Fall 2024

ENGLISH 1112
TECHNICAL REPORT WRITING
SECTION B

Lectures: Tuesdays from 14:30 to 15:50 pm

(Zoom)
Workshops: Fridays from 16:00 to 17:20 pm
(Zoom)

Professor: Elena Ilina

Office Hours: By appointment (Zoom)
Email: [email protected]

Description and Objectives

This course aims at teaching students fundamental

communication skills required in their chosen professional
fields. Through frequent written assignments and exercises,
students will develop their composition skills and learn to
present technical information in a clear, concise, and logical
manner.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will know

how to compose and structure a variety of technical documents
typical to their fields of study. Students will also learn to

• write coherent texts using content and language

appropriate for the intended readers;
• design and format a variety of documents according to
the basic norms of written technical communication in
their chosen professions;
• select relevant sources of information for their
documents and integrate, cite, and document them
properly in the APA Style; and
• revise and proofread their written work to ensure logical
consistency and grammatical correctness.

Methodology

Lectures and group workshop activities; independent study for

grammar review; online tests; and tutoring as required at the
Writing Centre outside of regular class hours.

Recommended E-Texts

1. Hacker, D. & Sommers, N. (2019). A Canadian writer’s

reference (7th edition). MacMillan Learning.
The link below allows students to purchase access directly from the VitalSource eBook
hosting site (this allows for multiple access lengths!)

https://www.vitalsource.com/en-ca/products/a-canadian-writer-39-s-reference-with-2020-
apa-update-diana-hacker-nancy-sommers-v9781319400040

2. Beer, D., & McMurrey, D. (2019). A guide to writing as an engineer. 5th Ed. New
York: John Wiley

The access code to an electronic edition of this textbook can be purchased through the
university bookstore or directly from the publisher. If you purchase direct from Wiley, you
will be emailed the directions on how to access your e-Text through Vitalsource.

https://www.wiley.com/en-ca/A+Guide+to+Writing+as+an+Engineer%2C+5th+Edition-p-
00005191

Grading

Two (2) written assignments 30% (10% and 20%)

Ten (10) skill builders 20%
End-of Term Quiz 10%
Final technical report (take-home final exam) 40%

Types of Major Written Assignments, Weighting, and Due Dates:

1. Proposal 10% Fri. Oct. 11

2. Progress report 20% Fri. Nov. 08
3. End-of-term quiz 10% Tue. Nov. 26
4. Final technical report 40% Fri. Dec. 06

Note: ENG 1112 is a workshop course; therefore, your regular attendance of classes will
enhance your success. Furthermore, to get a credit for this course, students have to submit
their proposals, progress reports, and final technical reports on due dates. If any student fails
to submit any of the above-mentioned assignments, his/her grade for this course will be
“INCOMPLETE.”

Assignment Submission Policies

All major written assignments should be uploaded to Brightspace on the due date before
11:59 pm. Emailed submissions of major written assignments will not be accepted and
will not be graded.

Because of the frequency of assignments in this course and the importance of receiving
feedback before you submit your next assignment, late written assignments will be
accepted only within one week from the due date. The penalty for late assignment
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submissions will be 10% a day off the assignment’s total grade. No assignments will be
accepted after this one-week period.

Illness or emergencies will, of course, allow exemption from this policy, but you will have to
present a valid medical certificate and get in touch with your instructor as soon as the
exemption period specified in the certificate ends. Please note that you should submit one-
day medical exemption notes within five working days from an assignment’s due date.

Assignment Submission Instructions

To upload your major written assignments on Brightspace, go to Virtual Campus Welcome

Page, and click on “Getting Started in the Virtual Campus”; next click on files “For
Students”; and scroll down to nine listed videos. Select the last video “Assignments.” Watch
this video and follow the instructions.

Skill Builders Submission Policies

To get a 2% credit for a skill builder, students ought to attend workshops on Zoom, to
participate in Zoom workshops, and to submit the completed skill builder on Brightspace.
The completed assignments should be submitted immediately after the class ends. Late
submissions will not be accepted.

Note that skill builders are NOT graded. Correct answers to all questions will be provided in
class; therefore, any errors in submitted skill builders will disqualify students from getting a
credit.

E-Mail Policies

Please read your syllabus and your assignments carefully and do not e-mail your
teaching team if answers to your questions can be found in your syllabus and/or in your
assignment instructions.

Also bear in mind that assignments or tests submitted via email will not be accepted or
graded, and emails concerning such submissions will not be answered.

If you miss a class, consult our postings on Virtual Campus.

Note on Academic Dishonesty

Forms of academic fraud include improper, missing, or made-up bibliographical information,
passing off others’ work as one’s own, turning in the same assignment for more than one
class, and collaborative efforts when individual work is requested. ALL forms of academic
dishonesty are prohibited and if detected may result in failure of the assignment, failure of the
course, or worse. Further information may be found at
http://www.uottawa.ca/plagiarism.pdf.
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The Arts Writing Centre

The Writing Centre in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Ottawa is located on the fifth
floor of Hamelin Hall (MHN 526). Opening hours are normally 9:00 am to 5:00 pm during
the fall and winter semesters.

During the fall and winter terms, graduate assistants from the Department of English are on
hand to assist students with everything from style to grammar and the structure of their
writing assignments (check the tutor schedules). In addition, computerized dictionaries and
databases complement the Centre's small library of print material. Internet access is restricted
to academic learning activities only.

To meet with an English Teaching Assistant, you must register in person during the office
hours and follow the instructions to make an appointment. Walk-ins are accepted ONLY if
the TA has no scheduled appointments. The tutors will not edit or proofread your
assignment, but they will offer suggestions for improvement and work with you on specific
problems.

Writing Centre
MHN 526
https://arts.uottawa.ca/writingcentre/en

Academic Accommodations Service

For students who need adaptive measures

Students who have a disability or functional limitation and who need adaptive measures
(changes to the physical setting, arrangements for exams, learning strategies, adaptive
technologies, etc.) to progress or participate fully in university life should contact Academic
Accommodations Service by:

1. email at [email protected] or by calling at 613-562-5976;

2. logging into the Academic Accommodations Portal (Ventus) and completing the
intake form

The Academic Accommodations Service offers services and implements measures to break
down barriers to learning for students with physical or mental health issues, visual
impairments or blindness, hearing impairments or deafness, permanent or temporary
disabilities, or learning disabilities.

Sexual Violence: Support and Prevention

The University of Ottawa does not tolerate any form of sexual violence. Sexual violence
refers to any act of sexual nature committed without consent, such as rape, sexual harassment
or online harassment. The University, as well as student and employee associations, offers a
full range of resources and services allowing members of our community to receive
information and confidential assistance and providing for a procedure to report an incident or
make a complaint.
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For more information, visit www.uOottawa.ca/sexual-violence-support-and-prevention.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement

This course is intended to provide a welcoming and equitable environment for all students,
regardless of age, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic status,
ethnicity, race, language, nationality, religion, and culture. We should all work together to
ensure that our discussions are based on mutual respect, with the acknowledgement that while
we are endeavouring to make our learning environments more and more equitable, our
classrooms are inflected by social disparity. Creating more equitable spaces for learning at
the university involves recognizing the diversity of life experiences and perspectives that we
bring to the classroom.

TENTATIVE CLASS SCHEDULE

ENG 1112 B--FALL 2024

DATE LECTURES/WORKSHOPS READINGS

Hacker & Beer &

Sommers McMurrey

Brightspace

Sep. 06 • Welcome to ENG 1112

• Our Learning Tools: Zoom and Brightspace
• Online Diagnostic Test (to be submitted on Brightspace)

Sep. 10 • Communication for Scientists and C5: 5-88:

Engineers: Purpose, Audience, and Writing Proposals
Format Paragraphs
• Final Report Topics Brightspace
• Assignment 1: Proposal

Sep. 13 WORKSHOP: Skill Builder 1: Paragraph Structure

Sep. 17 • What is Research? A1: Brightspace

• How to Write a Strong Research Reading and
Question Writing
• Choosing and Narrowing Research Critically
Topic
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Sep. 20 WORKSHOP: Skill Builder 2: Summaries and Paraphrases

Sep. 24 Library Tour APA 4-b: 4-70:

APA List of Business
References Memoranda;

Brightspace

Sep. 27 WORKSHOP: Skill Builder 3: APA Documentation Basics

Oct. 01 • Emails, Memos, and Letters APA 2-4: Brightspace

• Basic Guidelines for Formatting Citing and
Technical Documents Integrating
• Hierarchical Headings Sources

Oct. 04 WORKSHOP: Skill Builder 4: Word Choice

Oct. 08 • Noise and the Communication Process

• Samples of Proposals
• Checklist for Proposals

Oct. 11 WORKSHOP:
1. Assignment 1 (Proposal) Due on Brightspace
2. Skill Builder 5: Integration of Quotations, Summaries, and
Paraphrases

Study week Oct. 14 -- Oct. 20, 2024

Oct. 22 • Assignment 2: Progress Report S: 5: 91

• Organization and Structure of Sentence Progress
Progress Reports Style Report

Oct. 25 WORKSHOP: Skill Builder 6: Basic Grammar

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Oct. 29 • Recommendation and Evaluation S: Sentence 7: 121-126

Reports Style Constructing
• Visuals Engineering
• Numbers Tables and
Graphics

Nov. 01 WORKSHOP: Skill Builder 7: Sentence Style

Nov. 05 • Final Report Format and Packaging G: Brightspace

• Samples of Preliminary Pages Grammatical
• Letters of Transmittal Sentences

Nov. 08 WORKSHOP: Skill Builder 8: Grammatical Sentences

Nov. 12 • Introductions and Conclusions P: 6: 103 and

• Abstracts Punctuation 114
• Hierarchical Headings
Brightspace

Nov. 15 WORKSHOP:
1. Assignment 2 (Progress Report) Due on Brightspace
2. Skill Builder 9: Punctuation

Nov. 19 • Sample Reports Brightspace

• Generating Flow
• Revision Techniques
• Checklist for Final Reports

Nov. 22 Skill Builder 10: Editing for Clarity and Conciseness

Nov. 26 END-of-TERM QUIZ

Nov. 28 Individual Consultations

Dec. 03 Individual Consultations

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Final reports are due on Friday,

December 06, 2024