PROJECTS
Project 1.
ASK THE COMPANY
Learning Focus:
Research, reading, summarizing information, writing.
Technology Needed:
Web browser
software and Internet connection.
Instructions:
It is customary for a company to include an email address on their website to facilitate
communication. This email access is useful to find out additional information on a
company.
Task
: Locate the site of a company of personal interest. It may be a major competitor of
your company company; or a company you would like to work for someday; or, one that
has been in the news recently. After reviewing the information provided on the site, you
email the company for additional information they would like about the organization or
about their products. Then write a one to two page memo with a brief description of the
company and their product categories, including the email question and the response
received.
Helpful Hints:
If deadlines are close, contact more than one company in case they do not get an
immediate response from their first choice.
More on this Topic:
Examples of business memos are available from online writing labs such as:
Online Writing Lab (OWL), Purdue University: Professional Writing Handouts and
Resources.
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/pw/index.html
Project 2.
LEARNING BY "LURKING"
Learning Focus:
Reading, critical thinking, summarizing, writing.
Technology Needed:
Email.
Instructions:
Hot topics and current events are often discussed and debated through public and
professional email lists. They are also used in a daily basis to disseminate information
and conduct planning internally in academic departments and business settings. This
mode of communication has unique characteristics and can vary according to the
"culture" of the profession or institution (e.g. when to type in CAPS, whether you post
your reply above or below the original text in the body of an email message, the kind of
information that merits a reply to the whole group vs. an individual).
It is common practice for newcomers to a list to "lurk" (read silently and not respond) in
order to become familiar with the topics under discussion and the customs or "norms" for
communicating within that group. In this way newcomers can gauge whether or not it's a
list that they want to belong to, and they can avoid irritating or offending longstanding
list members.Some lists have very firm rules to this effect and do not permit newcomers
to post at all for a given period of time.
Task
: Select an email list and subscribe to it. The whole class can join the same
list, groups can join lists together, or individuals can choose lists on their own. up and
"lurk" (i.e. follow it) for a set period of time.
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