Schedule

*subject to change

Week 1

2.02 – Say hello! Post an introduction in the BB forum. Share your interests! All that getting to know you stuff, only try to make your written words reflect yourself as authentically as you can.

Assignment:

Sign up for CUNY Academic Commons (where your journal and eventually your final portfolio will be housed).

2.04 – Post a Link to your portfolio in the proper forum. Say hi to a few of our peers! Have something in common? See something differently? Explore this!

Assignment:

Locate and Post an article about engineering from the last 6 months that interests you to post on Tuesday. This can be taken from any (reasonably reputable) source. If you’re stuck, explore the New York Times technology section (a subscription is free with your CCNY info).

Review Key Terms, reference sheet provided in “Content” folder on Blackboard.

Week 2

2.09 – Post the article you found. Tell us about why this article caught your attention, noting specifics from the article. Convey your interests and passions through this post! Respond to two fellow students with specific comments about their chosen articles.

Assignment:

Analysis of Article. Identify the author, audience, purpose, stance, genre, medium of the article you found and posted in BB. Provide textual evidence where necessary. 1-2 pages. Due by the end of the week (that means by the Monday, 2.15…new “weeks” begin each Tuesday).

Read Chapter 1 “Introduction to Technical Communication” (pages 2-16 in your text, available on BB under “Content.”

2.11 – BB Discussion of Chapter 1

     Assignment:

Read Chapter 2 “Understanding Ethical and Legal Issues Related to Social Media” (pages 17-39)

Post your first reflective journal on your personal Commons site. No need to share this in a forum. Only you and I will see these journals. Reflect on your experience so far, write more about the article you chose, articulate your feelings about engineering in general. Anything you like related to the class. This is your space, so write in it!

 

Week 3

2.16 – BB Discussion of Chapter 2. Introduce Technical Description Assignment.

Assignment:

Read Chapter 20: “Writing Definitions” (533-551); Introduce Technical Description      Assignment

Locate an object, mechanism, or process that you want to write about in your Technical Description assignment to BB thread. Include a photograph of the object, an article about it, or a piece of media related to it. This could be related to your first article…or not!

2.18 – Post the object/mechanism you found, along with a brief definition (using what you read in Ch. 20). Respond substantively to at least two fellow students about their object (responses are always required, so read forum descriptions carefully). Make sure to field any questions you receive about your own object.

Assignment:

Read Chapter 3 “Writing Technical Documents” (41-56);

Week 4

2.23 – BB discussion of Chapter 3 – Technical Description terms. What they do and  why they matter.

Assignment:

Using the object/mechanism you’ve located, as well as the thoughts provided by myself and your fellow students, make an outline for your technical description.

2.25 – Post your outline, share ideas and give feedback. Honestly assess your own work, what is left to be done, and offer the same perspective to others.

Assignment:

Technical Description First Draft Due by end of week (Friday, 2.26, end of day).

 

Week 5

3.02 – Post your draft for Peer Review.

Assignment:

Send polished peer review response to your partner and instructor, via email (just CC me in your message to your partner or partners).

3.04 – Descriptive Writing discussion/exercise.

Assignment:

Technical Description Final Draft Due by end of week (Monday, 3.08, end of day).

Read selection from Chapter 14: “Writing Memos” (372-374);

Week 6

3.08 – Introduce Memo assignment, team up introductions

Assignment:

Read: selection from Chapter 14: “Writing Memos” (372-374)

3.11 – Post group topics, pick team roles

Assignment: 

Begin conducting research on topic, develop outline and time-line for drafting and submission.

Read:Chapter 5: “Analyzing Your Audience and Purpose” (84-111)

 

Week 7

3.16 – Group progress update. Post a description of your topic and assign each team member a role: one Topic Supervisor to keep track of all project requirements, one Research Director to lead in researching sources, one Submission Manager to submit the team’s work.

Assignment: 

Begin work on first draft.

Read Chapter 6: “Researching Your Subject” (114-143)

10/8 – Optional discussion.

Assignment: 

Submit Memo First Draft. One submission per group, signed by all group members. You may want to let each team member take a section of the actual written memo. I will respond to your group with notes. Due by Monday 3.22, end of day.

 

Week 8

3.23 –  Group self-assessment. Within your group, discuss the work you did on your draft and workshop how you might improve upon that work for your final draft.

3.25 – Class cancelled.

Assignment: 

Memo Final Draft Due by Mondaty night, 2.29. Submit one document that includes the Memo as well as a brief but clear explanation from each team member on how they contributed in their role.

 

Week 9

3.30 – Memo assignment reflection discussion.

Assignment: 

Send personal confidential letter to instructor via email before next class.

Read Chapter 19: “Writing Lab Reports” (515-532); Introduce Lab Report

 

4.01 – BB discussion of Chapter 19

Assignment: 

Read Chapter 9: “Emphasizing Important Information” (192-212)

Reminder: Update Journal! Begin work on refining and designing your portfolio site.

 

Week 10

4.06 – BB discussion of Chapter 9.

Assignment: 

Begin work on Lab Reports. Make a plan for how you will approach this assignment and outline your work.

4.08 – Free-write on Lab report topics (outline, brainstorm, creative riff…any writing you find useful in approaching your draft).

Assignment: 

Lab Report First Draft Due Monday 4.12, midnight.

 

Week 11

4.13 – Peer Review of Lab Report drafts.

Assignment: 

Peer Review Responses due to your partner before next class.

Read Chapter 16: “Writing Proposals” (419-443)

 

4.15 – BB discussion of Chapter 16: “Writing Proposals” (419-443).

Assignment: 

Lab Report Final Draft due Monday 4.19, midnight.

 

Week 12

4.20 – Introduce Engineering Proposal. Possible topic proposal, cumulative with past projects?

Assignment: 

Read Chapter 16: “Writing Proposals” (419-443)

 

4.22 – BB discussion of Chapter 16.

Assignment: 

Read Chapter 17: “Writing Informational Reports” (445-464)

 

Week 13

4.27 – Post Topic Proposal. Present your topic and discuss your plans with your fellow students.

Assignment: 

Post Engineering Proposal topic discussion. Present your topic and discuss your plans with your fellow students. Due before nest class, 11.19.

4.29 – Topic Peer review.

Assignment: 

Post your peer responses by Friday, 4.30, end of day.

Engineering Proposal First Draft due Monday 5.03, midnight.

 

Week 14

5.04 – EP Draft Peer Review

Assignment: 

Peer Review responses due next class.

5.06– Final optional discussion.

Engineering Proposal Final Draft due No later than Friday, 5.14 (you have a full week to continue work on your draft).

Begin work on your portfolio: uploading all assignments, designing your site.

 

Week 15

5.11 – Portfolio update. Post a link to your portfolio site and provide an update on the work you have done and still have left to do.

 

5.13 – Final Class: Introduction to reflective essay. Revisiting your week one article. Revisit the topic you began this course interested in and the article you first shared with the class. Have any new developments been made? Is there any new information out there? Has your interest/opinion of this issue, and that first article, changed at all?

 

 

 

3.24 – Final Portfolio and Reflective Essay due (emailed to instructor).