ENG 333 Communication for Science and Research

Jamie Larsen, Instructor

Site Navigation and Class Communication

The online Schedule is basically your jumping off point for navigating through each week this semester. I recommend that you bookmark it. You may self-pace during a week and I encourage you to not put off completing activities until the last minute on Friday night. I also ask that you not go ahead to the next assignment before the due date for the previous assignment (i.e., do not complete activities related to Assignment 2 before Assignment 1 is due). The reason for this restriction is that you will be posting and responding to online discussion forums about various readings so I want us to keep the class discussion current and relevant.

You will be using Wolfware to submit your major assignments, and WebCT to participate in class discussions, as well as talk to me synchronously using Chat during set online class office hours.

Please use the following guidelines when sending emails or posting to discussion forums:

1. Write a clear, informative subject line.
   This is especially important if you have a problem or concern. Use your subject line to get your readers' attention.
2. State your purpose clearly and in the first few lines..
   Get to the point quickly. Direct, net communication is what this course is about. A motto to adhere to in 90% of your professional communication is "Less is best." You will never get a word count or page requirement from me. Bottom-line, net writing is what we will focus on this semester.
3. Remember that sarcasm, or what you may consider a witty remark, is often misinterpreted because email lacks the body language and facial expressions to help interpret your message. This course is about developing professional communication habits. Avoid using "emoticons" such as :) or the rather cliche chat-room type acronyms. A study conducted a few years ago analyzing a corpus of email from IBM spanning all levels of employees found not one "smiley face" or other informal communication techiques. For an amusing look at the use of informal communication strategies in e-mails, you can read "Please delete those smiley-faces" by Ken Hanley, published in Computerworld, 6/2/04.
4. Proofread your email and your postings to the Discussion Forum. Your written impression is the first, and lasting, professional image that you are presenting in this DE course.