In this course we will learn various forms of technical writing specific to the engineering profession. We will read, analyze, interpret and discuss readings on engineering and scientific topics in order to explore ideas and identify compositional strategies. We will learn how to communicate our technical knowledge, plans, and ideas effectively and clearly in a professional manner to a variety of audiences. Assignments will include a memo, a technical description, a lab report, an engineering proposal, a presentation of the engineering proposal, and a digital portfolio. You will create some of these individually and produce others through team work. You will also do smaller written assignments, contribute in writing to a blog, take quizzes on assigned readings and review your peers’ work.

Course Learning Outcomes

• acknowledge your and others’ range of linguistic differences as resources, and draw on those resources to develop rhetorical sensibility
• enhance strategies for reading, drafting, revising, editing, and self-assessment
• negotiate your own writing goals and audience expectations regarding conventions of genre, medium, and rhetorical situation
• develop and engage in the collaborative and social aspects of writing processes
• engage in genre analysis and multimodal composing to explore effective writing across disciplinary contexts and beyond
• formulate and articulate a stance through and in your writing
• practice using various library resources, online databases, and the Internet to locate sources appropriate to your writing projects
• strengthen your source use practices (including evaluating, integrating, quoting, paraphrasing, summarizing, synthesizing, analyzing, and citing sources)

Required Material: Technical Communication by Mike Markel, 11^th edition, Bedford/Saint Martin’s (book or electronic copy)

Blackboard: additional reading and writing materials, course announcements, feedback and grades will be posted on Blackboard. Please Note: You must use your CCNY email address in Blackboard (log in to the CCNY Portal, click Blackboard, then Update Email in the Tools menu). If you add a non-CCNY domain email address in this window, you will not receive important course announcements.

Launchpad: there will be quizzes on assigned readings which you will access through Launchpad, a digital platform that comes with your text book. You will have temporary 21-day access to Launchpad. If you want six-month access to Launchpad you can buy a new text book with access to Launchpad, but please talk to me before you do this.  

 Assignment Grade Weights:

• Low-stakes, in-class and online assignments 10%
• Attendance, punctuality and participation 10%
• Memo (Chapter 14)   5%
• Technical Description (Chapter 20)  20%    
• Lab Report (Chapter 19) 15%
• Engineering Proposal (Chapter 16) 20%    
• Presentation (Chapter 21) 10%
• Digital Portfolio 15%    

Course Policies

Plagiarism and Academic Integrity: plagiarism is copying and using other people’s words without proper acknowledgment or citation as indicated in the CUNY Policy on Academic Integrity. All writing submitted for this course is understood to be your original work. Plagiarism is unacceptable and has serious consequences that can include a failing grade. In cases where I detect academic dishonesty (the fraudulent submission of another’s work, in whole or part, as your own), you may be subject to a failing grade for the project or the course, and, in the worst case, to academic probation or expulsion. You are expected to read, understand, and adhere to CCNY’s Policy on Academic Integrity.

Attendance: students are expected to attend every class session of this course and to be on time. If you miss four classes, your final grade will be dropped by one-half of one letter (a 90 to an 85, for example). If you miss five classes, your final grade will be dropped one full letter. If you miss six classes, you will fail the course. Consistent late arrivals and early departures will have a negative impact on your grade. If you have special circumstances, please talk to me.

Late Work: assignments must be submitted via Blackboard by the specified time on the date they are due. Late assignments will be penalized by a 5% grade drop and additional 5% grade drops for each 24-hour period that passes after the time they were due.

Student Code of Conduct: all student members of the College community are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that demonstrates mutual respect for the rights and personal and academic well-being of others, preserves the integrity of the social and academic environment, and supports the mission of the College. The College has an inherent right to address behavior that impedes, obstructs, or threatens the maintenance of order and attainment of the aforementioned goals by violating the standards of conduct set forth in the University student conduct policies noted below as well as other policies that may be established by the respective Schools, Global Sites, and administrative offices of the University. The goals of the CCNY Community Standards are:

• To promote a campus environment that supports the overall educational mission of the University
• To protect the University community from disruption and harm
• To encourage appropriate standards of individual and group behavior
• To foster ethical values and civic virtues
• To foster personal learning and growth while at the same time holding individuals and groups accountable to the standards of expectations established by the Code of Conduct.

Food and Drinks: no eating in the classroom.

Use of Electronic Devices: do not use cell phones, iPods, IM’s, iPhones, Laptops or similar devices except in ways relevant to our class. Texting is not permitted during class.