BUSINESS WRITING
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
English 205-000
Mondays 1:00-3:40 pm
Bolton B91
GENERAL INFORMATION
Instructor: Professor Gerald J. Alred
Office: Curtin Hall 566 (Mailbox adjacent to Curtin 417)
Hours: 1:00-4:00 Thursday (and by appointment)
Phone: 229-4569 (or 229-4511 and leave message)
Email ~ alred@uwm.edu (best way to make contact)
Home Page ~ http://www.uwm.edu/~alred (bookmark page)
Prereq: "May not be taken cr/no cr. Soph standing: Grade of C or better in English 102(p) or score of 637 or higher on EPT."
Course Text and Materials
The Business Writer's Handbook by Alred, Brusaw, and Oliu (Bedford/St. Martin's)
![[Handbook Link]](../jpg/bwh8-sm.jpg)
Additional Materials: I will be distributing cases for in-class and out-of-class use. Keep these cases and your returned writing assignments in a folder or binder and bring them and the Handbook to each class meeting.
SUBMITTING ASSIGNMENTS
Writing assignments should follow the "format" standard on the
assignment sheet and should look as professional as possible. However, a
couple neat, handwritten corrections are fine if you should discover an
error at the last minute. Most serious problems occur when students miss
important information on the assignment sheets. Links to the writing
assignments appear below in the course schedule.
An assignment may be submitted on time in either of two ways:
(1) In class or in my mailbox (Curtin Hall 4th Floor) by 4:30 pm on the
date due.
- (2) Mailed (U.S. Postal Service or delivery service) with a
postmark of the due date to the following address:
- Professor Gerald J. Alred
- Department of English
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
- P.O. Box 413
- Milwaukee, WI 53201
- Department of English
Late Assignments. An assignment may be submitted 24 hours late if it is accompanied by a cover letter persuasively explaining why it is late. This cover letter will be graded and averaged with the assignment. The assignment and this letter must be mailed and postmarked by this date (ask ahead if you have questions). This late policy does not apply to the Formal Report, which is due at the last class meeting.
IMPORTANT: For information on grading, see the grading standards. If anything is not clear about an assignment, please check with me--part of the writing process often involves feedback from potential readers.
SCHEDULE AND DEADLINES
The Business Writer's Handbook: p. xiii-xx; acknowledgment, adjustment, and cover letters, inquiries and responses; business writing style; correspondence; email; ethics in writing (and all cross-references) headings; internal proposals; lists; memos; readers; writing a draft; and proofreading. Entries in the Handbook and in this syllabus appear in boldface.†
Assignment: Course Memo [R] -- Due February 6
The Business Writer's Handbook: affectation (and all cross references in boldface ‡); collection, reference, refusal, and sales letters; international correspondence; sales proposals; tone (and all cross refs, especially "you" viewpoint).
Assignment: Refusal Letter [R] -- Due February 27
Mid-term: Quiz Based on Readings -- March 6
The Business Writer's Handbook: division and classification, formal reports (and all cross refs), format and design and layout, headers/footers, illustrations (and all cross refs), methods of development (and all cross refs), research (and all cross refs).
Assignment: Report Proposal Memo -- Due March 13
No Class Meeting (Spring Break) -- March 20
Assignment: Progress Report Email -- Due March 27
The Business Writer's Handbook: all entries listed in Topical Key under "Style and Language" (inside back cover of book) and not assigned earlier.
Assignment: Formal Report Outline -- Due April 17
Exam: In-class Writing Sample (no specific preparation) -- May 8
Assignment: Formal Report -- Due May 8
†When cross-references duplicate earlier readings, review the previously assigned entry.
Extra credit for professionalism ~ If you spot an improvement or correction in the syllabus, readings, or this Web site, mark it on a photocopy and give me that copy. If I find your comment useful, I'll give you credit for professionalism.
