RWS 305w-22, Fall 2012
Writing in Various Settings
Dr. Steve Merriam
smerriam@mail.sdsu.edu
Office: AH 3119 / 619-594-6631
Office Hours: M/Th 2:00-3:00
Course Description
Rhetoric and Writing Studies 305W is designed to help upper-level students develop the communication skills
needed for successful academic and professional careers. The course builds on the rhetorical models that
students are introduced to in earlier 100- and 200-level courses: attention to audience, purpose, presentation
(genre and organization), evidence, and language. The course provides you with the opportunity to write in and
evaluate the variety of forms you are likely to encounter in your professional lives (i.e., memos, manuals,
proposals, reports). In other words, RWS 305 students learn to respond not just to academic tasks and
arguments, but to a wider variety of genres and settings that require diverse research methods and writing
styles. You will also be asked to reflect on and evaluate the effectiveness of your own writing style(s) within
rhetorical contexts.
Student Learning Outcomes
1. To practice writing as a research activity and
 To identify individual discourse communities and find and analyze their characteristic texts, evaluate
their credibility and principles;
 To recognize and be able to analyze effective and ineffective written and visual academic and academic
and workplace communication;
 To learn to use effective face-to-face and electronic strategies for collaborative work in preparing
written, oral, and visual communication;
 To produce various types of written, oral, and visual communication that are appropriate for and appeal
to various audiences;
 To structure and design information effectively;
 To use mechanically and grammatically conventional language in written documentation and oral
presentations;
 To make professional, ethical decisions as a writer;
 To maintain an individual print or electronic self-assessment and self-reflection of written, oral, and
visual workplace communication you have prepared for this course.
2. To examine assumptions and differences between academic and non-academic writing, and to develop your
ability and potential as a writer of both.
3. To participate actively in face-to-face and electronic class activities and discussions.
Required Texts
Kolin, Philip C. Successful Writing at Work. Concise Third Edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2009.
Assignments and Grading
Assignment
Resume & Cover Letter (individual)
Instructional Text Project (group)
Oral Presentation (group)
Collaboration Report (individual)
Proposal Project
Reading Quizzes
Case Studies
Total
DUE 10/10
DUE 10/31
GIVEN 12/5
DUE 12/12
DUE 12/12
VARIES
VARIES
Points
15
10
20
5
25
20
5
100
Course Policies
Participation.
This is a class in communication, so your participation is essential. I assume that you are strong students,
of course, but budding professionals as well, and I run the class in a collaborative mode as a
professional. In class, you should share relevant ideas and observations. It is imperative that you attend
class. You may miss one class without prior approval; missing the equivalent of two or more classes will
drop your grade by one-half letter grade for the second class, one-half letter grade for each successive
class missed. And of course, persistent tardiness shows a lack of commitment. It is also important that
you turn in informal exercises and come to class prepared to discuss the day’s assignments. This is a
case of mutual preparedness and respect, not only for me, but more importantly, for your colleagues. It is
your responsibility to contact a classmate to find out what went on in class. You can do this easily via
Blackboard. All reading assignments are to be completed before class, even though we may not discuss
the readings directly.
Laptops and Electronic Communication.
As you no doubt have noticed, we meet in a computer classroom. Since there are more students enrolled
that we have computers for, I encourage you to bring and use your laptop in class. However, please don’t
succumb to the temptation of surfing or checking email while class is underway—even if we’re doing
group work. You may find such activities harmless, but more people can see your screen than you think,
and you will become a distraction. Same thing for texting in class. Show respect for me and those around
you and don’t do it. If I see either activity happening, I’ll warn you discreetly one time. The next time I’ll
publically ask you to leave for disrupting the class. You are free to surf or text during our breaks, of
course.
Grades.
Each document or presentation you prepare reflects your knowledge and establishes your image. Grades
are determined by total points acquired, class ranking, and the instructor’s judgment. The turnaround time
is usually 1 week, and I will advise you if I plan to hold work longer. There is no other curve other than the
standards generated locally and the standards made explicit and implied through the instructor’s
presentations and assignments. Note: If you are taking RWS 305W for C/NC, you must complete all
projects for credit in the course.
Writing Assignment Requirements.
Specific requirements for assignments will be discussed in class. All assignments must be prepared with
appropriate software and should conform to the conventions of the genre. Please submit a hard copy of
all written work, and save an electronic backup copy. We will use the Blackboard grade book, so you will
have access to grades for each assignment. If no grade is listed within two weeks of the due date, I
have not received your work, and it is your responsibility to follow up with me. All reading quizzes
will be taken in class.
Oral Presentations.
You will make one formal oral presentation (collaborative) for which you will prepare carefully and dress
appropriately. You will be expected to write an individual, signed, evaluative memo to every speaker.
These memos will be collected and given to the speakers.
Late Projects and Quizzes.
All assignments for this course are to be submitted on time, typed, and stapled (larger projects may be
professionally bound). Try to avoid late papers. However, you can receive an extension for good cause if
you (1) contact me before the assignment is due by means of a formal memo in which you explain the
reason for the delay and (2) propose in the memo a reasonable deadline (less than 1 week), which you
then keep. The memo is a contract. Failure to keep the new deadline breaks the contract, and I won’t
accept your paper. You can use this option no more than once in a semester. You may make up one quiz
with a valid excuse.
Group Work.
Group work constitutes a substantial portion of your final grade. If you are not prepared to devote
significant time outside of class to group work, you should not attempt this class. If you have any
problems within your group that, after patient travail, you cannot resolve, please see me. Coping with the
challenges of collaboration is an essential part of this course.
Plagiarism.
While plagiarism is unlikely due to the individualized nature of the assignments, any writing suspected of
plagiarism may result in a failing grade, withdrawal, or in extensive revisions. Plagiarism is a violation of
Title 5, California Administrative Code, Part 5, Section 4130(a) and is to be taken seriously. I will go over
questions about what constitutes plagiarism early in the course.
Grading Criteria
I may use the following criteria when evaluating your work.
Grade
Meaning
Bottom Line
A (90-100
points)
An A document is excellent work. The audience analysis is
insightful, the topic precise, the organization clear and logical. The
document contains sufficient detail, the information is accurate,
timely, clear, and comprehensive. The writing is excellent: good
use of advance organizers, well-developed paragraphs, graceful and
concise sentences, precise word choice. The document is
complemented by appropriate, clear, correct, and honest graphics.
The design is clear, attractive, and professional.
Your supervisor would be
impressed and would pass the
document along to his or her
supervisors, with little or no
revision.
B (8089.99
points)
A B document is good work. It might have almost all the virtues of
the A document, but one or more of the elements is missing. For
instance, persistent spelling errors could reduce an A document to
a B. Unprofessional design, ineffective paragraphing, awkward
sentences--any of these problems could account for the grade of B.
Your supervisor would
appreciate your work but would
want to have the document
revised before passing it along.
C (7079.99
points)
A C document is satisfactory work. Although the document satisfies
the requirements of the assignment, it is significantly flawed.
Usually, two, three, or more problems make it difficult to read or
to understand or prevent it from fulfilling its purpose. For instance,
a proposal that lacks a project schedule and a list of works cited
would receive a C even if it is otherwise excellent.
Your supervisor would be
somewhat disappointed with the
document and would want it
revised significantly before
passing it along. In addition, the
supervisor would begin to doubt
your ability to complete similar
assignments successfully.
D (6069.99
points)
A D document is unsatisfactory. Although some aspects of the
document might be well done, there are numerous or significant
problems with its conception or execution.
Your supervisor would have
another employee re-do the
document and would question
your basic competence and
suitability for your position. This
doubt would be reflected in
your performance evaluations.
F (0-59.99
points)
An F document is failing work. It is submitted after the deadline, it
does not respond to the readers' needs, it is extremely difficult to
read, or it is unprofessional in appearance or writing quality.
Work on your résumé.
Note: As the instructor, I reserve the right to examine and reconsider individual grades in terms of
attendance, collaborative effort, and punctuality.