Course Syllabus

Course Overview

Basic Information:

Title: Research Methods in Professional Writing
Number: ENG 417-001
Time & Location: T&R 12:30–1:45 (MO 205)
Instructor: Dr. Jeremy Tirrell (he/him/his)
Office Hours: Morton Hall 161, T&R 11:00–12:00 and 3:30–5:00 (or by email)

Summary:

This course prepares students to complete applied empirical research projects in academic and professional contexts. Students will develop focused research questions, review major quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method approaches, and use tools designed for collecting and processing data. The course will explore different methods' capabilities and limitations as well as their ethical considerations. Students will exit the course with a functional ability to answer research questions through a variety of techniques.

This course affirms the university's guiding principles, which will frame class interactions. All class members are expected to treat each other with appropriate courtesy and decorum, and all coursework should be completed in a thorough, timely fashion. All students must read and abide by the policies articulated in this syllabus.

Catalogue Description:

Preparation and practice for applied research projects in the field of professional writing. Focus on both qualitative and quantitative methodologies including rhetorical approaches, ethnomethodologies, discourse analysis, network analysis, and usability.

Credit Hours: 3
University Studies: Common Requirements/Critical Reasoning
Course Repeatability: Course may not be repeated
Maximum Repeatable Hours: 3

Learning Outcomes:

To complete this course successfully, students should demonstrate the ability to:

understand the applied field of professional writing and its relationship to related fields of technical writing and technical communication (CR1, CR2)
critically consider texts designed to communicate technical information in terms of those texts’ target audiences
understand multiple methodological approaches to designing, critiquing, and testing the effectiveness of technical texts in terms of their audiences (CR1, CR2)
understand the purposes of such research in both academic and professional contexts and the inherent differences in these purposes (CR1, CR2)
design and implement a method to explore a research question in professional writing (either academic or professional) (CR3)
report on the research process in a formal academic document (CR3, CR4)
review and constructively critique peers’ method design and reporting (CR3)

Required Materials:

No textbook purchase is required for this course; materials will be provided electronically.

Course Policies

Technology Expectations:

ability to interact with the course website
an email account checked regularly for course-related business
a flash drive or other means to backup coursework
ethical academic use of generative AI applications

Students need not be technological experts to succeed in this course, but digital technology interaction is an aspect of contemporary society, and computer problems are not valid excuses for incomplete work. Practice the core principle of digital data use: redundant backup. Digital technology will fail; be prepared for that eventuality. (If Canvas experiences outages or other issues, the instructor will make the necessary curricular exceptions.)

Generative AI applications (such as ChatGPT) are an aspect of contemporary society in general and professional writing in particular. This course will engage with generative AI as needed, and some deployments may be proscribed. Because this course is focused upon original research and writing, it likely would not possible for such services to complete assignments wholly; nevertheless, using any prohibited generative AI deployments will constitute an honor code violation.

Students may use laptops, cell phones, and other digital devices during class, provided that they do not disrupt other students’ learning or the instructor's classroom management. This course is situated in an increasingly connected multimedia environment. Students are responsible for their own engagement with class meetings, and thus their resultant success or failure. Research such as this, this, this, and this suggests that students will be better served by not using such devices in class.

Professionalism:

This course seeks to uphold the Seahawk Respect Compact. Our culture has become conscious of the rhetorical implications of language used to name and describe beings, objects, and concepts. Students in this course have agency over how they choose to be addressed by the instructor and other class members. If students encounter challenging language in this course, they are encouraged to discuss it with the instructor either inside or outside of class. This is a rhetoric course, predicated on examining language's grounding and effects. It is a forum for such conversations.

Attendance and Punctuality:

Because this class contains a strong workshop and discussion component, class attendance is crucial. Students who are not present when role is taken will be considered absent. If there are extraordinary circumstances that will prevent a student from attending class—including illness or concern about a possible COVID-19 exposure—the student should contact the instructor. (The Abrons Student Health Center provides COVID resources and information.) There is no separate attendance component of the course grade, but any student who misses more than five in-class meetings without clearance from the instructor will fail the course automatically. Additionally, any work missed because of an absence cannot be made up without clearance from the instructor. The class abides by the maxim that all members of the class should show respect to one another by meeting at designated times and places prepared to work.

Late Work:

If an emergency arises that will prevent a student from submitting coursework on time, they should contact the instructor.

Statement on Academic Integrity:

All UNCW community members are expected to adhere to the guidelines set forth in the UNCW Student Academic Honor Code. Students are expected to produce original work in this course. Collaboration and incorporation of external material and ideas into original work is of course necessary and acceptable, but all students are ethically obliged to document external sources through appropriate citation practices. Students who are uncertain if some element of their work constitutes plagiarism or another honor code violation should speak with the instructor. The point of any class is to educate, not to punish; nevertheless, the consequences of honor code violations are appropriately dire. Please consult the UNCW Code of Student Life for more information.

Statement on Services for Students with Disabilities:

The university will make every effort to accommodate students with disabilities. Students requiring accommodations should contact the Disability Resource Center, as the instructor can take no action without its guidance. Students should do this as soon as possible, as accommodations cannot be made retroactively.

Statement Regarding Violence and Harassment:

UNCW practices a zero tolerance policy for any kind of violent or harassing behavior. Students experiencing an emergency of this type should contact the police at 911 or UNCW CARE at 962-2273 (24-hour crisis line: 910-512-4821). Students should be aware that all university employees, including instructors, are legally obligated to communicate any report of alleged sexual misconduct, on or off-campus, to the Dean of Students. Three university entities are confidential resources exempt from this obligation: CARE, the Counseling Center, and the Abrons Student Health Center.

Statement on Religious Observance:

In accordance with NC SL 2010-211, students are entitled to two excused absences for religious observances per academic year. Students must inform the instructor in writing the first week of class if they will miss any classes due to religious observance. Additionally, students should inform the Registrar the first week of class who will then coordinate with the corresponding course instructors. Any absence for religious purposes will be considered unexcused unless a student submits the request in writing the first week to the instructor or Registrar.

Course Grading

Grade Disbursement:

Students will have private, secure access to their grades through this Canvas site.

Grade Components:

Reading Responses = 38 points
Drafts & Peer Reviews = 9 points
Preliminary Research = 5 points
Annotated Bibliography = 20 points
Method Design = 20 points
Presentation = 10 points
Research Paper = 50 points
Reflection = 10 points
Poster = 10 points

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Total = 172 points

Final Course Grades:

This courses uses the plus/minus grading system on final grade reports. The breakdown is as follows:

92%–100% = A
90%–91% = A-
88%–89% = B+
82%–87% = B
80%–81% = B-
78%–79% = C+
72%–77% = C
70%–71% = C-
68%–69% = D+
62%–67% = D
60%–61% = D-
0%–59% = F