Eng: 114-WB01: Professional Research and Reporting

(3 -0-3)
Instructor: Scott Temple
Semester: Fall 2010
Date Syllabus Revised: 5-1-2010

Phone: 704-484-4048
E-mail: templesc@clevelandcommunitycollege.edu
Day/Time Class Meets: Monday and Wednesdays/ 11-11:50 am/ RM 2086
Office Location: 2155
Office Hours: Monday 8 –11 AM and Wednesday 9 – 11 AM.

I. COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course, the second in a series of two, is designed to teach professional

communication skills. Emphasis is placed on research, listening, critical reading
thinking, analysis, interpretation, and design used in oral and written presentations. Upon
completion, students should be able to work individually and collaboratively to produce
well-designed business and professional written and oral presentations. Course
evaluation will reflect the students’ performance on both written and oral activities. This
course has been approved to satisfy the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement general
education core requirement in English composition.

II. TEXTBOOK

Aaron, Jane E. The Little, Brown Compact Handbook. 4th ed. New York:
Longman, 2001.

Gurak, Laura, and Jon Lannon. Strategies for Technical Communication in the
Workplace. New York: Longman, 2009.

A College Dictionary (I recommend the Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary)

Other Materials

A flash drive
A headphone and microphone set.

III. COURSE GOALS

Upon completion, students should be able to work individually and collaboratively to

produce well-designed business and professional written and oral presentations. Specific
outcomes for ENG. 114 are as follows:

A. Evaluate communication by applying critical thinking strategies

B. Recognize the use of argument and logical reasoning to advance a stated position
C. Demonstrate the ability to adapt to professional communication situations
D. Understand and implement effective organizational strategies in research, composition
and oral presentations.
E. Develop and deliver oral presentations and communicate clearly to an audience
 F. Demonstrate the ability to use supporting materials, including external documentation
and visual aids
G. Develop and/or enhance library research skills
H. Understand how to incorporate borrowed materials correctly into written and oral
communication
I. Recognize and apply critical listening skills
J. Apply critical thinking skills to analysis and interpretation of sources
K. Collaborate with a group to create and deliver oral presentations and/or panel discussions
L. Utilize visual aids in written and/or oral communication.

IV. METHODS OF INSTRUCTION

A. Lectures
B. Blackboard
C. Discussion
D. Conferences
E. Small group activities
F. Peer Editing
G. Video/DVD

V. LEARNING ACTIVITIES

A. Maintain a writing journal/online blog that includes class notes, prewriting, reader
response, rough drafts, and/or all returned assignments
B. Participate in class project discussion
C. Analyze short stores and articles to use as prompts to essays and discussions
D. Participate in the writing process
E. Develop and deliver an oral report in class
F. Research essays through online databases and other library resources

VI. CRITICAL/ANALYTICAL THINKING ACTIVITIES

A. Analyze a variety of issues using essays, short stories and documentaries

B. Compare and contrast articles on cultural diversity
C. Apply the writing process to individual writing assignments
D. Critically think and analyze workplace behaviors and a global climate

VII. STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

A. Focus and develop oral and written topics

B. Use a variety of research tools to locate valid, reliable sources
C. Construct rhetorically and grammatically effective texts in a wide range of professional
writing (letter, technical design, evaluations, reports)
D. Deliver information using effective verbal and nonverbal skills
E. Construct rhetorically effective oral communications (speeches, presentations, interviews,
small group discussions) in a wide range of situations
F. Use sound research and note-taking techniques to accurately incorporate documented
sources
G. Investigate information and demonstrate an understanding of that information
H. Recognize performance errors, develop solutions, and effectively apply those solutions
I. Work individually and collaboratively to complete assignments
 J. Design attractive documents and visual aids that will clarify emphasize, of condense
report data.

VIII. BIBLIOGRAPHY

A. Suggested and useful sites during this course include

1. http://www.workforce.com/
2. http://www.nclive.org/index.phtml (This site can also be found on Blackboard
through the Cleveland Community College library. Password is needed.)
3. http://www.onlineethics.org/

IX. AUDIOVISUAL RESOURCES

We will use a variety of DVD/Video/MP3/Web casts

X. EVALUATION
Test 15%
Assignments, presentations, participation: 60%
3 Part Final Report and Final Online Presentation: 25%

XI. GRADING SCALE

A=93-100
B=85-92
C=77-84
D=70-76
F=69

XII. ATTENDANCE POLICY:

Instructor Policy:
Students in an online class must check in weekly by completing all the course work. After you miss 4
assignments, the instructor can drop you for absences.

XIII. MAKEUP POLICY:

Specific Rules for Late Assignments

No Late Homework is accepted. BlackBoard does not work with Fire Fox or Safari Browsers. You
should only use Internet Explorer. If you receive an error message saying “your file upload is
corrupt,” or anything like that, then make sure you are using Internet Explore browser. I do not
accept late homework due to technological mishaps or glitches. If your assignment is not in on time,
then you will receive a “0”. Please do not email me your assignment. I only accept assignment found
in the assessment tool developed for that particular assignment.
XIV. Academic Honesty Policy:

Instructor Policy: Students are expected to conduct themselves as professionals in the

classroom and on campus. Students are expected to respect the opinions and suggestions
of fellow classmates and respond to disputes and concerns in a constructive manner.
Failure to act in a professional manner may result in a lower grade for class participation.

XV.
Plagiarism Policy: Students are expected to submit original work crafted by the
student. Deliberately copied text or undocumented quotes, paraphrases, or
summarizes from another author will result in an F on the assignment. All students
agree that the work is his/her work and did not copy and paste/ purchase/ borrow/
or appropriate written material without the proper documentation in MLA format.