Overview
This unit introduces students to the writing skills they will need to succeed in university science and technology units. Students will develop skills in writing clearly and concisely, organising and presenting information in a logical way, and applying relevant conventions of style and grammar. Through intensive reading and writing, they will learn to critically analyse, paraphrase and summarise a range of scientific and technical texts. Students will consolidate their learning by researching and writing a report.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 3 - 2020
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Non-award unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Student feedback
Student requests for Q&A Zoom sessions for online students to be recorded and uploaded to Moodle.
Record Q&A Zoom sessions and upload them to the LNGE40064 Moodle site as soon as possible after the scheduled session.
Feedback from Teaching team
Need for earlier instructions on formatting a recommendation report in the textbook
Introduce the instructions for formatting a recommendation report in week 10 so that students can format their report when they write it rather than during final revision.
Feedback from Teaching team
Need for greater visibility of the Q&A forum
Include a link to an assessment Q&A forum on the unit Moodle site’s landing page.
Feedback from Student feedback
Student requests for fewer topic discussion forums due to study load and relevance issues
Keep the topic discussion forums that are currently at the beginning of each module and remove the rest. All assessment discussion forums will remain.
- Write in clear, correct, concise English appropriate for audience and purpose
- Identify and apply style conventions for assignment writing in scientific and technical units
- Critically analyse a range of texts on scientific and technical topics
- Identify and summarise key ideas in a variety of scientific and technical texts
- Write a report using contemporary conventions of academic writing
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 20% | |||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 30% | |||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 50% | |||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Self Management | |||||
| 2 - Communication | |||||
| 3 - Information Literacy | |||||
| 4 - Information Technology Competence | |||||
| 5 - Problem Solving | |||||
| 6 - Critical Thinking | |||||
| 7 - Cross-Cultural Competence | |||||
| 8 - Ethical Practice | |||||
| 9 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 20% | |||||||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 30% | |||||||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 50% | |||||||||
Textbooks
Technical Writing for University
Edition: 8 (2020)
Authors: School of Access Education
CQUniversity Publishing Unit
Rockhampton Rockhampton , Queensland , Australia
Binding: Spiral
Additional Textbook Information
The textbook for Technical Writing for University is available on the unit Moodle site; however we strongly advise you to print your own copy.You will need a hard copy to complete activities and take notes. The textbook cannot be purchased from the CQUniversity Bookshop. Your Access Coordinator will provide you with advice on printing options.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
c.henderson-brooks@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
MODULE 1: HEALTH
Chapter
1: You Are What You Eat
Discussion: The food revolution
What is 'technical writing'?
Written versus spoken communication
Parts of speech - Nouns and Verbs
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
MODULE 1: HEALTH
Chapter
2: Brain Power
Discussion: Neuroscience
How to write clear instructions
Introduction to sentence types
Parts of speech - Adjectives and Adverbs
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
MODULE 1: HEALTH
Chapter
3: Alternative Healing
Discussion: Complementary alternative medicine
Streamlining your writing
Parallel structure
Easily confused words
Writing numbers
Integrating visuals, editing and proofreading
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
MODULE 2: TECHNOLOGY
Chapter
4: Motion Capture
Discussion: Motion capture
Experimental reports
The Scientific Method
Writing the Introduction
Formulating and testing a hypothesis
Integrating sources
Verb tenses in the Introduction
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
MODULE 2: TECHNOLOGY
Chapter
5: The Wonderful World of Graphene
Discussion: The next big thing
Conducting an experiment
Writing the Method and Results sections
Visual representation of data
Data commentary
Conducting your experiment
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
MODULE 2: TECHNOLOGY
Chapter
6: Machines in Motion
Discussion: Exo-suits
Writing the Discussion
Writing the Abstract
Cautious language
Punctuation
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
MODULE 3: ENVIRONMENT
Chapter
7: Waste and Consumption
Discussion: The price of waste
Breaking down the assignment task
Brainstorming your response
Reading and note-making from sources
Summarising, paraphrasing and quoting sources
Academic integrity vs plagiarism
Harvard vs APA referencing
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
MODULE 3: ENVIRONMENT
Chapter
8: Energy
Discussion: Alternative Energy Sources
Locating and evaluating sources
Reports vs Essays
Structuring a report
Writing a report outline
Writing the Introduction
Spelling
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
MODULE 3: ENVIRONMENT
Chapter
9: The Web of Life
Discussion: Mankind's role in the ecosystem
Composing discussion paragraphs
Integrating evidence
Forming conclusions and recommendations
Cohesion and coherence within your report
Events and Submissions/Topic
Recommendation Report Outline
(a compulsory component of Assessment 3: Recommendation Report)
Due: Week 9 Friday (22 Jan 2021 ) 11:45PM AEST
Note: Late submissions up to Friday Week 11 (4th February 2021) will be accepted.
Module/Topic
MODULE 4: ENGINEERING
Chapter
10: Gadgets and Gizmos
Discussion: Grown-up toys
Writing the Executive Summary
Cohesion, progression and logical order
Using linking words purposefully
Completing your draft
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
MODULE 4: ENGINEERING
Chapter
11: Buildings and Bridges
Discussion: Engineering feats
Writing a letter of transmittal
Peer-reviewing with constructive feedback
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
MODULE 4: ENGINEERING
Chapter
12: Get a Move On
Discussion: Stellar transport
Formatting and polishing
Reflecting on your writing and learning
Making the final touches on your Recommendation Report
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Unit Coordinator and support lecturer: Dr Caroline Henderson-Brooks
Office Location: Rockhampton Campus 32.G.36; Phone 07 49306954
Note that I work part-time: Monday- Thursday.
Please contact me by email as first preference: c.henderson-brooks@cqu.edu.au
1 Written Assessment
Introduction
Instructions are a common part of technical writing. Students and employees follow instructions to complete tasks, supervisors write instructions and procedures for other staff to follow, and customers read instructions to learn how to use products.
Task
Your task is to write a set of instructions (600 words) for a specific task that involves several steps to complete. You should choose a task that is very familiar to you, is low risk, has an appropriate level of difficulty (i.e. not too easy, but not too hard for someone who is unfamiliar with the task to perform), and is able to be completed in approximately 10 minutes using readily available materials. Many tasks have instructions available, but you are expected to write your instructions from your own actions of performing your task. You must avoid choosing a task that already has instructions, such as a recipe, a computer game or a physical exercise (e.g. plank). You must take and use your own photographs and/or create your own illustrations as figures for your steps.
Suggestions include (but are not limited to):
- how to bathe your pet dog
- how to clean a microwave oven without chemicals
- how to cast a bait net
- how to contact cover a book
- how to raise seedlings.
Notes
You are required to seek approval from your lecturer for your chosen task by the end of Week 2. Simply submit a brief outline of the task to the Assessment 1: Instruction Approval forum on Moodle. This is to ensure that your task is safe and appropriate in size and scope.
Purpose
The purpose of this task is to:
- draw your attention to the importance of considering audience and purpose when writing technical texts
- develop your ability to write concisely and consistently using a formal and objective tone
- develop your ability to incorporate figures (diagrams, flow charts, photographs, etc.) into a document according to conventions required by CQUniversity.
Format
Your instructions must contain the following sections:
- Title
- Introduction (including a description of the task and why people do it, how long it takes, where it should be performed and any precautions or warnings - approx. 150 words)
- Materials
- Method (a list of the steps required to complete the task in chronological order)
- Hints, tips or troubleshooting advice, if applicable.
The instructions must also contain at least one figure, although more than one will be required in many cases to make the instructions clear.
Word count
600 (+/- 10%) words. The word count does not include figure titles or captions.
Full details of the requirements and grading criteria can be found in the Assessment block on Moodle.
Week 3 Friday (27 Nov 2020) 11:45 pm AEST
Vacation Week Friday (11 Dec 2020)
Within two weeks of the assessment due date or received date, whichever is later.
This assessment will be graded on the following criteria:
1. Content
- Are the instructions complete?
- Is there sufficient supporting information (background, figures, warnings, etc.)?
2. Style
- Is the language appropriate for the audience, consistent and correct?
- Are the instructions clear and concise without being too simple or too complex?
3. Organisation
- Is the information sequenced in a logical order?
- Is the document formatted appropriately?
- Write in clear, correct, concise English appropriate for audience and purpose
- Self Management
- Communication
- Information Technology Competence
- Critical Thinking
2 Written Assessment
Introduction
In scientific and technical fields, experimental reports (also known as laboratory or 'lab' reports) are a common way of describing an experiment you have conducted and discussing the results. They tend to follow a prescribed format and answer the following questions:
- What did you do and why?
- How did you do it?
- What did you find out?
- What do the findings mean?
Task
Your task is to choose one of the experiments from the three options in the Assessment block on Moodle, conduct the experiment, and then write an 800-word Experimental Report describing the experiment and discussing the results.
Purpose
The purpose of this task is to strengthen your ability to write a technical document that is clear, concise, correct and appropriate for the audience and purpose. This includes writing objectively, using grammatically correct technical language, using figures and/or tables to support your text, and following a prescribed format for presenting scientific research.
Format
Your Experimental Report must contain the following sections:
- Title
- Introduction (approx. 150 words)
- Methods
- Results
- Discussion
- References (this is not included in the word count).
The report must contain at least one table or figure, although at least one of each is likely to be required to make the report clear.
Word count
800 (+/- 10%) words. The word count does not include figure/table titles or captions.
Optional: you may also include a title page, abstract and appendices (none of these will be included in the word count).
Full details of the experiment options, requirements and grading criteria can be found in the Assessment block on Moodle.
Week 6 Thursday (24 Dec 2020) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 8 Thursday (14 Jan 2021)
Within two weeks of the assessment due date or received date, whichever is later.
This assessment will be graded on the following criteria:
1. Content
- To what degree is the task completed?
2. Style
- Is the writing clear, concise and grammatically correct?
- Has appropriate academic and technical jargon been used?
3. Organisation
- Is the organisation, cohesion between paragraphs and sentences, and presentation clear and suitable?
- Write in clear, correct, concise English appropriate for audience and purpose
- Identify and apply style conventions for assignment writing in scientific and technical units
- Critically analyse a range of texts on scientific and technical topics
- Identify and summarise key ideas in a variety of scientific and technical texts
- Self Management
- Communication
- Information Technology Competence
3 Written Assessment
Introduction
Recommendation reports are a common way of presenting information in scientific and technical fields both at university and in the workplace. They typically investigate a problem, present factual information about the problem and then make recommendations for decision-makers to address the problem.
Task
Choose one of the three options provided in the Assessment block on Moodle and write a 1500-word (+/-10%) Recommendation Report. You must submit an outline showing a coherent report plan and include evidence of appropriate research by Friday of Week 9. This is compulsory and worth 10% of the marks for this assessment. You will receive feedback from your marker. Use their feedback to identify areas for improvement and further research for your Recommendation Report.
PurposeThe purpose of this task is to consolidate your information literacy and analytical and technical writing skills by applying all of the aspects of technical writing covered in this unit, i.e. clear, concise, correct, consistent and collegial writing that is appropriate for the audience and purpose.
Format
Your Recommendation Report must contain the following sections:
- Title page
- Executive Summary
- Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Discussion (with appropriate headings and subheadings)
- Conclusions and Recommendations
- References
Sources
You are required to use a minimum of six sources. Use the sources provided on Moodle as a starting point for your research. You may refer to a maximum of two of these sources in your report. Then, you must find at least four more sources. Ensure that you only use reliable sources, such as journal articles, specialised books, government publications and reports from reputable organisations.
Note: Option 3 is an open topic, so no sources are provided on Moodle.
Word count
Your report must be 1500 words long (+/-10%). The word count is taken from the first word of the Introduction to the last word in the Conclusion and Recommendations. The word count does NOT include the title page, Letter of Transmittal (optional), Executive Summary, Table of Contents, References or Appendices (optional).
Referencing
All referencing must be in CQUniversity Harvard style.
Full details of the requirements and grading criteria can be found in the Assessment block on Moodle.
Exam Week Monday (15 Feb 2021) 11:45 pm AEST
Results will be available prior to the certification of grades.
This assessment will be graded on the following criteria:
1. Content
- To what degree does the report address the task?
- Does the content focus on the most significant issues?
- Is the content supported by authoritative, current, relevant and reliable sources?
2. Structure
- Is the report appropriately structured according to the conventions covered in this unit?
3. Language
- Is the language clear, concise and correct?
- Is the style and vocabulary appropriate for the audience and purpose?
- Are technical terms used consistently and explained appropriately where necessary?
4. Referencing
- Do the in-text citations support the ideas presented, and are they skillfully and accurately integrated into the writing?
- Is the reference list complete and accurate, and does it follow Harvard Referencing Style conventions?
5. Outline
- Does the outline show a coherent report plan that fully addresses the report topic?
- Is there evidence of sufficient and appropriate research?
- Is the information supported by relevant and reliable sources?
For a full description of the grading criteria, please refer to the information in the Assessment block on Moodle.
- Write in clear, correct, concise English appropriate for audience and purpose
- Identify and apply style conventions for assignment writing in scientific and technical units
- Critically analyse a range of texts on scientific and technical topics
- Identify and summarise key ideas in a variety of scientific and technical texts
- Write a report using contemporary conventions of academic writing
- Self Management
- Communication
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Ethical Practice
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
