Instructions for Organizational Summaries

In order for you to understand your audience, an important part of this course, you first have to understand who you are and from where you are writing. I would like you to choose two organizations you have been involved in and analyze several aspects of the organizations, including types of activities conducted there, types of writings used there and connections with other organizations.

 

Organizations can include jobs you’ve had, civic and non-profit clubs you’ve been a part of, church and school organizations, or teams and musical groups you’ve been involved in, just to name a few. You can choose organizations that you are currently involved in or ones you belonged to previously. But you should have a comfortable familiarity with the comings and goings of the organization: for the next 15 weeks, you will be representing that organization through written communication.

 

Study the following Organizational Summary example. Use a format that is clear for you audience and highlights the major points you want to highlight. Remember, you need to write two organizational summaries for this assignment. But before you begin, remember to try the practice exercise in the next document in this module, “Parallelism Worksheet.

 

ENGLISH 235                                                                                               MEYERS
 
Organizational Profile
By Joe Student
 
FULL TITLE: English 235 Class, Clinton Community College
OVERVIEW OF GOALS AND PURPOSES:
To understand concepts relevant to professional writing
To develop a professional attitude toward written communication
To achieve a successful grade based on technical-writing knowledge and skills
ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED THERE: (Please note: the following bulleted lists could be placed into columns to help balance the page.)
  • Daily classes
  • Workshop practice exercises
  • Group discussionsProfessor lectures and review sessions
  • Homework assignments
  • Mid-term and final writing activities
PROBLEMS DEALT WITH THERE:

  • Complex technical-writing concepts
  • Weak student participation
  • Poor weather
  • Cell-phone use
  • Inconsistent attendance
  • Dull lectures
  • Personal emergencies
  • Assignment deadlines
 
PEOPLE INVOLVED, HOW ORGANIZED:
  • One instructor
  • Up to 20 students
CONNECTIONS WITH OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS:
  • Tutoring Center
  • VPAA’s office
  • English chair’s office
  • College library
  • Personal organizations connected to assignments
  • Various college degree programs
  • Textbook company
TYPES OF WRITINGS USED:

  • Instructional handouts
  • Professor notes (on overhead and chalk board)
  • Student notes
  • Several types of tech-writing documents
  • Textbook resource information
  • Various reference materials
MY EXPERIENCE THERE:
I have been involved in English 235 class for just over two weeks. So far we have learned some important basics about technical writing, and the professor has prepared us for what to expect with his syllabus and introductory information provided in class.