During Week Two we'll complete Project 1, an informal self-report exercise in which you (1) give me some information about your writing/business writing experience and your goals for the class, and (2) generate a working definition of "business writing" and identify some issues that are of current concern to employees. For this second part, we'll share some definitions and experiences in an online discussion conference. Then, you'll complete an Audience Profile Sheet (2 pts.), a rough draft of your self-report memo (1 pt.), and a revised draft of the memo (6 pts.).

During Week Two, there are three assignments due:

1. Writing/Online Exercise 3 (2 pts.): Saturday, 08 Sep
   
2. Project 1 APS (2 pts.): Wednesday, 12 Sep
   
3. Project 1 Rough Draft (1 pts.): Wednesday, 12 Sep
   
4. Project 1 Revised Draft (6 pts.): Saturday, 15 Sep (Week Three)
5. Writing/Online Exercise 4 (2 pts.): Saturday, 15 Sep (Week Three)

• For 08 Sep
  One Assignment:
  • Writing/Online Exercise 3 (2 pts.): Discussion Conference for Project 1--Definitions of "Business Writing" and Employee Concerns
  1. Writing/Online Exercise 3: Defining "Business Writing"
     Generate ideas for a one-sentence definition of the term "business writing." Think about the kinds of contexts, purposes, audiences, rhetorical conventions, and the like that define a document as an instance of "business writing." If you "know it when you see it," then what clues are apparent in the documents themselves? What criteria must a piece of writing meet in order to fit your definition? What forms does business writing take and to what purposes does it respond? What would make something not be considered business writing?

     Also, offer some suggestions as to current concerns that employees have for the work environments, their futures, and the like. Often, employees' concerns and employers' concerns do not correspond; so, suggest some areas in which employers might take more notice of the conditions with which employees are faced.

     Post your ideas/definitions/suggestions to the discussion conference titled "Business Writing Definitions" and respond to your classmates' definitions/suggestions. Please post your response no later than 08 Sep.

• For 12 Sep
  Three Assignments:
  • Reading in Textbook
  • Audience Profile Sheet for Project 1 (2 pts.)
  • Rough Draft of Project 1 (1 pt.)
  1. Reading in Ober, Fundamentals of Contemporary Business Communication:
  
  Read pp. 78-80 on audience analysis.
  2. Audience Profile Sheet for Project 1 (2 pts.)
  
  Use the Audience Profile Sheet fill-in form to submit an APS for Project 1. Your APS will be evaluated according to completeness, so give thought to all of the categories, even if one (or more) seems obvious. In order to receive credit for the assignment, be sure that I receive it by 12 Sep.
  3. Rough Draft of Project 1 (1 pt.)
  
  Read the description of Project 1 and write a 1-2 page rough draft of your memo. Save your file in Rich Text Format. Use regular e-mail to submit your draft to me, and submit the draft as an attachment to your e-mail message. Be sure to fill in the "Subject" line of your e-mail message. In the body of the e-mail, be sure to put your name and to notify me that your rough draft of Project 1 is attached to the message. Then, make sure that the attached file is in Rich Text Format. In order to receive credit for the assignment, be sure that I receive your draft by 12 Sep.

  I will look at the drafts and send my comments to the class via e-mail. In general, I will make comments that pertain to the drafts of the class as a whole. I will respond to individual drafts only when it seems necessary. Of course, if in my general comments I do not address something in your draft that you would like addressed, by all means let me know. Please raise your questions before the revised draft is due.

• For 15 Sep
  Two Assignments:
  • Revised Draft of Project 1 (6 pts.)
  • Writing/Online Exercise 4 (2 pts.)
  1. Revised Draft of Self-Report and Business Writing Definition Project (6 pts.)
  
  Use regular e-mail to submit your revised draft of Project 1. Again, be sure that your report is in the form of a memo to me (no one need be on copy) and that you have saved your file in Rich Text Format. Attach your revised project to an e-mail message to me. Again, be sure to fill in the "Subject" line of your e-mail message. In the body of the e-mail, be sure to put your name and to notify me that your revised draft of Project 1 is attached to the message. Make sure that the attached file is in Rich Text Format. In order to be eligible for full points for the project, be sure that I receive your revised draft by 15 Sep.
  2. Writing/Online Exercise 4: (2 pts.)
  
  I will post the following discussion prompts to the class discussion forum regarding the content of two of the three memoranda. Write at least one substantial paragraph in response to each of the prompts:

  1. Memo 1:
  In writing an introduction of either a new class member or new member of a department at work, what should we consider pertinent details? What details are, or should be, inadmissable and left out of such an introduction? How does one give just the details and still achieve a welcoming, encouraging tone? Give specific examples to help guide your classmates.
  
  2. Memo 2:
  What are some examples of social or ethical problems that workers encounter in the workplace? What defines them as social or ethical problems? What would we need to know about an audience to address such an issues? Are there "hidden" issues within the problem to be addressed that might trip up a writer who has not analyzed the problem or audience carefully?

  In order to receive credit for this exercise, be sure to post your response by 15 Sep.