As the new session begins and I find myself teaching ENGL 227: Professional Writing, there are a few things that present themselves as needing attention. Chief among them are due dates and certain assignment materials, both of which are presented below.

Due Dates

The University generally holds that weeks begin and end at midnight Mountain Time on Sundays (so at 0100 Monday mornings in San Antonio). Each week’s assignments are due before the week ends, meaning that written assignments are due according to the following schedule:

• Resume, to the dropbox before 0059, 5 September 2016
• Quiz, completed online before 0059, 12 September 2016
• Routine Message, to the dropbox before 0059, 19 September 2016
• Group Project Informal Analytical Report, to the dropbox before 0059, 26 September 2016
• Negative or Bad News Message, to the dropbox before 0059, 3 October 2016
• Group Project Formal Proposal (Preliminary Version), to the dropbox before 0059, 10 October 2016
• Group Project Formal Proposal (Final Version), to the dropbox before 1159, 23 October 2016 (although earlier would be appreciated)

That the final assignment is due at a different point in the week than other assignments is an artifact of anticipated grade submission deadlines. I cannot put in final grades until I have assessed all assignments–and it takes time to assess projects.

Additionally, discussions must be completed according to the following schedule:

• Week 1, before 0059, 5 September 2016
• Week 2 open, before 0059, 12 September 2016
• Week 2 group, before 0059, 12 September 2016
• Week 3 open, before 0059, 19 September 2016
• Week 3 group, before 0059, 19 September 2016
• Week 4, before 0059, 26 September 2016
• Week 5, before 0059, 3 October 2016
• Week 6, before 0059, 10 October 2016
• Week 7, before 0059, 17 October 2016

Typically, in each class meeting’s report, I will indicate the next applicable set of due dates. Still, knowing them ahead of time makes drafting a personal schedule easier–which should, in turn, make getting done all of what needs to be done easier.

Assignment Materials

How to handle the discussions on which class relies needs some explanation. Some of it is taken care of by the course shell already, but most of it is not. As such, I present the following document, which lays out what I expect and how I will assess it in the September 2016 session: ENGL 227 Discussion Assignment Sheet. Hopefully, it will clarify matters in advance of them becoming confused.

I look forward to teaching more professional materials once again, and I look forward to working with the students enrolled in my section for the session. Both promise to be enriching experiences for all involved.

Updated 30 August 2016 to account for better information.