Syllabus

Course Syllabus Business Writing for Office Professionals English 1410-106 Fall 2013

Instructor: Dr. Nancy Noonan E-mail: nlnoonan@ccri.edu Office Hours: By appointment​ Course Text: Duffy, M. & Loewy, D. Essentials of Business Communication. Manson, Ohio: South-Western, 2013 Course Hours: Wednesday 7:00-9:30 p.m. Course location: Room 6206 Knight Campus, Warwick, RI  Class wiki: English1410.wikispaces.com ​ Course Description: The goal of this course in general terms is to prepare the student to write and speak professionally in a multicultural, technologically sophisticated corporate setting. Basic writing, proofreading skills, and clear business English are stressed. Students are taught to draft and evaluate a variety of letters, e-mails, memos, and reports, as well as demonstrate oral communication skills and the ability to collaborate with others to produce a cohesive document.

Course Objectives 1. Demonstrate the ability to write routine memos, e-mails, and letters using clear business English and to effectively proofread correspondence written by others. 2. Demonstrate the ability to use a positive tone when writing business letters, and emphasize benefits to the recipient. 3. Demonstrate the ability to effectively write memos and letters dealing with negative messages, persuasive messages, and special messages (congratulatory notes, sympathy notes, and letters of recommendation). 4. Demonstrate the ability to revise business messages to make them more clear, concise and effective. 5. Develop an understanding of informal and formal proposals and reports. 6. Develop skills in making effective oral presentations. 7. Demonstrate the ability to do online research. 8. Demonstrate the ability to engage in collaborative writing. 9. Understand the rules of grammar, punctuation, and capitalization in business letter and report writing. 10. Value honesty and integrity in all facets of business communication.

Course Requirements: Class Attendance: Regular class attendance, participation, and punctuality are essential to your success. Any student with three or more absences, regardless of the reason for the absences, cannot pass the course. (This is the English Department policy.) Please e-mail me or contact a classmate if you have been absent, so that you will know what you have missed in class and what you need to have prepared for the next class session. Whenever possible, let me know ahead of time when you are going to be unable to attend class.

Punctuality: Tardiness demonstrates a lack of respect and is distracting to the instructor and to your fellow students. Attendance will be checked at the beginning of each class session. Students who are tardy are responsible for ensuring that their attendance is recorded. Any student who enters class fifteen minutes late (or more) will be marked absent.

Assignments: Timely completion of in-class assignments, (journal writings, exercises, group activities, etc.), homework, tests, and other assignments is critical to your success in this course. You are responsible for having your assignments submitted by the beginning of class on the day they are due (even if you are not there). They must be printed and ready to be turned in when class begins. Do not expect to print assignments in the lab at the beginning of class. Since we generally discuss homework in class on the day it is due, late homework will not be accepted. Incomplete and inaccurate homework will be penalized. Personal and Academic Integrity: As members of an academic community, you are expected to submit your own work and to conduct yourselves in an honest, respectful manner. Please turn off cell phones and store them in a purse or book bag. If you are expecting an emergency phone call, please notify me before class begins. Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with all policies outlined in the student handbook. Students who do not comply with student handbook guidelines will be subject to disciplinary measures. Grading Policy: Homework and in-class assignments: 25% Attendance and participation: 15% (Your attendance grade will be calculated as follows: zero absences = 100%; one absence = 90%; two absences = 80%; three absences = 75%; four absences = course failure.) Group project: 50% (weights of individual assignments to be announced) Quizzes on mechanics of writing: 10%

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to speak with me before and/or after class, to e-mail me, or to leave a telephone or written message for me. Your academic success is my goal, and I will be happy to help you in any way I can.

*** Students with documented learning disabilities, please make an appointment with me before the second class meeting so that we may discuss accommodations needed and work out an equitable method for evaluating your class performance. Schedule (subject to change)

9/4: Roster, introductions, review syllabus, diagnostics

9/11: Chapter 1: Communication Skills as Career Filters

9/18: Chapter 2: Planning Business Messages

9/25: Chapter 3: Composing Business Messages

10/2: Chapter 4: Revising Business Messages Chapter 5: Electronic Messages and Digital Media

10/9: Chapter 5, continued: Electronic Messages and Digital Media Chapter 6: Positive Messages 10/16: No class

10/23: Chapter 7: Negative Messages Chapter 8: Persuasive Messages

10/30: Chapter 9: Informal Reports

11/6: Chapter 10: Proposals and Formal Reports

11/13: Chapter 11: Professionalism at Work

11/20: Chapter 12: Business Presentations

11/27: Chapter 13: The Job Search, Resumes, and Cover Letters

12/4: Chapter 14: Interviewing and Following Up

12/11: Group presentations

12/18: Final exam/presentations