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ENGL
2021, Business Technical Writing, Winter 2003
Section 2, Monday/Wednesday 11:00 -12:30, SH 275
Instructor Ms. Ansari
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Office Room: 387 B, Sturm Hall |
Office Hours: MW 10 -11.00a & W 1-2.00p |
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Office Phone: 871-2902 |
E-Mail:sansari@du.edu |
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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 Today, 7th ed. Bovée, Thill, and Schatzman.
What Colour Is Your Parachute? A Practical Manual For Job-Hunters & Career Changers, 2003 ed. Richard N. Bolles.
http://myphlip.pearsoncmg.com/indexstudent.cfm
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, 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. Late papers will affect 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 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.
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Letters (2) |
100 points each |
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Memos (2) |
100 points each |
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Résumé/Curriculum Vitae |
100 points |
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Cover Letter |
100 points |
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In-class Worksheets, Outlines and Participation |
100 points |
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Final Project |
250 points |
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Presentation |
50 points |
Schedule
of Readings, Assignments and Activities:
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Week 1 |
Introduction |
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M 01/06 |
Course
overview, Student Introductions and English Skills Test |
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W 01/08 |
Read– Ch.1: “Achieving Success Through Effective Business Communication”: Emphasis pp. 3 – 5; 15-23. Read Bolles – Ch. 7: pp.125-150. |
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Week 2 |
The Three-Step Writing Process |
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M
01/13 |
Read
Ch. 3: “Communicating Interculturally”, pp.52-73. Read Bolles – Ch. 8: pp. 153 – 175. Discussion of Final Project & In-class Bolles “Seven
Stories” Exercise |
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W 01/15 |
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) |
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Week 3 |
The Three-Step Writing Process |
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M 01/20 |
Read
Ch. 5: “Writing Business
Messages”: Emphasis pp. 107-115; 118-126. Read Bolles – Ch. 9: pp.
177-185 BRING LAPTOP |
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W
01/22 |
Read
Ch. 6 : “Completing Business Messages”: Emphasis pp.141-143;146-151.
Skim-Read Bolles “Appendix A”: pp. 335-347 |
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Week 4 |
Writing Letters, Memos, E-Mail and Other Brief Messages |
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M
01/27 |
Read
Ch. 7 : “Writing Routine, Good-News, and Good Will Messages”:
pp.185-196. Discussion of Memo Format and
(Memo
# 1 Assigned) |
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W
01/29 |
Continue
to Read Ch. 7: 197-211. BRING LAPTOP. |
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Week 5 |
Writing Letters, Memos, E-Mail and Other Brief
Messages |
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M
02/03 |
Read
Ch. 8: “Writing Bad-News Messages”: pp. 227-250. |
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W
02/05 |
Read
Ch. 9: “Writing Persuasive Messages”: Emphasis pp. 265-288. |
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Week
6 |
Planning,
Writing, and Completing Reports and Proposals |
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M
02/10 |
Read Ch. 12 “Planning Business
Rep. and Proposals”:Emphasis:377-378 & 392-399 |
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W
02/12 |
Read Ch. 13 : “Writing Business
Reports and Proposals”: Emphasis: pp. 421-433. |
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Week
7 |
Planning,
Writing, and Completing Reports and Proposals |
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M
02/17 |
Read Ch. 14:“Completing Business
Reports and Proposals”: pp. 443-478. |
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W
02/19 |
Read Ch. 17 “Writing Résumés
and Application Letters”: pp.542-567. |
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Week
8 |
Writing
Employment Messages & Delivering Oral Presentations |
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M
02/24 |
Read Ch. 17 “Writing Résumés
and Application Letters”: pp. 568-574. Read Bolles Ch. 9: pp. 195- 220. |
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W
02/26 |
Read Ch. 16 “Enhancing Your Oral
Presentation with Electronic Slide Shows”: pp. 517-537.
IN-CLASS WORK SHEET NO. 5
DUE Petal # 5
– pp. 363-364 Assigned |
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Week
9 |
Interviewing
for Jobs |
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M
03/03 |
Read Ch. 18 “Interviewing for
Employment and Following Up”: pp.581-603. Read Bolles – Ch. 9: pp.
185-195 & Ch. 10 “Getting In To Impossible Places”: pp. 223-237. |
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W
03/05 |
Read
Bolles Ch. 11 “Interviewing Tips For Smarties” pp. 239-276. |
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Week
10 |
Final
Projects |
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M
03/10 |
Final Project Presentations |
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W
03/12 |
Final Project Presentations |