Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Spring 2008
ECS 3390.004 · TR 1:00–2:15 · JO 4.502
ECS 3390.005 · TR 2:30–3:45 · JO 4.502
ECS 3390.502 · TR 5:30–6:45 · JO 4.502
Technical and professional communication skills are critical tools for success in the “real
world” of engineering and computer science professions. Therefore, Professional and
Technical Communication will help you develop skills and competency in both oral and
written communication as they occur in engineering and technology work
environments. You will have opportunities to determine audiences’ information needs,
assess what information is correct, reliable and responsive to those needs, and present
Course that information in a form that helps the audience process and use it. You will work
Description with industry-specific projects, determine technical communication needs, develop
professional-quality documents, and make formal presentations on technical topics to
technical and non-technical audiences.
Engineering and programming are collaborative activities; therefore, this course uses a
collaborative-learning environment where you will work in teams to practice the
fundamentals of collaborative decision making and communication in professional
contexts. Course activities also raise related professional issues, such as meeting
Using team and individual technical writing and presentation assignments, this course
meets the following SACS and ABET Objectives:
SACS ABET
• Students will be able to write d: An ability to function on
effectively using appropriate multidisciplinary teams
organization, mechanics, and style.
f: An understanding of professional and
• Students will be able to construct ethical responsibility
effective written arguments.
g: An ability to communicate effectively
• Students will be able to gather,
j: A knowledge of contemporary issues
incorporate, and interpret source
material in their writing.
• Students will be able to write in
Learning different ways for different audiences.
Outcomes
Students who successfully master these objectives will develop the ability to:
• Research, draft, and edit major research papers in a professional context
• Analyze, edit, revise, and proofread technical documents created by the author,
peers, or other technical writers individually or as a team
• Write professional correspondence such as concise memos, letters and emails for
diverse purposes to different audiences and levels of management
• Research, plan, outline and present an individual presentation with visual aids
adapted appropriately to the audience and rhetorical situation
• Develop collaborative strategies to research, plan, and present a team
presentation with visual aids adapted appropriately to the audience and
rhetorical situation
The textbook is available at the campus bookstore and at both off-campus bookstores.
D. Beer and D. McMurrey, A Guide to Writing as an Engineer, Second Edition,
Wiley, 2005. ISBN 0-471-43074-9.
Additional readings will be posted in WebCT as necessary.
Required
Texts &
I have arranged readings so they support the work required for particular projects and
Materials
activities. The readings introduce communication issues and help you think about
approaching and constructing your assignments. You must complete the assigned reading
before coming to class to benefit from class activities. We will not use class time to
specifically reiterate what you can learn from the text – to do so would waste your time and
money. Class time will be devoted to your learning related material through a variety of
The Sun style guide, Read Me First!: A style guide for the computer industry, also
Suggested
serves as an excellent resource for style concerns. The UTD library provides access
Text
to an electronic version of the book through the library’s Safari Tech Books.
The following table lists course assignments and their due dates. You can find a more detailed course
schedule, including reading assignments and daily class topics, on the course website.
Low Impact Assignments allow me to give you brief feedback as you master concepts, organize your
thoughts, and practice communication skills. I do not grade Low Impact Assignments (hence the low
impact). Instead, I check for completion and effort, typically assigning full/half/no credit. If you miss a
Low Impact Assignment or do not submit it punctually or properly, you will not receive credit for it.
Course Policies
All work should demonstrate the same professional and ethical standards expected of
you in the workplace, including proofreading and editing carefully all work you
submit in this class. Professionalism also means that you use appropriate source
citation wherever and whenever necessary so that you avoid violations of copyright –
even if those violations are inadvertent. Remember: your work reflects upon you
and/or your group as a member or members of technical professions.
Grading Criteria I use a criteria-based rather than norm-based (curved) grading system and do not
award extra points at the end of the semester to raise final grades. Each assignment
includes specific criteria, but I generally assess your work according to the
resourcefulness with which it:
• fulfills the criteria set out in the assignment specifications,
• accomplishes its multiple purposes,
• responds to its audience's needs and orientations,
Final grades will be assigned according to the 2006-2008 UTD Undergraduate Catalog
scale:
B+ 870-899 C+ 770-799 D+ 670-699
A 930-1000 B 830-869 C 730-769 D 630-669 F 0-599
A- 900-929 B- 800-829 C- 700-729 D- 600-629
The following descriptions may help you understand how to interpret the different
grade levels.
B – Good work. Your manager would be satisfied with the work but not impressed. If
asked to describe your work, your manager might say the assignment rises above the
minimum requirements but contains minor problems that a superior assignment would
not have. However, it remains strong work because it is prepared skillfully enough that
it does not detract attention from the intended message. Good work:
• Shows judgment and tact in the presentation of material appropriate for the
intended audience and purpose.
• Has a thorough, well-organized analysis of the assignment.
• Supports ideas well with concrete details.
• Has an interesting, precise and clear style.
• Is free of major mechanical errors.
• Includes visual aspects in the document design but not as effectively as
outstanding work.
C – Meets all basic requirements. Your manager would be disappointed in your work
and would ask you to revise sections before allowing anyone outside of the department
or the organization to see the work. This work product shows reasonable competence in
style, but it contains repeated problems that detract from the assignment’s effectiveness
although they don’t constitute serious errors. Adequate work meets the minimal
assignment requirements and also:
• Demonstrates a satisfactory analysis of the task, subject and audience.
• Accomplishes its purpose with adequate content but supporting evidence may
D – Meets the assignment but is weak in one of the major areas. Your manager would
be seriously troubled by the poor quality of your work because it contains significant
problems in content, organization, style or mechanics. Your work could trouble your
manager if it:
• Lacks a strong sense of the rhetorical situation, often from a vague sense of
audience or purpose.
• Seems generally substandard but has some redeeming features.
• Contains major stylistic or argumentation problems that distract the audience
and/or interfere with its reception of the intended message.
F – Unacceptable work in one or more of the major areas. Your manager would start
looking for someone to replace you. The assignment’s style and/or content detract from
its effectiveness and undermine your attempts to present yourself as a credible
professional. Work may be considered unacceptable if it:
• Fails to meet one or more of the basic assignment requirements.
• Lacks adequate organization or shows confusion or misunderstanding of
rhetorical context.
• Uses an inappropriate tone, poor word choice, excessive repetition or awkward
sentence structure.
• Contains frequent and distracting mechanical or grammatical errors.
• Fails to develop and support strong arguments.
• Fails to cover essential points, or may digress to nonessential material.
There are no exams in this class. However, we do substantial in-class work for “low
impact assignments.” If you miss a low-impact assignment, you cannot make it up.
I do not curve individual items, nor do I offer “extra credit” work or “special
consideration” to allow students a chance to raise their grade. If a personal situation
Extra Credit arises during the semester that may affect your classroom performance, please talk to
me sooner rather than later. If you wait until the end of the semester, I won’t be able
to help you. I can work with you more easily if you speak to me when the situation
Deadlines in the professional world are a serious matter. Missed deadlines mean lost
contracts, delayed product releases, skyrocketing expenses, and, in some cases, the
loss, quite literally, of millions of dollars in revenue. Missed deadlines also
compromise professional reputations and careers.
For these reasons, late or incomplete work is not acceptable in this course. Work that
Late Work does not meet the assignment’s constraints (including timely submission and naming
conventions) is unprofessional and creates administrative headaches. Technological
problems are not valid excuses for late work, so plan accordingly. Moreover, no late
submissions will be accepted for minor assignments, such as homework, process or
class work. Late submissions of individual memos and team reports will lose 25% of
the possible assignment points each day the assignment is late. Days are tolled as the
24 hour period following the assignment submission deadline.
Work assigned for this class carries no less priority than work you may have to
complete for any other class or job. Material and information will be presented in the
classroom that cannot be replicated outside the classroom or made up at a later date.
Moreover, class participation is a vital part of your learning process because this class
revolves around discussion and activities. More than simply being physically present
in class, participation includes your asking questions in class about readings,
answering questions, offering suggestions, and you professional, positive attitude and
demeanor. Based on past experience, it will be very difficult to do well in this course
if you fail to attend class regularly and participate actively.
Class Attendance You are required to attend class regularly, prepare the assigned readings, and actively
contribute to the team project. You may miss up to two classes for whatever reason
without penalty. (Notice that no adjectives modify “absences.” I make no distinction
between “excused” and “non-excused” absences. Unless you have a disability
accommodation, the excellence of your excuse is not a factor – you are either in class
or not.) Perfect attendance will add 20 points and missing only one class will add 10
points to your Communication Competency grade. However, the third absence (and
each absence thereafter) will decrease your Communication Competency grade by 10
points. Excessive absences, including repeated absences that affect your group’s
ability to take full advantage of in-class work, may result in larger penalties to the
Communication Competency grade.
Reliable and frequent internet connectivity is indispensable for this course – not
having internet access will make your group projects more difficult and will not serve
Technology as a valid excuse for shortcomings. You should check the course website,
Requirements www.lisabellutd.com often for announcements, assignments, and helpful references.
Additionally, to protect your privacy rights, I will only send email through your
official UTD email address.
The University of Texas System and The University of Texas at Dallas have rules and
regulations for the orderly and efficient conduct of their business. It is the
responsibility of each student and each student organization to be knowledgeable
about the rules and regulations which govern student conduct and activities. General
information on student conduct and discipline is contained in the UTD publication, A
to Z Guide, which is provided to all registered students each academic year.
The University of Texas at Dallas administers student discipline within the procedures
of recognized and established due process. Procedures are defined and described in
the Rules and Regulations, Board of Regents, The University of Texas System, Part 1,
Student Conduct Chapter VI, Section 3, and in Title V, Rules on Student Services and Activities of the
and Discipline university’s Handbook of Operating Procedures. Copies of these rules and regulations
are available to students in the Office of the Dean of Students, where staff members
are available to assist students in interpreting the rules and regulations (SU 1.602,
972/883-6391).
A student at the university neither loses the rights nor escapes the responsibilities of
citizenship. He or she is expected to obey federal, state, and local laws as well as the
Regents’ Rules, university regulations, and administrative rules. Students are subject
to discipline for violating the standards of conduct whether such conduct takes place
on or off campus, or whether civil or criminal penalties are also imposed for such
conduct.
The faculty expects from its students a high level of responsibility and academic
honesty. Because the value of an academic degree depends upon the absolute
integrity of the work done by the student for that degree, it is imperative that a
student demonstrate a high standard of individual honor in his or her scholastic work.
Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts or omissions
Academic
related to applications for enrollment or the award of a degree, and/or the submission
Integrity
as one’s own work or material that is not one’s own. As a general rule, scholastic
dishonesty involves one of the following acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion and/or
falsifying academic records. Students suspected of academic dishonesty are subject to
disciplinary proceedings.
Plagiarism, especially from the web, from portions of papers for other classes, and
The administration of this institution has set deadlines for withdrawal of any college-
level courses. These dates and times are published in that semester's course catalog.
Administration procedures must be followed. It is the student's responsibility to
Withdrawal from
handle withdrawal requirements from any class. In other words, I cannot drop or
Class
withdraw any student. You must do the proper paperwork to ensure that you will not
receive a final grade of "F" in a course if you choose not to attend the class once you
are enrolled.
Procedures for student grievances are found in Title V, Rules on Student Services and
Activities, of the university’s Handbook of Operating Procedures.
In attempting to resolve any student grievance regarding grades, evaluations, or other
fulfillments of academic responsibility, it is the obligation of the student first to make
a serious effort to resolve the matter with the instructor, supervisor, administrator, or
committee with whom the grievance originates (hereafter called “the respondent”).
Individual faculty members retain primary responsibility for assigning grades and
evaluations. If the matter cannot be resolved at that level, the grievance must be
Student
submitted in writing to the respondent with a copy of the respondent’s School Dean.
Grievance
If the matter is not resolved by the written response provided by the respondent, the
Procedures
student may submit a written appeal to the School Dean. If the grievance is not
resolved by the School Dean’s decision, the student may make a written appeal to the
Dean of Graduate or Undergraduate Education, and the deal will appoint and convene
an Academic Appeals Panel. The decision of the Academic Appeals Panel is final.
The results of the academic appeals process will be distributed to all involved parties.
Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in the Office of the
Dean of Students, where staff members are available to assist students in interpreting
the rules and regulations.
The University of Texas at Dallas will excuse a student from class or other required
activities for the travel to and observance of a religious holy day for a religion
whose places of worship are exempt from property tax under Section 11.20, Tax
Code, Texas Code Annotated.
The student is encouraged to notify the instructor or activity sponsor as soon as
possible regarding the absence, preferably in advance of the assignment. The
Religious Holy
student, so excused, will be allowed to take the exam or complete the assignment
Days
within a reasonable time after the absence: a period equal to the length of the
absence, up to a maximum of one week. A student who notifies the instructor and
completes any missed exam or assignment may not be penalized for the absence. A
student who fails to complete the exam or assignment within the prescribed period
may receive a failing grade for that exam or assignment.
If a student or an instructor disagrees about the nature of the absence [i.e., for the
These descriptions and timelines are subject to change at the discretion of the Professor.