Select one of the options below:
Computer technology provides powerful tools for processing textual and graphic content for professional and technical communication. In daily professional life, written documents are used to inform, persuade, and report to others about key activities; both inside an organization and externally. However, beyond basic spelling and grammar checkers, the computer does not necessarily make the student a better writer. The purpose of this course is to improve the writing ability of students in their professional communication with others.
This course provides experience and feedback on writing effective and concise memos, emails, letters, reports, technical papers, and other written communications essential in any professional field. It also includes extensive information on using the Internet as a writing and research tool. After receiving instruction on writing style and document formatting, online students complete a series of writing projects that are critiqued and returned by the instructor.
Textbooks and Materials:
Practical Strategies for Technical Communication, 4th Ed. (2022) Markel, M. & Selber, S.
This course meets the All-University Core Curriculum (AUCC) requirements for Advanced Writing (Category 2) and is approved under gtPathways in the content area of Advanced Writing (GT-CO3).
CO 150 or HONR 193.
Please check the CSU Bookstore for textbook information. Textbook listings are available at the CSU Bookstore about 3 weeks prior to the start of the term.
patricia.burke-lund@colostate.edu
Patti has been an online instructor for the Department of Journalism and Media Communication at Colorado State University since 2008. She has over 10 years of web design, content development, editing, and management experience that she is eager to share with her students. A proud first-generation student, one of Patti’s passions is supporting students to reach their higher education goals.
Designated as an expert in online teaching and learning by CSU's Institute for Teaching and Learning, Patti was nominated to be a facilitator for several professional development courses offered to faculty to assist colleagues in designing online courses. In addition to teaching for CSU, Patti has worked with the University of Delaware's IT Department as an Instructional Designer and Web Designer, she has taught Web Design and Editing at the New Jersey Institute of Technology and Rutgers University, and has also served as an Assistant Director and Website Manager for the Department of Career Services at Rutgers University.
Patti earned an M.Ed. in Education and Human Resources, with a certification in Adult Education and Training, from Colorado State University and a B.A. in Psychology, with a minor in Communication, from Rutgers University. Most recently she completed a Quality Matters certification that was directly applied to her online course design. You can learn more about Patti's background on LinkedIn.
9704910612 | Kimberly.Spencer@colostate.edu
Kim Spencer is an instructor with CSU’s Department of Journalism and Technical Communication. She received both her B.A. (journalism) and M.A.(English) degrees from the University of Northern Colorado. Kim’s professional experiences include stints as daily newspaper reporter, features writer, section editor, city editor, and company magazine editor. She specializes in reporting and editing, layout and design.
Jack Kennedy advised student media for over 30 years and his students earned hundreds of state and national honors for their work. He was named 1993 High School Journalism Teacher of the Year by the Dow Jones Newspaper Fund and was state journalism adviser of the year in both Iowa and Colorado. He has led instructional sessions and workshops in over 20 states and three foreign countries and written extensively about all aspects of advising. He continues to critique student media and judge contests across the country.
