Journal of Business and Technical Communication Jan 1995

Effects of Case and Traditional Writing Assignments on Writing Products and Processes

LYNN P. ROZUMALSKI Nicolet Area Technical College ; MICHAEL F. GRAVES

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of case and traditional assignments on the writing products and processes of community college students. Specifically, each of 57 first-year business students in three sections of a business composition course wrote in response to either (a) two traditional assignments, (b) two short case scenario assignments, or (c) two lengthy, elaborated case assignments. Participants' letters were scored using a performance criteria rating scale for determining both overall quality and specific trait quality. Results indicate that the case assignments generally produced more effective writing products than did traditional paradigm assignments. Results also indicate that the elaborated case assignments generally produced better writing products than did the short case scenarios. However, results also suggest that the writing of participants who already possess business-related experience was not as affected by assignment type as the writing of inexperienced participants. Finally, qualitative measures suggest that the writing processes and attitudes of participants. completing the case assignments were highly sensitive to audience and context, whereas the processes and attitudes of participants completing the traditional assignments were highly sensitive to organization, format, and correctness.

Journal
Journal of Business and Technical Communication
Published
1995-01-01
DOI
10.1177/1050651995009001005
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Open Access
Closed
Topics
writing pedagogy two-year college editorial matter
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Citation Context

Cited by in this index (7)

  1. Baker et al. (2023)
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  2. Sharma (2021)
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  3. Schieber et al. (2019)
    Using Reflections to Gauge Audience Awareness in Business and Professional Comm…
    Business and Professional Communication Quarterly
  4. Robles et al. (2019)
    Using Case-Method Pedagogy to Facilitate Audience Awareness
    IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
  5. Ismail et al. (2016)
    Workplace Simulation: An Integrated Approach to Training University Students in…
    Business and Professional Communication Quarterly
Show all 7 →
  1. Boettger et al. (2013)
    An Overview of Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Research in Technical Commun…
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  2. Spinuzzi (1996)
    Pseudotransactionality, Activity Theory, and Professional Writing Instruction
    Technical Communication Quarterly

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