Calendar

Follow the links at the bottom of this page for a schedule of assignments for each week this semester. Within each week, you will find daily listings of assignments. Each bullet point for the day is a different task for you to complete. Unless specifically noted otherwise, all assignments are to be completed before class on the day listed.

This course calendar may be updated throughout the semester. I'll notify you about any major changes, but you are still responsible for keeping up with the current schedule.

IMPORTANT: You must visit all of the links provided within the course calendar. There are many links to follow and read. Make sure you visit all of them. Some links provide easy access to other parts of the class site which will help you in your assignments. Some links are to required readings. Others provide you with detailed instructions on completing the assignments. Eventually, you may come to know the instructions which supplement assignments that are repeated throughout the course, but it's still a good idea to continue to revisit the instructions to make sure that you are satisfying all of the requirements.

Week 1

By Monday 6/9/08 at 11:59 PM

By Tuesday 6/10/08 at 11:59 PM

  • Now that you have had a chance to read the course description and explore the class website, email me (your instructor) with a note letting me know that you have finished registering for the course. Your email should include a subject line, a greeting, a short message, and your real (full) name. It is important that you complete this task so that you know how to get in touch with your instructor.
  • Review How to Post Your Individual Weblog and then How to Post Comments and Replies
  • Read Instructor Blog #1: Welcome to Professional Writing. Post a comment in response that elaborates or reacts to the ideas presented.
  • Respond to the "Let's introduce ourselves" prompt on the home page. Add a new comment in which you:
    • describe where you are from
    • give your course of study and year
    • talk about your career goals
    • tell what you would like to get out of this course
    • share at least one thing personal about yourself (a hobby, your favorite sport, a favorite activity, etc.
  • Reminder: As you work on assignments for this course, always read ahead a few days to give yourself time to ask questions about future assignments.

By Wednesday 6/11/08 at 11:59 PM

  • You should have received the course textbook by today: The Thomson Handbook (Comprehensive Edition), by David Blakesley and Jeffrey L. Hoogeveen. Boston: Thomson/Wadsworth, 2008. This book is available at local bookstores and may also be purchased online (e.g., through Amazon, here). You can buy the hardcover or paperback versions.

Reading

  • Familiarize yourself with the content and structure of The Thomson Handbook. Scan the frontmatter (including the the table of contents) and the backmatter (the "Glossary of Web Terms" and the "Glossary of Usage") so that you know what the book contains.
  • "Writing for Business and the Workplace" (TH, 217-238)

Reading Response

  • Post a reading response. Respond to this prompt: based upon what you have read in the The Thomson Handbook and your own experiences, what do you expect the substance of this course to be? What do you expect to get out of it? How are you going to use this opportunity to augment your own skills? In your response, point to specific material in The Thomson Handbook. Since this is your first Reading response, you'll want to follow the tutorial for using the class site software, How to Post to Your Individual Weblog. Use the tag "Reading response Week 1" in the category field.

By Thursday 6/12/08 at 11:59 PM

Employment Project

By Friday 6/13/08 at 11:59 PM

  • Finish Step 1 of the Employment Project by doing the Job ad analysis and posting it to your blog. Reference the sample job ad and sample response in The Thomson Handbook (p. 223-24). Remember to copy and paste an actual job ad (or provide the link) that you will be applying for in your project. Don't forget to post under the "Job ad analysis" category.
  • Continue posting comments and replies using Principles for Comments and Replies. You need to contribute five (5) comments to classmates' posts each week, so check the tag for Reading response Week 1 frequently and participate in the conversations. For reference on how to do this, review How to Post Comments and Replies. Your posts should adhere to the guidelines found in chapter 28 of The Thomson Handbook (beginning on page 621). Pay particular attention to the Project Checklist for Networking in Online Forums on page 627.
  • Check out Week 2. No later than today, you should read through the course calendar for the following week. Make sure that you understand all of the assignments. If you have any questions, contact me.

Week 2

By Monday 6/16/08 at 11:59 PM

By Tuesday 6/17/08 at 11:59 PM

Reading

Reading Response

  • Post a reading response by Tuesday at 11:59 PM. Remember to set "Reading Response Week 2" as the category tag. Pick one or more of the readings from Monday or Tuesday to discuss. Suggested Prompts: You might describe one instance when you sent an email message that worked wonders or that proved to be a huge mistake. What happened? Why? Which of the "Ten Habits of Successful Emailers" seemed to be missing? How does emailing differ from text messaging or instant messaging, and why do you think email is used more frequently in business and industry for project management? What surprised you about how HR personnel treat resumes? What can you do to ensure that yours gets adequate attention?

By Wednesday 6/18/08 at 11:59 PM

  • Employment Project Step 2: Resume Rough Draft Due. Post your resume draft as an attachment to a blog posted in the "Resume peer editing" category.
  • Send an attachment of your resume with your name and contact info removed (replaced with fake information) to the instructor as an attachment.
  • BY THE END OF THIS WEEK, respond to two student resumes with helpful peer editing feedback. See Peer Review of Resumes for advice.

By Thursday 6/19/08 at 11:59 PM

  • Read the Instructor Blog on Cover Letters. Post a comment in response.
  • Read about the rhetorical concept of kairos ("the right or opportune time to speak or write") in Kairos and the Cover Letter, which includes some exaggerated approaches that you should avoid in your cover letters.
  • Begin writing Employment Project, Step 3: Cover Letter, due Monday, June 23rd.

By Friday 6/20/08 at 11:59 PM

  • Complete the Resume Extravaganza Assignment! Remember to post your response with the "Resume extravaganza" tag.
  • Continue posting comments and replies using Principles for Comments and Replies (you need to contribute five [5] each week). We are now dealing with Reading response Week 2.
  • Check out Week 3. No later than today, you should read through the course calendar for the following week. Make sure that you understand all of the assignments. If you have any questions, email me.

Week 3

By Monday 6/23/08 at 11:59 PM

  • Employment Project Step 3: Cover letter due. Post your cover letter to a blog in the "Cover letter peer editing" category.
  • By Tuesday, respond with peer feedback to two other student letters. Reference the Peer Review of Cover Letters Guidelines.
  • Begin working on Employment Project Step 4: Project Assessment Document.
  • Begin revising resume and cover letter for Employment Project Final Draft.

By Tuesday 6/24/08 at 11:59 PM

By Wednesday 6/25/08 at 11:59 PM

  • Read Thomson Handbook Ch 38 on Effective Word Use.
  • Read Frank Luntz's Words That Work (Chapter 1: "The Ten Rules of Effective Langauge," attached at bottom of page). Luntz studies the effects of words on audiences of advertising and political campaigns. It is tempting to accuse Luntz of teaching people how to spin the truth, and many have, but as you read, consider the perspective that Luntz is informing people about how to shape their message effectively in a world where language is always framing perspectives.
  • Read Ethics in Public Relations: A Guide to the Best Practice (Selections, attached at bottom of page).
  • Read Case Studies in Business Ethics (Selections, attached at bottom of page).
  • Read Managing Communications in a Crisis (Chapter 3: "Stakeholders and Audiences," attached at bottom of page)
  • NEW: Rubrics for the Employment Project are now attached below. It is strongly recommended you take a look before posting your final drafts tomorrow.

By Thursday 6/26/08 at 11:59 PM

  • Employment Project Final Draft Due. Post projects in the "Employment Final Project" category. Your final submission will include the following items, in a single PDF file, in this order:
    1. Job ad that you have replied to (Step 1)
    2. Discussion of job ad (Step 1)
    3. Job Application Letter
    4. Resume
    5. Project Assessment Document.

    Attach this file to a blog post with the subject "Employment Project Final" and include brief submission notes explaining the nature of the attachment. The file should be in PDF format, and the file name should follow this naming convention: lastname-EmploymentProject.pdf. Read these directions for converting your documents to PDF format if you have any questions about the process.

By Friday 6/27/08 at 11:59 PM

Reading Response
  • It's time to put together all the readings for this week. As you begin to reflect on your writing for next week, consider the JetBlue crisis in light of the Luntz reading, the ethics readings, and your own research that you posted earlier in the week. Do you think JetBlue handled the crisis in an effective way? In an ethical way? How can you connect the Luntz reading, the ethics readings, and your own research with JetBlue's handling of this situation? How do you plan on responding to this situation in your own documents next week? How will the readings inform that response? Use the tag "Reading response Week 3" in the category field.
  • Check out Week 4. No later than today, you should read through the course calendar for the following week. Make sure that you understand all of the assignments. If you have any questions, email me.
Continue posting comments and replies (you need to contribute five [5] each week). We are now dealing with Reading response Week 3.

 

Week 4

By Monday, June 30, at 11:59 PM

By Tuesday, July 1, at 11:59 PM

  • This project focuses heavily on concise writing. Read Thomson Handbook Chapter 36 on Concise Sentences. Also read the Purdue Owl's page on Conciseness. Keep these principles in mind as you write, and edit your letters heavily with conciseness in mind.

By Wednesday, July 2, at 11:59 PM

  • Read Thomson Handbook Chapter 1 on Writing and Rhetoric in Context.
  • Watch this Youtube video to get an impression of the JetBlue customer reaction.
  • Find one other JetBlue customer online written or video response (for reading response).
  • Respond with peer feedback to two student press releases.
Reading Response
  • Consider the chapter on writing and rhetoric in the context of your writing for JetBlue. Then consider the audience materials you have collected. Who is the audience that you are addressing? What feelings, expectations, predictions, and desires do they hold? Reference specifics from the audience documents you watched and located. How do you plan on addressing them? How will the context shape that response?

By Thursday, July 3, at 11:59 PM

  • Corporate Communication Project Step 2: Letter Due. Post your business letter draft to the "Letter Draft" category.
  • By Monday, respond to two other student letters with feedback.
  • Begin revising Corporate Communication Project, Due Wednesday, July 9.
  • Check out Week 5. No later than today, you should read through the course calendar for the following week. Make sure that you understand all of the assignments. If you have any questions, email me.

By Friday, July 4, at 11:59 PM

  • University Holiday. Enjoy your fourth!

Week 5

DON'T FORGET: EMPLOYMENT PROJECT

REVISIONS ARE DUE MON 7/14!

By Monday, July 7, at 11:59 PM

By Tuesday, July 8, at 11:59 PM

By Wednesday, July 9, at 11:59 PM

  • Corporate Communication Project Due. Put all three documents into one pdf titled "LastnameCorporate." Post the project to a blog in the "Corporate Project Final" category.
  • Some recommended sites to visit (note that all of these sites have additional links you might want to investigate):

By Thursday, July 10, at 11:59 PM

  • Read Thomson Handbook Chapter 25 on Desktop Publishing and Graphic Design.
  • Read these tips on Flyer Design
  • Find one professional flyer or visual document that you like online. (Type flyer.pdf into Google if you're having trouble finding anything).
  • You might want to refresh your memory on Press Releases.
  • Consider the following sample posters: 1. Event Posters 2.Music Event Poster

Reading Response

  • Considering the principles of design given in chapter 25, what works about the design of the flyer you found? Reference specific principles from Chapter 25 to analyze the design of your flyer. Explain how this document will influence your own design on the service learning project.
  • By the end of the week, read and comment on your group member responses.

By Friday, July 11, at 11:59 PM

  • Service Learning Project Step 1 Due. Post your Gantt chart to one blog called "Gantt Chart" in the "Service Learning Gantt Chart" category. Reference the sample Gantt charts attached below as your group completes Step 1. They are student samples updated July 9.
  • Post individual work blog giving a detailed summary of your contribution to the team. Post work blogs in the "Work blogs" category.
  • Don't forget to send a group activity report to me on Sunday (1 report per group). Activity reports are due every Sunday until the end of the semester.
  • Check out Week 6. No later than today, you should read through the course calendar for the following week. Make sure that you understand all of the assignments. If you have any questions, email me.

DON'T FORGET: EMPLOYMENT PROJECT

REVISIONS ARE DUE MON 7/14!

Week 6

By Monday, July 14, at 11:59 PM

  • Read Thomson Handbook Chapters 24 and 37. Take these principles into account as you are producing your documents because Thursday's reading response asks you to comment on them in relation to your draft. Also remember the principles of concision and design as you work.
  • If you have chosen to revise your employment project, please submit it (as a .pdf attachment) to your blog (tagged with Employment Revision) no later than 11:59 PM. Note that you only need to include whatever is being revised. For instance, if you are only revising the resume, then only submit the resume. Nothing is needed other than the revised document(s)--no job ad (unless you failed to submit it the first time and I need it), no job ad analysis, and no project assessment. So, you should only be submitting:
    • Nothing (you have decided not to revise)
    • Your newly revised job application letter (you have chosen not to revise the resume).
    • Your newly revised resume (you have chosen not to revise the letter).
    • Your newly revised letter and resume (and nothing else--unless, as mentioned, I have requested your job ad). 

By Tuesday, July 15, at 11:59 PM

  • Work on draft with group members.

By Wednesday, July 16, at 11:59 PM

  • Service Learning Project Step 4: Draft Due. Post the project draft to a blog in the "Service Learning Draft 1" category.
    • Remember that the draft must be posted in a format that everyone can access. You can export to .pdf or an image format such as .jpg. There is also a 5mb file upload limit on the site, which is more than enough, but it is something to keep in mind.

By Thursday, July 17, at 11:59 PM

  • Read Thomson Handbook Chapter 24 and 37 by today.

Reading Response

  • Consider your draft of the project. In a reading response, explain how the principles of variety, conciseness, audience, and design are shaping your draft. Reference specifics in your document in your reading response.
  • Read and comment on your group member responses.

By Friday, July 18, at 11:59 PM

  • Continue revision of drafts with your group, accounting for instructor feedback on your work.
  • Don't forget to do the work blogs and activity reports for this week.
  • Check out Week 7. No later than today, you should read through the course calendar for the following week. Make sure that you understand all of the assignments. If you have any questions, email me.

Week 7

DON'T FORGET: CORPORATE COMMUNICATION PROJECT REVISIONS

ARE DUE ON WED. 7/30

By Monday, July 21, at 11:59 PM

  • Finish Draft 2 of group project.

By Tuesday, July 22, at 11:59 PM

  • Service Learning Project Step 4: Draft Due. Post the project draft 2 to a blog in the "Service Learning Draft 2" category. Please give your draft post the heading "Group #" - such as "Group 3."
  • Remember, this draft will also be reviewed by the client to provide feedback to the group.

By Wednesday, July 23, at 11:59 PM

  • Service Learning Project Step 5: Peer Editing. Peer edit the project of your assigned group (see below). Each group member should post a 200-word review to that project by 11:59 PM.
  • The peer editing exchange is as follows:
    • Group 1 reviews Group 2.
    • Group 2 reviews Group 3.
    • Group 3 reviews Group 4.
    • Group 4 reviews Group 5.
    • Group 5 reviews Group 1.

By Thursday, July 24, at 11:59 PM

Reading Response

  • Read and comment on your group members' responses. You only need to do 2-3 comments this week (those on the responses of your fellow group members).

By Friday, July 25, at 11:59 PM

  • Continue revision of drafts with your group, accounting for instructor, peer, and client feedback on your work.
  • Check out Week 8. No later than today, you should read through the course calendar for the following week. Make sure that you understand all of the assignments. If you have any questions, email me.
  • Pay particular attention to the shortened week next week. Midnight Friday 8/1 is the deadline! Nothing will be accepted after that, so plan accordingly.

DON'T FORGET: CORPORATE COMMUNICATION PROJECT REVISIONS

ARE DUE ON WED. 7/30

Week 8

DON'T FORGET: CORPORATE COMMUNICATION PROJECT REVISIONS

ARE DUE ON WED. 7/30

By Monday, July 28, at 11:59 PM

  • Review client feedback.
  • NOTE: This is a shortened week and nothing will be accepted after midnight, Friday 8/1. Please make note of the due dates this week.
  • There is no reading response this week.

By Tuesday, July 29, at 11:59 PM

  • Continue work on Service Learning Project Step 6: Final Draft due Wednesday, July 30.

By Wednesday, July 30, at 11:59 PM

  • Service Learning Project Step 6: Final Draft. Post final drafts as pdf attachments titled "Group#Final" to a blog in the "Service Learning Final Draft" category.
  • Corporate Communication Project Revision. Post your revised draft (press release and/or letter. You cannot revise the assessment) as a .pdf attachment in the "Corporate Project Revisions" category. Don't forget your revision notes. Your project will not be regraded without this, no exceptions.
  • Work on Service Learning Project Step 7: Project Assessment (the form is attached at the bottom of this page).

By Thursday, July 31, at 11:59 PM

  • Complete Service Learning Project: Step 7: Project Assessment. Email the project assessment to me. DO NOT POST it. Thank you.
  • Individual work blogs for week 8 are due today. Activity reports that are normally due on Sunday, are also due TODAY.

By Friday, August 1, at 11:59 PM

  • Course grades assigned.  

DON'T FORGET: CORPORATE COMMUNICATION PROJECT REVISIONS

ARE DUE ON WED. 7/30