Syllabus for Professional Writing

[I give students their syllabus at the start of the semester, along with their course policy statement. It too is available on the web, although the syllabus does change as conditions warrant. Please feel free to use this in any way that you like. I would love to hear about it, too, so if you do find this page useful drop me a line [jamesraywatkins at gmail.com] or leave a comment below.]

Week One, Room (LR, CH 3130): January 9 to 13

M: Introductions; Web, Email Information, Open Source and Free Software, etc; Self-Commentary One ( Due January 23 )

W: Introductions; Annotated Bibliographies / Reading Charts / Oral Reports (Interview / Research Summary); Interview Questions / Subject February 27

Reading for next class: Here’s How to Write Well (HHWW), Chapters 1 and 3; and “Work and Life in the Information Age” (Handout)

F: “Work and Life in the Information Age:” Planning research, brainstorming on research into writing, professions; critical analysis

Week Two, Computer Room (LR, CH 3120): January 16 to 20

M: No Class Martin Luther King Holiday

W: Computer Lab: Course Electronic Discussion List / Online Portfolio / Dreamweaver Basics; Interview Questions Exercise / Reading Charts

F: Computer Lab: Acceptable Online Sources / Dreamweaver Basics; Interview Questions Exercise / Reading Charts

Reading for Monday: “Growing Up Digital… ” (Online)

Week Three, LR: January 23 to 27

M: Discussion: “Growing Up Digital”

Reading: “Making the Map: An Interview with Gail Hawisher” (Reserves)

Self-Commentary One due January 23

W: Discussion: “Making the Map…”

Reading: “What Corporate America Can’t Build: A Sentence,” and “The Softening of Business Communication.”

F: Discussion: “What Corporate America Can’t Build: A Sentence,” and “The Softening of Business Communication.”

Week Four, CR : January 30 to February 3

M: Computer Lab / Spell and Grammar Check

W: Computer Lab

F: Computer Lab

Reading: “Gender Meanings in Grade Eight Students’ Talk…”

Week Five, LR: February 6 to 10

M: Discussion: “Gender Meanings in Grade Eight Students’ Talk… / “Oral Report Assignments

Reading: “Class and Classroom: Going to Work”

W: Discussion: “Class and Classroom: Going to Work”

F: Writing Workshop: Peer Critiques

Draft One Annotated Bibliography / Oral Report Summary due February 10

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Week Six, CR: February 13 to 17

M: Computer Lab

W: Computer LabPeer Critique, Draft One Annotated Bibliography due February 19

F: No Class, Lincoln’s Birthday

Week Seven, LR: February 20 to 24

M: Oral Reports

W: Oral Reports

F: Oral Reports

Week Eight, CR: February 27 to March 3

M: Oral Reports / Conference Sign Up

Reading for Conferences: “The Chronicles of Dr. Crazy,” and “Successful Interviewing: It’s all in the Preparation” (Handouts).

W: Oral Reports / Conference Sign Up

F: Oral Reports

Reading Charts and Interview Questions / Subject due online or by email on March 3

Week Nine, LR: March 6 to 10

M: ConferencesFinal Draft, Annotated Bibliography due March 6

W: Conferences

F: Conferences

Online Portfolio Review; Midterm Self-commentary due March 10

Week Ten: Spring Break, March 13 to 17

Week Eleven: CR, March 20 to 24 ; Award Winning Websites

M: Computer Lab

W: Computer Lab

F: Computer Lab

Reading for Monday’s class: Here’s How to Write Well (HHWW) Chapter 4

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Week Twelve, LR: March 27 to 31

M: Writing Workshop: Paragraphs

Reading for Wednesday’s class: HHWW Chapter 5

W: Writing Workshop: Sentences

Reading for Friday’s class: HHWW Chapter 2

F: Writing Workshop: Audiences

Week Thirteen, CR: April 3 to 7 ; Wikis

M: Computer Lab

W: Computer Lab

F: Computer Lab

Reading for Friday’s class: HHWW Chapter 7

Week Fourteen, LR: April 10 to 14

M: Writing Workshop: Critical Thinking

Reading for next class: HHWW Chapters 12 and 13

W: Writing Workshop: Punctuation and Verbs

Draft One, Interview / Research Summary due April 12

F: No Class

Week Fifteen, CR: April 17 to 21 ; Blogs

M: Computer Lab

W: Computer Lab

Peer Critique Draft One, Interview / Research Summary due April 19

F: Computer Lab

Week Sixteen, LR: April 24 to 28

M: Writing Workshop:to be announced

W: Writing Workshop:to be announced

F: Writing Workshop:to be announced

Final Draft, Interview / Research Summary due April 28

Website Portfolio and Final Self-Commentary due May 3

Note: There will be no final for this course.

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