Division of English and Communication:  English Department

https://www.hccs.edu/programs/areas-of-study/liberal-arts-humanities--education/english/

SYLLABUS

Spring 2022 - ENGL-2311-0016 (14750) - Technical & Business Writing

Spring 2022 | 16 Weeks (1.19.2022-5.15.2022)

Online Schedule | HCC Online | M/W 8:00 – 9:20 |

3 Credit Hours | 48 hours per semester

Instructor Contact Information

Instructor:       Julie Garza-Horne, M.A.       

Office: Online Office Hours

Office Hours: via WebEx by appt. or after class M/W         

HCC Email: [email protected]  

Please feel free to contact me concerning any problems that you are experiencing in this course. Your performance in my class is very important to me. I am available to hear your concerns or just to discuss course topics.

Catalog Description: Principles, techniques, and skills needed for college-level scientific, technical, or business writing.

Required Books, Materials and Supplies

Instructor’s Preferred Method of Contact

Please contact me via email me at Canvas Inbox. I will respond to emails within 24 hours Monday through Friday; I will reply to weekend messages on Monday mornings.

Welcome and Instructor Information

What’s Exciting About This Course
The Department of English helps students find and develop their authentic voices, establish political power, and create social capital. We teach critical thinking, close reading, and analysis. We coach students on the rhetoric of messaging with consideration of purpose and audience. We support them as they craft their own narratives. We turn thoughts into words, ideas into interpretations, ambiguity into translation, and silence into voice. 

Personal Welcome
Welcome to English 2311: Technical & Business Writing. We will be having lots of fun reading & understanding many of the different modes of business writing that have contributed to the English language! We are going to try our best to stay true to the form and style that the business textbook and OERs use for effective business communication & writing, so that we don’t lose a great deal more than what the writers intended simply because we are shifting from traditional essay writing to business writing.

Preferred Method of Contact

[email protected]

Office Hours

• M/W or email by appt.
• Monday, Wednesday, 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM, Cisco WEBEX

Course Overview

Course Description

English 2311 is an Intensive study of and practice in professional settings. Focus on the types of documents necessary to make decisions and take action on the job, such as proposals, reports, instructions, policies and procedures, e-mail messages, letters, and descriptions of products and services. Practice individual and collaborative processes involved in the creation of ethical and efficient documents. Core curriculum course.

Requisites

ENGL 1301, TECC 1305, or Program Approval. Please carefully read and consider the repeater policy in the HCCS Student Handbook.

English Website

https://www.hccs.edu/programs/areas-of-study/liberal-arts-humanities--education/english/

Core Curriculum Objectives (CCOs)

English courses satisfy three (3) hours of the communication requirement in the HCCS core curriculum.  The HCCS English Discipline Committee has specified that courses address the following core objectives:

• Critical Thinking: Students will demonstrate creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information.
• Communication: Students will demonstrate effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through written, oral, and visual communication.
• Personal Responsibility: Students will demonstrate the ability to connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision-making.
• Teamwork: Students will demonstrate the ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal. 
• Composition I, Composition II, Creative Writing, Introduction to Technical Writing, and Technical & Business Writing only
• Social Responsibility: Students will demonstrate intercultural competency, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities.
• Literature courses only

Course Goals:                                                                                                                               

•      Increase students’ knowledge and understanding of professional writing       

•      Improve students’ ability to persuasively communicate in writing      

•      Develop students’ range of rhetorical strategies appropriate for an array of business writing scenarios         

Course Requirements

Credits: 3 Lecture Hrs: 48

Catalog Description: Writing technical reports, business letters, memos, resumes, and procedures; basic techniques in technical writing; practical English for the technical writer; making oral presentations.

(Proficiency Levels: Math 0, Language 3) Pre/Co requisites English 1302

You must have your textbook by the first week of class. Any problems with using Canvas e-courseware should be addressed in the first week of class.

Student Learning Outcomes and Objectives Section

Program Student Learning Outcomes (PSLOs) 

Can be found at:

https://www.hccs.edu/programs/areas-of-study/liberal-arts-humanities--education/english

Course Student Learning Outcomes (CSLOs) 

Upon successful completion of ENGL 2311, the student will be able to:

• Recognize, analyze, and accommodate diverse audiences.
• Produce documents appropriate to audience, purpose, and genre.
• Analyze the ethical responsibilities involved in technical communication.
• Locate, evaluate, and incorporate pertinent information.
• Develop verbal, visual, and multimedia materials as necessary, in individual and/or collaborative projects, as appropriate.
• Edit for appropriate style, including attention to word choice, sentence structure, punctuation, and spelling.
• Design and test documents for easy reading and navigation.

Word Count Requirement 

Students will write a minimum of 5,000 words over the course of the semester.

Professor’s Learning Outcomes Breakdown:

By the end of English 2311, students will write two letters: 1) a letter of good news and neutral messages and 2) a letter of indirect bad news and messages

By the end of English 2311, students will create an Employee Documents Project: 1) Resume 2) Cover Letter and 3) Thank you Letter

By the end of English 2311, students will demonstrate the application of visual images to illustrate content in memos or technical reports.

By the end of English 2311, students will demonstrate an ability to communicate within a group during weekly discussion boards, which is based on Technical Business Writing material.

Departmental Practices and Procedures

Department-Specific Instructor and Student Responsibilities

As your Instructor, it is my responsibility to:

• Provide the grading scale and detailed grading formula explaining how student grades are to be calculated
• Facilitate an effective learning environment through class activities, discussions, and lectures
• Provide a description of any assignments
• Inform students of policies
• Provide the course outline and class calendar that will include a description of assignments
• Arrange to meet with individual students as required

As a student, it is your responsibility to:

• Attend class and participate in class discussions and activities
• Read and comprehend the texts
• Complete the required assignments
• Ask for help when there is a question or problem
• Keep copies of all documents, including this syllabus, handouts, and all assignments
• Be aware of and comply with academic honesty policies, including plagiarism, in the HCCS Student Handbook

Program-Specific Student Success Information

As with any three-hour course, expect to spend at least six hours per week outside of class reading and studying the material.  I will provide assignments to help you use those six hours per week wisely.  Additional time will be required for written assignments.  Successful completion of this course requires a combination of reading the textbook, attending class, completing assignments in Eagle Online, and participating in class discussions.  There is no short cut for success in this course; it requires reading (and probably re-reading) and studying the material using the course objectives as your guide.

Instructional Materials and Resources

Instructional Materials

The HCC Online Bookstore provides searchable information on textbooks for all courses.  Check with your instructor before purchasing textbooks because the book might be included in your course fees.

 Instructional Materials

Other Instructional Resources

NOTE: Open Education Resources (OERs) will be used in the course. OER heavily used in the ENGL 2311 course is BCOM 10th ed.

Instructor's Practices and Procedures

Course Assignments & Grading:

Percentage Scale

Points Scale

Grading:

The evaluation of a student’s course progress and final grade is based upon the degree of mastery and of course outcomes. The grade breakdown for this class is as follows:

•Percentage Scale

•Points Scale

Grading Scale:  90 - 100 earns an A; 80 - 89 earns a B; 70 - 79 earns a C; 60 - 69 earns a D; 0 - 59 earns an F

• You must receive a 70 (C) or higher on the in-class essays to pass the course.

HCC Grading Scale can be found on this site under Academic Information: http://www.hccs.edu/resources-for/current-students/student-handbook/

Grades on individual assignments or on work as the semester progresses will be available through Canvas’ Grades icon. All work will be posted and received through the drop boxes and discussion forums of this course. All other assessments will be posted through the course learning management system.

Syllabus Modifications

The instructor reserves the right to modify the syllabus at any time during the semester and will promptly notify students in writing, typically by e-mail, of any such changes.

Faculty-Specific Information Regarding Canvas

This course section will use Canvas (https://eagleonline.hccs.edu) to supplement in-class assignments, exams, and activities.  

HCCS Open Lab locations may be used to access the Internet and Canvas.  For best performance, Canvas should be used on the current or first previous major release of Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari. Because it's built using web standards, Canvas runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, or any other device with a modern web browser. 

Canvas only requires an operating system that can run the latest compatible web browsers. Your computer operating system should be kept up to date with the latest recommended security updates and upgrades.  

Social Justice Statement

Houston Community College is committed to furthering the cause of social justice in our community and beyond. HCC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity and expression, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, or veteran status. I fully support that commitment and, as such, will work to maintain a positive learning environment based upon open communication, mutual respect, and non-discrimination. In this course, we share in the creation and maintenance of a positive and safe learning environment. Part of this process includes acknowledging and embracing the differences among us in order to establish and reinforce that each one of us matters.  I appreciate your suggestions about how to best maintain this environment of respect. If you experience any type of discrimination, please contact me and/or the Office of Institutional Equity at 713-718-8271.

HCC Policies & Information

HCC Grading System

HCC uses the following standard grading system:

Link to Policies in Student Handbook

Here’s the link to the HCC Student Handbook https://www.hccs.edu/resources-for/current-students/student-handbook/   In it you will find information about the following:

• Academic Information
• Academic Support
• Attendance, Repeating Courses, and Withdrawal
• Career Planning and Job Search
• Childcare
• disAbility Support Services
• Electronic Devices
• Equal Educational Opportunity
• Financial Aid TV (FATV)
• General Student Complaints
• Grade of FX
• Incomplete Grades
• International Student Services
• Health Awareness
• Libraries/Bookstore
• Police Services & Campus Safety
• Student Life at HCC
• Student Rights and Responsibilities
• Student Services
• Testing
• Transfer Planning
• Veteran Services

Link to HCC Academic Integrity Statement

Here’s the link to the HCC information about academic integrity (Scholastic Dishonesty and Violation of Academic Scholastic Dishonesty and Grievance):

https://www.hccs.edu/about-hcc/procedures/student-rights-policies--procedures/student-procedures/

Campus Carry Link

Here’s the link to the HCC information about Campus Carry:

https://www.hccs.edu/departments/police/campus-carry/

HCC Email Policy

When communicating via email, HCC requires students to communicate only through the HCC email system to protect your privacy.  If you have not activated your HCC student email account, you can go to HCC Eagle ID and activate it now.  You may also use Canvas Inbox to communicate.

Office of Institutional Equity

Use the link below to access the HCC Office of Institutional Equity, Inclusion, and Engagement (https://www.hccs.edu/departments/institutional-equity/)

Ability Services

HCC strives to make all learning experiences as accessible as possible.  If you anticipate or experience academic barriers based on your disability (including long and short term conditions, mental health, chronic or temporary medical conditions), please meet with a campus Abilities Counselor as soon as possible in order to establish reasonable accommodations.  Reasonable accommodations are established through an interactive process between you, your instructor(s) and Ability Services.  It is the policy and practice of HCC to create inclusive and accessible learning environments consistent with federal and state law.  For more information, please go to https://www.hccs.edu/support-services/ability-services/

Title IX

Houston Community College is committed to cultivating an environment free from inappropriate conduct of a sexual or gender-based nature including sex discrimination, sexual assault, sexual harassment, and sexual violence.  Sex discrimination includes all forms of sexual and gender-based misconduct and violates an individual’s fundamental rights and personal dignity.  Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex-including pregnancy and parental status in educational programs and activities.  If you require an accommodation due to pregnancy please contact an Abilities Services Counselor.  The Director of EEO/Compliance is designated as the Title IX Coordinator and Section 504 Coordinator.  All inquiries concerning HCC policies, compliance with applicable laws, statutes, and regulations (such as Title VI, Title IX, and Section 504), and complaints may be directed to:

David Cross
Director EEO/Compliance
Office of Institutional Equity & Diversity
3100 Main
(713) 718-8271
Houston, TX 77266-7517 or [email protected]

http://www.hccs.edu/departments/institutional-equity/title-ix-know-your-rights/

Office of the Dean of Students

Contact the office of the Dean of Students to seek assistance in determining the correct complaint procedure to follow or to identify the appropriate academic dean or supervisor for informal resolution of complaints.

https://www.hccs.edu/about-hcc/procedures/student-rights-policies--procedures/student-complaints/speak-with-the-dean-of-students/

Student Success

Expect to spend at least twice as many hours per week outside of class as you do in class studying the course content.  Additional time will be required for written assignments.  The assignments provided will help you use your study hours wisely.  Successful completion of this course requires a combination of the following:

• Reading the textbook
• Attending class in person and/or online
• Completing assignments
• Participating in class activities

There is no short cut for success in this course; it requires reading (and probably re-reading) and studying the material using the course objectives as a guide.

Canvas Learning Management System

Canvas is HCC’s Learning Management System (LMS), and can be accessed at the following URL:

https://eagleonline.hccs.edu

HCCS Open Lab locations may be used to access the Internet and Canvas.  For best performance, Canvas should be used on the current or first previous major release of Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari. Because it's built using web standards, Canvas runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, or any other device with a modern web browser. 

Canvas only requires an operating system that can run the latest compatible web browsers. Your computer operating system should be kept up to date with the latest recommended security updates and upgrades.  

HCC Online Information and Policies

Here is the link to information about HCC Online classes, which includes access to the required Online Information Class Preview for all fully online classes: https://www.hccs.edu/online/

Scoring Rubrics, Sample Assignments, etc.

Look in Canvas for the scoring rubrics for assignments, samples of class assignments, and other information to assist you in the course.  https://eagleonline.hccs.edu/login/ldap

Instructor and Student Responsibilities

As your Instructor, it is my responsibility to:

• Provide the grading scale and detailed grading formula explaining how student grades are to be derived
• Facilitate an effective learning environment through learner-centered instructional techniques
• Provide a description of any special projects or assignments
• Inform students of policies such as attendance, withdrawal, tardiness, and making up assignments
• Provide the course outline and class calendar that will include a description of any special projects or assignments
• Arrange to meet with individual students during office hours, and before and after class as required

As a student, it is your responsibility to:

• Attend class in person and/or online
• Participate actively by reviewing course material, interacting with classmates, and responding promptly in your communication with me
• Read and comprehend the textbook
• Complete the required assignments and exams
• Ask for help when there is a question or problem
• Keep copies of all paperwork, including this syllabus, handouts, and all assignments
• Be aware of and comply with academic honesty policies in the HCCS Student Handbook

EGLS3

The EGLS³ (Evaluation for Greater Learning Student Survey System) will be available for most courses near the end of the term until finals start.  This brief survey will give invaluable information to your faculty about their teaching.  Results are anonymous and will be available to faculty and division chairs after the end of the term.  EGLS³ surveys are only available for the Fall and Spring semesters.  EGLS3 surveys are not offered during the Summer semester due to logistical constraints.

https://www.hccs.edu/resources-for/current-students/egls3-evaluate-your-professors/

Housing and Food Assistance for Students

Any student who faces challenges securing their foods or housing and believes this may affect their performance in the course is urged to contact the Dean of Students at their college for support. Furthermore, please notify the professor if you are comfortable in doing so.  

This will enable HCC to provide any resources that HCC may possess.

Student Resources

Tutoring

HCC provides free, confidential, and convenient academic support, including writing critiques, to HCC students in an online environment and on campus.  Tutoring is provided by HCC personnel in order to ensure that it is contextual and appropriate.  Visit the HCC Tutoring Services website for services provided.

Libraries

The HCC Library System consists of 9 libraries and 6 Electronic Resource Centers (ERCs) that are inviting places to study and collaborate on projects.  Librarians are available both at the libraries and online to show you how to locate and use the resources you need.  The libraries maintain a large selection of electronic resources as well as collections of books, magazines, newspapers, and audiovisual materials.  The portal to all libraries’ resources and services is the HCCS library web page at https://library.hccs.edu.

Supplementary Instruction

Supplemental Instruction is an academic enrichment and support program that uses peer-assisted study sessions to improve student retention and success in historically difficult courses.  Peer Support is provided by students who have already succeeded in completion of the specified course, and who earned a grade of A or B.  Find details at https://www.hccs.edu/resources-for/current-students/supplemental-instruction/.

Resources for Students:

https://www.hccs.edu/resources-for/current-students/communicable-diseases/resources-for-students/

Basic Needs Resources:

https://www.hccs.edu/support-services/counseling/hcc-cares/basic-needs-resources/

Student Basic Needs Application:

https://hccs.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_25WyNx7NwMRz1FH

COVID-19

Here’s the link to the HCC information about COVID-19:

https://www.hccs.edu/resources-for/current-students/communicable-diseases/  

Sensitive or Mature Course Content

In this college-level course, we may occasionally discuss sensitive or mature content. All members of the classroom environment, from your instructor to your fellow students, are expected to handle potentially controversial subjects with respect and consideration for one another’s varied experiences and values.  

Instructional Modalities

In-Person (P)

Safe, face-to-face course with scheduled dates and times

Online on a Schedule (WS)

Fully online course with virtual meetings at scheduled dates and times

Online Anytime (WW)

Traditional online course without scheduled meetings

Hybrid (H)

Course that meets safely 50% face-to-face and 50% virtually

Hybrid Lab (HL)

Lab class that meets safely 50% face-to-face and 50% virtually

Classroom Policies Breakdown in Depth:

Submit your work on time. All work is submitted through Canvas, unless otherwise stated.  No emailed work is accepted, unless prior approval was given by me.

24 Hour Rule: Once a paper has been returned to you I will not discuss your grade until at least 24 hours have passed. This is in an effort to protect you and me from situations that may arise if you feel the grade is not justified. Use the 24 hours to look over your paper and find specific examples of questions you have regarding your paper. After that time you may email me, set up an appointment, or come to my office hours to discuss the paper. I will not discuss paper grades in the classroom under any circumstance.

 IMPORTANT:  Always be sure you can see a preview of your work after you’ve submitted to make sure you’ve submitted the correct assignment.  When you submit a Word document, Canvas provides a preview with an electronic feature. This way you can be sure you submitted the correct draft and not some rough draft or outline. 

EMAIL: Students must use the hccs.edu email. Do not use personal emails – Yahoo, Hotmail, Gmail, etc. Please contact the instructor at [email protected]. Email is the best and fastest way to contact the instructor.  If a student should encounter problems with the course, he or she should immediately inform the instructor by e-mail at  [email protected], or through the Canvas Online course e-mail feature.

The instructor encourages students to communicate with her about this course and any other important matters. Also, any student who encounters difficulties in the class, in his or her studies in general, or with the larger academic institution, should immediately inform me so that we may try together to overcome them.

The instructor’s objective in teaching is to educate students at a high academic standard, that is, to equip students intellectually and empower them to think critically and to read and write correctly and well both in English courses and in college more generally. What students learn in this course ought to be relevant to other courses and to their lives. The instructor’s objective is, in sum, Socratic. Consequently, the instructor implores students to engage in dialogue with her. Teaching is not the instructor’s occupation but her vocation.

*Due to current circumstances, you must email me notifying me that you had an emergency and will  submit the assignment as soon as possible. I will have to consider the circumstances regarding the late work penalty. I will determine whether or not the assignment will be docked points or not depending on your email notification.

HOMEWORK/TEST MAKE-UP POLICY: Late work is not accepted. Due to the high volume of course work produced this semester, late work does not apply to Assignment #4, Discussion Assignments, and the Final Exam. Once the deadline has passed for these assignments, students will not be able to submit the work through Canvas.

HOMEWORK/TEST MAKE-UP POLICY (CON.): The Late Work Policy Applies to Assignments 1-3 Only: Due to the high volume of papers produced this semester, late work for assignments 1-3 will be accepted, but will suffer harsher grading procedures. All late work for assignments 1-3 will start at a 75. A grade above a 75 for any late assignment is not possible. Late work will be accepted one week after the original due date. Please do not turn in any assignment more than one week late. Assignments submitted more than one week late will not be accepted. No makeups/late submissions for Discussion Assignments, Assignment #4, and Final Exam.  *Dropbox within Canvas: All typed Assignments 1-4 & The Final Exam must be submitted to the Dropboxes in Canvas the day they are due.

Class Participation/Attendance Policy:

While there are is a set “classroom” hours as with on campus courses, this online course requires many hours a week of online participation doing any number of different tasks, such as reading and listening to lectures, participating in discussion forums, taking quizzes and exams, and performing other class activities. *All students are expected to access Canvas on a daily basis or at least M&W. Students are expected to attend class regularly; thus, students must login to the course on a regular basis. DE students who do not login and actively participate before the Official Day of Record will be automatically and irrevocably dropped for non-attendance. The participation credit in the course counts towards three areas: logging in once a week to preview the work/textbook readings for the week, submitting discussion boards, and submitting the four major writing assignments. Canvas will track each time a student logs on and for the duration of each log in.

In order to be counted as actively participating in the course by the date of record, students must do at least the following: complete the Introduction Discussion Board and post at least once to any peer discussion forum. Failure to do so by the date of record will cause student to be dropped. No exceptions can or will be made to this rule.

However, while students have until the day before the date of record to prove their “active participation,” the professor implores students to log in and begin coursework as early as possible.

You are responsible for dropping the course - If you know that you will not login to Canvas two-three times a week then email me. Communication is important with online courses.

Students are expected to attend all lectures and laboratory periods, and an accurate record of each student's class attendance is kept by each instructor for the duration of the course. Any student, who misses 10% of the total clock hours of instruction not excused by the instructor may be withdrawn from class by the instructor with a grade of "AWN."  Students are expected to report to class on time.  At the discretion of the instructor, tardiness may be treated the same as an absence and the AWN policy may be applied.  If an AWN is processed before a student completes the drop procedures, the "AWN" will become the grade of record. The student, instructor, and financial aid office will receive copies of the AWN form.  Programs with special attendance requirements mandated by local, state, or national accrediting or professional agencies will observe the agency attendance requirements which affect student certification, registry, or licensure, as well as those of the College. All special attendance requirements must be approved in writing by the Vice President of Instruction.

Any student who has missed 10% of the total clock hours of instruction, not excused by the instructor, may be withdrawn from class by the instructor with a grade of “AWF” or “AWN” (only for some developmental courses).
Students are expected to report to class on time. At the discretion of the instructor, tardiness may be treated the same as an absence and the AWF/AWN policy may be applied.

Since this is an online course, you should turn in your weekly work by the due dates stated in the “Updated Weekly Reading List” at 11:59 p.m. Students who miss one-two weeks of work will receive an AWN for the course. 

CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE: Treat each classmate with respect. It is your responsibility to behave in an appropriate manner toward the instructor and your peers when submitting Discussion Forum postings. If you choose to behave inappropriately then you will lose 5 participation points per offense.  If your offense is deemed significant you will not be allowed to participate in the online class until you have met with me. I take this aspect of the course very seriously and disrespect will not be tolerated.

Some examples of behavior that will not be tolerated:

1)      Being disrespectful or confrontational to peers or the instructor during online class discussions, or small group activities

2)      Any kind of racial, gender, religious, political, or age slurs directed at your peers or in general that may be found offensive

3)      Any kind of verbal harassment to your peers or the instructor is unacceptable

Peer consideration:                                  

1)      Do not belittle a peer who has a different viewpoint than you during online class discussions

Additional Information

Process for Expressing Concerns about the Course

If you have concerns about any aspect of this course, please reach out to your instructor for assistance first. If your instructor is not able to assist you, then you may wish to contact the Department Chair. 

Dr. Mary Lawson, [email protected], 713.718.2365

Final Exam Information

Final exams are to be offered on the date and time specified in the “Final Exam Schedule” published in the Credit Schedule and available on our websites.

*For Online Courses - The Final Exam is submitted online through the “Final Exam” tab.

Late Final Exams are not accepted.

FINAL EXAMINATIONS

Monday, May 9^th from 12:00am TO 11:59pm

Students may take final examinations online any time between 12:00 a.m. on Monday to 11:59 p.m. on Monday. Late Final Exams are not accepted.

Course Calendar & Outline

Spring 2022 ENGL 2311 Course Schedule (Tentative) – 16 wks.

Week One: 1/17 – 1/19

o   Holiday – 1/17 – MLK – NO CLASS

o   (DA #1-Assigned Wed.) Note: All other discussion boards are released on Wednesdays.

o   Read Chapter 1: Establishing a Framework for Business

o   Read Chapter 2: Focusing on Interpersonal and Group Communication

o   Introduction Discussion (class greetings)

Week Two: 1/24 – 1/26

o   DA #2-Assigned Wed.)

o   Read Chapter 3: Planning & Decision Making

o   Read Chapter 4: Preparing Written Messages

o   Introduce Assignment #1- Professional Correspondence – Letter - Good News

Week Three: 1/31 – 2/2

o   (DA #3-Assigned Wed.)

o   Read Chapter 5: Communicating Electronically

o   Read Chapter 6: Delivering Good and Neutral News Messages

Week Four: 2/7 – 2/9

o   (Peer Review #1-Assigned Wed.)

o   Read Chapter 7: Delivering Bad-News Messages

o   Read Chapter 8: Delivering Persuasive Messages

o   Assignment #1- Professional Correspondence – Letter - Good News – Due

o   Introduce Assignment #2- Professional Correspondence – Letter - Indirect Bad News

Week Five: 2/14 – 2/16

o   (DA #4-Assigned Wed.)

o   Read Chapter 9: Understanding the Report Process and Research Methods 

o   Read Chapter 10: Managing Data and Using Graphics

Week Six: 2/21 – 2/23

o   (Peer Review #2-Assigned Wed.)

o   Read Chapter 11: Organizing and Preparing Reports and Proposals

o   Read Chapter 12: Designing and Delivering Business Presentations

o   Assignment #2- Professional Correspondence – Letter - Indirect Bad News – Due

o   Introduce Assignment #3- Professional Correspondence  – Memo

Week Seven: 2/28 – 3/2

o   (DA #5-Assigned Wed.)

o   Read Chapter 13: Preparing Résumés and Application Messages

o   Read Chapter 14: Interviewing for a Job and Preparing Employment Messages

Week Eight: 3/7 – 3/9

o   (Peer Review #3-Assigned Wed.)

o   Assignment #3- Professional Correspondence  – Memo – Due

o   Introduce Assignment #4- Employment Documents

SPRING BREAK  - 3/14-22-3/20/22

Week Nine: 3/21 – 3/23

o   (DA #6-Assigned Wed.)

o   LIBRARY DAY (Mon. in-class)

o   Read the remaining reference chapters. You will use them as you create the technical employee documents in the remaining weeks.

Week Ten: 3/28 – 3/30

o   (DA #7-Assigned Wed.) Note: This is the Teamwork Assessment – Part I

o   Introduce Teamwork Assessment

Week Eleven: 4/4 – 4/6

o   (DA #8-Assigned Wed.) Note: This is the Teamwork Assessment – Part II (Part II may require a Dropbox submission instead of Discussion Board.)

o   Complete Teamwork Assessment

Week Twelve: 4/11– 4/13

o   (DA #9-Assigned Wed.)  Note: This is the Job Ad Discussion Board

o    Job Advertisements must be approved by the end of the week. (Look for Job Ad Discussion Board)

o   Holiday – 4/15 – Good Friday

Week Thirteen: 4/18 – 4/20

o   (Peer Review #4-Assigned Wed.)

o   Assignment #4- Employment Documents – Due

Week Fourteen: 4/25 – 4/27

o   (DA #10-Assigned Wed.) Note: Last Discussion Assignment

Week Fifteen: 5/2 (Mon.) – 5/4

o   Introduce Final Exam Review – (Follow-up Letter) 

Week Sixteen: 5/9 (Mon.) – 5/11

o   Final Exam Essay Due – Follow-up Letter 

Instructor’s Note: The course calendar is subject to change based on my assessment of class progress and instructor discretion.  If the calendar is changed, I will let you know right away. Changes are in purple font.

Major Assignments

10%—Letter-Good News - Due Week Four

10 %—Letter Bad News - Due Week Six

20 %—Memo - Due Week Eight

25%---Resume, Cover Letter, Thank you Letter - Due Week Thirteen 

10%---Final Exam (Follow-Up Letter) - Due Week Sixteen

20%—Discussion Assignments in Canvas - Due Wednesdays before 11:59 p.m. (10 total Discussion boards at 2 points each. Some discussion boards will require posting to another student.)

Be sure to submit well before the deadline. For the Discussion Assignments, Assignment #4, and the Final Exam above, there are no late work options.

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