Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University

South La Union Campus

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
General Education Department
Agoo, La Union

English 104 – TECHNICAL WRITING

Name of Instructor: April J. Rivera

University Philosophy : Total human development with appropriate competencies.

University Vision : A premier and globally competitive university.
University Mission : Provide relevant quality instruction, research and extension

GOAL OF THE COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

To develop and empower a multi-faceted human resource fostering environment-friendly

technologies and world-class innovations in the arts and sciences.

A. Course Description
The course provides the theories, principles, and practice of technical communication
across professions.

B. Course Objectives/Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, the students are expected to:

1. Differentiate technical reports and articles from each other.
2. Recognize the importance of presenting scientific and technical information for socio-economic
development by completing an accurate and meaningful technical and scientific article.
3. Construct technical reports, articles and business letters following correct steps and formats.

C. Course Outline and Timeframe

Week Topics

1-4 Overview of Technical Writing

Basic Principles in Technical Writing
Review of Basic English Construction and Plagiarism
Types of Technical Reports
The Writing Process
Information Structures
5-6 Business Correspondences
a. Office Communications
1. Letters
2. Memorandum
3. Minutes of the Meeting
b. Job Application Materials
1. Application Letter
2. Resume
7-8 Technical Reports
a. Literature Reviews
b. Recommendation/Evaluation Report
c. Research Reports
1. Primary
2. Secondary
d. Feasibility Report
e. Project Proposal
9 MIDTERM EXAM
10-12 Research Paper
a. The Proposal
1. Choosing a research topic
2. Stating a research problem

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 Week Topics

3. Reviewing related literature

4. Identifying the participants
5. Designing the procedure
13 Presenting the proposal

14-16 b. Data Management

1. Gathering data
2. Organizing Data
3. Analyzing Data
4. Interpreting Data
5. Writing the research manuscript
17 Presenting the research
18 FINAL EXAM

D. Required Reading
Free online technical writing textbook by David McMurrey
https://www.prismnet.com/~hcexres/textbook/acctoc.html

E. Suggested Readings
Alred, G. J., Brusaw, C. T. and Oliu, W. E. 2009. Handbook of Technical Writing. Bedford/St.
Martin’s: Boston

Gerson, S. M. Writing that Works. A Teacher’s Guide to Technical Writing. Kansas Curriculum
Center: Washburn University. http://toefl.uobabylon.edu.iq/papers/itp_2015_41931767.pdf

Engineers’ Guide to Technical Writing.

https://www.asminternational.org/documents/10192/3448649/ACFAA62.pdf/5890813c-31ba-
46b4-b7fa-8f20eb03fb6e

Soles, C. B., Perez, M. A. and Fuentes, C. B. 2007. Technical Writing: A Guide for Effective
Communication. Edicions: UPC

Technical Writing Guide. 2007. Michigan State University.

https://msu.edu/course/be/485/bewritingguideV2.0.pdf

Fenton, N. 2018. Improving Your Technical Writing Skills. School of Electronic Engineering and
Computer Science: Queen Mary (University of London).
https://www.eecs.qmul.ac.uk/~norman/papers/good_writing/Technical%20writing.pdf

F. Course Requirements

Examinations: Midterm and Final Examinations

Output letters, memorandum, minutes of the meeting, resume, research report, feasibility report,
recommendation/evaluation report, project proposal, research paper
Regular quizzes and participation specifically recitation
Other assigned class activities

G. Grading System

Class Standing 60%

Quizzes, assignments (chapter tests),
Outputs 40%
Class participation 20%
Examinations (midterm and final) 40%

H. Classroom Policies
Students are expected to:
1. come in class on time during the assigned time and in the assigned classroom
2. submit paper works/assignments/projects/requirements on time

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3. religiously follow instructions given by the instructor
4. be organized, disciplined, efficient, and effective in and out of the classroom
5. fulfill the requirements stated in the course
6. attend classes and participate actively in class
7. wear the uniform of their college at all times
(including the id and appropriate pair of shoes)
8. refrain from using cellphones in class and applying make-up during classes
9. abide by the rules and regulation stated in the student handbook

I. Consultation Hours
8: 00 - 9:30 - Tuesday and Thursday

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 LEARNING PLAN IN ENGLISH 104 – TECHNICAL WRITING

Name of Instructor: April J. Rivera Schedule: TTH 9:30 - 11:00; 2:00 – 3:30

Learning Outcomes Topics Methodologies Resources Assessments

demonstrate improved Overview of Technical Lecture and class Free online technical writing Quizzes and seatwork on the
competence in Standard Writing discussion textbook by David McMurrey principles of technical writing,
Written English, including Basic Principles in https://www.prismnet.com/~hcexre types of technical reports, the
Technical Writing
grammar, sentence and s/textbook/acctoc.html writing process, and
Review of Basic English
paragraph structure, Construction and Plagiarism information structures
coherence, and document Alred, G. J., Brusaw, C. T. and Oliu,
Types of Technical Reports
design (including the use of the W. E. 2009. Handbook of Technical Drills in basic English
The Writing Process
visual), and use this knowledge Information Structures Writing. Bedford/St. Martin’s:
to revise texts Boston

write for the intended readers of Business Correspondences Lecture and class Gerson, S. M. Writing that Works. A Written outputs:
a text, and design or adapt texts Office Communications discussion Teacher’s Guide to Technical
to audiences who may differ in Letters Writing. Kansas Curriculum Center: Request and Inquiry Letters
Memorandum Analysis of different types Washburn University.
their familiarity with the subject
matter
Minutes of the Meeting of business http://toefl.uobabylon.edu.iq/papers Memorandum
correspondences /itp_2015_41931767.pdf
Minutes of the meeting
practice the ethical use of
sources and the conventions of Writing exercises on Engineers’ Guide to Technical
citation appropriate to each business correspondences Writing.
genre https://www.asminternational.org/d
ocuments/10192/3448649/ACFAA6
2.pdf/5890813c-31ba-46b4-b7fa-
write for the intended readers of Job Application Materials Lecture and class Written outputs:
8f20eb03fb6e
a text, and design or adapt texts Application Letter discussion
to audiences who may differ in Resume

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 Learning Outcomes Topics Methodologies Resources Assessments

their familiarity with the subject Analysis of different types Soles, C. B., Perez, M. A. and Application Letter
matter of Job Application Materials Fuentes, C. B. 2007. Technical
Writing: A Guide for Effective Resume
practice the ethical use of Communication. Edicions: UPC
sources and the conventions of Writing exercises on Job
Application Materials
citation appropriate to each Technical Writing Guide. 2007.
genre Michigan State University.
https://msu.edu/course/be/485/bew
write for the intended readers of Technical Reports Lecture and class ritingguideV2.0.pdf Written outputs:
a text, and design or adapt texts Literature Reviews discussion
to audiences who may differ in Recommendation/ Fenton, N. 2018. Improving Your Literature Reviews
Evaluation Report Analysis of different types Technical Writing Skills. School of Recommendation/
their familiarity with the subject
Research Reports of technical reports Evaluation Report
matter Electronic Engineering and Research Report
Primary
Secondary Computer Science: Queen Mary
practice the ethical use of Writing exercises on
Feasibility Report (University of London). Feasibility Report
sources and the conventions of Project Proposal technical reports
https://www.eecs.qmul.ac.uk/~nor
citation appropriate to each man/papers/good_writing/Technica Project Proposal
genre l%20writing.pdf
Presentation of the Feasibility
report and project proposal

MIDTERM EXAMINATION

determine and implement the Research Paper Lecture and class Free online technical writing Research Proposal
appropriate research methods The Proposal discussion textbook by David McMurrey
for each writing task Choosing a research topic https://www.prismnet.com/~hcexre Research Paper
Stating a research problem
s/textbook/acctoc.html Defense of the research
Reviewing related literature
Identifying the participants

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 Learning Outcomes Topics Methodologies Resources Assessments

identify and practice the stages Designing the procedure Analysis of different types Alred, G. J., Brusaw, C. T. and Oliu,
required to produce competent, research W. E. 2009. Handbook of Technical
professional writing through Data Management Writing. Bedford/St. Martin’s:
Gathering data Writing the research paper Boston
planning, drafting, revising, and
Organizing Data
editing Analyzing Data Consultation Gerson, S. M. Writing that Works. A
Interpreting Data
practice the ethical use of Teacher’s Guide to Technical
Writing the research
sources and the conventions of manuscript Writing. Kansas Curriculum Center:
citation appropriate to each Washburn University.
genre http://toefl.uobabylon.edu.iq/papers
/itp_2015_41931767.pdf
produce cogent arguments that
identify arguable issues, reflect Engineers’ Guide to Technical
the degree of available Writing.
evidence, and take account of https://www.asminternational.org/d
counter arguments ocuments/10192/3448649/ACFAA6
2.pdf/5890813c-31ba-46b4-b7fa-
Defend the research proposal 8f20eb03fb6e
and the research paper
Soles, C. B., Perez, M. A. and
Fuentes, C. B. 2007. Technical
Writing: A Guide for Effective
Communication. Edicions: UPC

Technical Writing Guide. 2007.

Michigan State University.

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 Learning Outcomes Topics Methodologies Resources Assessments

https://msu.edu/course/be/485/bew
ritingguideV2.0.pdf

Fenton, N. 2018. Improving Your

Technical Writing Skills. School of
Electronic Engineering and
Computer Science: Queen Mary
(University of London).
https://www.eecs.qmul.ac.uk/~nor
man/papers/good_writing/Technica
l%20writing.pdf

FINAL EXAMINATION

Prepared by: Recommending Approval: Approved:

APRIL J. RIVERA MARCELINA H. AYSON RAQUEL D. QUIAMBAO

Faculty Member Chairman, General Education Department Dean, CAS
DATE: DATE: DATE:

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