GENG-8000 (Engineering Technical Communications) Section 4 Course Syllabus

Faculty of Engineering | University of Windsor, Canada | Fall 2021 Semester

Please note: This syllabus will be reviewed during our first class meeting.

Instructor Information
• Name: Prof. Jesse Ziter
• Office: Blackboard Collaborate Ultra (Virtual Classroom): GENG8000-4-R-2021F
• Email: jziter@uwindsor.ca
• Virtual Office Hours: Wednesdays 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. or by appointment

Section 4 students may also attend Section 5 office hours on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. via this
link: https://ca.bbcollab.com/guest/37af1f116d17416fab39ac799f5b7859

Teaching Assistant (TA) Information

• Sebastian Sanchez (sanchezs@uwindsor.ca)
• Shady Gerges (gerges1@uwindsor.ca)
• Kayla Coates (coates11@uwindsor.ca)

Course Description
From the current University of Windsor Graduate Calendar:

Engineering Technical Communications will prepare Master of Engineering (MEng) students to communicate
technical information clearly and concisely, in written, oral, and graphical form. This course will include topics such
as grammar; sentence structure; organization; writing reports, letters, instructions, and proposals; referencing
sources; preparing and making presentations; and corporate culture. Students will also work in teams to prepare
written and oral communications for a major project.

Class Information
• Asynchronous Lecture Modules (Approximately 160 minutes per week)
o Location: Blackboard: GENG8000-4-R-2021F
o Day and Time: Lectures will be available at 12:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) one week prior to class.
o Students are expected to engage with asynchronous material on their own time in advance of the
following synchronous session.
• Synchronous Sessions (Approximately 80 minutes/week)
o Location: Blackboard Collaborate Ultra (Virtual Classroom): GENG8000-4-R-2021F
o Day and Time: Wednesdays, 10:00-11:20 a.m. (Eastern Time)
o Students are expected to participate in the virtual classroom during synchronous sessions
• Additional, approximate study hours: 3-6
• Estimated division of total learning hours:
o Hands-on labs and activities: 15
o Group work: 25
o Lecture: 20
o Individual work: 30
o Class discussion:10
• Credit weight: 3
• Course format: Windsor Online (Virtual)
• Pre-requisites, from the current University of Windsor Graduate Calendar: N/A

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Resources
Required Resource:
McGraw-Hill Connect Composition 5e (Online Grammar Modules and E-text Handbook) (ISBN-13:
9781260327021)

Refer to “Assignments” in BB section site for details on purchasing the access code.

Recommended Resource:
Thorsten Ewald, Writing in the Technical Fields: A Practical Guide, Don Mills: Oxford University Press Canada,
2017. (ISBN-13: 9780199021499)

Note: A newer (3rd) edition of the text is available in digital format (ISBN 9780199036905) and can be purchased through
redshelf.com. The page numbers listed in this syllabus refer to the earlier version.

The Implied Contract

The instructor will strive to
• establish an educational environment conducive to learning,
• provide quality instruction, and
• provide differentiating assessment, i.e., not every student deserves an A.

You, as a student in this class, will strive to

• prepare for class,
• attend class and engage in your instruction,
• complete the assigned work, and
• prepare for oral assessments.

Learning Outcomes
From the University of Windsor Centre for Teaching and Learning: Learning outcomes are statements that
indicate what successful students should know, value or be able to do by the end of the course or program.

In this course, students will…

Number Learning Outcome

1 …demonstrate their ability to communicate effectively in written form by practicing their writing skills
through activities and assignments.

2 …demonstrate their ability to communicate effectively in oral form by practicing their presentation skills
through activities and assignments.

3 …demonstrate their ability to use correct referencing techniques through activities and assignments.

4 …demonstrate their ability to work individually and as a member of a team to complete course activities and
assignments.

5 …demonstrate their knowledge of professional issues through discussion of topics such as ethics, corporate
culture, and audience/customer considerations, as they relate to technical communications within a workplace.

6 …demonstrate their ability to integrate the course material into the tasks necessary to complete a major project
for the course.

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 Course Asynchronous Lecture Schedule
Note: The following course schedule is approximate. Content will be released at 12:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on the date listed.
Students are responsible for viewing/completing the asynchronous lecture materials before the corresponding synchronous
session, excepting Week 1. For example, the third Synchronous Session occurs on Wednesday, September 29. Students must
have viewed the Week 3 asynchronous lecture materials, released on September 22, before attending this class.

Week Topics Related Textbook Readings

• Introduction, Syllabus, etc.; What is Technical
Communication? Why Technical Communication? Burton Essay (Blackboard)
1 (Sept. 15)
• Rhetorical Situation (Logos, Ethos, Pathos, etc.) Ch. 1 (pp. 1-16)
• Audience & Purpose
• The Writing Process
2 (Sept. 15) • Professional Communications (Routine Correspondence) Ch. 5 (pp. 69 - 80)
• Communication Channels
• Teamwork; Collaborative Writing
3 (Sept. 22) Ch. 8 (pp. 144 - 158)
• Cross-cultural Communications
• Information Literacy/Evaluating Sources
4 (Sept. 29) Ch. 9 (pp. 160-175)
• Referencing; Literature Review 
• Developing Credible Argument
• Framing Knowledge/Imposing Visible Structure (Headings)
5 (Oct. 6) Ch. 4 (pp. 49-65)
• Parallel Structure; Lists
• Rhetorical Patterns
Fall Reading Week – No Classes
• Technical Sentences and Paragraphs Ch. 2 (pp. 20-33)
6 (Oct. 20)
• Writing Clearly and Concisely, Tips for Revision Ch. 3 (pp. 37-45)
• Technical Reports and Documents Ch. 6 (pp. 84-109)
7 (Oct. 27)
• Technical Graphics Ch. 10 (pp. 177 - 190)
• Oral Communications/Presentations
8 (Nov. 3) pp. 252-257, 261-268
• Elevator Talks
• Formal Reports
Ch. 7 (pp. 114 - 142)
9 (Nov. 10) • Technical Definitions
Ch. 12 (pp. 212-229)
• Technical Descriptions
10 (Nov. 17) • Presentation Visuals (Slides and Posters) pp. 257-261
11 (Nov. 24) • Instructions Ch. 13 (pp. 232-251
12 (Dec. 1) • Employment Communications/Career Services Ch. 11 (pp. 194-210)

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Important Academic Dates

Sept. 22 Academic Add/Drop date: Last day for late registration and change of courses. Last day for
deferral request to a future term.

Oct. 6 Financial Drop date: Last day for partial tuition refund. (Refer to Financial Services.)

Oct. 9-17 Reading Week: There are no classes or regularly scheduled office hours this week.

Dec. 6 Last day to voluntarily withdraw from the course. After this date, students remain registered in
the course and receive a final grade as appropriate.

One Canadian federal public holiday occurs during the Summer semester. The University is closed on this day.
You will be able to access the Blackboard-based course materials and online University of Windsor services as
normal, but University employees will be away from their offices:

• Oct. 11: Thanksgiving Day

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 Evaluation Methods

Method of Due Date Assessment % of Related

Evaluation Final Learning
Grade Outcomes
(from table
above)
Assignments October 18 Connect Online Grammar Module (10%) 45.5% 1, 2, 5
(individual)
November 8 Individual Progress Report Memo (5%)
November 15 Individual Analysis Report Submission 1 (7.5%)
November 24 Elevator Talk Video (plus Peer Review and
Reflection) (8%)¹
December 1 Individual Analysis Report Submission 2 (10%)
December 8 Peer Evaluation of Teamwork (5%)
Assignments October 25 Team Project Problem Description (7.5%) 32.5% 1, 3, 4, 5, 6
(group)
November 8 Team Project Overview (5%)

December 6 Final Group Project Submission:

Synthesized Whitepaper (10%) ²
December 7 Team Oral Presentation Video (10%)¹ ²

Online Sept. 29/Oct. 1 Discussion Post 1/Replies (3%) 12% 1, 3, 4, 5

Discussion
Board Oct. 6/8 Discussion Post 2/Replies (3%)
(individual) Oct. 20/22 Discussion Post 3/Replies (3%)
“In-Class” Various Various exercises as announced in synchronous class 10% 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Writing sessions. Worth 0.5–2% each, as announced. Each
Exercises exercise is due before 12 p.m. (noon) (Eastern) on
(group and the day following the synchronous class session in
individual) which it is assigned.

¹ Some assignments may require students to film, upload, and share (with the course instructors and TAs) a video of
themselves. Refusal to submit a video will result in a grade of zero for the assignment. In addition, synchronous
classes will be recorded and shared within the course Blackboard site.
² The final project submission (report and presentation) is a group effort, and every individual must
contribute for a successful project.
• If your name is not on the group report, your mark for the report will be 0.
• If you do not submit a peer assessment/evaluation of teamwork assessment, your mark for the peer
assessment/evaluation of teamwork will be 0, regardless of the comments by your group members.
• The instructors can assign individual (rather than group) marks as they see fit: e.g., for those students who do
not carry their weight

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 Chronological Assessments Schedule

Note: This is the same evaluation schedule as above, but it is listed chronologically for your convenience.

Due Date Assessment Value (%)

Sept. 29/Oct. 1 Discussion Post 1/Replies 3

October 6/8 Discussion Post 2/Replies 3

October 18 McGraw-Hill Connect Online Grammar Module 10

October 20/22 Discussion Post 3/Replies 3

October 25 Team Project Problem Description 8

November 8 Individual Analysis Report Submission 1 (individual) and Overview (team) 13

November 15 Individual Progress Report Memo 5

November 24 Elevator Talk Video and Peer Review Reflection 8

Revised Individual Analysis Report
December 1 10
(Individual Analysis Report Submission 2)
December 6 Final Group Project Submission: Synthesized Whitepaper 12

December 7 Team Oral Presentation Video 10

December 8 Peer Evaluation of Teamwork 5

“In-class” writing exercises as announced. Worth 0.5-2% each, as
Various dates announced. Each assignment is due at 12:00 p.m. (noon) (Eastern) on the 10
day following the synchronous class session in which it is assigned.

Discussion Group Post | Individual Assignment | Team Assignment

Grading
Grades for the course will be consistent with the following table, per the University of Windsor Policy M5:
Marks/Grade Descriptors (☒ Graduate Course)

Letter A+ A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- F
% Range 90-100 85-89.9 80-84.9 77-79.9 73-76.9 70-72.9 67-69.9 63-66.9 60-62.9 0-59.9

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Assessment Considerations
Assignment Submission
• Assignments must be submitted via Blackboard, as instructed, except in circumstances where you are
directly told otherwise. Assignments cannot be submitted via email under any circumstances. Please
do not email your instructor any assignments.
• All assignments are due before 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the date assigned, unless specified otherwise.
(“In-class” writing exercises are treated differently—see below.) If you are participating in the course
remotely, you are responsible for translating assignment deadlines to your local time zone. Assignments
submitted at or after the exact deadline (e.g., 11:59:01 p.m.) will be marked late according to Blackboard
policy. In effect, if an assignment is due “before 11:59 p.m.” it must be submitted by 11:58:59 p.m. This
is important.

Consistency Across Sections of GENG-8000

• There are several distinct sections of Engineering Technical Communications running this semester.
These classes are taught independently by four instructors. Please take instruction regarding your
responsibilities from your instructor (Prof. Jesse Ziter) only. Do not assume circumstances described by
friends or colleagues in other sections of the course apply to your situation.

Late or Missed Assignments, Reports, or Projects

• If a student is experiencing difficulty meeting a deadline, they are encouraged to contact the course
instructor as soon as possible to discuss the situation before the deadline. Late assignments will be
deducted 10% per day up to 3 days (after which they will receive 0 marks). Weekends are included in this
count. Late discussion posts and “in-class” writing exercises will receive a grade of 0. Late Connect
Grammar Module assignments will not be accepted (i.e., you will receive a grade for the percentage you
completed by the due date).

Missed Assignments, Tests, Reports, or Projects

• Documentation must be submitted to the Office of the Associate Dean no later than 72 hours following
the absence. Documentation shall include the Faculty of Engineering Medical Form or other appropriate
documents.

Missed In-Class Activities

• Unless otherwise noted, in-class activities assigned in a synchronous session are due by 12 p.m. (noon)
Eastern Time on the following day. If a student misses a synchronous/asynchronous class, it is their
responsibility to watch the class recordings and submit any required in-class activity on time. Note that
class recordings will be posted when they are available (which may not be immediately after the class
time).

Late Registration into Course

• Students who register late for the course are responsible for familiarizing themselves with course
information that they missed prior to registration. No special accommodation will be provided for missed
assignments/assessments.

Calculators
• Approved calculator: N/A

Other Electronic Devices Aside from Calculators

☒ Electronic devices aside from calculators are NOT permitted during tests/exams.
☐ Other electronic devices aside from calculators are permitted during tests/exams.

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The Student Evaluation of Teaching (SET)
The SET will be administered in the course, via Blackboard, during the last two weeks of the semester.

Accommodation
Students with disabilities who require academic accommodations in this course must contact an Advisor
in Student Accessibility Services (SAS) to complete SAS Registration and receive the necessary Letters
of Accommodation. After registering with Student Accessibility Services, you must present your Letter of
Accommodation and discuss your needs with me as early in the term as possible. Please note that
deadlines for the submission of documentation and completed forms to Student Accessibility Services are
available on its website.

Feeling Overwhelmed?
From time to time, students face obstacles that can affect academic performance. If you experience
difficulties and need help, it is important to reach out to someone.

For help addressing mental or physical health concerns on campus, contact (519) 253-3000: 
• Student Health Services at ext. 7002
• Student Counselling Centre at ext. 4616
• Peer Support Centre at ext. 4551

24 Hour Support is Available

My Student Support Program (MySSP) is an immediate and fully confidential 24/7 mental health support
that can be accessed for free through chat, online, and telephone. This service is available to all University
of Windsor students and offered in over 30 languages. Call: 1-844-451-9700, visit
keepmesafe.myissp.com or download the My SSP app via the Apple App Store or Google Play.

A full list of on- and off-campus resources is available at  www.uwindsor.ca/wellness.

Should you need to request alternative accommodation contact your instructor or associate dean.

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 General Virtual Class Expectations

Attendance and Punctuality

Staying on top of course work (including attending synchronous sessions, reviewing asynchronous
sessions, and completing all activities) is critical to student success; students should seize the opportunity
to share and discuss information in classes. The course is designed to move swiftly and efficiently.
Students should let the instructors know of any technology issues that are persistent and prevent students
from keeping up with course work.

Communication
Students are encouraged to utilize virtual office hours and scheduled class times to ask questions. Only
emails sent from a UWindsor email address or through Blackboard will be responded to. Emails should
be sent with courtesy; they should include an informative subject line, a salutation (e.g., Hello Prof.
Name), a body, and a closing (e.g., Best regards, Name). When you email your instructor, always include
the name (GENG-8000 or Engineering Technical Communications) and section number of the course you
are addressing.

Group Work
Groups are encouraged to develop ground rules, identify roles and responsibilities, set timelines, and set
standards of communication for the group. All members of a group will attend any group meetings and
contribute to the final submission. Individuals who do not contribute effectively to the work of the group
will not necessarily receive a passing grade in the work – even if the overall submission is satisfactory.

Supplemental Privileges
☒ A supplemental examination is NOT allowed in this course.

Academic Integrity
All incidents of academic dishonesty will be documented with the Associate Dean of Engineering –
Academic. University procedures will be followed and the instructors will pursue all avenues to ensure
that every student is fairly evaluated in the this course. Such incidents may include, but are not limited to:
submission of assignments other than your own, receiving or sharing prior knowledge of test questions,
sharing or receiving information during a test by any means (including electronic), possession of any
electronic device (including cell phones) during a test except for an approved calculator, sharing or
receiving knowledge of a test with students who have not yet written the test, sharing a calculator or
formula sheet during the test, using a solutions manual to prepare submitted assignments.

Per the University of Windsor Policy on Student Code of Conduct:

“Plagiarism: the act of copying, reproducing or paraphrasing significant portions of one’s own work,
or someone else's published or unpublished material (from any source, including the internet), without
proper acknowledgement, representing these as new or as one’s own. Plagiarism applies to all
intellectual endeavours: creation and presentation of music, drawings, designs, dance, photography
and other artistic and technical works. (Students have the responsibility to learn and use the
conventions of documentation as accepted in their area of study and instructors have the responsibility
of informing students in writing of any significant individual interpretations of plagiarism.)”

Associated with on-line instruction and evaluation, the course instructor may identify academic integrity
concerns with submissions for a graded aspect of the course. In such cases, the faculty member can set up
an online meeting with individual student(s) to further assess knowledge in the given area. This online
assessment can either confirm the original mark or can be considered in place of the initial assessment to
increase or decrease the original mark. All such cases will be documented with the Associate Dean of

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 Engineering – Academic.

Use of Plagiarism-Detection Software in This Course

☒ Plagiarism-detection software, SafeAssign, may be used in this course.

1. Rationale. The University believes in the right of all students to be part of a University community where
academic integrity is expected, maintained, enforced, and safeguarded; it expects that all students will be
evaluated and graded on their own individual work; it recognizes that students often have to use the ideas
of others as expressed in written, published, or unpublished work in the preparation of essays,
assignments, reports, theses, and publications. However, it expects that both the data and ideas obtained
from any and all published or unpublished material will be properly acknowledged and sources disclosed.
Failure to follow this practice constitutes plagiarism. The University, through the availability of
plagiarism-detection software, desires to encourage responsible student behaviour, prevent plagiarism,
improve student learning, and ensure greater accountability.
2. Procedure. SafeAssign may be used for some or all student assignments in this course, at the instructor’s
discretion. You may be asked to submit your assignments in electronic form directly to the plagiarism-
detection software. Note that students’ assignments that are submitted to the plagiarism-detection
software become part of the database. This assists in protecting your intellectual property. However, you
also have the right to request that your assignment(s) not be run through the student assignment database.
If you choose to do so, that request must be communicated to me in writing at the beginning of the
course.
3. Privacy and Copyright. Your privacy is protected even if your name and/or student number is on your
assignments because the plagiarism-detection software does not make students’ assignments available to
outside third parties. Further, you retain the copyright in your work. Copyright, in relation to a work, is
defined in Canada’s Copyriht Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-42, s. 3(1), which is available on the Department of
Justice Canada website. Plagiarism-detection software use of students work complies with Canadian
copyright and privacy laws.
4. Originality Reports. If the results of an originality report may be used to charge you with academic
misconduct, you will be notified of the result of the report, and you will be given the opportunity to
respond before any disciplinary penalty is imposed.
5. Plagiarism. Information about plagiarism and appropriate acknowledgement of sources can be found at
the Office of Academic Integrity.

Commitment to Excellence
Obtaining a degree from the University of Windsor requires focus, discipline, and hard work. This class is
designed to improve your technical communication skills, not to increase your grade point average
(GPA). Grade inflation devalues the degree that you are pursuing. Therefore, final grades are non-
negotiable. If you feel that your professor has graded your work unfairly, it is within your rights as a
student to file a formal grade appeal by following specific University of Windsor procedure.

Services Available to Students at the University of Windsor

Students are encouraged to discuss any disabilities, including questions and concerns regarding
disabilities, with the course instructor. Let’s plan a comfortable and productive learning experience for
everyone. The following services are also available to students:
• Student Accessibility Services
• Skills to Enhance Personal Success (S.T.E.P.S.)
• Student Counseling Centre
• Central Academic Advising Centre
• Engineering Communication Support
• Writing Support Desk

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Bylaws and Policies
The following are links to the University of Windsor bylaws and policies. The intention is to share these
policies and bylaws with engineering students in a way that is straightforward and clear – because
our learning depends on our ability to create an environment and culture that supports our individual and
collective needs for learning and teaching.
• University Bylaws & Policies Directory
• Senate Bylaw 55: Graduate Academic Evaluation Procedures
• Statement on Sexual Misconduct:
The University of Windsor values dignity, respect and equality for all individuals and strives to
foster an atmosphere of healthy attitudes and behaviours towards sexuality, sex, and gender. The
University is committed to maintaining a healthy and safe learning, living, social, recreational,
and working environment.

All forms of sexual misconduct (included, but not limited to: verbal harassment, non-consensual
sexual contact; online harassment; non-consensual sharing of images; etc.) jeopardize the mental,
physical, and emotional welfare of our students and employees, as well as the safety of the
campus community and the reputation of the University. Anyone who has experienced sexual
misconduct deserves support. Regardless of whether the incident occurred recently or many years
ago, you deserve support now.

If you wish to speak confidentially about an incident of sexual misconduct, please contact the
Sexual Misconduct Response and Prevention Office at svsupport@uwindsor.ca. Please note, you
do not have to formally report your experience in order to receive support, resources, and
guidance. If you would like to consider filing a formal complaint with the University, or have
questions about policies and procedures regarding sexual misconduct, the Office can also provide
this information and assist with the process.

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