The framework for our language practice is the “Principles of Good Writing” outlined in an early reading: Be brief, be precise, be active, be imaginative, be direct, be consistent, be aware, and be concise.
There will also be a variety of readings posted on our online course site. You should come to class each day prepared to discuss the readings assigned. Demonstrating that you do the work asked of you and are prepared to think is a large part of being a professional in the world, so this will weigh heavily in my evaluation of your performance. Also, since 90% of these readings are practical and designed to teach you HOW TO DO SOMETHING, not reading just keeps you foolishly ignorant of a skill you need.
You will also spend a lot of time producing documents. This is to prepare you for the writing life outside the university. I am aware that you may be producing a website/brochure/interview, etc., for the first time, so you are graded of course on the final product, but also very very much on the work you put into that product, the team participation you achieve, the degree of improvement I see, and your willingness to stretch and challenge yourself. These are the skills that employers need to see in new employees, more than immediate technical perfection. The latter comes with time, the former are needed from Day 1.
Grades will be based on the following:
Website: 20% of grade
You will develop a personal website using WordPress software. This assignment is ongoing through the semester, and asks you to utilize a variety of skills: excellent writing, appropriateness for audience & purpose, website technical ability, and basic design. The basic website will consist of a homepage with elevator pitch and “about me” information; a page of postings; pages for individual projects and team projects. At the end the term, you will add several samples of your best writing, turning this website into an e-portfolio of your work.
Reading Response Posts/Exercises/Drafts: 15% total
There will be about 10 of these, which you will post on your website or bring to class each week that they are due. Late items will not be accepted.
Twitter Feed: 5%
In order to practice social media promotion—and to generate ideas for your press release (below)—we’ll tweet campus “news” throughout the semester and you’ll be responsible for 10 tweets.
Projects: 50% total
You will have several of these this term, both individual and team projects. Each is fairly short but will involve a combination of the skills of interviewing a real-world clients, interpreting technical language, finding the “story” of any situation, and producing a variety of interesting, compelling kinds of documents–straight news articles, news essays, proposals, flyers, possibly a short video. You’ll profile both a student and a faculty member, write a grant proposal, and translate research language into an article. These may be used by real-world clients, including our Offices of Public Relations, Multicultural Affairs, and Research, and a community non-profit organization, which we will award with real money based on one of your grant proposals.
Overall Professionalism: 10%
This admittedly subjective grade is more like a professional evaluation of your job performance: how much do you go out of your way to participate in class, make sure things are done that need to be done, show up prepared and get your work in, promote the general success and well-being of the rest of the class “team” . . . In short, how much would I worry or not worry about you in an internship or a job? What would I suggest you improve and what are your strengths?
Evaluation
Grades will be aligned with the standard OSU 4.0 scale, so some basic math should keep you up to date on what is your overall grade at any time (Canvas will purportedly help with this, as well). The scale is as follows, out of 100%:
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If you have concerns about the grade you received, please schedule an appointment to see me no earlier than 24 hours after the project is returned. Be sure you have read my comments carefully, and be prepared to discuss how your writing fits the criteria given for that assignment.