Writing in the Professions
Writing-Intensive
MWF
Spring 2003
MW: McIver 231
F: Graham 202
Instructor: Jackie Grutsch
McKinney
Office: 01D Petty
Phone: 334-3294
Office Hours: W 11-2
Email: jrgrutsc@uncg.edu
Website:
www.uncg.edu/~jrgrutsc
This course is an introduction into professional and
technical writing—the kinds of writing that you may do on the job. Just like any other community or culture, the
workplace has certain discourse conventions.
Our work will be analyzing these and producing rhetorically effective
texts, graphics, and layouts in print and online that meet workplace
expectations. To this end, there will be
a strong emphasis on rhetoric and on document design throughout the
course. Some of you may be taking this
course because you’d like to pursue a professional writing career or a career
with a writing component. Others may
just want to flex your writing muscle and get some experience at a different
kind of writing than is usually required in English courses. Either way, I think you’ll find this course
beneficial to you.
This course is designated a writing-intensive course, which
means that drafting, revising, conferencing, and editing are a major component
of this course. We will work on five
major writing units. You will revise
each of these for inclusion/creation of your professional writing portfolio. Be forewarned: this course will be
time-consuming, but I think you will be amazed by what you’ve accomplished by
the end of the course if you put in the necessary time.
In addition to writing proficiency, you will get other
experience that will help you in your future professions. You’ll be expected to give oral presentations
(group and individual), work collaboratively on several projects, and work with
actual clients in the community and/or on campus. In addition, we’ll work on many different
software programs, so you’ll develop technical skills too.
§
Technical Communication, 9th ed. by John M. Lannon
§
§
Production
materials: printing & portfolio supplies
§
Zip
disk (recommended)
Using someone else's ideas or words as your own on any
assignment is plagiarism. It is a violation of the Academic Integrity Policy as
defined in the student handbook or at www.uncg.edu/saf/studiscp/Honor.html
and will be treated as such. If you are concerned about inadvertently violating
this policy, please see me before completing the assignment.
Respect for others is expected. Any behavior that distracts
(eating, talking while others are talking, etc.) or is disrespectful (personal
attacks, etc.) is unacceptable. Students may be asked to leave the classroom if
they choose to act in such a way. Cell phones and pagers should be turned off
during class time. You may be reached during classes or conferences at the
department phone number (334-5311) in the case of an emergency.
The grading in this course may be
different from what you're accustomed to; grades will only be given on the
final portfolio instead of on individual assignments.
You still will get credit for all work completed on time which will count
towards your final grade. In lieu of letter grades on each assignment, you will
get comments that will lead you in your revision. Late work is not acceptable.
If you have a disability that could affect your performance
in this course or for which you need accommodation, please contact me and/or
the office of Disability Services at 334-5440.
The
Attendance & Participation=25%
Assignments=25%
Final Portfolio=50%
Course Outline
Weeks 1-2: Job
Application Materials
Weeks 3-4:
Brochure Project
Weeks 5-8:
Website Design and Publishing
Weeks 9-10:
Process Instructions
Weeks
11-12: Analytical Report and Presentation
Weeks
13-15: Professional Writing Portfolio
Additional Resources
Blackboard: Periodically, all course materials
will be posted on Blackboard: bb.uncg.edu. This way you will always have access to the
course syllabus and assignments online.
I will show you in class how to access Blackboard if you have never used
it before.
Superlab/Help Desk:
The superlab is on the first floor of Jackson Library
in the back right corner. It is open
whenever the library is open and is staffed by lab techs who
can help with many computer problems.
The superlab also has three computers set up
with scanners. To use these, go to the
help desk and sign in.
Kinkos/Copy Shops:
For some of your projects, you may want to print your final copy on a color
laser printer. Unfortunately, UNCG has
no color laser printers available for student (or faculty!) use, but Kinkos does. Copy
shops also are able to enlarge/reduce your documents and have bindings for a
professional look. These services can be
costly, so wait until you are in the final draft/portfolio stage to do these.
Office Supply/Paper/Art Stores:
For this course, you will be challenged to think outside the regular
81/2 by 11 white page box. To do so, you
may use different sizes and types of papers.
Office supply stores (like Office Max) and paper stores (like If It’s
Paper) have a good assortment of nice paper in various colors, weights, and for
various uses (brochure paper, transparencies, card stock, etc.). Art supply stores often have good paper
selection too. Any of these stores will
also have nice presentation binders that could be used for your portfolio.
Friends with Digital Cameras, Ink
Jet Printers, & Scanners: For some of the projects you will do, you may want or need
to use a digital camera, printer, or scanner.
Knowing which of these you may be able to borrow will help you in
planning your project. Remember that you
have a computer and laser printer available to you during class time and lab
hours, and you can use a scanner at the Superlab.