English 3764 Common Assignment: Writing for Non-Specialists

Numerous conversations with department heads and curriculum committees across campus have made it clear that the faculty who send students to English 3764 are particularly concerned about these students' abilities to communicate with non-specialists. Most departments see their own WI courses as a place to teach students to write reports for and communicate with colleagues in their own fields. They look to our course as a place where students can gain the skills to communicate on the job with "the rest of the world" - technicians, supervisors, clients, the public.

As a result, the Professional Writing Committee has designed the final project for English 3764 to specifically address these concerns. This project, described below, should help students develop an ability to act as both experts and translators. Their task is to present an issue or development in their field to a carefully defined, non-specialist audience that has the power to effect change or make a decision. They may choose to write a proposal, a recommendation report, a feasibility study, or a similar document.

The Assignment

Because everyone has a different teaching style, instructors should make up their own specific assignment handouts. The requirements for each document are as follows:

• A project proposal (typically 3-4 pages) written to the course instructor to request permission to proceed with the research project. The proposal should define the project, describe the intended audience, justify the importance of the issue, and chart a schedule for completing the work on time.
• An annotated bibliography of minimum of 3-4 key sources.
• An audience analysis describing the intended audience in detail and analyzing how students' knowledge of the audience affects the shape of the final document.
• A cover letter to the intended audience that introduces the document.
• The report/proposal itself (1800-2500 words).
• An oral presentation summarizing the work, targeted either to the intended audience or to the class.
  

Sample Proposal Assignment

Resources: The English 3764 Online site includes a module on Writing for Non-Technical Audiences.

Sample Article Assignment

Assessment Criteria

We will apply the following criteria to each document, using a scale of 1-5:

The assessment criteria below are based on those the Professional Writing Committee developed for the Spring 2002 assessment.

Contextual Issues

• The document's organization matches the needs and interests of the audience.
• The writer makes appropriate opening and closing moves based on the needs and interests of the audience.

Content and Organization

• The document's content matches the needs and interests of the audience.
• The writer supports generalizations with explanations and evidence.
• The writer demonstrates an understanding of the subject by effectively summarizing information.
• The writer appropriately employs and adapts genre conventions.

Style and Format

• The writer uses transitions effectively.
• The writer demonstrates a clear, concise, and appropriate style.
• The writer has used language appropriate for the audience's knowledge level.
• The document exhibits control of Standard Written English.
• The writer uses appropriate visual strategies to make information accessible.

 

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