General Unit Descriptions and
Suggested Assignments
The assignments below have been developed around the Profcomm scenario. As such, they focus on peparing students to write for a workplace focused on the analysis of professional communication practices and technologies. The assingments have been broken down into four (4) units, each with particular goals for student learning. Instructors using the Profcomm site may feel free to alter these assignments to better fit their individual classes and teaching styles. As there are several assingments, some rather lengthy, we do not recommend that you try to complete every assignment for every unit. Rather, you should choose one or two assignments from each unit that best cover the outcomes you wish to achieve.
Students: As the above paragraph suggests, you should not assume that the below suggested assignments are the assignments for your specific course. Look to your instructor for directions regarding which assignments you will and will not complete over the course of the semester.
Unit 1 | Unit 2 | Unit 3 | Unit 4
Unit 1: Situating Professional Communication
Unit 1: Overview
This initial
unit is an introduction into professional communication for students. The
emphasis of this unit is the analysis of professional situations that require
the student to present her/himself. Additionally, this unit introduces the
students to the concept of The
Profcomm Center and asks them to begin determining how they will work
collaboratively on projects in this course.
Unit 1: Goals
The goals of this unit are for students to
- familiarize themselves with the concept behind The Profcomm Center and participate in setting the semester's agenda,
- identify their strengths and interests in terms of their activities in the course,
- develop a framework for the rhetorical analysis of professional communication genres, and
- begin exploring project
ideas.
Unit 1: Suggested Assignments (Weeks 1 and 2)
Unit 1 | Unit 2 | Unit 3 | Unit 4
Unit 2: Proposal Writing Process
Unit 2: Overview
In this unit, students will conduct preliminary research in order to focus on and formally propose a project that they will complete for the course. The focus of the unit is defining a project and writing a proposal that will a) set the parameters of the project in terms of outcomes and b) introduce the project to the instructor and other students. Students will generate a workplan for completing the project. Students will determine how they will work on the project and if the project will be an individual or group process. Students will respond to each others’ proposals as well as receive feedback from the instructor.
Unit 2: Goals
The goals for this unit are for students to
- use their preliminary research to develop a clearly defined project focus,
- determine how they will work on the project throughout the remainder of the semester,
- identify the relevance of the project to the goals of the course and Profcomm Center,
- write a proposal for a group/individual project, and
- write recommendation memos to their peers regarding projects proposed.
Unit 2: Suggested Assignments (weeks 3-8)
Unit 1 | Unit 2 | Unit 3 | Unit 4
Unit 3: Completing and Presenting the Project
Unit 3: Overview
In this unit, students will complete their project, develop an electronic presentation of their findings, and present their project to the class. Students will be analyzing their research in order to determine how the data they have gathered responds to the questions they raised in their initial proposal, and what new questions have arisen along the way. Students will evaluate their research so that they can make careful choices about what to include in their presentation and how to select a communications technology based on the information they are presenting and the needs of their audience.
Unit 3: Goals
The goals of this unit are for students to
- evaluate how their project is progressing by writing a status report,
- complete their project research and analyze data from their analysis,
- decide what information they need to include in their presentation and how to present it, and
- deliver a presentation using an appropriate communications technology.
Unit 3: Suggested Assignments (weeks 9-14)
Unit 1 | Unit 2 | Unit 3 | Unit 4
Unit 4: Creating an Application Portfolio
Unit 4: Overview
The final unit of the course asks students to reflect on experiences in the course and to consider career goals. Students are asked to utilize the skills of situational and rhetorical analysis and critique they have used all semester in relation to evaluating their own work. From that analysis, students are asked to put together a portfolio that demonstrates their current skills in the form of an application packet
Unit 4: Goals
The goals of this unit are for students to
- demonstrate the ability to be self-reflective and analytical about their work,
- evaluate their work and revise that work for a specific purpose,
- complete the resume they have been building over the course of the semester and to gear that resume for a specific purpose,
- complete and submit a job application packet according to required guidelines.
Unit 4: Suggested Assignments (weeks 15-16)
- Job Application Portfolio consisting of
- resume,
- application letter,
- writing samples