Week 5 - Finale

Dr. Milligan's Eight Simple Rules of Good Writing (2018) - 10% to 100% deduction when not followed

Hello class,

Since writing, critical thinking, and communication skills are keys to career success; they will be emphasized in this course. Here are eight simple rules of good writing you need to follow throughout this course and in your business and academic career.

I do give zeros writing, critical thinking, and communications sections of the grading rubrics when these rules are not followed. I may also deduct 10% to 100% off the top when these rules are not followed.

1. If you plagiarize, you will fail

The first plagiarism offense is a zero on the assignment/discussion and a notice sent to Ashford’s academic integrity group for further processing and sanctions. Students who plagiarize multiple times will fail the course at a minimum.

Ashford's Writing Center's Steps to Avoiding plagiarism is an awesome resource check it out: http://writingcenter.ashford.edu/steps-avoiding-plagiarism

• Good academic papers and discuss post use outside sources. When you find a good source either summarize the information in your own words or find a new way to say the information. Remember to cite the original author using both in-text citations and reference. 

• A good rule to remember when you paraphrase, is that no more than two words in a row should be from another source. 

• Contextual headings and references will match in Turnitin, this is to be expected and not a cause for concern.

2. Everything you write must stand on its own

This is true whenever you write... even if it is a discussion post, email, or academic

This means that someone who is not familiar with the subject, has not read the previous email, discussion post, textbook, case, or assignment can read and understand what you have written.

•Often only need a few sentences to set the stage. Imagine talking to someone who is not in this class, has not read the assignment, or the textbook. What would you say? This is what you need to write. For example, if you are talking about a work breakdown structure (WBS) explain what a WBS is before talking about how to use it. If you are talking about a case study, make sure someone who has not read the case study can read and understand what you have written. 

• Remember to briefly explain ideas and terms before talking about them.

3. Do not use quotes, instead, put what sources say in your own words and cite the author

Quotes should only be used when the original author’s words are so brilliant they cannot be changed (two or three short quotes are allowed in the entire 5 week course). 

• An assignment or discussion post filled with quotes only shows that you know how to cut and paste, it does not demonstrate that you have read, understood, and can apply the material, which is what I am grading you on.

You are expected to write your own papers and use scholarly references to support your points. Since quotes are not your own words they do not count towards the required word/page/assignment minimum. 

This means quotes do not count towards word or requirment minimums. When writing discussion posts and assignments ASSUME that I do not read quotes. You will only be graded on what you have written yourself.

• On the rare occasions where quotes are used, they must be done correctly. Quotes must be introduced, explained, and have the page or location number so people can find them quickly.

An example of correct in-text citations, include the page numbers of the book like this (author, year, p. 24), include the page or location number from a digital book (author, year, loc. 345), from internet source provide the page number (author, year, para. 3) or subheading (author, year, project management membership).

For more information see the Ashford Writing Center:  https://awc.ashford.edu/cd-integrating-quotes.html  

4. Contextual headings are required for all academic papers

Review the assignment rubrics and create a heading for each major point listed, plus a heading for the introduction and conclusion. Contextual headings help ensure that you make all the required points in the assignment, have enough support for each point and that I can find the information. Students who use contextual headings earn higher grades. 

• In APA speak, you will be using level one headings (which are in bold, centered, and use title case) and if you want to get fancy you can use level one and two headings. For more information see:  https://awc.ashford.edu/cd-formatting-headings%20in-style.html  

• Here is an APA template for the week 5 assignment for PRM300 with the headers for this assignment built in ( https://drive.google.com/open?id=106nnUw8JDp2d4BAbDNEQjrSBWbF-Io2F )

5. Use the third person point of view (he, she, it)

 Business and academic papers are written in the third person point of view (he, she, and it). Any academic paper that has the incorrect use of pronouns (I, we, and ESPECIALLY you) will receive a 10% penalty.  

• Personal examples can be in 1st person when it is absolutely necessary for clarity (for example when you are talking about your experience, you can say my company instead of the author’s company). Since discussion posts are less formal, you can use first and second person there. 

• Using second person POV (you, your) in academic writing is especially egregious and you is seldom used in business writing.

• "You" is only to be used when talking directly to someone. For example, your professor may use 'you' when giving you specific directions. When you are writing a paper, you are not talking directly to me, so you cannot be used.

6. Assignments, labs, & main discussion posts must be error free

 Any assignment/discussion post that has more than ten grammar, syntax, spelling, or diction errors will receive AT LEAST a 10% penalty. 

Do not do things at the last minute and check your work. Grammarly and a text to voice software (like Natural Reader) are great tools to help. Information on how to get free access to these sources is below.

• The Ashford Writing Center is a great resource and if you use it can give you skills that will change your life and career. Here is an introduction to the FREE services the Writing Center offers: https://www.ashford.edu/online-learning-experience/student-support/writing-center

You can link to a variety of FREE services through the "Writing Center & Library" tab in the classroom.

• Ashford provides students' with the FREE premium version of Grammarly. 

Grammarly is one of the best ways to not only check your work and quickly improve your writing skills. Take a moment to download it now. It the best writing resource I have seen. 

Sign up for a FREE premium account. Grammarly provides real-time feedback. They also send a weekly report that provides the top misspelled words and grammar errors, as well as tips based on what you wrote that week. 

1) Download Grammarly for MS Office or Word and Grammarly will automatically look at MS Office and Word documents, and provide feedback so issues can be corrected immediately. 

2) Download Grammarly for the Chrome browser - Grammarly works with many websites and will offer feedback and suggestions as you write. Improve your writing even when posting on Facebook or sending a quick email!

3) Once in MS Word set Grammarly Report to “academic essay.” 

• Ashford’s Writing Center also provides free paper review (use link to writing center in the classroom).

7. Everything you write must have an introduction & conclusion

Academic papers need an introduction, conclusion, and a thesis statement. 

Project management documents should always start with the project’s name, date, project manager, and project objective (charter or scope statement – depending on where you are in the project life cycle).

8. Use proper APA format

 Any paper or discussion post not following APA guidelines (including, but not limited to: Title page, double-spaced, Times Roman Font 12, APA headings, in-text citations, and a reference page) will receive a 10% penalty.

• Here is an APA template for the week 5 assignment for PRM300 ( https://drive.google.com/open?id=106nnUw8JDp2d4BAbDNEQjrSBWbF-Io2F )

updated 2.28.2018 PE