Syllabus

Course Information

Specialized Communications for Technology Students
ENG1133, OL96
Fall 2021
Online Asynchronous

Contact and Office Hours

Professor Ellis
Virtual Office Hours: Wednesday 3:00-5:00pm on Google Hangouts or by appointment.
Email: jellis@citytech.cuny.edu
Blog: https://dynamicsubspace.net

Course Description

A course designed to develop oral and written communication skills which are required of engineering technologists in writing technical reports and in presenting their content orally. In developing writing skills, course work will cover filling out pre-printed report forms, learning the principles of formal and informal report writing and writing both of these types of reports, the documented and researched
report, composing letters and writing resumes. In developing speaking skills, course work includes expressing ideas clearly and concisely in oral reports, organizing information and summarizing. This course develops students’ writing and speaking skills through assigned readings and performances in both areas.

Learning Objectives and Prerequisites

ENG1133 Course Learning Outcomes

Expectations of Students in an Asynchronous Class

  • Classes require investment of time, energy, and work for successful learning and skill building. At a bare minimum, this is a three-credit hour class, which means the time that students should devote to watching lectures, taking notes, asking questions (via email or office hours), and completing weekly assignments should be about three hours per week.
  • As a rule of thumb, students should spend twice as much time per week as the credit hours of a class on assigned readings, homework, peer review, and projects. Since this is a three hour class, students should expect to spend six hours per week on these things. Due to some projects being smaller and others larger, these six hours per week can be thought of as on average–sometimes you might need to spend less than six hours per week and other times you might need to spend more.
  • Each student should be meeting deadlines on assignments. But, in the event that you can’t follow through on something, you should email Prof. Ellis and your classmates (regarding peer review) about the situation. While all situations don’t have to be explained (e.g., a personal emergency), each communication about not fulfilling a responsibility should include concrete and specific asks–may I have this much extra time, may I deliver this file to you by this date and time, etc. Politeness (e.g., please and thank you) and professionalism (being collegial, respectful, clear, etc.) can go a long way!
  • No one should suffer in silence in our class. Put another way: communication is key to your success in the class. Students should email Prof. Ellis or visit weekly office hours to discuss the class, assignments, and teamwork. Additionally, maintain communication with your classmates when we are working on peer review, and you may also reach out to classmates via the messaging system built into OpenLab if you want to inquire about the class, share lecture notes, etc.

Required Texts

Required Resources

  • Computer access, word processing software, and a means of saving your work securely.
  • Access to your City Tech email.
  • Access and accounts at https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu and other designated web sites.
  • Cloud-based storage for saving a backup of all your work.
  • Google Drive/Gmail account for collaborative writing.
  • Claim your free, online subscription to the New York Times here.
  • Other communication software or services that are freely available to students.

Grade Distribution

Weekly Writing Assignments, 25%

Each week, students will have different reading and writing-based assignments focused on different technical communication concepts and approaches. These will often require students to find, read, and respond to scientific and technical documents found through the library’s databases and online, as well as articles published in The New York Times. These assignments help develop your reading and writing acumen.

Project 1: Job Application Portfolio, 25%

Create a portfolio of job application documents, including: a letter of application for a specific job, a skills-based resume for that job, a chronological/work-experience resume for that job, and a LinkedIn profile.

Project 2: Research-Based Technical Report, 30%

Write a 1500-2000-word research-based technical report relevant to your studies. It should consolidate and present information about your selected topic in a manner consistent with a technical report. It should clearly identify its purpose (e.g., reviewing a design, or investigating a topic) and demonstrate its stated purpose in a clear and straightforward manner (i.e., maintain a unity of thought). All sources in your paper must be quoted and cited. There must be at least 10 cited sources accessed through the library (databases, periodicals, books). Your technical report will be written on Google Docs, shared for viewing, and linked from a post on our OpenLab site.

Project 3: Research Presentation, 20%

After completing your research paper, you will have an opportunity to turn it into a 5-minute oral presentation supported by a PowerPoint slideshow. Your PowerPoint slideshow should balance text with images that support what you have to say. All images in your presentation must be made/taken by you. Your presentation must be recorded and hosted online for easy embedding on OpenLab/Wordpress (e.g., using YouTube or Vimeo).

Policy for Late Work

Due dates for weekly assignments and major projects are provided on the schedule below. Assignments submitted late will incur point reductions. However, students should always follow my advice to submit something rather than nothing. The last day that any assignment may be submitted is the last day of class as indicated on the schedule below. If a student knows that work cannot be completed on time, he or she should contact me or visit my office hours to discuss options for getting caught up and completing the class successfully.

Attendance Policy

In general, the expectation for successful and respectful college students is to arrive on time and attend all classes. Following City Tech’s policy, attendance is recorded and reported. Since this is an online, asynchronous class, attendance is recorded based on weekly participation by completing the weekly writing assignment discussed in lecture and posted to our OpenLab site. Attendance and class participation are essential and excessive absences may affect the final grade. Students who simply stop attending will receive a grade of “WU” (unofficial withdrawal – attended at least once).

Required Format for Papers

All formal writing and citations should follow APA guidelines. See the Purdue OWL APA section for more information: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/general_format.html. Remember in your research paper that quoting is far more persuasive than paraphrasing, and in either case, your use of others ideas or writing must be properly cited to give credit where credit is due and to maintain your own academic integrity.

Accessibility Statement

City Tech is committed to supporting the educational goals of enrolled students with disabilities in the areas of enrollment, academic advisement, tutoring, assistive technologies and testing accommodations. If you have or think you may have a disability, you may be eligible for reasonable accommodations or academic adjustments as provided under applicable federal, state and city laws. You may also request services for temporary conditions or medical issues under certain circumstances. If you have questions about your eligibility or would like to seek
accommodation services or academic adjustments, you can leave a voicemail at 718 260 5143, send an email to Accessibility@citytech.cuny.edu or visit the Center’s website at http://www.citytech.cuny.edu/accessibility/ for more information.

College Policy on Academic Integrity

Students who work with information, ideas, and texts owe their audience and sources accuracy and honesty in using, crediting, and citing sources. As a community of intellectual and professional workers, the College recognizes its responsibility for providing instruction in information literacy and academic integrity, offering models of good practice, and responding vigilantly and appropriately to infractions of academic integrity. Accordingly, academic dishonesty is prohibited in CUNY and at New York City College of Technology, and is punishable by penalties, including failing grades, suspension, and expulsion. The complete text of the College policy on Academic Integrity may be found in the Academic Catalog here.

Diversity and Inclusive Education Statement

This course welcomes students from all backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. In accordance with the City Tech and CUNY missions, this course intends to provide an atmosphere of inclusion, respect, and the mutual appreciation of differences so that together we can create an environment in which all students can flourish. It is the instructor’s goal to provide materials and activities that are welcoming and accommodating of diversity in all of its forms, including race, gender identity and presentation, ethnicity, national origin, religion, cultural identity, socioeconomic background, sexuality and sexual orientation, ability, neurodivergence, age, and etc. Your instructor is committed to equity and actively seeks ways to challenge institutional racism, sexism, ableism and other forms of prejudice. Your input is encouraged and appreciated. If a dynamic that you observe or experience in the course concerns you, you may respectfully inform your instructor without fear of how your concerns will affect your grade.  Let your instructor know how to improve the effectiveness of the course for you personally, or for other students or student groups. We acknowledge that NYCCT is located on the traditional homelands of the Canarsie and Lenape peoples.

Tentative Schedule

Because the class meets asynchronously, we will not have a set meeting time for class. Instead, the class lectures and assignments are set according to a weekly schedule on Wednesdays. Below, each class describes what will be covered in the video lecture posted to our OpenLab site on that day, what reading or viewing should be done by the next week (Wednesday), and what assignments are due by the next week (Wednesday). It’s important for each student to look at the schedule carefully and plan ahead to stay on track with readings and assignments.

Week 1, Wednesday, Aug. 25

Lecture this week: Introduce Specialized Communications for Technology Students, discuss successful asynchronous class study habits, and review rhetoric and composition strategies.

Read by next week: Laura Portwood-Stacer, “How to Email Your Professor (Without Being Annoying AF),” https://medium.com/@lportwoodstacer/how-to-email-your-professor-without-being-annoying-af-cf64ae0e4087#.1m6lc0rkd.

Due by next week: For this week’s Weekly Writing Assignment, send an introductory email to Prof. Ellis (jellis@citytech.cuny.edu) that follows the advice from Laura Portwood-Stacer (linked above) includes your major, your career goals. Also, claim your free subscription to the New York Times here (we will be using this for some of our weekly writing assignments).

Week 2, Wednesday, Sept. 1

Lecture this week: Introduce Project 1: Job Application Portfolio.

Read by Sept 22: Paul Anderson, Chapter 2, Overview of the Reader-Centered Communication Process: Obtaining a Job, Technical Communication, pp. 22-55. Read online here.

Due by Sept. 22: Weekly Writing Assignment posted to OpenLab.

No classes are scheduled Sept. 3-Sept. 8 and Sept. 15-Sept. 16 (see Fall 2021 Academic Calendar). Use this time to develop your skill-set database that we will use to create your job application materials for Project 1, and study at least 10 job listings relevant to a career in Technical Writing/Communication and be prepared to write about what you learn after our next class.

Week 3, Wednesday, Sept. 22

Lecture this week: Continue Project 1: Job Application Portfolio

Read by next week: TBA

Due by next week: Weekly Writing Assignment posted to OpenLab.

Week 4, Wednesday, Sept. 29

Lecture this week: Continue Project 1: Job Application Portfolio

Read by next week: TBA

Due by next week: Weekly Writing Assignment posted to OpenLab.

Week 5, Wednesday, Oct. 6

Lecture this week: Continue Project 1: Job Application Portfolio

Read by next week: TBA

Due by next week: Weekly Writing Assignment posted to OpenLab and conduct Peer Review on Project 1.

Week 6, Wednesday, Oct. 13

Lecture this week: Conclude Project 1 and Introduce Project 2: Research-Based Technical Report.

Read by next week: TBA

Due by next week: Weekly Writing Assignment posted to OpenLab, and submit Project 1.

Week 7, Wednesday, Oct. 20

Lecture this week: Continue Project 2: Research-Based Technical Report.

Read by next week: TBA

Due by next week: Weekly Writing Assignment posted to OpenLab,

Week 8, Wednesday, Oct. 27

Lecture this week: Continue Project 2: Research-Based Technical Report.

Read by next week: TBA

Due by next week: Weekly Writing Assignment posted to OpenLab.

Week 9, Wednesday, Nov. 3

Lecture this week: Continue Project 2: Research-Based Technical Report.

Read by next week: TBA

Due by next week: Weekly Writing Assignment posted to OpenLab.

Week 10, Wednesday, Nov. 10

Lecture this week: Continue Project 2: Research-Based Technical Report.

Read by next week: TBA

Due by next week: Weekly Writing Assignment posted to OpenLab, and conduct peer review of Project 2.

Week 11, Wednesday, Nov. 17

Lecture this week: Continue Project 2: Research-Based Technical Report.

Read by next week: TBA

Due by next week: Weekly Writing Assignment posted to OpenLab and post link and abstract of Project 2 to OpenLab.

Week 12, Wednesday, Nov. 24

Lecture this week: Introduce Project 3: Research Presentation.

Read by next week: TBA

Due by next week: Weekly Writing Assignment posted to OpenLab.

Week 13, Wednesday, Dec. 1

Lecture this week: Continue Project 3: Research Presentation.

Read by next week: TBA

Due by next week: Weekly Writing Assignment posted to OpenLab.

Week 14, Wednesday, Dec. 8

Lecture this week: Continue Project 3: Research Presentation.

Read by next week: TBA

Due by next week: Weekly Writing Assignment posted to OpenLab, and create post on our OpenLab Site with your Research Presentation video embedded in it.

Week 15, Wednesday, Dec. 15

Lecture this week: Wrapping Up and Looking Ahead.

Due by today: Weekly Writing Assignment posted to OpenLab, and create post on our OpenLab Site with your Research Presentation video embedded in it.

Last day to receive late work: Tuesday, Dec. 21

Email Prof. Ellis by Wednesday, Dec. 15 with details on what needs to be completed late and verifying the day and time your work will be submitted by. Then, after completing any late work, send Prof. Ellis another email confirming that late work is completed.