Clouse, Nancy K.

English

University of Montana

University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana University of Montana Course Syllabi, 1990-2010 Fall 9-1-2009 C&I 287.01: Business Communication Nancy K. Clouse University of Montana, Missoula, nancy.clouse@umontana.edu Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/syllabi1990-2010 Let us know how access to this document benefits you. Recommended Citation Clouse, Nancy K., "C&I 287.01: Business Communication" (2009). University of Montana Course Syllabi, 1990-2010. 720. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/syllabi1990-2010/720 This Syllabus is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in University of Montana Course Syllabi, 1990-2010 by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact scholarworks@mso.umt.edu. C&I 287 Business Communication  Fall Semester 2009 Monday & Wednesday, 9:40-11 a.m., ED 315  Nancy Clouse, Ed.D.  EDUC 315A 728-5219 nancy.clouse@mso.umt.edu  Office Hours:                        M/W 11:00-12:00                  and by appointment    Blackboard Class Support Site:  http://umonline.umt.edu    Required Text Guffy, M.E. (2003). Business communication:  Process and product (6th edition). Cincinnati, OH:  South-Western College Publishing. Text Website:  http://www.meguffey.com   Recommended References Standard English dictionary A current office reference manual, such as How 10 or The Gregg Reference Manual Additional Requirement: Thumb/flash drive (USB) to save all work  Course Purpose Business communication is designed to help you develop and refine the skills necessary to communicate effectively in a professional business environment. The focus of this course will be on communicating clearly, concisely, considerately, and correctly, both orally and in writing.   Course Learning Outcomes Through their performance on assignments, presentations, and quizzes, students will: • Understand the process of communication from the positions of “receiver” and “sender” in a variety of business and professional contexts. • Learn communication skills that can be applied to achieve professional goals now and throughout their careers. • Apply specific reasoned, practical, and ethical business communication principles to composing and delivering typical business and professional messages. A 3-x-3 writing process will be applied to each written assignment. This process includes prewriting (analyze, anticipate, adapt), writing (research, organize, compose), and revising (revise, proofread, evaluate). • Become familiar with conflict resolution strategies that promote teamwork. • Learn effective public speaking skills. • Enhance cross-cultural awareness and communication skills required for a globalized workplace. • Practice using PowerPoint in delivering business presentations. • Learn specific writing techniques and organization strategies for composing clear, concise, and purposeful business messages and reports. • Practice composing routine letters, memos, email messages, goodwill messages, negative messages, persuasive messages, application letters, and various types of business reports. • Recognize the importance of revising and editing in professional communication through peer editing and the creation of a portfolio. • Apply acquired business writing skills through a final team project. • Understand how to find, evaluate, and use online sources effectively and responsibly. • Cultivate professionalism.  Information Literacy Standards Students will meet the ACRL Standards for Information Literacy including:  • Standard One: The information literate student defines and articulates the need for information.  • Standard Two: The information literate student accesses needed information effectively and efficiently.  • Standard Three: The information literate student evaluates information and its sources critically and incorporates selected information into his or her knowledge base and value system.  • Standard Four: The information literate student, individually or as a member of a group, uses information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose.  • Standard Five: The information literate student understands many of the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use of information and accesses and uses information ethically and legally.  Attendance: Your attendance and active participation are vital to your success in this class.  Lectures and class activities extend your understanding of the subject matter. If you are not in class, you may miss information and activities that are difficult to make-up.  Please be on time and well-prepared for class. In cases of serious illness or emergencies, you are still responsible for any missed assignments or handouts. Check Blackboard for assignment instructions and course materials and to submit assignments if you are absent. You may also email me as soon as possible for additional instructions if necessary. Grades for late assignments will be reduced.  More than three unexcused absences will result in grade reductions.  Course Requirements:  • Classwork and participation:  You are expected to participate in class discussions and projects.  Your presence and active involvement is important to the success of these projects and will be factored into your grade. If you miss class, you generally cannot make up the in-class project/assignment. • Reading:  Read assigned chapters in our textbook in order to prepare for quizzes and to facilitate participation in class discussions and completion of in-class assignments. • Chapter assignments and presentations:  Complete the assignments as specified for each chapter. You will have one individual presentation and two team presentations. • Quizzes:  Take four timed quizzes (in Blackboard) on information from the text.   • Grammar Workouts: Complete the online grammar workouts and submit the certificate of completion for each. • Portfolio of best work:  Assemble a portfolio that represents your best work over the course of the semester. This should include samples of written communications, and may include presentations, and employment materials. It may also include guidelines and rules to serve as reference materials for future work.  A short reflection on why that piece of work is important to you should accompany each sample. All writing samples must be word-processed in 12-point standard font. • Final team assignment:  Write and present a business report based on the chapter case studies. • Final Exam: In class, you will write a response letter to a specific scenario.  Evaluation Criteria  An adaptation of Guffey’s Dual-Criteria Method (holistic) with the emphasis on the opportunity to improve writing and revise documents is used in this course.  Both the draft and final versions of chapter writing assignments are worth a specified number of points (½ for content and ½ for grammar/mechanics). This provides students the opportunity to earn the highest score possible on each version, allowing some “forgiveness” on the draft copy and expecting high standards by the final version. The two scores are combined for the grade on the assignment. If a student chooses not to revise, they will receive only the draft grade. If a student has a perfect score on the draft grade, however, that grade will be doubled for the final grade.   Dual-Criteria Method (Guffey, M. 2008). Each assignment is graded based on the following criteria:    Content      Grammar/Mechanics   Strategy     Appearance   Organization     Format   Coherence     Grammar   Tone      Capitalization   Clarity      Spelling   Reader benefit     Word choice   Opening, closing    Conciseness   Overall effectiveness    Writing technique  Assignment Weights:     Written Assignments  50%  Presentations   20%  Chapter Quizzes  20%  Grammar Reviews  10%  Grading Scale:       A 97-100   A 94-96 C+ 77-80 A- 90-93 C 74-76 B+ 87-89 C- 70-73 B 84-86 D 60-69 B- 80-83 F <60  Class Policies: Attendance and Participation. This class is highly participatory, attendance and high levels of participation are mandatory. Please telephone or email the professor BEFORE the absence if you cannot make a class, this is common courtesy and a good professional habit to develop.  Tardiness. Class will begin promptly at 9:40 a.m. Please value your class members and arrive on time. Excessive tardiness may be subject to a reduction of your participation grade. Respect. Each student will make multiple presentations. Treat each member of the class with respect by attending the presentations and giving the student presenting your full attention. Assignments. Assignments are to be turned in on the specified due date. Late assignments will be accepted only with prior approval of the professor and may be subject to a reduction in grade. You are responsible for knowing what happens in class even when you cannot attend. Should you find it necessary to miss class, use the Blackboard online class supplement site for assignments and course materials; submit assignments to the Digital Dropbox or the appropriate assignment link to avoid a grade reduction for a late assignment. Assignments may be adjusted at the professor's discretion.  Disability Statement If you have a disability for which accommodations are needed please contact me in the first week of the semester. We will discuss what accommodations you need and will receive in this course. Also, please contact:  Disability Services for Students (DSS)  (406) 243-2243 (Voice/Text) Lommasson Center 154     FAX 406-243-5330 The University of Montana Missoula, MT 59812  Cell Phones and Pagers. Please turn OFF all cell phones and pagers during class.  Academic Integrity Cooperative or collaborative learning is encouraged. However, all students must practice academic honesty.  Academic misconduct is subject to an academic penalty by the course instructor and/or a disciplinary sanction by the University.  These sanctions may include no grade for the assignment or removal from class depending upon the nature of the misconduct.   All students need to be familiar with the Student Conduct Code.  The Code is available for review online at http://ordway.umt.edu/SA/VPSA/index.cfm/name/StudentConductCode   EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE  As members of a learning community we all have responsibilities for each other that extend beyond the teaching/learning experience and transcend our roles in that dimension.  We are, as human beings, responsible for the protection and well-being of other members of our group, and one dimension of our individual and group responsibility in that area relates to how we prepare for, and respond to, emergencies.  Toward that end, the following are important:  • In the event we need to evacuate the building, our primary route will be down the east stairs through the WEST main doors (due to current construction) or the Emergency Exit on the south side of the building.  If that route is blocked, our secondary route will be down the west stairs through the west main doors.   • If you hear an alarm or are told to evacuate, always assume the emergency is real.  Be sure to take coats, backpacks and valuables since the building may be closed for some time. • Everyone should report to either the designated outdoor rally point or the indoor rally point (should conditions make it necessary to seek shelter in another building).  Our outdoor rally point is in front (west) of McGill Hall – at least 300 feet from the building.  Our indoor rally point is in McGill Hall.  We should reconvene as a group at the rally point so we can determine if anyone is missing.   • Do not use elevators as a means of evacuating, and do not use cell phones until safely away from the building.   • As the professor of this course, I would ask students who feel they may require assistance in evacuating to privately inform me of that need.  Together we will preplan appropriate assistance.   • I would also request that students with a medical condition that could present an emergency privately inform me of that situation.  Again, this notification is so we can preplan an appropriate response should an emergency occur.   • As soon as the class roster stabilizes, I will route a sign-up sheet for students to identify whether or not they possess current first aid and/or CPR certification.  This information will be passed on to the Facility Emergency Coordinator for use should a need for first aid expertise arise.    The School of Education complete Emergency Operations Plan and Emergency Preparedness For Individuals With Special Needs are available at http://www.soe.umt.edu/about/emergency.shtm   C&I 287 – Dynamic Course Schedule – Fall 2009 Professor reserves the right to make adjustments to schedule. Specific assignments and rubrics will be posted in Blackboard.  Week 1:   • August 31:  Course overview. Lab procedures. Building/construction issues. • September 2:  Introductions. Online textbook resources. Diagnostic grammar quiz.  Week 2:   • September 7: LABOR DAY HOLIDAY - NO CLASS • September 9:  Chapter 1, Communicating in Today’s Workplace o Chapter presentation/discussion. o In-class group activity.  Week 3:  • September 14:  Chapter 2, Developing Team, Listening, and Etiquette Skills  o Chapter presentation/discussion. o In-class group activity. Informal team presentation. • September 16:  Chapters 3, Communicating Across Cultures o Chapter presentation/discussion /Guest Speaker: Udo Fluck o Online reflection/discussion board of guest speaker presentation. Quiz 1 (Chapters 1-3) in Blackboard  Week 4:  • September 21:  Chapter 14, Business Presentations  o Chapter presentation/discussion. Powerpoint tips and tricks. o Assignment: Individual introductions Powerpoint presentation   See Blackboard for details/rubric • September 23:  Presentations (con’t) o Individual presentation of Personal/Introduction Powerpoints. o Webthink Presentation Assignments. (Presentations weekly from weeks 6-13)  See Blackboard for details/rubric  Week 5:   • September 28:  Chapter 15, The Job Search, Resumes, and Covers Letters o Career Services Presentation – Guest Speaker: Cheryl Minnick o Resumes/Cover Letters due by Monday, November 16 o Assignment: Interview prep sheets-Act #16.4, 16.5 • September 30:  Chapter 16, Interviewing and Follow Up o Chapter presentation/discussion. Editing: Documents for Analysis #15 o Role playing: mock interviews/15 seconds of fame  Week 6:  • October 5:  Mansfield Library Presentation – Guest Speaker : Kate Zoellner o Internet searching, Fair Use, APA citing, remote access, electronic databases. • October 7:  Chapter 4, Writing Process Phase 1: Analyze, Anticipate, Adapt o Chapter presentation/discussion. Editing: Exercises/Docs for Analysis #4 o Assignment: Chapter 4 Writing Activity (see Blackboard for details)  Week 7:  • October 12:  Chapter 5, Writing Process Phase 2: Research, Organize, Compose o Chapter presentation/discussion. Editing: Exercises/Docs for Analysis#5 o Assignment: Chapter 5 Writing Activity (see Blackboard for details) • October 14:  Chapter 6, Writing Process Phase 3: Revise, Proofread, Evaluate  o Chapter presentation/discussion. Editing: Exercises/Docs for Analysis #6 o Assignment: Chapter 6 Writing Activity (see Blackboard for details) Quiz 2 (Chapters 4-6) in Blackboard  Week 8:  • October 19:  Peer evaluation/writing lab (tentative) – Attendance required o Final editing, correcting and printing of assignments (Chapters 4-6) • October 21:  Chapter 7, E-Mail Messages and Memos o Chapter presentation/discussion. Editing: Exercises/Docs for Analysis #7 o Assignment: Chapter 7 Writing Activity (see Blackboard for details)  Week 9:  • October 26:  Chapter 8, Positive Letters and Messages o Chapter presentation/discussion. Editing: Exercises/Docs for Analysis #8 o Assignment: Chapter 8 Writing Activity (see Blackboard for details) • October 28:  Chapter 9, Persuasive and Marketing Messages o Chapter presentation/discussion. Editing: Exercises/Docs for Analysis #9 o Assignment: Chapter 9 Writing Activity (see Blackboard for details)  Week 10:   • November 2:  Chapter 10, Negative Messages o Chapter presentation/discussion. Editing: Exercises/Docs for Analysis #10 o Assignment: Chapter 10 Writing Activity (see Blackboard for details) • November 4:  Peer evaluation/writing lab (tentative) – Attendance required o Final editing, correcting and printing of assignments (Chapters 7-10) o Peer edit of resumes/cover letters?? Quiz 3 (Chapters 7-10) in Blackboard  Week 11:   • November 9:  Chapter 11, Business Report Basics o  Chapter presentation/discussion. Editing: Exercises/Docs for Analysis #11 o Assignment: Chapter 11 Writing Activity (see Blackboard for details) • November 11: VETERANS’ DAY – NO CLASS    Week 12:   • November 16: Chapter 12, Informal Business Reports  o Resumes/Cover Letters due o Chapter presentation/discussion. Editing:  Exercises/Docs for Analysis #12 o Assignment: Chapter 12 Writing Activity (see Blackboard for details) • November 18: Chapters 13, Proposals and Formal Reports  • Chapter presentation/discussion. Editing: Exercises/Docs for Analysis #13 o  Assignment: Chapter 13 Writing Activity – Team Reports/Presentations  See Blackboard for details/rubric Quiz 4 (Chapters 11-13) in Blackboard  Week 13:   • November 23: Lab time for team report presentations. • November 25: THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY – NO CLASS  Week 14:  Team Presentation – Lab time • November 30:  Lab time for team report presentations. • December 2:  Lab time for team report presentations.   Week 15: Team Presentations • December 7:  Team Report Presentations • December 9: Team Report Presentations   Finals Week: Final Portfolio due. • Monday, December 14:  Final 8:30 – 10:00 am.  *Professor reserves the right to make adjustments to syllabus.   

C&I 287.01: Business Communication

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C&I 287.01: Business Communication

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