The Advanced Business and Professional Writing course provides students with “situated” and practical experience with writing akin to the writing professionals do in the workplace. Our focus will be on the production of effective and efficient prose—that is, prose that meets the demands of the situated task and meets those demands well. My special interest is in bringing the more theoretical conceptions of rhetoric (the classical canon, Invention, Arrangement, Style, Memory, Delivery, for example) to the practice of writing in the workplace. We will emphasize "practical reasoning": knowledge of "theory" demonstrated in "practice."

Learning Objectives:
Briefly, 1) a developing sense of the strategies of writing in the workplace, 2) introduction, adaptation, and use of workplace writing practices 3) introduction and use of reflective & critical reading practices; 4) introduction to presentation strategies using technologies of the workplace.

Texts:
Oliu, Brusaw, Alred. Writing that Works: Communicating Effectively on the Job. 9th ed. Bedford/St Martins. 978-0312448448
Online materials on WebCT Vista; online materials from Bedford/St. Martins.

Requirements, etc.:
Daily assignments will include a wide range of professional writing tasks, including collaborative evaluation, and professional issues projects, reflective discussions and shared learning exercises, and finally a major "situated" project. A fuller statement of online course policies is available on our Vista web site.

Policies: As this is a pre-professional writing class, all interactions should demonstrate professional demeanor and habits, academic integrity, a passion for the work. In addition, all work must be original and sources and resources must be properly acknowledged. Plagiarism in this context will result in an "F" in the assignment grade. Extensive plagiarism in any one assignment or a pattern of plagiarism across more than one assignment will result in an "F" in the course and further sanctions.

Office & Hours: I am available by appointment on campus; my office is in 113 Satterfield Hall. I will be available in the Vista Chat Room during hours we will determine at the beginning of the term. I will be available on WebCT Vista periodically during the day and evening, and I encourage you to contact me via email at raymond.craig@kent.edu for questions and to arrange for longer consultations.

You will be using Web Vista at vista.kent.edu. Use your Kent State userid and password for access.