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ENGL 2021, Business Technical Writing, Spring 2003

Section 2, Monday/Wednesday 11:00 -12:30, SH 334

Instructor Ms. Ansari

Office Room: 387 B, Sturm Hall	Office Hours: MW 9:30 -11.00 am
Office Phone: 871-2902	E-Mail:sansari@du.edu
Voice Mail: 871-4395	URL:http://www.du.edu/~sansari

Course Objectives:

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.

Required Texts:

Business Communication Today, 7^th ed. Bovée, Thill, and Schatzman.

What Colour Is Your Parachute? A Practical Manual For Job-Hunters & Career Changers, 2003 ed. Richard N. Bolles.

Class Websites:

http://www.du.edu/blackboard/

http://myphlip.pearsoncmg.com/indexstudent.cfm

Course Requirements:

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 at least familiarize yourself with the assigned pages.

B. In-Class Worksheets and Outlines: To help you to retain the material, I will ask you either to make an outline of the material you’ve read, or to do some in-class exercises.

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 time, at the beginning of class on the due date.

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 a country of your choice. The report will focus on the potential of the country as a new market for a specific product.

D. Attendance: Attendance is essential. You are allowed two unexcused absences. Any absences beyond these 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.

Assignments and Grading

Letters (2)	100 points each
Memos (2)	100 points each
Résumé/Curriculum Vitae	100 points
Cover Letter	100 points
In-class Worksheets, Outlines and Participation	100 points
Final Project	250 points
Presentation	50 points

Schedule of Readings, Assignments and Activities:

Week 1	Introduction
W 03/26	Course overview, Student Introductions and English Skills Test
Week 2	The Three-Step Writing Process
M 03/31	Read– Ch.1: “Achieving Success Through Effective Business Communication”: Emphasis pp. 3 – 5; 15-23. & Read Ch. 3: “Communicating Interculturally”, pp.52-73. Read Bolles – Ch. 7: pp.125-150. Discussion of Final Project OUTLINE NO. 1 ON CH. 3 DUE.
W 04/02	Read Ch. 4: “Planning Business Messages”: Emphasis pp.79-85; 92-101. BRING LAPTOP. (In-Class Work Sheet Assignment No.1 and Black Board Class and “My Companion Website” Demonstration) (Discussion of Memo Format and Memo # 1 Assigned)
Week 3	The Three-Step Writing Process
M 04/07	Read Ch. 5: “Writing Business Messages”: Emphasis pp. 107-115; 118-126. Read Bolles – Ch. 8: pp. 153 – 175. (Seven Transferable Skills Exercise Assigned) OUTLINE NO. 2 ON CH. 5 DUE BRING LAPTOP IN-CLASS WORK SHEET NO. 1 DUE MEMO NO. 1 DRAFT DUE
W 04/09	Read Ch. 6 : “Completing Business Messages”: Emphasis pp.141-143;146-151. MEMO NO. 1 DUE (Memo # 2 Assigned)
Week 4	Writing Letters, Memos, E-Mail and Other Brief Messages
M 04/14	Read Ch. 7 : “Writing Routine, Good-News, and Good Will Messages”: pp.185-211. Read Bolles – Ch. 9: pp. 177-185 BRING LAPTOP OUTLINE NO. 3 ON CH. 7 DUE Seven Transferable Skills Exercise Due MEMO NO. 2 DUE
W 04/16	Read Ch. 9: “Writing Persuasive Messages”: Emphasis pp. 265-288. Skim-Read Bolles “Appendix A”: pp. 328-347 (Bolles “Petal # 1” Assigned – pp.349-352) (Persuasive Claim Letter # 1 Assigned)
Week 5	Writing Letters, Memos, E-Mail and Other Brief Messages
M 04/21	Read Ch. 8: “Writing Bad-News Messages”: pp. 227-250. BRING LAPTOP (In-Class Work Sheet Assignment No. 2) LETTER # 1 DRAFT DUE and OUTLINE NO. 4 ON CH. 8 DUE and Bolles “Flower Diagram” Petal # 1Exercise Due
W 04/23	Read Ch. 12 “Planning Business Rep. and Proposals”:Emphasis:377-378 & 392-399 IN-CLASS WORK SHEET NO. 2 DUE & Petal # 2 Assigned – p. 353) LETTER # 1 DUE (Letter # 2 Assigned & Final Project Assigned)
Week 6	Planning, Writing, and Completing Reports and Proposals
M 04/28	Read Ch. 13 : “Writing Business Reports and Proposals”: Emphasis: pp. 421-433. and Bolles “Flower Diagram” Petal # 2 Exercise Due BRING LAPTOP (In-Class Work Sheet Assignment No. 3) LETTER # 2 DUE
W 04/30	Read Ch. 14:“Completing Business Reports and Proposals”: pp. 443-478. (Sign-up for Project Conference Appt.) Discussion of Sources & Library Visit (In-Class Work Sheet Assignment No. 4) and Bolles “Flower Diagram” Petal # 3 Exercise Due IN-CLASS WORK SHEET NO. 3 DUE
Week 7	Writing Employment Messages
M 05/05	Read Ch. 17 “Writing Résumés and Application Letters”: pp.542-567. IN-CLASS WORK SHEET NO. 4 DUE & OUTLINE NO. 5 ON CH. 17 DUE (Bolles Petal # 4 – pp. 357-362 Assigned & Cover Letter and Résumé Assigned)
W 05/07	Read Ch. 17 “Writing Résumés and Application Letters”: pp. 568-574. Read Bolles Ch. 9: pp. 195- 220. Bolles Petal # 5 – pp. 363-364 Assigned BRING LAPTOP (In-Class Work Sheet Assignment No. 5: Final Project Plan) ROUGH DRAFT OF Résumé DUE and Bolles “Flower Diagram” Petal # 4 Due (Sign-up for Projects Presentations.)
Week 8	Interviewing & Final Projects
M 05/12	Read Ch. 18 “Interviewing for Employment and Following Up”: pp.581-603 and Read Bolles – Ch. 9: pp. 195-212 IN-CLASS WORK SHEET NO. 5 DUE Bolles “Flower Diagram” Petal # 5 Due COVER LETTER and FINAL DRAFT OF Résumé DUE
W 05/14	Begin of Final Project Presentations
Week 9	Final Project Presentations
M 05/19	Final Project Presentations ROUGH DRAFT OF FINAL PROJECT DUE
W 05/21	Final Project Presentations FINAL DRAFT OF PROJECT DUE
Week 10
M 05/26	University Closed
W 05/28	Class Cancelled