Course Overview

Writing is an important skill whether you are presenting research as a graduate student or simply trying to communicate ideas in an industrial setting. Many people are not good writers, but with practice, most can improve. This course is designed to give you practice with technical communication. We will look at writing in ways that may be new to you and hopefully helpful. Whether you are planning on going to graduate school or into industry, this course will help you express your thoughts more clearly and help you avoid common mistakes.

We will use a variety of venues including writing technical papers and user manuals; online communication such as web pages, blogs, and wikis; technical presentations; and group projects.

Schedule

Course Info

Unique Number 54938
Meeting Time TH 2-4
Classroom ESB 137

Instructor Info

Instructor Jessica Grogan
Office Hours Th 12-2
Office ESB 229
E-mail jgrogan@mail.utexas.edu

Instructor Roger Priebe
Office Hours M-F 10-11
Office TAY 2.112
E-mail rpriebe@cs.utexas.edu
Office Phone 471-9538

Texts

Required: Zobel, Justin. Writing for Computer Science. Second Edition (2004) Springer-Verlag.
Recommended: Dupré, Lyn. Bugs in Writing. (1998) Addison-Wesley.

Blog Site

utcs234.blogspot.com

Grading

The course requirements will include a total of six graded assignments, and several other tasks. The graded assignments will include a resume and cover letter, web page, collection of blog posts, user manual, presentation, and research paper. Each assignment will receive a grade from A to F. You will be entitled to 1 rewrite per assignment, though these are optional. The final grade for the assignment will be the average of the grade on the original submission and the rewrite.

Your writing will be graded based on its strengths in the following areas:

• Content: Depth and breadth of your exploration of a given topic. Success fulfillment of the topical requirements of an assignment.
• Grammar: Command of basic elements such as spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure.
• Clarity: Effectiveness of communication with appropriate word choices, clear and lucid prose, use of transitions, and overall coherence and organization.

Your final grade will be a weighted average of graded assignments.

A grade of D or F is not accepted as a completion of the Substantial Writing component.

There will be no exams in the course.

General Policies

Besides the grading policies in the preceding section, there are a few more rules for this course.

We will not accept late work without a valid documented excuse. Makeup exams and quizzes will not be given under any circumstances, but under exceptional conditions, other arrangements may be made.

If you are dissatisfied with a grade you receive, you must submit your complaint in writing along with supporting evidence or arguments. We must receive this protest within one week of the date on which we first attempt to return the assignment to you. We will not consider any grade change request that does not fulfill this requirement.

Turning in an exam which is not entirely your own work is cheating. Turning in a programming assignment which is not entirely your own work (or your group's work, as per the assignment) is cheating. Group discussion about course content is not cheating, and it is strongly encouraged. Students who violate University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of a lowered or 0 grade on an assignment or exam, failure in the course, and/or dismissal from the University. Representing the work of others as your own will be considered academic dishonesty and will not be tolerated. Since such dishonesty harms the individual, all students, and the integrity of the University, policies on scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced. 

At the beginning of the semester, students with disabilities who need special accommodations should notify the instructor by presenting a letter prepared by the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) Office. To ensure that the most appropriate accommodations can be provided, students should contact the SSD Office at 471-6259 or 471-4641 TTY. 

A student who is absent from an examination or cannot meet an assignment deadline due to the observance of a religious holy day may take the examination on an alternate day, submit the assignment up to 24 hours late without penalty, or be excused from the examination or assignment, if proper notice of the planned absence has been given. Notice must be given at least fourteen days prior to the classes scheduled on dates the student will be absent. For religious holy days that fall within the first two weeks of the semester, notice should be given on the first day of the semester. It must be personally delivered to the instructor and signed and dated by the instructor, or sent certified mail, return receipt requested. Email notification will be accepted if received, but a student submitting such notification must receive email confirmation from the instructor. A student who fails to complete missed work within the time allowed will be subject to the normal academic penalties. 

Last Modified: 1/18/07