Faculty Syllabus

ENGL-2311 Technical and Business Writing

John Cox


Credit Spring 2026

Section(s)

ENGL-2311-051 (48848)
LEC TuTh 9:00am - 10:20am RRC RRC1 1208.00

Course Requirements

  • Communication Skills

Develop, interpret, and express ideas and information through written, oral and visual communication that is adapted to purpose, structure, audience, and medium.

  • Critical Thinking Skills

Gather, analyze, synthesize, evaluate and apply information for the purposes of innovation, inquiry, and creative thinking.

  • Personal Responsibility

Identify and apply ethical principles and practices to decision-making by connecting choices, actions and consequences.

  • Social Responsibility (Civic and Cultural Awareness)

Analyze differences and commonalities among peoples, ideas, aesthetic traditions, and cultural practices to include intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities.

  • Teamwork

Consider different points of view to work collaboratively and effectively in pursuit of a shared purpose or goal.

Readings

All readings will either be provided by me in Blackboard or will come from a free, open access textbook online. I have included the link below and it is also available on our Blackboard site.

https://openoregon.pressbooks.pub/technicalwriting/front-matter/acknowledgements/

Course Subjects

Business and technical writing is all around us, from the emails we send every day, the signage in our hallways, to the manual we use to put together our furniture. This type of writing is unique in that we rarely pause to consider who has authored it, if it's credible, and how the context surrounding the document influences its efficacy. However, this automatic acceptance is a result of carefully crafted messages, and the choices we make when we construct these documents can have amazing-- or disastrous-- results.

ENGL 2311 is an introduction to the forms and processes involved in business and technical writing. In our course, we'll investigate how key considerations of audience, purpose, context, and credibility influence the efficacy of these documents. We’ll also investigate how we can use rhetorical knowledge, research, design principles, technical skills, and effective writing processes to craft effective professional and technical communication. You will leave this course understanding how to communicate, collaborate, and learn more effectively in your places of work.

Student Learning Outcomes/Learning Objectives

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Analyze audience, purpose, and context for technical and professional communication projects.
  • Craft effective communication using rhetorical principles.
  • Use effective information design for documents and graphics creation.
  • Assess and select suitable technologies for communication.
  • Select appropriate sources based on audience, context, and purpose.
  • Gather and assess information from diverse perspectives.
  • Assess information accuracy, authority, currency, and perspective.
  • Attribute original ideas and cite sources appropriately.
  • Evaluate ethical responsibilities in technical communication and apply this knowledge to create effective deliverables.
  • Analyze cultural and environmental differences in professional communication.
  • Design easy-to-read and navigable documents.
  • Edit for technical style and correctness.
  • Collaborate with peers to create effective technical and professional communication projects. 
  • Reflect on the writing process and personal growth to become a more effective and engaged communicator 

Office Hours

T 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM RRC 1205

NOTE Will also be holding hours at HYS 1204.06 on Thursdays from 4:30PM-6:00PM.

Office Hours

T 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM RRC 1205

NOTE Will also be holding hours at HYS 1204.06 on Thursdays from 4:30PM-6:00PM.

Published: 01/29/2026 13:48:09