This syllabus outlines an online introduction to professional writing course. The course aims to help students develop writing skills needed for their careers. It covers applying rhetorical concepts to meet professional writing needs, analyzing and composing print and digital documents, and learning new communication technologies. Students will complete five projects involving a communication self-audit, exploring a field of interest, pitching ideas for publication, analyzing a public policy debate, and applying for an internship. The course policies describe participation requirements, technology needs, file formats, deadlines, and submitting work.

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Introduction to
Professional
Writing (Online)
Dr. Jodie Nicotra
jnicotra@uidaho.edu| brink hall room #230|208 885-7826
office hours: MW 1:00-2:30 or by appt.
Researchers who study 21st century workplaces tell us that writing is a key “threshold skill”
employers look for in new hires. This means that if you can’t write effectively, your job
prospects will be few. Conversely, the better you are at writing, the more job prospects you
will have!
The course is designed to help students in any major situate their career interests within the
field of professional writing. So, whether you are planning on a career as a professional
writer or one in another field, English 202 will help you build the skills you need to
communicate effectively in today's workplace.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: After completing this course, you will be able to:
1. apply rhetorical concepts that govern how writers meet the needs and purposes of
professional writing through audience analysis, genre selection, and media distribution;
2. analyze, plan, and compose a variety of communication products for both print and web
delivery;
3. learn how to learn and use new digital communication technologies.
TEXTBOOK. The textbook is free, online, and in the BbLearn course website.

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GRADES: Final grades are based on your online participation and successful completion of
five projects.
Participation (25%). Your participation grade will be based on posting to the course blog for
each project and participating in online peer reviews.
PROJECT 1: Communication Self-Audit (10%). In this project, you will evaluate and analyze
your communication practices and skills that will be important to your professional career.
Deliverable:
• Memo Report: about 1500 words
PROJECT 2: Explore a Field to Write for a Client (15%). In this project, you will conduct
research to explore the field of professional writing (or another field you are interested in) for
the University of Idaho's Career Center. Deliverables:
• Research Dossier containing source data/analysis notes
• White Paper: about 1500 words plus graphics
• Event Flyer, 1 page
PROJECT 3: Pitch, Compose, and File for Publication (15%). In this project, you will pitch two
ideas and compose two deliverables to be filed with editors for possible publication in an
online magazine or website of your choice. Deliverables:
• Pitch: about 150 words plus Slidecast Video Instructions: 3-5 minutes
• Pitch: about 150 words plus Review: about 750 words plus images
PROJECT 4: Analyze a Public Policy Debate for Stakeholders (25%). In this project, you will
conduct research to analyze a public policy debate in the United States using Stasis and
Stakeholder theories. Deliverables:
• Progress Report: about 500 words
• Research Dossier containing source data/analysis notes
• Formal Report: about 2000 words plus graphics.
PROJECT 5: Apply for an Internship (10%). In this project, you will write a targeted cover
letter; resume for an internship in your field of study; and create and populate an e-
portfolio with sample work to supplement these application materials.
• WARNING: page length and word count guidelines are not a valid way to determine how
long a project will take you to complete in this course.

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Course Policies
1. Online Participation. Students are required to participate in the course blog and
complete asynchronous online peer reviews.
2. Technology Requirements.
• Computer
• Microsoft Word. Students are strongly encouraged to use Microsoft Word because it
is the most commonly used software in the workplace today.
• Microsoft Office is provided at no extra cost to all students and as part of the UI
Microsoft Licensing Agreement. You can install it on up to five separate devices. To
install, go to ITS Technology Services https://www.uidaho.edu/infrastructure/its/self-
help/ms-office/office-365
• Microphone. Most computers have an integrated microphone that will work fine for
this course. If you need to purchase one, however, here are two inexpensive
microphones that BbLearn recommends:
Logitech 1 ($14.99) and Logitech 2 ($19.99).
• Reliable Backup. You will need a reliable backup to store the latest drafts of your
work other than the hard drive of your computer or an easily lost thumb drive. I
recommend using OneDrive,
3. Multimedia Project Deliverables. One of the projects requires both print
and a multimedia deliverable (slidecast). Students are not expected to have prior
experience in producing a slidecast and will be invited to create it using free, cloud-
computing tools that will also host the file. Should you choose to create your digital
media another way, your file must be hosted in the cloud and play as a video without a
user needing to download.
4. Accepted File Formats. The following are the only accepted file formats:
• Print Deliverables: Word or PDF
• Event Flyer: jpg, png, or other image file; Word, PPT or PPTX, or PDF
• Slidecast: URL where the file is hosted. Digital media files (MP3, MP4, etc.) are
not accepted in this course because you are practicing how such files are shared
in the workplace. Your media file must be hosted in the cloud and play as a video.

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5. Deadlines. All work is due by 11:59 PM on the day/date indicated in the project
schedules. Late assignments will lose one letter grade (or the equivalent number of
points) per day.
If, when I start to grade your work, a file will not open or a URL link does not work, I will
notify you by email, and you will be given 24 hours to submit work correctly in bblearn
and a late work point penalty will apply. To avoid this problem, verify your submission.
6. Verify Submissions to Avoid Point Penalties. When submitting assignments, students are
responsible for verifying that files they uploaded; are not corrupted; will open; and that
the URL to the slidecast works.
This means you must return to the submissions box and open any files you uploaded and
check that a URL works. If your work does not submit correctly or if you failed to submit
part of it, you will need to submit all work again in a single attempt because the last
submission is the only one I grade.
7. Compress Files Over 1 MB. Your work will lose points if the file you submit is over 1 MB
because large files slow down my ability to grade work efficiently. You will find tools to
help you compress files posted in BbLearn.
8. University Disability Support Services. Reasonable accommodations will be made for
students with disabilities. Disability Support Services must approve your request: (208)
885-6307• dss@uidaho.edu
9. Plagiarism. Violation of the University of Idaho Student Code of Conduct for Plagiarism
will result in a course grade of ‘F'.
10.Contacting Me. You are invited to email me when you have a question or to request a
writing conference. You may expect a reply within 24 hours.