Course Description

English 306 introduces you to the rhetorical principles and theoretical concepts that you will need as a professional writer. These principles and concepts will help you analyze and respond effectively to a variety of workplace writing scenarios. While the course will address some practical skills such as how to write memos, emails, and reports, we will focus most of our attention on theories of rhetoric, language, and information technology. We will learn how language operates in organizations, theories about information technology, as well as rhetorical concepts that will allow you to effectively assess and approach any writing situation you might encounter. Additionally, the course will introduce you to the strategies and skills necessary for using various communication technologies in workplace contexts.

One fundamental question addressed in this class is: What do professional writers do? Throughout the course, students will read definitions of professional writing from academic and practitioner perspectives. Students will research and report on the variety of experts who call themselves professional writers. Reading and writing assignments will help students gain greater insight into the issues and challenges of professional writing in a variety of workplace contexts. The major project, the interview, will prepare students to do primary research with subject matter experts, a key skill in technical and professional writing workplaces.

Attendance
For the course to be successful, everyone's participation is necessary. Therefore, attendance is required. You are allowed three absences, no questions asked. For each class absence over three, your final grade will be lowered by one letter grade. More than six absences will result in a failing grade for the course. You are responsible for obtaining all information about missed class meetings from a classmate and for submitting work on time. Excessive tardiness will not be tolerated. Three tardies equals one absence. If you enter the class more than 20 minutes late, you will be counted absent.

Note: Obviously, if you are extremely ill and need to miss more than 3 classes, I will take that into consideration. Please do not come to class if you are contagious or have flu symptoms.

Classroom and Online Participation
Participation includes active and constructive involvement in class discussions, online discussion and collaboration, as well as being prepared for class by doing the assigned reading and writing assignments. Participation also includes active and constructive involvement in peer groups, peer review sessions, turning in projects to group members for feedback, giving effective feedback on projects, and learning to work diplomatically with others to achieve common goals. There is a lot of reading for this course; occasionally, some of the material will not be completely covered in discussion. Nevertheless, you are still responsible for that content. Please keep in mind that online discussion is an extension of classroom space. Generally, if you check email a few times each week and post questions and concerns as they occur to you during your preparation for class, you will maintain an appropriate level of participation. Do not hesitate to ask questions online: chances are that someone in class has the same question, and often someone has an answer. You must participate in the online discussion in order to receive a grade in this course.

Evaluation
I will evaluate your work using a 4.0 scale (+/-) as outlined by the university. Components will be worth the following percentages listed in the box to the right. There is no final exam in this course.

Late Work
I do not accept late work. I expect all work to be completed by the beginning of the class period on which it is due.

Academic Integrity
Academic dishonesty is a serious crime. If you are suspected of academic dishonesty, you may be reported to the Office of the Dean of Students to receive disciplinary action. Forms of academic dishonesty include: Collusion - lending your work to another person to submit as his or her own; Fabrication - deliberately creating false information on a works cited page; and Plagiarism - the presentation of another person's work as your own, whether intentional or not. Please read and familiarize yourself with Purdue's guide to academic integrity: http://www.purdue.edu/ODOS/osrr/dishonesty.htm

General Course Policies
Come to class prepared to engage with the assigned readings, course concepts, class peers, and instructor. This can best be accomplished by completing your assignments before the beginning of class.

Please respect your peers and your instructor by actively listening and paying attention. This means that unless we are using the computers during a class activity, students should be facing the instructor, other students, or whoever has the floor and is speaking.

Please do not talk or type while others (students or instructor) are speaking to the class. This especially includes when other students ask questions of the instructor.

Printing while one of your peers or your instructor is speaking is not allowed.

Please do not sit in the back of the room. You will not be able to hear your instructor or peers.

Remember to bring your texts to class with you and remember to print copies of all documents (drafts, electronic and online readings, etc.) before class begins.

You must complete all of the projects in a timely manner in order to pass this course.

Remember that we now complete course and instructor evaluations online during the last week of classes. Your feedback is vital to improving education at Purdue University, and I strongly urge you to participate in the evaluation system.

In the event of a major campus emergency, course requirements, deadlines and grading percentages are subject to changes that may be necessitated by a revised semester calendar or other circumstances. Information about changes in this course can be obtained through email: jbay@purdue.edu.

If you have a university-recognized disability that requires an accommodation, please make an appointment with me to discuss your needs.