Clay Spinuzzi's Courses

Course Description

Technical writing is nonfiction writing meant to make the complex simple. It informs, instructs, and persuades. And it can take many forms -- manuals, references, instructions, correspondence, reports, and proposals, among others. Whatever form is used, technical writing's focus is to ensure that readers can make informed choices, understand complex information, and follow complex procedures.

In this class, technical writing is treated rhetorically: We will build on lessons of rhetorical analysis, organization, and style learned in previous classes, but we will apply those lessons to concrete real-world problems. By the end of the class, students should be able to

• Understand the relationship between technical writing and rhetoric
• Identify and fulfill the purposes of technical writing: informing, instructing, persuading
• Identify and produce several genres of technical writing, including manuals, instructions, correspondence, and reports
• Use a clear, parsimonious writing style
• Use visual cues such as headings and lists to signal text hierarchy and help readers find content
• Select and use appropriate visual aids
• Identify and plan information spaces for eliciting user content

This class is particularly suited for liberal arts majors who want to gain a basic understanding of technical writing or who want to improve their writing clarity.

Texts

The Handbook of Technical Writing, Eighth Edition by Gerald J. Alred, Charles T. Brusaw, and Walter E. Oliu

Projects

• Project 1: Instructions (includes technical definition) (20%)
• Project 2: Report (20%)
• Project 3: Proposal (20%)
• Project 4: Manual and user feedback forum (includes correspondence) (40%)

Class location and hours

TTH 11:00AM-12:30PM in PAR 6

Instructor's office hours

TTH 9-10:30am in PAR 17

Computer Use

We will use computers extensively in this class.

Computer Conduct

Since we meet in a computer lab, students will be asked to use computers frequently. But students will need to adhere to certain guidelines in addition to the university's code of computer conduct:

• Do not deliberately access material that can be considered threatening to other students. This material includes pornography and overtly sexist materials, bigotry and overtly racist materials, and materials advocating personal violence. You can view these materials on your own time, if you are so compelled, but they have no place in class.
• Do not use computers if someone is addressing the class -- including your professor or students who are presenting.
• Do not use computers for business unrelated to class during class exercises. For instance, don't check sports scores or your email when you're supposed to be examining online examples.

If you violate these guidelines, you may be asked to leave the classroom and your participation grade may be negatively affected.

Attendance

You are allowed four unexcused absences. The fifth absence will cause you to fail the course. Excused absences include religious holidays, family emergencies, and illnesses.

If you are going to be absent, you need to contact me before the absence or as soon as you can after the absence, and bring documentation if you are going to be absent for medical reasons.

I tend to email students who are getting close to their limit in absences. Check your email regularly, especially if you have missed several classes.

Late Assignments and Drafts

Turn in any assignment -- essays, drafts, etc. -- at the beginning of the class period that they are due. If your paper is late, I will lower it one letter grade for each class day that it is late. Short, out-of-class assignments are not accepted late. You can not make up in-class work.

Honesty

Students who violate University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and/or dismissal from the university. Since such dishonesty harms the individual, all students, and the integrity of the University, policies on scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced. For further information, please visit the Student Judicial Services website.

Here's what you can do to cover yourself against plagiarism or collusion:

• Read the Statement on Scholastic Responsibility in the online Student Guide. Also see the Student Judicial Services site on academic integrity.
• At any stage of your writing, keep your drafts, notes, papers,and research materials. If a question of plaigiarism arises, you'll have a paper trail. (In addition to protecting you in this course, paper trails will also protect you in a variety of other academic, public, and work-related contexts.)
• Don't use editing services. Don't ask anyone, even family or friends, to edit your paper or help you write it. You need to do that work yourself.
• If you need additional help with your writing, contact the University Writing Center, the University of Texas Learning Center (UTLC), Student Judicial Services, or other official University organizations. These organizations are trained to help you without colluding in plagiarism.
• Last but not least, ask me if you have any questions about honesty.

Special Needs

The University of Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 471-6259, 471-6441 TTY.