HONOLULU COMMUNITY COLLEGE
ENGLISH 120
ADVANCED TECHNICAL WRITING



COURSE: English 120/Technical Writing
 
CREDITS: 03
 
INSTRUCTOR: Delores Donovan, Assistant Professor
 
OFFICE: 7-533A
 
OFFICE HOURS: by appointment
 
PHONE: 847-9855
 
E_MAIL: donovand@hcc.hawaii.edu
 

 
COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course provides instruction and practice in the specialized writing that will be required in various trade and technical positions.  All reports must be directly related to the student's major.

 
COURSE OBJECTIVES:

By the end of the course, the student will demonstrate an ability to:
  1. Follow directions accurately
  2. Meet required deadlines
  3. Understand the need and circumstances for concise and for precise technical writing
  4. Think logically, plan, organize, and write reports at an appropriate level of technicality
  5. Locate and be able to read and assess technical information for specific assignments
  6. Apply technical writing skills to specified projects from trade/technical courses taken concurrently with Eng. 120, or in the future
  7. Demonstrate computer literacy
  8. Send and receive memos by e-mail
  9. Recognize the importance of standard English for both written and oral reports
  10. Determine audience and address that audience


 
METHOD OF INSTRUCTION:

Lectures, group and individual discussions, as well as hands-on work in the library and computer room will be used.  Guidance through the production of rough and final drafts will be given for six (6) assignments, including one (1) oral assignments.  Peer editing groups for the production of rough drafts is an essential part of the course, reflecting actual working circumstances.

Reading from the text and/or handouts will be discussed, accompanied by quizzes and/or written assignments.  Grammar reviews will also be accompanied by short quizzes and discussion.

Two class periods will be devoted to orientation in the library for materials relevant to Eng. 120 and Specific assignments.  Students will be required to attend computer workshops or show proof of proficiency before meeting weekly in a computer lab .  Electronic memo format and etiquette will be taught, and memos will be sent to and graded by the instructor

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EVALUATION:
Grading for this course is on a point system. Attendance counts one point for each class attended. Points will be deducted for missing rough drafts, missing plan sheets, and late papers, as well as for errors.
 
Quality of participation in class discussion, peer-editing groups for editing rough drafts, in-class writing/quizzes, e-mail, and attendance may affect borderline grades.
 
Final grades will be A, B, C, D, F, or I. The I (Incomplete) will be followed by a letter grade earned by the student at the end of the semester (ex: I/D). An I will only be given if the student has no more than three (3) missing assignments at the end of the semester. These assignments must be submitted the next semester by the date specified in the school calendar. An N may be given at the request of the student, but only if the student requests this designation two weeks prior to the end of the semester, either in person or in writing. A W (Withdrawal) can only be initiated by the student, at the registrar's office, by the date specified in the school calendar and announced in class in the beginning of the semester.

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SPECIAL NOTES FOR ENGLISH 120/ADVANCED TECHNICAL WRITING STUDENTS:
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Because Eng.120 is a fairly new course and does not have sufficient enrollment as a separate class, it is taught in conjunction with Eng.60. Students enrolled in Eng.120 will use the same text, take the same quizzes, and complete the same midterm exam. You will also have the same number of assignments. However, the types of assignments may differ from those of Eng.60. Each Eng.120 student will be expected to work closely with his/her English instructor and technical/occupational instructor(s) to devise reports, manuals, etc., to fulfill needs in his/her individual discipline. If this is not always possible, Eng.120 students will complete the same assignments as the Eng.60 students, but they should be more detailed and longer than those of the Eng.60 students. In most cases, as long as the Eng.120 student has the approval of both the English and technical instructor, the exact format will not have to follow that assigned for Eng.60 students; i.e.: process, description, comparison-contrast, etc. Please note, however, that most assignments will use one or more of those modes and can fulfill the course requirements. In addition, Eng.120 students will not be required to take a final exam. The final requirements for Eng.120 are a 5-7-page research report, with at least three sources, to be handed in on the final day of instruction, and several business letters. These assignments will be worked on independently, with conferences with both the English instructor and the technical instructor, as appropriate. Eng.120 students will be given independent study during the last four to five weeks of the semester to allow for additional library/Internet research.

Note: A separate list of assignments will be given to you during the ninth or tenth week of school. You will have a separate class session with the instructor to explain the independent study schedule.

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Last Updated 12/01