Welcome to class! Let’s get through the following fun things:
- Syllabus and course requirements
- Classmate Introductions on Canvas
Class Interviews
If this were a face-to-face class, I’d have you get in pairs and interview each other to report back to class. We obviously can’t do that, but I’d still like to know about you, so get onto Canvas, and go to the Discussions tab and respond to “Class Introductions.” Please do this before Thursday, 1/12 at 11:00 pm.
- Name (preferred pronouns)
- Year (don’t put 2023–junior, senior, grad, etc.)
- Major/Minor
- Hometown(s)
- Current Job and/or Future Job (your aspiration)
- Favorite Book
- Favorite Movie
- Favorite TV Show
- Favorite Video Game
- Favorite Technology
- Most Used Technology
- What do you expect in ENGL 2116?
- Do not say an ‘A’.
- What do you want to know about Technical Communication?
- If you want to learn software, there are easier ways, so this class isn’t for you.
- Actually, just own up to it. If you’re just taking this because it’s required, just say so. Why hide it? Let me know how irrelevant writing will be in your future.
Brief History of Rhetoric
This course takes a heavily rhetorical approach to technical communication. A detailed history and analysis of rhetoric is beyond the scope of this class, but a brief history is warranted. Please go to Rhetoric, An Introduction and read the material. Pay particular attention to ethos, pathos, and logos.
Weekly Discussion Posts
This semester you’ll have Weekly Discussion Posts on Canvas. I’ll open them up individually on Mondays, and they’ll close for comments each Thursday at 11:00 pm. Set a recurring calendar reminder for the next 15 weeks, so you won’t forget to do these.
Your response to the weekly prompts should be reflective entries about your thoughts on being a technical/professional communicator who is confronting the concept of critical technological literacy (awareness). Please take careful thought in these journal entries because they may become the basis for your post-English 2116 techno literacy skills. Each week I will post a question on the Canvas discussion section to guide your thinking for your journal response; the question/topic may be specific or vague, and you may be introspective—reflecting on yourself in relation to the topic—or you can focus on outside issues. The length for weekly journal responses should be at least 250 words.
The 1st response is due this Thursday, 1/12 (before 11:00 pm), and the rest will be due weekly on Thursdays before 11:00 pm. They will open up on Mondays. I will read them. Entries that show a lack of critical reflection or incomplete entries will adversely affect a student’s grade.
I encourage you to set a reminder for the next five weeks so you won’t forget. If you miss a post, don’t e-mail me for an extension. I’ll just send you the link to this page. Set a reminder now.
You’re first discussion post is the above “Classmate Introductions” response you’ll put on Canvas. It doesn’t have to be 250 words, but the rest of the semester’s prompts must be at least 250 words.
****Set a recurring calendar reminder for the next 15 weeks, so you won’t forget to do these.****
****Set a recurring calendar reminder for the next 15 weeks, so you won’t forget to do these.****
****Set a recurring calendar reminder for the next 15 weeks, so you won’t forget to do these.****
Future Readings
Don’t forget to keep up with the syllabus. Canvas has Isaac Asimov’s “Cult of Ignorance” (1980), so read that before going onto Wednesday’s activities on critical technological awareness (January 11th’s page).
As a heads up, have Ch. 1 and 2 in Tebeaux & Dragga read for Wednesday, 1/18. You must read for this class. Your Midterm and Final Exams will have questions pertaining to the reading.