English 218: Technical and Professional Writing

Course Syllabus: Fall 2015

Instructor Information: Amanda Richey, Adjunct Instructor, English Department
Days: MW 3:35-4:55 Jules 6-212
TR 9:30-10:55 Jules 6-209
Office Hours: by appointment
Phone: (270) 889-7492 (text only, please)
Email: arichey@sunyjefferson.edu
Website: www.richeytechnicalwriting.weebly.com
Course Information:
While this course may or may not be a required course for your major, you will find it valuable,
if you take it seriously. The skill set and assignments covered in this class are designed to
improve your professional writing capabilities, especially concerning how you approach your
audience, the use of tone, and the conventions of technical communication.
The field of technical communication is changing with the use of the Internet and other types
of new media. In this class, we will consider not only the traditional forms of communication
that you may find in technical fields, but also the newer forms of technical communication that
come with these constantly changing modes.
Topic outline:
Principles of technical and professional writing: Defining technical and professional
writing principles through comparison with other forms of written discourse;
Audience analysis and adaptation: Targeting the message for a specific audience and
purpose to improve readability of the document;
Problem-solving contexts: Using critical thinking to solve problems in work-related
contexts and to communicate effectively;
Rhetorical modes: Integrating various modes to convey the message through
instruction, description, analysis, and persuasion, culminating in a capstone project
demonstrating a comprehensive application of technical and professional writing
principles;
Document formats: Creating messages in various formats, such as reports, memos,
business letters, flyers, brochures, rsums, proposals, manuals, and presentations;
Page layout: Using page design principles that include headings, lists, bullets, boxes,
rules, charts, tables, other visuals, etc.;
Organization and development: Organizing documents for ease of reader access to
information and developing message for accuracy using concrete data, research, and
documentation;
Technical writing style: Employing sentence structure, diction, tone, voice, tense, point
of view and punctuation to achieve brevity, clarity, and accuracy, thus increasing
document effectiveness and efficiency;

Richey, Technical Writing Syllabus, Fall 2015

Computer competency and current technologies: Drafting, designing, and editing

technical and professional documents using current technologies.
Other skills and topics may be covered as time allows and as needed for successful
course completion.

Textbook:
The following textbook is required for the course. I will provide any supplemental reading that
may be required here and there throughout the semester, but the bulk of your readings AND
assignments will come from this text:
TITLE: Technical Communication: Process and Product
AUTHOR: Sharon J. Gerson and Steven M. Gerson
EDITION: 8th, 2014
PUBLISHER: Pearson
ISBN Number: 9780321864949
**You cannot get through the term without the book, so please dont even try.
Expectations:
Be ready to work hard in this course. My standards are high, and I will push you to write better
than you have before. I know you do not want to settle for a C. You really want to earn an A,
and it is possible if you are willing to put in the work the course requires of you. The lessons
you learn here will serve you in future academic and professional writing situations. I have high
expectations because I know you are capable. Dont let yourself down.
You should never feel alone. Contact me with questions and concerns via text, phone, or email.
You must take all in-class communication seriously, whether oral, written, or online; in today's
companies and institutions, you will often communicate electronically with coworkers and
clients/customers, and therefore you need to how to communicate politely, effectively,
precisely, and professionally.

A large quantity of empty words will not be appreciated by me or your classmates or your
future conversationalists because they are just too busy. Try to put some real thought into what
you say.

Find a way to participate. Your classmates will only be able to respond to you if you have
something valuable to add to the conversation. Do not think that shyness is an excuse for not
participating. You must find a way to make yourself (and your ideas!) noticed, whether in this
class or in the professional world.
I try to always give you time in class to work on module assignments. So, with that said, time
that I give you in class should be spent working on technical writing assignments, NOT
assignments for other courses. If you feel you are finished with the assignment, turn it in and I

Richey, Technical Writing Syllabus, Fall 2015

will give you feedback if there is time left over. If you ever want feedback on an assignment
prior to a deadline, give me your paper during the class prior (at least) and I will give you some
basic notes to work on.

I expect proper English usage (proper grammar and correct spelling) in the course
discussions. This is a minimum requirement. Deviations from correct English will lower your
grade. I also expect courtesy in discussion. Nothing must be said that is in any way demeaning
or degrading to another person. Scholars disagree with each other all the time, but they do it
politely and with respect for each other. I cannot emphasize this point enough. It is better to
lean excessively in the direction of courtesy than to have any chance at all of crossing the line
of acceptable discourse. Comment about documents and ideas and choices, not about people.
Phone Usage:
If you need to use your cell phone to receive or make a call, please step out of the room to do
so. Phones are a major distraction in most classrooms, but believe me that there will be plenty
to keep you busy in class. Keep phones put away unless you need to take or make a call. You
dont need to take selfies during class, I think it can be said, so no camera usage.
Attendance:
It is expected that students will attend all classes over the course of the semester. For that
reason, students will only be allowed three absences for the duration of the course. After your
third absence, any additional absences will result in a one letter grade deduction from your
final grade in the course. I do not discern between excused and unexcused absences, so
please be sure you save your absences for legitimate reasons.
If you have a true, documentable emergency that will keep you out of class for more than two
(2) class meetings in a row, contact me as soon as possible!
After your third absence, I will subtract 10 points from your final grade for each class that miss
you miss, in essence taking you down a letter grade. This makes or breaks students!

**Please Note: If you are more than ten minutes late for the start of a class or leave more
than ten minutes early, I will count those occurrences as one-half of one absence.

It is your responsibility to contact me if you are absent from class. Unless youve already made
prior arrangements with me, any work is still due on that day. Keep in mind that any
submissions sent via email (unless otherwise cleared with me) will be subject to a loss in points
or may not be accepted at all. It is better to send your work in with a peer, even, than to be
subject to not receiving a grade for work you have completed.
Grading:
Your grade this term will be points based. You will have the opportunity to earn 2,500 3,000
points for the term. There are opportunities for extra credit early in the term. Last term I gave
students an excel spreadsheet with a list of assignments, the points possible, and a space for

Richey, Technical Writing Syllabus, Fall 2015

you to write what you earned. Keep track of your grade and there will be no surprises. I do not
use the Gradebook" function in BlackBoard; so, if you value an up-to-the-minute grade
calculation, please keep track of grades yourself.
Paper Policies:
All documents must be typed and saved as Microsoft Word documents. If you must, for some
reason, email me a paper, I will only be able to open it in this formatting. All campus
computers use Microsoft Word, so this only makes sense. If you do not have it, you can
purchase a copy through the college, or you can use Open Office and save as a .doc.
All essays must be printed ahead of class time, unless otherwise noted. Please do not email
me a paper in lieu of being in class. Unless you have arranged with me (that means having a
dialogue), any papers that are submitted via email instead of being turned in through class
will automatically receive AT LEAST a ten point deduction. Homework will not be accepted
via email, again, unless you have explicitly spoken with me and arranged to do this.
Documents are due to me at the beginning of class on the due date, unless otherwise noted.
As a general rule, I will not accept ANY late assignments, with essays being the exception to
that rule. Homework not turned in on the due date will not be accepted. Exceptions to any
rule can be made on a case-by-case basis for documentable emergencies or if you make
prior arrangements with me for an extension. See the late work policy below for specific point
deductions.
No concessions will be made for computer trouble (i.e. Oh, crap! My laptop crashed! or
Dagnabit! I lost my hard drive!). Plan ahead by saying your work regularly and in multiple
locations (i.e. on jump drives, through email, on cloud networks) and by printing out your
rough drafts on peer editing days in plenty of time before class.
I will allow revision of one document during each of the first five modules in order to improve
upon a score. You will not be eligible to receive a grade higher than a 95%, however.
Revisions are due no later than one week after graded papers are returned. Keep in mind
that revision is much more than just proofreading and editing. Anyone interested in revising
must meet with me outside of class in order to discuss revision criteria.
Late Assignments:
All assignments are due by the end of the regularly scheduled class period unless otherwise
noted. The penalty structure is as follows below for an assignment:
Class time: no penalty
Same day, but after class time, before midnight: 10% penalty
One day late: 20% deduction
Two days late: 30% deduction
Third day: 40% deduction
While I will never refuse to accept an assignment, know that there are harsh penalties for
turning papers in late. Other instructors may not be so kind. I do not agree with missing
deadlines, but in extreme circumstances I understand it.

Richey, Technical Writing Syllabus, Fall 2015

Y Grade:
A Y grade is earned when you abandon the course. It is the equivalent of an F, though it can
sometimes bring more severe consequences as it shows that you stopped coming to class
rather than sticking it out and earning the failing grade. Students will receive a Y for their final
course grade if they fail to come to class regularly during the final two weeks of the semester.
Assignment Deadlines and other notes:
If you are unable to meet a deadline for an assignment, as assignments are due at the time
class begins, you must make every effort to communicate this to me ahead of time. Getting in
touch with me after a deadline has already passed will not be tolerated.
Expecthigh course standards. As a matter of fact, it is part of my job. I expect you to be a
highly intelligent and motivated student who will earn great grades. I want to see you succeed,
and I will rejoice for every success you achieve. I will help you as best I can, but I will not
break my own rules.
The capstone project (informal report) must be submitted on time to pass the
course.
Discussions can only be completed in class and within the parameters of the dates
stated. If you come into class late, everyone else will be finished, and you will not be
able to discuss anything. You can only deliver a monologue. You must be present to
participate.
You will need to spend at least7-12 hours a week on this course (3 hours equivalent to
meeting in the classroom and at least 4-6 hours of homework.)
Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty:
Academic honesty on the part of all students at JCC is essential to individual growth and
development. Upon admission to the College, each student is obligated to uphold the highest
ethical standards in academic endeavors. Failure to do so can seriously undermine and impede
the educational process. Thus, and form of academic dishonesty is a serious concern to the
College and is therefore unacceptable. JCC student handbook 31.
Please note that I will uphold the policies set forth by the college if anyone is found to be
plagiarizing or committing acts of academic dishonesty.
Accommodations for Students with Special Needs:
If you need any special accommodations that will allow you to perform better in the classroom,
please let me know and we can work something out to allow you to best fulfill the course
requirements.
Calendar:
This course will be moving at a swift pace and you will be expected to check your calendar on
a weekly basis. This will be updated through BlackBoard OR through the website
richeytechnicalwriting.weebly.com. You are expected to check in on BB at least every class day,
and you may want to do so the morning of class, in the case of inclement weather, especially. In

Richey, Technical Writing Syllabus, Fall 2015

the past, I have utilized my website more frequently than BB since I can cover all classes in one
place. Check this website frequently as well.
Please keep a copy of the course calendar at your disposal. I would suggest printing it. The
most up-to-date copy can be found through the website: richeytechnicalwriting.weebly.com.
*Special note on cancellation of class: If class is cancelled for some reason (weather, illness,
etc.) you will be responsible for covering the work that we had planned to work on during that
class meeting. This has a two-fold purpose: to stay on schedule and to eliminate the need to
schedule additional classes during the week before Finals.
*Process for canceling classes: I will first post an announcement to BlackBoard notifying you of
the cancellation; this will be emailed to the address you have associated with BB, so check this
before class time. I will also notify the campus and they will post a note on the door.