Econ 479 Course Proposal: This is the Economics Department's proposal to the University to offer a three-course program in writing for Economics majors. This will give you a good summary of the objectives and rationale for this course. It's also a good example of just the kind of writing many of you will have to do over the course of your career: a proposal to implement a program or a course of action.
"Writing: A Ticket to Work ... Or a Ticket Out": The summary page of a recent report by a College Board commission which surveyed companies affiliated with Business Roundtable, an association of corporate CEOs. Human resource directors of these corporations describe how "People unable to express themselves clearly in writing limit their opportunities for professional, salaried employment," in chairman Bob Kerrey's words. The summary states that "people who cannot write and communicate clearly [are not likely to] be hired, and [if hired] are unlikely to last long enough to be considered for promotion." The entire report can be found here.
Even at Princeton, Brown, and Duke ...: Some of the best universities are dissatisfied with how they teach writing, as well as with the results: their students' writing deficiencies. Oddly, however, these universities are not so much concerned about their students' proficiency at real-world writing as "their inability to construct the sort of lengthy, sophisticated research papers required in upper-division courses."
"Cover Letters from Hell":
Read some excerpts from appalling job application cover letters. One example: "I need real world experience and after reviewing your web site I get the impressing that your company believes in maintain a lax work environment while efficiently meeting the needs of it’s customers (Right?)." Contains a link to the Cover Letters from Hell website.
Economics 479 Home Page