syllabus

**ENGL 317: Writing for Business and Industry **
Minimester 2010

Prof. Paul Miers, Ph.D. LI 301F Office Hours: 12:30 -1:00 pm M-Th 410-704-3638 miers@towson.edu

Piotrowski, //Effective Business Writing// Class wiki: eng317.wikispaces.com Class Blackboard site: [|bbweb.towson.edu] - with link to Google site
 * Texts and Online Resources**


 * Course Description and Goals**

This course is an introduction to writing in the workplace and the basics of business communication. It will teach you 1) how to communicate clearly in the standard formats used in business and organizational writing; 2) how to work effectively in project based teams using shared documents; 3) how to conduct strategic analysis; 4) how to find and organize the information required for that analysis; and 5) how to design and publish online documents associated with a company blog.

You will be working as a member of a production team associated with the blog run by Proximity, a new media strategy group at Towson Univ You will join one of Proximity's four research teams (social networking, music, video, or mobile) and work with your team members to prepare material for the blog and research reports for Proximity clients.

Memos and reports will be graded both on the quality of the information you use and how well you present that information for various business audiences. You will be expected to present and discuss drafts of your documents in class workshops and contribute posting to the Proximity blog. You will share drafts of your assignments using Google docs with team members, post final copy of assignments on a Google site you create for the class, and submit a hard copy of the assignment to me

graded assignments - 4.0 grade scale
 * Requirements**
 * blog post analysis (1-2 pages ) - 5%
 * strategy report (2-3 pages ) - 10%
 * report proposal (2-3 pages ) - 10%
 * press release (1 page ) - 10%
 * sales letter and report prospectus (2 pages ) - 10%
 * final report (~10 pages) - 25%

pass / fail assignments
 * contribution to team survey questions- 5%
 * comments / edits on team member graded assignment drafts - 15%
 * two Proximity blog posts - 15%


 * Schedule**

Jan. 4 - introduction Jan. 5 - draft of blog analysis due Jan. 6 - final draft of blog analysis due Jan. 7 strategy report draft due; survey questions in class

Jan. 11 - final strategy report due Jan. 12 - Jan. 13.report proposal due Jan. 14 -

Jan. 19 - Jan. 20 - press release due;sales letter and prospectus Jan. 21 - final report draft Jan. 22 - final report and blog posts due by 12:00 midnight

Grading is based on the + / - system You may request an extension for any assignment; assignments more than a week late will not be graded. More than three unexcused absence (1 day of minimester class) will result in the your course grade being lowered one letter (see excused absence policy below).
 * Grades**

**A**= **4.00; A- = 3.67 B+ = 3.33 B = 3.00 B- = 2.67 C+ = 2.33 C = 2.00 D+ = 1.33 D= 1.00 F = 0.00**

Students may not repeat a course more than once without prior permission of the Academic Standards Committee

  It is policy of the university to excuse the absences of students for the following reasons:
 * Excused absences **

• illness or injury when the student is unable to attend class • religious observance where the nature of the observance prevents the student from attending class • participation in university activities at the request of university authorities (e.g., Intercollegiate Athletics, Forensics Team, Dance Company, etc.) • compelling verifiable circumstances beyond the control of the student

Students requesting an excused absence must provide documentation to the instructor two weeks prior to the scheduled absence when known in advance or as soon as possible when not known in advance.

Students who will be representing TU at events, conferences, or other official activities should obtain a Notification of Absence from Class Form from the Office of Student Activities,University Union, room 217, to be given to their instructors to verify the excused absence. Students are encouraged to notify faculty of anticipated class absences as soon as they learn they will be missing class.


 * Students should not attend classes or other university events from the onset of flu-like symptoms until at least 24 hours after the fever subsides without the use of fever reducing medications. Such absences will be considered excused absences; however, students are responsible for the material covered during the period of their absence. **

Students with disabilities **
 * Plagiarism**
 * see [|Student Academic Integrity Policy]
 * This course is in compliance with Towson University policies for students with disabilities. Students with disabilities are encouraged to register with Disability Support Services (DSS) 7720 York Road, Suite 232, 410/704-2638 (Voice or TDD) Students who suspect that they have a disability but do not have documentation are encouraged to contact DSS for advice on how to obtain appropriate evaluation. A memo from DSS authorizing your accommodation is needed before any accommodation can be made.