Writing 50E
Research Writing for Engineers
Course Syllabus
Course name: Research Writing for Engineers
Designator: Writing 50E
Instructor: Doug Bradley
Enrollment Code: 50559
Term: Fall quarter 2018
Meeting days/dates: TR 2:00 – 3:50
Meeting location: HSSB 1236
Office hours: Wednesdays 9:00–12:00, and by appointment
Assignment drop-off: You may slide assignments under my office door at South Hall 1523. You may also place assignments into the blue Writing Program drop box outside of South Hall 3421, Mon.–Fri., 9:00–4:30. If you use the drop box, please be certain that my name—and yours—is on everything.
Course Texts and Readings
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A Writer's Reference, Diana Hacker [ISBN: 0-312-45025-7 (spiral-bound version)] NOTE: There are many used copies of this popular writing reference in local bookstores. If you do not wish to pay full price for a new (sixth ed.) copy, it's okay to buy an older, used version. |
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English composition journal [available in the UCSB Bookstore] |
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A Guide to Writing as an Engineer [Optional] *A copy of this text is on 2-hour loan at the UCSB reserve book desk. |
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UCSB Career Manual 2018/2019 |
Course readings will periodically be posted to the course website "Readings" page and announced on our course schedule; you will need a password to access these articles. BE SURE TO PRINT AND BRING TO CLASS A HARD COPY OF EACH ARTICLE ON THE DAY(S) SCHEDULED FOR DISCUSSION.] |
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Important Notices
Deadline to drop Writing 50E is Wednesday, Oct. 03 (via GOLD).
Do you have a physical or mental disability?
If you have a disability and would like to discuss special academic accommodations, please contact me as soon as possible. To apply for DSP services, see: http://dsp.sa.ucsb.edu/general-information/applying.
Enrollment questions?
For enrollment questions regarding adding and dropping of Writing 50E, credit, units, prerequisites, etc., contact Robyn Foote, Undergraduate Advisor in the Writing Program office (South Hall 3432D). Email: rfoote@hfa.ucsb.edu
Phone: 805.893.2613
Writing 50E Requirements, Grading and Schedule
Course Requirements
Attendance and Punctuality
The UCSB Writing Program requires that you attend all course classes and arrive prepared. Missing more than two absences will decrease your final course grade by one-third of a letter grade for each unexcused absence. You are responsible for obtaining all missed handouts and assignments. (Support your classmates!) As a courtesy to others in the classroom, you are expected to arrive on time at the start of each instruction period. Excessive tardiness will be considered a diminishment of your class participation.
Classroom Participation
As a course participant, you are expected to engage all classroom discussions and exercises. You will function as a peer editor to other students and a team player while writing your design proposal. As such, your classroom participation is essential. Throughout, you are expected to treat your work, and the work of others, with respect.
Journal Entries
Your journal is your personal literary workshop and will be used both in and out of class. We will begin most classes with a short warm-up exercise in our journals, and use them frequently to perfect writing skills. Journals are not graded; however, they will be checked three times during the quarter to verify that you are keeping pace with classroom exercises.
Design Proposals
We will divide the class into separate groups of 4–5 individuals and write project proposals over a period of several weeks. Your group's proposal is a significant portion of your class grade and will be evaluated both by the instructor and fellow group members. It will include both a written component and a formal PowerPoint presentation.
Grading
Grading is based upon three groupings: 1) short assignments; 2) classroom participation; 3) the business plan (written and oral components); and, 4) the final exam. The weighting of each grouping for determining your final course grade is as follows:
Assignment |
% Course Grade |
| Individual Short Assignments | 25 |
| Group Design Proposal (written) | 25 |
| Group Media Presentation (oral) | 20 |
| Individual Essay or Project | 10 |
| Classroom Participation (includes attendance, classroom discussions and exercises, reading journals, article-website reviews, and peer review work) | 20 |
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the copying of a part or whole of another person's work while representing the work as your own; it is an extremely serious academic offense. Avoid plagiarism by properly citing the sources of ideas, text and graphics used in your work. Students caught plagiarizing will receive an "F" grade in Writing 50E and be dropped from the course. No design proposal containing any plagiarized work will be accepted for course credit, regardless of quantity. Period....no exceptions!
Emergencies
If you experience or anticipate any emergency during the term bearing upon your course work or attendance in Writing 50E, it is your responsibility to contact me as soon as possible. In lieu of contacting me, you may leave a message with the Writing Program office, located in South Hall 1520 (805-893-2613).
Summary of Assignments (see course schedule for due dates)
Individual Short Assignments (25%)
Assignment #1: Employment study
Assignment #2: Resume
Assignment #3: Cover letter
Assignment #4: FMEA matrix
Assignment #5: Progress report memo
Assignment #6: Marketing study (individual section)
Assignment #7: Engineering design (individual section)
Team Design Proposal (25%)
Executive Summary
Table of Contents
Marketing Study
Product / Service Description
Engineering Design
Sales and Distribution
Schedule, Financial Data and Growth Projections
Appendices: legal requirements and permits; support businesses; etc.
Design Proposal: Oral Presentation (20%):
Team Oral Presentation (20%)
Individual Essay (10%)
Essay based upon course readings and film viewings
Classroom Participation (20%)
Attendance
Classroom discussions and exercises
Article-website reviews
Reading journals
Teamwork!
Other Individual and Classroom Activities
Career counseling center
Instructional computing lab
Guest speaker(s)