English 394: Business Writing Section: 1902 Professor Carol Cron

English 394: Business Writing Section: 1902 Professor Carol Cron Course web page/elms site https://myelms.umd.edu/courses/1167719 Class meeting location 0234 Tawes Class meeting time Thursdays, 6:30 p.m. 9:10 p.m. Instructor s e-mail ccron@rhsmith.umd.edu Instructor s office phone 301-405-8149 Instructor s office 3448 Van Munching Hall Instructor s office hours Thursdays, 4:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. and by appointment Course Description The purpose of this course is to familiarize students with formats and structures of business communication and provide practice in writing clear and concise professional documents (reports, memos, letters, resumes, and e-mails). Much emphasis will be placed on writing for a specific audience and purpose. As a result of this course, students will: Become familiar with the various types of professional documents (letters, memos, resumes, reports, e-mails) and produce well-written samples of these documents. Construct effective paragraphs and easily readable sentences. Use clarity and brevity for effective writing. Gain a better understanding of the overall writing process for business documents. Construct valid and persuasive arguments appropriate to the audience and purpose of the document. Gather research information in libraries, on the Internet, and through other print or media sources to use in writing the business letters, memos, and reports. Incorporate feedback from instructor and peers. Collaborate with peers in group work for in-class sessions. Required Text Business Communication Essentials, 6 th edition (Bovee and Thill) ISBN number: 978-0-13-297132-4 NOTE: There is a NEWER edition (7 th edn.) available, but I have intentionally selected the 6 th edn. so students can buy a used copy. It is available on Amazon for about $30. Recommended Text: Any grammar handbook

Grading Procedures All PWP classes require a minimum of six graded assignments comprising a minimum of 25 pages of original writing (at least 6,250 words). The main assignments for the class are as follows: Persuasive Memo or Letter (A-1) 10% Employment Package (A-2) 15% Request to Do Research (including annotated bibliography) (A-3) 10% Bad News Message (A-4) 10% Final Recommendation Report (A-5) 15% PowerPoint Presentation Summarizing Final Recommendation (A-6) 10% Four Homework Assignments (submitted in Canvas) Three Reflective Writing Self-Assessments (required by the PWP) 10% Quizzes 10% Professionalism 10% The following are components of your Professionalism grade: Regular attendance in class Participation in small group exercises Adherence to policies concerning use of computers and electronic devices Short in-class assignments presented orally to class The absence of appropriate professional behavior will result in a decline in this part of your grade. If your graded material falls between grades, your degree of professionalism in class may determine the final grade. All assignments must be your original work.

Grading Standards Critical Thinking skills are an integral part of academic rigor. These six standards have been selected as being relevant for business communication assignments. Standards of Critical Thinking Applied to Business Communication STANDARD AS IT RELATES TO BUSINESS COMMUNICATION COURSE CLARITY Purpose of document is clear with appropriate tone for the intended audience ACCURACY Proper use of English skills are evident, including style and grammar (punctuation, capitalization, and sentence structure); formatting of document is precise and has been carefully proofread for errors RELEVANCE Evidence supports the main points of the assignment PRECISION Assignment identifies the main issue and addresses problems in a logical manner DEPTH Assignment sufficiently covers the main points and causes of the identified problem BREADTH Assignment addresses the overall problem and considers multiple solutions Rubrics will be used to fairly evaluate each assignment. These rubrics will be posted in Canvas to allow students to see the areas of each assignment on which they should focus. Below is an indication of what constitutes an A B C D F grade for an assignment. The A Assignment Clearly fulfills its purpose and accommodates itself well to the intended audience. Uses persuasive, detailed evidence. The reasoning is thoughtful and exhibits insight. Citations are used appropriately when factual information is presented. Flows well. Paragraphs are well developed and logically follow those preceding them. The conclusion makes sense. Headings are used appropriately throughout the document. The assignment is formatted appropriately. Writing is clear and structurally sound. It contains few or no mechanical errors. The reader can easily understand and follow the writer s points. The B Assignment Assignment instructions have been followed and fulfilled. A sense of clear audience and purpose may be lacking throughout the paper. Reasoning is thoughtful but not complex. The assignment may not contain enough details to support its main point. Factual material may be cited but not all the time. Introduction and conclusion are clear. Although some of the paragraphs are well developed, some may need more work. The format is basically sound but may contain some errors or omissions. The assignment contains some headings but not enough to help the reader navigate through the document. Sentence structure is basically correct. Serious sentence errors are minimal, though some may exist. The reader can comprehend the writing.

The C Assignment Instructions were minimally followed, but purpose and/or audience may be unclear. Supporting evidence is weak; may lack some important factual information. Citations may be lacking or used inappropriately. Some organizational pattern may be present, but it may not be clear. Business format may be lacking, including use of appropriate headings. The reader may have to struggle to understand the intended message at some points in the document. Sentence structure may be adequate at times but could be improved with effective use of active voice, sentence variety, and modifiers. Some comma splices and fragments may be present. The paper contains errors in spelling, mechanics, and/or grammar. Sentences and paragraphs may be long and convoluted. The D Assignment Sense of purpose and audience is limited. Necessary evidence is out of order. Citations are used intermittently or incorrectly. Organization is not obvious. The introduction and conclusion may be unclear or missing. Paragraphs may not be well developed; transitions may be missing. Correct business format is not apparent, and appropriate headings are missing. Numerous errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation may occur. Sentences and paragraphs are long and cumbersome. The reader cannot grasp the meaning of the assignment easily or at all. The F Assignment Sense of purpose and audience is non-existent. Necessary evidence is missing. Citations are not used. The reader cannot grasp the meaning of the assignment at all. The assignment was not turned in, or was turned in exceedingly late with no request for an extension.

Course Policies Attendance: To succeed in this course, regular attendance is required, and is a requirement of the Professional Writing Program (PWP). Classroom discussions and in-class work are a major part of your grade, and class participation, once missed, cannot be made up. Below are the policies on unexcused and excused absences, as well as tardiness. Please note that missing more than two weeks worth of class for any reason may result in a zero for the participation/professionalism portion of your grade and may jeopardize your overall course grade. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to find out what you have missed. Missing more than two weeks of class will make catching up difficult. Unexcused Absences. You may take up to one week s worth of no-questions-asked absences per semester for both the expected (i.e., being the best man in your brother s wedding) and the unexpected (i.e., a flat tire). If you take a no-questions-asked absence, however, you are still responsible for whatever material was covered in class. If a major scheduled grading event (assignment due, in-class workshop/peer review, presentation) is scheduled for that class, and you don t show up and don t have a university-sanctioned excuse (see below) then you will lose the points for that activity. Excused Absences. The University excuses absences for your own illness or the illness of an immediate family member, for your participation in Universitysanctioned activities, for religious observance, and for compelling circumstances beyond your control. Documentation is required for all excused absences. If you have an anticipated excused absence, please let me know in writing in advance. Absence for one class due to your own illness: The University requires that you provide me a self-signed note attesting to the date of your illness, with an acknowledgment that the information provided is true. Providing false information to University officials is prohibited and may result in disciplinary action. The Health Center has an online form for this purpose. (http://www.health.umd.edu/sites/default/files/class%20excuse110.pdf). Absence from more than one class because of the same illness: You must provide written documentation of the illness from the health care provider who made the diagnosis. No diagnostic information shall be given. The provider must verify dates of treatment and indicate the time frame during which you were unable to meet academic responsibilities. Non-consecutive medically necessitated absences from more than a single class: Such absences may be excused provided you submit written documentation for each absence as described above, verifying the dates of treatment and time frame during which you were unable to meet your academic responsibilities. However, as noted above, if you miss too many classes even if excused although you are eligible to make up the work, in practice students are rarely able to do so.

Tardiness. In the professional world tardiness is not tolerated. However, this campus is large, and you may have classes on opposite sides of the campus, or you may need to talk with another instructor after your prior class. If you do arrive late on occasion, please do not disrupt the class, and let me know if you anticipate ongoing conflicts. Late papers: All assignments and due dates are listed in this syllabus and on Canvas. Assignments are due in Canvas by 6:30 p.m. (i.e., at the start of class) on the due date. Assignments submitted after that time will be accepted, but the grade will be reduced by 5 points for each day the assignment is late. Extensions may be granted for up to two days, but only if they are requested in writing, in advance. No late assignments will be accepted after one week without my prior authorization. This does not apply to excused absences. Inclement Weather: The assignments for this class will continue even if the University closes for inclement weather. I ll make every effort to stay on schedule; due dates will remain firm, and we will continue to interact with each other on Canvas. Plagiarism: Any student found guilty of plagiarism will be dealt with severely. Abuses of the honor system will be referred to the Honor Council. Of course, borrowing information from published sources is appropriate, but you must identify all sources and document them sufficiently and appropriately. Cutting and pasting from sources without appropriate citation/attribution constitutes plagiarism. Accommodations: If you have a special need relating to this class, within the first two weeks of class you must provide me with documentation supporting your request for special accommodations. We will discuss and write a plan as to how your accommodation will be implemented in terms of class procedures. Classroom Conduct: Everyone in the classroom is to be treated with respect and courtesy, as befitting professional colleagues. You are expected to: Come to class prepared to engage in meaningful discussion about the scheduled topic, including assigned readings Pay attention in class and not hold side conversations Participate in group or in-class exercises Not text, e-mail, read newspapers, surf the Web, etc. Note: Doing so will result in a substantial decline in the Professionalism portion of your grade. Electronics: All cell phones must be turned off as class is about to start. You are welcome to bring a laptop or tablet to class for the sole purpose of enhancing your in-class experience. The only website that should be open is Canvas, and the only documents open should be the class PowerPoint that you may have downloaded, or a document for taking notes. Work make-up policy: Most group exercises and in-class writing assignments missed due to absence cannot be made up unless you have a University-sanctioned, excused absence.

Course Evaluations: Toward the end of the semester, you will be reminded to complete CourseEvalUM. Please take the time to fill it out. In addition, the PWP has its own paper evaluation, which is administered during one of the final weeks of the semester. Diversity: The University of Maryland values the diversity of its student body. Along with the University, I am committed to providing a classroom atmosphere that encourages the equitable participation of all students regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, race, national origin, religion, or sexual orientation. Potential devaluation of students in the classroom that can occur by reference to demeaning stereotypes of any group and/or overlooking the contributions of a particular group to the topic under discussion is inappropriate. (See Statement on Classroom Climate: http://www.umd.edu/catalog/index.cfm/show/content.section/c/27/ss/1584/s/1541).

Course Schedule Class meets Thursday evenings week runs Thursday to Thursday Introductions Class Policies and Format Review of Canvas PPTs: Chapters 1, 3 Week One Sept. 3 Chapter 1: Understanding Business Communication in Today s Workplace Chapter 3: Planning Business Messages Due: Homework #1 Review the topics from Practice Your Skills at the end of chapter 1 and chapter 3. Select FOUR topics from each chapter to complete. Post the entire assignment in one discussion response in Canvas. Follow the instructions in discussion #1. Due in Canvas by 6:30 p.m. on Thursday of week 2. Due: Reflective Essay #1: Establishing Expectations Details are posted in Canvas. Due in Canvas by 6:30 p.m. on Thursday of week 2. PPTs: Chapters 4, 9 Chapter 4: Writing Business Messages Chapter 9: Writing Persuasive Messages Week Two Sept. 10 Due: Assignment #1 Persuasive Message Due in Canvas by 6:30 p.m. on Thursday of week 3. PPTs: Chapter 5 Chapter 5: Completing Business Messages Week Three Sept. 17 Due: Quiz #1: Open 5 days Sunday (12:01 a.m.) Thursday (until 6:30 p.m.) Covering chapters 1, 3, 4, 5, 9 25 questions, open book

Week Four Sept. 24 PPTs: Chapter 13 Chapter 13: Building Careers and Writing Resumes Due: Homework #2 Review the topics from Practice Your Skills at the end of chapters 4, 5, and 9. Select EIGHT topics total from these three chapters to complete. Post the entire assignment in one discussion response in Canvas. Follow the instructions in discussion #2. Due in Canvas by 6:30 p.m. on Thursday of week 5. PPTs: Chapter 14 Week Five Oct. 1 Chapter 14: Applying and Interviewing for Employment Due: Assignment #2 Employment Package Due in Canvas by 6:30 p.m. on Thursday of week 6. PPTs: Chapter 6 Week Six Oct. 8 Chapter 6: Crafting Messages for Electronic Media Due: Homework #3 Review the topics from Practice Your Skills at the end of chapters 6, 13 and 14. Select EIGHT topics total from these three chapters to complete. Post the entire assignment in one discussion response in Canvas. Follow the instructions in discussion #3. Due in Canvas by 6:30 p.m. on Thursday of week 7.

Week Seven Oct. 15 PPTs: Chapter 7 Chapter 7: Writing Routine and Positive Messages Due: Assignment #3 Request to Do Research Due in Canvas by 6:30 p.m. on Thursday of week 8. PPTs: Chapter 8 Week Eight Oct. 22 Chapter 8: Writing Negative Messages Due: Quiz #2: Open 5 days Sunday (12:01 a.m. Thursday (6:30 p.m.) Covering Chapters 6, 7, 13, and 14 Due: Reflective Essay #2: Midterm Self-Assessment Details are posted in Canvas. Due in Canvas by 6:30 p.m. on Thursday of week 9. PPTs: Chapter 10 Week Nine Oct. 29 Chapter 10: Understanding and Planning Reports and Proposals Due: Assignment #4 Bad News Message. Due in Canvas by 6:30 p.m. on Thursday of week 10. PPTs: Chapter 11 Week Ten Nov. 5 Chapter 11: Writing and Completing Reports and Proposals Due: Homework #4 Review the topics from Practice Your Skills at the end of chapters 7, 8, 10, and 11. Select EIGHT topics total from these four chapters to complete. Post the entire assignment in one discussion response. Follow the instructions in discussion #4. Due in Canvas by 6:30 p.m. on Thursday of week 11.

Week Eleven Nov. 12 There will be NO CLASS in week 11 (Thursday, November 12). I will hold one-on-one conferences with every student during this week. None Due: Quiz #3: Open 5 days Sunday (12:01 a.m.) Thursday (6:30 p.m.) Covering Chapters 8, 10, and 11 25 questions, open book Week Twelve Nov. 19 PPTs: Chapter 12 Sign-up for final presentation (week 14 or week 15) Chapter 12: Developing Oral and Online Presentations Due: NOTHING! Pack for Thanksgiving Break! Thanksgiving Break No class! Week Thirteen Nov. 26 Week Fourteen Dec. 4 In-class presentations Assignment #6 PPT of final project 10 presentations (~8 min. each) Due: Assignment #5 Final Research and Recommendation Report for those students presenting PPT in week 14. Week Fifteen Dec. 11 In-class presentations Assignment #6 PPT of final project 9 presentations (~8 min. each) Due: Assignment #5 Final Research and Recommendation Report for those students presenting PPT in week 15. Due: Reflective Essay #3: Revisiting Your Expectations Details are posted in Canvas Due: Course evaluations