COM 32 - STANFORD UNIVERSITY CONTINUING STUDIES

English for Professional Purposes
Writing in English

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Spring 2010 -- COM 32

English for Professional Purposes:  Writing in English

Description

This course is one of a three-quarter set for non-native speakers taught through Stanford Continuing Studies. The ability to communicate ideas effectively continually ranks at the top of the list of skills needed by business people, engineers, researchers, and other professionals. This set of advanced-level English courses gives non-native speakers the chance to identify and practice the essential speaking and writing skills needed in professional settings.

This course will focus on helping you understand and practice some of the types of writing needed for most professionals in both academic and industry settings, from more informal but still essential communications such as letters and email to more formal texts such as proposals and project reports and published papers. Emphasis will be placed on clarity and accuracy of communication, including issues such as vocabulary choice, sentence structure, paragraph organization and meeting the needs and expectations of your intended audience. Coursework will include a number of in-class writing exercises, regular short homework assignments, and a final project on a topic of your choice. Instructor and in some cases peer feedback will be provided. Note that this may not be comprehensive feedback but will be targeted at areas most in need of improvement.

Textbook

Williams, J. & Colomb, G.(2010). Style: Lessons in Clarity and Grace. 10^th edition. Note: the 8^th and 9^th editions are also usable.

Assignments-note these are tentative and subject to change depending on the needs of the class members

·      Textbook Exercises – Prepare these in writing prior to class so that they may be discussed in groups

·      Analysis of Models – Prepare worksheets prior to class so that they may be discussed in groups

·      Major Writing: Please note that these will have some flexibility in them so that they can most closely connect with tasks that are relevant to you. For assignments 2-4 you will provide an initial draft that I will comment on and return to you, followed by a final draft. Please adhere to due dates in the schedule below.

o   Assignment 1: Email request or other email (100-200 words)

o   Assignment 2: Complaint or other letter (200-400 words)

o   Assignment 3: Internal memo or short report (200-400 words)

o   Assignment 4: Final project (500-1000 words)

Grading

All assignments will be graded on a submitted / not submitted basis provided there is evidence of a serious attempt at meeting the task requirements.  Due to the large number of students in the class, late assignments are subject to a half-credit penalty.  The final grade will be calculated according to the following percentages:

·              Attendance 30%--regular attendance is expected if taking the course for a grade/credit

·              Homework 20%

·             Writing assignments 50%

A passing grade is 70% submitted / present. Letter grades will be assigned for major assignments for those electing the letter-grade option. Assignments 1-4 will be weighted 10-20-20-50%, respectively.

Privacy:

Please note that nothing you write will be shared outside of class. However, the text of any assignment you turn in may be used as a source of in-class examples, discussion, and exercises unless you expressly request it not be due to the sensitive nature of its content.

Tentative Schedule (subject to change) 

 (If you are doing a longer paper for assignment 3-4, it may be broken up differently)