GEB 3213 Schedule

Writing in Business
Fall 2006

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Newsworthy Business Communication:

Text Message Firing

$2 million comma

Pepsi/Gator proofreading

Wal-mart Blogging/ PR

Instructor: Cathlena Martin
Email: cmartin@english.ufl.edu
Section: 9216
Office: Bryan 125b
Office Hours: Tuesday 11-3 in the Image Lab on the 4th floor of Rolfs Hall
Mailbox: 4301 Turlington
Class Times: MW per 9 (4:05-4:55) / lecture T per 10 (5:10-6:00)
Class Room: Matherly 11
Class Website: http://www.clas.ufl.edu/users/cmartin
Class Listserv: fall-9216-l@lists.ufl.edu

Course Texts
Business and Administrative Communication. 7th edition. Kitty O. Locker, McGraw-Hill, 2005, combined with Business Writing CPR: 16 Principles for Writing Virtually Anything Effectively. Jane Douglas.

Course Schedule and Assignments
Unless prefaced with CPR, course reading assignments refer to Business and Administrative Communication.
All readings are due by Tuesday night.


23-28 August - Introduction

DISCUSSION 1 (Wednesday 23)– Course introduction: syllabus, assignments, materials.
HW- purchase textbook

DISCUSSION 2 (Monday 28)- Course introduction: syllabus, assignments, materials. Pass out Y2K paper and Y2Kmemo. Discuss lecture format and expectations. How important do you think business writing and grammar really is? Not very; somewhat; worth $2 million.
HW- purchase textbook; read Chapter 1: Business Communication, Management, and Success (pp. 3-28); Chapter 3: Adapting Your Message to Your Audience (pp. 58-80) for Tuesday the 29th.


29 August - 4 September (no class Monday the 4th)

READING –Reading for this week: Chapter 1: Business Communication, Management, and Success (pp. 3-28); Chapter 3: Adapting Your Message to Your Audience (pp. 58-80).
Online Powerpoint: Chp 1 and 3

LECTURE 1 (Tuesday 29)– Introduction to Business Writing.
-Lecture handout: Y2Kpaper and Y2Kmemo.
-Lecture notes are available on Vista

DISCUSSION 2 (Wednesday 30) – Diagnostic writing; introduction to Vista and the resources; announce Pre-test; answer any course questions; go over assignment requirements; discuss email etiquette. Achieving action-oriented business writing. See exercises 1.1, 1.2 (28-31); 3.1 (80); 3.2 and 3.3 (81); 3.5 (82).
HW - Diagnostic writing due next Tuesday night (9-5) at the beginning of the lecture; -Review some job and career websites and report back Wednesday about what you found - bring in a sample job classified ad Wednesday (9-6);
-Take Pre-test on Vista by Thursday (9-7) (but I would highly recommend taking it before Thursday in case Vista crashes);
-Read Chapter 17: Résumés (pp. 490-520), and Appendix C: Making and Communicating Meaning (pp. 615-627) by next Tuesday the 5th.


5-6 September (no class Monday the 4th)

READING — Reading for this week: Chapter 17: Résumés (pp. 490-520), and Appendix C: Making and Communicating Meaning (pp. 615-627).
Online PowerPoint: Communicating Meaning; Resume FAB

LECTURE 2 (Tuesday 5)– Writing for Purpose and Audience: Producing an Effective Resume (lecture notes are also available on Vista) - Diagnostic Memo due (hand in a hard copy at the beginning of the lecture and email me a copy before class at cmartin@english.ufl.edu).

DISCUSSION 1 (Wednesday 6)– Discuss job ads and find key words; assign resume list; go over memo handout looking at tone and professionalization.
HW - Begin drafting resume by making a list of every possible activity, honor, membership that could possibly go on your resume and bring to class. Look at "Getting Started" if you need some additional help. Lists due Monday (9-11);
-Take pre-test on Vista before tomorrow.

DISCUSSION 2 (Monday 11)–Discuss good and bad resumes and turning the list you created into your resume.
HW – Begin drafting resume from the list you have created;
-Read Chapter 2: Building Goodwill (pp. 34-52) and Chapter 18: Job Application Letters (pp. 524-543) for Tuesday the 12th.


12-18 September

READING - Reading for this week: Chapter 2: Building Goodwill (pp. 34-52) and Chapter 18: Job Application Letters (pp. 524-543).
Online PowerPoint: Cover Letters and Goodwill

LECTURE 3 (Tuesday 12)– Business Letters: producing the Cover Letter (lecture notes are also available on Vista).

DISCUSSION 1 (Wednesday 13)– Resume analysis and discussion. See exercises 17.2, 17.3, 17.5 (521-522).
HW- Draft of resume due Monday (9-18). Read Grammar and Mechanics Guide in PDF.

DISCUSSION 2 (Monday 18)– Exchange drafts and peer review resumes.
HW – Assignment 1: You will turn in your final resume with the cover letter (9-26)
-Begin draft of cover letter.
-Watch Locker video on Vista, “The Employment Interview” before next Wed (9-20). To find this video on Vista look under "Course Content," then click on "Course-Wide Content - Student Center", then click on "6. Video Presentations," then you'll see a list of videos, including "The Employment Video."
-Read Chapter 4: Making Your Writing Easy to Read (pp. 86-109), Chapter 7: Informative and Positive Messages (pp. 150-168); and Writing CPR, Chapter 1: Call 911 (pp. 1-3) and Chapter 2: Check for Pulse: Clarity (pp. 5-14) for Tuesday the 19th.


19-25 September

READING - Reading for this week: Chapter 4: Making Your Writing Easy to Read (pp. 86-109), Chapter 7: Informative and Positive Messages (pp. 150-168); and Writing CPR, Chapter 1: Call 911 (pp. 1-3) and Chapter 2: Check for Pulse: Clarity (pp. 5-14).
Online PowerPoint: Frontloading and Positive Messages
Online PowerPoint: Clarity and Making your writing easy to read.

LECTURE 4 (Tuesday 19)– Clear Writing and Good News Messages. (lecture notes are also available on Vista)

DISCUSSION 1 (Wednesday 20)–Cover letter analysis and discussion. Goodwill and Cover letter Powrepoint. See exercises 18.1, 18.2, 18.3 (545-547). Discuss Locker video, “The Employment Interview.”
HW- Cover letter draft due Monday (9-25).

DISCUSSION 2 (Monday 25)– Exchange drafts and peer review cover letters.
HW – Use the following PDF questionnaire to edit and review both of your own documents before you turn them in Tuesday.
Assignment 1: Final cover letters due next Tuesday night (9-26).
Turn in the final draft of your cover letter, resume, and job announcement with the rough draft and peer reviews of your cover letter and resume and the questionnaire you filled out about your own resume and cover letter. Paper clip all of these documents together. You should have ten docuements total.
Be sure and remember to email me your cover letter and resume before class Tuesday night.

-Read Chapter 6: Designing Documents, Slides, and Screens (pp. 127-147); Chapter 15: Using Graphs and Other Visuals (pp. 442-459); Appendix A: Formats for Letters, Memos, and E-Mail Messages (pp. 572-588) for Tuesday the 26th.


26 September-2 October

READING – Reading for this week: CPR: Chapter 3: Clear Airway: Continuity (pp. 15-26).
Online PowerPoint: Continutity

LECTURE 5 (Tuesday 26)– Using Continuity in Your Writing.(lecture notes are available on Vista)

DISCUSSION 1 (Wednesday 27)– Frontloading your message and writing for the reader’s needs. See exercises 7.1 (169), 7.2 (171).
HW - due Monday 10-2: Making Your Writing Easy to Read pages 111-112 exercises 4.7-4.14. And yes, you need to type out the answers and bring them to class on Monday.

DISCUSSION 2 (Monday 2)– The memo format and giving positive information effectively; bad examples of memos: make a list of why/what aspects of these 3 memos are bad and how you would change them. See exercises 7.3 (172), 7.19 (178), Go over HW.
HW - Read CPR: Chapter 3: Clear Airway: Continuity (pp. 15-26) for Tuesday the 3rd.


3-9 October

READING — Reading for this week: Chapter 6: Designing Documents, Slides, and Screens (pp. 127-147); Chapter 15: Using Graphs and Other Visuals (pp. 442-459); Appendix A: Formats for Letters, Memos, and E-Mail Messages (pp. 572-588)
Online Powerpoint: Design

LECTURE 6 (Tuesday 3)— Document and Graphic Design.(lecture notes are available on Vista)

DISCUSSION 1 (Wednesday 4)– Discuss Positive Memo Assignment and postive memo helps from past classes; Designing Documents, slides, and graphs. See exercises 6.1 (141), 6.3 (144), 6.4 (144), 6.5 (145); 6.2 (142-3), 15.2 (460), 15.4 (461-463).
HW- Positive Memo draft due Monday (10-9). For the Positive Memo, you will select either exercise 7.15 or 7.17 from chapter 7; be sure and bring your textbook Monday.

DISCUSSION 2 (Monday 9)– Peer Review of positive memo drafts (page 168).
HW – Assignment 2: Informative/Positive memo due Tuesday night (10-10);
-Use the following PDF questionnaire to edit and review your own documents before you turn it in Tuesday.
-Turn in Postive Memo final copy, positive memo rough draft, and questionnaire paper cliped together Tuesday.
- Read Chapter 5: Planning, Composing, Revising (pp. 115-124); and Chapter 8: Negative Messages (pp. 183-202) for Tuesday the 10th.


10-16 October

READING — Reading for this week: Chapter 5: Planning, Composing, Revising (pp. 115-124); and Chapter 8: Negative Messages (pp. 183-202).
Online Powerpoint: Bad News Memo

LECTURE 7 (Tuesday 10)— Bad News Memos (lecture notes are available on Vista);
- Turn in Postive Memo final copy, positive memo rough draft, and questionnaire paper cliped together.

DISCUSSION 1 (Wednesday 11) – Introduce team project, discuss team report, form team groups, and start planning proposal see p. 354-356; Get into groups for financial aid project.
HW- Financial Aid form draft due Monday (10-16) (group assignment p.146-7). Bring 2 copies Monday; Begin working on group proposal.

DISCUSSION 2 (Monday 16) – Discuss creating continuity. Peer Review of Financial Aid Forms – team exchange.
HW — Assignment 3: Improving a Financial Aid Form (team assignment) due Tuesday (10-17) night
-Print out and as a team fill out PDF questionnaire.
-Turn in final Financial Aid form (only one copy per team), the rough drafts, the peer reviews, and the questionnaire all paper cliped together Tuesday night.
-Read CPR Chapter 5: Provide Chest Compressions: Concision (pp. 39-45) for Tuesday the 17th


17-23 October

READING — Reading for this week: CPR Chapter 5: Provide Chest Compressions: Concision (pp. 39-45).

LECTURE 8 (Tuesday 17)– Concision and E-mail.(lecture notes are available on Vista); Turn in final Financial Aid form (only one copy per team), the rough draft, the peer reviews, and the questionnaire all paper cliped together.

DISCUSSION 1 (Wednesday 18) – The Bad News Memo and Negative messages powerpoint: discuss Negative memo examples; discuss proposal (see page 354-356); See exercises 8.1, 8.2, 8.3.
HW - Bad News memo draft due Monday 10-23; prepare for midterm quiz next Tuesday night (10-24)
-Bring your textbook Monday for the peer review session. If you do not bring your textbook then you will not be able to participate in the review.

DISCUSSION 2 (Monday 23) - peer review Bad News Memo (page 202).
HW — Assignment 4: Negative Message due Tuesday night (10-24); prepare for midterm quiz Tuesday night
-Use the following PDF questionnaire to edit and review your own documents before you turn it in Tuesday.
-Turn in Negative Memo final copy, negative memo rough draft, and questionnaire paper cliped together Tuesday.
-Read CPR: Chapter 4: Give Artificial Respiration: Coherence (pp. 27-38), and Chapter 14: Analyzing Information and Writing Reports (pp. 390-433) for Tuesday the 24th.


24-30 October

READING —Reading for this week: CPR: Chapter 4: Give Artificial Respiration: Coherence (pp. 27-38), and Chapter 14: Analyzing Information and Writing Reports (pp. 390-433).
Online Powerpoint: Grammar and Punctuation review and Coherence and more Grammar

LECTURE 9 (Tuesday 24)– Coherence and mid-term quiz (lecture notes)
-Turn in Negative Memo final copy, negative memo rough draft, and questionnaire paper cliped together.

DISCUSSION 1 (Wednesday 25)– Show examples of past projects; work on proposals (see p. 354-356) in class in groups - bring any questions to class that your team has for me regarding your group project or your proposal; concision examples and exercises and active verb exercies;
Team Proposal draft due Monday (10-30) As a team, bring 4 copies of your proposal Monday.

DISCUSSION 2 (Monday 30) – peer review proposals; E-mail discussion.
HW-Team Proposal due next Tuesday night
-Read Chapter 9: Persuasive Messages (pp. 212-241), and Appendix D: Crafting Logical Arguments (pp. 632-363) for Tuesday the 31st.


31 October - 6 November

READING — Reading for this week: Chapter 9: Persuasive Messages (pp. 212-241), and Appendix D: Crafting Logical Arguments (pp. 632-363).
Online Powerpoint: Crafting Logical Arguments and Persausive Messages

LECTURE 10 (Tuesday 31)— Persuasion and Reports.(lecture notes in powerpoint are available on Vista)
-Turn in one hard copy per team of your proposal with all team member's names listed and one electronic copy per team with all team member's names listed in the email.

DISCUSSION 1 (Wed 1)– Gantt Chart see p. 452, 454;
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010346051033.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gantt_chart
http://www.netmba.com/operations/project/gantt/
HW- Work on team Gantt chart.

DISCUSSION 2 (Mon 6)– Business library research workshop for reports: G'ville Business Bookmarks, Industry Market Research. Peer review Gantt Chart; See exercises 13.4, 13.5, 13.6, 13.10 (pp. 386-387).
HW- Team Gantt chart due Tuesday (11-7) night.
-Read Chapter 12: Working and Writing in Groups (pp. 316-337); and Chapter 13: Planning, Proposing and Researching Reports (pp. 348-382) for Tuesday the 7th.


7-13 November

READING - Reading for this week: Chapter 12: Working and Writing in Groups (pp. 316-337); and Chapter 13: Planning, Proposing and Researching Reports (pp. 348-382).

LECTURE 11(Tuesday 7) — Working in Teams and Writing Reports (lecture notes in PowerPoint)

DISCUSSION 1 (Wednesday 8)— Discuss Persuasive writing assignment contest and case study; ABC Case Helps; Persuasive writing techniques; Persuasive exercise; See exercises 9.2, 9.4, 9.5 (pp. 242-244, and group writing exercises 9.8, 9.9, 9.11, 9.13 (pp.245-247).
HW - Persuasive message draft due Monday (11-13).

DISCUSSION 2 (Monday 13)– Peer review persuasive memo.
HW — Assignment 5: Persuasive Memo due Wednesday (11-15) at the beginning of class.
-Use the following PDF questionnaire to edit and review your own documents before you turn it in Wednesday.
-Turn in Persuasive Memo final copy (two memos), rough drafts, and questionnaire paper cliped together Wednesday.
-Read Chapter 11: Communicating Across Cultures (pp. 292-310) for Tuesday the 14th.


14-20 November

READING – Reading for this week: Chapter 11: Communicating Across Cultures (pp. 292-310).
Powerpoint on International Communication

LECTURE 12 (Tuesday 14)– Communicating across Cultures.(lecture notes in PowerPoint)

DISCUSSION 1 (Wednesday 15)– Turn in Persuasive Memo final copy (two memos), rough drafts, and questionnaire paper cliped together.
- Sample report analysis, document design and organization.; field any questions about the progress report.
- Intercultural communication Ex 11.8b: class debate. Each team is responsible for arguing for the suitability of one candidate--with four teams being assigned one of the four candidates in the exercise and the fifth team being allowed to choose which candidate is most suitable. In the debate format, each team has to anticipate and rebut the arguments put forth by the other teams on their respective candidates' strengths and suitability for the position.
HW - view videos available via Vista's Course-wide Content: Student Center. The videos are located under Item 6: Video Presentations. View both "Offensive and Assertive Communication" and "Defensive and Supportive Communication."
- See exercises in 12.2, 12.3. and 12.4.
HW - work on project and write progress report

DISCUSSION 2 (Monday 20) Meet in Teams; Collaborative writing and team project planning.
HW - project progress report due Wednesday (11-22) - email me one copy per team before 5:10pm on Wednesday.
-Read Chapter 16: Making Successful Presentations (pp. 468-484) for Tuesday the 21st.


21-27 November

READING – Reading for this week: Chapter 16: Making Successful Presentations (pp. 468-484).

LECTURE 13 (Tuesday 21)– Making Successful Presentations. (lecture notes are available on Vista)
---I will not be holding office hours today.

DISCUSSION 1 (Wednesday 22)– Work in teams. Email me one copy per team of the group project progress report by 5:10pm tonight.
HW- work on group project

DISCUSSION 2 (Monday 27) – Refining your team presentation; answer any final questions before presentations
HW - View the video “Presentation Skills” available on Vista and analyze the openers and closers in exercise 16.1.

Presentation Rubric in PDF


28 November - 4 December

LECTURE 14 (Tuesday 28)– Professional writing for your career

DISCUSSION 1 (Wednesday 29)– 2 Oral presentations
HW — Work on report; prepare for quiz; complete final Quiz Pro Post-test in Vista (this will be avaliable until the last day of class, but don't wait that long to take it.)

DISCUSSION 2 (Monday 4)– 2 Oral presentations
HW — Work on report; prepare for quiz; complete final Quiz Pro Post-test in Vista (this will be avaliable until the last day of class, but don't wait that long to take it.)


5-6 December

LECTURE 15 (Tuesday 5)– Cumulative quiz (in lecture)

DISCUSSION 1 (Wednesday 6)– 1 Oral presentation; Conclusions and final in-class writing assignment. Final team reports due today. Turn in Team Evaluations.