Homework assigned on December 13

Your group's brochure is due by 4:30pm on Thursday.  Bring one print copy to give to me at the beginning of the period.

The only other thing we will do on Thursday is complete the second peer evaluation. To prepare, think about the effectiveness of your peers as a member of the group, including how they have improved since the first evaluation.

(Josh and Joe: your case studies are also due by 4:30pm on Thursday.  Submit it, as an attached file, to masutton@kean.edu)

I will be on campus a good portion of Wednesday and Thursday, and I would be glad to meet with you.  Just contact me to make an appointment.

Homework assigned on December 8

The oral presentations will be given on Tuesday.  Please try to get to class as on time as possible.  Depending on how much time is left, we may have one last in-class workday for the brochures.

You have all been working hard all semester, and we're almost at the endpoint.  Keep up the good work, and please feel free to contact me if I can be of any help.

Homework assigned on December 6

On Thursday, we will workshop the brochures.  Bring in as complete a mock up as possible to share with the other group.

In addition, submit any remaining revisions by 4:30pm on Thursday.

Please call or email me if you have any questions about this assignment.

Homework assigned on December 1

We will start Tuesday's class by discussing one final theoretical article about collaborative writing: "Building a Taxonomy and Nomenclature of Collabortive Writing to Improve Interdisciplinary Research and Practice" by Paul Benjamin Lowry, Aaron Curtis, and Michelle Rene Lowry.  A copy is available on the course site under "Reserve Readings."

To help guide your reading, consider this question: The writers say the goal of their work is "to enhance. . .research [on this subject], improve its application in academia and industry, and help produce technologies that better support collaborative writing" (66).  How close do they come to meeting this goal?

Once we finish discussing the article, you will have time to work on the brochure.  Bring in whatever materials you need to do so.

Please call or email me if you have any questions about this assignment.

Homework assigned on November 29

For next class, you need to:

• Complete the group assessment email assignment.  I distributed the assignment sheet in class, and a copy is available on the course website.
• Prepare a rough outline of your group's presentation.  This is an individual assignment; you'll have time on Thursday to merge them.
• Come in ready to work on the oral presentation or brochure.

Please call or email me if you have any questions about this assignment.

Homework assigned on November 22

The deadline draft of your persuasive memo is due by 4:30pm on November 29.  One member of your group should submit it, as an attached file, to masutton@kean.edu, cc'ing the other members of the group.

On Tuesday, we will talk about giving oral presentations.  To prepare, you should read p. 393-402 in Alred.

I hope everyone has a good Thanskgiving.

Homework assigned on November 17

We will workshop the persuasive letter on Tuesday.  To prepare, your group needs to bring in a draft, providing enough copies for the other group.

ENG 5091 students: the abstract for your case study is due by 4:30pm on November 22.  Submit it, as an attached file, to masutton@kean.edu.

Homework assigned on November 15

On Tuesday, we discussed the case you will use to write the persuasive memo.  On Thursday, we will spend some class time on continuing to plan it.  To prepare, I want you work as an individual to create a tentative argument structure for the memo.  This is basically an outline that starts with your claim and lists, in the order they will be developed, the reasons supporting your stance.

You will have time in class to merge your ideas with your group members'.

Additionally, you need to keep working on the brochure.  You may not have a lot of class time to work on it, as we have a few other assignments to complete before the end of the semester.

Please call or email me if you have any questions about this assignment.

Homework assigned on November 10

Your group's progress report is due by 4:30pm on Tuesday, November 15.  One member of your group should submit it, as an attached file, to masutton@kean.edu.  That person should cc their other group members.

You also need to read the following two sections in Alred: "Logic Errors" (p. 314-316) and "Persuasion" (p. 376-377).

I have company visiting this weekend, so it may take me a bit to respond to messages.  That doesn't mean, however, you can't contact me.  As always, I am glad to answer questions.

Homework assigned on November 8

Thursday's class will be a workday on either the progress report and/or the brochure.  Bring in whatever you need to make progress on either or both of these assignments.

Please call or email me if you have any questions about this assignment.

Homework assigned on November 3

Next Tuesday, you will complete the second in-class project.  It draws on the collaborative writing software you have been studying online.  Come in ready to do the minimum:

• describe at least 2 of the programs (stixty.com, writeboard.com, and Google Docs)
• evaluate which one would be the best choice for your company

I will be traveling this weekend, but I should have access to email.  Please feel free to email me if you have any questions about the assignment.

Homework assigned on November 1

We will not meet as a class next Thursday.  Please use the time to work with your group in some way.  I would be glad to meet with any of you, should you consider it necessary.  Just email or call me to make an appointment.

I will email everyone on Thursday with the assignment for next Tuesday.

Homework assigned on October 27

For Tuesday's class, you need to:

• read in Alred "Brochures" (p. 58-61) and "Layout and Design" (p. 300-304). 
• read the tutorial "Designing Documents with a Word Processor," accessible through the book's website http://bedfordstmartins.com/alredbus.  After going to the site, select "Tutorials"
• read the online digital tip "Creating Styles and Templates."  You can access it through the book's website.  After going to the site, select "Digital Tips"
• keep playing with the online collaborative tools

Please call or email me if you have any questions about this assignment.

Homework assigned on October 25

The deadline draft of your source report is due by 4:30pm on October 27.  One member of your group needs to email it to me, as an attached file, at my Kean address.  That person should also cc their other group members.

We will start next class by talking about collaboration and difference, particularly gender.  To prepare, you need to read "Interpersonal Conflict in Collaborative Writing: What We Can Learn from Gender Studies" by Mary Lay.  A copy is available under "Reserve Readings" on the course site.  Matt and Kathleen will start our discussion via their reaction memos.

Then, we will move to discussing progress reports.  To prepare, you need to read p. 405-406 in Alred.

Please call or email me if you have questions about this assignment.

Homework assigned on October 20

We will start next class by looking at another article about technology and collaboration: "Friend and Foe? Technology in a Collaborative Writing Group" by Artemi Sakellariadis and others.  Brian will start our discussion through is reaction memo.

Once we finish discussing the article, we will workshop the source report.  Bring in enough print copies of the draft for the other group.

Lastly, I want your group to keep exploring stixy.com and writeboard.com.  You'll need to draw on those experiences for the second in-class project.

Due to some papers for another course, I may not be on the web much this weekend, though I will check my email at least once a day.  Please feel free to call me if you would prefer.

Homework assigned on October 18

For Thursday's class, you need to read "From Writers to Information Coordinators: Technology and the Changing Face of Collaboration" by Scott L. Jones.  Avani will direct our discussion of this essay using her reaction memo.

I also want everyone to check out the following two websites.  Both are designed to help groups collaborate online.  At some point, I would like your groups to experiment with them:

Stixy http://www.stixy.com/
Writeboard http://writeboard.com/

Please call or email me if you have any questions about this assignment.

Homework assigned on October 13

Remember that we will not meet as a class today so that you will have time to work with your groups on the source report.  Should any of you need me, I should be on campus until approximately 5:30pm.

For Tuesday's class, you need to bring in material for your source report.  In particular, I want you to bring in at least one source.  We'll spend a little bit of time reviewing how to evaluate sources, and then you'll have time to work on your own.

Homework assigned on October 11

Today, we decided to treat the next class meeting as a research day.  We will not all meet together.  Use the time to get together with your group and gather sources for the source report.  I will be around campus from 5:30 should anyone need me.

I will email everyone on Thursday with the assignments for next Tuesday's class. 

Homework assigned on October 6

The final draft of your proposal is due by 4:30pm on Tuesday, October 11.  One member of your group should send it, as an attached file, to masutton@kean.edu.  That person should cc the other group members.

You also need to read "Rhetoric in a New Key: Women and Collaboration" by Andrea Lunsford and Lisa Ede.  Pay attention to the different collaborative styles it discusses.  Joe will start the discussion with a reaction memo.

Please call or email me if you have any questions about this assignment.

Homework assigned on October 4

On Thursday, we will workshop the proposals.  You will need to bring in enough print copies for the other group.  The drafts will be exchanged across groups.

Please call or email me if you have any questions about this assignment.

Homework assigned on September 29

The group assessment memo is due by 4:30pm on Tuesday.  Submit it, as an attached file, to masutton@kean.edu.

You also need to read "Collaboration and Concepts of Authorship" by Lisa Ede and Andrea Lunsford.  A copy is available under "Reserve Readings"; Catherine and Nakia have reaction papers due.

I will be on a family trip this weekend, so I will not have easy access to email.  However, I will try to check it at least once a day and will reply as soon as possible.  Please contact me if you need me.

Homework assigned on September 27

On Thursday's class, we will work more on the proposal.  To get ready, complete the prewriting activities I gave out on Tuesday.  A copy is available on the course website.  To find it:

• select "Assignments"
• select "Relocation Project"
• select "Proposal"

Please call or email me if you have any questions about this assignment.

Homework assigned on September 22

Your mission statement is due by 4:30pm on Tuesday.  One member of your group should email it to me as an attached file.  That person should cc their group members as well.

Tuesday's class will be for the in-class project one.  To prepare, you need to read and consider the material I gave out in class.

Homework assigned on September 20

For Thursday's class, you need to read Rebecca Burnett's "Substantive Conflict in a Cooperative Context: A Way to Improve the Collaborative Planning of Workplace Documents."  A copy is available under "Reserve Readings."  Josh will lead our discussion using a reaction memo.

There are some optional readings in Alred: p. 112-121 ("Correspondence") and p. 417-426, 438 ("Proposals")

Please call or email me if you have any questions about this assignment.

Homework assigned on September 15

For Tuesday's class, you need to read Janis Forman and Patricia Katsky's "The Group Report: A Problem in Small Group or Writing Process?"  A copy is available under "Reserve Readings."  Jared will prepare a reaction memo.

There is also an optional reading: Alred p. 417-426 ("Proposals").

Lastly, you and your group should keep working on the mission statement.  The ideas I heard tonight were wonderful; keep that momentum as you all keep working.

Please call or email me if you have any questions about this assignment.

Homework assigned on September 13

For next class, you need to complete the planning activities for the mission statement that I gave out at the end of class.  If you need another copy, look on the course website under "Assignments."  There is a link below "Relocation Project" that will take you to where you can download the assignment sheet.

We will spend most, if not all, of next class in groups working on your mission statement.  If your group all gets to class before I do, feel free to go ahead and get started.

Homework assigned on September 8

For next class, I want you to read "Participating in Groups and Teams" by William J. Seiler and Melissa L. Beall. 

Homework assigned on September 6

For Thursday's class, you need to read:

• "Group and Team Communication" by William J. Seiler and Melissa L. Beall.  A copy is available under "Reserve Readings" on the course site.
• the following two entries in Alred: "Listening" (p. 311-313) and "Mission Statements" (p. 330-333)

Please call or email me if you have any questions about this assignment.

Homework assigned on September 1

For the next class, you need to:

• Complete the introductory memo assignment given out today.  Please bring in one print copy.
• Read "Collaborative Writers at Work" by Lisa Ede and Andrea Lunsford.  A copy is available under "Reserve Readings"
• Read in Alred "Collaborative Writing" (p. 81-83), and complete the digital tips on p. 82 and 492
• Bring in your laptop
• OPTIONAL:  If you feel you need a refresher on the basic principles of business writing, you can read the following sections of Alred:
• "Business Writing Style" (p. 65-66)
• "Clarity" (p. 77, 79)
• "Conciseness" (p. 103-104)
• "Context" (p. 108-110)
• "Positive Writing" (p. 387-88)
• "Proofreading" (p. 415-416)
• "Purpose" (p. 439-440)
• "Readers" (p. 453)
• "Revision" (p. 490-492)
• "Scope" (p. 498)
• "Style" (p. 516, 518-20)
• "Word Choice" (p. 564)
• "Writing a Draft" (p. 565-66)
• "'You' Viewpoint" (p. 570-71)

Please call or email me if you have any questions about this assignment.