CSE477 Relationship with TC333

An experiment

For the second time, this quarter, we are linking CSE477 with a special section (D) of ENGR333 (Advanced Technical Writing and Oral Presentations) taught by the Department of Technical Communications.

This came about from the following observation: Computer Engineering majors are required to take both ENGR333 (soon to be TC333) and CSE477 and it would be beneficial to all involved if these were taken during the same quarter as there are many synergies between the two courses.

Here is the reasoning:

• ENGR333 develops both verbal and written communication skills,
• CSE477 has students prototype their own products in a team atmosphere,
• the material of CSE477 can be serve as the motivating subject matter for the assignments in ENGR333,
• improved writing and speaking can serve to improve the quality of the project reports and web pages as well as the design reviews in CSE477,
• new types of writing (e.g., product brochures) can be useful in presentation materials in CSE477,
• the instructors of both courses leverage each others' strengths, and
• the students can focus on a single project from both the technical and communication points-of-view.

Logistics

There are two very important advantages to this arrangement. The first is that while assignments in ENGR333 are done on an individual basis, you will have the opportunity to revise and synthesize all the group members' contributions for the group reports in CSE477. The second is that you'll be getting started on your writing much sooner. This, will hopefully, lead to better quality documentation in CSE477 since you won't be able to put it off until the very end of the quarter.

You'll have separate assignment requirements in both classes with separate due dates. They have been coordinated to allow time for revision and synthesis between the individual due date in ENGR333 and the group due date in CSE477.