ENCS 282

Technical Writing & Communication

Summer 2
I/We would like to begin by acknowledging that Concordia University is located
on unceded Indigenous lands. The Kanien’kehá:ka Nation is recognized as the
custodians of the lands and waters on which we gather today.
Tiohtià:ke/Montréal is historically known as a gathering place for many First
Nations. Today, it is home to a diverse population of Indigenous and other
peoples. We respect the continued connections with the past, present and
future in our ongoing relationships with Indigenous and other peoples within
the Montreal community.
Course Instructor:
Emily Follett-Campbell
[email protected]

Emily Follett-Campbell is a writer and PhD candidate in the Communication and Culture
program at York University. She has a MA in Digital Innovation in Journalism Studies from
Concordia University and a background as a writer and editor.

Office Hours:
Mondays and Wednesdays, 13:15-14:15 EV 2.231

Tutorials: Please see your class schedule for details

Tutors:
Akinlolu O Oluwabusayo Ojo: CDCI TuTh 2:45PM - 4:25PM MB S1.255 SGW
Niloufar Rahbari: CDCJ MoWe 8:45AM - 10:25AM H 501 SGW
Arian Morteza: CDCK TuTh 2:45PM - 4:25PM MB S2.445 SGW

Course Calendar Description:

This course introduces essential types of professional engineering communication--technical
reports, abstracts, proposals, and scientific papers. It covers research and referencing methods
for engineers and computer scientists. Students complete an oral presentation and a major
report.

Prerequisites: The course is open to students who have passed the Engineering Writing Test
(EWT) or completed ENCS 272 with a grade of C- or higher, prior to enrolling.
Course Materials
Required Textbook:
Required Readings:

Beer, D. F. & McMurrey, D. A. (2019). “Chapter Five: Writing Common Engineering

Documents,” A Guide to Writing as an Engineer (5th ed.). Wiley.

Beer, D. F. & McMurrey, D. A. (2019). “Chapter Seven: Constructing Engineering Tables and
Graphics,” A Guide to Writing as an Engineer (5th ed.). Wiley.
Beer, D. F. & McMurrey, D. A. (2019). “Chapter Eight: Accessing Engineering Information,” A
Guide to Writing as an Engineer (5th ed.). Wiley.

Ewald, T. (2020). “Chapter Two: Technical Sentences,” Writing in the Technical Fields: A
Practical Guide (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press.

Ewald, T. (2020). “Chapter Seven: Formal Reports,” Writing in the Technical Fields: A Practical
Guide (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press.

Ewald, T. (2020). “Chapter Eleven: Technical Definitions and Descriptions,” Writing in the
Technical Fields: A Practical Guide (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press.

Ewald, T. (2020). “Chapter Twelve: Instructions, Procedures, and Manuals,” Writing in the
Technical Fields: A Practical Guide (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press.

Northey, M., Jewinski, J. & Trivett, A. (2021). “Chapter Six: Writing Without Plagiarism,”
Making Sense: A Student’s Guide to Research and Writing: Engineering and the Physical
Sciences (6th ed.). Oxford University Press.

Northey, M., Jewinski, J. & Trivett, A. (2021). “Chapter Eight: Writing Summaries and
Abstracts,” Making Sense: A Student’s Guide to Research and Writing: Engineering and the
Physical Sciences (6th ed.). Oxford University Press.

Grading Scheme

Evaluation Tool Weight

Participation/exercises/drafts
• Tutorials (10%) 10%
• Two peer reviews; visuals; in-class 5%
exercises
Mechanism or process description 10%
Instructional presentation 10%
Report on library research 15%
Innovation proposal (group score)
• Minutes based on four group meetings 5%
• 15-minute oral presentation of 10%
proposal
• Formal written proposal 15%
In-class writing evaluation 20%
100%

GRADING SCALE: GINA CODY SCHOOL (GSC) OF ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER

SCIENCE
Although a “C-” grade is designated as Satisfactory, a weighted grade point average (WPGA) of
2.00 is required for an Acceptable Standing in the Gina Cody School of Engineering and
Computer Science. A WPGA of at least 1.50 but less than 2.00 will be placed in conditional
standing.

The “C-” Rule:

All 200-level courses within the program that are prerequisites for other courses must be
completed with a C- or higher. A 200-level course in which a student has obtained a D+ or
lower must be repeated before attempting a course for which it is a prerequisite.

Tentative Course Schedule

Week One
July 2, 2024 Themes: Roles and responsibilities of professional engineers (communicating
information)
• Course outline and learning objectives explained.
• Miscommunication video
• BREAK
• The class will divide into two to complete two activities: The LEGO
Challenge (a team-building activity) and Instructions (Part One), an
individual writing assignment.
• LEGO Challenge: This well-known group activity highlights the
importance of communication. Builders construct a LEGO figure
without seeing it, using only the instructions given to them by a project
manager, who acts as the go-between between them and a designer (the
only one with the plans for the figure).
• Instructions (Part One): Individually, students will write instructions
based on a skill they can easily share. This task is designed to assess
students’ comfortability with technical writing and professional
communication and will become a working document to be used in
future classes, culminating in your Instructional Presentation
assignment.
Tutorial: Please note, there are no tutorials in the first week of classes.

July 4, 2024 Themes: Roles and responsibilities of professional engineers (communicating

information); Equity, accountability, and ethics
• LEGO Challenge/Instructions (Part One) continued
• BREAK
• Debrief and discussion
• The Transactional Communication Model
Tutorial: Please note that there are no tutorials the first week of classes.
Required Readings: Transactional Communication Model (handout)

Week Two
July 9, 2024 Themes: Critical thinking; Writing process (analyzing texts and forming
arguments)
 • Differences and similarities between academic writing, technical
writing, and professional communication.
• Overview of academic writing, including how to analyze texts and form
arguments.
• Persuasion and audience analysis.
• BREAK
• Different types of technical documents.
• Introduction to the Innovation Proposal project.
• The class will collectively complete the Community Agreement.
Tutorial: Students will choose their Innovation Proposal groups and write
Community Agreements.
Required Readings: “Chapter Five: Writing Common Engineering
Documents”; “Chapter Seven: Formal Reports”
Supplemental Materials: Community Agreements

July 11, Themes: Writing process (summarizing and paraphrasing); Equity,

2024 accountability, and ethics (plagiarism) (AI in the classroom); Information
gathering
• Library Skills workshop with Chloe Lei
• BREAK
• Plagiarism, paraphrasing, and summarizing
• AI article and discussion
Tutorial: Audience analysis activity: students will make personas for different
audience types and write two product descriptions of the same product for two
different audience types.
Required Reading: “Chapter Six: Writing Without Plagiarism”; “Chapter
Eight: Accessing Engineering Information”; AI article
Supplemental Materials: interview clip/other AI articles

Week Three
July 16, Themes: Writing process (summarizing and paraphrasing); Equity,
2024 accountability, and ethics (plagiarism) (AI in the classroom)
• Choosing sources, paraphrasing and summarizing continued.
• How to structure a summary (chronological, experiment, problem-
statement, proposal).
• Abstract writing instructions (experiment summary).
• BREAK
• In-class exercise: In their Innovation Proposal groups, students will
write an abstract. After reading each other’s abstracts, the groups will
choose their Innovation Proposal topic based on them.
Tutorial: IEEE referencing.
Required Reading: “Chapter Eight: Writing Summaries and Abstracts”
July 18, • How to structure a summary (chronological, experiment, problem-
2024 statement, proposal) and abstract writing instructions (experiment
summary) continued from last class.
• Choosing Innovation Proposal topics continued.
• BREAK
• Library Research Report instructions.
• Time to work on Library Research Reports

Tutorial: Innovation Proposal group work: In their groups, students will discuss
roles and schedules and how they will communicate with one another and keep
minutes; Minutes #1

Week Four
July 23, Themes: Writing process (technical sentences and definitions); Documentation
2024 (Mechanism and Process descriptions); Information gathering
• Technical sentences and things to keep in mind when writing them (the
passive vs. the active voice; the imperative mood; using simple
language and writing to the expertise level of your audience; preventing
wordiness; avoiding circular definitions).
• Different types of definitions (parenthetical, formal, and extended).
• Parts of formal definitions (term/class, qualifier, distinction, extension).
• BREAK
• Structure of technical descriptions and introduction to mechanism and
process descriptions.
• In their Innovation Proposal groups, students will discuss their problem
statements.
Tutorial: In partners, students will peer review each other’s Library Research
Project rough drafts; Debate instructions introduced (each Innovation Proposal
group will debate possible problem statement solutions).
Assignment Due: Minutes #2; Library Research Project rough draft (DUE IN
YOUR FIRST TUTORIAL) and peer review of partner’s rough draft.
Required Reading: “Chapter Two: Technical Sentences”; “Chapter Eleven:
Technical Definitions and Descriptions”

July 25, Themes: Professional practice and Documentation (mechanism and process
2024 descriptions) (using visuals); Information gathering; Equity, accountability,
and ethics
• Using visuals to reinforce your ideas.
• Formatting tables, figures, and graphics.
• Referencing visuals.
• BREAK
• In-class exercise: create visuals using the data provided, including one
table; one figure (chart or graph); one literal graphic (e.g., a diagram or
illustration); and one symbolic image (e.g., a flowchart).
Tutorial: Debates
 Assignment Due: Minutes #3; Library Research Project good draft
Required Reading: “Chapter Seven: Constructing Engineering Tables and
Graphics”

Week Five
July 30, Themes: Professional practice (giving clear instructions); Writing process
2024 (procedural writing)
• Procedural writing.
• Introduction to Instructional Presentation assignment.
• In-class exercise: Students will edit their instructions from the first
class, using the checklist from Chapter 12 and making and including a
procedure diagram.
• BREAK
• In partners, students will test their instructions for usability (as user
testing is an important aspect of technical writing).
Tutorial: Review: In partners, students will populate a glossary of terms
learned so far in Moodle.
Assignment Due: Mechanism or Process Description
Required Reading: “Chapter Twelve: Instructions, Procedures, and Manuals”
Supplemental Materials: Instructions examples (TBA)

August 1, Themes: Professional practice (pitching ideas to an audience); Oral

2024 presentation
• Oral presentation best practices.
• Famous pitch decks.
• BREAK
• In their Innovation Proposal groups, students will peer review each
other’s rough drafts (excluding letters of transmittal and ‘about us’
sections).
• How to write a Letter of Transmittal.
Tutorial: Professional correspondence and email etiquette; CVs and cover
letters; in their Innovation Proposal groups, students will work on their ‘About
Us’ sections. Testing rough drafts of Instructional Presentations
for usability.
Assignment Due: Minutes #4
Required Reading: “Chapter Thirteen: Giving Presentations”
Supplemental Materials: Interviews, CVs, and cover letters handout and
examples (TBA)
August 4, 2024 INSTRUCTIONAL PRESENTATION GOOD DRAFT DUE (EXTENSION)
Week Six
August 6, In-class writing evaluation/Test
2024
Tutorial: Innovation Proposal presentations
 August 8, Themes: Professional practice (pitching ideas to an audience); Oral
2024 presentation
• Mock interviews Peer review of Innovation Proposal Rough Drafts
• Pecha Kuchas
Tutorial: Innovation Proposal presentations
Assignment Due: Innovation Proposal good draft rough draft and Minutes #4 due.
Other Information Good draft due
on August 12th (EXTENSION)
BEHAVIOUR
All individuals participating in courses are expected to be professional and constructive
throughout the course, including in their communications. Concordia students are subject to the
Code of Rights and Responsibilities that applies both when students are physically present and
virtually engaged in any University activity, including classes, seminars, meetings, etc. Students
engaged in University activities must respect this Code when engaging with any members of the
Concordia community, including faculty, staff, and students, whether such interactions are verbal
or in writing, face-to-face, or online/virtual. Failing to comply with this Code may result in
charges and sanctions, as outlined in the Code.

COMMUNITY AGREEMENT
Students will also collectively and democratically define expectations of behaviour during
classes, tutorials, and group work in a Community Agreement created within the first two weeks
of class.

EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES
In the event of extraordinary circumstances and pursuant to the Academic Regulations, the
University may modify the delivery, content, structure, form, location and/or evaluation scheme.
In the event of such extraordinary circumstances, students will be informed of changes.

ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSION AND MISSED DUE DATES

Assignments should be submitted through Moodle. Graded assignments will be accepted until the
submission folder closes.

Penalties: One full percentage point will be deducted for each day an assignment is late. After
the folder closes, students may make an appointment to discuss making up a missed assignment;
however, the opportunity to do make-up assignments is not guaranteed and will be decided on a
case-by-case basis.

LATENESS/ABSENCES
Students who arrive 15 or more minutes late to a class or tutorial (or who leave 15 or more
minutes before it finishes) shall be marked “late.”

Students who are absent to class or tutorial without written permission from the University,
course instructor, or tutorial assistant shall be marked “absent.”

Penalties: One full percentage point of a student’s overall grade will be deducted for absences;
half a percentage point will be deducted for lateness.
ACCOMODATIONS
Students requiring accommodations are encouraged to contact the instructor.

Accessibility: Students requiring academic accommodations should meet with an advisor from
the Access Centre for Students with Disabilities (ACSD) as soon as possible to arrange an
accommodation plan.

Religious observances: Please see Concordia’s Policy for Students on the Accommodation of
Religious Observances.

RIGHT TO WRITE IN FRENCH

Please refer to Section 16.3.2 Language of Instruction and Examination of Academics.

ETHICAL BEHAVIOUR
Remember that quoting, paraphrasing, or using the ideas of others without proper attribution is
plagiarism. More information about Academic Integrity can be found on Concordia’s Academic
Integrity website.

DEVICE USAGE
Students may be required to complete some in-class activities and exercises, assignments, or
tests/exams without the use of a phone, tablet, or computer. In this case, devices will be placed in
students’ bags at the front of the class.

USE OF THIRD-PARTY SOFTWARE & WEBSITES

During the course, we may use external tools and resources, such as AI tools. Students are not
obliged to disclose any personal information to them. Please see Concordia’s Educational
Technology Guidelines for more information.

Students are permitted to use pseudonyms and email proxies and are encouraged to download
Concordia’s VPN, FortiClient, especially when using third-party technologies, such as social
media and productivity tools.
Graduate Attributes:
The following is the list of graduate attributes (skills) that students use, learn and/or apply
throughout the term.

Attribute Indicators
Ethics and equity • Professional ethics and accountability
• Equity
Communication • Writing process
skills • Information gathering
• Documentation
• Oral presentation
Professionalism • Role and responsibilities of professional engineers
• Professional practice
List of graduate attributes (skills) that students use, learn and/or apply throughout the term. Skills
are categorized in three levels (Introduced/Introductory, Developed/Intermediate and
Applied/Advanced). It is expected that faculty members specify the level of graduate attribute
coverage and their relationship to course learning outcomes.

Assessment Results Reported column is optional. In this section, you may indicate if you are
submitting your assessment results for the given indicator. (Please see the provided example
course outline for reference)
Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs):
By the end of this semester, students are expected to master the following communication skills
outcomes:
• Develop the ability to think clearly, critically, and analytically.
• Develop the ability to read and listen critically.
• Describe the basic norms and standards of professional technical communication.
• Show a capacity for effective writing and public speaking.
• Respond reflectively and reasonably to others and craft successful arguments.

Health and Safety Guidelines

All health and safety rules specific to this course can be found in the lab manual. General health
and safety instructions and available health and safety trainings can be found at:
Safety Programs - Concordia University (https://www.concordia.ca/campus-life/safety/general-
safety.html)

On Campus Resources
Please visit Student services at Concordia University for the services available Gina Cody School
students.