Writing Intensive Emphasis in School of Management
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Transcript of Writing Intensive Emphasis in School of Management
WI Emphasis in the WI Emphasis in the School of ManagementSchool of Management
George Mason UniversityGeorge Mason UniversityFairfax, Virginia, USAFairfax, Virginia, USA
WAC Conference, March 2002WAC Conference, March 2002Karen Hallows, School of ManagementKaren Hallows, School of Management
Ruth Fischer, Department of English, CASRuth Fischer, Department of English, CASDavid Beach, Dept. of English & School of Mgmt.David Beach, Dept. of English & School of Mgmt.
Alison O’Brien, School of ManagementAlison O’Brien, School of Management
SOM WI Course DevelopmentSOM WI Course Development
Early 1990sEarly 1990so One WI course in each SOM disciplineOne WI course in each SOM discipline
Late 1990sLate 1990so Internal assessmentInternal assessmento External assessmentExternal assessment
20012001o Development of entry course: SOM301Development of entry course: SOM301
SOM WI Course DevelopmentSOM WI Course Development
RationaleRationaleo Faculty perception of poor written Faculty perception of poor written
and oral communication skillsand oral communication skillso New general education New general education
requirementsrequirementso External forces reinforcing External forces reinforcing
importance of written and oral importance of written and oral competencycompetency
SOM WI Course DevelopmentSOM WI Course Development
Faculty PerceptionsFaculty Perceptionso ““They can’t write!”They can’t write!”o ““They can’t give a presentation!”They can’t give a presentation!”o Insufficient and inconsistent skill Insufficient and inconsistent skill
development in writingdevelopment in writingo Unsatisfactory student preparationUnsatisfactory student preparationo Poor communication skills in Poor communication skills in
capstone course (SOM498)capstone course (SOM498)
SOM WI Course DevelopmentSOM WI Course Development
University’s General Education University’s General Education RequirementsRequirements
Ensure all undergraduate students Ensure all undergraduate students develop skills in:develop skills in:o Information gatheringInformation gatheringo Written and oral communicationWritten and oral communicationo Analytical and quantitative reasoningAnalytical and quantitative reasoningo Making connections across boundariesMaking connections across boundaries
SOM WI Course DevelopmentSOM WI Course Development
External ForcesExternal Forceso Self-assessment for Self-assessment for
reaccredidationreaccredidationo Task Force assessmentTask Force assessmento University-wide review of University-wide review of
academic programsacademic programso Feedback from Northern Virginia Feedback from Northern Virginia
business communitybusiness communityo State mandate for writing State mandate for writing
competencycompetency
SOM Coordination with WAC SOM Coordination with WAC and English Departmentand English Department
Identify common goals and Identify common goals and objectivesobjectives
Set ENGL302B (Advanced Set ENGL302B (Advanced Composition—Business) as Composition—Business) as prerequisite for entry to School prerequisite for entry to School of Managementof Management
Revise ENGL302B curriculum Revise ENGL302B curriculum for better transition to SOM301for better transition to SOM301
SOM Coordination with WAC SOM Coordination with WAC and English Departmentand English Department
Identified five major reoccurring Identified five major reoccurring assignment categories:assignment categories:
Term/research papersTerm/research papers Analyses Analyses Reports Reports DescriptionsDescriptions White papersWhite papers
SOM Coordination with WAC SOM Coordination with WAC and English Departmentand English Department Identified Most Frequently Identified Most Frequently
Reported Student-Writing Reported Student-Writing ConcernsConcernso ContentContento Organization and structureOrganization and structureo Style and formatStyle and formato Basic mechanicsBasic mechanicso GrammarGrammaro ESL issuesESL issues
SOM Coordination with WAC SOM Coordination with WAC and English Departmentand English Department Revise Outcomes for ENGL302B Revise Outcomes for ENGL302B
o Apply understanding of language in order Apply understanding of language in order to write in different rhetorical situations to write in different rhetorical situations
o Apply objective and critical thought to Apply objective and critical thought to inquiry-based researchinquiry-based research
o Observe, explain, analyze, and Observe, explain, analyze, and synthesize materialsynthesize material
o Use information technology for Use information technology for communicationcommunication
SOM Coordination with WAC SOM Coordination with WAC and English Departmentand English Department Revise Outcomes for ENGL302B Revise Outcomes for ENGL302B
(continued)(continued)o Write extemporaneous analysis Write extemporaneous analysis o Revise and edit written workRevise and edit written worko Work effectively with peers to investigate Work effectively with peers to investigate
problems or issues, to compile data, to problems or issues, to compile data, to create, revise, and format documents, create, revise, and format documents, and to present findingsand to present findings
o Present a short, oral presentation based Present a short, oral presentation based on research using visual aids effectivelyon research using visual aids effectively
SOM Coordination with WAC SOM Coordination with WAC and English Departmentand English Department
o Research Research proposals proposals
o Research Research studiesstudies
o White papersWhite paperso Group case Group case
studies studies o Literature Literature
reviews reviews o Critical Critical
analysesanalyses
o Field reports Field reports o CritiquesCritiqueso Reading Reading
journalsjournalso In-class In-class
analytical analytical essaysessays
o Essay examsEssay examso MemosMemoso Executive Executive
summariessummaries
Opportunities to Guide LearningOpportunities to Guide Learning
SOM Coordination with WAC SOM Coordination with WAC and English Departmentand English Department
Sample Assignments for Sample Assignments for ENGL302BENGL302Bo Data AnalysisData Analysiso Literature ReviewLiterature Reviewo Collaborative Field Project: White Collaborative Field Project: White
Paper on Workplace Writing & Paper on Workplace Writing & CultureCulture
o In-Class WritingIn-Class Writing
Development of SOM301Development of SOM301
Budget for business communications Budget for business communications facultyfaculty
Develop courseDevelop courseo Diagnose writing competence using Diagnose writing competence using
WritePlacerWritePlacer™™ o Emphasize written and oral Emphasize written and oral
communicationcommunicationo Emphasize functional business areas Emphasize functional business areas
equallyequallyo Stress integration of communication Stress integration of communication
skills with business functionsskills with business functions
Development of SOM301Development of SOM301
Communication Intensive StructureCommunication Intensive Structureo WritePlacerWritePlacer™™ administration at start of administration at start of
semestersemestero Weekly writing assignmentsWeekly writing assignmentso Weekly group assignmentsWeekly group assignmentso Four-part business plan assignmentFour-part business plan assignmento End-of-semester portfolio of select End-of-semester portfolio of select
writings evaluated holistically by key writings evaluated holistically by key faculty faculty
o WritePlacerWritePlacer™™ administration at end of administration at end of semestersemester
Development of SOM301Development of SOM301
Fall 2001Fall 2001o Focus written & oral assignments Focus written & oral assignments
on formon formo Memos, summaries, letters, reportsMemos, summaries, letters, reportso Persuasive speaking, conducting Persuasive speaking, conducting
meetings, presentingmeetings, presentingo Introduce business functional Introduce business functional
areas with guest facultyareas with guest facultyo Integrate communication and Integrate communication and
business as in the real worldbusiness as in the real world
Development of SOM301Development of SOM301
Feedback from Fall 2001Feedback from Fall 2001o Overviews of functional areas of Overviews of functional areas of
business too briefbusiness too briefo ““Too much writing!”Too much writing!”o Course structure frustrating for Course structure frustrating for
both faculty and studentsboth faculty and studentso However, students’ increased However, students’ increased
awareness of the importance of awareness of the importance of written and oral communication in written and oral communication in businessbusiness
Development of SOM301Development of SOM301
Spring 2002: SOM301 Spring 2002: SOM301 New and Improved: Part INew and Improved: Part Io Communications “Boot Camp”Communications “Boot Camp”
Week 1: Week 1: o Writing AssessmentWriting Assessment
Weeks 2-4: Weeks 2-4: o Oral Presentation Skill Development Oral Presentation Skill Development o Writing To Explain, Summarize, InformWriting To Explain, Summarize, Inform
Weeks 5-7: Weeks 5-7: o Group Presentations on Oral and Written Group Presentations on Oral and Written
Business CommunicationBusiness Communicationo Writing To Persuade, AnalyzeWriting To Persuade, Analyzeo Multicultural CommunicationsMulticultural Communications
Development of SOM301Development of SOM301
Spring 2002: SOM301 Spring 2002: SOM301 New and Improved: Part IINew and Improved: Part IIo Integration of Communication and Integration of Communication and
Business Business Week 8-15Week 8-15
o Group Presentations on Functional Business Group Presentations on Functional Business AreasAreas
o Application of Communication Skills to Application of Communication Skills to Business AreasBusiness Areas
Writing Resumes and Cover LettersWriting Resumes and Cover Letters Data Analysis and InterpretationData Analysis and Interpretation Writing and Presenting a Business PlanWriting and Presenting a Business Plan
Writing Assessment in SOMWriting Assessment in SOM
WritePlacerWritePlacer™™ vs. Manual vs. Manual Scoring in SOM301Scoring in SOM301o Matched:Matched: 41%41%o +/- 1 point:+/- 1 point: 47%47% 2 points:2 points: 12%12%o In all cases of outliers, the In all cases of outliers, the
computer scored higher than the computer scored higher than the manual score.manual score.
Writing Assessment in SOMWriting Assessment in SOM
WritePlacerWritePlacer™™ Statistics from Statistics from Fall 2001 SOM301Fall 2001 SOM301o AugustAugust
Average: 8.07Average: 8.07 Median: 8Median: 8 SD: 1.79SD: 1.79
o DecemberDecember Average: 8.46Average: 8.46 Median: 9Median: 9 SD: 1.66SD: 1.66
o ChangeChange Average: +0.51Average: +0.51 SD: 1.79SD: 1.79
Writing Assessment in SOMWriting Assessment in SOM
SOM498 SAMPLE GRADING SOM498 SAMPLE GRADING CRITERIACRITERIAo UNDERSTANDS AND APPLIES UNDERSTANDS AND APPLIES
CONCEPTSCONCEPTSDemonstrates application of key Demonstrates application of key concepts from assigned readings concepts from assigned readings and class discussions and class discussions
Writing Assessment in SOMWriting Assessment in SOM
SOM498 SAMPLE GRADING SOM498 SAMPLE GRADING CRITERIACRITERIAo ANSWERS QUESTION ANSWERS QUESTION
CLEARLYCLEARLYPredicts industry growth and Predicts industry growth and identifies three factors that support identifies three factors that support predictionspredictions
Writing Assessment in SOMWriting Assessment in SOM
SOM498 SAMPLE GRADING SOM498 SAMPLE GRADING CRITERIACRITERIAo ORGANIZATIONORGANIZATION
Clear thesis statementClear thesis statement Topic sentencesTopic sentences Conclusion Conclusion
o SPELLING & GRAMMARSPELLING & GRAMMAR Free of spelling errors, typos, and Free of spelling errors, typos, and
grammatical errors grammatical errors
Writing Assessment in SOMWriting Assessment in SOM
SOM498 SAMPLE GRADING SOM498 SAMPLE GRADING CRITERIACRITERIAo CONFORMS TO PAPER STYLE CONFORMS TO PAPER STYLE
GUIDELINESGUIDELINES Word processed Word processed Professional appearanceProfessional appearance Proper business tone and styleProper business tone and style Appropriate lengthAppropriate length PaginatedPaginated
Writing Assessment in SOMWriting Assessment in SOM
SOM 498 Capstone WI CourseSOM 498 Capstone WI Courseo Minimum 3,500 written words Minimum 3,500 written words
(write-feedback-revise)(write-feedback-revise)o Outline, short paper, long paperOutline, short paper, long papero Strong WI research component for Strong WI research component for
oral presentationoral presentationo In-class writingIn-class writing
Writing Assessment in SOMWriting Assessment in SOM
RationaleRationaleo Writing diagnostic pre-test – Writing diagnostic pre-test –
indicator of expected effort indicator of expected effort o Course performance Course performance
70% WI content70% WI content 30% writing assignments30% writing assignments
FindingsFindingso Low mathematical correlations Low mathematical correlations
between pre-test and final gradebetween pre-test and final grade
Future Writing Assessment Future Writing Assessment in SOMin SOM
SOM301 EffectsSOM301 Effects SOM498 Improvement SOM498 Improvement
ExpectedExpected SOM Writing Intensity Indicator SOM Writing Intensity Indicator
for every coursefor every course