Course Syllabus

COURSE INFORMATION

Course Name: Technical Writing and Communication for Software Development

Course ID/Section: 26744

Term/Year: Spring 2022

Modality: Fully Online

Length of Term: 16 Weeks

Credit Hours: 3

Campus/Building/Room: N/A

Meeting Day/Time: N/A

 

INSTRUCTOR CONTACT INFORMATION

Instructor: Dr. Lisa Macon

Email: Lmacon@valenciacollege.edu

Phone: 407-582-1420

Office Location: East Campus 2-308 

Office Hours (all virtual, but we can make an appointment to meet on campus if needed)

Day	Time
Monday	11am-3pm
Tuesday	11am-2pm
Wednesday	2pm-3pm
Thursday	11am-12pm
Friday	11am-12pm

* Appointments can be made for meetings at other times, please email me.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Catalog Description

This course is a study of the basics of technical writing and introduces students to common formats, such as the memo, letter, and report. The course will stress techniques to improve writing skills and how to apply techniques used in the technical writing process. Other topics covered include, but are not limited to, appropriate strategies for internal and external communication situations, audience analysis, and communication through technology.

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: Minimum grade of C in ENC 1101 

Prerequisite or Corequisite: Minimum grade of C in ENC 1102 

COURSE OUTCOMES

1. Determine how various forms of technical communication effect business outcomes.

2. Explain the importance of communication processes and skills, critical thinking, and ethics in an increasingly digital workplace.

3. Create various technical documents for use in business communication using proper grammar.

4. Develop appropriate materials for the employment search process.

TEXTBOOK & REQUIRED MATERIALS

Students are not required to purchase any books or materials for this course. All materials are available as free resources on the world wide web and are linked in the learning modules.

COMPUTER/EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS

You must have a fairly new Mac or Windows machine with a fast internet connection. 

TECHNOLOGY ACCESS/SKILLS

You are expected to fully understand how to use a word processing program to create documents. Document creating skills will not be covered in this class.

CORE COMPETENCIES

The course seeks to strengthen students’ skills applicable to Valencia’s Student Core Competencies: Think, Value, Communicate, and Act.

IMPORTANT DATES

Start Date: January 10, 2022

End Date: May 1, 2022

Withdrawal Deadline: March 25, 2022

College Closed: Jan. 17 (Martin Luther King Day), Feb. 11 (Learning Day), Mar. 7-13 (Spring Break)

College Calendar: http://valenciacollege.edu/calendar

 

COLLEGE POLICIES

No Show Policy

You must complete the Orientation Quiz and Introductions discussion by 11:59PM on January 18. If you do not do so, and you do not contact me prior to that deadline, you will be withdrawn as a no-show.

Withdrawal Policy

I do not withdraw students who do not attend class or submit assignments. You must withdraw yourself if you wish to withdraw. Please contact me prior if you are withdrawing in regards to a failing grade so we can be sure you really need to. Failure to communicate in a timely fashion will result in your receiving an F for the course.

College Student Conduct Policy

Valencia is dedicated not only to the advancement of knowledge and learning but also to the development of responsible personal and social conduct. As a registered student, you assume the responsibility for conducting yourself in a manner that contributes positively to Valencia’s learning community and that does not impair, interfere with, or obstruct the orderly conduct, processes, and functions of the college as described in the Student Code of Conduct.

Academic Honesty

All forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited at Valencia College. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, acts or attempted acts of plagiarism, cheating, furnishing false information, forgery, alteration or misuse of documents, misconduct during a testing situation, facilitating academic dishonesty, and misuse of identification with intent to defraud or deceive.

All work submitted by students is expected to be the result of the students' individual thoughts, research, and self-expression. Whenever a student uses ideas, wording, or organization from another source, the source shall be appropriately acknowledged. If a student is caught submitting plagiarized work a first offense will result in a zero score on the assignment, a second offense will result a class grade of F.

Students with Disabilities

Valencia is committed to ensuring that all of its programs and services are accessible to students with disabilities. The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) determines reasonable and appropriate accommodations for qualified students with documented disabilities based upon the need and impact of the specific disability.

Any student requiring course accommodations due to physical, emotional or learning disability must contact the instructor and provide a Notification to Instructor form by the end of the second week of class. To obtain a letter of accommodation, contact OSD at 407-582-2229.

Baycare Student Assistance Services

Valencia College strives to ensure all our students have a rewarding and successful college experience. To that purpose, Valencia students can get immediate help with issues dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, adjustment difficulties, substance abuse, time management as well as relationship problems dealing with school, home or work. BayCare Behavioral Health Student Assistance Program (SAP) services are free to all Valencia students and available 24 hours a day by calling (800) 878-5470. If needed, the counselor may refer the student to appropriate resources or to speak face-to-face with a licensed counselor.

 

COLLEGE LINKS

College Catalog

Valencia Policy Manual

Student Handbook

Microsoft Office Instructions for free software

Course Support: onsite, online tutoring, writing help, etc.

COURSE POLICIES

Attendance Policy

Students who stop turning in work will not be withdrawn and will receive zeros on any work not submitted. 

Students who miss a single or assignment or discussion or turn in late work will be removed from my recommendation list of students for who I would write recommendation letters or recommend for jobs or scholarships without possibility for reinstatement for the rest of the semester. 

I will post frequent announcements and send out regular reminders so you should log into Canvas at least once per day. If you miss vital information because you neglected to do so, that is the chance you personally decided to take. "I didn't know... because I didn't log in" will never be considered an acceptable excuse for any purpose.

Late Work Policy

A student can turn in work up to one week past the deadline for a maximum of 50% credit regardless of the late reason for the lateness of the assignment.

After one week no late work will be accepted.

There will be no exceptions to this for any reason at all whatsoever.

One late or missed assignment will also result in the student being removed from my recommendation list for job referrals and recommendation letters. Once you are off the list, you are off for the entire semester.

Note that this late submission period begins one minute after the deadline. There is no "close enough" period.

Note that any work due during finals week MUST be on time or will receive a zero.

Extra Credit Policy

If offered, extra credit work will be given to the WHOLE class and not just one failing student.

If offered, extra credit work will be designed to extend your knowledge beyond the course outcomes, and not to boost a failing grade.

Third Party Software & FERPA Policy

Software piracy is a felony and if I find out you are doing it, you will be reported to the police.

Valencia College has a firm commitment to protecting the privacy rights of its students.  That will be respected in this class.

Final Exam Policy

There is no final exam in this class. The last assignment will be due during the final exam week.

Grading Breakdown

Orientation Quiz: 5 points

Introductions Discussion: 10 points

Module discussions: 120 points (10 points each)

Module quizzes: 95 points (10 or 15 points each)

Module assignments: 170 points (10 points each except the proposal worth 50 points)

Grading Scale

A: 360 - 400 points

B: 320 - 359 points

C: 280 - 319 points

D: 240 - 279 points

F: less than 240 points

Communication Policy

I will respond to all emails and Canvas messages within 24 hours, 7 days a week unless I notify you in advance that I will not be available.

Any messages I send you in Canvas must be responded to within 48 hours maximum. Please set your notifications accordingly.

DISCLAIMER STATEMENT

Changes to the course calendar may be made at the discretion of the professor, and students will be notified of any changes in class and/or via the Canvas Inbox conversations tool.