THE WRITING PROCESS

Discussion
Part 1:

https://learn.umuc.edu/d2l/common/dialogs/quickLink/quickLink.d2l?ou=112880&type=coursefile&fileId=Saylor%
27s+Business+Communication+for+Success+textbook.Section+4-2+pages+124-129.pdf
First, review Section 4.2, “How is Writing Learned?” on pages 124-129 in Business Communication for Success. You will
discover how reading, writing, and critical thinking contribute to the development of writing skills.
Next, review the following information about the Writing Process, which has seven distinct steps:
1. Obtaining the task to write (from an external source or from a self-generated need).
2. Understanding the problem that led to the task.
NOTE: it is not enough simply to understand the task. For example, your first paper in this class was easy to understand –
but WHY did I ask you to write such a paper in the first place? That’s a different question altogether.
3. Organizing information and developing an approach (considering audience, message, impact, structure, outlining, putting
the first words on paper).
4. Creating the first draft. This first attempt will be writer-focused and probably contain grammar, punctuation, and
spelling errors. Since it is intended for the writer’s use only, correcting those errors while writing is a time-wasting
mistake.
5. Revising your initial creation. This is the point that editing is first introduced. The first editing, of course, is by
the writer — and it can be (progressively) Quick, Copy, or Substantive (the three levels of editing). The revision can be
circulated for others to review, and again one or more of the three levels of editing will be applied. At this point, the
paper might be submitted to a professional editor for review (where one or more of the three levels of edit again are
applied).
• Publishing the final result.
• Feedback. Publishing your written words usually results in questions or additional tasking which triggers the cycle
to begin again.
NOTE: The most frequent cause of writer’s block is stopping to edit and revise as you write your first draft. That simply is
NOT necessary because you are the only reader. Stop this habit and you will complete ANY piece of writing in HALF the time.
Through step four (Writing the Draft) your writing is Writer-based; after that, it should be Reader-based. Revising shouldn’t
take very long, and IF it is focused on helping the reader understand, it can turn a marginal piece of writing into one that
wins accolades for its clarity and compelling qualities.
DISCUSSION PROMPT
Discuss with each other what has happened to you in the past – either in the workplace or in the classroom – when you have
applied all seven steps AND when you have failed to pay adequate attention to one or more. Write a 300-400 word response to
this discussion prompt
Part 2:
The Stark Law intends to prevent and detect kickbacks in the delivery of health care. From the readings and independent
research, find two specific real life examples of how kickback arrangements would violate the Stark Law and discuss with your
colleagues how the kickback arrangements could violate trust between provider organizations and patients. Consider using the
terms transparency, patient choice, and informed consent. Read the background articles but this discussion will take research
beyond the above articles. Provide citation of authority to support your initial response to conference questions.

Background sites to read
• http://www.cms.gov/ [CMS]
• http://www.justice.gov/civil/docs_forms/C-FRAUDS_FCA_Primer.pdf[breakdown of The False Claims Act]
• The Stark Truth about the Stark law Part I, http://www.aafp.org/fpm/2003/1100/p27.html
• http://www.csrees.usda.gov/business/awards/ombcirculars.html [OMB circulars are an essential reference or “how to”
legal guide for any organization receiving federal grant dollars or state flow through dollars.]
• http://www.policyarchive.org/handle/10207/6087[SCHIP]
• http://www.cms.gov/ [CMS]
• http://www.justice.gov/civil/docs_forms/C-FRAUDS_FCA_Primer.pdf [breakdown of The False Claims Act]
• The Stark Truth about the Stark law Part I http://www.aafp.org/fpm/2003/1100/p27.html
• http://www.csrees.usda.gov/business/awards/ombcirculars.html [OMB circulars are an essential reference or “how to”
legal guide for any organization receiving federal grant dollars or state flow through dollars.]
• http://www.familiesusa.org/assets/pdfs/SCHIP-101.pdf [SCHIP]
• http://www.crowell.com/documents/docassocfktype_articles_919.pdf [Deficit Reduction Act]
Part 3:
The False Claims Act is a federal law that addresses fraud. Defrauding the U.S. Government, specifically Centers for Medicare
and Medicaid Services has consequences. From the readings and from the CMS website, discuss with your colleagues 1. Two
specific real life examples of a breach of the False Claims Act by a health-related organization, found on the internet or in
the print media. Remember, organizations are made up of individuals. 2. In addition discuss whether health care
organizations are properly equipped to ensure compliance and minimize exposure risks. If not why not?
Read the background articles but this discussion will take research beyond the above articles Provide citation of authority
to support your initial response to conference questions.
Background sites to read
• http://www.cms.gov/ [CMS]
• http://www.justice.gov/civil/docs_forms/C-FRAUDS_FCA_Primer.pdf [breakdown of The False Claims Act]
• Brown, J. (2008). Develop a policy for amended records. Journal of Health Care compliance, January-February, 37-
38. [must use UMUC library]
• Taormina, M. (2013). The Stark Truth: What your Physician Clients Should Know about the Stark Law and the
Anti-Kickback Statute. Journal of Health Care Finance [must use UMUC library]

o Mekel, M. (2012). The Health Care Quality Improvement Act of 1986 Meets the Era of Health Care Reform: Continuing
Themes and Common Threads.Journal of Legal Medicine, (33), 106. [must use UMUC library]

 http://www.csrees.usda.gov/business/awards/ombcirculars.html [OMB circulars are an essential reference or “how to”
legal guide for any organization receiving federal grant dollars or state flow through dollars.]
 http://www.policyarchive.org/handle/10207/6087[SCHIP]
 http://www.crowell.com/documents/docassocfktype_articles_919.pdf [Deficit Reduction Act]