175-210 Business and Management Writing

Formerly available as 145-210. Students who have completed 145-210 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

100 points of university study at any level.

In this subject students are introduced to concepts of communication as both constituting work, and enabling people to do their work and manage organisations. The subject is grounded in rhetorical theory, with a strong focus on the ways in which audience, purpose and persuasion shape written and oral workplace communication. Key aspects of workplace communication such collaboration, 'authorless' writing and recurrent revision of documents will be presented. Students will learn to analyse the requirements for different kinds of business and organisational documents (eg memos, letters, leaflets, reports), develop awareness of ethical and legal issues, and understand cross-cultural aspects of business writing. Students will apply theoretical content to practical writing and business meeting assignments.

• be sensitive to cultural dimensions of workplace communication;

• appreciate ethical and legal aspects of workplace communication;

• be able to analyse key requirements for specific kinds of documents;

• be able to write a range of document types appropriate for specific situations;

• be able to manage the planning, documentation and running of a business meeting.

• have developed their critical thinking, writing, team and meeting skills.

Written exercises totalling 1,000 words 20% (due throughout the semester), an analytical report of 1,500 words on a business document 40% (due at the end of semester), a collaborative meeting assignment of 1,500 words including written and spoken components (20% group grade and 20% individual grade) (due in week 8).

• McKenna, B., Thomas, G. & Waddell, N., Australian Guide to Corporate Communication. Social Science Press, 2004.