Rhetoric & Composition 2: Public Sphere Literacy

Unit Four: Workplace Literacy (Weeks 11-14)

Inquiry Theme: Contemplating Lives in the Workplace”

 

Literacy & Rhetoric Goals:  Students will

• Define workplace literacy in terms of issues, genres, and style

• Recognize and define different issues related to workplace literacy

• Demonstrate ability to think in terms of problem-solution strategies

• Recognize and employ conventions of business genres (memo, letter, report)

• Recognize and employ conventions of business style (you-view, positive phrasing,

      clarity, conciseness)

• Define and employ a corporate ethos

• Address audience as business associates

• Demonstrate ability to work in collaborate groups

• Recognize legal and ethical concerns of business writing

 

Writing Goals: Students will

• Employ short writings (letters, memos) for invention & revision of their ideas

• Write an informal report that defines a problem and offers a solution

• Address audience effectively, invoking the four functions of business writing:  

        to inform, to persuade, to generate good will, and to save readers time

• Given purpose and audience, effectively organize the information via  

        appropriate sections & headings

• Given purpose and audience of the report, select & present information in terms

         of reader benefits and needs

• Write effective introductions with purpose statements and problem statements

• Write effective conclusions and recommendations

• Project a confident, business-like ethos , including awareness of ethical and

         legal issues

• Effectively employ strategies of business style

• Use appropriate citation practices when needed

 

Speaking Goals:  Students wiill          

• Employ oral presentations (OPs) for invention/revision of their final written projects

• Adapt final written project into a 5-minute summary for a listening audience

 

Suggested Readings:           

• David Eaton, “Cross-Cultural Training and the Bottom Line”                                   

• Barbara Ehrenreich, “Nickel-and-Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America”              

• Katherine Macklem, “Doing the Rag Trade Right”                                     

• Jennifer Merritt, with Susan Scherreik, “Congratulations, Graduate – You're 

       Unemployed”  

• Christopher Palmieri, “Living on the Edge at American Apparel”

• Eric Schlosser, from “Global Realization”

• Deborah Tannen, “Men and Women Talking on the Job”

• Rob Walker, “Conscience Undercover”

• Lena Warmack, “Business Schools Place Emphasis on Ethics, Personal Values”

                          

 

Suggested Writings:          

Short Writing 1: Memo to professor—define a problem for which you would like to

                           recommend a solution (focus on off-campus issues: work,

                            volunteer organizations, etc.) [1p, typed, ss]

Short Writing 2: Progress Report Memo to professor on final report [1p, typed, ss]

Short Writing 3: Letter to professor on planned revisions for Unit 5 [1, typed, ss]

Paper 4:  Proposal (Informal Report) Letter to selected audience [2pp, typed, ss]

Suggested Oral Presentations:        

Presentation 1:   Read SW #1 to small group (write it for a listening audience)

Presentation 2:   Present SW #2 to small group (write for reading audience)

Presentation 3:  Present briefing of final paper to class (5 people, 5 minutes each)

           

Unit Grade:  20% of final course grade

The unit grade will be awarded to the final essay; however , short writings must be completed on due dates AND turned in with Portfolio Three; likewise, oral reports must be performed. Otherwise students may lose 1/4 percentage point for each SW or oral report not completed on time or not included in the unit portfolio (cf. Course Policy Statement)