661.110.06 - Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins University 

EN.661.110 (6) Professional Communication for Science, Business and Industry 

Spring 2011 

Wednesday 6:15 – 9 p.m. 

Instructor: Eric Vohr 

evohr1@jhmi.edu 

Gilman 17 

Office Hours – Wednesday 9-10 p.m. 

Course Rationale: Technical communication refers to any communication that is functional, and 

characterizes the work of any writing professional whose primary goal is to inform rather than to 

entertain. This course will be one of the most practical courses you take during your academic 

career and you will learn research techniques to add to the ones already in your repertoire that 

will help you find the best information to support your arguments. 

The course will also teach you how to become writers and communicators of technical 

information, to understand the field’s theories and techniques, as well as its applications both in 

the technical, academic and business realms. The course will also expose you to stylistic tools to 

make you better and stronger writers, to understand your target audience in any rhetorical 

situation and to persuade that audience of the validity, practicality and strength of your argument. 

Required Texts: 

The Little Brown Essential Handbook for Writers, 6 th Ed. (ISBN-10: 0321199944) 

Skunk and White’s The Elements of Style 4 th Ed. (ISBN-10: 158734060-7). 

The Associated Press Stylebook 2009 (ISBN-13: 978-0917360534) 

Grading: 

The final grade is based on the following: 

Directions Paper 10% 

Topic Memo 15% 

Resume and Cover Letter 15% 

In-Class Business Letter 10% 

Oral Report 15% 

Final Technical Report 20% 

Class Participation 15% 

Participation includes attendance, participation in lessons and workshops and other in-class 

assignments. All papers must be typed, double-spaced, with proper margins and headings, and 

paginated. Each paper is due on the specified date. Late papers will be penalized one letter grade 

for each day past the deadline date. 

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Attendance: I take attendance. It is essential to stay caught up in class. This is not a lecturebased 

course. Because the course is based largely on classroom interaction, I have a stringent 

attendance policy. Because it is a three-semester-hour course, students are allowed one excused 

absence. Absences because of serious illness or university-sponsored event, although allowable, 

must be documented, otherwise they will be considered unexcused. This does not count for paper 

due dates. If a paper is brought to me late, it will be graded down one letter grade for every class 

it is late. If I find a paper in my mailbox after the day it is due, I will mark it one class late 

because I won’t know what time it got there. If you cannot attend class, bring your paper to my 

office and/or get it to me before it is due. All documentation regarding missed classes needs to be 

presented as soon as possible to the date missed. I will not accept documentation for a missed 

class weeks after the fact. Students are allowed one absence. After that an absence will reduce 

your grade by one letter. Work missed because of any absence should be made up, and this is 

your responsibility. 

Tardiness is equally frowned upon. You are tardy if you are 15 minutes late for class. Every 

three will count as a full absence. The best way to avoid these types of deductions is to come to 

class prepared and on time. 

Papers: All assignments need to be perfect in terms of mechanics: spelling, punctuation and 

usage. Mistakes will be graded down. The idea is to approximate professional standards as 

closely as possible. We will discuss these when applicable. 

Electronic Papers: I want both electronic and hard copies of all assignments. 

University Ethics Guidelines: The strength of the university depends on academic and personal 

integrity. In this course, you must be honest and truthful. Ethical violations include cheating on 

exams, plagiarism, reuse of assignments, improper use of the Internet and electronic devices, 

unauthorized collaboration, alteration of graded assignments, forgery, falsification, lying, 

facilitating academic dishonesty, and unfair competition. 

In addition, the specific ethics guidelines for this course are: 

Plagiarism and Academic Integrity: Intentionally presenting someone else’s words or work as 

your own constitutes plagiarism. Such action will result in an automatic “F” for the class as well 

as possible dismissal from the university. The strength of the university depends on academic 

and personal integrity. In this course, you must be honest and truthful. Ethical violations include 

cheating on exams, plagiarism, reuse of assignments, improper use of the Internet and electronic 

devices, unauthorized collaboration, alteration of graded assignments, forgery, falsification, 

lying, facilitating academic dishonesty, and unfair competition. 

In addition, the specific ethics guidelines for this course are: 

(1) Six assignments. Four are individual; Two are collaborative; that is they will be written with 

other students in a research team. The distinction between original work and thought and 

borrowed work and thought must be maintained by the members of the writing team, as well as 

by the individual student who engages in writing and who shares their work with others. 

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Borrowing itself is not problematic, but it is the duty of the writer or team of writers to inform 

the reader how ideas and borrowed work comes to the document that is being read. 

(2) For example, material from a Web site that does not list an author, that is difficult to 

determine in terms of its reliability or the source of its information, is very different from a news 

article in the Washington Post, which is different from a syndicated opinion piece, which is 

different from a scholarly research article appearing in a recognized professional journal. Using 

any of these sources tells your reader much about how to understand the idea and the authority it 

carries, and thus much about the writer of the report. 

Report any violations you witness to the instructor. You may consult the associate dean of 

student affairs and/or the chairman of the Ethics Board beforehand. See the guide on “Academic 

Ethics for Undergraduates” and the Ethics Board Web site (http://ethics.jhu.edu) for more 

information. 

Learning Objectives: 

By the end of Technical Communications the student should have a level of competency to: 

• Understand and develop argumentative points for a technical document specific to a 

given audience; 

• Understand the qualities of excellent written argument; 

• Recognize the difference between various types of technical reports; 

• Be able to write clear and effective instructions; 

• Develop the ability to work individually or collaboratively on a project; 

• Be able to create effective job application materials; 

• Understand the elements of a technical proposal including document design and graphics; 

• Understand the elements of an effective oral presentation. 

* * * 

February 

Wednesday 2/1 

Lecture: Introduction to the Course What is Technical Writing? 

Lecture: The Writing Process 

Lecture: Introduction to Assignment #1, Directions Paper 

Homework: A and P 

Homework: Outline Directions Paper 

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Wednesday 2/8 

Due: Paper #1, Directions Paper 

Workshop: Discuss A and P 

Lecture: Divide Your Time 

Lecture: Introduction of Assignment # 2, Topic Memo 

Homework: Topic Memo Draft 

Homework: Read Lady With a Pet Dog 

Wednesday 2/15 

Lecture: Writing Styles – What is your style? 

Workshop: Topic memo 

Homework: Index Cards – Topic memo 

Homework: Revise Directions Paper 


Lecture Topic Memo 

Lecture/Workshop: Direct Writing 

Workshop: Index Cards – Topic Memo 

Homework: Read Climbers 

Homework: Bring in Resume Rough Draft 


Due: Assignment # 2, Topic Memo 

Reminder to send in all assignments including Revised Directions 

Lecture: Introduction of Paper #3; Resume and Cover Letter 

Review: Student Resume Samples 

Workshop: Resumes 

March 

Wednesday 3/7 

Due: Paper # 3. Resume and Cover Letter 

Lecture: Electronic Mail 

Workshop: In teams find examples of good and bad e-mails 

Workshop: Directions Papers 

Lecture: MLK 

Lecture: PAFEO 

Workshop: PAFEO 

Lecture Climbers 

Homework: MLK 

Homework: Choose Groups Revise Topic Memos 


Workshop: Biz Letters 

Lecture: Business Letter 

Lecture: End of Man 

Lecture: Grammar Syntax 

4

Homework: Review non-fiction article to be assigned 

Revise Topic Memos Structure 

Homework: Decide on Final Topic, Write Outline 

Spring Break March 19-25 


Due: Assignment # 4, Group assignment - In Class Business Letter (Second half of class) 

Student Presentation 

Lecture: Oral Reports 

Homework: AP Writing test 

Homework: Choose a Topic, Present Orally 5 minutes presentation, 5 minutes critique 

April 

Wednesday 4/4 

Lecture: Graphics and Tables 

Lecture: Writer-Based Prose 

Workshop: Presentation Practice 

Homework: Prepare sample graphics for class 

Homework: Prepare Oral Report Draft 


Electronic Class 

Send Oral Report Graphics 

Send Oral Report Draft 


Oral Presentations 

Course Evaluations 


In Class Conferences Re: Final Report. Be Prepared To Defend Your Tactics For The Final 

Paper 

May 

Wednesday 5/2 

Final Report, Assignment #6 Due 

* * * 

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661.110.06 - Johns Hopkins University

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