COLLEGE OF ARTS, SCIENCES, AND EDUCATION

DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGES, LITERATURE

AND COMMUNICATION

COURSE GUIDE

Course / ENGLISH 014 – Technical Writing Credit Units 3

Section Total Hours 54
Term Offered 1st Semester SY 2022-2023 Target CEFR Level B2
Instructor LYSTER T. RAMOS
Pre-Requisite/s English 031 (Purposive Communication)
Co-Requisite/s None
Course Description
This course provides students with a background on the principles of effective technical writing in
order to equip them with the skills set needed to write technical reports, descriptions of graphic
illustrations (i.e. maps, pie charts, process/flow chart, table, functions of a mechanism/how
something works, bar/line graphs), business letters and emails for internal workplace
communications as well as external business-to-business and business-to-consumer
communications, end-user guides and manuals, and research abstracts using the appropriate
style, format and tone that resonate with the intended audience/reader.
Course Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course, the students should be able to:

CLO1: distinguish technical writing from other forms of writing;

CLO2: practice essential writing techniques that produce easy-to-read and easy-to-understand
technical documents;
CLO3: construct different kinds of technical documents in a clear and concise manner
employing the proper styles of citing sources;
CLO4: identify their target audience and craft documents that resonate with that audience using
the appropriate style, format and tone;
CLO5: appreciate the value of developing technical writing skills as a necessary tool to succeed
in the workplace.
Topics and Intended Learning Outcomes
Topics Intended Learning Outcomes
Topic 1 – Introduction to Technical LO1: Define what technical writing is and what it is not.
Writing LO2: Describe the different types of technical writing.
LO3: Apply the principles and strategies for effective
writing in producing different types of technical
documents.
Topic 2 – Plagiarism LO1: Explain what plagiarism is and why it should be
avoided when writing technical papers.
LO2: Compare and contrast different types of
plagiarism.
LO3: Value intellectual honesty by upholding
intellectual property laws as applied in academic
writing.
Topic 3 – Citing Sources Using APA LO1: Distinguish between MLA and APA styles of
and MLA citations.
LO2: Classify citation styles according to kinds.
 LO3: Apply the rules of proper citation for both styles
through varied writing exercises.
Topic 4 – Describing Graphic LO1: Identify the different types of graphic illustrations
Illustrations commonly described in technical reports and
presentations.
LO2: Compose complete, unified, coherent, accurate
and grammatically correct descriptions of graphic
illustrations using the appropriate style and format
and including only relevant details.
LO3: Provide a clear overview that fits each kind of
graphic illustration.
Topic 5 – Internal Workplace LO1: Outline the parts of a business letter, email or
Communications and memorandum.
External Business-to- LO2: Write clear and concise memos, letters and
Business and Business-to- Emails for internal office/company
Consumer Communications communications as well as for external
communications.
Topic 6 – User Guides and Manuals LO1: Create an effective owner’s guide for end users
that is easy-to-read and easy-to-understand.
LO2: Design an effective layout that aids end-user
experience.
Topic 7 – Research Abstracts LO1: Discuss the purpose of an abstract.
LO2: Organize abstracts according to their proper
structure.
LO3: Summarize the most significant points of a
Research paper, technical paper or article
succinctly.

MADE4Learners FRAMEWORK
Approach Distance Distance  Online Online
Blended Blended
Technical  Hardware: PC / laptop, and/or Smartphone capable of text, call, email,
Requirements Messenger, Moodle, MS Teams, & PDF reader
 Materials, etc.: Wifi connection at home or internet access (wired LAN
connection ideal)
Communication  MS Teams, Moodle, E-mail
Means  Learning Management System: Moodle
Reminders  Students must be responsible and disciplined to do self-directed learning.
 The learning activities will be uploaded in Moodle and MS Teams.
 Submission of output/s is every Friday and should be submitted through
the varied platforms or learning management systems.
 The student must have the capability to do video conferencing.

PLAN OF LEARNING
Week Topic Teaching / Learning Output / Formative Assessment Tools
No. Activities Assessment
1 1 Introduction to Technical  Quizz  English Score app
08/29- Writing  Game  Grammar
09-02  Group activity Diagnostic Test
(Google form)
 Rubric
 2 2 Plagiarism  Summarizing a  Rubric
09/05- paragraph,
09/09  paraphrasing a
sentence,
 using direct quotes
employing the “I Do, We
Do, You Do” format
3 Citing Sources Using APA  Think-Pair-Share  Rubric
and MLA
3 4 Describing Graphic  Writing an overview  IELTS Writing
09/12- Illustrations  Writing an introduction by Public Band
09/16 paraphrasing the task Descriptors
prompt (Assessment
 Practice exercises Criteria)
4 Mid-term Exam  Mock Test (IELTS-type
09/21- Academic Writing Task 1)
09/24
5 5 Internal Workplace  Memos  E-portfolio
09/26- Communications and  Emails
09/30 External Business-to-  Business letters
Business and Business-
to-Consumer
Communications
6 6 User Guides and Manuals  Illustrated End-User  E-portfolio
10/03- Guide
10/07
7 7 Research Abstracts  Abstracts of scientific or  Rubric
10/10- technical papers
10/14
8 Final Requirement  Curriculum Vitae with  IELTS Writing
10/19- Cover Letter of Public Band
10/22 Application Descriptors
 Rubric
 E-portfolio

GRADING SYSTEM

Midterm Grade = FA (70%) + SuA (30%)

where:

Formative Assessment = Class Standing

Summative Assessment = Midterm Exam

Final Grade = MG (40%) + FA (40%) + SuA (20%)

where:

Midterm Grade
Formative Assessment = Class Standing
Summative Assessment = Final Requirement
 Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR)

Target CEFR Level

Current CEFR Level of students in the class:

C1 – 24.56 % 54.38 % of target achieved B1 – 29.82 % 45.6 % of class needs to reach target
B2 – 29.82 % A2 – 15.78 %