English 395: Technical Writing
Course webpage/ELMS site:
Sections:
Location:
Time:
Instructor:
Email:
Office: Location, phone number if wanted
Office Hours: Days/times and by appointment
Course Description
In this course we will concentrate on some of the diverse types of writing generated by people working in the health professions. The primary purpose of this course is to provide an upper-level writing course option for students who intend to pursue careers in one of the health professions. If you have signed up for this course but have no interest in the health profession, you will be at a disadvantage. Although some of the assignments may prove relevant for those in other fields, such as application materials for an internship or paid position, for the most part we will concentrate on the kind of writing done by health professionals.
Students who engage fully with the material and assignments in this course will learn to
·understand how writing contributes to their formation as health professionals
·understand the various roles that documents play in their particular field
·research the genres and styles particular to their intended career field
·design projects that exemplify a particular genre and style
·design sentences, paragraphs, sections, chapters, visual complements, and entire documents for maximum clarity and accessibility to a specific, declared audience
·collaborate with others in evaluating and improving one another’s work
·integrate visual rhetoric into documents
·develop documents for employment and professional school applications
·understand moral and ethical issues as they relate to health writing and research
·customize the design and development processes for a document project in accordance with professional standards, specifications, and style guides.
Required Text
Groopman, J. (Ed.). (2010). The Best American Science Writing 2010.New York: Ecco.
ISBN: 9780061852510
Melnick, A. (2006). Medical Writing 101: A Primer for Health Professionals. Authorhouse. ISBN: 9781425912819
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Sixth Edition.(2010). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
ISBN: 9781433805615
All reading should be completed prior to class on the day assigned. Other required readings may be in the form of handouts (in hard copy or on Blackboard) or web-based articles and other links as assigned during the semester.
Grading Procedures
All PWP courses require five to six graded assignments totaling at least 25 pages (6,250 words) of writing, not including rough drafts. Here are the major writing assignments, along with the proportions of other components of your grade:
1. Personal Statement – 10%
2. Job / Internship Application: resume, cover letter, career research report –10%
3. What Is It? Definition Assignment – 10%
4. Medicine and the Public –10%
5. Health Information Design Project –10%
6. Final Research project (including various graded elements) – 30%
Other graded components
· Homework/Class participation – 20% (Short Writing Exercises, quizzes over assigned readings, attendance, peer review exercises, in-class activities, class discussion contribution, assembly of final portfolio, and general professionalism)
·A final portfolio of all your work during the semester must be turned in alongside your final project. In addition to the grades you have received on individual assignments, turning in of this portfolio is a course requirement and will also contribute to your Homework/Class participation grade.
Grading Scale
For all numerically graded assignments
A = 94-100
A- = 90-93
B+ = 86-89
B = 82- 85
B- = 80-81
C+ = 76-79
C = 72- 75
C- = 70-71
D+ = 66-69
D = 62- 65
D- = 60-61
F = 59 or below
Note: Short writing assignments and peer review worksheets will usually receive a √, √+, or √-. These indicate, respectively, that your work was at, above, or below expectations. These marks, the initiative you take with revisions, and actual improvement you show will count toward your homework/class participation grade.
Course Policies
Attendance and Professionalism
Attendance is required. Classroom discussions and in-class work account for a significant part of your grade, and class participation, once missed, cannot be restored.Attendance and timeliness are subsets of the overall level of professionalism I expect from you. You are far enough along in your academic careers to be training for (or at least looking ahead to consider) a specific profession. I expect, therefore, that you will conduct yourselves in class and in your work like the professionals you aspire to become.
Below are the policies on unexcused and excused absences, as well as tardiness. Please note that missing more than two weeks’ worth of class for any reason may result in a zero for the participation/professionalism portion of your grade and may jeopardize your overall course grade. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to find out what you’ve missed. Missing more than two weeks of class will make catching up difficult, if not impossible.
Unexcused Absences. You may take up to one week’s worth of no-questions-asked absences per semester for both the expected (i.e., being the best man in your brother’s wedding) and the unexpected (i.e., a flat tire).
If you take a no-questions-asked absence, however, youare still responsible for whatever material was covered in class. If a major scheduled grading event (assignment due, in-class workshop/peer review, presentation) is scheduled for that class period, and you don’t show up and don’t have a university-sanctioned excuse (see below) then you will lose the points for that activity.
Excused Absences.The University excuses absences for your own illness or the illness of an immediate family member, for your participation in university activities at the request of University authorities, for religious observance, and for compelling circumstance beyond your control.Documentation is required for all excused absences. If you have an anticipated excused absence, you must let me know in writing by the end of the schedule adjustment period or at least two weeks in advance.
Absence for one class due to your own illness: The university requires that you provide me a self-signed note attesting to the date of your illness, with an acknowledgment that the information provided is true.Providing false information to University officials is prohibited and may result in disciplinary action. The Health Center has an online form (
Absence from more than one class because of the same illness: You must provide written documentation of the illness from the health care provider who made the diagnosis. No diagnostic information shall be given. The provider must verify dates of treatment and indicate the time frame during which you were unable to meet academic responsibilities.
Non-consecutive medically necessitated absences from more than a single class: Such absences may be excused provided you submit written documentation for each absence as described above, verifying the dates of treatment and time frame during which you were unable to meet your academic responsibilities. However, as also noted above, if you miss too many classes—even if excused—though you are technically eligible to make up the work, in practice students are rarely able to do so.
Tardiness.In the professional world tardiness is not tolerated.However, this campus is large, and another instructor may keep you late.So if you do arrive late on occasion, do not disrupt class, and let me know by the end of the schedule adjustment period if you anticipate ongoing conflicts.Remember that it is your responsibility to catch up on your own time, not the class’s. Thus, 2 late arrivals (or unexplained early departures) will convert to 1 absence.
Late work. Unless I specify otherwise, assigned work must be turned in to me in class on the due date. I will occasionally extend a deadline for special circumstances, but you must discuss your circumstances with me at least a week prior to the deadline. The penalty for late work submitted without prior arrangement is a letter grade (10 points) for each class period past the due date it is late. Also, missing required draft submissions or workshops may result in a reduction in the final grade for the project.
Class Participation
Class participation is essential. Contribute constructively to the course, even if by simply asking good questions. All of you have had experiences from which other students in the class can benefit. Professional communication includes a set of crafts that are practiced differently in different fields; therefore, you add to one another’s fields by working together. Even if you are just beginning to take courses in your major, you have knowledge that neither I nor the other students in the class possess. Even if you are more advanced in your major studies, you still need to be exposed to other fields.
I will consider the following classroom activities as detrimental to class discussion and class participation and therefore detrimental to your grade:
• Computer use unrelated to the course, including unauthorized emailing or messaging
• Use of the cell phone for conversation or text messaging
• Misuse of computer equipment during course activities
Communication
My office hours are at the top of this syllabus. Normally I will be in my office during these times, though I may occasionally be out. I encourage you, therefore, to schedule an appointment with me during these times so I will know to expect you. If these hours will not work for you, we may be able to find another time to meet or else confer via phone or email.
If you email me with a question, I will normally get back to you within one working day (24 hours during the week) and at the most within 72 hours.
As part of participation and attendance, you will confer with me on your final project twice during the semester. Being absent from a scheduled conference counts as a class absence.
Inclement Weather
In Case of Inclement Weather or Emergencywhich closes the University or otherwise causes the cancellation of class, you should continue with all reading assignments and other work as scheduled unless you hear otherwise from me via email or Blackboard posting.
Writing Center
I encourage all of you to make use of the Writing Center. Through an interactive consultation, a tutor can help you at any stage of the writing process. The Writing Center will not turn a D quality paper to an A paper for you, but the staff can help you develop the skills you need to successfully move your paper to the next step in the process. The Writing Center is located near the entrance to Tawes across from the PWP Office and provides appointment and walk-in hours during the week. Although the staff will not “correct” or “proofread” your papers, they can help you review and improve your English composition skills. Your visits to the WC are documented and forwarded to me.
Career Center
You may wish to make use of the resources of the Career Center, particularly in preparing job, internship, graduate school, or professional school application materials. If you do use the center, please be aware that their approach to some job application materials may differ from what we cover in the course assignments. Our work together will focus on the rhetorical situation between writer and reader, which may differ from the more practical criteria in vogue in one or another job market.
Pre-Professional Office
The pre-professional office (health) provides information and support on the application process for graduate and professional schools (
Academic Integrity
Plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty are not acceptable in this or any course. The University of Maryland, College Park has a nationally recognized Code of Academic Integrity, administered by the Student Honor Council. As a student you are responsible for upholding the standards of the Code for this course. For more information on the Code of Academic Integrity or the Student Honor Council, please visit
Course Evaluations
You will be asked to complete two evaluations. One is a university produced evaluation that you can complete on-line. The second is a departmental evaluation at the end of the semester. You cannot complete this on-line. It is a paper evaluation that must be done in class.
Accommodations
This course complies with University policy regarding students with disabilities as described in the current Undergraduate or Graduate Catalog.
Course Schedule
APA = Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Sixth edition.
BASW = The Best American Science Writing 2010
Melnick = Medical Writing 101: A Primer for Health Professionals
MWA = Major Writing Assignment
Week OneTuesday
Thursday / Course and Class Introductions
In-class writing exercise
Audience and Context
Week Two
Tuesday
Thursday / BASW, Mooney and Kirshenbaum, “Unpopular Science,” 243
Melnick, Preface and Intro, xi-xviii
Personal Statement: Audience, Purpose, & Context
Non-fiction narrative
BASW, Silberman, “The Placebo Problem,” 31 Discussion: Memos and Personal Statements
MA1 Personal Statement Rough Draft due for Peer Review
Week Three
Tuesday
Thursday / BASW, Carey, “Surgery for Mental Ills Offers Both Hope and Risk,” 45
Sailing and Writing: Exigence, Audience, Purpose, & Context
Clarity and Concision
Resumes and Job application letters
Mechanics and style editing review
MA1 Personal Statement due
BASW, Lehrer, “The Truth about Grit,” 52
APA ch 3 (skim and bring to class)
Discussion: Resumes and other application materials
Week Four
Tuesday
Thursday / BASW, Specter, “A Life of Its Own,” 80
MWA2 Job / Internship materialsRough Draft dueforpeer review
APA ch 4 (skim and bring to class)
Melnick, ch 1, 8, & 9 – Types of Medical Writing
Discussion: Definition and example
MWA2 Job / Internship materials due
Week Five
Tuesday
Thursday / BASW, Couzin-Frankel, “Friendship as a Health Factor,” 71
Melnick, ch 4, Research
Researching and Evaluating Sources
BASW, Belluck, “Test Subjects Who Call the Scientist Mom and Dad,” 147
MWA3 Definition assignment draft due for peer review
Week Six
Tuesday
Thursday / NO CLASS – Meet with me individually as scheduled to discuss Final Projects
BASW, Scott, “Pesticides Indicted in Bee Deaths,” 161
APA ch 6 (skim and bring to class)
Research and Crediting Sources
MWA3 Definition assignment Due
Week Seven
Tuesday
Thursday / NO CLASS – Meet with me individually as scheduled to discuss Final Projects
BASW, Pinker, “My Genome, My Self,” 124
Ethos, Pathos, Logos and Public Persuasion
Week Eight
Tuesday
Thursday / LIBRARY RESEARCH CLASS – MEET IN MCKELDIN ROOM 6101
Proposal memo for final projects due
Health Education Materials & Ethics in Medical Writing
MWA 4 Rough Draft due for peer review
Week Nine
Tuesday
Thursday / MWA 4 due
Discussion: Researching and Crediting Sources
BASW, Fink, “The Deadly Choices at Memorial,” 293
Process / Procedure Writing
Grammar and Diction editing practice/review
Week Ten
Tuesday
Thursday / BASW, Wallace, “An Epidemic of Fear,” 252
APA ch 5 (skim and bring to class)
Data Display/Presentation
Visual Layout and Design principles
Melnickch 5-6, Style in medical writing
MWA 5 due (no peer review day)
Week Eleven
Tuesday
Thursday / ** Outline and annotated bibliography for Final Projects due at conference
NO CLASS – Meet with me individually as scheduled for Final Project Conference
NO CLASS – Meet with me individually as scheduled for Final Project Conference
Week Twelve
Tuesday
Thursday / Presenting your material orally—Basics of Public Speaking
Draft of final projects due for peer review
Practice Oral Presentations
Week Thirteen
Tuesday
Thursday / Editing your work
Practice Oral Presentations
Oral presentations
MWA6 Final Project Documents Due
Week Fourteen
Tuesday
Thursday / Oral Presentations
Oral Presentations
Week Fifteen
Tuesday / Oral presentations
Course Wrap Up