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Technical Writing - Unit Plan

Presented by Marci Sabin

Presented for Dr. Andrea Bowman

Central Washington University

EDCS 311

3.14.00

Context

This integrated unit plan is specially made and designed for a medium to small school.  The community is located in a rural section of Washington State.  The majority of the students' parents are employed in some type of agricultural profession.  The majority of students have goals to attend either college or technical school.  In order to succeed, a person must know computer programs.  The class is Office Procedures and Technology.  Several different topics relating to Business will be taught.  We will also delve into keyboarding practice.

In the classroom, there will be 15-20 students.  They will be juniors and seniors.  The prerequisite is Keyboarding.  The class will be taught everyday for 90 minutes.  In the classroom, there is the opportunity to have students with special needs.  If so, they will be integrated into the main curriculum with some adjustments.

A great way for students to develop social and responsible skills is by participating in a service learning project.  The project for this class will be to type and prepare the programs for all sporting events during the semester.  The students will learn how to type a professional document and this will also help the school secretary save typing time.  The students will feel responsible and a part of the sporting events by accomplishing these programs.  Their typing skills will also increase.

Overview

The units already covered have been Communication and High Tech Workplace.  The next topic to learn about is Technical Writing.  Every aspect of the job market is filled with opportunities to write.  Some jobs write more than others do.  Each job writes a bit differently and have there own sense of communication style, but the majority of them use some type of technical writing style.  Technical Writing will help engage the students thinking process and teach them a many tips with writing.   Students need to increase and refine their ability to write.

The concept covered in this integrated topic is to inform and teach the student what technical writing is. The skills that the students should develop are to enhance their own learning style by incorporating the knowledge learned in a personal career packet.

Many EARLS are incorporated with writing.  All the EARLS will use Benchmark 3.  The EARLS that will be fulfilled are the following:

                English:  Writing

1.1                 Develop concept and design

1.2                 Use style appropriate to the audience and purpose

1.3                 Apply writing conventions

2.1                 Write for different audiences

2.2                 Write for different purposes

2.3                 Write for a variety of forms

2.4                 Write for career applications

3.1                 Prewritten to generate ideas and gather information

3.2                 Draft to elaborate on a topic and supporting ideas

3.3                 Revise by collecting input and enhancing text and style

3.4                 Edit by using resources to correct spelling, punctuation, grammar, and usage

3.5                 Publish by selecting a publishing form and producing a completed writing project to share with a chosen audience.

4.1                 Assess own strengths and needs for improvement

4.2                 Seek and offer feedback

English:  Reading

1.1                 Use word recognition and work meaning skills to read and comprehend text

1.2                 Build vocabulary through reading

1.3                 Read fluently adjusting reading for purpose and material

1.4                 Use features of nonfiction text and computer software, such as titles, heading, pictures, maps, and charts, to find and understand specific information

2.1                 Comprehend important ideas and details

2.2                 Expand comprehension by analyzing, interpreting, and synthesizing information and ideas

2.3                 Think critically and analyze author's use of language, style, purpose, and perspective

3.1                 Read to learn new information

3.2                 Read to perform a task

3.4                Read for career applications

4.1                 Assess strengths and need for improvement

4.2                 Seek and offer feedback to improve reading

English:  Communications

1.2                 Listen and observe to gain and interpret information

1.3                 Check for understanding by asking questions and paraphrasing

2.1                 Communicate clearly to a range of audiences for different purposes

2.2                 Develop content and ideas

2.4                 Use effective language and style

2.5                 Effectively use action, sound, and/or images to support presentations

3.1                 Use language that is accurate to interact effectively and responsibly with others

3.2                 Work cooperatively as a member of a group

4.1                 Assess strengths and need for improvement

4.2                 Analyze mass communication

4.3                 Analyze how communication is used in career settings

Social Studies: History

2.1                 Investigate and research

2.2                 Analyze historical information

Social Studies: Geography

1.1                 Use and construct maps, charts, and other resources

The Arts

1.2                 Use and develop arts skills and techniques to solve problems and express ideas

3.1                 Use image, sound, action, and movement through the arts to express individual ideas for a specific purpose

3.2                 Use combinations of art forms to communicate in multimedia formats

4.4                 Use art skills and knowledge to present ideas, inform, persuade

The unit goals to fulfill is for each student to be able to write a persuasive business letter, write a memo, define the difference between letter formats, and type a report in the proper format.  The students will learn a lot of new information in just nine lessons, but after the information is learned, it will be retained by repeatedly using it.  All the information gleaned from technical writing will be used for future projects and assignments in the class and in the students' future career.

Assessing will be accomplished by giving a couple pop quizzes, assigning projects relating to the information learned, and a unit test on the tenth day.  The projects will be varied in size and collaboration between the students and teacher.  This will help give clarity and a range of assessment procedures for the students' benefit.

For this unit, examples of the items learned and discussed will be placed on a bulletin board.  This will help the students refresh their memory.  Each student will also keep their papers, letters, and lecture notes in a portfolio for further reference during the class and while they are on the job.

After the unit is over, the students will be able to write more effectively and use the new techniques to improve on their personal skills.  These skills will be used often throughout the rest of the class.  The teacher will include technical writing in all types of areas that will be learned.

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