During the Employment Project, you will learn strategies for seeking and securing employment or an internship, with particular attention to the documents people normally use to represent themselves and their prospects to potential employers. This project asks you to work individually, but there will also be chances for you to work with your peers to exchange ideas and feedback in your blogs.
Locate a real and specific job or internship for which you are qualified and prepare the application materials for it. If you already have a good job, find one that would be an advance for you, then prepare application materials for that position. The project asks you to do the following:
In the process of completing the project, you will work closely with your peers and your instructor to shape your writing so that it represents you and your experience fully and effectively.
This project emphasizes several important goals that all professional writers should bear in mind and that are consistent with those of the Professional Writing Program at Purdue. In the Employment Project, you will learn to shape your writing for very specific situations and purposes:
Writing in Context
Project Management
Document Design
Make rhetorical design decisions about workplace documents, including
Teamwork
Learn and apply strategies for successful teamwork and collaboration, such as
Research
Understand and use various research methods to produce professional documents, including
The Employment Project is worth 25% of your course grade. The breakdown for each of its components is as follows:
When grading your project, your instructor will pay particular attention to see whether you have effectively adapted your documents to the job for which you have applied. Your writing will need to be precise, accurate, and well-suited to the context (the job/field) and to the rhetorical occasion (in terms of tone, style, and content). In this case, a generic, catch-all resume and cover letter will not satisfy the requirements of the project.
You will have opportunities to revise your work during the project via peer and instructor feedback. Accordingly, you should use your class and workshop time wisely during the project to ensure you are receiving appropriate feedback for your work from both your peers and your instructor.
During the White Paper Project, you will explore issues or problems relevant to a professional setting, research and synthesize information, and present that information in an objective fashion which calls your audience to action. Although this project involves some individual elements, the majority of the project is the result of collaboration.
A white paper is an informative and definitive overview of a well-focused topic. White papers typically include an "Executive Summary," "Background Information," "Key Issues" or "Key Developments," "Resource List," and a number of other sections, depending on the nature of the subject matter (a chronology, remaining challenges, future prospects, etc.)
Project Summary
In this project, groups of 3-4 members will be asked to do web-based and library research and then to write an informative white paper on professional issues within a company. This research will result in a visually sophisticated (well-designed) document of 1700-2000 words that presents findings to appropriate audience(s) and rhetorical situation(s). Ultimately, you will propose THREE solutions to your issue, in an even-handed way. This will not be a compare and contrast paper where you campaign for one of the solutions. Rather, you will advocate EQUALLY for all three solutions. After producing the final draft of the white paper, groups will present their findings to the class in a brief and engaging oral presentation, complete with visual elements (technology)and handout(s).
Rhetorical Situation: Imagine that you work for Envision Consulting. Your company has been hired by Alex P. Keaton, the new CEO of Knight Corporation, an Indiana-based custom manufacturer of vehicle modification equipment for the disabled. Mr. Keaton has identified five areas of concern within the company's current operations: employee health-benefit costs, conditions on the manufacturing floor, sales changes, technological enhancements, and management restructuring. Mr. Keaton has hired Envision Consulting to explore these five areas of concern. He would like your company to research these issues and propose potential solutions. Accordingly, the primary audience for your white paper is Mr. Keaton and the Knight Company's Board of Directors who are concerned with implementing solutions to the problem you are addressing. Though these people are experts in their field, their awareness of the issues and their familiarity with the technology and policies needed to address the issues will vary.
Length and Format
The length of your white paper will depend somewhat on your topic area, but it should be within 1700-2000 words (formatting will vary based on the design employed by each group, but every white paper should be visually sophisticated.)
Project Goals
This project emphasizes several important goals that all professional writers should bear in mind and that are consistent with those of the Professional Writing Program at Purdue. The White Paper Project emphasizes shaping research, writing, and design to very specific situations and purposes:
Writing in Context
Analyze professional cultures, social contexts, and audiences to determine how they shape the various purposes and forms of writing, such as persuasion, organizational communication, and public discourse.
Writing Process
Develop and understand various strategies for planning, researching, drafting, revising, and editing documents that respond effectively and ethically to professional situations and audiences.
Collaboration
Learn and apply strategies for successful collaboration, such as working and communicating on-line with colleagues, setting and achieving project goals, and responding constructively to peers' work.
Research
Understand and use various research methods to produce professional documents, including analyzing professional contexts, assessing and using information resources, and determining how various media and technologies affect and are affected by users and readers.
Technology
Develop strategies for using and adapting various communication technologies to manage projects and produce informative and usable professional documents.
Document Design
Learn to argue with visual data, understanding and implementing various principles of format, layout, and design of professional documents that meet multiple user and reader needs.
Deliverables
There will be both group and individual deliverables for this project. Groups will be responsible for the following:
Group Deliverable 1: Technology Presentation. Each group will be responsible for researching and presenting on a software program often used in the professional world. Groups will be responsible for exploring the program, researching its professional uses, and preparing an informative presentation for classmates. The presentation should include the above listed information as well as a demonstration of the program's capabilities. Furthermore, you should provide a handout during the presentation that your classmates can later use to begin exploring the program.
Group Deliverable 2 : Draft of White Paper. Each group will be required to have 5 hardcopies of their white paper (must be printed before class) in class for peer review. Remember that a draft is a complete version.
Group Deliverable 3: Final Draft of White Paper. Each group will be required to submit one hardcopy of their white paper. In addition to the print copy, each group will email me a PDF version of their white paper.
Group Deliverable 4: Presentation. Each group will present their material to the class in a professional presentation. Presentations will run 10-12 minutes. They must include multimedia elements and be accompanied by a handout. Each group member will be expected to take part in the presentation.
Individuals within groups will be responsible for the following deliverables:
Individual Deliverable 1: Group Formation Correspondence. Each student will write a cover letter to the leader of the group he/she would like to join. Like traditional cover letters, this letter will follow a business letter form, include relevant introductory information, describe why you are a good candidate for group membership, and provide appropriate conclusion information. You will post your letter in a blog entry using the correct category for your chosen group. The group leader will respond to your cover letter and let you know whether you are chosen for that particular group and the reasons for his/her choice. If you are not chosen, you will need to write a different cover letter for a different group. Please note: group leaders can choose no more than their alloted number of group members, so if you notice that a group leader has already selected his/her members, do not apply for that group.
Individual Deliverable 2: Drupal Research & Work(b)log. Each individual will be required to keep a blog which a) records his/her research and b) details his/her contributions to the project. Each student will be expected to post one research post per week (four total) due by Sundays at 5 p.m. Work(b)logs will be updated weekly until the project concludes. These blogs must be 300+ words and will be in lieu of weekly reading responses for the duration of the project.
Individual Deliverable 3: Project Assesment. An important component of your project is successful collaboration. Each member will reflect on his/her participation in the project and on the experience of working in a group.
Grading
The White Paper Project breakdowns as follows:
Group Components
Individual Components
When I assign a grade to your project, I will pay particular attention to see whether your white paper is informative and accurate and that you avoid as much as possible arguing a particular position. You should strive for a balance of perspectives and accurate coverage of a focused topic. The point is not to advocate for a position or "pamphleteer," but to establish a foundation of knowledge about the subject that the Knight Corporation CEO and Board of Directors will find helpful. I will also weigh your feedback on the Collaborative Project Evaluation form in assigning a grade for your participation in the project.
Project Summary
For this project, groups will be asked to locate a real world client and negotiate a reasonable and mutually beneficial professional writing project which will be completed by the end of the semester. In working with community members, students will operate in a real world writing environment that requires collaboration with their group, their organization, and their instructor to complete the project by semester's end. It is each group's responsibility to establish their own client and project, though all clients and projects are subject to instructor approval. The instructor will veto any project for an organization which has individuals from the group as members, as well as organizations which have formal marketing departments. Students are encouraged to work with non-profit organzations, student organizations, academic departments, and small businesses. Past projects included the following:
It is crucial that projects are appropriate in length and content. The project will take roughly four to five weeks to produce, so project options too small or ambitious may need some revision. It is also crucial that the project is mutually beneficial; the work needs to be of importance to the organization and educational for the students. For potential organizations, check out the United Way, the Journal and Courier List of Lafayette Organizations or the student organizations at SSINFO.
Project Goals
This project emphasizes several important goals that all professional writers should bear in mind and that are consistent with those of Professional Writing at Purdue. The Service Learning Project emphasizes the collaborative writing process in context. It will include specific research of the organization and will require appropriate technology in producing a document designed to meet the organization's specific needs:
Writing in Context Analyze professional cultures, social contexts, and audiences to determine how they shape the various purposes and forms of writing, such as persuasion, organizational communication, and public discourse.
Writing Process Develop and understand various strategies for planning, researching, drafting, revising, and editing documents that respond effectively and ethically to professional situations and audiences.
Collaboration Learn and apply strategies for successful collaboration, such as working and communicating on-line with colleagues, setting and achieving project goals, and responding constructively to peers' work.
Research Understand and use various research methods to produce professional documents, including analyzing professional contexts, assessing and using information resources, and determining how various media and technologies affect and are affected by users and readers.
Technology Develop strategies for using and adapting various communication technologies to manage projects and produce informative and usable professional documents.
Document Design Learn to argue with visual data, understanding and implementing various principles of format, layout, and design of professional documents that meet multiple user and reader needs.
Deliverables
There will be both group and individual deliverables for this project, though group work composes the majority of the project and grade.
Groups will be responsible for the following:
Group Deliverable 1: Short Memo
This 300-word memo should identify three organizations the group will contact and the kinds of projects/deliverables (needs) that the group is interested in undertaking. This will be composed before meeting with any potential clients.
Group Deliverable 2: Formal Proposal
In this detailed, 2 page project proposal, groups will propose and plan out the scope and specifics of their project. Each group proposal will serve two functions: to inform the instructor of the project so that it may be approved, and to serve later as a contract between the group and client. A copy will be delivered to the client after approval by the instructor. Remember that this is a persuasive document serving multiple functions for multiple audiences. Ultimately, this document is written to your client, not me. This proposal must include the following elements:
The proposal should also address project goals and deliverables:
Group Deliverable 3: Weekly Progress Posts
Every week, each group will post updates to the Forums that inform the instructor of their progress on the project. These posts should include tasks completed, meetings conducted with group and client (if necessary), any problems encountered, and goals for the following week. Posts should also evaluate group progress in regards to the timetable established in the proposal.
Group Deliverable 4: Rough Draft
A rough draft of the project which meets standards for a draft negotiated between the group and client. Drafts will be turned in one week prior to submission to client. (Drafts should be submitted to clients after conferences with me.)
Group Deliverable 5: Presentation
Each group will present their material to the class at the end of the project. Presentations will run 10-12 minutes. They must include multimedia elements and be accompanied by a handout (i.e. we want to see what your final products will look like when you give them to your clients). Each group member will be expected to take part in the presentation.
Group Deliverable 6: Final Project
A final project submitted to instructor for evaluation and comment. This will be submitted to instructor before submission to the client.
Individual Deliverable 1: Project Assessment Document
A final project assessment submitted to instructor. This should follow the same guidelines as the white paper assessment document.
Individual Deliverable 2: Peer Evaluation Collaboration Form
Attached.
Grading Percentages:
Grading Criteria
The final documents will be graded on how well they meet client needs and professional writing standards. Because of the unique nature of the project, groups will be graded based on a specific set of standards created for their project. These standards will vary greatly between projects, and are partly the result of negiotiations between client, groups, and instructor. Projects cannot be revised after final evaluation. The ultimate goal of this project is to produce deliverables that your clients will actually use, so it will be graded with that in mind.