Communicating in The Work Force Fall 2011 - J.

Mignano-Brady Tuesday & Thursday 3:30-4:45pm Office Hours Tues &Thurs TBA Knapp Hall /Writing Center Email:bradyj@farmingdale.edu Blog:www.communicatingintheworkforce.blogspot.com Course Description: This course will focus on technical communications in the work force. Students will have the opportunity to learn how to communicate effectively and efficiently in the job market strengthening both verbal and written skills. This class will have a lecture component and a lab component. In class topics include composition of letters, memos, proposals, resume and presentation writing. In addition to strengthening business communication skills, students will be exposed to the ethical aspect of conducting business and participating in a professional work environment. Students will be asked to present technical information using various media. There will be several in class assignments based on class lectures, discussions, the blog and the text. There is a group project due at the end of the semester that corresponds with a verbal presentation. The Final Project will ask students to conduct research on the job market and the interview process. Final papers will be graded individually. The group project will be a visual component to the final paper and graded accordingly. Materials: Notebook, Folder, Flashdrive Required Text:Pfeiffer, William S., and Kaye E. Adkins. Technical Communication Fundamentals. New Jersey: Pearson Education, 2012. Print. Motto: Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm -Ralph Waldo EmersonEssayist & poet (1803 - 1882) Assessment: Participation -15% Lab Assignments -35% Blog Assignments- 10% Final Project/ Research Component 30%(Individual)

Verbal Presentation 10% (Group) Attendance/ Late Policy:Due to the intense nature of this course, it is critical that you maintain a good attendance record. You should not miss more than 3 classes. Failure to make up missing work will greatly affect your grade. Try not to be late. If you are late three times it will count as one absence. Attending class on a regular basis and on time is paramount to your success both in this class and as a college student. Students are responsible for notes and projects. It is your responsibility to make up the work you missed should you be absent. Teacher may post some assignments on the blog.

According to Farmingdale State College, plagiarism is the dishonest use of the work of others. It is using another person's ideas or expressions in your writing without acknowledging the source. You want to do everything possible to avoid plagiarism. Plagiarism is: y Using ideas without acknowledging the source y Paraphrasing someone else's argument as your own y Presenting someone else's line of thinking in the development of an idea as if it were your own y Presenting the entire paper or a major part of it developed exactly on someone else's line of thinking or arrangement of ideas even though you acknowledge the source(s) in parentheses (www.farmingdale.edu).

*Note-Participation is worth 15% of your overall grade. If you are a B or B+ student, you have the opportunity to receive an A in the class just by showing up everyday and bringing something to the table. More Importantly, Have Fun! It is my goal to ensure that you have a genuinely engaging and fulfilling experience this semester.

Very Important: As a member of a community of learners and an active participant in this class, please turn your phone off/vibrate before you enter the classroom. If you are texting during class discussions, lectures or fishbowls you are distracting the teacher and your classmates and may be asked to leave.

Project Schedule Fall 2011 This is a general overview. All classwork and homework will be announced in class and/ or posted on the blog. Lab Work will take place on Wednesdays. Lab Work is time allotted for you to implement, construct and create documents based on class lessons. Projects will be announced in class and are subject to change. Classroom (Tuesday) Week 1 8/30-9/1 Introductions: What is Technical Communication and The Writing Process? Chapters 1-2 Writing an Email to your Boss / Team at Work Ethics in the Workforce Addressing Your Boss/Colleagues Writing Formal Letters Chapter 4 Formal Letter Due Memos: Chapter 4 Proposals Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Continued The Job Search: Chapter 10 The Job Search: Continued Final Project Assignment:Distribution & Groups Computer Lab (Thursday) Lab Work

Week 2 Week 3

9/6- 9/8 9/13-9/15

Email Due

Lab Work Lab Work Lab Work Memo Due Today Lab Work Lab Work Proposal Due Lab Work Resume & Cover Letter Due

Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Week 10

9/20-9/22 9/27-9/29 10/4-10/6 10/11-10/13 10/18-10/20 10/25-10/27 11/1-11/3

Week 11

11/8-11/10

Social Media & Networking Election Day No Classes Students Reference Blog

Week 12

11/15-11/17 Research &The Final Paper: The Interview Process

Applying for a Job & The Job Search Sign up on Linked In, Job Fox etc.. Lab Work

Week 13

11/22-11/24 Groups Work on Research & Presentation

No Classes Thanksgiving

Week 14

11/29-12/1 Visual Presentations Chapter 9 Using Multi Media to Present to an Audience/ Working as a Team- What does it mean to be a Team Player? Last Day for Project Revisions/ Sources Du

Week 15

12/6-12/8

Style in Technical Writing Chapter 11 The Final Project Group Time Last Day of Classes Presentations Continue Group Evaluation Sheets: Due Today Finals Week Presentations

Research Paper Due: 5 pages , 8 Sources, Works Cited Page Presentations Begin Presentations

Week 16

12/13-12/15

Week 17

12/20-12/22

Presentations