Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Up Syl
Up Syl
E-mail nbaltz@iastate.edu
http://courses.isucomm.iastate.edu/
Goals/Objectives
By the end of this course, you should know how to:
1. Understand that writing well means writing and revising multiple times to create
and polish effective documents.
2. Conceptualize issues of purpose, audience and delivery in professional
communication.
3. Approach business communication as a problem-solving process.
4. Learn and apply document design principles to create effective business
documents.
5. Write for an organization or your own professional interests to understand how
writing and other communication skills spur, and potentially improve, an
organizations operations.
Attendance
Regular attendance is required, so you should plan to be here for every session. Because this is
not simply a lecture course, rather one that involves your participation and engagement, you must
be here if you are to do well. English 302 allows 4 absences, no questions asked. Please use
your 4 absences wiselyfor emergencies, for scheduling interviews, and so on.
Missing more than four classes will lower your grade, and excessive absences
(more than eight classes) will result in a failing grade for the course.
o Specifically, absences after four will reduce your class grade by one step (a B+
becomes a B; a C becomes a C-), and after a total of eight, you will receive an F.
I cannot take class time with you to discuss the missed material when the other students are
ready to move on to new concepts. If you know you will miss a class due to appointments or
other conflicts, turn in early any assignments due at that class. In other words, being absent is not
an excuse for turning in late any major assignments. Penalties apply to papers turned in late,
even in the event of illness and emergency. If your absence is due to a legitimate emergency, or a
university or military obligation, simply provide me with a note from your adviser or academic
representative. Acceptable notifications include those from the athletic department in the case of
athletic commitments, departments in the case of departmental service, doctors in the case of
medical emergencies, and advisers in the case of family emergencies. Note: Excused absences
allow your instructor to evaluate your circumstances regarding making up work, such as
retaking a quizexcused absences still count toward your absence total.
Even with valid reasons to miss classes, it is possible to accumulate multiple absences in
a semester such that you fall too far behind in your work for you to perform competently
on the assignments. The Director of Advanced Composition Courses and your instructor will
advise you if your absencesregardless of their reasonbecome too numerous for you to
remain in English 302, and that you should drop the class and re-take it in a future semester.
Being absent during group work days or on the day of your oral presentation means
taking a 0 for that activity, since they cannot be made up individually.
Our standard class may be changed during the semester, so that I may hold conferences in my
office to work with you individually on your projects, and offer you guidance. Missing a
scheduled individual or group conference counts as an unexcused absence.
Grading
Note: Late papers area docked ten percent for each class day past the due
date.
Other smaller assignments (including quizzes) will not be accepted late.
1.
Oral and written products (presentations, letters, memos, reports, proposals, etc.) will be
assessed on a point system, consistent with the assignments demands.
Your documents in English 302 will be graded according to how well they 1) meet the
principles of business communication in our text and 2) meet the ISU standards for scholarly
work.
A= Excellent. No errors, revisions needed. The document is thoroughly professional, by
showing outstanding insight, clarity, perceptiveness and originality. I may provide stylistic
suggestions, but it is otherwise excellent work, and could go to intended audiences without
changes.
B= Very Strong. May have marks pointing to minor corrections and adjustments, but is still
very competent. Supports ideas well with concrete details, and is interesting and precise. It
would require simple, minor corrections before going to intended audiences.
C=Competent. Meets the general scope and purpose of the project. Nothing is remarkably
good or bad about the work. Few major and many minor revisions would be required before
sending it to intended audiences.
D=Weak. Document shows attention to purpose, but does not competently achieve it.
Additionally, it needs significant revisions before sending it to intended audiences.
F=Does not meet assignment. Document deviates from assignment such that purpose is
irrelevant or unclear, or may contain errors that hinder comprehension. Also, see
Integrity.
I will comment upon each project in order to discuss how it may accomplish these criteria. My
rubric for evaluating your work will be the five criteria of all business communication: Clarity,
Completeness, Correctness, Saves Time, and Builds Goodwill (Locker & Kienzler, p. 12).
2.
Homework, Quizzes, Tests: The points possible per lab exercise, quiz, or test will be
provided when assigned. Typically, these items range from 510 possible points.
3.
At the end of the semester, the percentage of possible points earned will translate to
letter grades as follow:
94100%
8889%
B+
7879%
C+
6869%
D+
9093%
A-
8487%
7477%
6467%
8083%
B-
7073%
C-
Below 63%
Conferences
Effective writing requires collaboration and revision. Conferences with your instructor can provide
you advice as well as the encouragement of a reader. If you have any questions about the
assignments, need additional help during the writing process, or want to talk about how things are
going for you in the course, please stop by my office during my office hours or make an
appointment to see me.
Professional Discourse
ISU does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual
orientation, gender identity, sex, marital status, disability or status as a U.S. Veteran. All written,
oral, and visual communications you create in this class shall be free from discriminatory or
debasing language. Check your prejudices outside the door.
Academic Dishonesty
Plagiarism involves using another authors work without correctly giving due credit to that author.
Be advised that plagiarism is a serious offense in the academy and will not be tolerated. It is just
as serious to plagiarize the work of another student as it is to plagiarize the work of a published
author. Works found on the Internet are considered to be published works and cannot be copied
without crediting the source. Use MLA documentation methods carefully. If you have any
questions about documentation, see me before you turn in an assignment.
Computer Ethics
You are expected to use the university computers responsibly and to communicate courteously
with others in your class. For information on ethical guidelines for computer use, go to
http://policy.iastate.edu/it/ethics/
Disability Accommodation
If you have a disability and require accommodations, please contact me early in the semester so
that you learning needs may be appropriately met. You will need to provide documentation of
your disability to the Disability Resources office, main floor of the Student Services Building,
Room 1076, (515) 294-6624.
Syllabus Revisions
The assignments and due dates in the course schedule are tentative. Deadlines and details may
be adjusted to meet the needs of the class. The online syllabus will be revised accordingly.
List of Assignments
Assignment #1: Cover Letter
Assignment #2: Professional Memo/Letter
Informative (15%)
Negative (15%)
Assignment #3: Proposal
Assignment #4: Audience Analysis of Proposal/Report
Assignment #5: Report
Assignment #6: Portfolio
Assignment #7: Style Presentation
Smaller Assignments/Participation
15%
30%
10%
5%
15%
10%
5%
10%
1/12-1/16
Introduction
1/19-1/23
Introduction
1/26-1/30
Cover Letter
2/2-2/6
Cover Letter
2/9-2/13
Cover Letter/Informative
Memo
2/16-2/20
Informative Memo