ENGL501: Writing For Careers Instructor: Dr. Brian Gastle bgastle@wcu.edu Office: Coulter 417 Office Hours: T/W 1:00 – 2:00 Office Phone:x3928 http://paws.wcu.edu/bgastle/401 COURSE DESCRIPTION Catalogue Description: Theory and application of rhetoric in professional communication; emphasis on triad of author, subject, and audience. Practical assignments: memos, letters, resumes, reports, and persuasive messages. This course examines the role of written communication in group/organizational effectiveness, especially within professional environments. It prepares you for the writing tasks (genres, documents, and situations) most common to most careers. The course will be based on practice; all assignments are part of a corporate simulation and will be evaluated as if they were presented in “the real world.” As a graduate class, it will require you to develop an advanced facility with the practical writing performed in your chosen discipline. While you will be required to learn some rhetorical theory surrounding such practice, the focus will be on writing practices in your field. Since the class is cross-listed with and undergraduate section, you will do some of the same work as the undergraduates, some different work, and some of the same work with more substantial/graduate-level requirements. You will also be required to set an example as professionals in your field. Learning Outcomes: Writing for Careers will prepare students to write within virtually any career they pursue. Students will learn how to: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Identify and compile examples of genres specific to your field of study Analyze the basic rhetorical components of documents typical in your field of study Create a wide variety of document genres (memos, letters, reports, resumes, etc.) that relate to your field Write in a professional manner, using a. Plain, clear, and concise language b. Mechanically accurate language c. Rhetorically appropriate language Understand the process of composing professional communications both individually and as part of an organization Apply research in your field to construct discipline specific documents REQUIRED TEXT Bovée, Courtland L., and John V. Thill. Business Communication Today. 8th ed. Prentice Hall, 2005. ASSIGNMENTS Class assigned memos/letters 20% Analysis of discipline specific documents 20% Resume/Cover letter 10% Proposal 10% Progress report 10% Final report 20% Presentation 5% Class Grade 5% Class Grade includes quizzes, class discussion, various in-class assignments, and your assigned “minutes.” Late assignments, except under extreme circumstances, are not accepted. All assignments, unless otherwise stated, must be typed/word processed It Counts: This is a writing class; grammar, punctuation and spelling mistakes will be penalized greatly. I do not accept rewrites of assignments. You will have the opportunity for peer editing and revision on most assignments. I would be happy to meet with you either during my office hours or during a scheduled appointment. Once you turn in your assignment, it should be a complete and polished product. E-Mail: You will be required to check your e-mail regularly for course material discussions, schedule changes, and class issues. ATTENDENCE Like jobs in the “real world,” regular attendance is mandatory for you to benefit from this course and for others to benefit from your knowledge and participation. For each absence after your second (excused or unexcused) your final grade may be dropped a full letter. I do not distinguish between excused and unexcused absences; either way, you have missed required class material. Lateness is disruptive; repeated tardiness may be considered as an absence. ACADEMIC INTEGRETY All work submitted must be your own. Please review WCU policy regarding Plagiarism and the Academic Honesty Policy in the student handbook. If I find a student cheating, fabricating, or plagiarizing another’s work from any source (print, media, internet, etc.), that student will receive an “F” for the class, the transgression will be recorded in his or her WCU record, and I will, to the utmost of my ability, urge the administration to expel that student from WCU. ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES Western Carolina University is committed to providing equal educational opportunities for students with documented disabilities. Students who require disability services or reasonable accommodations must identify themselves as having a disability and provide current diagnostic documentation to Disability Services. All information is confidential. Please contact Kimberly Marcus for more information. Phone: (828) 227-7234; E-mail:kmarcus@email.wcu.edu. CLASS ETIQUETTE In-Class, you should be paying attention to lecture, class discussion, examples, and/or assignments. Anyone found “surfing” or checking email during class work or lecture will be asked to leave and will be assigned an absence for the day. TENTATIVE SCHEDULE (subject to change) Date T 1/9 R 1/11 T 1/16 R 1/18 T 1/23 Topic Introduction to Writing for Careers Introduction to Class, the Computer Lab, and “minutes” Sweat the Little Stuff – Writing Correctly Read The Big Picture: The Organizational Communication Setting Message Types and Organizational Patterns Organizational Patterns, Message Types, and Styles Case Sensitive Writing Format and Layout Chapter 1: Achieving Success through Effective Business Communications Due Review Handbook of Grammar, Mechanics, and Usage (especially Subject, Verb Object, Active/Passive Voice, Prepositions, and Clauses) Chapter 5: Writing Business Messages. DUE: Mechanics Homework Quiz on Readings and Writing issues Quiz on Readings and Writing issues Appendix I: Format and Layout of Business Documents Chapter 7: Writing Routine Messages Due: Style Revision Homework Due: Memo/Letter Assignment Due: 3 Samples from the field R1/25 Routine & Non-Invasive Messages Information Conveying Messages, Routine Orders, and Good News T 1/30 Bad News Messages Chapter 8: Writing Negative Messages R 2/1 Persuasive Messages Chapter 9: Writing Persuasive Messages T 2/6 R 2/8 In-Class work on Memos/Letters Peer Edit of Memo/Letters T 2/13 Job Search Materials Finding Jobs R 2/15 Application Materials: Resume T 2/20 Application Materials: Cover Letter R 2/22 Peer Edit of Cover Letters and Resumes Due: memo/letters and analysis of Register with Career Services and Explore their Web Site: http://careers.wcu.edu Chapter 17: Building Careers and Writing Résumés Due: Final version of memo/letters with drafts and peer review comments Due: Copy of a job ad Example of Resume in Field Chapter 18: Applying and Interviewing for Employment Due: Draft of CL and Resume with Ad T 2/27 Reporting As Ordered Introduction to Report Projects Proposals (Report Writing) R3/1 Report Topic Conferences Chapter 12: Planning Reports and Proposals Sign Up For Group Office Visit (15-20 Minutes) No Class T 3/6 R 3/8 Spring Break Spring Break No Class No Class T 3/13 Creating Graphics for Professional Writing Researching and Documenting Professionally Chapter 11: Communicating Information Through Visuals. Chapter 10: Finding, Evaluating, and Processing Information. T 3/20 R 3/22 Progress Reports - Format and Layout Progress Reports - Problems and Examples Read Online Examples T 3/27 R 3/29 Literary Festival Week One of these days (tba) will be cancelled to allow you to attend a Lit Festival Event. The other day will be devoted to Oral Presentation Strategies and Using PowerPoint Chapter 15. Planning, Writing, and Completing Oral Presentations. Chapter 16. Enhancing Presentations with Slides and Transparencies. T 4/3 Progress Reports - Problems and Examples Easter Break Read Online Examples of Progress Reports No Class T 4/10 R 4/12 In-Class work on Reports Preparation and Layout of the Formal Report Chapter 14. Completing Reports and Proposals. T 4/17 T 4/24 Formal Reports Problems and Examples In-Class work on reports Presentations and Final Final Report Presentations R 4/26 Final Report Presentations M 4/30 Final Exam R 3/15 R 4/5 R 4/19 Due: CL and Resume with Ad and peer comments Due: Analysis of disciplinespecific documents Due: Proposals Due: Progress Reports Read Online Examples of Formal Reports Due: Final Report and Presentation Due: Final Report and Presentation 12:00-2:30