Hi, everyone. Welcome to my UBC blog for ENGL 301. ENGL 301 is an intensive writing course that allows students to study the written and online (paper-based) communication skills in business and professional and technical contexts. ENGL 301 provides students opportunities to practice the writing strategies and techniques in these contexts through assignments and collaboration with other students. Students are expected not only to write independently but also to be reviewed by the instructor and other students in class.

The whole course is divided into four units. Each unit takes students approximately three weeks. In Unit One, students will meet the instructor and each other online, build their own blogs for ENGL 301, and will be introduced to the principles of technical and business writing. The study of Unit Two focuses on designing a report proposal, which is also the first stage of the formal report project. In this stage, students get prepared to create a social network strategy by exploring Linked In. In Unit Three, students are expected to make an outline for a formal report project, write the first draft of the formal report project and revise their drafts based on feedback from the instructor and other students. Students also need to build their own resumes and other job application package. In the last unit, students should finish their final draft of the formal report, finish their application package and develop a social network strategy.

I am pretty interested in all class content, especially the part that helps students develop a social network strategy. As a computer science student, I am well trained in my coding skills and logic to build up software. However, I did not get too much training on my communication skills, in particular, my writing skills. At the end of this term, I expect that I can have a well-designed resume and other job application package. Also, I expect that I can professionally in writing emails and other career-related writing skills.