English 398N: Writing for Non-Profit Organizations

Sections: 0301, 0501

Professor: Nicholas Hoffman

Email: (direct Canvas email preferred)

Office: 1202Tawes Hall

OfficeHours: MWF 12:00-12:50pm

Section0301: MWF 11:00-11:50a.mSection0501: MWF 1:00-1:50pm

Location: ARC 1123Location: ARC 1127

Course Description

While academic writing courses are designed to prepare you for the writing required of a university student, this course prepares you for writing and communication beyond the university. In particular, we focus on the specific demands of communicating primarily in the world of non-profit organizations. We study the audiences you may encounter in the field and the varied writing tasks that you may be asked to complete. The numerous writing workshops and peer group tasks make this course a collaborative endeavor and should prepare you for the group or committee work that exemplifies most non-profit organizations’ endeavors. The course will operate, as much as is possible, as a non-profit writing consultancy with instructor as a supervisor and classmates as colleagues.

Course Goals

By the end of the semester, you should have gained the following knowledge and skills:

  • understanding of the diverse genres of writing required in the non-profit sector
  • competence to analyze and effectively address varied audiences
  • familiarity with the basic forms of professional documents, including letters of inquiry, internal memos, and grant proposals
  • ability to write, analyze, and revise your own writing as well as the writing of your peers
  • ability to use evidence convincingly and with appropriate documentation to construct a persuasive document
  • facility to work collaboratively with your peers in analyzing and revising varied modes of communication

To accomplish these goals, you will do a significant amount of writing in a short amount of time. You will have to put time and effort into this class to be successful and to get the most out of the course. This hands-on studio course requires your attendance.

Required Text/Materials

Barbato, Joseph and Danielle S. Furlich. Writing for a Good Cause: The Complete Guide to Crafting Proposals and Other Persuasive Pieces for Nonprofits. New York: Fireside, 2000. (ISBN 978-0-6-8485740-4)

Heath, Chip and Dan Heath. Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die. New York: Random House, 2007. (ISBN 978-1-4-0006428-1)

Both books are available at the University Book Center but can be found for less online.Keep in mind that you will have to make multiple copies of your paper drafts for workshops and budget accordingly. You should also invest in a pen and notebook for taking notes in class.

Course Policies and Procedures

  1. Attendance

Regular and punctual attendance. The writing you do in English 398 will be based on skills you will develop and hone in class. If you miss class for any reason, it will be your responsibility to find out what you missed and how you can make up the work. Unexcused absence and tardiness will be counted against your Participation grade.

Unexcused or “discretionary” absences. Discretionary absences should be viewed not as “free days” but as days you may need to deal with emergencies. You may miss four class sessions without substantial penalty—you will, however, lose participation and attendance points for those missed classes. For each unexcused absence after four, your final grade will be lowered by one full letter grade. This means that if you have an A average but have five unexcused absences (the equivalent of one week plus one class), you will earn a B in the course.

Excused absences. The University excuses absences for certain reasons (illness, representing the UMD at certain events, religious observance, and the death of an immediate family member), provided the cause of absence is appropriately documented (see below).

Religious observances. The University's policy "Assignments and Attendance on Dates of Religious Observance" provides that students should not be penalized because of observances of their religious beliefs; students shall be given an opportunity, whenever feasible, to make up within a reasonable time any academic assignment that is missed because of individual participation in religious observances. Students are responsible for obtaining material missed during their absences. Furthermore, students have the responsibility to inform the instructor of any intended absences for religious observances in advance. The student should provide written notification to the professor within the first two weeks of the semester. The notification must identify the religious holiday(s) and the date(s).

Documentation Requirements to Justify an Excused Absence for Illness. The University’s policy is to excuse class absences that result from a student’s own illness. The procedure and documentation required for an illness to be an excused absence differs depending on the frequency of the absence.

For a single class meeting missed: If you miss only one class meeting for illness, you should submit a self-signed note to the instructor via e-mail (that is, a note from a health care provider is not required for a single class missed, and the Health Center will not provide written excuses for a single absence). Each note must also contain an acknowledgment by the student that the information provided is true and correct; in this way, it must follow the Code of Student Conduct or may result in disciplinary action. Such documentation will NOT be honored as an excused absence if the absence coincides with a Major Scheduled Grading Event, like a paper due date. If you know you will miss class, make an effort to alert your instructor and make arrangements in advance. Also, your documentation must be presented to the instructor upon returning to class.

For Multiple but Non-Consecutive Meetings Missed: If you will miss more than one class meeting for a medical concern, but these will not be consecutive, you should provide documentation from a health care provider upon returning to class after the first of these absences that details future dates to be missed OR provide a note from a doctor that states specific dates missed (the note must state specific dates, rather than broadly name a time frame; that is, for example, documentation must say the student missed class on 9/12, 9/16 and 9/20 for a medical concern, rather than saying the student may have missed class repeatedly between 9/11-9/21).

For Multiple Consecutive (more than one in a row) Meetings Missed OR an Absence Involving a Major Grading Event: If you will have a prolonged absence (meaning more than one absence for the same illness), you are required to provide written documentation of the illness from the Health Center or from an outside health care provider upon returning to class. In cases where written verification is provided, the Health Center or outside health care provider shall verify dates of treatment and indicate the time frame that the student was unable to meet academic responsibilities. No diagnostic information need be provided on this note.

Absence due to participation in a University Event: If your absence is not due to an illness but is, rather, due to your participation in an official University event, you must provide documentation for this absence prior to the absence; the documentation should be an official form from the University.

  1. Participation

You are expected to be prepared for class and to participate in class discussions, to be able to respond to questions posed to you, to have drafts when they are due, and to complete in-class writing activities. You will not receive a higher Participation grade for raising your hand often, nor will you receive a low Participation grade if you never raise your hand. While I rely on students to raise their hands in class, I will also call on students in order to get a conversation started. My hope is that everyone will be able to contribute in a meaningful way to classroom discussion.

Your active participation will contribute to your final grade. Your Participation grade is evaluated on the basis of your attendance record and your engagement with in-class instruction. For example if you have four unexcused absences and are unable to answer a question based on that day’s assigned reading, you will receive a “C-” grade for Participation.

  1. Late Papers

Papers are due on the date designated on the course syllabus. Assignments that are due on a day when we meet for class (usually, due to Canvas by the start of class) should be completed by or before the beginning of class. Assignments that are due on a day when we do not meet for class should be completed and uploaded to ELMS/Canvas by or before 11:59 p.m. on the due date (unless otherwise noted). Late papers will be marked down one letter grade per day late, including weekends.

  1. Draft Workshops

Draft workshops enable you to develop two major writing skills that are integral to this course: (1) learning to be a critic of your own writing and the writing of others, and (2) learning how to revise your work given comments and questions from your peers. Your writing will improve by having others read and respond to it.

We will have a draft workshop before each assignment is due. During these sessions, you will exchange your paper with a peer (or peers) in the course and offer revision suggestions. You will not receive critical feedback from the instructor on these drafts, but you will be given credit for completion. You will receive in-class or online peer review feedback on these drafts. If you would like instructor feedback on a draft, you should contact the instructor via email or in office hours.

  1. Paper Format

Paper formats will change for every assignment per the audience of the writing. In general though, you should use Times New Roman 12 point font for all assignments.

  1. Office Hours

Think of my office as an extension of the classroom and use my office hours to discuss any aspect of your writing or reading, as well as any questions you may have about class procedures or requirements. Come to office hours with questions about class discussions, writing techniques or strategies, and so on. During my open office hours, you may stop in my office whenever you like. I am also happy to schedule another time to meet if my office hours conflict with your schedule.

We will have scheduled one-on-one conferences in my office or a designated conference room. These meetings aremandatory. If you cannot attend our scheduled conference, please email me at least 2 hours before our planned time. If you miss our conference without emailing, I will count it as a class absence.

  1. Email

I’m always happy to answer questions via email. Before you email me with a question, first check class handouts and the available files on the Canvas/ELMS site to see if your question can be answered there. Always sign your emails with your name.

  1. Extra Credit

There is no extra credit offered in this course.

  1. Writing Center

All students should consider visiting the tutors at UMD’s Writing Center as a way to improve the overall quality of their writing. The writing center is for all student writers—including those who see themselves as strong writers. It is an excellent resource for you; please take advantage of it.

The Writing Center offers both daytime and evening hours. Online tutoring is also available. You can make an appointment through the website below.

Website: <

Address: 1205 Tawes Hall

(301) 405-3785

  1. Food

There is no loud or smelly food allowed in class. If you have food in class try to be mindful and respectful of your classmates.

  1. Cell Phone and Laptop Policy

Use of phones in class is strictly prohibited. Laptops and tablets are allowed only for reviewing drafts of papers. Be prepared to take notes and perform in-class writing with a pen and paper. It is possible to attend every class and still receive a failing Participation grade based on your cell phone use.

Grading

Grades

The percentages of contribution to your final grade are as follows:

Reading responses, draft workshops, reading quizzes, peer reviews15%k / 10%
Participation & Professionalism / 15%
Resume/Cover Letter / 10%
NPO Choice Memo / 5%
Internal Program Proposal Memo / 15%
Press Release/Business Letter/Blog / 10%
Grant Proposal / 25%
Group Presentation / 10%

Academic Integrity

Plagiarism, whether it is submitting someone else’s work as your own, submitting your own work completed for another class without my permission, or otherwise violating the University’s code of Academic Integrity, will not be tolerated. You are expected to understand the University’s policies regarding academic integrity. These policies can be found at the website of the Office of Student Conduct, Please visit this website, click on the “students” link, and read the information carefully.

Student Learning
Your success in the class is important to me. If there are circumstances that may affect your performance in this class, please let me know as soon as possible so that we can work together to develop strategies for adapting assignments to meet both your needs and the requirements of the course.
In order to receive official university accommodations, you will need to register and request accommodations through the Office of Disability Support Services. DSS provides services for students with physical and emotional disabilities and is located in 0106 Shoemaker on the University of Maryland campus. Information about Learning Assistance Service and/or Disability Support Service can be found You can also reach DSS by phone at 301-314-7682.

Course Requirements

Assignment 1: Resume/Cover Letter (10%). These application materials will be written for an open job that you are currently qualified for in the nonprofit sector.

Assignment 2: NPO Choice Memo (5%). In this memo, you will outline your first and second choice NPOs for your semester-long project. You must persuade me that these NPOs are good choices for you and the course.

Assignment 3:Internal Program Proposal Memo (15%). You will write an extensive, well-researched memo to the Executive Director/Board of your chosen NPO proposing a new program that you have designed. The program you propose will serve as the basis for the rest of your work for the semester.

Assignment 4: Press Release/Business Letter/Blog (10%). You will choose and then write two of these three documents for this assignment. All three will relate to some aspect of the program you proposed in Assignment 3.

Assignment 5: Grant Proposal (25%). You will find an appropriate, real grantor and write a full grant proposal, following the outline in our text, seeking support for the program you proposed in Assignment 4.

Group Presentation (10%). In this 20-25 minute small group presentation, you and your small group will make an interactive presentation to the class on a non-profit organization that focuses on your group’s topic. Your entire group will be required to interview someone from the NPO and will use that NPO as a case study to illustrate topics relevant to the class’s current assignment. Your group will also design a discussion post for the class blog as part of this assignment.

Participation and Professionalism (15%).This course is designed to help you prepare for a professional workplace; thus, you must treat the classroom as a professional environment and your peers as professional colleagues. Being professional means coming to class on time and prepared for the day’s work as well as being an active and vocal member of this professional writing group, both in class and online. This notion of professionalism extends to the appropriateness of your commentary as well as your attentiveness during class time.

You must turn in all required elements of an assignment to receive a grade.

A+ to A- (90-100): An A paper excels in all areas. It demonstrates original and creative thinking as well as superior writing skill. Your supervisor would not hesitate to forward this document to his or her supervisor, client, or donor. (In other words, your supervisor will have to put little or no time in on this document to make it ready for the intended audience.) The document fulfills its purpose by accommodating itself well to its intended audience, easily meeting or surpassing its audience’s expectations. You anticipate and respond to possible reader questions, using a wide range of supporting evidence and rhetorical strategies in a creative manner. The writing itself is clear, fresh, and a pleasure to read. An A grade can be considered a recommendation for a bonus or a promotion.

B+ to B- (80-90): The document fulfills the assignment and demonstrates a strong sense of purpose and an awareness of its intended audience. It is an effective example of workplace writing and thinking. Such a paper is well supported and has few writing errors. It demonstrates some original ideas or support and reads smoothly throughout. It differs from the A paper in that it may have several minor flaws, a glitch in organization, or is simply not as impressive as the A paper. Your supervisor would have to spend some time polishing this document before he or she sends it on to its target audience. Still, B work marks you as a valuable member of the team.