San José State University
Department of Computer Engineering
CMPE-294: Computer Engineering Seminar

Instructor

Robert Bruce

Prerequisites

CMPE or SE graduate standing or instructor consent.

Course Description

Provides graduate students with a background to conduct research, write proposals, and present results in oral and written form.
Meets university Graduate Writing Assessment Requirement.

Required Texts / Readings

Mike Markel, Technical Communications, Bedford St. Martins, 2012 or later edition OR you can use the E-book but the page numbers may differ.

Assignments

Assignment	Percentage of Grade
Oral presentation	10%
In-class assignments: Entry essay Resume Cover letter Engineering ethics Revising sentences Audience Analysis Incident report Intellectual Property 1 Intellectual Property 2 Lab Proposal	30%
Interview Report	10%
Journal Article Analysis	10%
Abstract and outline for research paper	10%
Research paper	30%
TOTAL	100%

Grades

Grading Scale

Percent range	Grade
97% to 100% inclusive	A
94% to 96% inclusive	A-
91% to 93% inclusive	B+
88% to 90% inclusive	B
85% to 87% inclusive	B-
82% to 84% inclusive	C+
79% to 81% inclusive	C
76% to 78% inclusive	C-
73% to 75% inclusive	D+
70% to 72% inclusive	D
67% to 69% inclusive	D-
Below 67%	F

Course Schedule

Week	Topics, Readings, Assignments, Deadlines	Reading
1	Intro to technical writing Honesty Pledge	Markel Chapter 1
2	Writing resumes	Markel Chapter 15
3	Preventing plagiarism	Markel Chapter 9
4	Library databases orientation
5	Engineering ethics	Markel Chapter 2
6	Analyzing your audience Organizing your information	Markel Chapters 5 and 7
7	Writing effective sentences	Markel Chapter 10
8	Writing letters, memos, and email	Markel Chapter 6
9	Intellectual Property 1
10	Intellectual Property 2
11	Informational and lab reports	Markel Chapters 17 and 18
12	Proposals and recommendation reports
13	Make-up lab Student presentations	Markel Chapters 16 and 19
14	Student presentations
15	Student presentations