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ENGLISH 327 ONLINE FA13: WRITING IN THE PROFESSIONS
Course Developer and Instructor: Bonnie T. Yarbrough, Ph. D.
Department of English /College of Arts and Sciences
The University of North Carolina—Greensboro
Office Hours: by appointment, as necessary
3105 MHRA
E-mail:
Course Materials:
§ Laptops (notebooks) or PCs
o Text: Business Communication for Success, Scott McLean, published by Flatworld Knowledge.
o NOTE: The Access Code link is unique for your section:
§ If you are in Section 01, the Code is:
http://students.flatworldknowledge.com/course?cid=1397333&bid=69856
§ If you are in Section 02, the Code is:
http://students.flatworldknowledge.com/course?cid=1397335&bid=69856
You will need to register for your flatworld account for access.
o You have the option to purchase their textbook in several digital formats, or select a print book. I recommend the Study Pass option, which includes the online text, study aids, an online reader, is $19.95 and your best value. An All Access Pass includes everything, study aids, pdf versions, but is a more expensive option and not necessary. [NOTE: I have one free All Access Pass. Instructions on the competition will follow.]
o You can also search for the course from: www.flatworldstudents.com, using my name, ENG 327, or The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
o PowerPoint slides for the text are available and loaded posted on Blackboard for you under Course Information.
· Access to Mobius SLIP™, a Social Learning Information Platform. This software makes peer critiques a unique and essential element of the course. Here you are able to post assignments (artifacts), provide critiques for the members of your group, rank the artifacts, and evaluate responses in written assignments. DO NOTHING RIGHT NOW. Read the syllabus completely first. You’ll be able to self-enroll once the course is open and available. Once enrolled, you will be asked to pay ($21.35) when you try to submit your first assignment. You can pay with your (or someone else's) credit card or you can purchase a prepaid card from the university bookstore and use it to pay.
Here’s a brief description from the site: Mobius Social Learning Information Platform™ (Mobius SLIP™) is a modern incarnation of the Socratic Method in an asynchronous online learning environment. It is designed to promote creativity, critical thinking and communication competencies among students in a wide variety of educational applications.
Mobius SLIP™ challenges the notion that only formally credentialed ‘experts’, such as instructors, are the sole producers and evaluators of knowledge. Instead, it allows experts to create environments where creative ideas, innovations and collegial discourse can flourish. Like other ‘Social Media’, Mobius SLIP™ relies on complex meritocracy where peer-to-peer assessments determine a contribution’s relative value. Moreover, it does so in a safe environment and provides students with feedback on both their contributions and the quality of critique they provide to others.
http://www.ctasit.com/students.html
· All other required readings, texts, professional works, articles, and materials are provided for you on Blackboard.
Course Description:
ENG 327 helps prepare students for the writing activities typical of the kinds encountered in professional workplace settings. As a practical course, ENG 327 develops effective communication and problem-solving skills required and valued by employers. Since employers increasingly find these skills lacking in today’s work force and college graduates, students who develop proficiency in their written, oral, listening, and technical skills not only improve their success in academic courses, but also in their job searches and chosen professions.
Teaching Methods and Assignments:
The course stresses the rhetorical principles and strategies necessary to complete written tasks and to solve problems successfully —however unusual, however routine. Using business and professional scenarios and examples, the course stresses the principles and strategies needed for planning, drafting, revising, producing, and evaluating documents. These strategies are appropriate for writing tasks in various workplace settings, such as business, management, journalism, media, government, and entrepreneurship. Specific assignments also include proposals, analytical exercises, case studies, and executive summaries. Analyzing professional writing helps identify ways to present information clearly and to evaluate the credibility of sources. All assignments and activities are designed to achieve the learning goals of the General Education program, particularly LG1—to think critically, communicate effectively, and develop appropriate quantitative and information literacies.
Student Learning Outcomes:
As a writing intensive course, ENG 327 focuses on the ability to write clearly, coherently, and effectively as well as to adapt modes of communication to one's audience. To that end, Writing in the Professions uses assignments that require appropriate strategies for accommodating specific audiences for specific purposes. Through an interactive, dynamic, online learning environment, the course invites you to apply skills to the challenges of today’s workplace. Accordingly, it has the following educational objectives:
· Recognizing the importance of effective communication skills in the workplace and in professional careers
· Achieving successful communication in written messages
· Identifying and applying communication strategies to professional situations by analyzing the rhetorical context
· Simulating professional experience by writing for specific audiences for specific purposes
· Understanding and creating clear, precise, organized, and correct forms of writing, as well as employing different styles for professional prose
· Composing, structuring, editing, revising, and articulating responses to communication problems
· Interacting within virtual groups to respond to written messages and provided evaluative feedback
· Conducting research and writing reports through effective analysis, synthesis, and evaluation of data
· Accepting responsibility for accurate and appropriate documentation of sources
· Respecting diversity in the workplace and practicing ethical and professional behavior
Ultimately, each class is unique: if necessary, we will adapt our assignments as needed to accommodate network access to communication technology at the University.
Course Policies:
1. Submit all assignments on time, online, and as specified by the syllabus or on Mobius SLIP. Late submissions will not load on the site after the deadline.
2. Read, edit, and revise all documents for spelling, grammar, style, format, and word-processing errors.
3. All assignments must be neat and look professional, as if submitted to a supervisor or an employer.
4. Any assignment that fails to meet the specifications in format, organization, or style will not be accepted. Errors in usage, punctuation, spelling, and standard grammar will reduce your grade.
5. Revisions on assignments improve most documents and are an important part of the writing process. The quality of your revisions may help determine your overall success at the end of the course by improving your writing skills in a comprehensive way.
6. Plagiarism will result in an F in the course—as well as the University’s maximum penalty. Understanding the rules of copyrighted materials and citing information from the Internet is particularly important. Your responsibility as a student in good standing at UNCG demands knowing how to use research materials accurately and ethically.
7. Note: Poor planning does not constitute an emergency. Do not assume because you have sent an e-mail that I have received it.
8. Participation is an important aspect of the course. Professional communication requires providing evaluative appraisals and feedback; for us, this activity forms a substantive element of course assessment through Mobius SLIP.
Professionalism
Professionalism is an important element of course conduct and refers to the commitment that a student demonstrates toward course work, peers, and the instructor. It encompasses participation and respectful attitudes and actions toward course colleagues. Professional conduct in the workplace means taking responsibility for your training and performance; to extend the metaphor, it means understanding all class policies and course expectations through one’s own initiative, without reminders or prodding.
· You cannot communicate fully if you are not engaged in the material. Active participation online is required and self-directed.
· Online courses required a high degree of independent work, motivation, and intuitive interaction. You are responsible for all material assigned.
UNCG’s Academic Integrity Policy
“Academic integrity is founded upon and encompasses the following five values: honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility. Violations include, for example, cheating, plagiarism, misuse of academic resources, falsification, and facilitating academic dishonesty. If knowledge is to be gained and properly evaluated, it must be pursued under conditions free from dishonesty. Deceit and misrepresentations are incompatible with the fundamental activity of this academic institution and shall not be tolerated” (from UNCG's Academic Integrity Policy). To ensure that you understand the university's policy on academic integrity, review the guidelines and list of violations at <http://academicintegrity.uncg.edu>. I expect you to abide by the Academic Integrity Policy.
Academic honesty is central to UNCG’s mission and necessary to its vision as a student-centered university. Correct documentation is also a critical part of successful professional communication. Please review information on citations and attributions in Jackson Library’s research guides and in our course materials.
Grading:
Although you may not receive individual scores on assignments, your grade will be based on performance from the following menu:
Assignments Percentage of grade
Discussion Boards 10
Report 10
Quizzes 20
Mobius SLIP Assignments
Practice Exercise +
SLIP #1 5
SLIP #2 5
SLIP #3 5
SLIP #4 10
SLIP #5 15
SLIP #6 15
Final Reflection 5
Total: 100%
Grading Criteria for Written Assignments
A: Excellent / B: Good / C: Average / D: PoorCreativity in meeting all assignment requirements / Met assignment requirements / Met most assignment requirements / Did not meet assignment requirements
Free of grammatical and mechanical errors / Few errors / Errors detract from readability / Errors prevent readability
Effective message / Clear message / Vague / Unclear language
Audience-centered / Audience strategies / Audience appropriate / Unclear or inappropriate audience
Clear Organization / Good organization / Organizational pattern attempted / Lack of organization
Complex strategies / Good strategies / Strategies attempted / Lacks strategies
Visual enhancement (if appropriate) / Effective use of some visual strategies / Visual strategies attempted / Lack of necessary visual support
Grading Scale
Remember that a grade is an estimate of your work and not your worth. You can anticipate your grade through feedback and the following scale. The course has 100 total points:
Grade / Points/PercentileA / 92-100
A- / 90-91.9
B+ / 88-89.9
B / 82-87.9
B- / 80-81.9
C+ / 78-79.9
C / 72-77.9
C- / 70-71.9
D+ / 68-69.9
D / 62-67.9
D- / 60-61.9
F / 59-0
Note: Assigned grades are not negotiable.
Schedule of Assignments:
The schedule is subject to change at my discretion, although due dates will remain unchanged unless there are extraordinary circumstances. If the University has technical issues or upgrade interruptions, we may amend our projected deadlines. Consequently, it is imperative that you stay fully aware of any changes, check the Course Announcement page, and check your UNCG email often.
As soon as you move one step up from the bottom, your effectiveness depends on your
ability to reach others through the written word. Peter Drucker
It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not
understanding it. Upton Sinclair
Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: it is those who know
little, and not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem
will never be solved by science. Charles Darwin
· Read the Syllabus and all assignments carefully. Twice (or more).
· Submit all assignments and label all files appropriately according to each set of instructions.
· Review FAQs on the Discussion Board.
· Assignments are due as specified in instructions.
· Weekly Folders under Blackboard Assignments contain the readings, assignments, and instructions, with supplementary support on the Discussion Board or on Mobius SLIP. The windows for these open and close automatically.
· When downloading documents from Blackboard, save files in a Word document to your jump drive or desktop. Rename the file (“Save As” with your last name and document name). Follow instructions for labeling documents before submitting under Assignments or posting on the Discussion Board, as instructed. Always check your files online to make sure they will open.
· Quiz links appear in each folder under Assignments. Each quiz consists of objective questions based on the assigned readings, designed to help you with course content and practical applications. You may use the text, of course, for reference. Most questions require T/F or multiple-choice responses, although an occasional short answer question might also appear. You may take the quizzes twice; the last attempt will count in the Grade Center.
· FYI: Jackson Library has many useful resources for conducting research and a very helpful, knowledgeable staff available online.
Important Dates:
August 23 / Last day to drop a course for tuition and fees refundOctober 11 / Last day to drop course(s) without academic penalty
Key: BCS refers to the text, Business Communication for Success by Scott McLean. Assigned readings appear below by chapter, section, and page number. (Note: page numbers are not viewable in the online version of the text.) Assignments, instructions, and quizzes appear in Weekly folders under the Assignments tab. Discussion Board forums and associated readings are posted on the Discussion Board, along with FAQs for the course and Tips for writing posts.
For the Mobius SLIP assignments, log into your account; then pull up the Assignment and load your artifact. You will be notified by Mobius when artifacts, benchmarks, and concordances are due.
Date / Subject Area / AssignmentsWeek 1
8/19-25 / Course Overview
o Course Policies and Procedures
o Academic Integrity Pledge
o Review Discussion Board FAQs
o Effective Communication with Faculty
Language and Effective Communication
o Learning Styles Inventory
o Self-understanding; self-concept
Instructions for Mobius SLIP / Readings*
· Syllabus and FAQs
· Academic Integrity Policy Statement
· BCS, Chapter 1, Sections 1-3, pp. 5-12; Section 5.2, pp. 16-18
· BCS, Chapter 2, Sections 2-6.3
Discussion Board #1 due, using results from
· Learning Styles Diagnostics
· Read peer entries; post one comment; Due 8/23
Mobius SLIP Practice Assignment opens
Week 2
8/26-9/1 / Purpose
o Routine messages—memos, email, letters
Course Document Posted:
Be Your Own Editor / Readings
· BCS, Chapter 9, Sections 2-3, pp. 165-74; email, memos, and letters
Quiz #1 due 9/1
Mobius SLIP Assignment due
Week 3
9/2-8 / Audience, Perception, and Feedback
Evaluation
Providing Constructive Responses and Peer evaluation / Readings
· BCS, Chapter 3, Sections 2-5, pp. 42, 47-59
· BCS, Chapter 8, Sections 1-2, 4, pp. 149, 160-61
Discussion Board #2 due
Mobius SLIP Assignment #1 opens
Week 4
9/9-15 / Revising Writing
Style and Readability
The New York Times Reader’s Guide
News Analysis / Readings
· BCS, Chapter 7, Sections 1-5, pp. 129-44
Mobius SLIP Assignment #1 due
Quiz #2 Due
Week 5
9/16-22 / Ethics, Plagiarism, and Reliable Sources
Facts, Research, and Documentation
Reading and Analyzing
(continue research) / Readings
· BCS, Chapter 5, Sections 5-7, pp. 81—102
Discussion Board #3 due
Mobius SLIP Assignment #2 opens
Week 6
9/23-29 / How Writing is Learned
Informative Reports
o Using facts
o Documenting Sources
The Rhetoric of Style
Cognate Strategies / Readings
· BCS, Chapter 4, Effective business writing, Sections 3-7, pp. 65-78
Mobius SLIP Assignment #2 due
Quiz #3 due
Week 7
9/30-10/6 / Documentation
Revising for Effective Use of Quotations
Meeting Publication Deadlines / Mobius SLIP #3 opens
Week 8
10/7-13 / The Art of Persuasion
Tone and Audience-centeredness
Target audiences
Proposals / Readings
· BCS, Chapter 14 (persuasion), Sections 2- 6, pp. 277-91
Mobius SLIP Assignment #3 due
Mobius SLIP Assignment #4 opens
Week 9
10/14-20 / Organization and Arrangement
Reports
· Informational
· Analytical
· Persuasive
· Proposals
Reasoning and Argument / Readings
· BCS, Chapter 9, Section 5, Reports and Proposals
· BCS, Chapter 6, Organization, Style, and Argument), Sections 1-5,
Mobius SLIP Assignment #4 due
Mobius SLIP Assignment #5 opens
Mobius SLIP Assignment #6 opens
Quiz #4 due
Week 10
10/21-27 / Proposing a Project
Planning Worksheet for Imagine Project / Mobius SLIP Assignment #4 due
Week 11
10/28-11/3 / Multitasking
Using References Effectively / Mobius SLIP Assignment #5 due
Week 12
11/4-10 / Mobius SLIP Assignment #6 due
· Visual Proposal design: PPT or Prezi
Week 13
11/11-17 / Visual Writing and Presentation / Revisions to Complete Proposals
Week 14
11/18-24 / Refining and Polishing / Revisions accepted on Blackboard through 11/20
Week 15
11/25-12/1 / Reflecting
Thanksgiving! / Journal: Final Reflection due
Course Evaluations
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