English 100WB, Section 4
Business Writing
Instructor: Dr. Catherine Gabor
Classroom: Health 405
E-mail: catherine.gabor@sjsu.edu
Class time: TR 10:30-11:45
Office phone: (408) 924-4488
Office hours: TR: 9:45-10:20;
Office Location: FOB 107
W: 9:45-11:45 am
Web: http://www.sjsu.edu/people/catherine.gabor
Catalog Description
English 100WB. Business Writing. Written communications for
business majors; includes minimum of 8,000 words of writing spaced
throughout the semester.
Prerequisites: English 1B; completion of Core GE; satisfaction of Writing
Skills Test and upper-division standing. ABC/No Credit
GE: Z. 3 units
Course Description
English 100WB is a participatory upper–division core course in which
students will develop advanced proficiency in college-level writing. While
reinforcing and advancing the students’ understanding of the genres,
audiences, and purposes of college writing developed in Written
Communication 1A and 1B, English 100WB broadens and deepens those
abilities to include mastery of the discourse specific to business
communications. With an emphasis on critical thinking through
scenario-based assignments that utilize both practical and theoretical
aspects of organizational communication, English 100WB provides
students with opportunities to practice both the oral and the written
skills necessary for successful business communications.
Section Description
There are two distinct things you need to know about this section:
 This is a collaborative writing course: What does that mean? It
means that half of your writing projects will be group-authored.
Early in the semester, you will select a group and write several
documents collaboratively. We will establish clear guidelines for
group writing so that everyone is graded fairly.
 This course is part of a research project: What does that mean?
That means you will have the opportunity to engage in surveys and
interviews throughout the semester. The research I am conducting
is designed to learn more about best practices for teaching writing.
You choose whether to participate in the research study;
participation (or lack of participation) in the study will not impact
your grade whatsoever.
2
I plan to push you intellectually in this class, but keep in mind that I
also plan to make the class fun and fair. I am prepared to work as hard
as you do on your work in this class, so please take advantage of my
office hours – I am also available by appointment. Welcome to the class!
Course Objectives: Students will develop:

the ability to analyze and interpret communication scenarios and
to respond to them clearly, correctly, concisely, concretely,
coherently, completely, and courteously;

advanced proficiency in both traditional and contemporary
research strategies and methodologies necessary for researchinformed writing and oral presentations that communicate
complex ideas effectively and appropriately to both general and
specialized audiences;

a rhetorically sophisticated writing style appropriate to upperdivision university discourse;

mastery of the mechanics of standard English.
Student Learning Goals: Students will be expected to demonstrate the
ability to:

write documents and make oral presentations that are clear,
correct, concise, concrete, coherent, complete, courteous, and
culturally appropriate;

format, compose, and revise written documents for a variety of
organizational situations;

identify and articulate the audience “take-away” message in every
communication;

utilize a variety of communication tools, techniques, and modes;

communicate numerical and statistical data appropriately and
effectively in both written and oral formats;

employ advanced research strategies and methodologies and
incorporate research appropriately and effectively into both written
and oral communications for a variety of organizational and
rhetorical situations;

appreciate the importance of timely communication in
organizational settings;

recognize a variety of organizational communication needs and
constraints and employ appropriate communication strategies to
meet those needs and/or constraints in a variety of business
situations;
3

analyze various audiences and compile appropriate options and
strategies to communicate effectively with those audiences;

evaluate and critique communication strategies and techniques for
their effectiveness, including the strategies and techniques of their
classmates;

make common-sense communication decisions and use logic to
defend those decisions;

recognize when imagination and “vision” are appropriate to
business communications;

communicate appropriately and effectively in cross-cultural
situations;

create documents and make oral presentations that are ethically
and legally defensible.
GE Student Learning Objective
SLO 1: Students shall be able to
refine the competencies established
in Written Communication IA and IB
as summarized below:
SLO 2: Students shall be able to
express (explain, analyze, develop,
and criticize) ideas effectively,
including ideas encountered in
multiple readings and expressed in
different forms of discourse.
SLO 3: Students shall be able to
organize and develop essays and
documents for both professional and
general audiences, including
appropriate editorial standards for
citing primary and secondary
sources.
4
Class Texts
 Any grammar handbook (such as the one you used for English 1B)
 $$$ for printing costs. In lieu of assigning a second textbook, I
have several readings scanned into our class website. You will
need to allocate part of your textbook budget for printing costs.
 Various websites as assigned
 Business and Administrative Communication, 9th edition. Kitty O.
Locker and Donna S. Kienzler. McGraw-Hill, 2010.
Course Content
Diversity: Assignments (both reading and writing) shall address issues
of race, class, age, and gender when appropriate, and the perspectives of
women and diverse cultural groups shall be incorporated into course
instruction and materials in an inclusive and comprehensive manner
whenever appropriate. At least one graded assignment, oral or written,
shall address cross- or inter-cultural, -generational, or -gender
communications.
Writing: Assignments shall emphasize those analytical and interpretive
skills and activities in writing and thinking that produce types of writing
useful in business communications, which include but are not limited to
the following: both formal and informal correspondence for various
purposes and audiences (email, memos, letters); employment application
materials (resumes, cover letters, follow-up letters); formal and informal
reports; white papers; abstracts, summaries, annotated bibliographies;
proposals.
Graded writing assignments will be sequenced appropriately throughout
the semester and will total a minimum of 8,000 words; at least one of
those assignments will be significantly informed by research. This
minimum requirement excludes the final examination, journal writing,
quizzes, and impromptu short writing assignments. However, it can
include diagnostic writing and assignments that require major revisions
to a previously graded or reviewed draft; a major revision is defined as a
significant rethinking and reworking of an assignment, and not simply
one that “corrects” mechanical errors noted on the original. At least two
5
graded assignments shall be written in class. How the 8000-word
minimum will be met and distributed must be clearly indicated on
greensheets.
Students shall receive frequent evaluations of their writing from their
instructor. In evaluating student writing, instructors shall comment on
specific features of individual assignments. Comments shall encourage
and acknowledge student success as well as note errors and suggest
ways to correct them.
Reading: Assigned reading will address issues of business
communications. Instructors may assign business writing textbooks
and/or create a short course reader that contains journalistic and/or
scholarly writing in the field of business. Other appropriate reading may
include texts that address the global marketplace, online
communication, visual communication, and collections of business
scenarios.
Research: English 100WB shall provide advanced instruction in both
traditional and contemporary research strategies and methodologies,
including locating and evaluating materials, using them effectively (e.g.,
quoting, paraphrasing, summarizing), and citing them properly. At least
one substantial writing assignment shall be informed by research. As
part of this requirement, at least one class session of English 100WB
shall include a presentation by a university librarian.
Active Learning: Class sessions shall provide ample opportunities for
active student learning in the following ways: formal and/or informal
large- and small-group discussion and collaborative writing and thinking
activities designed to develop and provide repeated student practice in
exercising those rhetorical, analytical, and interpretive skills that
produce stylistically appropriate, intelligent, and critical written and oral
responses to business-communication scenarios; both formal and
informal oral presentations; organizational role-playing and interviewing
simulations.
Grading: A/B/C/No Credit. A passing grade in the course signifies that
the student has developed those writing, reading, and research abilities
necessary for upper-division work in those majors that comprise the
College of Business.
Access to the Internet
Much of your homework will be conducted online. It is essential that you
have regular, reliable internet access, such as the access in the San Jose
State computer labs.
6
If you will not have regular, reliable internet access, you will fail this
class. Lack of computer access is not an acceptable excuse for any late
or missed assignments.
Major Assignments
 Daily Writing: SLO 1, SLO 2. Words: 2500
 Resume: SLO 1, SLO 2. Words: 100
 Proposal: SLO 1, SLO 3. Words: 1000
 Progress Report: SLO 1, SLO 3. Words: 1000
 Final Project: SLO 1, SLO 2, SLO 3. Words: 5000
 Final Exam: SLO 1, SLO 2, SLO 3. Words: 900
 Rhetorical Citizen Paper: SLO 1, SLO 2. Words: 1000
Grading
Daily Writing (Individual)
Resume (Individual)
Proposal (Group)
Progress Report (Group)
Final Report (Group)
Final Exam (Individual)
Rhetorical Citizen Paper (Individual)
10%
10%
10%
10%
30%
20%
10%
* Please note that if any one segment is missing, you (and/or your group)
will not pass the class.
We will establish grading criteria as a class for each of the major
assignments.
Participation
We will spend much of our class time working on readings and strategies
designed to support you in your composing. Participation will be crucial
to your success in this class. It is particularly important in a writing
course that is based on discussion, group work, and a variety of in-class
activities. You must come prepared to participate in each class. If you
decide to come to class unprepared on a workshop day, you will receive
an “F” for that part of the assignment.
Late Assignment Policy 
In the business world, professional behavior is expected. You must
submit all documents on the assigned date. I will not accept late papers
at all. Once the deadline has passed, you earn an F for the assignment.
If you know you are going to be absent on a date a paper is due, make
arrangements to turn it in early.
7
Classroom Etiquette
Because this is a writing class, we will focus on using language to
communicate effectively with a diverse audience. Therefore, hostile
speech directed against someone’s race, sex, religion, ethnicity, political
leanings, or sexual orientation will not be tolerated. Healthy, respectful
debate is encouraged! We will talk about the difference between debate
and attack during class.
Additionally, all cell phones are forbidden during class unless approved
ahead of time by me. If I see you taking a call or text messaging, I will
kick you out of class and give you an “F” for any in-class work done after
you are kicked out. Talking and texting during class are just plain rude,
so don’t do it.
University Policies
Dropping and Adding
Students are responsible for understanding the policies and procedures
about add/drops, academic renewal, etc. Information on add/drops are
available at http://info.sjsu.edu/web-dbgen/narr/soc-fall/rec-324.html
. Information about late drop is available at
http://www.sjsu.edu/sac/advising/latedrops/policy/ . Students should
be aware of the current deadlines and penalties for adding and dropping
classes.
Academic Integrity
Students should know that the University’s Academic Integrity Policy is
available at
http://www.sa.sjsu.edu/download/judicial_affairs/Academic_Integrity_Policy_S07-2.pdf.
Your own commitment to learning, as evidenced by your enrollment at
San Jose State University and the University’s integrity policy, require
you to be honest in all your academic course work. Faculty members are
required to report all infractions to the office of Student Conduct and
Ethical Development. The website for Student Conduct and Ethical
Development is available at
http://www.sa.sjsu.edu/judicial_affairs/index.html.
Instances of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Cheating on
exams or plagiarism (presenting the work of another as your own, or the
use of another person’s ideas without giving proper credit) will result in a
failing grade and sanctions by the University. For this class, all
assignments are to be completed by the individual student unless
otherwise specified. If you would like to include in your assignment any
material you have submitted, or plan to submit for another class, please
note that SJSU’s Academic Policy F06-1 requires approval of instructors.
8
Campus Policy in Compliance with the American Disabilities Act
If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a
disability, or if you need to make special arrangements in case the
building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as
soon as possible, or see me during office hours. Presidential Directive 9703 requires that students with disabilities requesting accommodations
must register with the DRC (Disability Resource Center) to establish a
record of their disability.
Student Technology Resources
Computer labs for student use are available in the Academic Success
Center located on the 1st floor of Clark Hall and on the 2nd floor of the
Student Union. Additional computer labs may be available in your
department/college. Computers are also available in the Martin Luther
King Library.
A wide variety of audio-visual equipment is available for student
checkout from Media Services located in IRC 112. These items include
digital and VHS camcorders, VHS and Beta video players, 16 mm, slide,
overhead, DVD, CD, and audiotape players, sound systems, wireless
microphones, projection screens and monitors.
Learning Assistance Resource Center
The Learning Assistance Resource Center (LARC) is located in Room 600
in the Student Services Center. It is designed to assist students in the
development of their full academic potential and to motivate them to
become self-directed learners. The center provides support services, such
as skills assessment, individual or group tutorials, subject advising,
learning assistance, summer academic preparation and basic skills
development. The LARC website is located at http:/www.sjsu.edu/larc/.
SJSU Writing Center
The SJSU Writing Center is located in Room 126 in Clark Hall. It is
staffed by professional instructors and upper-division or graduate-level
writing specialists from each of the seven SJSU colleges. Our writing
specialists have met a rigorous GPA requirement, and they are well
trained to assist all students at all levels within all disciplines to become
better writers. The Writing Center website is located at
http://www.sjsu.edu/writingcenter/about/staff/
Peer Mentor Center
The Peer Mentor Center is located on the 1st floor of Clark Hall in the
Academic Success Center. The Peer Mentor Center is staffed with Peer
Mentors who excel in helping students manage university life, tackling
9
problems that range from academic challenges to interpersonal struggles.
On the road to graduation, Peer Mentors are navigators, offering
“roadside assistance” to peers who feel a bit lost or simply need help
mapping out the locations of campus resources. Peer Mentor services are
free and available on a drop –in basis, no reservation required. The Peer
Mentor Center website is located at
http://www.sjsu.edu/muse/peermentor/
Due Dates
Below are the due dates for the major assignments; the daily calendar is
located on our class website. A class calendar is a work of fiction! It is
your responsibility to check the online calendar for any changes or
updates.
Assignment
Resume
Proposal
Progress Report
Final Project
Final Exam
Rhetorical Citizen Paper
* TBV = To Be Voted (on)
Due Dates
9/2 and 9/9
10/5 and 10/7
10/26 and 10/28
11/9 and TBV*
12/4 at noon
12/7