Teaching Professional & Technical Writing ENGL 775

Dr. Daniel Richards Email: dprichar@odu.edu Phone: 3-4629 Skype: drdprichards Office: BAL 2020 Office Hours: M 4:30p6:30p, W 2p3p

Catalog Description

This course examines various approaches to the teaching of professional and technical writing, with specific focus on localized institutional and workplace cultures. Students will work to produce original syllabi and projects for undergraduate courses in professional and technical communication. Professional and technical communication as a field exists at the productive but at times problematic intersections of the work of academics and practitioners. This relationship frames the course as students consider throughout the semester what it means to write in and about such intersections. As such, this course examines various approaches to the teaching of professional and technical writing, with specific focus on localized institutional and workplace cultures. In this graduate course we will engage with professional and technical communication as: a pedagogical practice a theoretical locus/scholarly field a workplace practice Students will work to produce original syllabi and projects for undergraduate courses in professional and technical communication. Students in this course will be expected to engage with professional and technical communication as a pedagogical practice and theoretical venue while exploring how to prepare students to write in a variety of workplace milieux. My goals for you in this course are that you will: Develop strategies for creating brief, focused exercises designed to help writers improve targeted aspects of professional writing style Apply concepts learned in the course and improve and diversify their professional portfolios for the job market Connect their pedagogy with the theory that undergirds it Research and report on basic approaches to teaching professional writing in workplace and classroom settings Work with un/familiar technologies Demonstrate intellectual engagement by participating actively class discussions, leading to a dynamic learning community
Old Dominion University | Department of English | Spring 2014

Course Description

Course Objectives

Learning Outcomes

Well achieve these goals by: Developing syllabi, calendars, and assignments for ENGL 334W Technical Writing Contributing to a pool of assignments for these courses to share with the group and to integrate into a teaching portfolio for use on the job market Completing weekly reading assignments and participating in our discussion of professional writing praxis Filming and editing short web videos explaining and selling courses for the professional writing emphasis or the certificate in professional writing of the undergraduate major in English at Old Dominion University Note: Free exam copies are available for all these books except for Bridgeford et al. (2004) if you are an instructor or graduate student. Scholarly Collections Bridgeford, T., Kitalong, K.S., & Selfe, D., Eds. (2004). Innovative approaches to teaching technical communication. Logan, UT: Utah State UP. Dubinsky, J.M. (2004). Teaching technical communication: Critical issues for the classroom. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martins. Undergraduate Textbooks Markel, M. Technical communication. 9e or 10e. Bedford/St. Martins. Bove, C. & Thill, J. Business communication essentials: A skillsbased approach. 5e or 6e. Pearson.

Course Texts

Deliverables Overview

Syllabus, calendar, and three projects Weekly reading responses (on personal blog) Final exam Video (5 minutes), with a student-centered audience Grid: of schools and their professional and technical writing programs

Old Dominion University | Department of English | Spring 2014