The first few sessions of the
course introduce students to various principles, rhetorical strategies,
and stylistic elements that affect professional communication.
Students then learn about informative
and persuasive messages and analyze professional documents according
to the principles they have learned. After critiquing informative
and persuasive texts to assess their appropriateness and effectiveness,
students write their own informative and persuasive texts--individually
and in groups--applying the rhetorical strategies appropriate
for each type of message.
Next, students examine how the
principles and strategies used in writing informative and persuasive
messages come together in producing application-oriented communication,
including cover letters, résumés, and post-interview
correspondence.
In the final weeks of the course,
students strengthen their ability to work with others in client
projects, producing various documents by collaborating on a writing-based
project for a campus or community organization or business. For
more information on these client projects, click
here.