Course Objectives and Method of Instruction
After completing this course, you will be able to:
Identify needs for information in business communication:
- explore consequential issues in workplace settings
- analyze workplace audiences and their information needs
- determine appropriate genres for various communicative purposes
- make plans for gathering appropriate information to complete a work project
Access information:
- design appropriate research strategies (Web, print, field research) based on the purpose, audience, and context for a project
- conduct library, online, and field research to meet your information needs
Evaluate information:
- assess the credibility and relevance of data gathered
- provide oral and written feedback on the use of information in various documents, including your peers’ documents
Use information:
- learn how workplaces use information for various purposes
- present appropriate information in written, visual, and oral formats
- plan, draft, revise, and edit a variety of workplace-specific documents
- work individually and collaboratively to create documents
- develop effective style and tone for business communication
- create usable and visually effective document designs
Attribute information:
- learn how information is attributed in different genres of business writing
- use appropriate documentation strategies to attribute research in your work
- write ethically and responsibly as a member of an organization and society
To help you achieve these goals, a variety of methods will be used: lecture, presentations, readings, analyses, and individual and collaborative work in and outside of class. I encourage you to meet with me in one-to-one conferences outside of class, and you can expect written commentary on drafts of each major assignment to guide your revision process.
You will be expected to work individually on two projects and collaboratively on the final project. When you work collaboratively, you will be expected to evaluate the performance of your group members as well as to notify the instructor of any difficulties your group is experiencing.