Fredrick, Terri

Janssen Danyi, Claudia

English

The Keep

Eastern Illinois University 
The Keep 
Fall 2019 2019 
Fall 8-15-2019 
CMN 5260-001: Science and Technical Communication 
Terri Fredrick 
Eastern Illinois University 
Claudia Janssen Danyi 
Follow this and additional works at: https://thekeep.eiu.edu/english_syllabi_fall2019 
 Part of the English Language and Literature Commons 
Recommended Citation 
Fredrick, Terri and Janssen Danyi, Claudia, "CMN 5260-001: Science and Technical Communication" 
(2019). Fall 2019. 1. 
https://thekeep.eiu.edu/english_syllabi_fall2019/1 
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the 2019 at The Keep. It has been accepted for inclusion 
in Fall 2019 by an authorized administrator of The Keep. For more information, please contact tabruns@eiu.edu. 
CMN/ENG 5260: Communication in Science & Technical Organizations 
FALL 20191 (3 credit hours) 
Instructors: Dr. Terri Fredrick Dr. Claudia Janssen Danyi 
Offices: 3070 Coleman 2544 Buzzard Hall 
E-mail: Preferred: D2L email Preferred: D2L email 
tfredrickwork@gmail.com cijanssen@eiu.edu 
Phones: 
Office Mondays 10-12 Mon & Wed 11 - noon 
hours: Wednesdays 12-1 Fri 11 - 1 
Fridays 12-1 & 2-3 
Course Description 
This graduate course looks beyond academic writing to the types of communication 
professionals use in their careers. The course will introduce students to practices and principles 
of audience-centered communication within organizational settings. The applied and strategic 
nature of this communication will be emphasized throughout the course, and students will learn 
to communicate scientific and technical information to internal and external stakeholders. Thus, 
the broad content areas covered in the class will include organizational communication, 
professional writing, technical writing, and public relations. Because this course is required for 
master's students in the Sustainable Energy progran1, the major projects for this course will focus 
primarily on energy and environmental communication. 
By the end of the semester, you should be able to 
1. Understand and apply core principles used by experienced professionals when writing or 
speaking in the workplace; 
2. Understand and apply the communication processes-such as public relations and crisis 
communication-in organizational environments; 
3. Develop strategies for communicating effectively with teams, stakeholders, and clients; and 
4. Apply principles and theories from the course to hypothetical and client-based projects, 
mostly drawn from the energy and environmental sectors. 
Texts for this Class 
• Writing in the Sciences, 3rd edition (Penrose) 
• Business and Professional Communication in the Global Workplace (Goodall, Goodall & 
Schiefelbein) 
• Articles posted on D2L 
Assignments: 
Reflections and preparatory assignments (10% of semester grade): Reflections and preparatory 
assignments will prepare you for in-class discussions and major projects. Reflections and 
preparatory assignments wili be graded based on completeness and evidence of critical thinking. 
Weekly writing/presentation assignments (4 assignments x 5% 0·• 20% of semester grade): In 
these brief assignments, you will apply the material we have learned in class to an assigned 
project or case. These assignments will be evaluated based on the criteria established for the 
assignment. 
In-class participation (10% a/semester grade): This grade will be determined based on your 
active participation in class discussions, small group work, and in-class activities. 
Environmental advocacy project (20% of semester grade): For this project, you will work in 
teams of three to develop a project that could be carried out by EIU to improve the campus's 
environmental impact. You will write a proposal to someone at EIU who could implement the 
project you propose. 
Final project and presentation (25% of semester grade for written component; 15% of semester 
grade for presentation): You will choose a final project from a range of choices. As part of this 
project, you will write a case study, grant proposal, or other document. You will then present 
your project in a formal presentation to the class. 
Grading Scale: 
900-1000 A 
800-899 B 
700-799 c 
600-699 D 
As noted in the graduate catalog, grades of A and B reflect the necessary level of competence for 
graduate credit. 
Due Dates: 
• Reading assignments, weekly writing/presentation assignments, reflections, and 
preparatory assignments will be due at the beginning of class time so you are prepared 
for the work we will do in class. Late work is generally not accepted. 
" Then environmental advocacy proposal and final project will be due on the dates/times 
listed on the syllabus. 
Please contact us in advance of assignment due dates if you have conflicts/problems and 
appropriate documentation may be required. 
Class use of Desire2Learn (D2L): 
Most course materials will be available via D2L. We may make additional materials available to 
you during the week, so please check D2L regularly throughout the workweek. 
Most assignments in this class will be turned in via D2L. If you do not know how to use D2L or 
some of its featmes, please come to our office hours for assistance. 
When possible, email to instructors should be sent via D2L email. If you are sending a large 
attachment or a document via Google Drive, you may email Dr. Fredrick at 
tfredrickwork@gmail.com and Dr. Janssen Danyi at cijanssen(iUeiu.edu. 
Absences: 
Prompt and regular attendance is expected. Students who do not attend regularly can expect that 
their final grade will be lowered. Class discussion is an important part of this course. If you must 
miss a class, you will need to advise us accordingly. We meet once a week in a condensed period 
of time, and if you can let us know in advance of an anticipated absence, it is belpful in tern1S of 
making other arrangements. Attendance is critical for success in this class. 
Academic Integrity: 
You are, of course, held to highest standards of academic integrity. Any instance of plagiarism 
will result (at minimum) in 0 points for the assignment and a report to the Office of Student 
Standards. Students are expected to maintain principles of academic integrity and conduct as 
defined in EIU' s Code of Conduct (http://www.eiu.edu/judicial/studentconductcode.php ). 
Violations will be reported to the Office of Student Standards 
Writing Center: 
Students who would like assistance with writing assignments from this or any other course may 
go to the Writing Center. The Writing Center works with students from all disciplines, majors, 
and academic backgrounds at any stage of the writing process. To make an appointment, call 
(217) 581-5929, or go to Coleman Hall, Room 3110. 
The Student Success Center: 
Students who are having difficulty achieving their academic goals are encouraged to contact the 
Student Success Center (www.eiu.edu/-success) for assistance with time management, test 
taking, note taldng, avoiding procrastination, setting goals, and other skills to support academic 
achievement. The Student Success Center provides individualized consultations. To make an 
appointment, call 217-581-6696, or go to 9th Street Hall, Room 1302. 
Information for students with disabilities: 
If you are a student with a documented disability in need of accommodations to fully participate 
in this class, please contact the Office of Student Disability Services (OSDS). All 
accommodations must be approved through OSDS. Please stop by Ninth Street Hall, Room 
2006, or call 217-581-6583 to make an appointment. 
Week Date 
Aug 2 1  
2 Aug 28 
Topics 
Introduction to the class 
Basics of human communication: What is 
communication? 
-----------·-·------------
Overview of Professional Writing Principles 
Deadlines 
Reading 
Reading 
---·--·-·----------
--
__  , ___ ,,_ -------· -�--.. -----
3 Sept 4 Communication and Organization 
Writing: internal documents 
--
-----�-
------------- =�------
4 Sept ll Organizational environments and audiences 
Communicating with external, non-specialist 
audiences 
Reflection due, reading 
Writing assignment, reading 
-------------------- ----------·---·-----
5 Sept 18 Understanding and fostering legitimacy (and Writing assignment, reading, 
reputation) 
_______ . C_.o_m _ m_u_n_i c_a_t_i n�g�v_1_·a _s_o_c_ia_l_m _e d_1_·a  .... .... _ _ _  ......... _______ _ 
6 Sept 25 Effective Advocacy Campaigns 
Ethics in com1 1_l)_n _ic_a�ti_o_n ___ _ 
7 Oct 2 Group Decision-Making 
Writing assignment (social media 
assignment), reading 
Reading, Writing assignment 
___ _ ,,_______ _ __________ ,, _ __ _ ____ __ ____________ _ 
8 Oct9 Group Decision-Making (cont); Writing reports 
--
-----
----�
-·--
-
___ 9_ 0 c_ t_l 6 ____ P_r __ e_se_ n_t_ati()_n_Workshop 
10 Oct 23 Grant Writing 
11 Oct 30 Grant Writing/Interviewing 
12 Nov 6 Interviewing/Crisis Communication 
13 Nov 13 Crisis Communication 
14 Nov20 Crisis Communication 
14 Nov 27 THANKSGIVING BREAK 
15 Dec 4 Final Presentations 
1 6  Deel! Final Presentations 
Reading, Writing Assignment (analysis 
of team mtg) 
Reading, Presentation Assignment 
Environmental Advocacy Project 
Reflection, reading 
Preparatory assignment 
Paper draft/extended outline due 
Wednesday before class 
Written final project due 


CMN 5260-001: Science and Technical Communication

Eastern Illinois University

Eastern Illinois University The Keep Fall 2019 2019 Fall 8-15-2019 CMN 5260-001: Science and Technical Communication Terri Fredrick Eastern Illinois University Claudia Janssen Danyi Follow this and additional works at: https://thekeep.eiu.edu/english_syllabi_fall2019  Part of the English Language and Literature Commons Recommended Citation Fredrick, Terri and Janssen Danyi, Claudia, "CMN 5260-001: Science and Technical Communication" (2019). Fall 2019. 1. https://thekeep.eiu.edu/english_syllabi_fall2019/1 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the 2019 at The Keep. It has been accepted for inclusion in Fall 2019 by an authorized administrator of The Keep. For more information, please contact tabruns@eiu.edu. CMN/ENG 5260: Communication in Science & Technical Organizations FALL 20191 (3 credit hours) Instructors: Dr. Terri Fredrick Dr. Claudia Janssen Danyi Offices: 3070 Coleman 2544 Buzzard Hall E-mail: Preferred: D2L email Preferred: D2L email tfredrickwork@gmail.com cijanssen@eiu.edu Phones: Office Mondays 10-12 Mon & Wed 11 - noon hours: Wednesdays 12-1 Fri 11 - 1 Fridays 12-1 & 2-3 Course Description This graduate course looks beyond academic writing to the types of communication professionals use in their careers. The course will introduce students to practices and principles of audience-centered communication within organizational settings. The applied and strategic nature of this communication will be emphasized throughout the course, and students will learn to communicate scientific and technical information to internal and external stakeholders. Thus, the broad content areas covered in the class will include organizational communication, professional writing, technical writing, and public relations. Because this course is required for master's students in the Sustainable Energy progran1, the major projects for this course will focus primarily on energy and environmental communication. By the end of the semester, you should be able to 1. Understand and apply core principles used by experienced professionals when writing or speaking in the workplace; 2. Understand and apply the communication processes-such as public relations and crisis communication-in organizational environments; 3. Develop strategies for communicating effectively with teams, stakeholders, and clients; and 4. Apply principles and theories from the course to hypothetical and client-based projects, mostly drawn from the energy and environmental sectors. Texts for this Class • Writing in the Sciences, 3rd edition (Penrose) • Business and Professional Communication in the Global Workplace (Goodall, Goodall & Schiefelbein) • Articles posted on D2L Assignments: Reflections and preparatory assignments (10% of semester grade): Reflections and preparatory assignments will prepare you for in-class discussions and major projects. Reflections and preparatory assignments wili be graded based on completeness and evidence of critical thinking. Weekly writing/presentation assignments (4 assignments x 5% 0·• 20% of semester grade): In these brief assignments, you will apply the material we have learned in class to an assigned project or case. These assignments will be evaluated based on the criteria established for the assignment. In-class participation (10% a/semester grade): This grade will be determined based on your active participation in class discussions, small group work, and in-class activities. Environmental advocacy project (20% of semester grade): For this project, you will work in teams of three to develop a project that could be carried out by EIU to improve the campus's environmental impact. You will write a proposal to someone at EIU who could implement the project you propose. Final project and presentation (25% of semester grade for written component; 15% of semester grade for presentation): You will choose a final project from a range of choices. As part of this project, you will write a case study, grant proposal, or other document. You will then present your project in a formal presentation to the class. Grading Scale: 900-1000 A 800-899 B 700-799 c 600-699 D As noted in the graduate catalog, grades of A and B reflect the necessary level of competence for graduate credit. Due Dates: • Reading assignments, weekly writing/presentation assignments, reflections, and preparatory assignments will be due at the beginning of class time so you are prepared for the work we will do in class. Late work is generally not accepted. " Then environmental advocacy proposal and final project will be due on the dates/times listed on the syllabus. Please contact us in advance of assignment due dates if you have conflicts/problems and appropriate documentation may be required. Class use of Desire2Learn (D2L): Most course materials will be available via D2L. We may make additional materials available to you during the week, so please check D2L regularly throughout the workweek. Most assignments in this class will be turned in via D2L. If you do not know how to use D2L or some of its featmes, please come to our office hours for assistance. When possible, email to instructors should be sent via D2L email. If you are sending a large attachment or a document via Google Drive, you may email Dr. Fredrick at tfredrickwork@gmail.com and Dr. Janssen Danyi at cijanssen(iUeiu.edu. Absences: Prompt and regular attendance is expected. Students who do not attend regularly can expect that their final grade will be lowered. Class discussion is an important part of this course. If you must miss a class, you will need to advise us accordingly. We meet once a week in a condensed period of time, and if you can let us know in advance of an anticipated absence, it is belpful in tern1S of making other arrangements. Attendance is critical for success in this class. Academic Integrity: You are, of course, held to highest standards of academic integrity. Any instance of plagiarism will result (at minimum) in 0 points for the assignment and a report to the Office of Student Standards. Students are expected to maintain principles of academic integrity and conduct as defined in EIU' s Code of Conduct (http://www.eiu.edu/judicial/studentconductcode.php ). Violations will be reported to the Office of Student Standards Writing Center: Students who would like assistance with writing assignments from this or any other course may go to the Writing Center. The Writing Center works with students from all disciplines, majors, and academic backgrounds at any stage of the writing process. To make an appointment, call (217) 581-5929, or go to Coleman Hall, Room 3110. The Student Success Center: Students who are having difficulty achieving their academic goals are encouraged to contact the Student Success Center (www.eiu.edu/-success) for assistance with time management, test taking, note taldng, avoiding procrastination, setting goals, and other skills to support academic achievement. The Student Success Center provides individualized consultations. To make an appointment, call 217-581-6696, or go to 9th Street Hall, Room 1302. Information for students with disabilities: If you are a student with a documented disability in need of accommodations to fully participate in this class, please contact the Office of Student Disability Services (OSDS). All accommodations must be approved through OSDS. Please stop by Ninth Street Hall, Room 2006, or call 217-581-6583 to make an appointment. Week Date Aug 2 1  2 Aug 28 Topics Introduction to the class Basics of human communication: What is communication? -----------·-·------------Overview of Professional Writing Principles Deadlines Reading Reading ---·--·-·------------__  , ___ ,,_ -------· -�--.. -----3 Sept 4 Communication and Organization Writing: internal documents -------�-------------- =�------4 Sept ll Organizational environments and audiences Communicating with external, non-specialist audiences Reflection due, reading Writing assignment, reading -------------------- ----------·---·-----5 Sept 18 Understanding and fostering legitimacy (and Writing assignment, reading, reputation) _______ . C_.o_m _ m_u_n_i c_a_t_i n�g�v_1_·a _s_o_c_ia_l_m _e d_1_·a  .... .... _ _ _  ......... _______ _ 6 Sept 25 Effective Advocacy Campaigns Ethics in com1 1_l)_n _ic_a�ti_o_n ___ _ 7 Oct 2 Group Decision-Making Writing assignment (social media assignment), reading Reading, Writing assignment ___ _ ,,_______ _ __________ ,, _ __ _ ____ __ ____________ _ 8 Oct9 Group Decision-Making (cont); Writing reports -----------�-·---___ 9_ 0 c_ t_l 6 ____ P_r __ e_se_ n_t_ati()_n_Workshop 10 Oct 23 Grant Writing 11 Oct 30 Grant Writing/Interviewing 12 Nov 6 Interviewing/Crisis Communication 13 Nov 13 Crisis Communication 14 Nov20 Crisis Communication 14 Nov 27 THANKSGIVING BREAK 15 Dec 4 Final Presentations 1 6  Deel! Final Presentations Reading, Writing Assignment (analysis of team mtg) Reading, Presentation Assignment Environmental Advocacy Project Reflection, reading Preparatory assignment Paper draft/extended outline due Wednesday before class Written final project due 

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