WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY

HAWORTH COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS INFORMATION SYSTEMS

BCM 1420: INFORMATIONAL WRITING

SPRING 2009

Ms. Jan Gabel-Goes, Faculty Specialist II

3341 Schneider Hall

(269) 387-0407

jan.gabelgoes@wmich.edu

Website: http://homepages.wmich.edu/~jgoes

Office Hours: 11:00 – 11:50 a.m. MWF and 2:00 – 2:50 p.m. MW or as arranged with me.

Classes: BCM 1420 MWF 9:00, 10:00 a.m., BUS 3700 12:00 noon and 1:00 p.m.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course develops the composition skills required of the competent writer in business and professions. Through continued directed practice, students develop competence in analysis, organization, and presentation of information in writing. Students use critical thinking to write for different audiences. This course fulfills the University’s Proficiency 1 writing requirement.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

You are responsible for making yourself aware of and understanding the policies and procedures in the Undergraduate Catalog that pertain to Academic Honesty. These policies include cheating, fabrication, falsification and forgery, multiple submission, plagiarism, complicity and computer misuse. {The policies can be found at www.wmich.edu/catalog under Academic Policies, Student Rights and Responsibilities.} If there is reason to believe you have been involved in academic dishonesty, you will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct. You will be given the opportunity to review the charge(s). If you believe you are not responsible, you will have the opportunity for a hearing. You should consult with me if you are uncertain about an issue of academic honesty prior to the submission of an assignment or test.

COURSE TEXT AND MATERIALS

The Brief Wadsworth Handbook, 5th Edition. Laurie G. Kirszner and Stephen R. Mandell. Thomson, Wadsworth, 2007
Informational Writing Coursepack Business Communication Program, Department of Business Information Systems, Haworth College of Business, Western Michigan University, 2008-2009 edition
A good dictionary of your choice is highly recommended
You are required to keep all work for this course on a portable storage device. It is strongly recommended that you have backup files as disks do get lost and/or corrupted.
You should activate your University computer email account and use it. All work done outside of class must be word processed.
A folder to keep hardcopies of all of your work and feedback points is also highly recommended.

KEY OUTCOMES

To successfully complete BCM 1420, students in the BBA program must achieve a C (73%) or better and demonstrate the ability to:

*Apply problem-solving strategies, including analysis of situation and audience, to plan and create analytical and informational reports, including memo and/or letter reports, which accurately reflect the assignment.

*Write unified, complete, coherent and purposeful messages.

*Use analytical and critical reading skills to formulate research topics and exhibit a purpose and point of view.

*Gather credible and reliable data and information using both secondary research tools available in the library and on the Internet and primary research methods including observation and interviews.

*Use summaries, paraphrases, and direct quotations of information in secondary sources and cite these sources appropriately in support of an argument or point of view.

*Edit and proofread your written work to ensure correct grammar, spelling, word choice and sentence clarity.

WORK OF THE COURSE

Topics covered in BIS 1420 include:

Writing to solve problems: understanding the writing context; defining purpose; establishing a definite perspective or point of view; selecting appropriate/valid criteria; planning reader oriented messages; developing appropriate and meaningful content; responding appropriately to the problem (assignment) given.
Organizing effectively: using effective three-part structure; thesis and topic sentences, and paragraphs; achieving unity and coherence within and between paragraphs; learning and adapting select genres of business writing.
Using effective words and sentences (style): varying sentence type and structure; choosing words wisely (word choice); making each word count (being concise).
Using the conventions of American English: going beyond the spell check and grammar check through careful editing; expanding punctuation and grammatical repertoire while developing the ability to make grammar and punctuation decisions with knowledge and confidence (essentially knowing

which errors you make and where to find them in your handbook to make corrections).

Work of the course will be allocated as follows:

75% Eight (8) substantive written assignments developed through the use of narration, description, exemplification, process analysis, causal analysis, comparative analysis, division and classification, and definition.

15% Various in-class exercises, both individual and team

10% Final Examination

EVALUATION CRITERIA AND GRADING STANDARDS

BCM 1420 grading practices are designed to encourage, recognize and develop excellence in written communication. The following standards are used by all faculty members who teach this course:

Creative insight into the problem presented: the paper reflects an appropriate awareness of and adaptation to the rhetorical situation (context and purpose), the relationship between writer and reader, and other issues implied by the assignment.

Content and development:. the paper is accurate, contains quality information appropriate to the needs of the reader, develops the writer’s perspective or purpose convincingly using valid criteria, and shows a good sense of “how much to say.”

Organization: the paper is organized clearly, effectively, and logically to meet the reader’s needs and the writer’s purposes, exhibits correct use of three-part structure, shows effective paragraphing, and is held together by the purpose.

Style: the paper uses effective sentence structure, appropriate word choice, and appropriate tone for an academic or business context. The paper is clear and coherent, with every word playing a necessary part.

Editing and appearance: the paper is grammatically “correct” and free from usage, spelling, punctuation and typographical errors; it is formatted neatly and professionally.

Grades may be interpreted as follows:

A and BA papers are excellent overall in meeting the standards set by the criteria. At most they have a few minor weaknesses, with BA papers exhibiting more minor weaknesses than an A paper.

B and CB papers are good overall but may exhibit several minor weaknesses in meeting the criteria, or be noticeably weak in one or two categories.

C papers are acceptable overall but exhibit noticeable weaknesses in two or more categories.

DC and D papers are unacceptable. They do not meet criteria in one or more areas. They may have insufficient content or organization; inappropriate tone or style; lack of attention to audience; or excessive grammar, spelling or usage errors.

E papers display extreme weaknesses in several areas.

A=100-93% or 4.0 points

BA=92-88% or 3.5 points

B=87-83% or 3.0 points

CB=82-78% or 2.5 points

C=77-73% or 2.0 points

DC=72-68% or 1.5 points

D=67-63% or .5 points

E=62% and below or 0.0 points

INSTRUCTOR EXPECTATIONS

ü Attendance is critical and beneficial. It will be best to develop a buddy system with other class members to get copies of notes or handouts if and when you are absent. You must notify your instructor if you are going to be absent via email or phone. I assume you will attend class, will read the material before class, will participate appropriately in discussions and class activities, and will meet all deadlines. Absences and lack of participation will negatively impact your final grade, as there will be no make up allowed for missed in-class work.

ü Writing assignments or presentations which are turned in later than the beginning of the class period they are due will LOSE 5 POINTS PER DAY LATE. Late papers must be turned into the BIS Department Secretary to be date stamped and deposited in my mailbox in Room 3310 Schneider Hall. You must submit both the original and reworked materials within one week for resubmission consideration.

ü Punctuality is very important in college courses. Please make every effort to get here on time!

ü Please turn off cell phones and pagers while in class. IPods and other musical devices should also be put away during class time.

Please note: We will be working on writing assignments and presentations individually and with partners. Some work will require class time and some may be completed outside of class. Topics, Assignments & Due Dates are tentative and MAY CHANGE at instructor’s discretion. In-class work is usually UNANNOUNCED and CANNOT BE MADE UP if missed.

Tentative Course Outline – Spring 2009

Date

Topics

Readings in Handbook or Casebook

Writing Assignment

Week 1

Jan. 5, 7, 9

Review Syllabus, Student Info. Sheet Dyad

Handbook Chapter 1, 2, 3 & 7,

Casebook pgs. 6-13

Topic Sentences

Week 2

Jan. 12, 14, 16

Patterns of Development; Intro Reports, Journals; Paragraphs

Handbook Chapters 4, 5, 6

Casebook pgs. 14-18

Descriptive paragraphs; Writing Assignment 1

Week 3

Jan. 21, 23

(MLK Recess 1/19) Business Bash: 1/20 11 – 5 p.m. and 1/21 9 – 3 p.m.@ Quiet Study Lounge

Intro Reports, Problem Solving & Developing Criteria; email format; oral presentations

Handbook Chs. 8, 36 & 27

Sentence Types, Casebook pgs. 19-21; Handbook Ch. 26f e-mail, a,b, letters, c,d resumes, e, memos

Journals 1 & 2 Attend Business Bash

Week 4

Jan. 26, 28, 30

Intro Reports, Class Contract; Audience Analysis; memo format Handbook Ch. 26e

Handbook Chs. 40b/d/e & 42 Word Usage

Handbook Ch. 18,

APA Documentation

Journal 3 & 4; Writing Assignment 2

Week 5

Feb. 2, 4, 6

Library Day

Intro Reports, Journals, Discuss letter format, Handbook Ch. 26 a & b

Handbook Ch. 37c & 39 Parallelism; Handbook Chs. 29 & 44 Commas

Handbook Chs. 9, 10, 11

Journal 5 Writing Assignment 3;

Search Path; how to search databases, select relevant info.

Week 6

Feb. 9, 11, 13

Further discuss Development of Criteria

Handbook Chs. 31 & 32 Modification and Shifts. Handbook Chs. 30 Subject/Verb

Agreement

Assignment 4

Journal

Reaction Papers

Week 7

Feb. 16, 18, 20

Discuss critical reading; Read Handbook Chs. 8 & 9 for Argumentation papers

Handbook 28 Fragments

Casebook pgs. 22-24

Handbook Ch. 34

Pronouns

Assignment 5

Journal

Week 8 Feb. 23, 25 (Feb. 27 Spirit Day)	More on evaluation of criteria and memo report format	Handbook Ch. 33d, 34, 37e Active/Passive Voice	Journal
Week 9 March 2 – 6	SPRING BREAK WEEK
Week 10 March 9, 11, 13	Discuss research papers & topics; Brainstorming a topic; Stage I pieces	Handbook Chs. 12 through 18	Research Paper Assignment 6; brainstorming piece due
Week 11 March 16, 18, 20 (Last Day to Drop 3/16)	More on research	Discuss flow of research papers	Flowcharts, Bib cards and copies of articles due
Week 12 March 23, 25, 27	Completed note cards and outline due		Research papers due Friday with copies of articles/sources used
Week 13 March 30, April 1, 3	Discuss Paper 7 and topics		Assignment 7
Week 14 April 6, 8, 10	Discuss final paper and topics	April 10; Good Friday	Assignment 8
Week 15 April 13, 15, 17	Final paper due	Discuss final exam
Week 16 FINAL EXAM WEEK	9 a.m. class final is Wed. April 22 @ 8 – 10 a.m.; 10 a.m. class final is Mon. April 20 @ 8 – 10 a.m.	BRING LINED PAPER & PENCILS/PENS FOR FINAL EXAM	BRING COURSEPACK for FINAL Exam

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Revised December 2008 by Gabel-Goes