English 3304
Professional Writing
Course Description:
English 3304 adapts the principles of expository writing for use in the workplace. The course teaches students in non-technical fields to write documents commonly used in professional settings. Computer technology is included.
Course Goals:
The goal of the course is to prepare students to write effectively in the workplace. Objectives include (1) developing in students an awareness of rhetorical principles and an understanding of how those principles apply to writing in the workplace;
(2) teaching students to use the steps of the writing process to produce effective documents; (3) familiarizing students with the conventions and formats of contemporary professional writing, including e-mail, letters, memos, promotional literature, and résumés; and (4) introducing students to methods for collaboration and the use of communication technology.
Students’ writing will be evaluated for its clarity and conciseness, appropriateness of tone and style, adherence to stated conventions, grammar, and visual appeal.
Textbook
The Business Writer's Handbook, 9th ed.
Syllabus–Fall 2010
Ms. Susan Hanson
English 3304.2 & 3304.4
FH G13
Office: Flowers Hall 249
Office Hours: 11-12 TTH, and by appointment
Telephone: 245-7697 (office), 245-2163 (Dept. of English), or 353-0440 (home)
(Leave messages at school only between 8-3:30 TTH.)
sh17@txstat.edu
http://www.susankhanson.com
Course Description:
English 3304 adapts the principles of expository writing for use in the workplace. The course teaches students in non-technical fields to write documents commonly used in professional settings. Computer technology is included.
Course Goals:
The goal of the course is to prepare students to write effectively in the workplace. Objectives include (1) developing in students an awareness of rhetorical principles and an understanding of how those principles apply to writing in the workplace;
(2) teaching students to use the steps of the writing process to produce effective documents; (3) familiarizing students with the conventions and formats of contemporary professional writing, including e-mail, letters, memos, promotional literature, and résumés; and (4) introducing students to methods for collaboration and the use of communication technology.
Students’ writing will be evaluated for its clarity and conciseness, appropriateness of tone and style, adherence to stated conventions, grammar, and visual appeal.
Learning Outcomes:
The Department of English has adopted student learning outcomes for general education courses in writing and literature and for degree programs in English. These outcomes are available for your review at http://www.english.txstate.edu. Pull down the Student Resources menu and go to “Learning Outcomes.”
Required Text:
The Business Writer’s Handbook, 9th Ed., Alred, Brusaw, and Oliu, Eds.
Though we may not discuss all of the assigned reading in class, you will need to be familiar with this material in order to successfully complete your writing projects.
Grammar Resources:
• http://englishplus.com/grammar/contents.htm
• http://www.wadsworth.com/cgi-wadsworth/course_products_wp.pl?fid=M20b&product_isbn_issn=083840345X&discipline_number=300
Procedure for using these sites:
1. You are to work through this material on your own. If the site includes exercises, I recommend doing those as well as reading the information on the individual topics.
2. Be certain to cover these topics:
sentence fragments
pronoun reference
run-ons or fused sentences
exactness/conciseness
comma splices
usage
agreement
case
parallelism
subordination/coordination
semicolons/colons
dangling modifiers
3. Keep track of any questions or problems you have and bring them to class on the day we review for the grammar test. (Of course, you are welcome to bring them to me before that date.)
Class Format:
The classroom will be modeled on the workplace, with students submitting preliminary drafts of their work for review by “colleagues” in the course. The instructor will assume the role of head editor or manager. There will be some lecture, but more often, students will be involved in writing workshops or in collaborative exercises. Students will also spend some class time reviewing the fundamentals of grammar and usage. All classes will be held in the PC Lab in FH G14.
Writing Assignments:
These are the types of documents/presentations you will be creating this semester.
The weight each assignment carries is in parentheses.
1. Letter of introduction (5%)
2. Letter of complaint (5%)
3. Memo of analysis (research on internships/organizations) (10%)
4. E-mail (topic to be announced) (5%)
5. Proposal (10%)
6. Letter of inquiry (5%)
7. Brochure (10%)
8. PowerPoint presentation (collaborative project) (10%)
9. Résumé (10%)
10. Letter of application (5%)
11. Portfolio, with table of contents (10%)
12. Final exam (format to be announced) (5%)
13. Daily work (10%)
Evaluation:
Assessment is based on the quality of the written documents that you produce in the course. Edited drafts should be turned in with the final copy.
Format for Completed Work:
A cover page that includes your name, the date, and the document number should accompany each assignment. If you are submitting a revision, please indicate that fact on the cover page as well. All drafts should have the word Draft written in pen or pencil at the top of the page. Drafts do not require cover pages. When you turn in the final copy of your document, please include the marked drafts as well.
Revisions:
All work except Documents 8, 11, and 12 may be revised once. Revisions should be turned in within two weeks of the original due date. If the grade on the revised document is higher than that on the first, it will replace the lower grade.
Due Dates:
Remember that turning assignments in on time is a reflection of professionalism and is expected. If you have a legitimate reason for missing class—this will be determined on a case-by-case basis—your assignment must be turned in one class day following your return. If your absence is not excused, your work will be penalized 10 points for each day it is late. Daily work cannot be made up.
Office Hours:
Please take advantage of them. I hope to see each of you at some point during the semester.
Attendance:
I do not deduct points for missed classes, primarily because it creates unnecessary work for me. When you are absent, however, you lose the opportunity to do in-class work that will comprise your daily grade. (From time to time, I may begin class with a written exercise that will count toward your daily grade, so it’s also important to arrive on time.)
Plagiarism:
The Texas State University Honor Code states, “We do our own work and are honest with one another in all matters. We understand how various acts of dishonesty, like plagiarizing . . . conflict as much with academic achievement as with the values of honesty and integrity.”
Plagiarizing is submitting work that is in any way not your own. Any case of verifiable plagiarism, whether deliberate or accidental, will result in a failing grade on the assignment.
Students with Special Needs:
Students who require accommodations for successful completion of this course must notify both the TSU Office of Disability Services and the instructor by no later than the end of the first week of classes so that accommodations can be made.
The Writing Center:
If you have problems with your writing, I may recommend or require individual counseling in the English Department Writing Center (FH G08). You may also seek help from the Center on your own.
Grades for Individual Assignments:
You will be creating 12 documents, including the final exam. You will also have a daily grade that will be based on in-class work, quizzes, and a grammar test. Each of these assignments will be weighed according to the scale I described earlier.
In assigning grades, I will use the following criteria, which are adapted from the TSU First-Year English Syllabus and from Debra Villas’s Instructor’s Resources for The Handbook of Technical Writing:
A (90-100 points) A indicates outstanding work. An A document does an exceptional job of expressing and developing an idea or point in a clear, logical way. A-level writing is highly polished and generally contains no errors in the use of English. The professional appearance of A work firmly establishes the writer’s credibility and allows the reader to grasp the point of the document quickly and easily. A manager reading such a document would be highly impressed and would recall the work during job review and performance consideration.
B (80-89 points) B indicates superior work. A B document does a good job of expressing and developing an idea or point in a clear, logical way. B writing contains few or none of the common errors in the use of English. The professional appearance of B work is generally neat and polished. A manager reading such a document would be fully satisfied with the job.
C (70-79 points) C indicates competent work. A C document does an adequate job of expressing and developing an idea or point in a clear, logical way. C writing generally avoids serious errors in the use of English. The professional appearance of C work is acceptable. A manager reading such a document would probably ask the writer to revise, polish, or redesign the document before sending it outside the department.
D (60-69 points) D indicates unsatisfactory work. A D document is flawed by one or more of the following: insufficient attention to the assigned task, inadequate development of an idea or point, inaccurate information, errors in the use of English, inattention to document design. A manager reading such a document would be troubled by the poor quality of the work.
F (0-59 points) F indicates unacceptable work. An F document is flawed by one of more of the following: failure to follow the assigned task, failure to conceive or develop an idea or point, serious errors in the use of English, inappropriate or confusing document design. A manager reading an F document would consider replacing theauthor. Repeated F’s would warrant a pink slip.
Tentative Schedule
WEEK 1
August
26 What is “professional writing”? How does it differ from academic writing? Introduction to the course and text; understanding the principles of rhetoric; definitions; assign BW ix-xxiv, 46-47; assign Doc. 1: Letter of Introduction
WEEK 2
30 Review of the writing process; read BW 305-310
September
2 Bring draft of Doc. 1 to class. assign Doc 2: Letter of Complaint; BW 99-100
WEEK 3
7 Doc. 1 due; bring draft of Doc. 2; discuss proofreaders’ marks; BW 414-416 ; assign Doc. 3: Interview transcript, memo of analysis and Doc. 4: Thank you letter; assign BW 65-66, 325- 327
9 Catch-up day; grammar review
WEEK 4
14 Grammar quiz; Doc. 2 due; bring draft of Doc. 3
16 Bring draft of Doc. 4; BW 417-438; assign Doc. 5: Proposal
WEEK 5
21 Docs. 3 & 4 due; work on Doc. 5; print envelopes; demonstrate PhotoShop
23 Work on Doc. 5
WEEK 6
28 Work on Doc. 5; assign Doc. 6: Letter of inquiry; BW 263-265
30 Work on Doc. 6
WEEK 7
October
5 Doc. 5 due; BW 58-61; assign Doc. 7: Brochure; demonstrate InDesign
7 Doc. 6 due; work on Doc. 7
WEEK 8
12 Work on Doc. 7
13 Mid-semester
14 Bring draft of Doc. 7
WEEK 9
19 Doc. 7 due; discuss Web sites, BW 556-561; assign Doc. 8: PowerPoint presentation; form teams and select dates for presentations
21 Work on Doc. 8; demonstrate PowerPoint
WEEK 10
25 Last day to drop with automatic W
26 Work on Doc. 8
28 Work on Doc. 8
WEEK 11
November
2 Work on Doc. 8
4 Presentations of Doc. 8
WEEK 12
9 Presentations of Doc. 8
11 Presentations of Doc. 8
WEEK 13
16 BW 38-42, 473-490; assign Doc. 9: Résumé and Doc. 10: Letter of application
18 Work on Doc. 9 and Doc. 10
WEEK 14
22 Last day to withdraw
23 Doc. 9 and Doc. 10 due; catch-up day; assign Doc. 11: Portfolio
25 Thanksgiving Holiday
WEEK 15
30 Work on Doc. 11
DECEMBER
2 Doc. 11 due; Last day of class
Doc. 12: Final Exam
Dec. 14—8:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m. (9:30 TTH class)
11:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (12:30 TTH class)