In Government & Business Correspondence (ETWR 1373), focuses on business correspondence delivered through common media (business letters, memos, e-mail, and reports), across organizational hierarchies (work associates at lower, same, and higher organizational levels), and based in typical situations (good news, bad news, policy and schedule changes, information requests, reprimands, rationales, denials, and other tricky business-communication situations). Emphasizes clear, tactful, succinct, direct, well-structured writing that gets the job done.

See the Course Calendar for a calendar-style view of semester due dates.

Getting organized. In our first class meeting, we'll discuss the schedule, policies, objectives, and requirements for this course. Let's find out whether we want to cover reports, proposals, and oral presentations. It's your class, but my inclination is not. I'll ask you to fill out an online questionnaire and write a brief get-acquainted memo that will be posted on our course website so we can all get know each other!

Introduction to business correspondence. Let's see what the authors think about the importance of business communications skills in careers and in the workplace in general, about the new workplace, about the communication process and barriers to it, and about communicating in organizations.

Communicating in teams, workplace listening, and nonverbal communication. This week let's dig into Bovee/Thill's discussion of groups and teams and the nature of communication within them.

Routine e-mail and memos. Practice using business correspondence techniques to provide information, explain procedures, reply to requests, and confirm receipt of information.

Routine e-mail and memos. We'll discuss more of the cases in the chatroom and write some additional ones as well.

Negative messages. Let's learn how to say "no"—specifically, refusing requests and claims and handling disappointed customers and employees.

Cross-cultural communication and persuasive messages. Learn about other styles of communication. Examine what Bovee/Thill have to say about business correspondence that is essentially persuasive.

Employment communications. Get some practice writing cover letters and resumes.

Week of March 5

Employment communications — continued. Continue our focus on employment communications.

Business reports and proposals. Learn some strategies for writing business reports and proposals.

Business reports and proposals — continued. Let's continue our focus on business reports and proposals.

Business reports and proposals — continued. Let's continue our focus on business reports and proposals.

Business reports and proposals. Keep working on your business report or proposal.

Business reports and proposals. Keep working on your business report or proposal.

Business reports and proposals. Keep working on your business report or proposal.

Business reports and proposals. Keep working on your business report or proposal.