Since I now post information on course-specific sites, the information here is mostly archival documents.
Technical Communication
Introduction to Technical Communication is an undergraduate course that develops written, oral, visual, and electronic communication skills appropriate for communication in the workplace and typical document genres such as proposals, reports, instructions, basic usability tests, and poster presentations.
syllabus Fall 2009 - Minnesota state University, Mankato
syllabus Spring 2008 - Minnesota State University, Mankato
syllabus Spring 2004 - Minnesota State University, Mankato
sample teaching materials
As a comprehensive assignment students developed original games that we played in class at the end of the semester. The project incorporated audience analysis, research, design, documentation, proposals, and usability testing.
One of my composition students had his narrative essay published in Newsweek's My Turn column. Read the coverage in Iowa State Daily or the English Dept. Press Release
To read samples of student evaluations visit Reviews.
To see samples of materials used as examples or to prompt discussion visit Supplemental Teaching Materials
Courses:
In order to develop competency in visual communication, students were asked to create two documents: a persuasive brochure that depicted data about the university in the form of charts, graphs, and tables as well as a warning sign that features a simple, easily understood graphic and warning about a situation in their local environment (school, city, etc).
Poster presentations are a common communication scenario in academia, particularly in the sciences. I used this assignment to help my students develop their oral communication and information design skills. An added benefit is that this assignment showed them a visual aid alternative to PowerPoint.
An additional component of this assignment was that the students in my class were paired with students in an upper-level information security course. The information security students were to act as subject matter experts and the technical communication students were to experience being technical writers, researchers, and editors. While I still have great hopes for this assignment, the Spring 2008 experience showed that there are still a lot of kinks to be worked out for the collaboration part of the project.
The ability to write clear, concise, and accurate instructions is an essential communication skill. This assignment folds several typical genres into one activity: the students had to write a proposal for their project, write the instructions, conduct two usability tests, and finally write a report summarizing their project's development and status.
An additional component was that the instructions were to be posted on WikiHow, a collaborative website that strives to be the "world's largest, highest quality how-to manual." The purpose of using WikiHow for the instructions was to get students to consider audience (beyond the instructor) and collaboration in writing.
Business communication is an undergraduate course that helps students understand the theory, principles, and processes of effective written communication typically encountered in business and the professions.
syllabus Fall 2007 - Minnesota State University, Mankato
syllabus Spring 2007 - Iowa State University
syllabus Fall 2006 - Iowa State University
sample teaching materials
To help students learn about the communication practices in their profession I ask them to find a professional in their field and interview him/her about typical written, oral, visual, and electronic communication tasks. The resulting memo requires students to synthesize interview data, draw links to their classes, work, and interests, and helps them identify artifacts to include in their professional communication portfolio at the end of the semester.
One of the most difficult yet rewarding assignments in business communication is the job packet. In addition to writing an application letter and a resume tailored to a job ad (students must submit the ad with keywords highlighted), I also ask them to compile a comprehensive resume, similar to a CV, that they can refer to in the future when updating their resume or applying for jobs.
In a spin on the usual proposal assignment, I asked my Fall 2007 students to respond to the student case study contest hosted by the Association for Business Communication. This year's case: proposing an alternative plan for notifying employees about layoffs regarding the infamous RadioShak layoff e-mail.
In my experience as a marketing specialist, some of the most difficult documents to write were responses to complaints. This assignment asks students to look at complaints from both sides: writing a clear, coherent, detailed complaint and responding to a request with a refusal or adjustment.
At Iowa State University the English teaching assistants are required to take a course focusing on the pedagogy of teaching composition. After successfully completing the course the TAs are given considerable latitude in planning their courses.
Because of my background in rhetoric I chose to use the text Good Reasons by Faigley and Selzer in both semesters. This text emphasizes the way to construct typical arguments like narratives, cause/effect, and proposals. Although I used a standard reader in the Fall 2006, in the Spring 2007 I chose to use a series of popular press articles to show students how the basic arguments appear in everyday contexts.
syllabus spring 2006
syllabus fall 2006
sample teaching materials
syllabus spring 2004
sample teaching materials
syllabus fall 2003
sample teaching materials
All materials copyright 2007, 2008 by Jennifer R. Veltsos. All rights reserved.