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Science and Technical Writing, ENGL 104
(Departmental Syllabus)
Course purpose and objectives: The goals for Science and
Technical Writing, English 104, are to develop students’ critical reading,
thinking, and writing skills within the context of writing and research
conventions for science and technical fields. Emphasis is placed on
learning to develop clear, logical, appropriately structured written
documents, free from serious usage/mechanics errors. To help students
accomplish these goals, teachers are asked to present writing as a process
and to have some exposure to the collaborative nature of writing. Students
will also receive instruction in science and technical research techniques
and in writing research-based documents. Regardless of the particular
assignment, instructors should present writing as a process, giving
students opportunities for developing, drafting, reviewing with peers, and
revising whenever possible. Given the collaborative nature of much
scientific and technical writing, opportunities for team-based work should
also be part of this course.
Essential skills and outcomes to be acquired
through the course include:
1)
development of the critical reading, and analytical skills acquired
in ENGL 101, with particular emphasis on discourse in scientific and
technical fields;
2)
development of critical judgment for discourse in the sciences and in
technology;
3)
the ability to employ research methods for the sciences and technology;
4) the
ability to synthesize information from multiple sources;
5) the
ability to present research and cite sources in science and technology
fields, particularly CSE;
6) the
ability to structure science and technical documents based on the
conventions in these fields;
7) the
ability to employ standard usage for written English;
8) the ability to use basic computer technology,
including word processing, presentation, and internet-browsing
applications.
Written documents and research project: A variety of types of writing
should be assigned and should be appropriate for scientific and technical
fields. Students will be assessed on a minimum of four written
projects. These assignments may include science and lab reports,
technical instructions, summaries/abstracts, and comparison/contrast
papers. Instructors may also ask students to write critical analyses of
texts, reviews of literature, and other scientific or technical reports as
appropriate. A longer, formal research project will also be completed. Each
essay will be graded and returned to students before the next writing
assignment, and at least one document must be written in class.
Required texts and materials: Dictionary; A Writer's Reference, Diana Hacker, St Martins Press; Writing
in the Disciplines: Advice and Model, Tom Jehn and Jane Rosenzweig;
computer account for the use of Shepherd University computer labs, email
systems, and on-line services.
Computer literacy: Because Shepherd University
values the importance of computer literacy and because the Department of
English values the process of revision and editing in writing, the majority
of the documents written for Science and Technical Writing, ENGL 104, must
be drafted and completed utilizing word processing software. All students
must acquire a University computer account and become familiar with the
three General Studies basic technology/communication requirements: 1)
Internet use, 2) electronic library research, and 3) word processing.
The University Writing Center: To receive individual
instruction and feedback on writing in progress, students should be
encouraged to visit The Academic Support Services Center in the basement of
Scarborough Library. Visits are by appointment (via the online
schedule found at www.shepherd.edu/ascweb)
or through ShepOwl at http://www.shepherd.edu/scwcweb/tutorform.htm.
Grading: Grades awarded for written documents should be
consistent with the Department
Grading Criteria at http://www.shepherd.edu/englweb/criteria.htm,
and the grading scale will be as follows: 90-100=A, 80-89=B,
70-79=C, 60-69=D, 0-59=F.
Revision Approved 04-02-08
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