1/25/06 -- There will be no class on Friday, January 27, 2006, so that we may all attend the Mandatory Founder's Day Assembly at Emery Gymnasium. Do not meet first in the classroom, go straight to the gym and FIND ME out front at 10:50 a.m. The speaker will be the Rev. Dr. Floyd H. Flake, a former US Congressman.

2/20/06 -- Instructor sick. See changes in the syllabus below.

3/28/06 -- See changes in the syllabus following Spring Break.

Required Texts and Supplies

• Business Communication: Building Critical Skills, 2nd ed., Kitty O. Locker & Stephen Kyo Kaczmarek, paperback, ISBN 0072865717 [Companion Web site]
• A college-level dictionary approved by the instructor
• An email account and computer access to the Internet
• A "Collected Works" portfolio for turning in final assignments

Weekly Syllabus

(Subject to revision to meet changing conditions, or at the discretion of the instructor)

Week 1: 1/11-1/13

• Wed: Meet in Boyer Bldg., Room 303
  Introduction: course philosophy, requirements, texts, etc.
• Fri: Go over syllabus and expectations for class
  Group work

• Mon: Observance of MLK, Jr.'s Birthday (no classes)
• Wed: Group work
  HW: Buy a copy of textbook; read pp. 1-6 and answer "How does business writing differ from regular school writing?"
• Fri: Course policies; turn in HW on pp. 1-6
  HW: Read pp. 6-14 and answer "What does PAIBOC stand for?"
  Last day to add or drop a course

• Mon: Do Ex. 1.12 in class
  HW: Read pp. 21-30 and answer "What are demographic and psychographic characteristics? What is the rule about using acronyms in business writing?"
• Wed: Do Ex. 3.9 and 1.8 in class
  HW: Read pp. 31-44, 58-62 and 148-157
• Fri: Mandatory Founder's Day Assembly at Emery Gymnasium
  Speaker: The Rev. Dr. Floyd H. Flake, former US Congressman
  HW: Assignment #1 -- Write a rough draft of a modified block format letter with your own letterhead, with mixed puncuation, in semi-block style, about Dr. Flake's speech; what did he say, how did he say it, how did it make you feel, what was his purpose in giving the speech, did it succeed? The intended audience is your instructor, but write the letter as if he did not attend the speech and has never heard of Dr. Flake before.

• Mon: Discuss letter format
  HW: Read pp. 85-90 on page layout
• Wed: Discuss page layout
• Fri: Go over your letter in groups
  HW: Type your letter (due Wed. Feb. 8); read pp. 158-163 on memos

• Mon: Discuss memo format
  Review for Quiz #1: course policies, style of business writing, letter format, memo format, audience analysis (information, benefits, objections, context, demographic and psychographic characteristics), document design (white space, headings, fonts, justification), parallel structure, etc.
• Wed: Turn in typed letter; further review for Quiz #1
  HW: Assignment #2 -- Write a memo to a potential employer (real or imaginary), detailing what you have learned in your schooling so far and what skills your degree in Business can bring to a job.
• Fri: Quiz #1
  HW: Type copy of memo with headings; read pp. 259-268 on email

• Mon: Discuss email
  HW: Answer questions 13.3-13.7
• Wed: Turn in Assignment #2 memo with headings, go over answers to 13.3-13.7
  HW: Assignment #3 -- Create an email asking for a recommendation from a professor for a future job or graduate school; turn in a printed version of the actual email on Monday, Feb. 20
• Fri: Discuss You-Attitude
  HW: Read pp. 106-113; answer 6.1, 6.2 and 6.4

• Mon: Instructor sick (no class)
• Wed: Work on 6.9 and 6.10 on pp. 114-115 with your group
  HW: Read Module 7 on Positive Emphasis pp. 118-128; answer questions 7.2-7.4 on paper
• Fri: Turn in and discuss 6.9, 6.10, 7.2-7.4; do 7.9-7.11 in class (group work)
  HW: Type the answers to 7.10 & 7.11 on p. 129

• Mon: Go over 7.10 and 7.11 in class
  HW: Read Module 8 on Reader Benefits pp. 132-142; answer 8.1 and 8.3 p. 14 on paper
• Wed: Go over 8.1 and 8.3 in class; discuss Reader Benefits
• Fri: Review for Midterm Quiz: business writing style and formats, letter formats, page set-up, memo formats, audience analysis, you-attitude, positive emphasis
• HW: Study for Midterm

• Mon: Midterm Exam
  HW: Read Module 12 on Persuasive Messages pp. 222-244
• Wed: Midterm Makeup Exam (schedule beforehand)
• Fri: No class

Week 10: 3/20-3/24

• Mon: Review the answers to the Midterm Exam
• Wed: Discuss ideas for curriculum changes or other changes; discuss Persuasive Messages: organizing problem-solving messages, identify and overcome objections, build emotional appeal, use the right tone for the appropriate audience, offer a reason for the reader to act promptly; apply to persuasive letter; analyze the audience for your letter
  HW: Assignment #4 -- Type a rough draft of your Persuasive Letter requesting a change of curriculum at St. Augustine's College: change the requirements of a course, add a new course to a major, or add a new major; use your own personal letterhead and semi-block style
• Fri: Work on your persuasive letter in class with your group
  HW: Complete a typed draft of persuasive letter and bring it to class next time; sign up for extra credit to bring 25 copies of your typed draft to class next week
  Last day for withdrawing from course without penalty

• Mon: Draft Workshop on persuasive letter
• Wed: Draft Workshop on persuasive letter
• Fri: Draft Workshop on persuasive letter

• Mon: Draft Workshop on persuasive letter
  HW: Complete a final draft of persuasive letter and bring it to class next time; Read Module 27 on Resumés pp. 528-550; create or revise your own resumé
• Wed: Turn in persuasive letter at the beginning of class; Discuss Resumés: formats, chronological vs. skills, headings, references, summary of qualifications, objectives
  HW: Assignment #5 -- Type a draft of your resumé; sign up for extra credit to bring 25 copies of your typed and completed resumé to the next class
• Fri: Draft Workshop on Resumé
  HW: Read Module 28 on Job Application Letters pp. 552-561

• Mon: Discuss job application letters; discuss finding an appropriate job advertisement; do Ex. 28.10 on p. 568 as a group assignment; list key words, requirements, and skills which must by included in the job application letter for each advertisement
  HW: Search the list of job boards on Blackboard.com; look for a summer internship if you are not a senior or look for a permanent position if you are a senior; find two advertisements for two internships or jobs for which you are qualified now; print and bring to class Fri.; if they are not printed on 8.5 x 11 paper, tape them to a piece of 8.5 x 11 paper; make sure that your name is on the job advertisement; underline all the key words that should be addressed in your cover letter
• Wed: Quiz: format a cover letter in class; bring lined paper and ink pen
• Fri: Good Friday (no classes)

• Mon: Turn in a copy of your two job advertisements (keep the originals); begin drafting your job application letter in class
  HW: Use the internet to learn at least three facts about the company or organization to which you are applying; type the name of the company; under the name, list those facts; turn in next time
• Wed: Turn in facts about company/organization; work on draft of job application letter; sign up to bring extra credit typed drafts of resumé/cover letter/job ad
• Fri: Draft Workshop on resumé/cover letter

• Mon: Work on letter/resumé combination; sign up to bring 25 copies of Assignment #5, your typed job application letter, your resumé, and your job ad to next class
  HW: Complete final copy of job application letter, resumé, and job ad; we will grade in class according to the rubric
• Wed: Turn in final copy of Job Ad/Resumé/Cover Letter package; grade in class
  HW: Go to Quintcareers.com and take the cover letter quiz; check your answers
  Seniors turn in rewrite of resumé and cover letter today
• Fri: Discuss Quintcareers.com quiz
  HW: Read Module 30 on Follow-up Letters, Calls and Job Offers pp. 591-596

• Mon: Discuss expectations for follow-up letters
• Wed: Review for Final Exam
• Fri: Reading Day (no classes)

Grading

• Homework assignments, classwork and quizzes: 50%
• Major paper grades and rewrites: 50%

Course Descriptions and Goals

Business and Technical Writing will cover the basics of writing in a professional manner within a business setting. Types of writing will include memos, emails, informative and persuasive letters, resumés, and cover letters. In addition to writing and editing your own papers, you will also practice evaluating and editing other students' writing.

In your classes here at the college, you are in training to become a professional in your chosen field. An important part of being a professional is consistently doing the work you're supposed to do every working day. In your job, your responsibilities will include coming to work each day, arriving on time, and completing your assigned tasks by the date they are due. During your time here at St. Aug's, you have similar responsibilities, which you should meet in a professional manner.

By the end of this class, you should know how to do the following: write a memo using correct memo style, write a business letter using correct business letter format(s), write email messages using proper format and netiqueete, write a persuasive letter, practice and review principles of English grammar and punctuation, write or revise your resumé using textbook and online guidelines, use internet job posting sites to find an advertisement for an internship or job, use internet sources to find information on companies and organizations, learn how to use different types of formatting on resumés, write a cover letter for a specific position, learn how to write a follow-up thank you letter to send after a job interview.

Course Objectives

• To practice using clear, precise, grammatically-correct spoken and written communication appropriate in the workplace.
• To learn the standard formats for business letters, memos, instruction, resumés, and cover letters.
• To learn to edit and evaluate other people's writing, as well as your own.
• To learn the psychological techniques used to present information and to persuade an audience.
• To learn how to find, evaluate, and use information from internet sources to find internship and job opportunities.
• To learn how to format attractive documents using Microsoft Word, Microsoft Publisher, and/or Microsoft PowerPoint.

Methods of Instruction

Lecture and Discussion. Bring your textbook every day so that we can discuss the chapters we read. Expect in-class and homework assignments from the textbook and occasional quizzes.

Exercises from the Textbook. Revising sentence for you attitude and positive emphasis; practicing correct grammar. These exercises must be typed.

Group Work. Find information on a topic, present informative and persuasive information appropriate to the audience and the context.

Drafting, Writing, Rewriting. You will usually write each assignment three times -- as a draft, a final copy, and a rewrite.

Rewrites. Unless you receive a very high grade, you (or your group) will need to rewrite your papers. This will not be hard to do if you have saved your paper on a disk, can call it up again, and correct it. The original graded paper must be stapled to the back of the rewrite in order to receive credit for the rewrite. Rewrites will count as 1/2 of the paper grade.

Photocopied drafts. You can earn extra credit by bringing 20-25 copies of a clean typed draft of our next assignment on a Draft Workshop day. We will use your draft to discuss ways of approaching the assignment. Since it is a draft, you can profit from the suggestions you receive to improve your grade. You must sign up to bring drafts.

Peer grading. Once the class has decided on the criteria for a good paper, through the draft workshop process, the class will also score your paper according to a rubric we agree on. Two students will independently score your paper. I will use these scores to help me determine your grade on those assignments that are peer-graded.

Attendance and Coursework Policy

1. According to college policy, students are allowed four unexcused absences for the course. Upon the fifth unexcused absence, the student will be dropped from the class. Absences that are verified as excused will not result in any penalty. Student athletes must provide a schedule of practices, away games, etc. that might interfere with their attendance in class, or any absences will count as unexcused.

2. Students are expected to be in their seats when the class starts. If you arrive over ten minutes late to class, you will be counted as tardy. Three tardies will equal one unexcused absence.

3. It is the responsibility of the student to see the instructor about make-up options if you miss in-class quizzes or tests.

4. Students are expected to turn in all work on the due date. If an assignment is going to be late, you must discuss the situation with the instructor ahead of time. Each day late that an assignment is turned in, it will be automatically reduced a letter grade; after four days, it will automatically receive an F. All papers must be typed in a word processor.

5. If a student must leave class early, he or she must let the instructor know at the beginning of class.

6. Students are expected to be both attentive and respectful of their classmates and instructor. Attentive and respectful behavior includes the following:
   • Listen attentively to both the instructor and questions/comments by students.
   • Give the class your full attention; do not work from other classes; do not listen to CD/MP3 players; turn off all cell phones and/or beepers; do not talk with other students.
   • Do not leave and return while the class is in progress. If you need to use the bathroom or get a drink of water, do so before you walk in the door.
   • Food is a distraction and will not be allowed. You may bring in water to drink, but no sodas or sports drinks; other classes have to use the room after us, and we need to keep it as clean as possible.

The Writing Center

Please use the Writing Center in Boyer 306. It is there to help you, and there are student tutors who can give you additional help with grammar and writing topics that are difficult for you. Each of you should take advantage of this free service, but if a special note is made on your assignment that you need to go to the Writing Center on a regular basis, it is because the instructor is concerned that you will not be successful in this class without some additional one-on-one assistance, and it is a requirement for your success. All you do is go to Boyer 306 and set up an appointment time. If you do not take advantage of this opportunity, then you may have problems passing this class with a grade of C, which is necessary to proceed to your next required English class.