Written Professional Communication

The full syllabus is available on our CourseWeb site, along with other important documents.

Useful information from around the web can be found at a page I use for my Writing for the Public classes, but has relevant information for Written Professional Communication, as well (e.g., options for website builders, repositories for images in public domain and under CC license).

Below is the schedule for the course, subject to change (check in regularly!)

Schedule

Textbook Codes-

BWE = Business Writing for Everyone

WW = Workplace Writing: A Handbook for Common Workplace Genres and Professional Writing

Tu, 6-25,

Reading: None

Writing: None

Topics: Course Intro, Rhetoric/Writing/Professional Writing, Intro to Unit 1 on Job Application Writing, Templates/Models, Professional Bios, Email Prep for Genre Research, Finding Jobs.

Read BWE:
Chapter 1 (Exploring Your Reading and Writing Beliefs)
Chapter 3 (Context, Audience, Purpose)
Chapter 17 (Communicating for Employment)

Read these online articles:
How to write a cover letter (Zety)*
How to write a cover letter (Glassdoor)*

As you read, consider how these two articles align and diverge in advice. Do they conflict at all? Which one do you prefer? Why?

Writing:

-Answer the “Questions for Reflection” in opening of Chapter 1 of Business Writing for Everyone. Bring to class.

-Answer the “Questions for Reflection” in opening of Chapter 3 of Business Writing for Everyone. Bring to class.

–Draft of your professional bios (micro, short, long). Upload to CourseWeb. The micro (one sentence), the short (no more than 100 words), and the long (no more than 500 words), all on three separate pages. Bring two copies of each bio to class (for hard copies, can put bios all on 1-2 pages to save paper, as long as there are two separate copies).

–Send email to at least two people you researched in your industry, a related industry, or an industry you have some interest in potentially pursuing. Follow the template from class.

Bring:

3 job ads to class (may include internships, grad programs. Strive for variance in terms of kind and quality).

Topics: Professional identities: What’s your story?; Rhetorical Situations: You, Your Audience, Your Constraints; Self / Audience analysis; Writing resumes and cover letters; Finding jobs, continued.

Tu, 7-2,

Reading:

Read BWE:

Chapter 4 (Style and Tone)
Chapter 7 (Communicating Good, Neutral and Negative Messages)
Chapter 14 (Revision and Remixing)

Keep in mind as you read: Note the foci for chapters 4 and 7 and be prepared to apply some (e.g., active vs. passive voice, template for communicating negative messages) for in-class activity. If you were to come up with a list from the reading of concepts to apply to professional writing, what would they be called? How long would this list be?

Writing:

–Two drafts of cover letter. Upload to CourseWeb and bring in 4 (2 each) hard copies for in-class workshop.

–Two drafts of resume. Upload to CourseWeb and bring 4 (2 for each) hard copies for in-class workshop.

–Draft of onboarding portfolio reflection (excluding revision reflections on professional bio). Upload to CourseWeb and bring two copies to class.

By July 8, email me your choice for Unit 2 Project. Give me a sense of what you might do (does not have to be super specific at this point).

Topics: Resumes and Cover Letters, continued; Workshop using student examples; Rapid Fire Bio Exchange: Telling Your Story Quickly in Writing vs. Speech; Style and Persuasion: The Words You Pick And The Order You Put Them In; Voice vs. Models/Templates

Th, 7-4, (No Class)

Reading: None.

Writing:

By July 8, email me your choice for Unit 2 Project. Give me a sense of what you might do (does not have to be super specific at this point).

Topics: The Correct Order of Best Fourth Food/General summer food: Potato Salad, (Good) Watermelon, (Good) Corn on Cob, Burgers/Hot Dogs, Macaroni Salad.

Tu, 7-9,

Reading:

Read BWE:
Chapter 6 (Writing Emails, Letters, and Memos)

Read WW:
Chapter 3 (pp. 56-63, “Document Design”)

Read/Skim online:
Principles of Accessible Design
Basic Color Theory

Writing:

Choose a genre to write in for each scenario in “Activities for Further Reflection” and be prepared to explain your choice. For one of the scenarios, have an outline for how you might write it, or, if you have time, write or start to write in that genre. Bring to class for in-class activity.

By July 8, email me your choice for Unit 2 Project. Give me a sense of what you might do (does not have to be super specific at this point). Bring: Examples of writing in your industry (at least 3; preferably at least two different genres) that were inspired by your email correspondence project.

Bring:

If you got a response, be prepared to talk about genres discussed, memorable occasion, and recommendation from industry contacts from emails you sent last week.

Topics: Style and Persuasion, continued; Genre as a way to think about voice vs. models/templates; Introduction to Workplace Genre Unit; Genre: The Automated Rhetorical Situation; Shifting Between Genres; Genre Brainstorm / Genres from Industry contacts; Genre: A Matter of Design and Accessibility

Th, 7-11,

Reading:

Read WW:

Chapter 1 (pp. 5-10, “Research in the Workplace”)

Chapter 3 (pp. 21-26, “Brief Proposals and Reports”; pp. 54-55, “Formal Reports and Proposals”)

Read BWE:

Chapter 11 (Writing Reports)

If writing a report based in research, you should skim in Business Writing for Everyone:

Chapter 9 (The Research Process)

Chapter 10a (Citing Sources)

Chapter 10b (Making Arguments with Sources)

Writing:

Due Friday, July 12, 11:59pm:

Final draft of onboarding portfolio: 3 versions of professional bio, 2 resumes + 2 cover letters for two separate job applications; 1 portfolio cover memo. Upload to CourseWeb

Topics: Design and Accessibility, continued; Research and Learning-on-the-go in the Workplace; Proposal and Report Writing; Studio Time

Tu, 7-16,

Reading:

Read WW:

Chapter 3 (pp. 37-47, “Records/Documentation”; pp. 42-48, “Policies Procedures, and Instructions”)

Writing: None.

Topics: Research and Learning-on-the-go in the Workplace, continue; Procedural and Documentarian Writing; Intro to WPC Project; Studio Time

Th, 7-18,

Reading:

Read BWE:

Chapter 12 (Visual Communication)

Chapter 15 (Communicating Online)

Read WW:

Chapter 3 (pp. 27-33, “Web Writing”; p. 33 “Press Release”)

Writing:

Due July 18 by 11:59pm Draft of “short” or “long” genre (whichever document would come first). Upload to CourseWeb and bring two copies to class on July 18.

Due July 18 by 11:59pm Draft of “short” or “long” genre (whichever document would come second). Upload to CourseWeb and bring two copies to class on July 18.

Due July 18 by 11:59pm Draft of reflective cover memo. Upload to CourseWeb.

Résumé and cover letter due to HR Manager via email by 11:59 pm Sunday, July 21. Upload to CourseWeb.

You will receive your group assignment Monday, July 22. You should send your first email to the group, introducing yourself, sharing ideas, planning for meeting times as soon after that as possible.

Topics: Visual Rhetoric; Digital vs. Print Writing; Studio Time

Tu, 7-23,

Reading:

Read BWE:

Chapter 16 (Peer Review)

Read WW:

Chapter 3 (“Collaboration,” pp. 64-73)

Writing:

Résumé and cover letter due to HR Manager via email by 11:59 pm Sunday, July 21. Upload to CourseWeb.

First email to group, introducing yourself, sharing ideas, etc. Don’t forget to keep records of correspondence throughout project!!

Topics: Collaborative Writing; Studio Time; In-class team proposals

Th, 7-25,

Reading:

Read BWE:

Chapter 13 (Oral Presentation)

Read WW:

Chapter 3 (pp. 73-79, “Presentation”)

Writing:

Due July 26 at 11:59pm is Final draft of Unit 2 project: “short” genre, “long” genre, and reflective cover memo. Upload to CourseWeb.

Due July 28 at 11:59pm: Working drafts of your deliverables for WPC project. Designate member of your team to upload to CourseWeb

Topics: Oral Presentation; WPC Project: Staff meeting; (Group conferences/ consultations and studio time.)

Tu, 7-30,

Reading: None

Writing:

Due July 28 at 11:59pm: Working drafts of your deliverables for WPC project. Designate member of your team to upload to CourseWeb.

Topics: WPC Project Work; All Team Presentations

Th, 8-1,

Reading: None

Writing:

Submit final portfolio by August 3 at 11:59pm. Portfolios should include all of the team’s written materials and evaluations. Designate a member of your group to submit final version of deliverables to CourseWeb.

Topics: Product Release Party; Studio Time; Class Wrap-up