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V1 Intro

The document outlines a course on workplace communication led by Dr. Will Kurlinkus, focusing on types of writing, communication challenges, and research relevant to students' career paths. Major assignments include a final portfolio, presentations, research logs, and peer reviews, with specific emphasis on communication strategies and stakeholder mapping. The course also highlights the importance of effective communication skills for career advancement and provides guidance on how to approach various communication scenarios.

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wkurlinkus7386
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225 views21 pages

V1 Intro

The document outlines a course on workplace communication led by Dr. Will Kurlinkus, focusing on types of writing, communication challenges, and research relevant to students' career paths. Major assignments include a final portfolio, presentations, research logs, and peer reviews, with specific emphasis on communication strategies and stakeholder mapping. The course also highlights the importance of effective communication skills for career advancement and provides guidance on how to approach various communication scenarios.

Uploaded by

wkurlinkus7386
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Intro to

Workplace
Communication
Dr. Will Kurlinkus
Course Goal: Learn about the
types of writing, communication,
and research you will be doing
on your chosen career path.
Communication Problems &
Solutions
Parts of a Communication
Challenge
 Communication Task/Context: A final
marketing pitch meeting over zoom.
 Communication Partner: Client-side brand
managers.
 Communication problem: Being pitched
something bad by a client-side stakeholder
you weren’t aware of?
 Communication Strategy/Solution: Better
stakeholder mapping. How to reject a bad
client opinion
We Will Research
Communication Problems and
Solutions. You will choose &
lead the way.
Major Assignments: 1000 Points
Major Assignments
1. 1 Final Portfolio (330 points)—Comm Challenge + Report +
Email Case—Not graded by me
2. 1 Presentation (150 points)
3. 3 Research Logs (120)
4. 3 Email Cases (75 points)
5. 4 Peer Reviews (120 points)

Weekly Things 205 Points Total


1. Research Pitch
2. Homework
3. Draft Meeting with me
4. Collegiality
Common Errors
 Missing Class: Each absence after 4 lowers your final
grade (A to A/B). You may attend by zoom with a
friend if sick.
 Do the Work: If you miss a class—still do the activities
to the best of your abilities.
 Not Following Instructions
 Be More Specific: Show me examples/hypotheticals,
show me research, demonstrate solutions.
 This is a Creative Writing Course: Put yourself in the
situation/case and add the right amount of details
about your industry.
 Not Using the Right Tone: Speaking to a boss is
different than speaking to peers.
Questions?
Who am I and
What’s my
expertise?
• Writing professor and researcher
for over a decade
• User Experience Specialist
• Qualitative Researcher
• Nostalgia Studies
• 6 Year Old Son
• I Live in Illinois
Who are you
and what’s
your expertise?

1. What is your name?

2. Where are you from?

3. What is your major, year in


school, and your career goal?

4. Any business writing or


communication experience—an
internship, etc.?
What Makes Business Writing
Different?
Writing With Use(rs) in Mind
 Who are the users  As you’re listening,
of your texts? ask:
What does it 1. What is the comm
mean to use a challenge & why
text? does it exist?
 How do you “use” 2. Who is it between?
an email? Can 3. What texts does it
you think of non- exist across?
useful emails?
4. What is the solution?
 Lean back vs. lean Is it feasible?
forward media
5. Could it transfer to
 What users aren’t your professional life?
traditionally Why or why not?
listened to? Why?
A Failed Boundary Object
Interface Design
The Economics of Attention
How to Read in this Class
 Skimming: Using the headings, look for key
concepts, understand the gist and clear
examples.
 Scanning: Looking for key concepts, quotes,
solutions, ideas that can be used to
accomplish class goals. There’s nothing
against using the up-to-date readings in the
final reports.
 I’m usually going to ask: how can you apply
this reading to your career?
Why Do We Need to Practice
Writing & Speaking?
 Raises: Because it will statistically get you
raises more quickly and to higher levels more
swiftly.
 Expertise: Because if you are an expert but
can’t speak and explain your expertise, you
won’t be listened to (and you’re not really an
expert).
 Writing with Use in Mind: Because you want to
make the lives of people around you easier.
What Do You Want to Learn
About This Semester?: This Can
Be Your Comm Challenge
 How to say no to clients.
 How to negotiate better.
 How to make more engaging zoom
presentations.
 How to build interactivity into HR trainings.
 How to ask for help.
 How to do small talk with bosses.
Homework

 Intro Yourself on Canvas & Respond


 Syllabus Quiz
 Student Questionnaire
 Prepare the readings
 Take a look a the report 1 prompts

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