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K.

Soto|WRT307M112|Fall2014

WRT307AdvancedWritingStudio:ProfessionalWriting

Days:Mo/We
Time:12:452:05pm
Room:SmithHall227

Instructor:
KarrieannSoto
Email:ksoto@syr.edu
Office:HBC009
Hours:M1011am,or
byappointment.
Whenyouwriteatwork,youact.Youexertyourpowertomakesomethinghappen,tochange
thingsfromthewaytheyarenowtothewayyouwantthemtobe.(Anderson8)

CatalogDescription

Professionalcommunicationthroughthestudyofaudience,purpose,andethics.Rhetorical
problemsolvingprinciplesappliedtodiverseprofessionalwritingtasksandsituations.

CourseDescription
Inthiscourse,youwillbelearningtoworkandwriteeffectivelyincollaborativesettingsthat
demand,muchliketheworkplace,flexibilityandcriticalproblemsolvingskills.Lastyear,a
reportbyTheChronicleofHigherEducationandAmericanPublicMediasMarketplacefound
thatEmployerssaythatrecentgraduatesoftendontknowhowtocommunicateeffectively,and
strugglewithadapting,problemsolving,andmakingdecisions.1Inresponsetothesenecessary
professionalskills,inWriting307youwilloftenbeexpectedtorespondcriticallyandcreatively
tocommunicationproblemsandsituationsthatarise.

Withaneyeonthefuture,thecoursedesigninvolvesanexplorationofyouralreadyexisting
knowledgeonprofessionalwritinginyourowndiscipline,butitalsoencouragesyoutofollow
carefullyselectedguidelinesforthedevelopmentofpersuasiveandusefulcommunication.Ina
contextbasedconsiderationofworkplacewriting,itisofutmostimportancetodemonstrate
thoroughknowledgeaboutthedifferentdynamicsthatinfluencethecontentandformatof
communicationdesign.Tofacilitatethearticulationofthisknowledge,youwillbeaskedto
writeongoingreflectionsaboutyourdevelopingunderstandingofthecontextsinwhichyou
envisionyourselfengaginginprofessionalwriting.Asignificantaimofallmajorassignmentsis
foryoutodevelopastructuredaudienceanalysisspecifictoaprofessionaldocumentorproject,
whichisusefulinexaminingpotentialworkplaceaudiencesandusercenteredworkplacegenres.

Fischer,Karen.ACollegeDegreeSortsJobApplicants,butEmployersWishitMeantMore.SpecialReports.The
ChronicleofHigherEducation.March2013.http://chronicle.com/article/TheEmployment
Mismatch/137625/#id=overview

K.Soto|WRT307M112|Fall2014

Boththereadingandwritingpracticesinthiscoursewillfocusonrhetoricalaspectsof
workplacecommunication.Youwillbenefitfromrevisitingrhetoricalconceptsthatyouwere
exposedtoinWRT105,205,oranyothercoursewithafocusonrhetoric.However,manyofthe
valuesandpracticesofthecompositionclassroom(i.e.,drafting,workshop,revision,etc.)have
equivalenciesintheWRT307classroomthatmaylookverydifferent.Specifically,the307
classroomismorelikelytobedrivenbystudentinitiative,collaborativeprojectplanning,and
firmdeadlinesratherthanbyteacherimposedexpectationsdirectingprojectmanagement.In
otherwords,whiletherearespecifictimeframesandguidelinesimposedbythedifferent
assignments,youhavetotakeresponsibilityforyourowntimemanagementandforcreating
andfollowingproductivepatternsofcommunicationwithyourpeers,inordertoplan
collaborativeprojectsinaprofessionalandethicalmanner.

Becauseworkplacesareincreasinglynetworkedandtransnational,youwilllearntoethically
consideryourselfasaglobalcitizenworkingintransnationalworkplaces.Thus,wewillgoover
issuesofcorporateconduct,intellectualproperty,usability,accessibility,andequalityasa
centralpartofthecomposingprocess.

Inshort,whenwefinish,youllbebetterableto:

Analyzeaudiencesandsituations
Manageasustained,multipleproductproject
Workcollaboratively
Designandproducetextsandgraphics
Conductbasicusabilitytesting
Developeffectiveoralpresentations

RequiredText&Materials

Anderson,PaulV.TechnicalCommunication:AReader
CenteredApproach.8thEdition.Wadsworth,2013.ISBN:
113330981X

AdditionalReadingswillbeavailableinourcoursewebsite.
Youwillbeexpectedtocheckthesiteregularlyforupdateson
homeworkandcalendarchanges,butalsotoremindyourself
ofassignmentguidelines.

Youshouldbookmarkourwebsite:
https://sites.google.com/site/wrt307m112/home

MajorAssignments

Asintheworkplace,ourcourseprojectswilloverlap.Thetechniques,skills,andstrategies
gainedfromeachwillinformtheothers.Followingarebriefoverviewsoftheworksequence.
Fulldescriptionswillbeavailableaseachbegins.

K.Soto|WRT307M112|Fall2014

TheOnboardingUnitwillintroducethefundamentalprinciplesthatwillbecentraltotherest
ofthecourse.Employingtheframingconceptoftheonboardingprocessmanycompaniesor
institutionsusetoorientnewemployees,theprojectwillestablishthecoursesexpectationsof
youasaworker(writer,editor,collaborator,etc.)andforthequalityofyourwork.Theproject
willresultinaportfolioofindividualworkthatdemonstratesunderstandingofandfacilitywith
thefundamentalsofProfessionalandTechnicalCommunication,rhetoric,workplace
conventionsandgenres.Theportfoliowillinclude:aprofessionalbio,audienceanalysis,letterof
applicationandrecommendation,memo,email,editinganddesigntest,andreflectionsonthe
writingandprocess.

TechBriefingswillbeindividual10minutepresentationsonnewtoyouprofessionaldigital
technologies.Afterthefirstunit,everyonewillsignupforapresentationdate,whichwillbe
spreadoutthroughoutthesemester.TheBriefingswillrequireeachofyoutogivea10minute
presentationanddistributeandintroduceaclear,digitaldocumentthatcommunicates
informationaboutatechnologythatmostofuswilllikelyencounterorfindusefulinthe
workplace.Relevanttechnologiesmightincludehardware(i.e.smartpens,tablets)orsoftware
(i.e.onlinecalendars,networkedspaces).

TheInstructionsProjectassignmentisanexerciseinteamproductionofaninstructionaltext.
Youwillworkinteamsof34andadoptproductionrolesbasedoninterestsand/orskillsets.
Youwillcollaborativelydecideonatask,writeinstructionsforthattask,designamultimedia
instructionalwebsite(wikiorwebsite),conductusabilitytesting,andreviseaccordingly.Wewill
learnandworkthroughthedigitalplatformsforbuildingwebsitesasaclass(noprevious
knowledgeisrequired).

TheFeasibilityStudywillrequirethatyouworkcollaborativelywithateamforarealworld
clienttosolveaproblem.Theassignmentwillrequirethatasateam,youidentifybothareal
worldclientandaworkplaceproblemthatcanberesearched.Asagroup,youwillresearchthree
feasiblesolutionstotheproblemandbasedonthatresearchandyourclientscriteria,your
groupwillmakearecommendationtotheclientintheculminatingFeasibilityReport.This
projectinvolvesmultiplegenresmostnotablyasubstantialproposalandreportand
consistentworkflowmanagement.

Heresapointstructurebreakdown:
TheParticipationpointswillbesplitintothirds:the

firstthirdwillbedeterminedbyyourclassparticipation
Project
Available
andyourtimelycompletionofhomeworkassignment;
Points
thesecondthirdwillbedeterminedbyyourteammates
OnboardingPortfolio 200
intheInstructionsproject;andyourfinalthirdofthe
TechBriefings
100
participationgradewillbedeterminedbyyour
FeasibilityUnitteammates.AfterUnit2and3,groups
InstructionsProject
250
willberequiredtoanonymouslyratethecollaborative
FeasibilityUnit
400
effortsandworkourgroupmates.Ratingswillbe
Participation
50
averagedinordertoencourageequitableandfairgroup
TotalAvailable
1000
workingconditions.

K.Soto|WRT307M112|Fall2014

Anelaboratedbreakdownofpointswithineachunitwillaccompanyeachunitassignment.All
courseprojectsmustbecompleted;failuretocompleteanyoneprojectwillresultinanF
forthecourse.

Grades

Sincethisisacourseinprofessionalwriting,yourworkwillbegradedasthoughyouwere
submittingittoyourimmediatemanager.

A 9401000 Amanagerwouldbeveryimpressedwithyourworkandrememberitwhenapromotion
A 900939 isdiscussed.Inourcourse,thismeansyourfinalproducthasexcellentcontent,clean
text,andexcellentdocumentdesign.Additionally,yourworkisthorough,coherent,well
supported,andorganizedinausefulfashion.Itdemonstratesasuperiorunderstanding
ofaudience,purposeandrationale/ethics.

B+ 880899 Amanagerwouldbesatisfied,butnotparticularlyimpressed.Thismeansthatyour
B 840879 productmeetsthebasicstandardsofwritingandoverallproduction,aswellas
B 800839 demonstratesastepforwardinyourlearningprocess.Itissufficientlydeveloped,
organized,andsupported,andyouhavedemonstratedasolidunderstandingof
audience,purpose,andrationale/ethics.

C+ 780799 Amanagerwouldbedisappointed,andwouldrequireyoutorevisethedocumentbefore
C 740779 aclientseesit.Yourworkmayhaveclearbutundevelopedideas,oritmaynotengageor
C 700739 affectthereader.Itlikelycontainssomeerrorsinlogic,mechanicsorgrammar.

D 600699 Amanagerwouldbetroubledbythepoorqualityofyourworkandlikelynoteitinyour
annualreview.Thelevelofwritingskillforcesthereadertoworktoohardtounderstand
yourideas.Thetextmayhaveincompleteinformation,lackclearorganizationand
design,andhaveseriousgrammarormechanicalissues.

F 599and Amanagerwouldstartlookingintoreplaceyou.Inthiscase,yourworkdoesnotfitthe
below
assignmentparameters,issounderdevelopedastodemonstrateincompetence,oris
mechanicallyandgrammaticallyincomprehensible.Themostlikelyrootcauseisa
pronouncedlackofconcernaboutaudienceperceptionofthewriterasaprofessional.

GradinginWRT307isthusbasedonthequalityofwrittenprofessionalgenresasmeasuredby
theresponsethoseproductswouldlikelyreceiveintheworkplace.Inordertobetterreviseyour
products,takeadvantageofthefeedbackreceivedfromyourinstructorandpeerreviewsessions,
asfinalproductswillbegradedinaworkplacefashion.Therewillbenosecondchancesto
submitmajorassignments.

CoursePolicies

Technology:Computersandnetworkedapplicationsareapartofwritingculture,andany
professionalwritingcoursemustaddresscurrenttechnologies.Inthiscourse,wewillusea
Googlesitetohouseallassignments(majorandhomework),calendars,coursedocuments,and

K.Soto|WRT307M112|Fall2014
classnotes.IwillaskyoutouseGoogleDocstocollaborateandtosubmithomework
assignments.Still,documentsshouldbesavedin.docor.docxformat.

Muchofclassbusinesswillbeconductedviaemail.Youwillbeexpectedtocheckyouremail
daily,torespondpromptly,andtofollowappropriateemailetiquette.Allemailmessagestome
regardingthisclassshouldinclude"307"inthesubjectline,andallattachedfilesshouldname
thewriterandtheassignment(e.g.,smithproject1.doc).

{NOTE}Saveeverydraftofeveryassignmentwithadifferentname(bioinclassexercise,bio
reviseddraft,biofinaldraft).Theendresultwouldbesomethinglike:Sotobiofinaldraft.All
draftsneedtobepresentedatseveralstagesintheproductionofparticularassignments.Make
suretosavethemindifferentplaces.Isuggestmakinggoogledocsofeachdraftandtosave
themindifferentplaces(flashdrive,computer,email,dropbox,etc.).Inotherwords,youshould
beabletoprovideevidenceofyourwritingprocess.

Attendance&Participation:Youareexpectedtoshowupandparticipateinallclasssessions,
peerreviews,presentations,andoutofclassmeetings.Writingstudiosarecoursesinlanguage
learning,andlanguageislearnedincommunities;therefore,itisessentialthatyouattendclass
andparticipate.Absencesandlackofpreparationforclasswillaffectyourclassmatesworkas
wellasyourown.Theworkyoudoinclass,theworkyoudotoprepareforeachclass,isas
importantasanypolishedassignmentyouturninforagrade.Inaddition,eachunitcalendaris
onlyaprojectionandmaybesubjecttooccasionalchangesandrevisions,asitseems
appropriate,necessary,orjustinteresting.Thatisanotherreasonwhyyourattendanceisvital.If
youmustmissclass,youareresponsibleforworkassigned.Pleaserealizethatclasstimecannot
bereconstructedormadeupandthatyourperformance,yourwork,andyourfinalcoursegrade
willbeaffectedbyabsences.Ifyoumisstheequivalentofthreeweeksofclassesormorewithout
anyofficialdocumentedexcuse,itisunlikelyyouwillpassthecourse.

{NOTE}Takenotesinclass,everyday!Savetheseandrevisitthemoftenasyouprepareforthe
differentprojectassignments.Notetakingalsodemonstratesyourededicatedtoourclasstime.

LateWork:Deadlinesarecrucialinprofessionalcontexts.Theyaresimilarlyimportantinthis
course,whereprojectplanningandtimemanagementarepartoftheskillsetyoushouldbe
developing.Writtenassignmentsareduebythebeginningofclassoratthetimespecifiedfor
onlinesubmission.Majorassignmentsarereducedbyonelettergradeperbusinessday.Inclass
workcannotbemadeup.Ifyouhaveanemergencyorrequireanextension,pleaseemailme
beforetheassignmentisdue.

Professionalism&Respect:Youareexpectedtobehaveprofessionallyinyourcontributionsto
discussions,feedbackgiventoyourpeers,interactionswiththeinstructor,andtheworkyoudo
onclassassignments.Youwillbeworkingingroupsthroughoutthecourse,andasweknow
wellcollaboratingwithotherscanbedifficult.Youwillbeexpectedtoconductyourselfasa
professional,tocompletejobsontime,andtocontributetothesuccessoftheteamandtheclass
regardlessofthesetensions.

K.Soto|WRT307M112|Fall2014
{NOTE}Iexpectyoutobeabletouseyoursocialskillstoresolveanydifficulttensions.
However,ifyoufindaparticularcollaborativesituationtobeunreasonableorunresolvable,
pleasenotifymesothatIcanhelpyouaddressit.

SyracuseUniversityPolicies

Accommodations:Ifyouneedaccommodationsforadisability,pleasecontacttheOfficeof
DisabilityServices(ODS),http://disabilityservices.syr.edu,locatedinRoom309of804
UniversityAvenue,orcall(315)4434498foranappointmenttodiscussyourneedsandthe
processforrequestingaccommodations.ODSisresponsibleforcoordinatingdisabilityrelated
accommodationsandwillissuestudentswithdocumenteddisabilitiesAccommodation
AuthorizationLetters,asappropriate.Sinceaccommodationsmayrequireearlyplanningand
generallyarenotprovidedretroactively,pleasecontactODSassoonaspossible.

AcademicHonesty:Theacademiccommunityrequiresethicalbehaviorfromallofits
participants.Forwriters,thismeansthattheworkweclaimasoursmusttrulybeours.Atthe
sametime,wearenotalwaysexpectedtocomeupwithnewideas;weoftenbuildourthinking
ontheideasofothers.Weareexpected,however,tocreditotherswiththeircontributionsand
toclearlyindicatetheboundariesofourownthinking.Incaseswhereacademicdishonestyis
detected(thefraudulentsubmissionofanother'swork,inwholeorpart,asyourown),youmay
besubjecttoafailinggradefortheprojectorthecourse,andintheworstcase,toacademic
probationorexpulsion.(http://academicintegrity.syr.edu)

StudentWriting:Alltextswritteninthiscoursearegenerallypublic.Youmaybeaskedtoshare
themwithapeer,theclass,orwithmeduringclassroomactivitiesorforhomework.Youwill
alsobeaskedtosignaconsentformrequestingtheuseofyourwritingforprofessional
development,teachertraining,andclassroominstructionwithintheSyracuseUniversity
WritingProgram.

TheWritingCenter:ExperiencedwritingconsultantsattheWritingCenter(101HBCrouse
Hall,ontheQuad)canhelpyouatanystageofthewritingprocess.Facetofaceandonline
appointmentsareavailablefor25or50minutesessionsthroughoutthesemesterandcanbe
reserveduptosevendaysinadvanceviatheironlineschedulingprogram,WCOnline.In
addition,dropinappointmentsarewelcomeMondaythroughThursdayfrom10:00a.m.to2:00
p.m.andbriefconcernsorquestionscanbeemailedtoconsultantsviatheeWC.
(http://wc.syr.edu)

ReligiousObservances:SUsreligiousobservancespolicyrecognizesthediversityoffaiths
representedamongthecampuscommunityandprotectstherightsofstudents,faculty,andstaff
toobservereligiousholydaysaccordingtotheirtradition.Underthepolicy,studentsare
providedanopportunitytomakeupanyexamination,study,orworkrequirementsthatmaybe
missedduetoareligiousobservanceprovidedtheynotifytheirinstructorsbeforetheendofthe
secondweekofclasses.AnonlinenotificationprocessisavailablethroughMySlice/Student
Services/Enrollment/MyReligiousObservancesfromthefirstdayofclassuntiltheendofthe
secondweekofclass.(http://supolicies.syr.edu/emp_ben/religious_observance.htm)

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