Professor Paul Baker
EN109 - Writing For Technology and Business
Department of English
Germantown Campus Phone: 301-461-1372, Department Phone: 240-567-7746
Office Hours: Online Monday-Friday, 9AM-5PM Paul.Baker@montgomerycollege.edu
WELCOME MESSAGE
Welcome to EN109 - Writing For Technology and Business,
This one semester course is designed to introduce you to basic methods of workplace communication. We take a constructive approach to writing that builds on basic skills. We also interact as a class to simulate the collaborative office environment. Whether you are a seasoned writer or a novice, I will attempt to help you take your writing to the next level.
FACULTY INFORMATION
Adjunct Instructor Paul Baker.
Masters of Public Management from Maryland School of Public Policy (1991).
Over ten years teaching at the college level and over twenty years of experience in the Federal Government as a Management Analyst and Director of Information Management.
CATALOG DESCRIPTION
Designed to help students understand the processes and products associated with writing used in technology and business. Emphasis will be on the writing process, including writing to different audiences and supporting claims persuasively with appropriate evidence and details. Students will write a variety of reports, documentation, and proposals, employing a range of stylistic options. The course will include an introduction to the rules for integrating visual aids into technical documents and a major research project focusing on developing an appropriate research question, conducting scholarly research, and incorporating information into writing with the proper conventions of citation.
COURSE PREREQUISITES
You must have passed EN101 or EN101A with a grade of C or better, or else you must receive consent of the Germantown English Department.
TEXTBOOK
Both textbooks are optional, but highly recommended.
Alred, Gerald J., Charles T. Brusaw, and Walter E. Oliu. The Business Writer's Handbook. Eighth Edition. Bedford/St. Martin's. ISBN:0-312-43612-2
ONLINE REQUIREMENTS
Assignments: Every week you will have a graded Discussion Board question to discuss. This is a class in Technical Communication, so I expect you to not only communicate with me but also to get involved in the class discussions on the Discussion Board. For more information about Online Discussions go to Orientation in the Information section of this web site.
You will complete six written assignments, as described in the syllabus and in the Course Content Learning Modules. I will give you specific requirements for each assignment. You will submit all major assignments in the Assignment Tool. Write the name of the assignment in the submission box then attach and upload (save) your work.
Not all assignments will be visible at the beginning of the semester. Some instruction pages, quizzes, and discussions are set on time-release to open for you when you begin the module of that topic particular assignment.
Submit written assignments through the Assignment Drop on WebCT.
A web browser Internet Explorer is recommended. For full details on compatible browsers and Browser Tune-up instructions for WebCT see: http://www.webct.com/tuneup
Adobe Reader
PowerPoint viewer
ON-CAMPUS REQUIREMENTS
There are no on-campus requirements.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Technical Skills:
Technical writing involves elements of computers, editing, writing, layout, design, and knowledge of subjects. Each assignment will reflect the eclectic nature of technical writing. Part of your grade is document design. In order to do the work and to be successful in EN109 at minimum, you should be able to:
Basic word processing skills in MS Word:
*Change spacing and margins
*Use various fonts
*Change page orientation
*Spell check
*Set various types of tabs
*Make bulleted and numbered lists
*Set hanging indention
*Turn on/off bold, underline, italics
*Make tables
*Add continuous page numbers in the Header
*Know how to make the first page different in the header/footer
*Insert picture or graphic
Basic Internet skills:
*Navigate the Internet
*Use e-mail and send attachments
*Download and upload files and/or programs
*Search the Web
