English 301 98A is an online technical writing course taught at the University of British Columbia by Dr. Erika Paterson. This course allows students to work independently and collaboratively with peers. The course is divided into four units with assignments due throughout the term. Unit one focuses on two key aspects, firstly, building a connection with the other students and the professor. Secondly, the material focuses on the principles and practices of technical writing. Unit two focuses on designing a report proposal and unit three focuses on resume building and job applications. Unit four elaborates on networking strategies, this is where the final formal report is due at the end of the term. Throughout the course, students will participate in online discussions and peer reviews of assignments as well as create a professional business profile and a web portfolio. Upon completion of the course, students will develop valuable written skills shaped towards building a professional network as well as advance self-editing skills and optimizing peer collaboration.
In taking this course, I hope to expand my knowledge as well as learn from peers on creating blogs, professional profiles, building resumes, and developing practical writing techniques. This material is new for me as I have never created a blog before, nor have I used a LinkedIn Profile. However, with social media sites such as LinkedIn continuing to be a growing factor in job recruitment, I am very eager to learn how to create a professional network while working with peers. This course is relevant to real-world criteria in the form of writing proposals, emails, abstracts, creating job applications, etc., I am looking forward to developing writing techniques that will advance my professional career. I have two main goals for this course. Firstly, I would like to create a professional resume that stands out to not only employers, but also educators, and universities. Secondly, to develop a professional LinkedIn Profile that outlines my skills, education history, work experience, and travel history to further accommodate my professional career.