ENGL
2021, Business Technical Writing, Fall 2003
Section
5, Tuesday/Thursday 9:00 - 10:30, SH 334
Instructor
Ms. Ansari
|
Office Room: 499, Sturm Hall |
Office Hours: T&Th 10:30 –12:00 |
|
Office Phone: 871-2851 |
E-Mail:sansari@du.edu |
|
Voice Mail: 871-4395 |
Business Technical Writing will prepare you to communicate effectively in the business world. We will discuss and practice strategies for creating a variety of documents such as memos, letters, résumés, and reports. We will work on balancing the dry, formulaic aspects of business writing with opportunities for you to bring into play your creativity, personal interests, and individual business talents. Note: Completion of the First-Year English sequence is required for enrolment in this course.
Business Communication Essentials, 1th ed. Bovée, Thill, and Schatzman.
A. Reading Assignments: I expect you to complete the readings before the class date on which they are assigned. You might not need to read a whole chapter, but only specific parts of it. Since I am already cutting down on the reading material within a chapter, please do read the assigned pages. I will also encourage you to at least familiarize yourself with the rest of the chapter.
B. In-Class Worksheets and Outlines: To help you to retain the material & plan the final project, I will ask you to do some in-class exercises and group presentations.
C. Written Assignments: All work must be your own, generated this quarter (no recycled assignments). Representing another’s words or ideas as your own or not properly citing other’s work is plagiarism; any dishonest or plagiarized work will receive an F. All assignments must be turned in on the due date. Late papers will lower your final grade. Below is a brief overview of the written work you will do this quarter; each individual assignment will be explained clearly in class -- in discussion and written form.
1) Memos and Letters: You will write two 1-page memos and two 1 to 2-page letters – some drafts will be done in class. They will deal with internal or external requests, recommendations, complaints and refusals and will be based on real-life situations.
2) Résumé and Cover Letter: You will compose a résumé or curriculum vitae and a cover letter for a real, advertised job opening.
3) Final Project and Presentation: You will prepare an 8 to 10-page report on the social and business customs of a foreign country of your choice. The report will focus on doing business abroad.
D. Attendance: Attendance is essential. You are allowed two unexcused absences. Any absences beyond these two personal days will adversely affect your final grade.
E. Conferences: To help plan your final project or for any other help in your writing or reading assignments, I will ask you to schedule an appointment with me.
|
Letters (2) |
100 points each |
|
Memos (2) |
100 points each |
|
Résumé/Curriculum Vitae |
100 points |
|
Cover Letter |
100 points |
|
In-class Worksheets, Group Presentations & Participation |
100 points |
|
Final Project |
250 points |
|
Presentation |
50 points |
Schedule
of Readings, Assignments and Activities:
|
Week
1 |
Introduction
|
|
T 09/09 |
Course
overview, Student Introductions and English Skills Test |
|
Th 09/11 |
Read– Ch.1: “Understanding
Business Communication in Today’s Workplace”, pp. 2-11. Group Quiz on Ethical & Intercultural Business
Communication |
|
Week
2 |
The
Three-Step Writing Process |
|
T
09/16 |
Read – Ch.3: “Planning
Business Messages”: Emphasis: pp.44-47 & 50-54; Ch. 4: “Writing
Business Messages”: Emphasis: pp.70-72 & 75-78 |
|
Th 09/18 |
Read
Ch. 5: “Completing Business
Messages”: Emphasis pp.98-104. |
|
Week
3 |
Writing Letters, Memos, E-Mail and Other Brief Messages |
|
T 09/23 |
Read – Ch.6: “Working with
Letters, Memos, and E-Mail Messages”: pp.130-139
(In-Class Work Sheet Assignment No. 2: E-Mail Message) BRING LAPTOP |
|
Th
09/25 |
Review pages 5& 6 of chapter
one and read the short, one-page business ethics articles on pp. 231, 268,
and 349 in your Business
Communication Essentials. |
|
Week
4 |
Writing Good News Messages |
|
T
09/30 |
Read – Ch. 7: “Writing Routine, Good-News, and Goodwill Messages”: Emphasis: 160-162 & 166-178. BRING LAPTOP (Memo # 2 Assigned & Pre.Final Project) |
|
Th
10/02 |
Review pages 7 & 8 of chapter
one and read the one-page intercultural communication articles on pp. 21
& 197 in your Business
Communication Essentials. |
|
Week
5 |
Writing
Bad News Messages & Planning Business Reports |
|
T
10/07 |
Read – Ch. 8: “Writing
Bad-News Messages”: pp.198-216. |
|
Th
10/09 |
Read – Ch. 10: “Understanding
and Planning Business Reports and Proposals”: Emphasis: pp. 275 – 281
BRING LAPTOP (Final
Project Assigned) |
|
Week
6 |
Writing
Persuasive Messages & Business Reports |
|
T
10/14 |
Read – Ch. 9: “Writing
Persuasive Messages”: pp. 232-248. |
|
Th
10/16 |
Read – Ch. 11: “Writing and
Completing Business Reports and Proposals”: Emphasis: pp. 309-315. |
|
Week
7 |
Planning
& Delivering Oral Presentations |
|
T
10/21 |
Read – Ch. 12: “Planning,
Writing, and Completing Oral Presentations”: Emphasis: pp. 350-361.
(Sign-up for Project Presentations.)
BRING LAPTOP |
|
Th
10/23 |
Final
Projects Conference Day |
|
Week
8 |
Writing
Employment Messages |
|
T
10/28 |
Read – Ch. 13: “Searching for
Employment and Preparing Employment Messages”: pp. 380-395 BRING LAPTOP
(In-Class Sheet Assignment No. 5) |
|
Th
10/30 |
Continue Reading – Ch. 13:
“Searching for Employment and Preparing Employment Messages”: pp.
400-407 |
|
Week
9 |
Interviewing
for Jobs and Final Project |
|
T
11/04 |
Read
– Ch. 14: “Interviewing for Employment and Following Up”: pp.
420-433. |
|
Th
11/06 |
Begin of Final Project
Presentations |
|
Week
10 |
Final
Project Presentations |
|
T
11/11 |
Final Project Presentations |
|
Th
11/13 |
Final Project Presentations
|