English 301 is an entirely online technical writing course that utilizes independent studies and collaborative work with both peers and the instructor, Erika Paterson. In particular, this course focuses on practicing one’s writing skills in the professional, technical, and business contexts. The collaborative portion of the course will surround upon discussions, document analysis, and peer reviews. Independently, the student will focus on creating and revising an online portfolio through the mediums of LinkedIn and a personal website.
In order to achieve the goals of this course, there will be a variety of projects and assignments divided into four units, with three lessons per unit. Much of the collaborative work in this course will be with one’s writing team, so it is of utmost importance to generate a supportive and productive team environment. Personally, I am really looking forward to forming a team with some of you where we will have the opportunity to encourage and assist eachother as we tackle the unique tasks that 301 has to offer.
I am hoping that this course will give me the chance to improve and refine my professional writing skills. This opportunity is not provided by many (or any) other courses at UBC, so I have high expectations for the extent to which 301 will allow me to improve my technical writing skills. I am thrilled to have found an english course that diverges from the typical skills developed in university english courses, as I feel that when students graduate, they are better equipped at essay writing (of which the usefullness range may not be wide) than at professional writing (which is necessary for both attaining and succeeding in every career). I believe this course is perfect for preparing an upper-year student (such as myself) for the professional world that lies ahead.