with your advisor about withdrawing. |
5. Late Work & Revisions: You are free to revise and resubmit as often as needed. However, revisions must be undertaken within one week of the date of the original evaluation or the initial grade will remain. Assignments that are not submitted within one week of the due date will receive a zero. This week long revision accommodation will not be possible at the end of the semester due to grading submission deadlines.
8. Timeliness: Work must be turned in to me when I request it or I reserve the right not to grade it. When you have another time commitment, work due that day is still due. Above all, contact me. 9. Backing Up Your Work: I understand that mistakes happen, particularly when it comes to technology. Be careful to back up your work, in and out of the classroom. Broken laptops and other technology related issues are not an excuse for late work. I suggest you backup your work using both a cloud service, such as Google Drive, and a jump drive or external hard drive. 10. Instructor Response Time: I will make every effort to respond to your emails within 24 hours, M-F. Correspondence received on weekends will be responded to no later than by the end of the day on Monday. |
STUDENT EFFORT
This is a three credit class, and at least nine hours per week of focused attention to the course community and assignments is expected. You may spread this effort out over the week as fits your schedule, but keep in mind that our consistent presence is necessary to have a vibrant cohort and a meaningful experience, due to the ingrained necessity of collaboration and peer review that is included. This course does require some technical tasks that may be challenging. Reach out to your instructor and cohort members for help. Remember that assignments cannot be done in a rush or in one sitting. Sustained effort and reflection is key. If you are a working professional, checking in for 30 minutes a day with the group on weekdays and then doing the bulk of your individual work over the weekend is fine. Such effort will accrue over the course term and hopefully result in a stress-free end to the semester.
GRADING
I assume that students’ work will meet basic course requirements (grade of C). Students whose work exceeds the basic requirements will receive a higher grade. I use the whole range of grades (A to F), but do not grade on a curve. I also use plus and minus grades. An “Incomplete’ grade is assigned only for documented medical or family emergencies, and you must have completed at least 50% of the class requirements.
Grade Breakdown |
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| Website Established & Maintained | 10% |
| Peer Review | 5% |
| Blogs | 10% |
| Quizzes | 5% |
| Writing Tutorials | 5% |
| Business Correspondence | 10% |
| Short Report | 10% |
| Document Re-Design | 10% |
| Podcast | 10% |
| Proposal & Presentation | 25% |
EVALUATION POLICIES
Assignments will be evaluated based on UAF’s standard grading scale will be applied in the following manner:
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To earn an A or B grade, all of the criteria in the scoring guide for that assignment must be met. Your grade will, therefore, be based on the element with the lowest score. For example, an otherwise A or B level project with spelling, usage, or grammatical errors would earn a C or lower.
Assignments are due at 11:59pm on the date listed. Averages are rounded up at .5 |
A note on workload:
This course is designed to build over time. Successful completion depends on committing early and maintaining effort. Substantial points are awarded early on as an incentive for this. |
HOW TO CHECK YOUR GRADE
Visit the Blackboard course site to check your grade. Click on the My Grades link in the sidebar menu. Assignments and any due dates are listed. Click on the speech bubble icon to view overall comments and feedback. If you see a green exclamation point, your assignment has not been graded yet.
GRADING TIME
Grades on submitted work will be completed at best within 48 hours after the due date, but no longer than one week. However, larger assignments may take a little longer.
SUPPORT SERVICES
UAF eCampus Student ServicesStudent Services helps students with registration and course schedules, provides information about lessons and student records, assists with the examination process, and answers general questions. Our Academic Advisor can help students communicate with instructors, locate helpful resources, and maximize their distance learning experience. Contact the UAF eCampus Student Services staff at 907.455.2060 or toll free 1.800.277.8060 or contact staff directly. For directory listing see: https://ecampus.uaf.edu/contact Office of Information Technology Help DeskGo to https://www.alaska.edu/oit/ to see about current network outages and news. Reach the Help Desk at:
UAF Library |
UAF Writing Center907-474-5314 The Writing Center offers students free tutoring in any and all aspects of the writing process. Its (PC—compatible only) computer lab is convenient and student-friendly. You are are required to do four tutorials this semester; it’s there as a service for you. They also provide phone tutorials! Remember, though, that the tutors are teaching you writing skills, not simply editing your work. If you would like a telephone session call the Writing Center for an appointment and then e-mail ( uaf-writing-center@alaska.edu ) or fax (1-800-478-5246) your paper to us the day of your appointment–by 5:00 pm for an evening session and 12:00 pm for a Sunday afternoon session. Regular Fall/Spring Semester Hours: Monday – Thursday 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Friday 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. CTC Writing CenterYou may also do a writing tutorial at CTC. They also offer online tutorials. Contact Jennifer Tilbury at 907-455-2860 or jltilbury@alaska.edu to schedule your session. Regular Summer Semester Hours: Call to check for availablity |
Disabilities ServicesThe UAF Office of Disability Services ensures that UAF students have equal access to campus and course materials. Your instructor will work with the Office of Disability Services to provide reasonable accommodation to students with disabilities. I encourage students with documented disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit or hyperactivity disorder, or psychiatric disabilities to discuss possible reasonable accommodations with me. Please let me know early in the semester so that your learning needs may be appropriately met. You will need to provide documentation of your disability to the Office of Disability Services and request a letter of accommodation. Disability Services can be visited on the web at https://www.uaf.edu/disability, contacted at (907) 474-5655 or uaf-disabilityservices@alaska.edu and is located in room 208 of the Whitaker Building on the UAF campus. |
NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION
The University of Alaska Board of Regents have clearly stated in BOR policy that discrimination, harassment and violence will not be tolerated on any campus of the University of Alaska. If you believe you are experiencing discrimination or any form of harassment, including sexual harassment/misconduct/assault, you are encouraged to report that behavior. If you disclose sexual harassment or sexual violence to faculty members or university employees, they must notify the UAF Title IX coordinator about the basic facts of the incident. Your choices for disclosure include:
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- You may confidentially disclose and access confidential counseling by contacting the UAF Health and Counseling Center at 474-7043.
- You can get support and file a Title IX report by contacting the UAF Title IX coordinator at 474-7599.
- You may file a criminal complaint by contacting the UAF Police Department at 474-7721.
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STUDENT PROTECTIONS AND SERVICES
Every qualified student is welcome in my classroom. As needed, I am happy to work with you, disability services, veterans’ services, rural student services, etc to find reasonable accommodations. Students at this university are protected against sexual harassment and discrimination (Title IX), and minors have additional protections. As required, if I notice or am informed of certain types of misconduct, then I am required to report it to the appropriate authorities. For more information on your rights as a student and the resources available to you to resolve problems, please go the following site: www.uaf.edu/handbook/ OR GRADUATE STUDENT VERSION: Student protections and services statement: Every qualified student is welcome in my classroom. As needed, I am happy to work with you, disability services, veterans’ services, rural student services, etc to find reasonable accommodations. Students at this university are protected against sexual harassment and discrimination (Title IX), and minors have additional protections. For more information on your rights as a student and the resources available to you to resolve problems, please go the following site: www.uaf.edu/handbook/