EAC625 - Effective Communications for Engineers
| Semester | |
| School | |
| Last revision date | 2024-01-29 01:01:35.199 |
| Last review date | 2024-02-05 00:15:05.761 |
Subject Title
Effective Communications for Engineers
Subject Description
This course teaches important skills for effective written and oral communications of technical information. It distinguishes between academic and technical (job-related) writing and guides the students through proven steps to enhance the effectiveness of their various written technical communications. The course also provides a practical approach for planning and structuring technical oral presentations. Students get to use this approach and to practise these techniques.
Credit Status
ONE CREDIT. (Not applicable to Day Diploma or FCE Equivalent Programs. Not equivalent to EAC390.)
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this subject the student will be able to:
1. Effectively plan, structure, and organize technical information for presentation to various audiences
2. Employ communication techniques that appeal to the senses and experiences of his/her audience
3. Demonstrate the value of the guidelines that this course provides
4. Understand and follow the concepts of culture, usability, and strategic planning in the presentation of professional-related documents
Academic Integrity
Seneca upholds a learning community that values academic integrity, honesty, fairness, trust, respect, responsibility and courage. These values enhance Seneca's commitment to deliver high-quality education and teaching excellence, while supporting a positive learning environment. Ensure that you are aware of Seneca's Academic Integrity Policy which can be found at: http://www.senecapolytechnic.ca/about/policies/academic-integrity-policy.html Review section 2 of the policy for details regarding approaches to supporting integrity. Section 2.3 and Appendix B of the policy describe various sanctions that can be applied, if there is suspected academic misconduct (e.g., contract cheating, cheating, falsification, impersonation or plagiarism).
Please visit the Academic Integrity website http://open2.senecac.on.ca/sites/academic-integrity/for-students to understand and learn more about how to prepare and submit work so that it supports academic integrity, and to avoid academic misconduct.
Discrimination/Harassment
All students and employees have the right to study and work in an environment that is free from discrimination and/or harassment. Language or activities that defeat this objective violate the College Policy on Discrimination/Harassment and shall not be tolerated. Information and assistance are available from the Student Conduct Office at student.conduct@senecapolytechnic.ca.
Accommodation for Students with Disabilities
The College will provide reasonable accommodation to students with disabilities in order to promote academic success. If you require accommodation, contact the Counselling and Accessibility Services Office at ext. 22900 to initiate the process for documenting, assessing and implementing your individual accommodation needs.
Camera Use and Recordings - Synchronous (Live) Classes
Synchronous (live) classes may be delivered in person, in a Flexible Learning space, or online through a Seneca web conferencing platform such as MS Teams or Zoom. Flexible Learning spaces are equipped with cameras, microphones, monitors and speakers that capture and stream instructor and student interactions, providing an in-person experience for students choosing to study online.
Students joining a live class online may be required to have a working camera in order to participate, or for certain activities (e.g. group work, assessments), and high-speed broadband access (e.g. Cable, DSL) is highly recommended. In the event students encounter circumstances that impact their ability to join the platform with their camera on, they should reach out to the professor to discuss. Live classes may be recorded and made available to students to support access to course content and promote student learning and success.
By attending live classes, students are consenting to the collection and use of their personal information for the purposes of administering the class and associated coursework. To learn more about Seneca's privacy practices, visit Privacy Notice.
Prerequisite(s)
A strong command of English is required.
Topic Outline
Students will be given classroom instructions, exercises, and assignments in such areas as direct and indirect writing strategies, short reports, long reports, and external proposals, and different types of correspondence, including letters, memos, and email.
Mode of Instruction
The main mode of instruction is by classroom lectures. Students are given opportunities, via in-class and home assignments, to practice the ideas presented.
In-class participation and practice in response to specific situations are important for success in this subject
Prescribed Texts
All students should possess and regularly use both a thesaurus and a good English dictionary.
Students are referred to the following web site for the Seneca College Library Research Guide and Guide to Integrating Quotations
http://seneca.libguides.com/mla
Reference Material
Pfeiffer, William S. Technical Writing: A Practical Approach. MacMillan.
Blicq, Ronald. Guidelines for Report Writing, (current edition). Prentice-Hall.
Pfeiffer, William S. Proposal Writing: The Art of Friendly Persuasion. MacMillan.
Maimon, Elaine, et al. A Writer's Resource: A Handbook for Writing & Research. 2st Canadian Ed.
Student Progression and Promotion Policy
http://www.senecapolytechnic.ca/about/policies/student-progression-and-promotion-policy.html
Grading Policyhttp://www.senecapolytechnic.ca/about/policies/grading-policy.html
| A+ | 90% to 100% |
| A | 80% to 89% |
| B+ | 75% to 79% |
| B | 70% to 74% |
| C+ | 65% to 69% |
| C | 60% to 64% |
| D+ | 55% to 59% |
| D | 50% to 54% |
| F | 0% to 49% (Not a Pass) |
| OR | |
| EXC | Excellent |
| SAT | Satisfactory |
| UNSAT | Unsatisfactory |
For further information, see a copy of the Academic Policy, available online (http://www.senecapolytechnic.ca/about/policies/academics-and-student-services.html) or at Seneca's Registrar's Offices. (https://www.senecapolytechnic.ca/registrar.html).
Modes of Evaluation
To be successful in this course, you must complete all course work as specified and achieve an overall grade of 50% or higher. For further information on evaluation and academic standing, see a copy of the Academic Policy available at Seneca registration offices.
Term Work:
The term work will constitute 75% of the final grade. The instructor's class schedule will indicate the nature of the weekly activities as well as the assignments, their due dates, and their value. All assignments must be correctly documented using MLA criteria - in-text citations for quotes and paraphrasing; MLA Works Cited Page -- and follow the criteria established by the instructor, unless otherwise notified.
All term work assignments must be completed prior to the time of the examination. Unless students have been granted an extension in advance, late take-home assignments will be penalized accordingly. There is no provision for rewriting late assignments, regardless of the grade awarded. Students must contact faculty in advance of due date to discuss extensions.
Make-up opportunities for in-class assignments (in-class essays, seminars) must also be made in advance of the scheduled due date. If the in-class assignment is missed due to class absence, any official documentation that might be grounds for arranging a make-up opportunity must be submitted to the faculty member on or before the next scheduled class. Make-up opportunities do not apply to all graded assignments.
Grading scheme:
| Report Assignments (x3) | 40% |
| Presentation (Individual) | 15% |
| Presentation (Team) | 20% |
| Major Collaborative Report | 25% |
Student Success:
Please come prepared to participate in class. Make sure you bring your course text to each class, participate in class discussions, hand in any assigned work on time and attend each and every class.
Following these suggestions will increase your chances of success.