Orton, Health Policy and Administration 72

Business Writing for Health Administrators (BWHA)

OBJECTIVES: This course is designed to prepare you for the writing and communication requirements that you will face in the field of Health Policy and Administration. You will work on reading and analysis skills, you will learn techniques for writing and presenting ideas more clearly, and you will have a chance to practice a number of different business communication formats: letters, press releases, memos, e-mail, proposals, executive summaries, oral presentations, and more.

EXPECTATIONS: Writing is a process; this is a process-oriented, student-centered class. I expect you to come to class and to be ready to participate in writing exercises, group discussions, class discussions, editing workshops, and the discussion forum (see below). I also expect you to come see me in my office (at least once during the semester) and write me on email when you have questions or need assistance in drafting papers. Iım in the office every weekday, and respond to email promptly.

GROUPS: We will work in groups. Most of you will be called upon to work in groups in the academic and working world, so this structure will help prepare you. Group work in a composition class also provides you with a very tangible Other Person to communicate with as a reader/writer. You will be called upon to share your writing and to carefully read the work of others, provide feedback and editing, and to work well with your group, on a daily basis.

READING: The text for the first part of the course is Piotrowski's Effective Business Writing, because it is inexpensive and covers most of the bases. We will also make use of other texts, including articles that you will be asked to bring in. I urge you to refer often to the writing handbook of your choice for guidance with grammar and usage. I also expect you to do substantial reading on topics of your choice for the research paper.

WRITING: Needless to say, we will also write in class virtually every day. Practice makes perfect.

DISCUSSION FORUM: Starting with week 2, you will be expected to participate in a web-based discussion forum for this class (run on Lotus Domino and administered by IAT). The forum allows you to read and post messages on any topic germane to the class so that all other members of the class can read and respond to them. The forum is designed to enable class-wide written discussion, and to provide regular opportunities for you to practice clear writing.

We will establish topic guidelines as a group, and the forum will be moderated each week by three or four students. Moderators will be expected to generate new "threads" if necessary, maintain a lively and thoughtful atmosphere, and write a brief summary of the week's discussion at the end.

The forum constitutes one quarter of the class grade, based on your work as a moderator and as a contributor throughout the semester (two qualifying posts per week equals full credit). A clear, thoughtful, and complete query/statement/response on a BWHA-related topic constitutes a "qualifying post." Of course, you can write about anything you want.

In addition to enabling extended student discussion of health policy issues, the forum allows the opportunity to publish example papers, to share interesting web sites or news articles, discuss paper topics, clarify assignment requirements, even to administer class surveys. I think you will find the forum a useful and interesting place to visit. The only expectation is that you spend time on the forum regularly and that you help maintain its invigorating intellectual climate.