g-wingenbach@tamu.edu Office Hours (218 Scoates): Call 862-3001

laurenrouse@neo.tamu.edu Office Hours (112 Scoates): Call 862-

1. Develop an appropriate concept of the communication process in a pluralistic society.

2. Enhance your understanding of the scope of agricultural communications.

3. Acquire increased understanding of effective writing.

4. Develop abilities to write in logical, easily understood prose with appropriate grammar, and sentence structure.

5. Write a business letter, memorandum, job application/résumé, and press release.

6. Prepare multiple forms of scientific/technical information for a specific product/service in the agricultural sciences (See Example).

7. Practice fundamental skills in using computers as an information/communication technology.

• Each week you will click on the class link that corresponds to that week's lesson (click here). You should review the lesson and its related materials before the class meets for that week. The objective is to have the lesson for each week posted by Friday of the preceding week.

• A PowerPoint slide show will be used to facilitate discussion during class; it is viewable in Adobe format and may include an online presentation. However, like all dynamic courses, the PowerPoint slide show will not serve as the alpha and the omega; each student is responsible for additional inquiry through self-directed processes.

• One of the benefits of a Web-assisted course is the opportunity to experience a multitude of materials on the Internet. Under the list of learning activities, you will find a list of Web sites, journal articles, papers, and other materials to be reviewed. In this class we utilize the power of the Internet. You are to visit each site that is listed under the learning activities and read or view the materials. For some of the materials, you will need to have the Acrobat Reader on your computer. If you don't have Adobe, it's a free download at Adobe, and will be indicated by the Adobe symbol . Materials that do not require Adobe will have the symbol and may be read as a regular Web page.

• The course utilizes e-mail for additional information and dialogue among course participants. You should check your NEO e-mail account weekly to ask/post questions and engage in dialogue with other class members. This is not in real time so you will need to drop in from time to time and add your contributions. Some weeks, there will be specific directions regarding the administration of this course. For more information regarding the NEO e-mail program, review the help section when accessing NEO.

Also, the APA Manual is a highly recommended text you should acquire for this course: American Psychological Association (2001). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Other Suggested Texts:

Hacker, D. (2003). A writer’s reference (5th ed.). New York: Bedford/St. Martin's.
Hacker, D. (2003). A pocket style manual (4th ed.). New York: Bedford/St. Martin's.
Hacker, D. (2003). Rules for writers (5th ed.). New York: Bedford/St. Martin's.

• Students must use NEO e-mail accounts only for this course.
• Active class participation is expected from each student during each lecture and lab meeting.
• As many as 20 individual projects (see syllabus for details) will be completed during the course.
• A Midterm Exam will be administered during the seventh week of class.
• A Final Exam will be administered during final exams week.

• Professionalism: There is no excuse for substandard work at Texas A&M University. You may have fantastic ideas, but if your work is substandard, colleagues will think your ideas are substandard too. Always let the quality of your work be an accurate reflection of your professionalism!
   
• Academic Integrity: Faculty and students at Texas A&M University have a responsibility to maintain academic integrity. Read about academic misconduct at http://www.tamu.edu/aggiehonor/Student%20Rules/definitions.html. You should know your Student Rules.