ENGL 202 Syllabus FA19 F2F
- 1. ENGL 202 |F2F SYLLABUS Page 1 of 4 Introduction to Professional Writing Dr. Jodie Nicotra jnicotra@uidaho.edu| brink hall room #230|208 885-7826 office hours: M,W 1:00-2:30 or by appointment Researchers who study 21st century workplaces tell us that writing is a key “threshold skill” employers look for in new hires. This means that if you can’t write effectively, your job prospects will be few. Conversely, it means that the better writer you are, the more job prospects you will have. The course is designed to help students in any major situate their career interests within the field of professional writing. So, whether you are planning on a career as a professional writer or one in another field, English 202 will help you build the skills you need to communicate effectively in today's workplace. LEARNING OBJECTIVES: After completing this course, you will be able to: 1. apply rhetorical concepts that govern how writers meet the needs and purposes of professional writing through audience analysis, genre selection, and media distribution; 2. analyze, plan, and compose a variety of communication products for both print and web delivery; 3. learn how to learn and use new digital communication technologies. TEXTBOOK. The textbook is free, online, and in the BbLearn course website. GRADES: Final grades are based on attendance, participation, and successful completion of five projects. Attendance and Participation (25%). Your participation grade will be based on regular attendance (defined as not missing more than five classes), participation in class, and completion of the online and in-class activities required for each project.
- 2. ENGL 202 |F2F SYLLABUS Page 2 of 4 PROJECT 1: Analysis of Professional Writing Practices (15%). In this project, you will interview a professional about his or her writing practices, and analyze the communication practices and skills that are important to writing in the workplace. Deliverable: Memo Report: about 1000 words, with two appendices. PROJECT 2: Explore a Field to Write for a Client (15%). In this project, you will conduct research to explore the field of professional writing (or another field you are interested in) for the University of Idaho's Career Center. Deliverables: White Paper: about 1500 words plus graphics Event Flyer PROJECT 3: Service Learning Project (15%). For this project, we will be working to produce documents for the Idaho Water Resources Research Institute – details to follow. PROJECT 4: Analyze a Public Policy Debate for Stakeholders (20%). In this project, you will conduct research to analyze a public policy debate in the United States using Stasis and Stakeholder theories. Deliverables: Progress Report: about 500 words Research Dossier containing source data/analysis notes Formal Report: about 2000 words plus graphics. PROJECT 5: Apply for an Internship (10%). In this project, you will write a targeted cover letter; resume for an internship in your field of study; and create and populate an e- portfolio with sample work to supplement these application materials. WARNING: page length and word count guidelines are not a valid way to determine how long a project will take you to complete in this course. Course Policies 1. Attendance and Participation. I expect you to be in class and prepared every day. Excessive absences (any more than 5) will lead to an overall grade reduction of half a letter grade per class missed. Note that after the first project, we will typically meet as a class only twice each week, on Mondays and Wednesdays – on Fridays you will have a writing task to complete electronically. This will be spelled out in detail in the Project Schedules on the BbLearn site. 2. Technology Requirements. Laptop, notebook, or tablet with keyboard. Students are required to bring a machine that is fully charged to class each day the class meets. If you cannot meet this requirement, talk to me about an option using paper. Microsoft Word. Students are strongly encouraged to use Microsoft Word because it is the most commonly used software in the workplace today.
- 3. ENGL 202 |F2F SYLLABUS Page 3 of 4 Microsoft Office is provided at no extra cost to all students and as part of the UI Microsoft Licensing Agreement. You can install it on up to five separate devices. To install, go to ITS Technology Services https://www.uidaho.edu/infrastructure/its/self-help/ms-office/office-365 Reliable Backup. You will need a reliable backup to store the latest drafts of your work other than the hard drive of your computer or an easily lost thumb drive. Here is one I recommend: http://www.dropbox.com 3. Accepted File Formats. The following are the only accepted file formats: Print Deliverables: Word or PDF Event Flyer: jpg, png, or other image file; Word, PPT or PPTX, or PDF 4. Deadlines. All work is due by 11:59 PM on the day/date indicated in the project schedules. Late assignments will lose one letter grade (or the equivalent number of points) per day. If, when I start to grade your work, a file will not open or a link does not work, I will notify you by email, and you will be given 24 hours to submit work correctly in BbLearn and a late work point penalty will apply. To avoid this problem, verify your submission. 5. Verify Submissions to Avoid Point Penalties. When submitting assignments, students are responsible for verifying that files they uploaded; are not corrupted; and will open. This means you must return to the submissions box and open any files you uploaded. If your work does not submit correctly or if you failed to submit part of it, you will need to submit all work again - the last submission is the only one I grade. 6. Compress Files Over 1 MB. Your work will lose points if the file you submit is over 1 MB because large files slow down my ability to grade work efficiently. You will find tools to help you compress files posted in BbLearn. 7. University Disability Support Services. Reasonable accommodations will be made for students with disabilities. Disability Support Services must approve your request: (208) 885-6307• dss@uidaho.edu 8. Plagiarism. Violation of the University of Idaho Student Code of Conduct for Plagiarism will result in a course grade of ‘F'. 9. Contacting Me. You are invited to email me when you have a question or to request a writing conference. You may typically expect a reply within 24 hours, though it may be longer on the weekend.