CCOG for WR 227 Fall 2024


Course Number:
WR 227
Course Title:
Technical Writing (WR227=WR227Z)
Credit Hours:
4
Lecture Hours:
40
Lecture/Lab Hours:
0
Lab Hours:
0

Course Description

Introduces the production of instructive, informative, and persuasive technical/professional documents aimed at well-defined and achievable outcomes. Focuses on presenting information using rhetorically appropriate style, design, vocabulary, structure, and visuals. Includes opportunities to gather, read, and analyze information and to learn a variety of strategies for producing accessible, usable, reader-centered deliverable documents that are clear, concise, and ethical. This course is part of Oregon Common Course Numbering. WR 227 and WR 227Z are equivalent. Prerequisites: WR 121, basic computer literacy, and intermediate word processing skills. Audit available.

Addendum to Course Description

All courses in the writing program teach writing as a process, requiring revision over multiple drafts; require 2 instructor conferences; and include principles of citation.

Intended Outcomes for the course

Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

  1. ADAPT: Apply key rhetorical concepts through analyzing, designing, composing, and revising a variety of deliverable documents for technical/professional contexts
  2. CONNECT: Engage in project-based research, applying appropriate methods of inquiry for clearly defined purposes (e.g., user experience research and client/organization research)
  3. ADAPT AND CONNECT: Collaborate with various stakeholders to develop and apply flexible and effective strategies for managing projects
  4. INQUIRE: Develop and adapt document design and composition strategies to meet the demands of diverse clients, organizations, and multicultural audiences
  5. REFLECT: Examine and respond to individual and professional ethical responsibilities across organizational contexts

Course Activities and Design

Assessment tasks include the following:  

  • Weekly or twice-weekly writing assignments
  • Attendance in class and at two instructor conferences
  • Active, positive participation in class and in small group activities
  • Meeting assignment deadlines

Many instructors may have students submit a portfolio of the best revised versions of each of their written assignments at the end of the term for final evaluation. Oral reports, in-class interviews, or group presentations may also contribute to the final grade. Instructors may require in-class writing assignments and exams. Peer evaluation may be incorporated in the assessment process.

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)

Themes, Concepts, Issues

  • Appropriate formats and writing styles for various types of technical and professional communications

  • Audience analysis

  • Communication with international audiences

  • Document design

  • Documentation

  • Dynamics of collaborative work

  • Editing

  • Incorporation of graphics

  • Interviewing

  • Legal and ethical issues in technical and professional communications

  • Readability analysis

  • Researching

  • Revision cycle

  • Safety Messages

  • Style guides

  • Summarizing

  • Usability testing

Competencies and Skills

  • Reading, interpreting, analyzing, and evaluating complex technical and professional documents and visuals.

  • Understanding the differences between and the appropriate audience and purpose for the most common types of technical and professional communication

  • Composing, designing, revising and editing the most common types of technical and professional communications

  • Researching primary and secondary sources, including the Internet

  • Documenting sources

  • Analyzing audience and purpose

  • Incorporating audience feedback

  • Selecting graphics appropriate for the targeted audience

  • Selecting formatting options to create accessible, readable, ethical, and visually interesting documents for different audiences

  • Understanding different types of graphics and appropriate uses

  • Editing page layout, text and visuals for:

    • Conciseness

    • Preciseness

    • Clarity

    • Legal and ethical issues

    • Safety International audiences

    • Inclusiveness

  • Working and problem solving with others to achieve a common communication goal, using collaborative techniques, respecting the work of colleagues, and meeting deadlines; listening and speaking reflectively.