English 3764: Technical Writing will enable you to gain an understanding of the theories, issues, and practices of technical communications you might encounter in the workplace, such as general correspondence, proposals, reports, and presentations.

From a foundation based on the principles of rhetoric, you will learn to analyze writing situations, consider the needs of your audience, assemble researched and original evidence, and design final documents that are user friendly and visually persuasive. By the time this course is over, you should be able to understand these documents and produce them with ease and confidence.

 Course Objectives

Having successfully completed this course, students will be able to perform the technical writing tasks defined by the learning objectives for the course:

• Analyze the rhetorical situation and determine the appropriate audience or users of written communication, considering the needs of global audiences and people with disabilities. [CLO 1]
• Conduct research appropriate to workplace problem solving, such as literature review, evaluation of online resources, interview, and site inspection. [CLO 2]
• Interpret research findings with understanding of ethical and human implications. [CLO 3]
• Use conventions of various workplace genres, such as proposals, instructions, correspondence, reports, and slide decks, with understanding of how the genre conventions can be used as heuristics and as principles of arrangement. [CLO 4]
• Collaborate with classmates in planning, researching, writing, revising, and presenting information. [CLO 5]
• Apply principles of effective visual design for print and electronic presentation, including hierarchical, chronological, and spatial arrangements. [CLO 6]
• Identify and apply the principles of effective style in the composing of usable, reader-centered written communications. [CLO 7]

 Your Teacher

I'm Traci Gardner, an instructor in the English Department. I teach in the professional and technical writing program. In the past, I have worked at a small, educational software company in Austin, Texas, where I did technical writing, user support, and interface design. I did just about everything except coding, though I did learn to hack code a bit.

I have also worked as a web developer and writer for a nonprofit, educational association (National Council of Teachers of English). I created and maintained flat-file and database-driven websites, wrote online and print content that was published on various association sites and in journals, and wrote blog posts and social media updates for the association.

I have a B.A. and an M.A. in English from Virginia Tech. I originally taught in the English Department from 1986 to 1994, before I set off for Austin. I returned to the English Department in the Fall of 2013. My research focuses on ways to use digital tools for writing and teaching. I am currently working on an article about how writing handbooks cover intellectual property rights and a piece on how to manage group work in online forums.

Contact Info 

Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns.

• Email: tengrrl@vt.edu
• Office: 214 Shanks Hall
• Phone: 540-231-6739 (NOT a good way to find me)
• Details of Contact: I check email and Canvas messages several times a day, every day. I try to answer student messages within 24 hours on weekdays and within 48 hours on weekends and holidays. I will take a break from messages during Fall Break and during Thanksgiving Break.
• Questions about Your Grade or Work: For personal questions, send a personal message in Canvas, using the Inbox tool. Because Canvas messages are secure, they meet all FERPA requirements and protect your privacy. I only answer messages about grades and course work via Canvas for this reason.

 Texts & Materials

Resources to Buy 

• Markel, Mike. Technical Communication. 12th ed. Macmillan, 2018. (Print or e-book)
• LaunchPad Link: http://www.macmillanhighered.com/launchpad/techcomm12e/8261114 Links to an external site. Note that the ebook is included in LaunchPad. You do not need the paper version unless you want it.

Digital Resources You Need 

You probably already have all these things, but if not, be sure to acquire them during the first week of class. Since this is an online course, you must have the necessary technology and accessories.

• A reliable computer—Linux, FreeBSD, Windows, or Mac. I don’t care as long as you know how to use it and can access the tools we are using on it.

• Working, dependable Internet access and a backup access plan. This course takes place online, so you need to be online. If the connection where you live goes out, know where you can go for free WiFi.

• A word processor or Google Drive. Again, I don’t care which as long as you know how to use it. Whatever word processor you choose must be able to save your work as a *.DOC, a *.DOCX, or a *.PDF file, OR to share a link that will give others permission to read and comment on your work.

• A camera or a phone with a camera. Some of the activities will include images, and you may want to take your own photos. A borrowed camera will be fine.

• Earphones/Headphones and a microphone. Some of the activities can include audio and video aspects, so earphones are handy. Additionally, you may create audio or video projects that you will need a mic for.

 Sites You Will Use 

Everything for this course will be posted and shared online. Most of your writing will be public, shared with classmates and others who are interested in the course. The following sites are all free for you, but you may need to create some logins to use them if they are new to you.

• Canvas: https://canvas.vt.edu/courses/73812 (for turning in work that will be graded and course resources)
• Piazza: https://piazza.com/vt/fall2018/technicalwriting/home Links to an external site. (for class discussion)
• Lynda.com Tutorials: http://lynda.vt.edu/ (free with your VT PID and password)

 Course Structure

This course consists of eight modules. Project Module 1: Introduction to Course is a prerequisite to all other modules. It’s the “Get Started” module that you must view first.

To navigate the course, use the module links below or in the list at left. Within each module, pages are linked by previous and next buttons at the bottom of the page. All readings and assignments can be found at the individual module pages.

• Project Module 1: Introduction to the Course (Opens Week of August 20)
• Project Module 2: Intro to Tech Writing (Opens Week of August 27)
• Project Module 3: Correspondence (Opens Week of September 3)
• Project Module 4: Technical Descriptions (Opens Week of September 10)
• Project Module 5: User Documents (Opens Week of September 17)
• Project Module 6: Project Portfolio 1 (Opens Week of September 24)
• Project Module 7: Research Proposal (Opens Week of October 1)
• Project Module 8: Informational Reports for Non-Expert Readers—White Papers (Opens Weeks of October 8 & 15)
• Project Module 9: Progress Report (Opens Week of October 22)
• Project Module 10: Poster Presentation (Opens Weeks of October 29 & November 5)
• Project Module 11: Project Portfolio 2 (Opens Week of November 12)
• Project Module 12: Participation Self-Assessment (Opens Week of November 26)
• Project Module 13: Final Exam (Opens Week of December 3)

English 3764: Technical Writing will enable you to gain an understanding of the theories, issues, and practices of technical communications you might encounter in the workplace, such as general correspondence, proposals, reports, and presentations.

From a foundation based on the principles of rhetoric, you will learn to analyze writing situations, consider the needs of your audience, assemble researched and original evidence, and design final documents that are user friendly and visually persuasive. By the time this course is over, you should be able to understand these documents and produce them with ease and confidence.

 Course Objectives

Having successfully completed this course, students will be able to perform the technical writing tasks defined by the learning objectives for the course:

• Analyze the rhetorical situation and determine the appropriate audience or users of written communication, considering the needs of global audiences and people with disabilities. [CLO 1]
• Conduct research appropriate to workplace problem solving, such as literature review, evaluation of online resources, interview, and site inspection. [CLO 2]
• Interpret research findings with understanding of ethical and human implications. [CLO 3]
• Use conventions of various workplace genres, such as proposals, instructions, correspondence, reports, and slide decks, with understanding of how the genre conventions can be used as heuristics and as principles of arrangement. [CLO 4]
• Collaborate with classmates in planning, researching, writing, revising, and presenting information. [CLO 5]
• Apply principles of effective visual design for print and electronic presentation, including hierarchical, chronological, and spatial arrangements. [CLO 6]
• Identify and apply the principles of effective style in the composing of usable, reader-centered written communications. [CLO 7]

 Your Teacher

I'm Traci Gardner, an instructor in the English Department. I teach in the professional and technical writing program. In the past, I have worked at a small, educational software company in Austin, Texas, where I did technical writing, user support, and interface design. I did just about everything except coding, though I did learn to hack code a bit.

I have also worked as a web developer and writer for a nonprofit, educational association (National Council of Teachers of English). I created and maintained flat-file and database-driven websites, wrote online and print content that was published on various association sites and in journals, and wrote blog posts and social media updates for the association.

I have a B.A. and an M.A. in English from Virginia Tech. I originally taught in the English Department from 1986 to 1994, before I set off for Austin. I returned to the English Department in the Fall of 2013. My research focuses on ways to use digital tools for writing and teaching. I am currently working on an article about how writing handbooks cover intellectual property rights and a piece on how to manage group work in online forums.

Contact Info 

Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns.

• Email: tengrrl@vt.edu
• Office: 214 Shanks Hall
• Phone: 540-231-6739 (NOT a good way to find me)
• Details of Contact: I check email and Canvas messages several times a day, every day. I try to answer student messages within 24 hours on weekdays and within 48 hours on weekends and holidays. I will take a break from messages during Fall Break and during Thanksgiving Break.
• Questions about Your Grade or Work: For personal questions, send a personal message in Canvas, using the Inbox tool. Because Canvas messages are secure, they meet all FERPA requirements and protect your privacy. I only answer messages about grades and course work via Canvas for this reason.

 Texts & Materials

Resources to Buy 

• Markel, Mike. Technical Communication. 12th ed. Macmillan, 2018.
• LaunchPad Link: http://www.macmillanhighered.com/launchpad/techcomm12e/8261114 Links to an external site. Note that the ebook is included in LaunchPad. You do not need the paper version unless you want it.

Digital Resources You Need 

You probably already have all these things, but if not, be sure to acquire them during the first week of class. Since this is an online course, you must have the necessary technology and accessories.

• A reliable computer—Linux, FreeBSD, Windows, or Mac. I don’t care as long as you know how to use it and can access the tools we are using on it.

• Working, dependable Internet access and a backup access plan. This course takes place online, so you need to be online. If the connection where you live goes out, know where you can go for free WiFi.

• A word processor or Google Drive. Again, I don’t care which as long as you know how to use it. Whatever word processor you choose must be able to save your work as a *.DOC, a *.DOCX, or a *.PDF file, OR to share a link that will give others permission to read and comment on your work.

• A camera or a phone with a camera. Some of the activities will include images, and you may want to take your own photos. A borrowed camera will be fine.

• Earphones/Headphones and a microphone. Some of the activities can include audio and video aspects, so earphones are handy. Additionally, you may create audio or video projects that you will need a mic for.

 Sites You Will Use 

Everything for this course will be posted and shared online. Most of your writing will be public, shared with classmates and others who are interested in the course. The following sites are all free for you, but you may need to create some logins to use them if they are new to you.

• Canvas: https://canvas.vt.edu/courses/73812 (for turning in work that will be graded and course resources)
• Piazza: https://piazza.com/vt/fall2018/technicalwriting/home Links to an external site. (for class discussion)
• Lynda.com Tutorials: http://lynda.vt.edu/ (free with your VT PID and password)

 Course Structure

This course consists of eight modules. Project Module 1: Introduction to Course is a prerequisite to all other modules. It’s the “Get Started” module that you must view first.

To navigate the course, use the module links below or in the list at left. Within each module, pages are linked by previous and next buttons at the bottom of the page. All readings and assignments can be found at the individual module pages.

• Project Module 1: Introduction to the Course (Opens Week of August 20)
• Project Module 2: Intro to Tech Writing (Opens Week of August 27)
• Project Module 3: Correspondence (Opens Week of September 3)
• Project Module 4: Technical Descriptions (Opens Week of September 10)
• Project Module 5: User Documents (Opens Week of September 17)
• Project Module 6: Project Portfolio 1 (Opens Week of September 24)
• Project Module 7: Research Proposal (Opens Week of October 1)
• Project Module 8: Informational Reports for Non-Expert Readers—White Papers (Opens Weeks of October 8 & 15)
• Project Module 9: Progress Report (Opens Week of October 22)
• Project Module 10: Poster Presentation (Opens Weeks of October 29 & November 5)
• Project Module 11: Project Portfolio 2 (Opens Week of November 12)
• Project Module 12: Participation Self-Assessment (Opens Week of November 26)
• Project Module 13: Final Exam (Opens Week of December 3)