Introduction
Welcome to Report Writing, a course designed to introduce you to different genres of professional writing for specific audiences. Our discussions will be informed by recent research in rhetoric and professional writing and guided by contemporary business, scientific, and journalistic practices. Our projects will utilize new media and other modern communication resources. In addition to our pragmatic, “hands-on” approach to professional writing, we'll also think deeply about the workplace itself, about the nature of labor, management, politics, and information in the early 21st century. Our friendly, workshop-style environment will promote productive class discussions and peer-review. 

Method
Report Writing is divided into three sections:

Business Writing
Political Writing
Science Writing


Required Texts

BUSINESS WRITING

15%     Biographical Statement
15%     Email Correspondence
20%:    Résumé
25%:    Application Letter
25%     Workplace Ethnography (Observation and Analysis)

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT 15%
Who are you? Write a brief yet persuasive statement about your major life events, hobbies and professional interests, long- and short-term goals for a general professional audience. What will you include, exclude? @500 words.
           
EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE 15%
Email represents a very popular means of communication in the 21st century. Write a substantial email that introduces yourself to a prospective employer OR coworker. Your email should define your reader. Consider the rhetorical situation and write effectively for that situation. @500-750 words.

RESUME 20%
Write an effective work resume that follows generic guidelines yet brings yours to the top.

APPLICATION LETTER 25%
Research potential job openings and write an application letter for a job that you find interesting.  Consider your audience (i.e., potential employer) and think about effective ways of engaging this reader while demonstrating your experience, strengths, and interests.

WORKPLACE ETHNOGRAPHY (OBSERVATION AND ANALYSIS) 25%
Ethnography is a genre of writing that uses fieldwork to provide a descriptive study of human societies.  Yours focuses on a work environment and consists of two parts: observation and analysis. First, choose a workplace setting that you may observe uninterrupted for at least an hour. Write down your observations of the hour’s events and persons (in paragraph form; don't list). Be objective. Second, under your observation, write a brief analysis informed by our readings.

Your ethnography will look like this:

1. First half is your observation.  Write down what you see, not what you think it means
2. Second half is your analysis.  NOTE: Use our texts to analyze your observations
3. @ 750 words (three pages) plus additional Works Cited page.
4. Images (e.g., photographs)
5. Works Cited
   

POLITICAL WRITING

Press Release 25%
Editorial 25%
Speech 25%
Blog 25%

PRESS RELEASE 25%
A press release is an official statement issued to a news source that provides information on a particular matter. Write a press release on an issue of your choosing. Identify your source and issue in a sentence or two above the beginning of your press release. @500-750 words.

EDITORIAL 25%
Write an editorial for a news source (paper or online) of your choosing stating your thoughts on a specific political issue. Identity your news source and your issue in a sentence or two above the beginning of your editorial. @500-750 words.

SPEECH 25%
Write a speech on a particular political issue for a specific audience. Define your issue and audience in a sentence or two above the speech. Consider what rhetorical strategies are necessary to engage and persuage your audience. How will you establish ethos, logos, and pathos? @500-750 words.

BLOG 25%
Create a professional blog devoted to 21st-century politics (e.g., a political issue) in light of the theory and criticism we have read and discussed. Be creative; experiment with new media. Begin here: https://www.blogger.com/start.

Blog Requirements:Name and Preferred Email

• Blog Title
• Blog Description
• Author Profile (Biographical Statement Revised)
• Press Release
• Editorial
• Speech
• Creative Use of Web media (e.g., graphics, clips)

SCIENCE WRITING

Science Journal/Magazine Rhetorical Analysis 20%
Debate in the Sciences 20%
Research Paper 60%

SCIENCE JOURNAL/MAGAZINE RHETORICAL ANALYSIS 20%
Choose a science journal or science magazine. Study several issues of your journal/magazine, especially from various years of publication. Your rhetorical analysis will describe the publication's main focus, readership, and changes (e.g., major shifts in editorial staff, subject matter, and anything else that defines your journal/magazine). @500 words.

DEBATE IN THE SCIENCES 20%
Locate an ongoing debate in any of the sciences (e.g., medicine, physics, paleontology) that you find particularly interesting. Define at least two positions in the debate. Illuminate these positions as well as their defenders and detractors. What are the implications? Who and/or what might be affected by the debate's outcome? State your position on the matter. @500 words.

RESEARCH PAPER IN THE SCIENCES 60%
Your research paper is a longer, more sophisticated analysis of your scientific debate. Here, your position takes center stage. Present a strong opening with a cogent thesis that addresses the various positions in the scientific debate, even hinting at some authors/texts. Why should your argument be given equal weight as the others? Since this is a research paper for a science-informed reader, you should include several secondary sources, represented in your essay's body and separate Works Cited page. @1,250 words.

* * *

Participation
There is no percentage or points ascribed to participation since participation is mandatory. Class participation includes attendance, discussions, student-instructor conferences, and workshop activities.  Everyone has something to contribute to the class. If you do not feel comfortable speaking in class you can participate in other ways, such as in group activities and peer review.  You must complete all of your readings by their due date. Although participation grades will not be distributed, I will be happy to discuss any questions you have about your progress.

Policies
When you enroll in our class you make a commitment to your classmates. This is a participatory, collaborative workshop-style class and attendance is absolutely essential to our success.

Since we meet only once per week, grades are dropped a letter beginning with the second absence. An F is given with the fifth.

All work is due on the date specified in our syllabus. You are responsible for completing and submitting any work due for a day that you miss and you must come prepared with any work required for the following class.  Let me know in advance if you'll be missing a class. Please feel free to contact me or see me during my office hours to learn what you missed and how to prepare for the next session. 

NOTE:

(1) Late work will not be accepted unless you have obtained an extension from me ahead of time. You must submit your essay even if you miss class on its due date. 

(2) Due to the participatory nature of this class, laptops and cellphones are not permitted.

Grades
You must complete all work to pass the course. Please feel free to come by my office or email me if you'd like to discuss your progress and/or other concerns during the semester.  

Academic Honesty
You must be scrupulously honest in documenting the work that you have drawn from others.  Like other institutions, CSUN maintains a strict academic honesty policy.  Plagiarism is illegal and dishonest.  All cases of academic dishonesty must be reported to the Dean, who may suspend or permanently dismiss you from CSUN.  You will receive a course grade of F if you plagiarize in ENGL313.