Practical Writing
Curriculum guideline
This course will emphasize learning through doing. Working individually and in groups, students will be involved in the discussion, analysis and interpretation of various workplace-writing activities and case studies. Under the instructor's guidance, students will integrate the results of primary or secondary research with correct language principles in a wide variety of workplace writing -- summaries, memoranda, letters and reports. Other methods include lectures, group discussions and possibly field trips.
Foundational Theory in Rhetoric and Genre
- rhetorical situation and scenario
- audience
- purposes
- exigence
- genre
- the three persuasive appeals
- persuasive arrangements (direct and indirect)
Communication Skills
- tone and diction appropriate to specific writing situation
- connectedness and coherence at paragraph- and text-level
- organizational strategies
- clarity and conciseness
- headings and layout
- format
- procedures for conducting primary and secondary research, and communicating the results of such research.
Writing Tasks
- Business Letters
- Memoranda e.g. proposal, progress
- Summary
- Major Report (1500 - 2500 words requiring research and analysis)
- Job Package.
The students will become aware of the need for, and learn to appreciate the value of clear, concise, courteous prose as an indispensable communications tool in business.
Special Course Objectives
By the end of the course, the students will be able to
- articulate the key concepts of foundational theory in rhetoric and genre: rhetorical situation and scenario, audience, motivation, exigence, genre, the three persuasive appeals, persuasive arrangements (direct and indirect)
- apply these concepts in analysis of workplace documents and in the production of their own workplace documents.
- use the correct language fundamentals in all written assignments
- use precise word choice in all written assignments
- interpret and summarize relevant business readings
- prepare memoranda consistent with professional standards and practice
- write effective business correspondence in a variety of relevant situations consistent with professional writing standards and practice
- prepare written reports using language conventions consistent with professional writing standards
- demonstrate report-writing style and format consistent with professional writing standards and practice
- perform primary or secondary research and analyze it for relevant date
- prepare a correctly written report using primary and secondary source materials relevant to the student’s major program
- demonstrate an understanding of correct format and bibliographical methods in appropriate written assignments
- work effectively with other students in group projects
- accept, provide and learn from courteous and objective criticism.
Evaluation will be based on this general outline:
| Research Report | 20-25% |
| Job Package | 10-20% |
| Other writing tasks geared to improving workplace writing efficacy(at least 4 evaluations) | 60% |
| 100% |
Texts such as the following:
- Successful Writing at Work, (Kolin)
- Business Communications: Strategies and Skills, (Huseman, et al)
- Technical Writing: A Reader-Centered Approach, (Anderson)