ACWR 103 ~ Academic Writing for Business Summer 2014 Karen Zahorchak Office SOS 106 Email: kzahorchak@ku.edu.tr Phone: x1597 Office Hours: Tuesday 9-10:30 or by appointment Course Description ACWR 103 is designed to prepare students for advanced written communication in the context of study of business and economics. Building on the reading and writing skills developed in ACWR 101, ACWR 103 presents more advanced reading, writing, and analysis tasks. Emphasis continues to be on critical analysis, accurate summary and paraphrase, and appropriate methods of citation, and students will be asked to consider a variety of business related texts from a critical standpoint. In this class, students will read and conduct individual business-related research while working on oral presentation skills. In ACWR 103, students will: Develop the written and oral language and communication skills necessary for effective business and professional communication. Develop more advanced argumentative and analytical skills in the context of the study of business. Develop effective strategies for presenting information in different contexts ranging from formal report and presentation to executive summary. Develop independent research skills in the field of business and economics, including proper citation using APA standards. Further develop the skills of accurate summary and paraphrase fostered in Communications 101. Course Theme Over the course of this semester, you will read, analyze and respond to texts on a broad variety of business topics, examining them from an ethical perspective. We will look at corporate cultures as well as particular business practices and examine how they affect workers, the environment, and society. We will also explore how ethics in business can be a positive force that actually helps a company become profitable. Required Course Materials 1. Course packet for ACWR 103 Instructor Name, available at Copyland at the student center. 2. Required handbook: Hacker, D. & Sommers, N. (2012). Rules for writers (7 th ed.). Boston: Bedford/St. Martin s Press. Available in the bookstore. 3. English/English dictionary. 4. A large binder, folder or datafile in which students will keep their coursework and materials related to their research project. 5. Writing implements: pen or pencil, eraser, and a full-sized notebook. 1
Assignments Summary/Analysis Assignments (2-3 pages each): 30% Summary/Analysis 1 -In-class First Draft (5%) -Final Draft (5%) Summary/Analysis 2 -Final Draft (10%) Summary/Analysis 3 -In-class Final Draft (10%) Oral Presentation 5% Formal Report Assignment: 55% 5-7 page report including at least 3 independently researched sources, an executive summary of the report content, and assignments leading up to the written draft -Topic Proposal (5%) -Annotated Bibliography (5%) -Outline (5%) -Rough Draft (5%) -Draft Revision (10%) -Final Draft (20%) An oral presentation of the report content and PowerPoint presentation highlighting the report content (5%) Participation, Quizzes, Homework 10% Throughout the course, you will be asked to write short in-class responses to readings and to complete other homework assignments, including the regular annotation of assigned readings (which will be checked at the beginning of each class). You will also have regular opportunities to participate in class discussions and group activities. Active participation is highly valued, as communication and discussion are fundamental to successful writing. Classroom discussions allow us to explore the ideas expressed by the authors we read. During class discussions of readings, writing workshops, and peer review sessions, you can raise questions and express differing points of view in thoughtful ways, hear and consider the ideas of others, and engage with the course material in order to develop and refine your own ideas. Your grade for this section will reflect your performance throughout the semester in each of the above-listed areas and activities; therefore, you should make every effort to regularly participate in class and to keep up with reading and annotation assignments. Texting, talking with your classmates in inappropriate ways, or coming to class unprepared will have a negative impact on your grade. *A detailed description, requirements, and deadlines for each assignment will be handed out in class. All assignments must be typed, submitted to turnitin.com by the deadlines, and represent YOUR OWN ORIGINAL WORK. 2
Plagiarism Policy Plagiarism is presenting someone else's words or ideas as your own, without proper reference. You are graded on your own individual work, not another's masquerading as your own. Any student found plagiarizing on or colluding in writing assignments will be referred to the university's disciplinary council. This may result in failing the assignment, failing the course, and/or being suspended from the university. You commit plagiarism when: 1. You copy someone else's writing and do not put it in quotation marks and identify the source; 2. You take someone else's writing, change some of the words, and do not identify the source; 3. You take someone else's ideas or sequence of ideas, put them into your own words, and do not identify the source; 4. Someone else writes your assignments or changes your writing and thus creates a false impression of your abilities. You engage in collusion by receiving unauthorized help with your writing by paying or otherwise inducing another person to do the writing for you. Attendance Policy Class attendance is required, and any absences will negatively impact your participation grade. You are allowed 2 unexcused absences from class (which amounts to four hours of class time) without penalty. Each additional unexcused absence results in a reduction of your overall course grade: 3 unexcused absences=5% penalty, 4=10%, 5=15%, and 6=20%. If you accumulate more than 6 unexcused absences, you will automatically fail the course. Consult your instructor if you believe there are extenuating circumstances that have made it impossible for you to regularly attend class. Please come to class on time; each three times you arrive to class more than five minutes late will count as one absence. Policy on Late Work There is a five-point penalty for each day an assignment is late. Formal report assignments submitted on or after the deadline for the next assignment will not be accepted. For example, an outline submitted on or after the deadline for submission of the rough draft will not be accepted. Furthermore, no student work will be accepted unless all previous stages of the assignment have been completed. For example, a student who has not submitted a formal report proposal on or before the deadline for the outline may not submit the outline. Thus, the student will not be able to continue with the research project and will receive a 0 for the remaining assignments. Instructors are not obliged to provide feedback on late work. Grading Scale A = 100 90% B+ = 86 83 % C+ = 76 73 % D+ = 66 63 % A- = 89 87% B = 82 80 % C = 72 70% D = 62 60 % B- = 79 77% C- = 69 67% F = 59 0 Grade Disputes If you dispute a grade for a formal assignment, you must contact your instructor or the Director of Academic Writing by email within two weeks of the date the grade has been issued to discuss the situation. Note: The Academic Writing Program has a firm policy regarding petitions for re-grading assignments, and will not accept petitions filed after the two-week deadline. For more information regarding this policy, contact your instructor. 3
Course Guidelines and Expectations Keep up with work and expectations. It is your responsibility to read the syllabus carefully and completely and to keep track of assignments and deadlines. I was absent, or I did not read the syllabus are not acceptable excuses for not meeting course responsibilities. Students must conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times. Since this class is a further step towards a profession demanding a high level of interpersonal ability, chatting, using mobile phones, or sleeping is prohibited. Students behaving unprofessionally will be asked to leave and marked absent. Email sent to the instructor must be professional and appropriate. Email messages must be spell-checked, grammatically correct, and composed of complete sentences. Submit neat and professional work. All work submitted for ACWR 103 must be typed, double spaced, in 12 pt. font, printed on only one side of the paper, with 2.5 cm margins on all sides. Of course, all work submitted must be spell-checked, appropriately stapled or bound (according to your instructor s directions), and clearly marked with your first name, surname, and section number. Come to class prepared. You must come to class prepared, with a pen/pencil, paper, the course packet or Rules for Writers, any assignments for that day s class, and, when applicable, materials related to your research project. 4
ACWR 103 ~ Academic Writing for Business Class Schedule It is your responsibility to adhere to the deadlines for assignments and readings outlines in this schedule. This schedule is subject to change; you will be notified of any changes in class. NOTE: You are expected to bring the following items with you to EVERY class: 1) your course packet and/or your Rules for Writers manual; 2) pen/pencil and paper; and 3) any assignments that are due. Failure to come to class prepared will result in point deductions from your participation grade! Week 1 Monday 6/16 Tuesday 6/17 Wednesday 6/18 Thursday 6/19 Student Information Sheet; syllabus review; course expectations HW: Read Seven C s of Good Business Communication and Rules for Writers pp. 8-10, 14-15, 70-73 Discuss Seven C s of Good Communication Writing for Business vs. General Academic Writing In-class Writing Assignment/Diagnostic HW: Read and annotate (reading TBA) and Rules for Writers pp. 76-79 Introduction to the Summary/Analysis assignments; integrating source information by summarizing and paraphrasing HW: Reading TBA MLA Format and Avoiding Plagiarism *Bring Rules for Writers to class! HW: Enroll in this course on Turnitin; prepare for Summary-Analysis 1 Week 2 Monday 6/23 Tuesday 6/24 Wednesday 6/25 Thursday 6/26 Summary/Analysis 1 First Draft (written in class) HW: Reading TBA Discuss reading homework; choosing, identifying and evaluating sources HW: Revise Summary/Analysis 1 First Drafts and upload to Turnitin; Summary- Analysis worksheet Library Workshop Due by the end of class: a 3-5 page article you would like to use for Summary- Analysis 3. The article must meet the criteria identified in the assignment prompt DUE: Summary/Analysis 1 Final Draft due in class and on Turnitin Begin drafting Summary-Analysis 2 in class HW: Finish Summary-Analysis 2 Week 3 Monday 6/30 Making Effective Oral and Visual Presentations; review Oral Presentation 1 assignment DUE: Summary-Analysis 2 Final Draft due in class and on Turnitin HW: Prepare for Oral Presentation 1; complete Worksheet for Summary-Analysis 3 Tuesday 7/1 Oral Presentations 1 DUE: Worksheet for Summary-Analysis 3 HW: Select a Formal Report Topic 5
Wednesday 7/2 Thursday 7/3 Introduction to Formal Report Assignment; choosing and focusing a topic HW: Preliminary research and Formal Report Topic proposal More on Formal Reports; Outlining DUE: Formal Report Topic Proposal due in class and on Turnitin HW: Prepare for Summary-Analysis 3. Select at least three articles you would like to use for your formal report. These articles must meet the criteria identified in the assignment guidelines. Complete Annotated Bibliography Assignment. Week 4 Monday 7/7 Tuesday 7/8 Wednesday 7/9 Thursday 7/10 Saturday 7/12 Week 5 Monday 7/14 Tuesday 7/15 Wednesday 7/16 Thursday 7/17 Friday 7/18 Summary-Analysis 3 Final Draft (written in class) DUE: Annotated Bibliography Assignment due in class and on Turnitin HW: Detailed Formal Report Outline Formal Report Outline Peer Evaluation DUE: Formal Report Outline due in class and on Turnitin HW: Formal Report Rough Draft (complete report, no Executive Summary) NO CLASS Conferences (optional) HW: Formal Report Rough Draft Formal Report Rough Draft (will be used for an in-class assignment) DUE: Formal Report Rough Draft due in class and on Turnitin HW: Work on developing and revising Formal Report using peer recommendations, add Executive Summary DUE: Formal Report First Drafts due on Turnitin by 9:00 am! CONFERENCES NO CLASS CONFERENCES NO CLASS Formal Report Oral Presentations Formal Report Oral Presentations DUE: FINAL DRAFTS OF THE FORMAL REPORT DUE AT MY OFFICE AND ON TURNITIN BY 9:00 A.M. ON FRIDAY! NO LATE PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED. 6