Southern Utah University

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Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2026

Technical Writing (Online)

COMM 4240-SW1

Course: COMM 4240-SW1
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2026
Department: Communication
CRN: 33031

Course Description

This course focuses on practical types of writing used in business and industry. Using principles of analyzing and planning to meet the reader's informational needs, students produce emails, instructions, and the various types of informative and persuasive reports and letters used in organizations.  (Fall, Spring, Summer) [Graded (Standard Letter)]

Required Texts

Successful Writing at Work (2017). Written by Philip C. Kolin, 11th EDITION ONLY. ISBN 978-1-337-28501-8. No access code required. The textbook is immediately available in electronic form through the "Inclusive Access Course Materials." Otherwise, it may be obtained on Amazon.com, however I cannot guarantee that it will be available. 

Learning Outcomes

  1. Compose a variety of well-structured, organized, grammatically correct forms of business and professional communications, including the use of properly documented outside sources.
  2. Distinguish and analyze the basic elements of professional/technical communications.

Course Requirements

Students will be expected to read assigned chapters and other listed materials and complete all work by the due dates.

Course Outline

Chapter 1 Getting Started
Chapter 2 The Writing Process
Chapter 4 E-Communications at Work
Chapter 6 Types of Business Letters and Memos
Chapter 10 Designing Clear Visuals
Chapter 12 Writing Instructions and Procedures 

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

With the short duration of Speedway courses, I cannot accept late work beyond seven days of the due date. Each day late will be a loss of points. Work from the last module must be turned in by the due date- no late work from that module will be accepted.

I will, with no questions asked, excuse you from one assignment during the length of this class. You may not be excused from quizzes or the two-part discussion posts. Simply email me with your request prior to the due date. *Let me know if there is an emergency or other critical event that will hinder your ability to complete work on time.

Attendance Policy

 As an online class there will not be attendance requirements. The Discussion Posts are a means for class participation. They are also useful in the learning process and are therefore required work. 

Course Fees

None.

AI Policy

Communication Department AI Policy
AI cannot substitute for foundational learning. Students must acquire disciplinary knowledge and critical thinking skills in order to evaluate AI outputs appropriately. Thus, the Communication Department will maintain a 25% tolerance threshold for AI use in completing assignments. That means, unless explicitly stated by your instructor for a specific assignment, any work that is submitted as AI generated at a rate of 26% or higher will receive a zero on their grade and require a conversation with the instructor. In those cases where assignment instructions allow for AI use, students must certify that they have reviewed, verified and edited all AI outputs, which may include AI prompts used. Students should treat AI as a partner in thought and creation, not as a shortcut or a substitute for human expertise, ethics, and judgment. Students should not input sensitive, personal, confidential, copyrighted or proprietary information into public AI tools (e.g. ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini) as it is illegal and violates expectations of privacy and academic/creative work.   

AI is allowed for certain assignments (see individual assignment instructions for details). However, presenting AI-generated work as entirely one’s own in a course that does not permit such use, or using AI in ways explicitly prohibited in assignment instructions, constitutes a violation of SUU Policy 6.33: Academic Misconduct and opens the violator up to a series of potential sanctions.


AI Policy for THIS Class
This course will provide instruction on the responsible use of AI in the workplace. You may use AI for the assignments as indicated in the instructions, but you are not required to do so. However, if you choose to utilize AI, your work needs to be initially written by you, edited by you, and in your own style (your voice). Once you have done that, you may use generative AI such as ChatGPT, Gemini, or Copilot as a tool to refine and revise. You must follow my instructions when you utilize AI in creating your homework assignment. The rules for using AI is as follows:

1. Write your document.

2. Revise and edit your document.

3. Submit your writing to the AI assistant and provide specific instructions (as you will learn in the module).

4. Revise and edit the AI produced result into a final draft.

5. Submit your original work, the prompts you used in the AI assistant, the output created by AI, your final revised version, and a paragraph discussing the process (see the detailed requirements for this paragraph listed in each assignment).

6. Do not enlist the help of another person in writing your work. 

Note: Failure to follow these rules will result in a ZERO for the assignment.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.