Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2017 - ENSC 105W D100

Process, Form, and Convention in Professional Genres (3)

Class Number: 4576

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 5 – Dec 4, 2017: Mon, Wed, Fri, 12:30–1:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Corequisites:

    CMPT 106, ENSC 100 or ENSC 106.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

The course teaches fundamentals of informative and persuasive communication for professional engineers and computer scientists in order to assist students in thinking critically about various contemporary technical, social, and ethical issues. It focuses on communicating technical information clearly and concisely, managing issues of persuasion when communicating with diverse audiences, presentation skills, and teamwork. Students with credit for CMPT 105W, ENSC 102 or MSE 101W may not take ENSC 105W for further credit. Writing.

COURSE DETAILS:

ENSC 100W (Engineering, Technology, and Society) is co-requisite with ENSC 105W. ENSC 105W shares teaching assistants, design labs, and some assignments with ENSC 100, and it provides support for the written and oral assignments undertaken for ENSC 100. ENSC 105W also provides a general orientation to university and to the School of Engineering Science. This blended course has both face-to-face and on-line components. You are required to log on to Canvas at least three times per week and check your SFU e-mail daily. As well, regular attendance to lectures is required and on-line/lecture participation is graded.  

Note: If you are not registered in ENSC 100W but only in ENSC 105W, please drop by and see me during the first two weeks of class so that I can outline some of the issues of which you need to be aware.
During the semester, we will cover the following topics:  

  • Rhetorical principles and strategies
  • Netiquette and computer security
  • Critical and creative thinking
  • Referencing conventions
  • Technical writing styles
  • Research strategies
  • Academic integrity
  • Writing processes
  • Form and format
  • Punctuation Oral presentations
  • Poster presentations
  • WHMIS certification
  • Engineering conventions
  • Resumes and cover letters
  • Teamwork and professionalism
  • Engineering Science orientation
  • Study skills and time management

Grading

  • Copyright & Plagiarism Canvas Modules Pass/Fail%
  • Preliminary Assignment 1: Research Question & Audience Definition 5%
  • Preliminary Assignment 2: Draft Introduction & Reference List 5%
  • Informative Research Paper 20%
  • Quiz 1 10%
  • Submission to Turnitin.com for both informative and persuasive paper Pass/Fail%
  • Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) Pass/Fail%
  • Bridging Online One: Participation, Cover Letter, and Resume 15%
  • Quiz 2 10%
  • Persuasive Research Paper 25%
  • On-line/In-class Participation 10%

NOTES:

Please Note: All late assignments will be penalized 10% per day (or part thereof) late. This policy is strictly enforced. If you are going to be away, you are more than welcome to hand your assignment in early. No make-up assignments will be given. In the event of extenuating circumstances (illness or accident), supporting documentation will be required and will be verified.  

All assignments must be successfully completed to pass the course. Anyone who does not fulfill all requirements will receive an N, which is considered an F for scholastic purposes. At the discretion of your instructor, an N can be changed to a letter grade if course requirements are completed and evaluated prior to the fifth day of classes of the following semester.


If you believe the grade you have received for an assignment to be unfair, you should first talk with your TA. If the issue is not resolved, you may bring the assignment to your instructor for reassessment within 2 weeks. Please note that the instructor may raise, lower, or maintain your grade.

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Stevenson, S. and S. Whitmore. 2002. Strategies for Engineering Communication. John Wiley and Sons. Copies are available for purchase at the SFU Bookstore or for 4 hour loan at the SFU library.

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS