MSFE Financial Engineering MSFA-RM Financial Analysis and Risk Management MSIM Investment Management Master of Finance Writing Modules Syllabus, Fall 2015 Put it before them briefly so they will read it, clearly so they will appreciate it, picturesquely so they will remember it and, above all, accurately so they will be guided by its light. Joseph Pulitzer The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do. Thomas Jefferson Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts. This requires not that the writer make all sentences short or avoid all detail and treat subjects only in outline, but that every word tell. William Strunk Jr, The Elements of Style I. Overview Semester: Description: Fall 2015 (spanning Fall I and Fall II) The Writing Modules supplement the following Master of Finance courses for this semester: FIN 5608 Ethics and Leadership I FIN 5614 Continuous Time Finance FIN 5618 Corporate Value Management FIN 5624 Numerical Methods FIN 5628 Global Economy Please review to the main syllabus for your finance course. In the event that the present syllabus conflicts with your finance course s syllabus, your finance course s syllabus takes precedent. Page 1 of 8
Master of Finance Writing Modules Location: Meetings: Instructor: Office Hours: Grading: at BusinessWritingTutorials.com (hereinafter BWT) Weekly Lessons, Periodic Individual Meetings in Person or via BWT Rocky Citro rocky@businesswritingtutorials.com (856) 831-5887 Scheduled (In Person or via BWT s Video Chat) Pass/Fail, as a component of the associated Master of Finance course. See Section III for details. Terms: Badge An achievement earned by completing an action or series of actions on BWT. Details are provided on the site. BWT BusinessWritingTutorials.com Mark Complete A button found at the end of each and topic in the writing modules. By clicking the mark complete button, students certify that they have read and understood the material. Instructions are provided on BWT. Modules The words modules and s are synonymous within this syllabus and on BWT. Quest The equivalent of an online assignment. Details are provided on BWT. TU Master of Finance Modules 2015 Title of this semester s writing modules. Video Chat Software available free to students to video chat with fellow students or the instructor within the BWT interface. Page 2 of 8
Master of Finance Writing Modules II. Rationale Writing is an essential part of the finance profession. Throughout your career, you will develop reports and papers that analyze data and recommend actions to your readers. You will have to ground your arguments in hard evidence, evaluate sources carefully, and incorporate those sources into your argument effectively. You will also have to write emails daily, create presentation slides, and perhaps even draft memos. You will have to write cover letters, resumes, and other documents in your job searches. You might have to argue a perspective to shape the direction of a project or obtain funding. In short, you will have to be able to express your ideas clearly and effectively with the written word throughout your career. These online modules are meant to bolster your writing skills and, thereby, strengthen your effectiveness in your professional field. Because presentation slides are tied to the presentations themselves, we also discuss effective presentation techniques. III. Course Aims and Outcomes Aims The writing modules aim to (a) improve your ability to base your writing in appropriate evidence and (b) express your ideas more effectively. Specific Learning Outcomes: By the end of these writing modules, students will be able to: Understand plagiarism and avoid plagiarizing 100% of the time Locate and evaluate strong, professional sources in your field Incorporate sources into your documents effectively Create effective presentation slides Understand effective presentation skills Write more clearly, concisely, and precisely Write an effective cover letter IV. Format and Procedures The writing modules will be conducted online over 8 weeks: 4 weeks in Fall I and 4 weeks in Fall II. Students are expected to create a free account at BWT and to enroll in and complete the online course titled TU Master of Finance Modules 2015. Each week, the instructor will post online content. Students are expected to watch and/or read the content; certify that they have completed the ; and Page 3 of 8
Master of Finance Writing Modules complete any designated actions, such as taking a quiz, completing and uploading an assignment, and/or completing an online quest. By clicking the Mark Complete button at the end of each topic or, the student certifies that he or she has read and understood the content in said topic or. V. Instructor s Assumptions The instructor believes that: Good writing skills are important to finance professions The content of the online writing modules will help improve students business writing and presentation skills. learning is a practical and, when designed and executed well, effective learning medium The BWT site is user friendly, engaging, and useful for the course material VI. Course Requirements Course Participation Students are expected to complete all components of the online course. Instructions are provided that explain how to complete each aspect of the course. Course Readings Any material provided within the s. As part of the s, students will be asked to research and read sources, which they will use to complete assignments. Some s will contain links to external websites to supplement ideas in the. Such readings will be kept to a minimum. Assignments Students will be asked to complete: 2 short writing assignments of 50 to 100 words each. 1 cover letter 1 presentation slide for a 1- to 3-minute presentation VII. Grading Procedures Students will receive a grade of pass for the writing modules when they have completed all s and designated actions associated with those s in the course. Page 4 of 8
Master of Finance Writing Modules The instructor will provide detailed instructions on BWT for every step in the online course. VIII. Academic Integrity Plagiarism Each student in this course is expected to abide by Temple University s Student Conduct Code on plagiarism. In short, students are expected to do their own work and to give credit to all sources (including visual media). The first offense of plagiarism is failure of both the writing modules and the finance course. The second offense of plagiarism is expulsion from the Master of Finance program. Academic Honesty Students are encouraged to study together to help one another understand the material in the writing modules. However, students should never share any part of their individual assignments with another student, and students should always work alone on quizzes. If a student is caught copying another student s work in the writing modules or obtaining help on a quiz, the instructor will notify the professor of the associated finance course for disciplinary action. IX. Accommodations for Students with Disabilities Any student who has a disability that poses special challenges or needs for completing the course material should contact the instructor. The instructor will make accommodations so that the student can complete the material. X. Diversity & Inclusivity The instructor is committed to respecting student diversity and including all students equally in the course regardless of gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, country of origin, or other sociodemographic background. BWT is a community that welcomes said diversity and encourages all students to share their unique experiences, values, and beliefs. The instructor and students should be open to the views of others and honor the uniqueness and contributions of their colleagues. The instructor and students alike should work to facilitate an academic environment both online and in person that appreciates human diversity. Page 5 of 8
Master of Finance Writing Modules XI. Due Dates and Course Schedule Due Dates Unless otherwise specified, all online videos will be available on Monday morning by 9 a.m., and all assignments are due the Sunday following the date, by 11:59 p.m. Course Schedule Details Lesson or Mtg Topics Actions Assignments Aug 8 1:30-1:45 p.m. In-Class Lesson AH 033 Aug 17 Aug 24 Aug 31 Sept 4 Welcome Research & Documentation: Part I Research & Documentation: Part II Individual meetings Fall I Instructor will assist students in creating account at BWT and enrolling in course. What is plagiarism? TU s/fox s policies on plagiarism. Paraphrasing, quoting, & summarizing sources How to evaluate sources Where to locate quality sources for finance How to cite sources How to create a footnote in proper style Review Outlook assignment Create account Create profile Add Photo Enroll in Course Join Main Group Learn Interface Complete 2 quizzes associated with content Improve assignment Watch welcome video to learn more about interface Add at least 1 friend. Leave at least 1 wall comment. Complete profile. Earn 1 new badge Complete Quest: Locate current news story on the outlook of the US economy and share with a friend Complete Quest: Find 3 sources (different types) and use to write 50-100 words on the outlook of the US economy. Schedule individual mtg with instructor in person or online to review Sept 4 (Early Release) 3-Min Presentation 3-Min Introduction Presentation Watch video before class Review pres. rubric Quest: Develop one slide for presentation and upload to BWT Creating effective PPT slides Sept 8 3-Min 3-Min Introduction Students give None Page 6 of 8
Master of Finance Writing Modules Details Lesson or Mtg Topics Actions Assignments 10 In-Class Lesson Presentation Presentation individual 3-min presentations Peers evaluation AH Fall II Sept 28 How to Write a Paragraph Writing a topic sentence Structuring a paragraph Using transitions Quest: Complete online exercise to structure a paragraph Oct 5 Writing Concisely Importance of conciseness Examples of wordy writing and likely consequences Strategies to improve conciseness Quest: Complete online conciseness exercises. Oct 12 Writing Clearly and Precisely Importance of clarity and precision Examples of unclear and imprecise writing and likely consequences Strategies to improve clarity and precision Quests: Complete online clarity and precision exercises. Oct 19 Drafting a Professional Cover Letter Use skills from previous 3 s to draft cover letter Quest: Draft and upload cover letter Optional: Schedule 1-1 with instructor to review cover letter Oct 26 30 Optional individual meetings Review cover letter Improve cover letter Optional: Submit to 1 internship or job Page 7 of 8
MSFE Financial Engineering MSFA-RM Financial Analysis and Risk Management MSIM Investment Management Master of Finance Writing Modules Syllabus, Fall 2015 XI. Recommended Readings (Optional) Garner, Bryan A. HBR Guide to Better Business Writing. Boston: Harvard Business School, 2012. Davidson, Wilma. Business Writing: What Works, What Won t. Rev. ed. New York: St. Martin s Press, 2001. Page 8 of 8