T/R Class

Readings and assignments due in boldface

Aug. 24

Course introductions and discussion. BWC xiii-xix; "audience/readers" (3-4).

Aug 26

 Diagnostic memo due.  BWC "layout and design (196 ff.);" "conciseness/wordiness (257 ff.)." (Yes, classes do meet on Labor Day.) Look at the sample formats for letters and memos from our textbook. Please read this article from the NY Times on the problems businesses are having with effective writing in today's technological workplace.

Aug 31

Discuss execution. Start reviewing EDITING by doing these exercises. (The answers are linked in the next column.) Use BWC to help you find answers. You can also log on to www.bedfordstmartins.com/exercisecentral, sign in as a student, and do whatever exercises you want to practice. Please read this recent article from Fortune on the pitfalls of spellchecker software. We will discuss the first electronic assignment as well, and this article on e-mail in the corporate world.

Execution slide show

TR Salad Bar Revisions

MW Salad Bar Revisions

Sept. 2

Discuss the Formal Report and Work Plan assignments. If time permits, we will go over BWC "passive voice;" "sentence faults;" "pronouns;" "commas;" "organization" before the editing test; if not, you'll have to review them  yourself. We will be discussing the use of models and the grading rubric as well. Read this article on why errors make readers perceive your writing negatively.

Rubric

Sept. 7

Editing test. Grades will be posted by code name on my door on Sept. 9. Remember: Sept. 10 is last day to elect or change S/U option. 

Sept. 9

Electronic assignment #1 due. More review of sample work plans, focusing on strategies for organization. If you're looking for more ideas for your letterhead, try http://officeupdate.microsoft.com/templategallery; try the "stationery" section or just type "letterhead" in the search box on this page.  Preview Oral Assignment #1.

Sept. 14

Work Plan due.  Discuss Oral Assignment #1. Establish order for oral presentations. Before class, make sure to read Julia Keller's recent 2003 column  in the Chicago Tribune and Thomas Stewart's article in Fortune on the way PowerPoint affects the way we think. BWC "presentations" and "using visuals in a presentation." Discuss Letter of Inquiry assignment. BWC "correspondence," "inquiry letters." Discuss Required Revisions.

"The Seven Deadly Sins"

Sept. 16
KIN 206

Oral Presentation #1. "Wet" presentations. Note Changed Location!

Sept. 21

Oral Presentation #1 continues.  "Dry" presentations. Meet in regular classroom. Discuss oral assignment #2; teams assigned. Monday 9/27 is last day to withdraw with an "N". Revisions of work plan due.

Sept. 23

Letter of Inquiry due. E-mail assessment of Oral Presentation #1 (at least 2 paragraphs long) due for those who presented on 9/22.  Discuss Survey/Memo assignment and Questionnaires; discuss handouts and examples.  Oral #2 Team F2F meeting time. 

A Salutary Lesson

Direct vs. Indirect?

Sept. 28

E-mail assessment of Oral Presentation #1 (at least 2 paragraphs long) due for those who presented on 9/24. Questionnaire draft workshop.

Sept. 30

Questionnaire and memo due. Team F2F meeting time. BWC 196-201. If your team wants to review the scoring criteria for the team oral presentation, here's my score sheet. Don't forget to go over the checklist as a team!

Pace and Oral Presentations

Avoiding Verbal Distractors

Oct. 5

Oral Presentation #2. Don't forget to turn in your group memo and to e-mail me your individual evaluation by Oct. 15.  Teams 1, 2, and 3 will present.  

Check "Today's Tasks"

Oct. 7

Oral Presentation #2 continues. Don't forget to turn in your group memo and to e-mail me your individual evaluation by Oct. 15.  Teams 4 & 5 will present.  Review Electronic Assignment #2. BWC  239-45.

 Oct. 12

 Individual E-mail assessment of Oral #2 due. BWC 96-118. Building the Big Report. Update on editing from CNN.com--read and think about this one! Discuss Progress Reports and rest of work schedule. No office hours Oct. 13-15; I'll be at a professional meeting. TR class will not meet October 14. Use the time to work on your project and on Electronic Assignment #2.

 Oct. 15-18

Fall Break--rejoice and be exceedingly glad.

Oct. 19

Electronic Assignment #2 due by Friday October 22 at noon. Discuss sample formal reports. BWC 102-118 and 75. Use the Rubric to grade the three sample reports.  Make sure you bring BWC to class!

Oct. 21

Progress report due. Oral Presentation #3. Don't forget your videotapes!  

Oct. 28

 Conference appt. signup sheet on Dr. K's door starting today. First come, first serve. Class will discuss graphics and go over the sample big reports we didn't have time to go over in class previously. Direct vs. Indirect? on organization.

NC State's Beyond Data Graphics Tutorial

Nov 4

Audience Analysis due. We will go over how to assemble formal report. Review BWC  and bring it and a list of specific questions to class. Don't forget to review "Building the Big Report" for what you must include. We will also go over transmittal documents and executive summaries. E-mail assessment of Oral Presentation #3 (at least 2 paragraphs long) due today.

Grading Sheet

Nov. 8

Graphics preview assignment due by noon today. MW class will not meet--this is a day to work on rough drafts in advance of your conference. Make sure you print out the conference preparation sheet and do what it says before coming to your conference. Rough draft conferences begin (mandatory).

Nov. 9

 Rough draft conferences (mandatory).  Class meeting may be rescheduled.

Nov. 11

Last questions on report. Discuss report binding and submission requirements. Begin Job Search assignment. BWC ch 5, esp. 163-166. Dangers of online job-searching (read and be wary!) BWC 154-159. We will start practice exercises.

Unlocking the Secrets of Great Job Search Documents

Nov. 16

Formal report due .   Bring milk. Here's the grading sheet. BWC 166-179. Complete practice exercises.  

Nov. 18

Job letter workshop. Bring 5 copies of your rough draft. We will discuss interviewing as time permits. November 29 is the last day to withdraw with a grade of W. 

Interviewing

Nov. 24-28

Nov. 30

Interviewing. Go to the class "Resources" page and review the William and Mary interviewing pages (and their great handout) before class. Check out this list of comments from employers and hiring consultants!

Dec. 7