Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Business Wrtng Manufacturers (Online)

PRDV 5000-17

Course: PRDV 5000-17
Credits: 6
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: LIB
CRN: 33883

Course Description

This course is an introduction to ethical and effective written communication within the manufacturing industry, including professional documents, reports, emails, and proposals, data management and analysis, and the integration of artificial intelligence in communication practices.

Required Texts

Required content from this text is embedded within the online course materials. No purchase is necessary.
Kolin, P. (2017). Successful Writing at Work, 11th edition. Cengage Learning. Boston, MA.

Learning Outcomes

Business Writing Proficiency: Students should be able to compose well-structured and concise professional documents, such as reports, memos, procedures, instructions, emails, and proposals, with attention to clarity, coherence, grammar, and professional tone, and effectively edit and revise their writing.
AI Integration in Professional Communication: Students should be able to effectively and ethically utilize AI tools and technologies in their professional communication practices. They should understand the benefits and limitations of AI applications, such as automated writing assistance, data analysis, and natural language processing, and employ them judiciously to enhance the quality, efficiency, and accuracy of their written and verbal communication. Students should also develop critical thinking skills to evaluate AI-generated content, ensuring its ethical use and maintaining transparency and accountability in their communication endeavors.
Data Management and Analysis: Students should be able to demonstrate skills in managing and communicating data and other quantitative information, including summarizing, analyzing, and evaluating quantitative data. Students should also develop critical evaluation skills to assess accuracy and validity of information as well as skills to effectively incorporate quantitative information into graphs, charts, presentations, organizational storytelling, or other analytical tools for effective communication.
Ethical Communication Practices: Students should understand and apply ethical principles and guidelines in professional communication, including honesty, integrity, respect, and consideration of diverse perspectives.

Course Requirements

Attendance in this face-to-face course is required. A minimum of 80% engagement in course activities is required to pass in both face to face and online modalities.
If a participant needs to take time away from the course, they must approve this in advance with appropriate replacement work with the instructor. Participants may not replace more than five hours of course engagement.

Within this course, we will be discussing artificial intelligence (AI) as part of our learning process. While you will not need to utilize AI for the assignments in this course, you should be familiar with and adhere to your company’s AI policies.

The SUU Undergraduate Writing Center invites all students to the writing center in Braithwaite Center 101 where qualified peer tutors are ready to help with any stage of the writing process. Fall hours start September 5, M-F 8-9 pm, F 8-5, and Saturday 11am-3 pm. All appointments are free, and both in-person and zoom appointments are available. To schedule, visit our website.

Course Outline

This course is designed to be delivered in a five day face-to-face workshop. Participants will engage in hands-on interaction with business writing skills, work with subject matter experts from their industry to apply the skills in the context of their profession, and practice the writing process for application in manufacturing contexts.

Day / Module 1: Introduction to Professional Writing 9 hours
  • Students will understand how their writing represents themselves and their company.
  • Students will identify the audience of their writing, establish purpose, formulate a message, and select an appropriate style and tone.
  • Students will understand the characteristics of job related writing.
  • Students will engage in the writing process, including planning, drafting, revising, and editing.

Day / Module 2: Electronic Communication at Work 9 hours
  • Students will understand the legal nature of workplace communication.
  • Students will explore the purposes and effects of email/memo, text messaging, and social media posts.
  • Students will draft appropriate digital communications for common workplace situations.
  • Students will gather reliable data to support a proposal idea. 

Day / Module 3: Introduction to Business Proposals 9 hours
  • Students will understand the elements of effective workplace proposals.
  • Students will create an outline for a business proposal.
  • Students will explore visual models for data and understand the purposes of various models.
  • Students will develop visual information to support a proposal. 

Day / Module 4: Drafting & Revising Proposals; Instructions & Procedures 9 hours
  • Students will draft a business proposal.
  • Students will engage in collaborative revision of their written proposal drafts.
  • Students will examine instructions for strengths and weaknesses, and draft instructions for a common workplace task.
  • Students will evaluate a set of procedures and construct a procedural document for their team. 

Day / Module 5: Business Reports, Editing, AI, and Proposal Evaluation 9 hours
  • Students will analyze business reports from their company for structural elements.
  • Students will construct a business report template for use in their work.
  • Students will engage in the editing process for their business proposal.
  • Students will discuss artificial intelligence in business writing.
  • Students will evaluate business proposals for effective writing elements.

Total: 45 hours

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

MAKEUP AND EXTENSION POLICY:

If a participant needs to take time away from the course, they must obtain approval in advance and complete appropriate replacement work. Participants may not replace more than five hours of course engagement.

Attendance Policy

Participants must attend the face-to-face sessions and engage in at least 80% of course activities. Time away from the course must be approved in advance and can be replaced with instructor-approved work, not to exceed five hours.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.