Grading Criteria

During the semester you will complete tasks that:

• Review elements of grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, word usage
• Teach you the basics about conducting primary and secondary research
• Introduce you to the forms and content of routine business writings
• Provide opportunities to develop writing tasks that are typically done in business settings
• Create opportunities to work alone or in collaboration with classmates
• Develop your ability to prepare and give oral presentations

The course syllabus shows which assignments are completed for practice and which are to be submitted for grading. Each assignment submitted for grading will have a weighted value that represents its degree of difficulty. The course instructor will direct your work by providing directions, guidelines, and specific requirements for the tasks. It then becomes your responsibility to complete each assignment as well as you can. Once submitted, the work will graded and returned.

The grading format exposes students to a routine in the business environment. As an office employee, working as a technical writer or in other capacities, it would be typical to receive an assignment from a manager. Some general instructions would be expected and a time frame for completing the work provided. The employee would then work alone or with others to do what was assigned. Eventually, the employee's work forms the basis for the manager's evaluation of that employee.

Throughout the semester you will be keeping all of your work in a folder. You need to keep rough drafts and graded papers. At mid-semester and again at the end of the semester, your folder will be collected, reviewed, and returned. The folder provides a basis for students and the instructor to talk about the work, to see that all assignments have been understood, and to ensure that the highest possible level of success has been achieved.

The links to the left can be used to learn more about some of the specific assignments for Business Writing Essentials.