BAKER COLLEGE
WRI115
WORKPLACE COMMUNICATION
4 Quarter Hours
Syllabus
COPYRIGHT 1997
INSTRUCTOR NAME:
OFFICE HOURS:
CONTACT INFORMATION:
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Jill Morris
8:30-9, Monday/Wednesday, or by apt. in the Writing Center
(313) 425-3768, Jill.Morris@Baker.edu
ATTENDANCE POLICY: Attendance is necessary for your success in this course. Attendance will be taken within the first thirty
minutes of class. If you arrive late to class, it is your responsibility to notify the instructor that you are present.
COURSE SPECIFIC INFORMATION
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Prepares students to be effective communicators in the workplace. This course includes fundamental techniques and formats used
in business and technical communication. Clear, concise, factual communication is stressed through a variety of applications including letters, memoranda, business
and technical proposals, manuals, and research writing. Preparation of a resume and associated job-search documents are included. Prerequisite(s): ENG102. Corequisite(s): None. (Matches College catalog as of Fall 2008.)
TEXTBOOK(S): Contemporary Business Communication. 7th Edition. Scot Ober. Houghton Mifflin. 2009. 978-0-618-99048-1.
Note: If the textbooks below are purchased as a kit, use ISBN-13: 978-0536-440143 except On-line. On-line ISBN-13: 9780536-440150.
The Writer’s Brief Handbook. 6th Edition. Pearson/Longman. 2008. ISBN-10: 0-321-47936-X; ISBN-13: 978-0-321-47936-5.
Exercise Book for the Writer’s Brief Handbook. 6th Edition. Pearson/Longman. 2008. ISBN-13: 978-0-205-52168-5.
MyCompLab. Student Access Card
Oxford Dictionary/Thesaurus.
COLLEGE SPECIFIC INFORMATION
TUTORING: See your instructor for recommendations on tutoring, Learning Support Services, and/or other help.
HONOR CODE: There are four possible consequences for violating Baker College's Honor Code. The College may implement any
or all of the following: failure of the assignment, failure of the course, expulsion from the College, rescinding a certificate or degree.
Please refer to the Student Handbook for further details.
COLLEGE POLICIES:
 Eating and drinking are prohibited in class.
 Smoking is allowed only in designated smoking areas.
 Children are not allowed in the college buildings. This includes regular class and lab periods. Children may not be left
unattended anywhere, especially in the Student Center or Library. Children may come into the building, rather than be left
unattended in a vehicle, while a parent conducts business, drops off an assignment, etc
 Pagers and cell phones must be kept in an inaudible mode in the classroom.
 No extra credit is available in this course per Baker College policy.
ADA STATEMENT: Baker College is committed to addressing the needs of students who meet the criteria for special
accommodations. It is the College’s policy to comply fully with federal and state laws, including Section 504 of the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), regarding students with disabilities. Information concerning the
College’s policies and procedures related to disability can be found in the Student Handbook and on the Baker College web site:
www.baker.edu/departments/academic/counseling/specialneeds.cfm.
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Course Description:
WRI115 is a course in writing letters, memos, reports, and e-mails for the workplace. In addition to
studying these specific forms, other assignments will allow students to consider communication
more generally and branch out into thinking about sales, marketing, and other types of potential customer
communication.
.
I.
Class Expectations
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
II.
What you have to say is important. I value your opinion above all else in writing—please
don’t write essays that you think I “want” to read rather than sharing your true voice.
However, in this class always write professionally—even if that means editing that “voice.”
Because of this, plagiarism (taking and not documenting the words of others, whether
intentionally or unintentionally) is taken very seriously. Plagiarism and cheating will be dealt
with according to Baker policy and may result in failure of the assignment, the class, or
expulsion from Baker College. For more information, see the Student Handbook.
Assignments may be submitted to SafeAssign or Turnitin.com to check for plagiarism.
Students who are struggling will meet with the instructor to work on writing.
All assignments handed in will be proofread, typed, and printed unless otherwise noted by
the instructor.
Students will buy the textbook and complete all readings.
Students will review the syllabus. All due dates are contained within.
Save all your course assignments to at least 2 places, as well as printing. If you use a flash
drive (or something similar) still be sure to save course assignments in two places. You may
save assignments to your network drive at Baker, but will not be able to directly access these
files at home.
Students will contact me as soon as possible if they know they will be absent for a specific
day of the course so that they may retain an excused absence for that date.
Students will be asked to use computers as part of this course. Stuck? Need help with Word?
Please ask! I’m always available to help!
Course Requirements and Grading (Evaluation)
Item
Memo to Instructor
Quizzes (5)
Mission statement, Letterhead, Env.
Routine Claim Letter
Fortune 500 Proposal
Fortune 500 Outline
Fortune 500 Report
Fortune 500 Presentation
Persuasive Letter
Employment Search Portfolio
Goodwill Letter
Mock Interview
Mock Interview Script
Infomercial Shooting Script
Infomercial
Professional Behavior
Total: 1000
Points/Percentage
25
20 each (100 points)
25
25
25
25
200
50
25
100
25
100
50
75
100
50
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III.
Grading Scale
1000-945
944-895
894-865
864-835
A
AB+
B
834-795
794-765
764-735
734-695
BC+
C
C-
694-665 D+
664-635 D
634-595 D594 and below F
Brief Assignment Descriptions (All Assignments will have Assignment Sheets and Rubrics handed out
at the time they are assigned in the syllabus)
1. Memos, Letters, etc. In a group of 3-5 students, you will be creating a fake company that is promoting
one fake product. For this company you will create a mission statement, a letterhead, a series of letters,
and so on.
2. Quizzes. Quizzes are given over reading approximately every other week (they happen more often in the
beginning of the term before big projects start). You should expect to have to know the definitions of
any terminology we know in the class as well as demonstrate your ability to write the letters, memos,
and other things that we write as part of the group project.
3. Fortune 500 Project. You will most likely work with the same students on this project as you do for
your other group work (however, if you wish to switch let me know!) You will research and write a
report about a major Fortune 500 company that you believe that your business should begin to develop a
business relationship with. As part of this process you will write a proposal, an outline, the actual report,
and make a brief presentation.
4. Employment Search Portfolio. You will complete a resume, job application, and collect information
related to finding work in your field. Depending on where you are in your degree program, you may
want to gear this towards finding your externship.
5. Mock Interviews. You will interview another student and be interviewed by them. You will prepare a
script to interview this person by. This is good practice for the day when you hopefully will have to
interview someone!
6. Infomercial. In lieu of a final report and presentation, you will continue to work with your group to
create a Pitchmen style infomercial for the product your company has been communicating about all
term. I have cameras and editing software—all you need to bring is the script and ideas!
IV.
Class Policies
*Make-up Work/Late Work
1. All late assignments lose 5 points per 25 they are worth automatically.
2. All assignments may be “made up” with the exclusion of major writing assignments, group
projects, and exams, which may only be turned or taken late with the instructor’s permission.
3. Late assignments will not be accepted after our last meeting date.
4. Homework is considered late when it is turned in after class is over the day it is due. If you
are absent, please e-mail me homework.
Homework
Homework and readings are due the class period after they are assigned except for major
projects. All major papers and projects will have a due date on the assignment sheet and on
the syllabus schedule (see below).
6. Grades should be checked in Blackboard before approaching the instructor about the grade
on an assignment.
7. In class work may be ungraded, however, you can expect your participation in such
assignments to be reflected in your Professional Behavior grade.
5.
3
8.
Wikipedia should never be a cited source for your papers; however, I do encourage students
to use it as an annotated bibliography for some topics. Failure to cite Wikipedia, in any case,
is still plagiarism.
Participation
Participation is expected of all students; lack of participation will result in a lowered Professional
Behavior grade (see rubric below). Additionally, students are expected to be polite and courteous
in e-mail to the instructor.
Professional Behavior (in class) Participation Rubric:
Your professional performance will be graded weekly on a 5 point scale –
0 = no contribution to the class
1 = a negative influence in class (rude, disruptive, late, etc.)
2 = in class, but not contributing
3 = in class, somewhat contributing to class but not demonstrating preparation for class
4 = contributing to class and somewhat prepared for class by having read materials ahead of time
5 = significant contribution and well prepared for class
The factors that go into determining your professional behavior are as follows:
 Arriving before class starts, prompt returns from any break, not leaving early each class period
 Preparation for class – reading materials and preparing before class
 Useful participation that aids the class and demonstrates course preparation
Useful participating includes the involvement in class discussion, asking questions about the material,
and relating the course content to the project, research paper, or other assignments.
 Your ability to work with others. I am not asking that you like everyone in class, but I am expecting you
to put your personal feelings aside for the good of the course. Please do not interrupt while others are
talking.
Extra Credit
Baker College policy prohibits the offering of extra credit.
Return of Student Work
All student work will be returned within a week of it being handed in. Grades for work may be
available in Blackboard before that time.
Unanticipated Absence
Students who are absent on unplanned days should contact the instructor by e-mail or phone (text
is fine if class has already started) to let me know they will be unavailable. I will then let you
know if there is any way you can make up in class exercises and arrange to turn in homework.
Students should expect that I will follow the syllabus closely, however, and should not inquire as
to “what was covered.”
V.
*System Policies
Baker College is committed to provide an educational environment that allows you the opportunity
to obtain your academic goals. However, the College expects students to conduct themselves in a
manner that reflects its mission, purposes, ideals, and values.
All students are required to read, understand, and comply with the policies and responsibilities stated
in the Student Handbook. Furthermore, students will respect the rights of others and will treat fellow
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students, faculty, and staff with good manners and respect. Please refer to the Student Handbook for
further details.
Tentative Calendar
The instructor reserves the right to make changes to the tentative calendar throughout the quarter.
Week
1
2
Date
Topic/Activity
Tuesday,
January 12,
2010
Introductions
Syllabus Review
Looking at Section B
Memo Format
Thursday,
January 14,
2010
The components of
communication
Barriers to communication
Communication Theory
Diversity and Ethical Issues
Listening
Meetings
Form groups, create
companies
Quiz 1
In your groups, create your
business’s Mission
Statement, letterhead, and
envelope
Tuesday,
January 19,
2010
Thursday,
January 21,
2010
What is technical writing?
The writing process?
Revision on letterheads,
envelopes, mission
statements, etc.
Thinking about
discrimination in the
workplace
Assignments and Due Dates
Tests and Quizzes
Homework:
Send a memo via e-mail to the
instructor (jill.morris@baker.edu)
Read Chapter 1, Chapter 2, and
Chapter 3 in your text
Due: Memo to instructor’s e-mail
by the time class meets
Homework:
Read Chapter 4 and Chapter 5
Study for Quiz 1
Bring in samples of business
mission statements
Due: Sample of business mission
statements
Drafts of your own businesses’
mission statements, letterheads,
and envelopes (at the end of class)
Homework:
Read Chapter 12
Begin your resume
Routine Claim Letter for your
business
Bring in a copy of your own
resume, even if it is not the one
you are working on for class
Routine Claim Letters
3
Tuesday,
January 26,
2010
Employment Search
Portfolio Assigned
Career Services Presentation
Looking at resumes—others
Due: Routine Claim Letter Draft
Homework:
Revise Routine Claim Letter Draft
based upon instructor and peer
feedback
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as well as your own
Thursday,
January 28,
2010
Cover Letter format
Quiz 2
Workplace Reports
Types
Purposes
Fortune 500 Group Report
Assigned (same groups as
your business)
Read Chapter 9 in your text
Study for quiz 2
Due:
Routine Claim Letter
Homework:
Read Chapter 10 in your text
Pick your Fortune 500 Company
Talking about collaborative
writing
4
5
Tuesday,
February 2,
2010
Happy
Groundhog’s
Day!
Talking about Proposals and
Prospectuses
Homework:
Write a long-style memo
(proposal) telling the instructor
about your Fortune 500 project.
What company did you pick? Who
is doing what? What internal due
dates have you selected? How will
you fulfill the peer review part of
this assignment?
Thursday,
February 4,
2010
Talking about questionnaires
Due: Fortune 500 Memo
Why use an outline to write a
business report?
Homework:
Fortune 500 Project Outline
Read Chapter 6 and 12 , Prepare
for Quiz 3
Tuesday,
February 9,
2010
Thursday,
February 11,
2010
How to set up headings in
Word
Quiz 3
Routine Messages and
Persuasive Messages
Group time to work on
Routine and Persuasive
Messages, Assign Group
Members to work on Each
Bad News Letters
Working on Bad News
Letters for your Project in
Class
Direct and Indirect
Communication Styles
Homework:
Read Chapter 7
Persuasive Sales Letter
Outline for your project.
Due:
Fortune 500 Project Outline
Homework:
Read Chapter 8
Finish Employment Search
Portfolio
6
6
Tuesday,
February 16,
2010
Thursday,
February 18,
2010
Employment Search
Portfolio Due
Due:
Employment Search Portfolio
Stupid PowerPoint Tricks
Homework:
Study for Quiz 4
Quiz 4
Goodwill Letters
Homework:
Write a Goodwill Letter for your
Group Project
Group Time for Fortune 500
Projects
7
Tuesday,
February 23,
2010
Thursday,
February 25,
2010
8
Tuesday,
March 2, 2010
Fortune 500 projects Due
PowerPoint presentations
based on Fortune 500
Projects
Quiz 5
Infomercial Project
Assigned
Homework:
Mock Interview Script
Infomercial Script and Shooting
Plan
Mock Interview Project
Assigned
Mock Interviews and
Shooting
Due: Infomercial Script and
Shooting Plan
How to use Windows Movie
Maker for editing
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Due: Fortune 500 Report
Goodwill Letter
PowerPoint Presentation
Thursday,
March 4, 2010
Mock Interviews
Tuesday,
March 9, 2010
Shooting Day:
On all shooting days students
should come with all their
documents created in their
group so far. When their
group is not actively
involved in filming or
rehearsing, they should be
revising these documents
(potentially multiple times).
This applies to all days
labeled as Interviews,
Shooting, etc.
Mock Interviews and
Shooting
Due: Mock Interview Script
7
10
Thursday,
March 16,
2010
Tuesday,
March 23,
2010
Finish the Infomercial
Homework:
Finish Infomercial
Infomercial DUE.
Presentations of
Infomercials.
Due:
Infomercial
Homework:
Study for the final. Review past
quizzes.
Thursday,
March 25,
2019
Infomercial Presentations!
FINAL!
Take the final, go home, enjoy
your break!
All Final Copies of all
assignments are due! No late
assignments or revisions will be
accepted beyond this date!
Please e-mail late assignments to
the instructor by midnight.
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Effective Fall 2008
BAKER COLLEGE
WRI 115
Workplace Communications
4 Quarter Hours
Student Learning Outcomes
COPYRIGHT 1997
1. Compose in both “hard copy” and electronic formats common workplace documents such as emails,
memos, letters, and reports.
2. Demonstrate competency integrating electronic components into oral and/or written presentations.
3. Identify and use appropriate media for specific communication contexts.
4. Articulate the relevance of technical writing in the workplace.
5. Research and apply career-appropriate employment strategies.
6. Examine communication practices in relation to
a. professional behavior.
b. workplace ethics.
c. personal work ethic.
d. discrimination.
e. workplace etiquette.
f. protocol.
g. diversity (both domestic and global).
7. Practice collaboration and consensus building.
8. Apply the writing process to create clear, concise, and grammatically correct communication.
REQUIRED ELEMENTS
1. The student will complete an instructor-approved research-based project.
2. The student will deliver an instructor-approved oral presentation.
3. The student will compile an instructor-approved employment portfolio.
These SLOs are approved for experiential credit (4/2008).
SLOs developed by Nancy Hall, Bernadette McAllister, Leone Pintal, Erin Yezbick (FL), Jacqueline
Dalley (OW), Jacqueline Sheridan (AH), Tammy Kangas (CA)
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