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Aside from the fact that this section of ENG 1205 is an online class, what
should you know about this course? What kind of class is it? Who
takes it? Why is it important? I'll try to answer those questions on
this page.
WHAT
IS ENG 1205?
ENG 1205
(Written Communication Skills for Business,
Industry, and Technology) is designed to prepare students to write the types of
documents common in business, industry, and technology—things like letters,
memos, reports, descriptions, summaries, resumes, and application letters.
This course also focuses on the types of activities
that accompany good writing, such as critical thinking skills, problem-solving
skills, and collaborative skills. In
addition, the course provides opportunities for students to utilize various
technologies being used today in written communication—for example, word-processing
software, e-mail, and the World Wide Web.
WHO
TAKES ENG 1205?
Students who enroll in this course come from a variety
of majors and areas of study.
Some
of these areas include business, marketing, accounting, computer networking,
computer-aided design, computer information systems, electronics, child care, and
on and on. Some students come from
jobs they already have in business and industry and simply want to hone their writing skills to enhance
their performance on the job. Others
simply may want to communicate more effectively with friends, family,
businesses, and others.
WHY
TAKE ENG 1205?
(The Real Scoop)
Now, having told you what ENG 1205 is
and who takes it, I’m realistic enough to
know that many students take ENG 1205, as they do many writing classes,
because it’s a requirement for their degrees.
Amazing as it is, many people don’t like to write!
(You can tell you’re dealing with an English teacher here, can’t
you?) How many of you like
to write? Anyone?
Someone?
Seriously,
some of you
probably do like to write. For
some of us, writing is a great way to express ourselves and we find it a rewarding,
even enjoyable experience.
As for the rest of you, even if you only
tolerate or even dislike writing, I’m still looking forward to working with you in this class.
I'm not teaching this class because I have some grand illusion of turning
all of you into English majors, novelists, poets, or even people who necessarily
love to write. I'm teaching this class
because I strongly believe that solid writing skills give you a distinct
advantage in life, both personally and professionally.
In short, if you can write well, whether you particularly enjoy it or
not, you most likely will have opportunities that those without solid writing
skills will not have—better grades in school, a more effective resume and
application letter, better communication with colleagues, a greater chance of
promotion on the job, and even more earning power.
Ah, the bottom line—MONEY!
I certainly don’t want to give you the impression that the only reason writing is
important is because of money, but maybe the following illustration will help
drive home the point that ENG 1205 is, above all, a practical course that teaches
a marketable skill.
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Bill, Sue, Olaf, Jack, and Lexi all have either a 2- or
4-year college degree and hold steady jobs. Bill represents employees who are in the top 20% in terms of
writing ability, Lexi the bottom 20%, and Sue, Olaf, and Jack somewhere in between.
If you want to put this example into academic terms, we might say that
Bill represents A-level writers, Sue B-level writers, Olaf C-level writers, Jack
D-level writers, and Lexi F-level writers.
Here’s where we discover that writing ability does make a
difference in terms of earning power. If
Lexi makes $25,000 a year (a very modest salary), how much can Bill expect to make?
The answer may surprise you! Click
on the money sign below to find out.
Now, just so you don't think I made up this example, it's based on
the findings of linguist Stephen Reder of Portland State University and the U.S.
Department of Education (Fisher, Annie. “The High Cost of Living and Not Writing Well.” Fortune
7 Dec. 1998: 244). Though this study is now several years old, the
consensus is that the importance of writing skills is continuing to
increase, not decrease.
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Now, factors other than your
writing skills will affect your earning power, too. Nor should this
discussion lead
you to believe that only A-level writers will earn a good living. But,
it's clear from the scenario above that solid writing skills can make a significant
difference in your professional life. And it's nothing magic. Solid
writing skills enable you to promote your ideas more effectively, to complete a
greater variety of tasks and assignments, and, in general, to impress those
around you with your communication skills. It's these kinds of advantages
that can lead to promotions and greater responsibilities, which often lead in
turn to higher salaries.
So, get your money’s worth out of this class and take
advantage of all that good writing skills can do for you.
It really is a potentially valuable class and I hope that what you learn
in it enriches your professional and personal life.
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Course
Overview