Instructor: Dr. Neil P. Baird
Office: Simpkins Hall 25a
Phone: (309) 255-7103
Email: np-baird@wiu.edu
Fall 2014 Office Hours:
T, 11:00-12:00 (Macomb)
W, 10:30-12:30 (Quad Cities)
Th, 8:30-9:30 (Macomb)
ENGLISH 380 – INTRO TO PROFESSIONAL WRITING
Professional Writing as Organizationally Situated Activity
“Professional Writing students solve problems. The tools they use are not often considered problemsolving tools—words, images, texts, and interfaces—but in the hands of Professional Writing students,
these become blocks for addressing real-world problems.”
–Bill Hart-Davidson, Professional Writing Scholar
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
For those who intend to be professional writers or for whom professional writing will play an
important role, English 380 provides a way of thinking about writing that will effectively
facilitate entry into your chosen field. English 380 is the gateway course to a new professional
writing minor, recently revised to be more relevant for students writing across the disciplines.
The course now functions as an introduction to the field of professional writing, examining the
craft of writing in professional contexts. To do so, this course takes a Writing about Writing
(WAW) approach, introducing you to a range of issues important to the field of professional
writing through readings written by professional writers for professional writers. As you are
introduced to these issues, you will be given opportunities to practice what you learn by
designing and producing a professional writing project that serves that needs of an organization
you belong to or that is important to you.
CORE QUESTIONS:
You can expect to leave this course with emerging responses to the following questions:
1. What is professional writing, and what do professional writers do?
2. What is rhetoric, and how does professional writing challenge our understanding of wellestablished rhetorical concepts, like author, reader, purpose, and genre?
3. What does it mean that professional writing is an organizationally situated activity, and what
does professional writing as a situated activity mean for the craft of writing?
4. What is usability, and how do professional writers make their communication usable for
readers?
5. What ethical dilemmas do professional writers face, and how do they work through them?
REQUIRED TEXTS:
 Professional Writing and Rhetoric: Readings from the Field edited by Tim Peeples
(ISBN: 0321099753)
COURSE REQUIREMENTS (AT A GLANCE): In addition to the careful reading of
course texts and substantial participation in classroom discussion expected at this level,
this course will require the following:







Quizzes
Problem Statement
Context Analysis
Genre Analysis
Usability Test and Report
Professional Writing Project
Final Exam
GRADING SUMMARY:
Quizzes
Problem Statement
Context Analysis
Genre Analysis
Usability Test and Report
Professional Writing Project
Final Exam
Total
Letter
A
B+
B
BC+
C
CD
F
Point Range
1000-900
899-870
869-830
829-800
700-770
769-730
729-700
699-600
599-0
100 Points
50 Points
150 Points
150 Points
150 Points
300 Points
100 Points
1000 Points
COURSE REQUIREMENTS (DESCRIBED):
1. Quizzes: Quizzes will be unannounced and given periodically to evaluate your
understanding of our readings and discussions.
2. Problem Statement: Much of the writing you will do in this course is designed to
help you produced the professional writing project. Through the problem
statement, you will formally present ideas for your professionally writing project,
which I will use to offer feedback and guidance as you move forward.
3. Context and Genre Analyses: Two analytical papers will help you make design
decisions about your professional writing project.
4. Usability Test and Report: Professional writers design tests that evaluate the
usability of their writing projects. To help you evaluate your professional writing
project, you will design a usability test and report the results.
5. Professional Writing Project: Your goal in this course is to design and produce a
professional writing project that serves that needs of an organization you belong to
or that is important to you. The project will serve as the foundation for a
professional writing portfolio you can showcase on the job market.
6. Final Exam: This essay exam will be comprehensive and focused on the
application of course concepts.
COURSE POLICIES:
Catalogue Description:
ENG 380 Introduction to Professional Writing. (3). Focus on the roles disciplinary
structures play in reading and writing. Topics will include rhetorical genre theory,
writing research, audience analysis, and the craft of writing.
WID Statement:
This course has been designated a Writing Instruction in the Disciplines (WID)
course. WID courses provide instruction in the processes and formats for the
writing content and style needed to be an effective professional in a student’s
chosen field.
Prerequisites:
ENG 380 has two prerequisites: ENG 180 and ENG 280. If you have not earned
credit for both those courses, you cannot take this course unless you have
considerable writing experience. Please contact me immediately if you have not
finished 180 and 280.
Attendance:
Even though you should not miss any classes at this level, you are allowed to miss
one class session for any reason; after this, your final grade for the course may be
reduced by five points for each class missed. For example, if your final grade
averages 91%, missing two classes will reduce this to a final grade of 86%, the
difference between an A and B. Arriving late and leaving early only disrupts the
class and are considered absences, so make every effort to arrive before class starts
and remain until class ends.
Late Work:
Late work is generally not accepted. If you know you are going to miss class,
make arrangements to turn in work that is due ahead of time.
Student Decorum:
This course requires ethical and professional conduct, which includes academic
integrity, collegiality in class, and professionalism when dealing with the
community as part of course activities. Academic integrity violations will result in
a failing grade for the assignment and possibly the course. Refer to the following
for WIU’s policy on academic integrity:
http://www.wiu.edu/policies/acintegrity.php.
Students with Disabilities:
In accordance with University policy and the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA), academic accommodations may be made for any student who notifies the
instructor of the need for an accommodation. For the instructor to provide the
proper accommodation(s) you must obtain documentation of the need for an
accommodation through Disability Resource Center (DRC) and provide it to the
instructor. It is imperative that you take the initiative to bring such needs to the
instructor's attention, as he/she is not legally permitted to inquire about such
particular needs of students. Students who may require special assistance in
emergency evacuations (i.e. fire, tornado, etc.) should contact the instructor as to
the most appropriate procedures to follow in such an emergency. Contact
Disability Resource Center (DRC) at 309-298-2512 for additional services.
University Writing Center:
The University Writing Center is available to assist you with general and specific
questions about writing. The talk about writing that occurs in one-on-one sessions
with a consultant is extremely useful, even at this level and for this kind of
writing. In Macomb, the University Writing Center is located in Malpass Library
(3rd Floor, West Side – 309-298-2815), with satellite centers across campus. In the
Quad Cities, it is located in the Quad Cities Complex (Room 2219 – 309-7629481). Walk-ins and appointments are welcome; be sure to bring your assignment.