ENGL 120 GGU Knowledge About Excellent Business Writing Course Reflective Essay

writeareflective essay that addresses the following:

Course DescriptionHelps students develop the skills necessary for effective business writing. They will write, edit and format letters, memos, reports and a research paper. They will analyze business articles and other professionally oriented material.Course ObjectivesBy the end of this course, the student will demonstrate proficiency of the following skills:Write business documents (including memos, letters, instructions, reports).Create a job portfolio (including resume, cover letter, networking letter, profile).Participate in peer reviews.Utilize the drafting process.Edit and proofread documents- focusing on grammar, mechanics, punctuation, and   sentence construction and variety.Develop presentation skills.Identify elements of business communication, and describe how messages are adapted to various audiences and purposes.Prepare and revise a variety of formal business communications, including letters, memos, instructions, reports, proposals, and summaries to make them unified and well detailed.Design effective visuals, and use electronic graphics to enhance business messages and documents.Write effective instructions that adapt the to the previous knowledge and needs of the target audience–includes an introduction, definitions, preparations, steps and commands.Write various types of summaries, including informative, explanatory, and analytic.Make vocabulary choices in terms of diction, level, and rhetorical purpose.Provide supporting details for rhetorical claims.Focus and develop ideas through prewriting exercises.Document external sources with in-citations and ‘references” lists using MLA or APA format.Apply a variety of patterns of development in writing such as cause/effect (complaint letter, instructions, proposal); compare/contrast (reading responses); persuasion (proposal, letters), summary (annotated bibliography); and analysis (report), etc.Read and assess articles, reports, letters, and other modes of business communication for effective organization, purpose, tone, and rhetorical strategies.Read and assess articles and online materials for main points, logic, supporting detail, and organization, visual elements, and strategy.Assess an author’s purpose, tone, and audience in a variety of modes of business communication.

   Term: Fall 2022, A Term
Course: ENGL-120-MSF2, Business Writing
Number of Credits: 3 Units
Instructional Methods: Mixed Mode
Rebecca VanDeVoort
School of Undergraduate Studies
GOLDEN GATE UNIVERSITY
Office Hours: by appointment
See eLearning course shell for instructor contact information.
Class Meets: Thursday 6:50PM-9:30PM
This mixed mode course will meet live on the following Thursdays from 6:50PM to 9:30PM Pacific
Time: September 8, November 17, and December 8, 2022.
Students may attend the September 8, November 17, and December 8 class meetings on campus or
remotely via Zoom web conference. During all other weeks, the course will be asynchronous (no live
meetings) and online only.
First Day of Term: September 4
th
Last Day of Term: December 17
th
Course Description
Helps students develop the skills necessary for effective business writing. They will write, edit
and format letters, memos, reports and a research paper. They will analyze business articles
and other professionally oriented material. Prerequisites: ENGL 50 and ENGL 60 or consent of
the department chair. Students must complete ENGL 60 with a grade of “C-” or better.
Course Learning Outcomes
After successfully completing this course, students can expect to be able to:
Write business documents (including memos, letters, instructions, reports).
Create a job portfolio (including resume, cover letter, networking letter, profile).
Participate in peer reviews.
Utilize the drafting process.
Edit and proofread documents- focusing on grammar, mechanics, punctuation, and sentence
construction and variety.
Develop presentation skills.
Identify elements of business communication, and describe how messages are adapted to
various audiences and purposes.
Prepare and revise a variety of formal business communications, including letters, memos,
instructions, reports, proposals, and summaries to make them unified and well detailed.
Design effective visuals, and use electronic graphics to enhance business messages and
documents.
Write various types of summaries, including informative, explanatory, and analytic.
Make vocabulary choices in terms of diction, level, and rhetorical purpose.
Provide supporting details for rhetorical claims.
Focus and develop ideas through prewriting exercises.
Document external sources with in-citations and ‘references” lists using MLA or APA format.
Apply a variety of patterns of development in writing such as cause/effect (complaint letter,
instructions, proposal); compare/contrast (reading responses); persuasion (proposal, letters),
summary (annotated bibliography); and analysis (report), etc.
Read and assess articles, reports, letters, and other modes of business communication for
effective organization, purpose, tone, and rhetorical strategies.
1000
Read and assess articles and online materials for main points, logic, supporting detail, and
organization, visual elements, and strategy.
Assess an author’s purpose, tone, and audience in a variety of modes of business
communication.
Course Materials
Textbook(s)
Required: Successful Writing at Work, 11th edition (not the concise edition). Philip Kolin.
Houghton Mifflin Company. (The e-book might be the most convenient to use in an online course.)
ISBN-13: 978-1337285018, ISBN-10: 1337285013.
Students should also have access to a grammar and usage handbook.
Recommended: Rules for Writers ISBN-13: 978-1319083496, ISBN-10: 1319083498
Bookstore: You may purchase course materials from GGU’s official online bookstore:
https://www.bkstr.com/goldengatestore/home/en
Classroom Guidelines & Student Responsibilities
Please review the Classroom Guidelines and Student Responsibilities policies on the School
of Undergraduate Studies Policies and Resources section (see below) that apply to all
courses. Below are other polices that also apply to this course.
Late work is not accepted in this course except in cases of illness or death in the family.
Students have the following responsibilities in this, and any other course taught at Golden Gate
University:
1) Review the Classroom Guidelines and Student Responsibilities policies below that apply to
all courses.
2) Read syllabus and course information carefully.
3) Read lectures and other required learning materials online carefully.
4) Participate in discussions (in-person and/or online) and engage in learning activities.
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5) Actively engage the material and ask questions of the instructor when confused about any
aspect of the course.
6) Complete activities (discussion, quizzes, case studies, essay, applied learning assignment
and final exam) in a timely manner following the instructions for each activity.
7) Treat other students and the instructor with civility and respect.
8) Abide by the Student Code of Conduct
9) For courses that contain a web conference (Zoom) component: enable your webcam so that
your face is visible to instructors and classmates in synchronous web conference classes. This
promotes full engagement and a sense of community. If you have concerns about privacy,
please use a virtual background that hides your physical background or consult with your
instructor.
Course Requirements
Participation and Attendance
Attendance is expected and required for all 3 scheduled in person sessions. Students are
expected to attend the three in-person classes either in person or via Zoom. Participation in
class discussions for in-person classes, participating in discussion forums for online classes
and quality of your contribution each week will be assessed and reflected in the class
participation score. If you cannot attend an in person class please send notification in
advance. The only excused absences are illness which the student submits a doctor’s note for
or loss of a family member. Coming half-way into or leaving half-way through class will result in
a half-missed class.
For all classes, students are expected to complete all readings, assignments and discussion forums on
time each week for full credit. In cases of illness or death in the family, a one week extension will be
granted. Other late work unexscused will result in zero points.
Grading Policy
The weight of each graded activity in this course is shown below.
1) GGU Grading Policy
3
Please review the Grading policies listed on the School of Undergraduate Studies Policies and
Resources section (see below) that apply to all courses. Below are the specific grading polices that
will be used in this course.
Grading Policy
The weight of each graded activity in this course is shown below.
Grading Policy
Portfolio 1
25%
Portfolio 2
25%
Long Report
20%
Presentation of Long
Report
5%
Weekly Assignments
12%
Reflective Essay
3%
Attendance/
Participation
10%
Online Discussion Forum Participation
Grade
Skills
4
A/A-
Contributions are prompt, timely, distributed throughout the week, relevant, self-initiated; remarks
are raised freely on all assignments throughout the course; there is no attempt to dominate
conversation. Expression is clear, concise, substantive, and with obvious connection to the topic.
Demonstrates analysis of others’ posts and builds on the contributions of others. Contributes or
exceeds the required number of posts.
B+/B/B-
Student generally keeps up with the discussion, posting in a timely fashion, but may not distribute
posts throughout the week. May need some prompting to contribute. Frequently posts
well-developed contributions related to the discussion, elaborates on an existing post with further
comment or observation. Contributes the required number of posts.
C+/C/C-
Participation is spotty; picks and chooses topics in which to get involved. Demonstrates little
initiative. Connection to topic is sometimes unclear, evidenced by minimal expression of opinions or
ideas. Shallow follow-up on others’ posts, does not enrich the discussion.
D+/D/D-
Little participation; contributions lack clarity, have little or no connection to topic; does not build on
others’ remarks.
F
No participation.
Policies and Resources
Click here to review policies for this course:
https://www.ggu.edu/undergraduate/policies-and-resources/
These policies and resources are part of this course syllabus. The following policies, available at the
link above, apply to all courses:
Resources such as:
o
Bookstore
o
Business Library
o
Tutoring
o
Disability Resources for Students
o
Wellness Resources for Students
Policy on Academic Integrity
GGU Grading Policy
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Instructional Methods and Related Policies
Instructor Bio
Professor VanDeVoort grew up speaking a dialect of English that inspired an ongoing fascination with
language and wrote their first novella at the age of 12. They write fiction and experimental poetry
and hold an MFA in Creative Writing from Mills College, a BA in English Language and Literature
from the University of Minnesota and an AA/AS from Mesabi Community College. Their work
background has been varied starting off working in corporate America as a copywriter for KBA
Marketing in Minneapolis, then as an environmental science teacher for Tree Frog Treks in San
Francisco and currently as an adjunct professor at GGU, previously at The Academy of Art University
and as a volunteer professor at the Prison University Project at San Quentin Prison. In any given
week, they have had students from 18-90 years old from any background/culture imaginable and
delight in diversity and variety of experience.
Course Outline/Schedule
The instructor reserves the right to modify this syllabus at any time. Any changes will be announced
in class, online via eLearning or via email. You are responsible for ensuring that your syllabus is
current.
Week
Class Dates
Topic
Week 1
Company Profile
9/4/22-9/10/22 Live Meeting: September 8th at 6:50PM – 9:30PM
PT
Assignments
Weekly Assignment 1, Due
9/15
Week 2
9/11/22-9/17/
22
Memorandums
Weekly Assignment 2, Due
9/22 Portfolio 1 Assigned,
Due 10/13
Week 3
9/18/22-9/24/
22
Business Letters
Weekly Assignment 3, 9/29
Week 4
9/25/22 10/1/22
Social Media
Weekly Assignment 4, Due
10/6
6
Week
Class Dates
Topic
Assignments
Week 5
10/2/22 10/8/22
Newsletters
Finish Portfolio 1, Due
10/13
Week 6
10/9/22 10/15/22
Cover Letters
Weekly Assignment 5, Due
10/20
Portfolio 2 Assigned, Due
11/17
Week 7
10/16/22 10/22/22
Resumes
Weekly Assignment 6, 10/27
Week 8
10/23/22 10/29/22
Thank you/Networking Letters
Weekly Assignment 7, Due
11/3
Week 9
10/30/22 11/5/22
LinkedIn Profiles
Weekly Assignment 8, Due
11/10
Week 10
11/6/22 11/12/22
Business Reports
Long Report Assigned, Due
12/18
Week 11
11/13/22 11/19/22
APA Citation
th
Live Meeting: November 17 at 6:50PM – 9:30PM
PT
Long Report
Research/Writing
Week 12
11/20/22 11/26/22
Class about Presentation Technique
Long Report
Research/Writing
Week 13
11/27/22 12/3/22
Research/Visuals
Long Report
Research/Writing
Week 14
12/4/22 12/10/22
Reflective Essays
h
Live Meeting: December 8 at 6:50PM – 9:30PM
PT
Reflective Essay Due InClass
Long Report
Research/Writing
7
Week
Class Dates
Week 15
12/11/22 12/17/22
Topic
Student Presentations of Long Reports
Assignments
All done 🙂
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