English 218G, Section 60,  Spring II, 2005
call # 3018458
Professor Ron McNeel

ENGLISH 218G
TECHNICAL & SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATION
NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY
AT
ALAMOGORDO
Ron McNeel
Professor of English
Syllabus for
Spring, 2nd 8 weeks, 2005, Holloman Air Force Base

The mission of  New Mexico State University at Alamogordo is to provide quality learning opportunities for individuals in the diverse communities we serve.


Course Objectives Assignments
& Grading		 Attendance Instructor Contact info.
Required Books & Materials Course Schedule Course & University Policies Americans with Disabilities Act and emergency info.

 
Course Objective
    The overall objective of ENGL 218G, Technical and Scientific Communication, is to help students acquire the skills necessary for communicating in technical and vocational courses, in upper division courses of a scientific nature, and in the work place. The course accomplishes this through emphases on efficient writing processes and effective communications, including correspondence, collaborative projects, service learning projects, graphic displays of information, and oral and written reports. Credit for Freshman Composition (ENGL 111G at NMSU-A) is a prerequisite.  Specific objectives for students include the following:


Top of page

Assignments & Grading
Your semester grade will be figured as follows:

Grade Worth   Assignments
 

75 points Collaborative Assignment: Probably, but not necessarily, a report on usability testing of WebCT instructions (service learning project), 1-2 pages text, plus use of WebCT tools.  May be revised.  May be broken up into components, such as project plan, progress report, self- and peer-evaluations.
50 points Individual summary and analysis of a scientific or technical report, 1-2 pages.  May be revised.
50 points Descriptive report, 2-4 pages.  Minimum of one graphic required.  May be revised.
50 points Individual proposal for formal report, 2 pages.  May be revised.
50 points Annotated bibliography for formal report.
75 points Chapter quizzes
50 points Oral presentation, based on formal written report.  This report will be 6-8 minutes 
long, with a short question and answer period following.  Graphics are required. 
PowerPoint-type presentations are suggested.
100 points Individual formal written report, 6-8 pages, not counting formal elements nor graphics. 
A minimum of two graphics is required.
500 points
Semester Grades
500-450 points = A 449-400 points = B 399-350 points = C 349-300 points = D less than 300 points = F

Top of page

Attendance
Attendance will be taken daily at the beginning of class.  Absences will be reported to the financial aid office, possibly resulting in loss of financial aid.

Together we will make an effort to learn how internet connections and the WebCT platform can create productive attendance and participation in the event that students cannot physically attend, but can  access the internet.  Students may therefore make up absences using WebCT chat, in approved situations; WebCT presentations, in approved situations; quizzes on WebCT or at the textbook website.  However, this is not an online course.  We need everyone attending in order to participate in group projects.  If you miss 3 sessions without making up the absences in approved ways, the highest grade you can get will be a C.  If you miss 5 sessions without making up the absences in approved ways, the highest grade you can get will be a D.  If you miss 6 sessions without making up the absences in approved ways, you will fail the course.
If you come to class late 4 times or more, you will lose a letter grade.  Tardies cannot be made up electronically.

 Chapter quizzes may be unannounced.  Make-up quizzes will require medical or work-related documentation concerning absences.

Instructor Contact Information
 
 
Mr. Ron McNeel
  • Professor of English
  • Faculty Mentor for Web Course Development
  • Technical Communications Program Facilitator
  • Office #115, Faculty Office Building
  • Office phone, 439-3742
  • Office Hours:  1:00-4:00 Tu, W, Th
  • HAFB Hours:  4:30-5:00 Tu, Th
  • email: mcneel@nmsua.nmsu.edu
  • cell phone: 491-3658
Books and Materials Prerequisites

English 111G, or its equivalent first year college writing course, is a prerequisite for ENGL 218G 

Computer experience is not a requirement, but a positive attitude toward experimenting with computer-mediated communications will be very helpful.
  Top of Page

TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE
 Any changes to this schedule will be announced in advance.  Reading assignments need to be completed in advance of their scheduled discussion dates.  You can expect a chapter quiz on any day that a chapter is assigned.  Due dates for assignments are marked in bold.


Session # and Date Assignments and Activities
1. Thur, March 10 Introduction to the course: "The Rules We Play By." Introduction to text, websites, and handbooks. First reading/writing assignment summarizing and analyzing scientific issues.   Preview of Chapters 1,2 & 3.  Explanation of service learning project and assignment.
2. Tue, March 15 Have Chapters 1 & 2 read. In-class writing exercise on ethical case studies.    WebCT access and analysis begins. Chapter quiz or quizzes
3. Thur, March 17 Have Chapters 3 & 4 read.Chapter quiz or quizzes. Collaborative exercise.  Collaborative groups work on WebCT.
March 21-27
 Spring Break
4. Tue,
March 29
 Have chapters 5, 6, & 18 on informal reports read. Collaborative groups work on WebCT.  Assignment of descriptive report.
5. Thur, March 31
 Have Chapters 7 & 8 read. Chapter quiz or quizzes.  Summary and Analysis of a scientific article assignment due.

Top of Page
 

Session # and Date Assignments and Activities
6. Tue,
April 5		 Have chapters 9 & 10 read. In-class revision practice. Assignment of the formal report.  Assignment of the Annotated Bibliography. Topic for Formal Written Report is due
7. Thu,
April 7		 Have Chapters 11  & 20 read.  More in-class revision practice.
8. Tue,
April 12		 Descriptive Reports are due.  Have Chapters 13 & 14 read.  Chapter quiz or quizzes.  Workshop on graphic design and on presentation tools.
9. Th,
April 14		  Have Chapter 21 read.  service learning usability report--WebCT-- due.  Have Chapter 17 on proposals read.  Proposal assignment.
10. Tu,
April 19
     Have Chapter 19 read.  More information on the assignment of the Formal Written Report.   Annotated Bibliographies are due.
11. Th,
April 21
 Have Chapter 12 on formal elements of reports read.   Proposals for formal reports are due.  This class session may meet online.

 
 
Session # and Date  Assignments and Activities
12. Tu, April 26 Conferences on formal written reports.
13. Thur, April 28 Conferences on formal written reports.
14. Tu, May 3 Begin oral reports based on formal written reports.  FORMAL WRITTEN REPORTS ARE DUE.
15. Th, May 5 Last oral reports.  Course wrap-up and evaluation.
Top of Page
Top of Course Schedule

Classroom, Attendance, and Grading Policies

1) The university administration and the Air Force insist that you do not smoke, eat, chew, or drink in the classrooms or laboratories.
 2) Excessive absences that are not made up will affect your final semester grade. See the grading policies above.
 3) Chronic tardiness is unacceptable. If--on a rare occasion--you happen to be late, quietly take a seat in the row of desks nearest the door. This row is to be left vacant for just this contingency. See the grading policies above. Please don't walk in front of me while I am lecturing.
 4) You are responsible for the information presented at each class session whether or not you are there. In the case of some personal emergency, you must make an appointment with me, preferably in advance of the absence, to determine whether or not the absence will be excused and whether or not make-up work will be allowed.
 5) Plagiarized papers will receive a grade of zero.  Disciplinary action may be initiated against students who engage in academic dishonesty.  You should familiarize yourselves with the Student Code of Conduct in the NMSU-A Student Handbook.  A plagiarized formal written report is sufficient cause for a failure grade for the entire course. In such a case, disciplinary action at the University level will be initiated. In case I have a question about whether or not your formal written report is indeed authored by you, keep all pre-final drafts, notes, bibliography cards, and other research and drafting materials.
 6) The formal written report is a requirement for passing the course.
7) ALL late papers will lose 10% of the possible points. Please consider getting work in as email attachments if you cannot deliver it personally. Dates for revisions will be negotiated with everyone in one class session, and then made absolute. I will not take late papers or revisions after Thursday, April 21.
 9) So that NMSU-A may engage in assessment activities, the instructor reserves the right to keep final drafts of your assignments, after showing them to you. Therefore, if you want to keep a copy of this report, photocopy it before you turn in the original copy.
 

Students with Disabilities:

ADA Statement
If you have (or believe you have) a disability and would benefit from classroom accommodation(s), please contact the Office of Special Student Services located in the George Fettinger Student Services Building (phone: 439-3720).
If you have a condition that may affect your ability to exit safely from the premises in an emergency or that may cause an emergency during class, you are encouraged to discuss any concerns with the instructor.

Student Responsibilities:

  1. Register with Special Student Services and obtain accommodation documents early in the semester;
  2. Deliver the completed accommodation and testing form(s) to the instructor(s) within the first two weeks of beginning of classes (or within one week of the date services are to commence);
  3. Retrieve the signed form(s) from faculty and return to SSD within five (5) days of receipt from faculty and at least one week before any scheduled exam; and,
  4. Contact the Special Student Services Office if the services/accommodations requested are not being provided, not meeting your needs, or if additional accommodations are needed. Do not wait until you receive a failing grade. Retroactive accommodations cannot be considered.

Faculty Responsibilities:

  1. Sign the ACCOMMODATION REQUEST FORM and TESTING ACCOMMODATION FORM (when presented), retain a copy, and return the original to the student within five (5) working days of receipt;
  2. Contact Special Student Services immediately if there are any questions or disputes regarding accommodation(s), disruptive behavior, etc.; and,
  3. Refer the student to Special Student Services for any additional accommodations.

Contacts:

Accommodations: Kathy Fuller (439-3720), Special Student Services Counselor (George Fettinger Student Services Building)
ADA Coordinator: Doris Lynch (439-3716), Campus Student Services Officer (George Fettinger Student Services Building)
Discrimination: Angela Velasco(646-3333), Interim Director EEO/ADA & Employee Relations (Hadley Hall, Room 15 NMSU)

All medical information will be treated confidentially

In Case of Holloman Air Force Base Closure
National or international events may cause Holloman Air Force Base to close, keeping students from leaving the base to attend classes on campus, and keeping instructors from entering the base to teach classes there.  To alleviate the problems a closure would cause,
• the instructor may collect student phone numbers and email addresses;
• the instructor may use email addresses to create a distribution list to keep students up-to-date on assignments and activities;
• students should note the instructor’s email address and be adept at sending word-processed assignments as attachments via computer;
• instructors and students may need to mutually agree on a make-up class or classes, times, places, and modes of instruction (including email or chat room discussions), in order to abide by state requirements of 750 minutes of class time per credit hour.

Classroom Conduct
• You are not allowed to use tobacco products in classrooms at NMSU-A or HAFB.
• You are not allowed to eat or drink in computer classrooms at NMSU-A or HAFB.
• Any student engaging in disruptive behavior will be required to leave the class.


Top of Page

Back to McNeel's Home Page