STI College Santa Rosa

Balibago, City of Santa Rosa, Laguna

Summer Program 2011
Course Syllabus
Course Title:

Technical Writing (with intro to Journalism)

Course Description:
This course is designed to prepare students to write and
communicate effectively in the rapidly changing and expanding technological and professional
worlds. Technical writing prepares students for the writing they will do in their career. Aside
from that, this also covers to develop journalistic skills of the students in gathering and
analyzing information, writing up a variety of journalistic styles and working together
effectively. By preparing students' writing skills and developing their insights, this course aims
to help students become confident, flexible, and effective communicators on the job.
Course Objectives:
At the end of this course, the students should be able to:
Write effective communications for various purposes

Follow processes for developing written communication

Use appropriate formats for resumes, letters, memos, reports, etc.

Understand the relationship between writer, reader, purpose, and text

Apply oral and written techniques when communicating with others, especially on

presentations
Gain understanding of the mass communication process, its impact on human and social

factors and the socio-cultural environment

Develop working skills needed for newspapers, magazines, radio, and web journalism

Develop a sense of purpose, mission and ethical values in their chosen field
Time Frame
Session 1

Topics
Introduction to Communication
Process of Communication and its Barriers

Forms of Communication

Oral and Written

Formal and Informal

Verbal and Nonverbal

Understanding style and evaluating tone

Group Activity: Role-Playing on showing the communication

process and overcoming barriers.
Session 2

Functional Grammar

Subject and verb agreement review

Tenses

Active and passive voice

Direct and reported speech

Group Activity: Prepare for a group quiz bee.

Session 3

Effective Writing and its Process

The Writing Process

Planning and Drafting

Writing Proper

Editing and Revising

Introduction to Paragraph

Characteristics of Effective Paragraph

Unity

Coherence

Emphasis

Individual Activity: Write a paragraph on a given topic. Observe

the characteristics of paragraph and practice students writing,
editing and revising skills.
Session 4

Kinds of Discourse
The Narrative Paragraph

Elements of Narration

Present and Past Narration

The Descriptive Paragraph

Description of a person or place

The Expository paragraph

Patterns for exposition

Support and generalization

Pair Activity: Guided paragraph writing and peer evaluation on

individual output.
Session 5

Focus on Business Letter writing

Parts of a Business letter

Format of Business letters

Types of Business letters

Employment letters

(Resume, application or cover letters)

Favourable letters
(Letters

of

acceptance,

congratulations,

appreciation and invitation)

Unfavourable letters
(Letters of complaint, refusal, adjustment, credit
and collection)

Individual or Pair Activity: Think of a start-up company ready,

come up with your own business name, corporate address, contact
persons/numbers, as well as the product or services that you offer.
Review each scenario and then write letters addressing the
following:
1. The president of another company will be visiting your
factory next week. Write a letter inviting him and his staff to
dinner three days from now. Be sure to specify the time and
place of the dinner.
2. You are a sales representative for your company. Write a
letter to the other companies expressing appreciation for
their support on your successful product launching.
3. The delivery of office supplies by your supplier was late or
the goods were damaged. Write to the other company
expressing your dissatisfaction with their service or product.
Say that you await their prompt response and immediate
action.
Session 6

Introduction to Journalism
Concept and development of Journalism

Roles and functions of Mass Communication

Mass media: Advantages and disadvantages

Individual Activity: Go out and write any article you wish about
any specific subject in any journalistic style (news, feature,
editorial).
Session 7

News Writing (Theory and Practice)

Note-taking skills
Elements and forms of news
Types and tips on writing feature

Individual Activity: Role-play an accident scene. Gather and

analyze information then, write up a news article about it.

Session 8

Editorial Writing (Theory and Practice)

Analyzing information (facts and opinions)

Types of editorial lead

Individual Activity: From editorial clippings, identify effective

elements of editorial. Prepare to write one.

Session 9

Creative Journalistic Writing

Elements of Feature
Types of Feature article
Creative Non-fiction

Individual activity: From straight news published in a

newspaper, be able to transform the information to a creative
feature article. Make use of feature elements well.

Session 10

Culminating Activity on Journalism

Prepared by:

Ms. Jonna May T. Delgaco

GE Faculty

Talk from a journalist (invited guest)

News casting activity (by group)
Newsletter print of outstanding output (display and release)