1

RHET 3603: Writing for the Workplace Fall 2017

Instructor: Dr. Joe M. Hardin Office: Vines 230

Email: joe.hardin@uafs.edu Voice Mail: 479-788-7291

Office Hours: I will be on-line almost every day checking my email, which will constitute
virtual office hours. Please feel free to email me on any day at any hour with any questions;
however, please allow at least 24 hours for me to respond, although I will probably respond more
quickly than that. I will also be on campus and in my office following the schedule below. If
you need to meet with and these times do not work, please email for an appointment at another
time.

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

OFFICE ENGL 0263 OFFICE ENGL 0263 OFFICE by
12:30-1:30 9:30-10:45 12:30-1:30 9:30-10:45 appointment
RHET 4803 OFFICE RHET 4803 OFFICE by
2:00-3:15 1:00-5:00 2:30-3:15 appointment
OFFICE OFFICE
3:30-5:00 3:30-5:00

Prerequisite: ENGL 1213

Required Texts:
Markel, Mike. Technical Communication. 11th ed. Boston and New York: Bedford/St. Martins,
2015.

ASSIGNMENTS
Letters and Memos 100 points
Job Application Materials 100 points
Extended Definition 200 points
Brief Report 200 points
Instructions 200 points
Proposal 200 points

GRADING CRITERIA and SCALE

All major assignments must be completed in order to pass the course. A=90-100, B=80-89,
C=70-79, D=60-69, F=0-59

ATTENDANCE
This is a full online course, but it is NOT a work-at-your-own-pace course. In order to do well
in this course, you will need to check your email every few days at the very least. I would
recommend checking your email every day. Work is due on the due date posted. You may work
ahead, but if complete assignments too far before the due date, you may not have the benefit of
important updates and clarifications.

LATE ASSIGNMENTS
 2

If you realize that you may be late with an assignment, please tell me before the due date, if
possible. Otherwise, I may penalize the assignment up to 10% of its value. As you must
complete all the major assignments to pass the class, do not miss turning one in, no matter how
late or you will fail the course.

ADA STATEMENT
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), UA Fort Smith seeks to provide
reasonable accommodations and services to students who have documented exceptionalities.
Students who believe they are eligible to declare a disability for the purpose of requesting and
receiving accommodations must submit all required documentation of their disability to Roger
Young, ADA Coordinator, for validation. Mr. Young will develop an individualized plan for
reasonable accommodation in learning and testing for all students qualifying for accommodation.
Mr. Young can be reached at 479-788-7577.

RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES

Following is a schedule for reading assignments and due dates for major written assignments
only. You will also be expected to view other posted material such as handouts, powerpoints,
videos, etc. The instructor reserves the right to make changes in the syllabus and/or schedule
when necessary to meet learning objectives, to compensate for missed classes, or for similar
reasons.

Week I August 21-27

Read 3-15 Introduction to Technical Writing (all reading assignments listed here are for the
required textbook).
Read 359-381 Writing Correspondence.

Week II August 28-September 3

Reading 42-55 Writing Technical Documents.
Letters and Memos Due Midnight September 3.

Week III September 4-10

Read 386-415 Writing Job Application Materials.

Week IV September 11-17

Read 83-103 Analyzing Your Audience and Purpose.
Job Application Materials Due Midnight September 17.

Week V September 18-24

Read 250-280 Designing Print Documents.
Read 295-Creating Graphics.

Week VI September 25-October 1

Read 535-545 Writing Definitions.

Week VII October 2-8

 3

Extended Definition Due Midnight October 8.

Week VIII October 9-15

Informational Reports: Reading 446-453.

Week IX October 16-22

No Reading Assignment.

Week X October 23-29

Brief Report Due Midnight October 29.

Week XI October 30-November 5

Read 551-569 Writing Instructions

Week XII November 6-12

Instructions Due Midnight November 12.

Week XIII November 13-19

Read 171-188 Communicating Persuasively.
Read 420-435 The Logistics of Proposals.

Week XIV November 20-26

No Reading Assignment.

Week XV November 27-December 5

No Reading Assignment.

Final Exam Week

Proposal Due (exact date to be announced).