1. COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course focuses on writing for the vocational, technical, and business worlds.  Designed for students in business, technical, and vocational programs, the writing includes memos, letters, resumes, reports, and other business/technical documents. The course also stresses team-building, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Prerequisites: Successful completion of IVCC’s English placement exam; official, submitted ACT English subscore of 22 or higher; or passing grade in ENG 0900. In addition, Accuplacer reading exam score of 68 or higher; official, submitted ACT reading subscore of 23 or higher; or successful completion of RED 0900.

 
2. EXPECTED STUDENT OUTCOMES

These are the things you should be able to do when you finish this course.

2.1.	Recognize and apply techniques for effective writing.
2.2.	Recognize and apply techniques for effective presentation of numerical data.
2.3.	Recognize and apply techniques of critical thinking and problem-solving.
2.4.	Write acceptable routine business/technical documents, including paper and electronic memos (e-mail), letters, resumes, application letters, reports, and other standard documents (e.g. summaries, descriptions, instructions, etc.).
2.5.	Understand and use contemporary technology effectively in producing business/technical documents.
2.6.	Recognize and apply techniques of collaborative writing and team-building.

 

3. REQUIRED TEXTS

3.1. Searles, G. J. (2011). Workplace communications: The basics (5th ed.). Boston: Longman.
3.2. College-Level Dictionary (Recommended)

4. TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS

To complete the requirements for this course, you will need the following:

4.1. Access to a Word Processing Program

You may use a program such as Microsoft Word, Microsoft Works, or Corel WordPerfect to submit your writing assignments. The important thing here is that your program allows you to save written documents in Rich Text Format (rtf). This format will allow all of us to exchange written documents even if we have different word processing programs or different versions of the same program (like Microsoft Word). If you're not sure if your program is capable of saving in Rich Text Format, feel free to ask me and we'll figure out if it is or not. If it isn't, we'll make some other arrangement for you to turn in your work.
 

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT MICROSOFT WORKS AND OPEN OFFICE: While you will be able to submit writing assignments using Microsoft Works and Open Office, you will not be able to use these programs to read my comments on your graded writing assignments. To make these comments, I use Microsoft Word's insert comments feature, and Microsoft Works and Open Office have been unable to read them. If you have Works or Open Office, you will need to open your graded assignments on another computer, preferably one with Microsoft Word. Microsoft Word is available in all of the computer labs here at IVCC.

4.2. Access to the Internet

You should be able to access the Internet through a browser such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox. This Internet access will allow you to read our class web pages (like this one) and access our class Blackboard.

4.3. An E-mail Account

All e-mail communication for this class will be through your student e-mail account. Information about your student e-mail account, including a Quick Start Guide, is available at the following link: New Student E-mail (http://www.ivcc.edu/studenthelpdesk.aspx?id=16712). You'll be using your e-mail account to turn in your graded e-mail assignment and to communicate with me.

5. WRITING ASSIGNMENTS (1200 POINTS)

5.1. Assignments

You will be completing a number of graded writing assignments during this class. They are listed below:

Business Letter	100 points
E-mail	100 points
Short Report	200 points
Long Report Proposal	100 points
Long Report	400 points
Descriptions/Instructions	100 points
Application Letter	100 points
Resume	100 points

5.2. Assignment Requirements 

You must type all writing assignments except for the e-mail using a word processor and submit them as file attachments to a Blackboard assignment posting by the assigned due date and time. If a writing assignment is late, it will be penalized five percentage points for each 24 hours, starting at the due date and time. In addition, this late penalty also will be applied to any rewrite of that assignment.

NOTE: You also must turn in a printed copy of your long report to my office by the specified due date and time.

After I grade your writing assignments, I will return them to you with my comments. You may keep the grades you earn on your letter, e-mail, short report, long report proposal, long report, and description/instructions, or you may resubmit each of them for a higher grade. You may resubmit each of these writing assignments only once. These rewrites typically are due no later than two weeks after I return your assignments to you. You will use e-mail to submit the rewrites (as well as turn in a printed copy of the long report rewrite). NOTE: If you resubmit one of these assignments, you also must attach a file containing a typed, correctly formatted memo that explains what changes you made and how you hope they improve the document.

NOTE: All rewrites are due by the last day of the course, which may be less than two weeks for assignments later in the semester. Because of the semester schedule, you will not be able to turn in a rewrite of the application letter or resume.

Please also note that you must turn in at least one draft of all writing assignments to pass the class (though doing so does not guarantee a passing grade).  In addition, in the case of consistently below-average writing (D or F level), I do reserve the right to base your course grade solely upon the quality of your writing assignments. 

 
6. QUIZZES (75 POINTS)

You will complete a quiz at the end of each unit. These quizzes may cover reading assignments, handouts, Blackboard discussions, lectures, and any other class material. Quizzes must be submitted through a Blackboard assignment posting by the due date and time to receive full credit.  

7. MISCELLANEOUS ASSIGNMENTS (225 POINTS)

Miscellaneous assignments may include chapter exercises, collaborative workshops, style exercises, discussion questions, short memos, and a variety of other assignments. Any assignment that fails to meet the requirements or that is not turned in when it is due may receive partial credit or no credit. You will either submit these assignments through a Blackboard assignment posting or complete them in the Blackboard discussion area (each assignment will specify which).  

8. GRADING SCALE

All assignments will graded based on the scale below. Your final course grade will be based upon the same scale.

9. MAKE-UP POLICY

You may earn back up to 30 points for missed exercise, quiz, rough draft, and writing assignment points. To earn these points, find a periodical article on the Internet about the use of writing in a business, industrial, or technological setting and type a 1-page summary and critique of the article. Each summary/critique must be written carefully and thoughtfully and is worth 10 points. Turn in each summary/critique as an attachment to an e-mail to the instructor and include the URL, or web address, of the article. The last day to turn in a summary/critique is the last day that assignments are due for the course (see Course Schedule).

10. ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION

Because this class is delivered entirely online and we don't meet face-to-face, the class doesn't have a traditional attendance policy. 

However, your participation in class activities not only affects your learning, but that of your fellow students, as well. In addition, the quantity and quality of your contributions to the class may affect your class grade if it is "borderline" at the end of the semester. 

You are expected to participate regularly in all class activities, including the following:

• Reading the textbook and handouts
• Reading and responding to one another's writing
• Contributing to online class and group discussions
• Collaborating with other students
• Being on time with assignments
• Exhibiting professional behavior

Be prepared to log onto our class virtually every day (especially weekdays) to check assignments, respond to questions, turn in work, etc. If you don't log in frequently, you'll probably fall behind rather quickly.

On my end, I'll check in on the class each weekday (and possibly weekend days, depending on assignments, questions, etc.). I'll try to respond to questions within 24 hours during the week and no later than on Monday for questions sent to me over the weekend. My goal is to return graded assignments to you within one to two weeks after their due dates.

11. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Some of the work you complete this semester will include borrowing and documenting information from other texts, or sources. We will spend adequate time as a class discussing using and documenting sources. Proper documentation, that is, giving full credit to the original source, is an absolute requirement. Failure to do so is plagiarism, which can destroy your credibility as a writer and is grounds for failing an assignment or this course. See the IVCC Stylebook (www.ivcc.edu/stylebook) for its statement on plagiarism and the current IVCC catalog and Student Handbook for the college's academic integrity policy.  Please feel free to discuss with me any concerns you have about these issues.

12. WITHDRAWAL POLICY

You may withdraw from this course through June 27. Students have the ability to initiate a withdrawal from classes. By completing the form in the Records Office or through the form located within WebAdvisor, the student is authorizing IVCC to remove him/her from the course. Entering the student ID number serves as the student’s electronic signature. IVCC has the right to rescind a withdrawal in cases of academic dishonesty or at the instructor’s discretion. Students should be aware of the impact of a withdrawal on full-time status for insurance purposes and for financial aid. It is highly recommended that students meet with their instructor or with a counselor before withdrawing from a class to discuss if a withdrawal is the best course of action for that particular student. 

13. DISABILITIES AND ACCOMMODATIONS

If you are a student with a documented cognitive, physical or psychiatric disability (anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, AD/HD, post-traumatic stress, and others) you may be eligible for academic support services such as extended test time, texts on disc, note taking services, etc. If you are interested in learning if you can receive these academic support services, please contact either Tina Hardy (tina_hardy@ivcc.edu or 224-0284) or Judy Mika (Judy_Mika@ivcc.edu or 224-0350) or stop by the Disability Services Office in B-204. 

14. OUT-OF-CLASS INSTRUCTION AND ASSISTANCE

Please take advantage of my availability through our course Blackboard, by e-mail, and by phone to talk to me about a specific writing assignment or the class in general. You are also very welcome to arrange to meet at my office on campus. Get your money's worth out of your instructor and this class. I'm pleased to help you with the class in any way I reasonably can.

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