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WRIT 340Advanced Writing for Business

Fall 2013

Professor: Daylanne Markwardt, Ph.D.Office: ACC 228 Mailbox: ACC 400 Office Phone: 213-740-2803 E-mail: [email protected]

Lecture ClassTues./Thurs. 8:00 – 9:20 a.m. Room: HOH 410

Office HoursTues./Thurs. 9:30 – 11:50 a.m., or by appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION AND GOALS

WRIT 340 offers instruction in writing for various audiences on topics related to a student's professional or disciplinary interests, with some emphasis on issues of broad public concern. The prerequisite is WRIT 140 or its equivalent.

The business version of this course, Advanced Writing for Business, is designed not only to help you write effectively in a business environment, but also to improve your general ability to research and analyze complex ideas, to appreciate and develop the skill of effective argumentation, and to write clear, grammatical, well-structured communication. Course work is designed to increase your capacity to analyze audiences and tailor content and style to produce written documents that communicate appropriately and effectively within their given context.

Building on the skills you gained in WRIT 140, this class explores specific business writing techniques and strategies through in-class lectures and exercises, individual writing assignments, tutorial sessions, and a group project. The topics covered range from word-, sentence-, and paragraph-level issues of correctness, conciseness, coherence, and clarity, to more global considerations of argumentation and organization, including a major unit on critical thinking.

Throughout the semester, the class will emphasize ways of differentiating relevant from inessential information and then communicating what is relevant to a wide variety of audiences. You will learn to regard effective business writing in terms of a series of strategic choices, including choosing from among a repertoire of tones and styles appropriate in different situations and with different audiences. You will also improve your editing and critiquing skills so that you can distinguish effective from ineffective writing and help not just yourself, but others as well, to become better writers in a business context.

The course content of Advanced Writing for Business is practical today and long into the future. You will begin using or improving many writing skills immediately—not just following graduation or in a future career position. Bear in mind, however, that while an instructor can teach you much of what you need to

Key: WTW = Writing That Works: Communicating Effectively on the Job (11th ed.). Please note that this schedule is subject to change based on needs and progress of the class. Any changes will announced in advance and posted to Blackboard.

know to be a successful writer, no one can make you learn, practice, modify, polish, or strengthen your writing skills. That part of the course is up to you.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

This course focuses on improving your understanding of the basic principles of good writing and how you may use these principles to write effectively in a wide variety of business-related contexts. You will learn to communicate effectively in writing, using “Plain English” as well as traditional and new communication media for different audiences.

Specifically, at the end of the course, you will be able to:

Recognize and implement the qualities associated with effective business writing, particularly the hallmarks of “Plain English” and its “4Cs”: conciseness, coherence, clarity, and correctness by planning, outlining, and revising a variety of business documents.

Identify and evaluate diverse communication goals of different audiences and make effective choices about the tone, style, and form the communication should take by recognizing and discussing how to tailor communication to specific audiences.

Select and strategically utilize traditional and new communication media by learning about the applications and preferred usages of those media.

Plan, create, and complete a variety of business documents—including, for example, memos, letters, e-mails, blog posts, proposals, and reports—using appropriate headings, layout, and typography by applying rules of document purpose and design.

Conduct research using a broad range of sources by applying secondary and primary methods of research, such as utilizing databases and open sources, practicing key word searches, and conducting interviews.

Synthesize and evaluate the quality of collected information by critically analyzing the value, credibility, and applicability of sources.

Support written claims with logical and persuasive reasoning, and critique the reasoning in the writing of others by applying critical thinking guidelines of Western traditions of thought.

Understand the importance of business ethics and its implications for business and business communication by discussing moral decision-making and approaches to ethics, such as utilitarianism, and how they translate into business contexts.

Collaborate productively with others by completing writing and editing tasks. Express your ideas and conduct yourself in a professional manner by creating written communication

under consideration of all objectives above.

All of the above apply not only to traditional business operations, but also to any professional communication via electronic media. Arguably, business today functions primarily in a digital environment, and proficient writers must be adept at using the internet and other tools of e-communication.

TEXTS

RequiredOliu, Walter E., Charles T. Brusaw, and Gerald J. Alred. Writing That Works: Communicating Effectively

on the Job. 11th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2013.

Supplemental readings posted to Blackboard

RecommendedAlred, Gerald J., Brusaw, Charles T., & Oliu, Walter E. The Business Writer's Handbook. 10th ed.

Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2012. Key: WTW = Writing That Works: Communicating Effectively on the Job (11th ed.). Please note that this schedule is

subject to change based on needs and progress of the class. Any changes will announced in advance and posted to Blackboard.

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Other Requirements Adobe Reader (http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html) Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2010, or previous versions updated with

the Compatibility Pack (available free of charge at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads) Access to a laser printer or equivalent A working e-mail account that you check regularly A USB Flash Drive for saving your work in class or the computer lab

ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING

Major assignments for this course are listed below. The Critical Thinking Analysis, Ethics Paper, Group Project, and Portfolio assignments are mandatory for all sections of Writing 340 - Advanced Writing for Business. Additional assignments, all in-class exercises, and homework are at the discretion of the professor.

Your final grade in this course will be based on the following:Percentage of

Individual Writing Assignments Course Grade Points

Business Communication Boot CampIntroduction to the three primary types of business communication 10% 100

For Portfolio Consideration (Three Major Assignments)

Critical Thinking Analysis 15% 150A critical analysis of current media coverage relating to a businessor industry of your choice

Corporate Social Responsibility Proposal 15% 150An analysis of a company’s current CSR efforts andproposal for a new or additional program

Business Ethics Paper 15% 150An analysis of an ethical dilemma facing a given business orindustry

Final Portfolio 15% 150A substantial reworking of two individual "For Portfolio Consideration" assignments

Group Writing Assignment

Collaborative revision and redesign of a Website for a start-up 15% 150business or nonprofit organization

Other Class Participation 10% 100


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http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

Quizzes and In-Class Exercises 5% 50

TOTAL 100% 1,000

EVALUATION AND GRADING CRITERIA

GradingYou will accumulate points throughout the semester, which will be posted to Blackboard so you may keep track of your progress. Final grades will be based on your total points accumulated by the end of the semester as a percentage of the 1,000 total points possible and will follow the guidelines issued by USC’s Office of Academic Records and Registrar: http://www.usc.edu/dept/ARR/grades/gradinghandbook/gradingpolicies.html#Definitions%20of%20Grades%20and%2.0Marks. I will also consider your active engagement, attendance, promptness, and level of professionalism in determining your class participation score. Incompletes will only be considered under extenuating circumstances.

Grading RubricsYour writing for this class will be evaluated on the basis of the USC Writing Program’s grading rubric. Used for WRIT 340 sections across campus, this rubric covers the following: level of sophistication in exploring issues set forth in assignment; cogency and insightfulness of argument and analysis; support, organizational clarity, and logical force; professional maturity in syntax, grammar, and mechanics; and cognizance of the academic, professional, and public issues attending to majors, disciplines, and professions. Grading rubrics tailored to individual assignments will be posted to Blackboard well in advance of the assignment due dates. These spell out how your work will be evaluated and allow for detailed feedback as part of the grading process.

Grading TimelinePlease allow a minimum of ten working days for grading.

Posting of Final GradesFinal grades may be accessed on OASIS (https://camel2.usc.edu/OASIS/Login.aspx), or through USC’s TouchTone Grades System at 213-740-9088.

Polished DraftsBecause good writing is really re-writing, your drafts must be polished (not rough). A polished draft is a preliminary version of the assignment that has been meticulously proofread and "spell-checked." It must also be the correct length—as specified by the "Guidelines" for each assignment. "Polished drafts" that fail to meet these criteria will NOT be accepted. All drafts must be submitted at the beginning of class (within the first five minutes) on the day they are due. You should retain copies of all drafts until the end of the semester in case any question should arise.

Peer ReviewAn important part of this course is a series of writing workshops in which students critique peer drafts and introductions for major assignments. Your absence on a peer review or “introduction pitch” day or your failure to provide a polished draft or introduction will incur a 20 percent penalty for each infraction. This means your final grade for each assignment can be reduced by as much as 40 percent. To maximize the return on your investment in this aspect of your learning, I encourage you to plan accordingly and visit me during office hours before major assignments are due.


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http://www.usc.edu/dept/ARR/grades/gradinghandbook/gradingpolicies.html#Definitions%20of%20Grades%20and%252.0Marks

http://www.usc.edu/dept/ARR/grades/gradinghandbook/gradingpolicies.html#Definitions%20of%20Grades%20and%252.0Marks

ONE-ON-ONE WRITING CONFERENCES

In addition to my office hours, we will meet, one-on-one, at least two times during the semester. These sessions will offer you an opportunity to discuss specific difficulties you may have in the writing process; they are not intended to be discussions about your grades. Be certain to bring your last graded assignment as well as your in-progress writing so we have something to work with. Also, pay close attention to any special requirements for each conference that I might mention in class. Failure to attend a scheduled conference, or showing up late to one, counts the same as an absence or lateness in a regular class session.

PROFESSIONALISM: POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Attendance and PunctualityConsider the classroom a professional environment. With this in mind, you are expected to attend all scheduled class sessions and to be in your seat, ready to learn, at the start of class. More than two absences will negatively affect your final grade. If you are absent or consistently late three or more times prior to November 15 (the last day to withdraw without a “W”), you will be asked to withdraw. Being absent does not excuse you from work due or completed in class that day. You should contact a classmate (or, as a final resort, your professor) to find out what you missed and obtain a copy of any notes he or she may have taken.

Absences may be excused for compelling personal reasons (death in the family, hospitalization, etc.). However, this is strictly at the discretion of the professor, and you must present documentation for such consideration. You will be marked absent for the day if you are more than ten minutes late to class, or if you leave before class is over without proper notification. (This means that, just as you would do in a professional setting, you should keep me apprised of all unavoidable schedule conflicts). All attendance issues must be resolved within 24 hours of their occurrence. This means you cannot wait until the end of the semester to decide that an absence earlier in the semester should have been excused.

Writing Labs and In-Class AssignmentsWe may meet in the computer lab intermittently throughout the semester, depending on its availability. Lab assignments must be completed during the lab and cannot be made up. Similarly, from time to time, I may ask you to prepare something during a lecture or workshop. These in-class assignments cannot be made up.

Participation and Classroom DemeanorPart of your grade is based on your participation. This means you are expected to be an active contributor to the class, not a passive listener. Volunteer answers to the questions I ask; ask questions yourself; request clarification if something is not clear; challenge me if you disagree with something I have presented; contribute useful and relevant comments. Your active participation can help determine whether our class atmosphere will be dull and pedantic or energetic and engaging.

Technology UseCommunication devices, such as cell phones and Blackberries which are capable of sending and/or receiving electronic communication, and all entertainment devices, such as iPods or other MP3 players, should be turned off and kept off throughout the class session. Receiving or sending communication during class disrupts the learning environment. Laptops and tablets are not allowed in this class without the instructor’s permission. While you are in class, you are expected to conduct yourself professionally.


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This includes being focused exclusively on WRIT 340, not on extraneous matters. It also includes treating everyone else in the room with the same respect and consideration you would like to receive.

Preparation You are expected to come to class fully prepared, with all required written assignments and reading completed, even if you were unable to attend a previous class meeting.

Assignments and Due Dates Assignments must be turned in at the beginning of the class period. Two submissions are required for each major paper: (1) an electronic copy to Turnitin.com on Blackboard and (2) a printed copy to be submitted in class for scoring. You are responsible for ensuring the integrity of your electronic submissions. Papers that are not printed or submitted electronically in the acceptable file formats will not be scored. Moreover, inappropriate submissions will be subject to the appropriate penalties.

Any draft or assignment turned in late, even if by only a few minutes, will be subject to a grade deduction and forfeit comments and conferences to review. If you are unable to attend class on the day a major written assignment is due, please make arrangements for it to be in my mailbox (ACC 400) or submitted by a classmate by the start of the class period. If later than one week, the assignment will receive 0 (zero) points. Late or not, however, you must complete all assignments to pass this course.

WRITING CONSULTANT AND THE USC WRITING CENTER

You may schedule 30-minute appointments with writing consultants trained to assist you in planning, organizing, correcting, and revising your assignments. The Writing Center (WC) provides two options for meeting with writing consultants: Stewart Grace, an Advanced Writing for Business Consultant, is available to assist you on Mondays and Wednesdays in Hoffman 418, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. You may also schedule an appointment with the USC Writing Center, located in Parking Structure D (street level), Room 101. Both writing consultation options are excellent resources for students who want to improve their writing. Some WC consultants have special skills in working with students for whom English is a second language.

In addition to one-on-one consultations, both Stewart and the WC will offers a series of Writing Modules designed to help non-native speakers develop the skills they need to succeed in WRIT 340. The WC offers daily workshops on troublesome language and grammar issues, open to all students. The USC Writing Center Web site is located at: http://dornsife.usc.edu/writingcenter/. You may also find two other online resources helpful:

Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab (OWL): http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/general/gl_edit.html

Online Resources for Writers: http://webster.commnet.edu/writing/writing.htm

It will usually be up to you to take advantage of the resources that Marshall and the Writing Center offer. On occasion, however, I will require visits to Stewart or the Writing Center—sometimes on a regular basis—if I believe there is a need.

SOME OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS


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http://webster.commnet.edu/writing/writing.htm

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/general/gl_edit.html

http://dornsife.usc.edu/writingcenter/

To maintain the integrity of the academic process, only original work created for WRIT 340 during the Fall 2013 semester is eligible for grade consideration. Thus, if you have written or are writing a paper for another course, you MAY NOT use it in WRIT 340.

PlagiarismPlagiarism is the unacknowledged and inappropriate use of the ideas or wording of another individual. It is considered a grave violation of academic integrity, and the sanctions against it are correspondingly severe. Sanctions recommended by the university range from a grade of “F” in the course to suspension from the university. Most simply, plagiarism can be characterized as “academic theft.”

As defined in the University Student Conduct Code (published in the current SCampus), plagiarism includes:

“The submission of material authored by another person but represented as the student’s own work, whether that material is paraphrased or copied in verbatim or near verbatim form;

“The submission of material subjected to editorial revision by another person that results in substantive changes in content or major alteration of writing style; or

“Improper acknowledgment of sources in essays or papers.”

The Student Conduct Code applies these standards to any written work submitted by a student, whether a draft or a final version:

Because of the serious penalties for plagiarism, you should insure that any writing you submit represents your own assertions and abilities and incorporates other texts in an open and honest manner . . . In academic assignments, writing is assumed to be the original words and thoughts of the student unless [the reader is] told otherwise (i.e., material from other sources is clearly and properly cited).

From Trojan Integrity: Guide to Avoiding Plagiarism (USC Office for Student Conduct, http://www.usc.edu/scampus )

Documenting Sources In partial fulfillment of the Academic Integrity policy, you must properly document all sources following either American Psychological Association (APA) or Modern Language Association (MLA) Guidelines. Both are available in the Business Writer’s Companion. You may also download guidelines from the Web sites of each organization, http://www.apastyle.org or http://www.mla.org, from the MyMarshall Web portal (Academic Tab; scroll down and click on Marshall Library; click on Library Resources; click on Citations & Academic Integrity) or from the USC Writing Center’s Web site (listed above). MLA is preferred for business writing.

Assistance with PapersIn this course we encourage peer review, since it’s almost always helpful to have “another set of eyes” take a look at your paper and offer comments and suggestions. But where exactly is the boundary between helpful advice and illegitimate collaboration? Where should you draw the line?

The following guidelines from the Writing Program answer this question explicitly:

The Writing Program encourages collaboration with your instructor, with Writing Center consultants, and with your classmates; such interactions constitute one of the most important and effective means by which writing is taught. In undertaking collaborative


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http://www.mla.org/

http://www.apastyle.org/

http://www.usc.edu/scampus

interactions, however, remember that you are finally responsible for guaranteeing that the resulting text represents your abilities and authority, not those of the persons assisting you, however well-meaning they may be. A simple guideline may help: Never allow someone else to construct a section of your text longer than one or two sentences that you would not be able to produce on your own, and never allow anyone to copy-edit more than the first page of your paper.

Students with DisabilitiesAny student requesting academic accommodations based on a disability is required to register with Disability Services and Programs (DSP) each semester. You may obtain a letter of verification for approved accommodations from DSP. Please be sure the letter is delivered to me as early in the semester as possible. DSP is located in STU 301 and is open 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. The phone number for DSP is (213) 740-0776.

The PortfolioTo be eligible for the Portfolio assignment, you must complete all of the assignments listed under the syllabus section titled "For Portfolio Consideration" before the portfolio is due. You cannot pass WRIT 340 without completing the three major assignments and the portfolio. Consider the portfolio your final exam equivalent.

Retention of Graded PapersReturned papers may be discarded four weeks after grades are posted by the University, and hence, will not be available should a grade appeal be pursued following receipt of your course grade.

Blackboard/E-mailPlease check Blackboard/Announcements and your University e-mail regularly.

Add/Drop ProcessTo comply with Marshall’s policies, WRIT 340 classes are open enrollment (R-clearance) through the first week of class. All classes are closed (switched to D-clearance) at the end of the first week. This policy is designed to minimize the complexity of the registration process for students by standardizing across classes. I can drop you from my class if you do not attend the first two sessions in classes that meet two or three times a week or if you do not attend the first session of a class that meets once a week.

Please note: If you decide to drop, or if you choose not to attend the first sessions without notifying me and are dropped, you risk being unable to add another WRIT 340 course this semester, since sections are usually full and professors will not be inclined to add students after the first week.

These policies maintain professionalism and ensure a system that is fair to all students.

Emergency Preparedness/Course ContinuityIn case of a declared emergency if travel to campus is not feasible, USC executive leadership will announce an electronic way for instructors to teach students in their residence halls or homes using a combination of Blackboard, teleconferencing, or other technologies.

* * * *


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This syllabus is our contract for the semester. However, because students have different learning styles, I reserve the right to adjust the syllabus at any time throughout the semester. Such adjustments will be announced in advance and posted to Blackboard. Remember that flexibility is a virtue, especially in a professional setting. Thus, if I determine that the class needs more (or less) emphasis on a particular area, I will adjust the syllabus accordingly, to the extent that I am allowed to do so within the constraints of the overall requirements for Writing 340.

Welcome to the class!


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WRIT 340: Advanced Writing for BusinessProfessor: Daylanne Markwardt

Daily Schedule of Classes

Date Readings and Class Preparation Due Today and Bring to Class In-Class Topics and Activities

Tues., Aug. 27

Introduction to course and to each otherSyllabus reviewWriting diagnostic

Thurs., Aug. 29

WTW Chapter 1, Part 1 (“Writing Systematically”)

Strategizing routine business messagesIntroduction to Business Writing Boot CampWriting and formatting e-mails

Tues.,Sept. 3

WTW Chapters 1 (remainder) and 8Evergreen Markets case

Rough draft of Boot Camp Task l (hard copy) Quiz 1 (covering 8/29 - 9/3 readings)“You” attitudeWriting and formatting memos

Thurs., Sept. 5

WTW Chapter 9 Rough draft of Boot Camp Task 2 (hard copy)Laptop for in-class activity

Writing and formatting lettersIntroduction to Critical Thinking Assignment Locating current business sources

Tues., Sept. 10

WTW Chapter 10 Rough draft of Boot Camp Task 3 (hard copy) Quiz 2 (covering 1/28 - 2/4 readings)Analyzing media sourcesWriting informal reports

Thurs., Sept. 12

WTW Chapter 2 Preliminary plans for Critical Thinking Analysis (be prepared to present in class)

Critical Thinking Analysis pitchesPlanning and organizing your draft

Tues., Sept. 17

WTW Chapter 3 and Chapter 6, Part 3 (“Evaluating, Recording, and Acknowledging Research Sources”)

Final Drafts of All Boot Camp Tasks (hard copies for scoring)

Source documentation and repurposing in business documents


Day Readings and Class Preparation Due Today and Bring to Class In-Class Topics and Activities

Thurs.,Sept. 19

Draft introduction to Critical Thinking Analysis, plus one analysis section (submit to Blackboard)

NO CLASS MEETING TODAY Attend one-on-one conferences instead

Tues.,Sept. 24

WTW Chapter 4 Full rough draft of Critical Thinking Analysis (submitted to Blackboard and electronic copy for review in class)Laptop for in-class activity

Quiz 3 (covering 9/12 - 9/24 readings)Peer review of Critical Thinking Analysis draftsUse of electronic review tools

Thurs.,Sept. 26

Business writing style guides (links posted to Blackboard)

The Four “Cs”Revision workshop: clarity and plain English

Tues.,Oct. 1

WTW Chapter 13CSR readings (posted to Blackboard)

Final draft of Critical Thinking Analysis (submitted to Blackboard and hard copy for scoring)

Writing external proposalsUnderstanding corporate social responsibilityIntroduction to CSR Assignment

Thurs.,Oct. 3

WTW Chapter 7 Draft introduction and statement of need for CSR Proposal

Quiz 4 (covering 10/1 - 10/3 readings)CSR introduction “pitches”Document design and visuals

Tues.,Oct. 8

Full rough draft of CSR Proposal (submitted to Blackboard and hard copy for peer review)

Peer review of CSR proposal drafts

Thurs.,Oct. 10

Excerpt from Revising Business Prose (posted to Blackboard)

Revision workshop: conciseness

Tues.,Oct. 15

WTW Chapter 5 and Chapter 14, Part 4 (“Conducting Productive Meetings”)

Quiz 5 (covering 10/10 - 10/15 readings)Introduction to Website Revision AssignmentFormation of teams and initial meeting


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Thurs.,Oct. 17

NO CLASS MEETING TODAY Teams meet to select Websites and draft Rhetorical Analyses

Tues.,Oct. 22

Business ethics readings (posted to Blackboard)

Draft Rhetorical Analysis (hard copy for instructor review) Final draft of CSR proposal (submitted to Blackboard and hard copy for scoring)

Introduction to Business Ethics AssignmentAnalysis of business ethics case

Thurs.,Oct. 24

WTW Chapter 15 Writing for the Web and social mediaPrinciples of Web design

Tues.,Oct. 29

WTW Chapter 14, Part 1 (“Preparing and Delivering Presentations”)

Finalized Rhetorical Analysis (hard copy for scoring)Partial draft of Business Ethics Paper (hard copy for instructor review)

Quiz 6 (covering 10/29 – 10/31 readings)Developing effective presentation slidesProgress check on Business Ethics Paper

Thurs.,Oct. 31

Website Revision Plan (hard copy for instructor review)

Consultations with teams on Website Revision Plans

Tues.,Nov. 5

“The Language Rules that Matter” (posted to Blackboard)

Full draft of Business Ethics Paper (submitted to Blackboard and hard copy for review)

Peer review of Business Ethics PaperRevision workshop: correctness

Thurs.,Nov. 7

NO CLASS MEETING TODAYAttend one-on-one conferences instead

Tues.,Nov. 12

Finalized presentation slides (submit to Blackboard)

Teams present proposals


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Thurs.,Nov. 14

Reading on usability testing (posted to Blackboard)

Final draft of Business Ethics Paper (submit to Blackboard and hard copy for scoring)

Teams continue work on WebsitesPreparation for usability testing

Tues.,Nov. 19

Scored copies of Assignments 1 and 2 Discuss plans for Portfolio AssignmentRevision strategies and planning

Thurs.,Nov. 21

Web pages ready for usability testing Teams conduct Website usability testing

Tues., Nov. 26

Handbook sections on cohesiveness (posted to Blackboard)

Portfolio revisions in progress Revision workshop: cohesiveness

Thurs., Nov. 28

NO CLASS MEETING TODAYThanksgiving Holiday

Tues., Dec. 3

Excerpts from Elements of Style (posted to Blackboard)

Finalized team Websites (link submitted to Blackboard)

Revision workshop: style

Thurs., Dec. 5

Final Portfolios due Course evaluation and wrap-upENJOY YOUR WINTER BREAK!


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syllabus - university of southern california web viewbuilding on the skills ... individual writing...

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