ENGL 3880: Writing for Business & Industry

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This calendar is subject to change during the semester. I will announce any changes in class. If you have any questions regarding the schedule, just ask.

Date

Plan

Homework
08/21

Course overview. Introduction to professional writing.

Read WTW Ch. 1 (3-20).

Read WTW Ch. 8 (292-300).

Read the course syllabus carefully.
08/23 Peer interviews and introductions. Memos.

Schedule a time to meet with me to discuss your academic and professional goals and your expectations for this course.

Write a memo introducing your interviewee to me. [Click the link to the left and refer to the section on "memos" in the textbook for guidelines.] Bring two copies of the memo to class next time: one for me and one for the subject.
08/26

Persuasion and problem-solving.

08/28 Individual meeting with me (check appointment schedule here).

Read WTW Ch. 8 (all).

Collect examples of different types of business letters (good and bad examples). Bring them to class for the next several meetings.
08/30

Introduce Unit I: Business Correspondence.

Principles of business correspondence. Tone and voice. Direct and indirect organizations.

Topics for the inquiry letter.

Review WTW Ch. 8 (pp. 284-92).

Work on a draft of your inquiry letter.

Bring a disk to class.
09/02 Labor Day holiday; no classes (but see 09/03).
09/03 [Tuesday]

** State Holiday make-up day **

Standard letter formats. Using MS Word templates.

Exercise #2 (p. 321) for homework (only the first part; last names A-I write as customers; J-Z write as power company representatives). Bring your letter to class.

Read WTW Ch. 9 (all).

09/04 Indirect pattern in negative letters. Discussion of ex 2 (p. 321) exercise that you completed for homework.  Finish drafts of the first four letters. Also read through the sales letters that you have collected during the past couple weeks, and come to class prepared to talk about effective and ineffective techniques in sales letters.
09/06 Sales letters.

Write the sales letter. Bring to class one copy of all five letters for peer workshop. (NOTE: when you hand in your final letters, you will also hand in these workshop drafts to demonstrate your revisions.)
09/09 Workshop on letters. Revise letters for final submission next class.
09/11

Unit One projects due in class.

Introduce Unit 2: Informal Report.

Writing to solve problems. What is a "problem"? Problem types.

 Consider problems that you have encountered with local services, programs, and organizations. Bring to class an informal summary of at least one (possibly more) of such problems. Be prepared to discuss these in class.
09/13 Discuss problem samples and your project ideas. Reports as problem-solving tools. Other report purposes. Click here for sample project ideas from a previous section of 3880. By Saturday at 6pm, send me an email describing your best project idea (or ideas). A concise, three- to five-sentence description of the problem to be solved is sufficient.

I will compile an abridged list of project ideas and post them online by Sunday at 8pm.

In preparation for Monday's class, READ the project ideas (CLICK HERE) and come prepared to discuss the ones that you are most interested in.
09/16

Project fair.

 Read WTW Ch. 6. Also read the material on Working Collaboratively, which was created by tpc program faculty for use in our online graduate courses (but it applies just as well to your groups. We'll discuss experiences with collaboration (and strategies for making it productive) next time.
09/18 PROJECT GROUPS.

Collaboration and Group roles. Problem statements. Finding information sources.

 Read problem statement lecture and samples.
09/20

Group meetings.

 Meet with your group to develop research questions. Write the problem statement for your report. Bring a copy of your problem statement to class Monday (I'll collect them).
09/23 Informal report sections and format. Applying evaluation criteria. Shaping good research questions.
09/25 Developing a research plan. Interviews. Questionnaires.

 
09/27 Groups meet with me to discuss research plans. Complete a full draft of your informal report.
09/30

Revise the report (due 10/04).

 
10/02

** Course Drop Deadline **

Workshop on informal reports.
10/04

Unit 2 reports due in class.

Professional Writing Style:

Read WTW Ch. 13.

Complete the style exercise for homework (download the 25 "sample sentences"as an RTF file here).

If your group has decided to revise your reports for style, bring the revised version, along with one copy of your workshopped draft, on Monday.

 
10/07

Introduce Unit 3: Formal Recommendation Report.

Report types and purposes.
10/09 Reports: research. Discuss sample reports.
10/11 Project groups.
10/14 Fall Break; no classes.
10/16

Report formats. Parts of a formal report.

 Sample formal reports from the book: Northwest Engineering Solvent Report Boeing Ethics Report
10/18

Organizing the report body. Using Criteria.

Continue working on your project; by now you should be finishing up with your research and starting to draw conclusions about the problem.

At our progress report meeting (Friday or Monday) we'll discuss your deliberations about the problem and its solution(s).

Click here to download a file with sentence revisions based on the sentencing exercises from 10/04 (TBA).
10/21 Criteria continued.

Read WTW Ch. 12 (517-45).
10/23

Organizing the report body. Criteria-based organization and options-based organization (rtf).

Click here to download an informal report that uses criteria-based organization.

10/25

Visual information displays. Integrating text and visuals.
10/28

Visual displays continued. Click here for tips on preparing the formal report.

Finish draft of report in preparation for the workshop.

 
10/30

Workshop on formal reports.

 
11/01

Formal report revisions.

 Revise the report (due 11/06).

11/04

Unit 3 reports due in class. Click here to download the "Individual Reflection" form.

11/06

Introduce Unit 4: Job Application Package.

Researching careers.

Finding job (or internship) openings. Researching employers.

 Find two available positions that interest you. Write me a memo that informs me about the company and the specific position.

Read WTW Ch. 16 on the job search and resumes.
11/08

Analyzing job ads and candidate qualifications. Click here for a sample internship ad (rtf). Developing the resume.

 Click here for the reading assignment on how to craft a resume.
Click here to download sample job packet #1 (rtf).
Click here to download sample job packet #2 (rtf).
11/11

Sample Resumes.
Click here for more information on developing your experience items in the resume.

Read sample application letters and TBA.
11/13

Finish with resume discussion. Sample "Skills (or Functional) Resume."

Application letters: style and organization. Click here to download the overhead (partly covered today) on cover letter strategies.

 Complete a full draft of an application letter. Bring the letter (along with your resume) to class for workshop.

11/15

Cover letters, ctd.

 Finish the drafts of your resume and cover letter; bring THREE COPIES OF EACH to class for workshop.

11/18

Workshop on letters (click here to download workshop guidelines).

 Revise resume and letter in response to peer feedback. Attach the transmittal memo. Bring all three documents to class.

11/20

Introduce Unit 5: Brochures.

Sample brochures. Brochure characteristics and purposes.

Document design process. Users' needs and expectations.

Researching content for the brochure.

 Select an audience and purpose for a brochure that you would like to produce. If you need help deciding upon a project, schedule an appointment to meet with me before next class.

11/22 Unit 4 job application packages due in class.

Document design principles and strategies. Mockups and design grids.

Write me a memo formally proposing a plan for your brochure. Explain its intended audience and purpose.
11/25

Meeting with me to discuss your brochure plans and status.

11/27 Thanksgiving Break; no classes.
11/29 Thanksgiving Break; no classes.
12/02 Production.
12/04 Brochure concept critique.
12/06 Stylistic choices in the brochure text (click here for notes). Work on brochures in class.  
12/09

** Last day of class. ** Brochure workshop.

  
12/16
8-10 a.m. 		Exam period. Brochures due by noon.  

Last updated 05 November 2002