Syllabus

Specialized Communications for Technology Students

ENG 1133 E202 | Wed 6:00PM-8:30PM | N723

Professor Ellis

Office: Namm N-520

Contact: jellis@citytech.cuny.edu

Office Hours: Wed 4:00-5:00PM and Th 2:30-3:30PM or by appointment.

Class Description

Capable engineers and technologists are a dime-a-dozen. This class’ purpose is to offer you an opportunity to distinguish yourself among many otherwise qualified individuals by improving essential communication skills. Students will build job application portfolios, improve writing in a variety of formats for different audiences, research something important to their careers so as to have an important writing sample, and practice professional oral presentation skills based on research. This class is difficult in ways different than major-specific classes, but it is the challenge afforded by the intensive projects and weekly in-class writing assignments that develop your communications skills over time. Simply put, students who apply themselves to the class throughout the semester will develop ways of thinking and expressing that will place them above many of their peers in a competitive job market.

Learning Objectives and Prerequisites (See Separate Handout)

Required Resources

For each class’ beginning writing assignment: a different printed magazine or newspaper article of interest to your studies and future career. Newspapers and online sources are not permitted for these assignments but may be used on research projects.
Notebook or loose-leaf US-letter-size paper (paper with torn fringe is unacceptable)
Black or blue ink pen
City Tech Student Email
citytech.cuny.edu Account (requires student email address to setup)
Google Drive/Docs account for in-class writing assignments
Office suite of applications to create DOCX, PPTX, and PDF documents
Access to printer
USB flash drive AND an online storage solution
City Tech’s Ursula C. Schwerin Library, http://library.citytech.cuny.edu
Purdue Online Writing Lab: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/

Grade Distribution

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 meeting 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 (e.g., databases, periodicals, books) and other resources (e.g., interviews).

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. On the day of your presentation, you must be prepared with your PowerPoint saved on a flash drive and one other medium (e.g., cloud-based storage) and dressed in business casual attire.

In-Class Assignments, 25%

Be prepared to write in-class, online assignments and written assignments. Always bring a magazine containing an article about something related to your studies and future career that you have read completely and underlined important, key sentences in. These readings that you choose will be the basis for the in-class writing assignments. Throughout the semester, students will have opportunities to practice their public speaking by sharing these aloud with the class.

Total, 100%

Policy for Late Work

Assignments submitted late or exams taken late will incur a 10-point reduction for each day that they are late. However, no assignments will be accepted after the last day of class. If a student knows that work cannot be completed on time, he or she should contact me or visit my office hours to discuss.

Attendance and Lateness Policy

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 for each class meeting. 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.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/). 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.

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 catalog.

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, please contact the Center for Student Accessibility at 300 Jay Street room L-237, 718-260-5143 or http://www.citytech.cuny.edu/accessibility/.

Tentative Schedule

Wednesday, Jan. 30

Introduce the class and review the syllabus.

Introduce Project 1: Job Application Portfolio

Bring job-related materials to our next class.

Wednesday, Feb. 6