Fall 2005: ENC 5236: Advanced Business Writing for Accounting
Upcoming Projects
|
Finished Projects
|
1. Discussion Boards (Due by 6 pm every Friday)
Instructions: The Discussion Boards loosely mimic inter-office communications you may encounter in the field . You may also find that these forums resemble correspondence via an email list-serve. Thus, post to them as if you were sending memos or emails to others in the workplace, and select the tone and structure accordingly.
Each week I will post a new prompt to initiate topics of discussion. You should respond to my prompt, or alternatively, start a relevant new thread of your own.
Assessment: To obtain the maximum points for discussion board postings, you must post before the deadline, and you will want to respond thoughtfully and creatively in an engaging and professional tone. Grammar and spelling mistakes will not affect you here unless they become so intrusive that they affect readability. Most importantly, the Discussion Boards provide an informal forum in which you can discuss writing issues with your colleagues while developing and improving your professional writing voice. You can earn as much as 15 points each week (or 30 if you post twice in the week) for ten weeks of posting, for a possible maximum of 150 points.
2. Class Participation and In-Class Writing (All term)
Instructions: Since ENC 5236 is a skills-based writing course, in-class writing exercises and peer-review activities will accompany many of our discussions of practical techniques. We will do some in-class writing and .workshopping. of writing-in-progress. Our classroom, as a cooperative professional environment, simulates the workplace. We will take advantage of this similarity to hone such skills as critique of colleagues. work, revision, collaboration, discussion, and presentation.
Assessment: Your grade derives from your active and useful participation in class and from a select few evaluated in-class writing activities.
3. Communication Audit (Due Sept 29th)
Instructions: For your first major assignment, investigate the kinds of documents accountants write. Then, informed by your research and your collected samples, write a memo that summarizes your investigation of this topic, your discoveries, your recommendations, and any conclusions you draw. You should attach copies of at least three writing "samples" from the field.
You may approach this task in a variety of ways, but following is a recommended procedure:
- Contact and arrange to visit an accounting organization.
- Obtain a variety of letters, reports, brochures, advertising materials, instruction or operation manuals, and other samples of professional communication.
- Evaluate the documents' formats, conveyance of professional image, and effectiveness based on their intended functions--instruction, description, or persuasion.
- Summarize your findings, recommendations and conclusions in the memo. That is, research, observe, inquire, interview, and/or consult with working accountants about the kinds of writing their positions demand. Be sure to obtain, with the participants. permission, copies of their writing. (You should obscure identifying information.)
Your memo (not including samples) should be 1˝-3 pages in length, and should follow the guidelines in Chapter 10 (May & May) for "A Memo as Part of Working Papers."
Assessment: Your grade on this assignment derives from the effectiveness of your writing, the thoroughness of your audit, the aptness of your samples, the overall quality of your report, and the pertinence of your conclusions.
4. Reassurance Letter (Due Sept 8th)
Instructions: You must construct a reassurance letter that addresses the problem presented in the assignment sheet. Choose an appropriate format, an effective method of organization, a persuasive style, and an appropriate tone.
This letter should be 1-2 pages in length and should follow a standard business letter format.
Assessment: Your grade on this assignment derives from how well (and how completely) your letter address the problem at hand, as well as from the letter.s format, organization, style, and tone.
5. Response to an Inquiry Letter (Due Sept 20th):
Instructions: Construct a response letter that addresses the inquiry using an appropriate format, an effective method of organization, an effective style, and an appropriate tone. Remember to present information in a manner suitable for your audience.
This letter should be 1-2 pages in length.
Assessment: Your grade on this letter derives primarily from how responsively it addresses the inquiry. You will earn points based on the quality of your organization, style, and tone, as well as for the letter's correct formatting.
6. Cover Letter and Résumé (Due Sept 15)
Since résumé and cover letters are important documents in the workplace, students will be required to produce these job application materials. Each document should be limited to one page.
7. Memo to Client's File (Due Nov 10th)
Instructions: Write a memo to be included in the firm's file on a specific client. Incorporate the information included in the assignment while considering that some information may be sensitive or inappropriate to include in your company files.
Your memo should be 1-2 pages in length.
Assessment: Criteria for grading include quality of writing, appropriateness of tone, and inclusion of pertinent information in a readable and useful format.
8. Graphic-Text (Website) Project (Due Nov 8th)
Instructions: Your response to this assignment should include both textual elements and graphic elements such as charts, tables, images, spreadsheets, font variations, etc.
Your project will be comprise of using templates to create a personal, professional website for you as an accountant. You will be adding your resume to this website, any information about yourself and your work, and images fitting an accounting website.
Assessment: The quality of the textual and graphic elements, the visual appeal of your design layout, and the effective balance of components will comprise your grade on this assignment.