DOCUMENT RESUME JC 990 042 ED 425 790 Tichenor, Stuart AUTHOR Technical Writing I: ENGL 1033. TITLE 1999-00-00 PUB DATE NOTE 87p. Classroom Learner (051) PUB TYPE Guides MF01/PC04 Plus Postage. EDRS PRICE Classroom Techniques; Course Descriptions; Educational DESCRIPTORS Objectives; Grammar; Higher Education; Instructional Materials; Sentence Structure; Student Needs; *Writing Instruction; *Writing Skills Oklahoma State University Okmulgee IDENTIFIERS ABSTRACT This document is a study guide for the Technical Writing I course at Oklahoma State University-Okmulgee. It focuses on the writing process and offers strategies for improving writing. The guide also covers writing for specific audiences and purposes. Sections include: (1) the course (3) basic computer skills; (4) technical (2) grading Criteria; syllabus; (7) revising writing basics; (6) organizing writing; (5) using visual aids; (8) editing; and (9) writing assignments. Upon completion of this sentences; course, students should be able to determine how audience and purpose affect writing; focus on a topic and use pre-writing strategies; and write sentences and paragraphs, avoiding such sentence errors as fragments, run-on sentences, and comma splices. Students also should be able to revise and edit writing for errors in grammar and mechanics, construct well organized paragraphs containing sufficient transitions, and organize paragraphs into a coherent document using recognized patterns of organization. (AS) ******************************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * * from the original document. * ******************************************************************************** TECHNICAL WRITING I ENGL 1033 STUART TICHENOR GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT 05U-OKM U L.GEE U S DEPARTMENT OF PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS 1998-1999 EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION BEEN GRANTED BY *1 CENTER (ERIC) his document has been S. Tichenor reproduced as received from the person or organization originating a 0 Minor changes have been made to 0 improve reproduction quality TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES 6 Points of view INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) or opinions stated in this 1 document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy 2 T COPY AN if A R. OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY-OKMULGEE COURSE SYLLABUS GENERAL EDUCATION COMMUNICATIONS COURSE NUMBER: ENGL 1033 COURSE TITLE: TECHNICAL WRITING I CREDIT HOURS: THREE (3) COURSE DESCRIPTION: Technical Writing I focuses on the writing process and strategies for improving writing. It also focuses on writing for specific audiences and for specific purposes. COURSE OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of this course, students should be able to do the following: Determine how audience and purpose affect writing. Focus on a topic and use prewriting strategies. Write sentences and paragraphs, avoiding such sentence errors as fragments, run-on sentences, and comma splices. Revise and edit writing for errors in grammar and mechanics. Construct well organized paragraphs containing sufficient transitions. Organize paragraphs into a coherent document using recognized patterns of organization. REQUIRED MATERIALS: The Elements of Technical Writing, Thomas E. Pearsall and course packet. 2--3.5" diskettes Instructor Date Department Head Date If any member of the class feels that he/she has a disability and needs special accommodations of any nature whatsoever, the instructor will work with him/her and the University Office of Disabled Student Services to provide reasonable accommodations to ensure a fair opportunity to perform in this class. Please advise the instructor of such disability and the desired accommo- dations at some point before, during, or immediately following the first scheduled class period. ii 3 CONTENTS COURSE SYLLABUS ii MEMO TO STUDENTS v GRADING CRITERIA vi BASIC COMPUTER SKILLS 1 TECHNICAL WRITING BASICS Purpose 6 Audience Analysis 7 Purpose and Audience 8 Topic Headings 9 Using Lists 11 Conciseness 13 USING VISUAL AIDS How to Present Visual Aids 16 Using Visuals in Your Writing 17 ORGANIZING YOUR WRITING Types of Organization 20 Topic Sentences and Paragraphs 23 Topic Sentences 24 Checking for Paragraph Unity 25 REVISING SENTENCES Comma Splices & Run-ons 28 Editing Exercises 29 Fragments 31 Danger Words & Fragments 32 Editing Exercises 34 Using Transitions 37 Commonly Used Transitions 38 Adding Transitions to Your Writing 39 EDITING YOUR WRITING 43 Correcting Spelling Errors 44 Biased Language Avoiding Sexist Language 45 47 Wordiness 111 50 Commonly Confused Words Editing Exercises 51 WRITING ASSIGNMENTS 60 Letter of Complaint 62 Letter Format 64 Letter of Application & Resume Internship Report 71 73 Process Analysis 75 Problem-Solving Report 78 Informal Proposal iv MEMO Technical Writing I students To: From: Stuart Tichenor5-r January 4, 1999 Date: Subject: Classroom Policies and Procedures Classroom Policies & Procedures Instructors are responsible for their own classroom policies and procedures. Consult with your individual instructor if you have questions about grading policies, deadlines, attendance, and late work. Use of 1998-1999 Study Guide This study guide contains most of the assigmnents you will complete this semester. You should bring it to class every day and be prepared to use it as instructed. v Grading Criteria A = Superior Paper meets or exceeds all the objectives of the assignment Content is mature, thorough, and well-suited for the audience Style is clear, accurate, and forceful Organization and format make the information understandable, accessible, and attractive Mechanics and grammar are correct B = Good Paper meets the objectives of the assignment Style needs improvement Grammar, format, or content contains errors Content may be correct but is superficial C = Competent Paper needs significant improvement in concept, details, development Organization, grammar, and format need improvement Content may be correct but is superficial D = Marginally acceptable Paper meets some of the objectives but ignores others Content is inadequately developed Content contains numerous organizational, format, or grammar errors F = Unacceptable Paper does not have enough information and does not meet requirements Content contains numerous organizational, format, or grammar errors Tips for earning an A or B Attend class and complete daily work Include sufficient details and pay attention to organization and format Ask for help if you don't understand something! Plagiarism A paper which has been plagiarized (copied or paraphrased from another source) will automatically receive a grade of ZERO. You are expected to do your own writing and may not use other sources unless required by the instructor. vi Don't Believe Everything You See! I have a spell checker It came with my PC It plane lee marks four my revue Miss steaks aye can knot see Eye ran this poem threw it Your sure real glad two no Its very polished in its own weigh My chequer tolled me sew A cheek or is a blessing It freeze yew lodes of thyme It helps me right awl stiles two reed And aides me when aye rime Now spilling does not phase me It does know bring a tier My pay purrs awl due glad den With wrapped words fare as hear To rite with care is quite a feet Of witch won should be proud And wee mussed dew the best wee can Sew flaws are know aloud So ewe can sea why aye dew prays Such soft wear for pea seas And why eye brake in two averse Buy righting want to please vii 1 BASIC COMPUTER SKILLS As part of your coursework, you will be required to use word-processing programs in both the General Education Department and the Student Learning Center. Complete the following section. If you can do this exercise easily, you should have little or no trouble with the computerized part of the course. Remember to always make a backup copy on disk! Your instructor cannot be responsible for computer failure, but will hold you responsible for still turning work in on time. 2 Basic Computer Skills Part of being a technical writing student is learning to make your computer work for you. Complete the following tasks; they're part of what you're going to need this semester! Using WordPerfect 6.1 Any time you sit down in front of a computer, you need to know what you're using. In the Noble Center as well as in the Student Learning Center, WP 6.1 is available. Do not confuse it with Microsoft Word 6.0. They are different programs and not all programs are available in both buildings. However, you may want to "Save As" MS Word 6.0, so you can move back and forth between different computer labs Saving a File The first thing you should always do when starting to work on a new assignment is to create a file to work under. Then, every few minutes, you should save your work! Remember that it could be the difference between handing in a good assignment and not having anything to turn in! Using the left mouse button, click on the word "File." Then, click on "Save As" and name your file. For this assignment, name the file--OrgExer. After you type in the name, click OK or press the Enter key. After you have typed for 5 or 10 minutes, you can save your work by clicking on the diskette icon at the top of the screen. When you do, the cursor should turn into an hourglass. Moving Text in a Paragraph Type the following paragraph, then move the first sentence to the end of the paragraph. Until the 1920s, diesels were used almost exclusively in stationary and marine installations. The Caterpillar diesel engine didn't just appear overnight. It was the culmination of years of patient research and testing. These efforts held an elemant of risk. There were those who thought it foolish to pour money into technology that at the time was considered "exotic." Early diesel engines were slow in speed and extremely hevi in relation to the power they produced. Then slowly drag the mouse across the screen Click down on the left mouse button and hold it. from left to right. When you get to the right side, move down one line (still holding down the mouse button) and move from right to left. When you come to the period, release the mouse button. Now move your mouse to the "copy" icon at the top of the screen. Click on that. Then click on the "Cut" icon. Move your cursor to the end of the paragraph and click the "Paste" icon. Resave your work! 10