Advanced Business Writing/ENG 30063
Syllaweb: http://www.personal.kent.edu/~mseguin/
Marilyn Seguin
Office 206
672-1738 and 672-2676
home 928-6907
mseguin@kent.edu
Course description and Goals: English 30063 teaches writing as it typically exists in business and the professions. It assumes that professionals write for practical reasons. They write reports to solve problems, proposals to increase business, letters to get jobs. This type of practical writing is judged successful if it achieves the writer's goals, which usually requires meeting the reader's needs. Effective professional writing, then, must not only meet certain formal requirements particular to business and the professions, but like other kinds of writing show commitment on the part of the writer--it is clear, concise, accurate, thorough, and truthful. To that end, we will draw upon what you learned previously about effective prose and the writing process (invention, research, organizing, drafting, revision and editing), to analyze how textual genre function in business and professional settings. You will gain extensive individual and collaborative practice writing in these genres, and acquire further expertise in applying rhetorical techniques and in problem solving.
Class Policies: Attendance is very important in this class, given the emphasis on collaboration and peer revision and discussion. Please be on time, as I will take attendance at the beginning of each class session. One point will be subtracted for each unexcused absence. Attendance and class participation is worth 10% to your total grade for the course.
Work in this course must be original, and all ideas and words taken from sources outside your own knowledge must be given proper credit. Any incident of plagiarism will result in failing the paper and possibly more severe sanctions. Failing to give proper credit to borrowed sources in the business world sometimes results in lawsuits and dismissal from employment.
In accordance with University policy, if you have a documented disability
and require accommodations to obtain equal access in this course, please
contact the instructor at the beginning of the semester or when given an
assignment for which such an accommodation is required. Students with disabilities
must verify their eligibility through the Office of Student Disability Services
in the Michael Schwartz Student Services Center (672-2972).
Advanced
Business Writing--Course Outline Sample
Week 1 |
Week 6 |
Week #11 |
Week 2 |
Week #7 |
Week #12 |
Week 3 |
Week #8 |
Week #13 |
Week 4 |
Week #9 |
Week #14 |
Week 5 |
Week #10 |
Week #15 |
No
final exam, but we'll meet during finals week so that I can return your graded
final projects.
This syllabus is tentative and may be changed
depending on the progress of the class.
Assignment 1 Collaborative Web Quest (10 points)
Assignment #2 Incorporating technology-based research into the letter report (10 points)
Search and locate three general business related web sites of interest to
you. In a letter report to Marilyn Seguin, identify and describe the potential
usefulness of these sites in business education.
Assignment #3 Evaluation report of company manuals (10 points)
Obtain samples of employee manuals from two different organizations, either by contacting the company directly or by viewing its web site. In a memorandum report (collaborative or individual, your choice) to Marilyn Seguin, explain which manual is more effective, basing your judgment on a critical review of the following:
*Writing style: Is it clear, simple, easy to understand? Does it protect the company from legal liability? What other elements of writing style are strong or weak?
*Document design: Is the format consistent throughout the manual? Does the format contribute to user-friendliness? Are the illustrations useful? Are they placed in appropriate places throughout the document? What elements of the design are strong or weak?
Assignment #4 Proposal for major project (10 points)
Analyze the problem your project (research report, proposal or manual) will solve for the organization of your choice. Describe the audience who will read it, the project purpose, and provide a rough outline of the body of the project.
Assignment #5 Progress report (10 points)
In an oral presentation enhanced with visual aids, give a progress report for the major project. Include background or description of the project, how much has been completed, what remains to be completed, problems encountered or anticipated, and expected date of completion.
Assignment #6 Major project (40 points)
Write a 10-page report, proposal or manual that solves a specific problem in
an organization of your choice. The project should include both primary and
secondary sources, as well as at least one graphic or illustration. The report
should follow the documentation style as outlined in class (Chicago Manual of
Style). See list of project examples below.
Attendance, class participation
and miscellaneous assignments--10 points
A note on peer editing--On the day your assignment is due, please come to class with your very best revision. We will use peer editing during class time for all six assignments, and you will have an opportunity to make changes during that time. You will be wasting this valuable time if you bring only a rough draft with you for the peer editing session.
Examples of writing projects (Assignment #6)
Note: An important component of this assignment is to make contact with a real company, local or otherwise.