English 306 -- Tentative Course Schedule

May 14	Introduction to course and policies. Intro to professional writing: purpose, audience and writing strategies. "Five Steps to Successful Writing" in TWC (xiii - xx) and "You-attitude."  See also this email. Would it be successful? In class: Diagnostic Essay: Your freshman survival tips (1-1/2 pages)
15	MEET in CHBS 3023 Due: Find a story in the news about writing, communication, or a change in your profession. We’ll format a memo (html sample and one in MS Word format) and summarize the piece for two different audiences in class.  (Imagine two that would have a need for the information.  One, say, a specialist in your field, and one a friend or a general audience).  Also, check out this website on memo writing and read HTW 343-345 and 105-114, 546-549.
16	Intro to career correspondence (Read 297-306, 484-502, 36-41). Read the online resume tutorial. See this resume sample and this one (especially for teachers) and another and one more. And, some advice on follow-up letters and a follow-up sample and another. Some online resources: Resume Social (post a resume and get feedback), Visual CV, and using social media in the job search. Tips for cover letters. Also, good advice from The New York Times. For those interested in graduate school, see the personal statement and this sample and this one.  Here's one more from a COSD major. Also, some tips for organizing the personal statement. Due:  two memos with two different summaries.  Staple them together and attach your article.
17	CHBS 3023 to work on Resume Set.
21	Resume and cover letter workshop. Print out two copies of each and bring to class and get two sets of feedback.
22	Reports and Proposals (HTW 474, 471-472, 196-218, 428-448). Read the RFP and the sample internal/research/problem solving proposal and this sales proposal. Also, see the report and proposal superstructure. We'll plan for the proposal in class.
23	Review of Grammar, Usage and Mechanics. Come to class with your "Achilles heal" to teach us. Use HTW a dictionary or an online service such as this Guide to Grammar and Writing or the Purdue Online Writing Center.  See also Dear John letter and Actual Writing from Church Bulletins and Insurance Claims. Style Workshop: Clarity and Concision. Read 530-534, 512-516 in HTW. Eight Principles of Effective Writing. Due: Resume Set Draft (here's a sample designer's memo)
24	Instructions (HTW 266-270). See also brochures, 55-58. See this sample set of instructions on felling a tree and this process explanation on how acid rain is produced. Also, “Love: The Right Chemistry.” Descriptions and Definitions (HTW 122-126). Sign up for groups. Page Layout and Visual Aids (HTW 310-316, 568-572). Quiz on reading. See also the Michigan Law Abuse Watch's "Wacky Warning Labels." Creating Tri-Fold Brochure in MS Word and theme-related brochure. Due: Draft of Proposal.  Here is another sample proposal.
28	Memorial day. No class.
29	CHBS 3023 to work on instructions/brochure. Collaboration (HTW 73-75). Form Groups. Collaboration Styles brochure. What style are you? Sample brochure, NRV Disability Resource Center.
30	Revising and Evaluating:  Usability Testing (558-560). Organization (HTW 376, 345-347). Bring draft of instructions.  Use this usability testing sheet.
31	Research (452-457, 473-479). Overview of the report and report structure (report checklist. Document Supplements (front and end matter). Read HTW 197-201. Also, see this report on Workplace Readiness. Ten Steps to Longer Sentences. PPT version. Due: Agreement to Form Group. Sample Team Contract. Due: Instructions
4	Workplace Technology (582-585, 164-168, 523-526). Find a website in your field to evaluate in terms of its reliability, accuracy, organization and design, and overall ease of use. Bad email samples and The Six Stages of Email. Doctors and smartphones, NPR and the latest in technology.
5	CHBS 3023 to work on web pages. Instructions for creating one.
6	Ethics in writing (HTW 178-180). STC Code of Ethics. Grant Professional Code of Ethics. NEA Code of Ethics. SPJ Code of Ethics. Progress Reports, 418-420. Teamwork and pep talk. Checklist and survival guide to the end of the semester. Due: Results of Interview and "Analysis of Writing Practices in My Field. See this sample.
7	Due: Progress Report
11	CHBS 3023 Due: Project Outline (check off in computer room).
12	Presentations (408-416). Job interviews (280-284).
13	Exam Review.
14	Oral Briefings.  Groups give 5-7 minute summary of their project and major recommendations. Use at least one visual. Due: Final Report. Load your self-evaluation in D2L. Due: Web Resources Page (D2L).
Exam	Essay: Please explain, in several well-written paragraphs, how one’s audience affects the production of technical and professional documents. You should rely on examples from this course’s proceedings--from proposals to presentations, resumes to cover letters, instructions to reports, email to web pages. In your answer, you should consider the variables surrounding the text itself: design, layout, visuals, tone, diction, etc. Provide at least three specific writing situations where you had to conduct some audience analysis. In a nutshell: How do we create reader-friendly documents? If you wish, review "audience" in TWC.  Here are a few samples: sample 1, sample 2, sample 3.