CMNS 1811: Professional and Academic Composition
Students learn the theory and practice of successful academic and professional writing. Students compare and apply techniques involved in writing for business and academic purposes, learning skills in audience assessment, document planning and design, research, and effective writing. Students complete assignments ranging from academic essays to a variety of professional communication documents.
Learning outcomes
- Apply critical thinking and persuasive skills to academic and professional writing situations.
- Write with improved grammar and style suitable for both professional and academic contexts.
- Design professional and academic communication documents that are responsive to goal, context, and audience need.
- Explain the purpose of and create different communication strategies, including information exchange and persuasion.
- Explain the purpose of and create properly structured academic documents, including an essay and report.
- Explain the purpose of and create properly structured professional documents, including reports, general business correspondence, and employment writing.
- Apply effective research and documentation skills.
- Produce and deliver an effective oral presentation with appropriate visual support.
Course topics
- Module 1: Introduction to Professional and Academic Composition
- Module 2: Academic Composition—The Writing Process and Thesis Statements
- Module 3: Academic Composition—Library Research and Reference Lists
- Module 4: Academic Composition—Research Essays
- Module 5: Editing Documents; Writing Memos, Emails, and Letters
- Module 6: Professional Communication—Good News and Bad News Messages
- Module 7: Professional Communication—Persuasive Messages
- Module 8: Communicating for Employment—Cover Letters and Resumés
- Module 9: Communicating for Employment—Interviews
- Module 10: Professional Communication—Informal Reports
- Module 11: Formal Reports and Proposals
- Module 12: Visual Presentations and Oral Communication
Required text and materials
The following materials are required for this course:
- Meyer, C. (2020). Communicating for results: A Canadian student’s guide(with Access
card) (5th ed.). Oxford University Press.
Type: Textbook, ISBN: 978-0-19-016277-1
The following Open Education Resources (OER) textbook is required for this course:
- Smyrl, S. (n.d.). University writing lessons. Thompson Rivers University. https://universitywritinglessons.trubox.ca
Note: If you have questions about course textbooks or other materials, email OLMaterials.
Assessments
Please be aware that should your course have a final exam, you are responsible for the fee to the online proctoring service, ProctorU, or to the in-person approved Testing Centre. Please contact exams@tru.ca with any questions about this.
To successfully complete this course, students must achieve a passing grade of 50% or higher on the overall course, and 50% or higher on the mandatory final exam.
| Assignment 1a: Annotated Reference List | 5% |
| Assignment 1b: Research Essay | 15% |
| Assignment 2: Direct and Bad News Emails | 10% |
| Assignment 3: Resumé and Cover Letter | 10% |
| Assignment 4: Informal Report | 10% |
| Assignment 5: Formal Report | 20% |
| Assignment 6: Formal Report Presentation | 10% |
| Final Exam (mandatory) | 20% |
| Total | 100% |
Open Learning Faculty Member Information
An Open Learning Faculty Member is available to assist students. Students will receive the necessary contact information at the start of the course.
