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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,
analytical, and arguments 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 Center in
Knutti 114. 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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