BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS BUS 139
Dr. Dennis Myers Office: BE 108-B
Phone: 714-432-0202 ext-23003 e-mail: [email protected]
Office Hours: By appointment COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The emphasis is upon business communications. Course content is planned to assist developing an understanding of the business communication process. Featured skill development is in applying, planning, writing, and verbalizing techniques essential to effective communication in business. Students will learn to write memos, letters, and reports, using strategic techniques that cover typical business situations. Additionally, critical and analytical thinking will be an essential component of all assignments, as will the need for an awareness of the global business environment.
REQUIRED TEXT:
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION-Process and Product (4th
Edition), Dr. Mary Ellen Guffey, Southwestern College Publishing: ISBN 0-324-11452-4
RECOMMENDED ADDITIONAL SOURCES:
A dictionary should always be with you in class. A thesaurus will also be useful. Any reference book regarding writing style and grammar.
The Wall Street Journal--especially the Editorial Pages and the Marketing Section. “Writing for Business” by Stephen Wilbers. Published in the OC Register-Monday Business Section. Web site alternative http://www.wilbers.com.
PREREQUISITE:
Completion of English 100 with a grade of “C” or better. Completion of Business English (Bus 138) with a grade of “C” or better is also strongly recommended. Students will need better than a fundamental knowledge of English and the mechanics of writing.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
To improve the student’s ability to develop clear, accurate business messages; to
and speaking) in business communication situations; and to promote the development of these skills through relevant business-oriented discussions and activities. At the
conclusion of the course, students will need to demonstrate, through their writing and speaking, and awareness of the reader’s need for clear information in al aspects of business communication.
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. READING: Students are expected to complete all textbook and other reading assignments by the date assigned. Assignments will include handouts, as well as textbook assignments.
2. WRITING: There will be a lot of writing! Any kind of writing is a craft that cannot be developed without extraordinary “practice.” The class will feature sufficient “practice” to develop an awareness for how much more remains to be learned.
3. HOMEWORK: Written homework will be assigned from the text and occasionally from other sources. In addition to writing business messages as assigned, you will be asked to reand and critically assess several articles on the current world of business. These articles are usually take from the Business sections of local newspapers, and from magazines or business journals. NOTE that all homework assignments, unless otherwise indicated, must be typewritten and will typically be collected each week. ALL WORK ASSIGNED MUST BE SUBMITTED ON TIME (just like with a real job). One and only one (1) homework assignment will be accepted late and must be submitted within one (one) week of due date. Penalties may be assessed on all late work.
4. Note: Your homework must be submitted to me IN CLASS unless you have made special arrangements prior.
5. PROJECTS: You will be required to write a well-researched report on an issue currently facing the US business world. A handout will be provided on the topic. This may be assigned as a collaborative project, and it is probable that more than one project might be assigned. In this case, only one of the projects will be a report; the other(s) will be a letter or memo of some special significance. These projects must be submitted when due—and will not be accepted late under any circumstances.
ATTENDANCE:
Regular attendance is vital and will be evaluated much like an employer. No make-up, in-class “tests” are given and as a reminder only one homework assignment will be accepted late for credit. None of the critical thinking or project assignments will be accepted late. All writing done in class and none can be made up. If I do decide to (don’t try me) substitute assignments for these missed, in-class assignments, points will be deducted
from these late assignments. Attendance is definitely taken into account when assigning final grades, but no extra points are awarded for perfect attendance (no reward is given for meeting a basic requirement). More than six (6) hours of absences is considered excessive and unacceptable. Arriving late and leaving early are considered serious infractions of attendance policy. It is in your best interest to attend all classes. ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:
Plagiarism is defined as submitting someone else’s work as if it were your own. The sanction for such behavior is 0% on the paper and a probable “F” in the course. The painful penalty is that you have cheated yourself.
EVALUATION:
Assignments will be evaluated in most cases on a 100 point scale. Every error may not be marked on your paper. Class time will be devoted to discussing the frequent errors. You will be responsible for finding those errors in your work and correct them in future assignments. Significant deductions will be made for grammar and mechanical errors, since errors of any kind in written communications are unacceptable in the business world. If you receive the equivalent of an “F” or a “D” on any of your homework assignments, you may re-write, for a better grade for no higher than a “C”. Only one per customer will be allowed (mentioned earlier). You will also be writing test letters in class at various testing times. Reminder; there are no “make ups” on these in-class writing assignments. These may not be re-written for a better grade.
Final grades will be based on the completion of written assignments, attendance, in-class participation, completed projects(s), and in-class writing and/or quizzes/exams.
Homework 40%
Critical Thinking/Projects 20%
In-class writing 30%
Attendance/Participation 10%
NOTE: If you want credit for the class, work must be attempted and submitted in all of the above categories. For example, you must complete all “Projects” (including the final Report Project), you must complete a resume, and you must take the “Final Exam”. OTHER COMMENTS:
• Your instructor reserves the right to alter the above if time and circumstances warrant, but substantial deviation from the above is not anticipated.
• No pagers or cell phones in class.
• No food or drinks in class
Week
Dates Reading Assignment &Discussion Subject Homework DateDue
1 01-31-05
02-02-05
Introduction. Diagnostic Test (pages 34-35)
#1-Write memo to instructor after taking Communication Assessment Survey.
In-class memo-Critique 1st Class
2nd class-Week 1 1st class-Week 2 2 02-07-05 02-09-05
Appendix B: Guide to Document Formats
Appendix C: Documentation (MLA)
Chapter 5: Business Messages.
#2 (5.1, page 150—rewrite HP 5000 memo).
#2-A Memo regarding harassment in workplace
Case Study Assessment-Starbucks
2nd class-Week 2 2nd class-Week 2 2nd class-Week 4 3 02-14-05 02-16-05
Business Messages-Cont’d Critical Thinking Assignment #1-Page 37; 1.15
2nd class meeting-Week 5 4 02-21-05 02-23-05
Chapter 6: Organizing and Writing Business Messages
6.1, page 176-Southwest Division Employees memo-rewrite
Prepare Brainstorming Subject for Class Brainstorming Session
2nd class meeting-Week 6 1st class meeting Week 5 5 Holid ay 03-02-05
Chapter 6: Cont’d 6.14, page 179, Paragraph Organization
Write up Brainstorming Session for Class Discussion Brainstorming Memo 2nd Class Week 5 2nd Class Week 5 1st Class Week 6 6 03-07-05 03-09-05
Chapter 7: Revising Business Messages
7.3, page 201-rewrite letter and compute Fogg Index
1st Class Week 7 7 03-14-05 03-16-05
Chapter 8: Routine E-Mail Messages and Memos
(8.7, page 232-Info memo: Incentives for Trip Reduction (8.28, page 237-Confirmation memo: Looking over the Employee’s Shoulder). 1st Class Week 8 2nd Class Week 8 8 03-21-05 03-23-05
Chapter 9: Routine Letters and Goodwill Messages
(9.12, page 275-Info Request: Online Microbrewery)
#8 (9.25, page 279-Direct Rely: Microbrewery Online)
(9.31, page 281-Claim Response: Pigeon Poisoning) 1st Class Week 9 1st Class Week 9 2nd Class Week 9
0 Spring Break Spring Break Week Reading Assignment &
Discussion Subject Homework Due Date 9 04-04-05 04-06-05
Chapter 10: Persuasive and Sales Messages
(10.8, page 312-Persuasive Favor: Cultivating and Internship_ (10.11, page 313-Action Request: How to Spend $5 million)
Critical Thinking #2-Page 310
1st Class Week 10 2nd Class Week 10 1st Class Week 11 10 04-11-05 04-13-05
Chapter 11; Negative Messages
(11.18, page 355-Damage Control: Crew Goofs)
(11.32, page 361-Employee Bad News: Strikeout for Office Teams).
1st Class Week 12 2nd Class Week 12 11 04-18-05 04-20-05
Chapter 16: Employment Communication Resume Cover Letter 2nd Class Week 15 12 04-25-05 04-27-05
Chapter 16; Cont’d
Chapters 12 & 13: Reports
13 05-02-05 04-04-05 Reports; Cont’d Library 14 05-09-05 04-11-05 Reports; Cont’d Library 15 05-16-05 04-18-05 Reports; Cont’d Library
Resumes and Cover Letters 16 05-23-05 04-25-05 Reports Due Oral Presentations Final Exams
REMINDER: All work must be submitted to the instructor in class when requested. There will be no exceptions to this rule unless cleared and approved before the work is due. Your instructor reserves the right to alter the above in any
why seen fit. There also may be additional, un-announced, in-class writing exercises or “pop” quizzes. None will be made up if you are absent.
