BUS 2100 Business Communication – Fall 2006
Instructor: Ms. Susan Terkelsen
Office Number: Milner 173
Meeting Time: T/R, 8:30 Section 1, 11:00 Section 2, Milner 142
Office Phone: 766-7918
Office Hours: M/W 9:30-10:00, 2:00-3:00; T/R 3:00-4:00
E-Mail: [email protected]
This syllabus provides a general plan for the course. Deviations may be necessary.
Course Description
This course prepares the student to write and speak professionally in a multicultural, technologically sophisticated corporate setting. Basic writing, proofreading skills, and clear business English are stressed. Students are taught to draft and evaluate a variety of letters, e-mails, memos, and reports, as well as demonstrate oral communication skills and the ability to collaborate with others to produce a cohesive document.
Textbook
Essentials of Business Communication, 7th Edition, Mary Ellen Guffey, South-Western, 2007. Must include 1Pass Online Resource Access code.
Student Website
http://guffey.swlearning.com
Course Objectives
1. Demonstrate the ability to write routine memos, e-mails, and letters using clear business English and to effectively proofread correspondence written by others.
2. Demonstrate the ability to use a positive tone when writing business letters, and emphasize benefits to the recipient.
3. Demonstrate the ability to effectively write memos and letters dealing with negative messages, persuasive messages, and special messages (congratulatory notes, sympathy notes, and letters of recommendation). 4. Demonstrate the ability to revise business messages to make them more clear, concise and effective. 5. Develop an understanding of informal and formal proposals and reports.
6. Develop skills in making effective oral presentations. 7. Demonstrate the ability to do online research.
8. Demonstrate the ability to engage in collaborative writing.
9. Understand the rules of grammar, punctuation, and capitalization in business letter and report writing. 10. Value honesty and integrity in all facets of business communication.
Evaluation
The student’s overall grade will be determined as follows:
Grading Scale
93-100 A 73-76.99 C 90-92.99 A- 70-72.99 C- 87-89.99 B+ 67-69.99 D+ 83-86.99 B 63-66.99 D 80-82.99 B- 60-62.99 D- 77-79.99 C+ 0-59.99 F
Homework and Chapter Reviews 15%
Unit Exams 20%
Comprehensive Final 15%
Letters 15%
Interview Project 15%
Team Project 10%
In-class Activities/class participation 5% Grammar and Mechanics test 5% Total 100%
Homework and Chapter Reviews
You are responsible for having your assignments submitted by the beginning of class on the day they are due (even if you are not there). They must be printed and ready to be turned in when class begins. Do not expect to print assignments in the lab at the beginning of class. Since we generally discuss homework in class on the day it is due, late homework will not be accepted. Incomplete and inaccurate homework will be penalized.
Assignments should be the individual work of the student – no two assignments should be identical. Assignments should be prepared as Microsoft Word documents and submitted on WebCT. You must also have a hard copy available at the beginning of class. Chapter Reviews and Homework should be saved as separate files using the following format (use your last name and appropriate chapter number):
Chapter Reviews: Smith – Ch. 1 Review Homework: Smith – Ch. 2 Homework
Exams
Three unit exams will be given during the semester as well as one comprehensive final. Exams will typically be multiple choice, but could include true/false, short answer and writing items. Students must be in class in order to take an exam. If you are sick and cannot take a scheduled test, you must contact your instructor before the test is given - otherwise, you will not be permitted to make up the exam.
Letters
During the semester you will have several graded letter-writing assignments. Letter-writing assignments cannot be made up. (Objectives 1-3)
Interview Project
You will conduct an informational interview with a working professional in your area of study. This exercise will give you the opportunity to investigate an individual’s expertise in his or her area and allows you to learn more about a career field you have and interest in as well as what role communication plays in that field. It is not a job interview. The process requires you to write a business letter to secure an interview, identify appropriate interview questions, conduct an interview, present your findings to the class and follow up with a short report regarding the experience. More information on this project will be given to you in class. (Objectives 1, 5-7)
Team Project
You will write one team business report. This report will be a collaborative effort of your group and will teach you proper business report format as well as enable you to develop cohesive team-writing skills. You may be required to make an oral presentation of your report to the class. Specific report requirements will be given to you in class. (Objectives 5-8)
In-class Activities and Class Participation
You will be assigned individual and group in-class activities dealing with the current chapter or subject matter. These activities are to be completed during the class period. In-class activities cannot be made up. Attitude and preparation for class discussion will have a bearing on this portion of your grade. Class participation will be determined by your contribution to class discussions and your involvement with in-class activities.
Grammar and Mechanics
You will demonstrate an understanding of the rules of Grammar and Mechanics. Early in the semester you will identify areas that need attention and will be expected to complete exercises to help you strengthen your skills in those areas. Your overall writing should improve as you focus on commanding a greater understanding of these skills. A grammar and mechanics test will be given toward the end of the semester. (Objective 9)
Extra Credit
Students have the opportunity to earn a limited number of extra credit points during the semester. Details will be given to you in class. (Objectives 4, 6, 9, and 10)
Attendance
You are expected to attend all class sessions. If you have a legitimate reason for being absent you should e-mail your instructor before the absence. You may miss three classes without penalty to your final grade. These absences should be used for sickness or legitimate reasons and are not designed to be used because you want to sleep in or just don’t feel like going to class that day. Homework that is due on a day that you are absent must still be submitted on time unless prior arrangements have been made with the instructor. In-class activities that you miss due to absences cannot be made up. Your final grade will be reduced by 2% for every absence over three. Excessive tardiness will also be penalized. Attitude and preparation for class discussion may also affect the final grade (this includes bringing your materials to class).
Reading
You are expected to come to class having read the chapter that we are discussing for that day. Chapter Review questions are to be completed prior to coming to class. My expectation is that you will be familiar with chapter material on the day we begin discussing it so that we can begin working with it right away. If students fail to keep up with the reading and review questions, quizzes will be given and factored into the final grade. To aid in studying, you will find PowerPoint slides for each chapter on the Student Website.
Proofreading
Spelling is very important when it comes to business correspondence. Be sure to use the spell check program on every document before submission. However, realize that the spell checker is only a tool. You will still be held accountable for misspelled words even though the spell checker was used on the document. A spelling error can be costly on a graded assignment. Documents with multiple spelling errors will not be accepted. Additional points will be deducted for errors in grammar, punctuation, tone, style, content, format, and sentence/paragraph
construction. Proofread all documents before submitting them.
Class Procedures
During the class period you will be expected to listen to the lecture, participate in discussion, or work on the class activity assigned for that day. You are expected to bring your own textbook (no sharing). Reading e-mail, internet searching, instant messaging, playing games, or working on homework for other classes will not be tolerated. A class absence could be given to a student not working on current class assignments.
You must use the school-provided computers in the lab during class. If your computer is not working properly, please submit a problem report to Computer Services. Be sure to report the room number, the computer number
You are responsible for being aware of assignments made in class or changes in the class schedule.
Cheating will result in a grade penalty for the course. The grade penalty could be an “F” for the assignment, unit, or even the final grade for the course. Cheating includes loaning or copying work from another student as well as representing the work of others as your own. Whether you are the “borrowing” or “lending” student, you are cheating.
Remember, all homework submitted for credit is expected to be the individual work of the student – no two assignments should be identical. Students may not work together on assignments unless the assignment specifically calls for that kind collaboration.
If you believe you may need support in managing the impact of a disability, please contact Marilyn Meyer, Coordinator of Disability Services, by phone at 3843, or email at [email protected]. Office located in CAL 164. Examples of disability categories are AD/HD, Specific Learning Disability, Hearing, Vision, Health Impairment, Psychological, Orthopedic, and Traumatic Brain Injury. Faculty rely on Disability Services to verify the need for accommodation and to assist in developing reasonable and appropriate accommodation strategies. View website at
Fall 2006 Semester
BUS-2100 Business Communication Tentative Course Schedule
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Aug 23 Aug 24
Introduction
Aug 25
Aug 28 Aug 29
Grammar and Mechanics Diagnostic Writing Sample
Aug 30 Aug 31
Read Ch. 1/CR1 Due
Sept 1 Sept 4 Labor Day no classes Sept 5 Class Introductions
Sept 6 Sept 7
Read Ch. 2/CR2Due
Sept 8
Sept 11 Sept 12
Read Ch. 3/CR3 Due, Ch. 2 HW Due
Sept 13 Sept 14
Read Ch. 4/CR4 Due, Ch. 3 HW Due
Sept 15
Sept 18 Sept 19 Ch. 4 HW Due Exam Review
Sept 20 Day of Prayer
Sept 21
Unit Exam: Chapters 1-4
Sept 22
Sept 25 Sept 26
Read Ch. 5/CR5 Due Interviewee Name Due
Sept 27 Sept 28
Read Ch. 6/CR6 Due, Ch. 5 HW Due
Sept 29
Oct 2 Oct 3
Ch. 6 HW Due Writing Workshop 1
Oct 4 Oct 5
In-Class Letter
Interview Request Letter Due
Oct 6
Oct 9 Oct 10
Read Ch. 7/CR7 Due
Oct 11 Oct 12 Ch. 7 HW Due Writing Workshop 2
Oct 13
Oct 16 Oct 17 In-Class Letter
Oct 18 Oct 19
Fall Break – no classes
Oct 20 Fall Break no classes Oct 23 Oct 24
Read Ch. 8/CR8 Due
Oct 25 Oct 26 Ch. 8 HW Due Writing Workshop 3
Oct 27
Oct 30 Oct 31 In-Class Letter
Nov 1 Nov 2
Unit Exam: Chapters 5-8
Nov 3
Nov 6 Nov 7
Read Ch. 9/CR9 Due
Nov 8 Nov 9
Read Ch. 10/CR10 Due
Nov 10
Nov 13 Nov 14
Read Ch. 11/CR11 Due
Interview Project Report Due
Nov 15 Nov 16
Team Project Work Day
Nov 17
Nov 20 Nov 21
Read Ch. 12/CR12 Due
Team Project Report Due
Nov 22 Nov 23
Thanksgiving break Nov 24 Thanksgiv ing break Nov 27 Thanksgivi ng break Nov 28
Oral Presentations – Individual
Nov 29 Nov 30
Grammar and Mechanics Test
Exam Review
Dec 1
Dec 4 Dec 5
Unit Exam: Chapters 9-12
Dec 6 Dec 7
Oral Presentations - Group
Dec 8
Dec 11 Dec 12
Comprehensive Final Exam
8:00 – Section 1, 10:30 – Section 2
