BUSINESS COMMUNICATION

Hagerstown Community College

OFFICIAL COURSE SYLLABUS DOCUMENT

COURSE: BUS 113 Business Communication (Internet) – 3 credits

INSTRUCTOR: Beverly J. Yeagle, Professor of Business SEM/YEAR: Spring 2007

COURSE DESCRIPTION: The principles of business communication relate to people in business or students planning a career in business. The course includes the study of the mechanics, form, style, and content of business letters, memos, e-mails, reports, proposals, and presentations. Prerequisite: ENG 100 or above and keyboarding skill recommended. Semesters offered: Fall, Spring

TEXTBOOK: Business Communication Essentials, Bovee/Thill, 2006, Pearson Prentice Hall with Peak Performance Grammar & Mechanics and Video supplements (Companion Web Site—www.prenhall.com/bovee); must have access to working computer

GENERAL EDUCATION STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:

1. Articulate judgments concerning the values of cultural, humanistic, or artistic texts.

2. Demonstrate an aesthetic understanding of the creative process.

3. Demonstrate skills necessary for understanding human behavior and sustaining effective human relationships.

4. Articulate an understanding of society, social roles, and cultures.

5. Demonstrate observational and analytical skills in a structured situation.

6. Formulate conclusions based on observations and information.

7. Generate ideas and gather information for a specific audience.

8. Apply critical thinking skills.

9. Organize ideas logically and effectively.

10. Present appropriate, adequate, unified, and coherent support for ideas.

11. Employ effective revising and editing skills.

12. Respond appropriately to feedback.

13. Identify ways which technology can be used.

14. Apply appropriate technology to support educational and career goals.

15. Use technology to gather, evaluate, process, and communicate information.

COURSE STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:

To plan, write, and complete business messages

To use communication skills for presentation of ideas in oral, visual, and written format

To function as an individual and as a team player in communication projects

COURSE CONTENT OBJECTIVES:

1. Identify and use technological tools business communicators use to improve written, oral, and visual communication.

2. Assess written communication skills to determine existing strengths and weaknesses as well as review appropriate use of punctuation, grammatical structure, and writing style.

3. Write effective memos, letters, proposals, reports, and e-mail messages.

4. Apply techniques used in effective oral presentations.

5. Organize and prepare a short business report with PowerPoint presentation.

6. Handle challenges of international and cross-cultural business communication.

7. Create electronic résumés and identify career resources on the Internet and college community.

8. Participate in discussions of document analyses and case studies.

ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES:

Error Classification

(Apply Your Knowledge, Practice Your Knowledge, and Cases)

Errors are classified into two groups—major and minor errors. The following classification will mean that major errors will have a penalty of five (5) points, and minor errors will carry a penalty of three (3) points.

Major Errors:Poor placement, incorrect style, inconsistent form, keying errors, misspelled words, omissions, errors in following directions, using wrong method to complete assignment (e.g., bulleted list)

Minor Errors:Uneven margins, incorrect capitalization and punctuation, incorrect word division, spacing, miscellaneous

The following grading scale will be used for Apply Your Knowledge, Practice Your Knowledge, Video Assignments, Cases, and Tests.

90-100

A

80- 89

B

70- 79

C

60- 69

D

Below 60F

NOTE: Content also will be evaluated for Apply Your Knowledge, Practice Your Knowledge, Video Assignments, and Cases. The Informational Progress Report, PowerPoint Presentation, and Speaker’s Critique will be evaluated on content, format, grammar, and mechanics.

Apply Your Knowledge

10%

Practice Your Knowledge

10%

Video Assignments

10%

Cases

10%

Speaker’s Critique

10%

Tests

30%

Informational Progress Report/PPT20%

Chapter activities can be submitted for credit directly to your instructor or e-mailed as attachments to your instructor.

Testing. You will have three major tests covering the chapters in your textbook: Test 1 (Chapters 1-5); Test 2 (Chapters 6-9); and Test 3 (Chapters 10-14). Test questions will be a mix of multiple choice, true/false, and short answer/essay. Each test will be based on 100 percent. Tests will be available on campus at the Academic Testing Center located on the third floor of the Learning Resource Center (LRC) building. No test can be completed later than one week beyond the scheduled test date. Every attempt should be made to meet timelines given by your instructor.

Discussion Board. Each student is required to respond to “Apply Your Knowledge,” Ethical Choices #5 (start a new thread/originate a response), for Chapters 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, and 13 by using the Discussion Board feature of Blackboard. Then each student is responsible for responding to one other student’s response for each assigned chapter. Every effort should be made to post your responses to different students, not the same student each time. Responses should be entered no later than one week beyond each chapter assignment. After this time limit, you will be blocked from responding. Suggested solutions will be posted periodically on Blackboard under “Assignments” by your instructor.

RECOMMENDATIONS FROM YOUR INSTRUCTOR:

Remember to label all work, especially attachments to e-mails, with your name, course title, and assignment reference. Review “Chapter Review Notes” on Blackboard under “Course Information” for summary of chapters and preparation for tests.

Speaker’s Critique. See separate handout for specific information.

Global Workplace Informational Progress Report. See separate handout for specific information.

SUMMARY OF COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

First e-mail to instructor “About YOU”

Diagnostic Test of English Skills (pp. H-1 and H-2 at back of your textbook; answer key is found on Blackboard under “Course Documents”); E-mail results to your instructor. See chart at bottom of page H-2 for figuring results.

Chapter reading for Chapters 1-14 and “Business Communication Notebook” information for each chapter

Discussion Board (“Apply Your Knowledge,” Ethical Choices #5)

Chapter 1, p. 19

Chapter 3, p. 65

Chapter 5, p. 123

Chapter 7, p. 191

Chapter 9, p. 264

Chapter 11, p. 354

Chapter 13, p. 427

“Practice Your Knowledge”

Chapter 2, Act. #3, p. 44

Chapter 4, Act. #1, p. 101

Chapter 6, Act. #3, p. 156

Chapter 8, Act. #5, p. 231

Chapter 10, Act. #4, p. 305

Chapter 12, Act. #8, p. 388 (NOTE: Outline the content of your presentation in complete sentence format. You will not make the presentation to the class.)

Chapter 14, Act. #7, p. 455

Cases for the following chapters

Chapter 6, p. 161, #4

Chapter 7, p. 201, #9

Chapter 8, p. 234, #3

Chapter 9, p. 273, #5

Chapter 13, pp. 431-432, #4 (or classified ad of your choice; refer to page 419)

Video Assignments

“Ethical Communication,” Discussion Questions, p. VG-1

“Technology and the Tools of Communication,” Discussion Questions, p. VG-4

Global Workplace Informational Progress Report and PowerPoint Presentation

Speaker’s Critique (narrative and evaluation form)

Three major tests (Chapters 1-5; 6-9; and 10-14)

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES

“Document Makeover”

“Interactive Study Guide”(E-mail results to your instructor if you want extra credit.)

Peak Performance Grammar and Mechanics as needed

“Improve Your Grammar, Mechanics, and Usage”; Self-Assessment (answer key—AK—in back of textbook)

“Workplace Applications”; odd-numbered items only (suggested solutions found on Blackboard under “Assignments”)

“Document Critique” (model answer under “Course Documents” of Blackboard)

COURSE POLICIES:

Students are expected to attend all classes. In the case of absence due to emergency (illness, death in the family, accident), or participation in official College functions, it is the student’s responsibility to confer with the instructor about the absence and missed course work. Further, it is the student’s responsibility to withdraw officially from any class which he/she ceases to attend. Failure to do so may result in the recording of an “F” grade. Students absent from an announced (major) test or examination, unless authorized, may be given an equivalent examination at a later date at the discretion of the instructor.

NOTE: The above HCC attendance policy will be modified for distance learning students.

The instructor reserves the right to modify the course content and/or the evaluation (testing) procedures as he/she determines necessary.

The HCC Honor Code Policy (Academic Integrity) is in effect in this class. The Policy and Procedures are published in the Student Handbook available in the Student Activities Office.

Blackboard Note: For course announcements and other related information, please go to the Blackboard link found on the Hagerstown Community College (HCC) Website. On the Internet, key in the address, www.hagerstowncc.edu; choose Distance Education from the left side of the screen and click on Blackboard Resources; then click on Student Resources; next, under Blackboard Student Resources screen, choose First Time Bb Log-in for HCC Credit Students. You must have an HCC student e-mail address to use this site. Your instructor will enroll you in this course—listed as BUS 113 Business Communication—at the Blackboard Website. You will need to use Blackboard to complete this course.

BUS 113 COURSE ENROLLMENT/GRADE SHEET

Name:

Address:

Phone(H):

(W):

Cell Phone:

Company:

HCC E-Mail Address:

Other E-Mail Address:

Curriculum/Program of Study:

Instructor:

Date:

Chapter

Apply Your Knowledge (#5)

Practice Your Knowledge

Video Assignments

Study Guide Quiz (Extra Credit)

Date

Grade

Date

Grade

Date

Grade

Date

Grade

1 AYK

1

2 PYK

#3

2

3 AYK

3

4 PYK

#1

4

5 AYK

5

6 PYK

#3

6

7 AYK

7

8 PYK

#5

8

9 AYK

9

10 PYK

#4

10

11 AYK

11

12 PYK

#8

12

13 AYK

13

14 PYK

#7

14

Average:

Average:

Average:

Average:

Cases

No.

Date

Grade

6

#4

p. 161

7

#9

p. 201

8

#3

p. 234

9

#5

p. 273

13

#4

p. 431

Average:

Speaker’s Critique (narrative/evaluation form):

Tests:

Date

Grade

AYK (10%)

#1 (C 1-5)

PYK (10%)

#2 (C 6-9)

Video (10%)

#3 (C 10-14)

Average:

Cases (10%)

Date

Grade

Speaker’s Critique (10%)

Global Informational Progress Report

Report/PPT (20%)

PPT Presentation

Tests (30%)

Average:

E-mail:

Diagnostic Test:

Final Grade:

BUS 113 BUSINESS COMMUNICATION

Spring 2007

TIMELINES*

CHAPTER

ACTIVITY

ACTIVITY DUE DATE

Review course information packet received in the mail

Week of January 9

Read:

Chapter 1

“Understanding Business Communication in Today’s Workplace”

*E-mail enrollment/grade form.

*E-mail about YOU!

*E-mail results of Diagnostic Test of English Skills.

*January 22

Read:

Chapter 2

“Communicating in Teams and Mastering Listening and Nonverbal Communication Skills”

*Apply Your Knowledge (AYK), Ethical Choices #5, p. 19

*January 29

Read:

Chapter 3

“Planning Business Messages”

*Practice Your Knowledge (PYK), Act. #3, p. 44

*February 5

Read:

Chapter 4

“Writing Business Messages”

*AYK, p. 65

*VIDEO #1

*February 12

Read:

Chapter 5

“Completing Business Messages”

*PYK, Act. #1, p. 101

*February 19

Read:

Chapter 6

“Working with Letters, Memos, E-Mail, and Instant Messages”

*AYK, p. 123

*TEST (Chapters 1-5)

*February 26

Read:

Chapter 7

“Writing Routine Messages”

*PYK, Act. #3, p. 156

*Case #4, p. 161

*March 5

Spring Break (March 12-18)

Read:

Chapter 8

“Writing Bad-News Messages”

*AYK, p. 191

*Case #9, p. 201

*March 19

Read:

Chapter 9

“Writing Persuasive Messages”

*PYK, Act. #5, p. 231

*Case #3, p. 234

*March 26

Read:

Chapter 10

“Understanding and Planning Business Reports and Proposals”

*AYK, p. 264

*Case #5, p. 273

*TEST (Chapters 6-9)

April 2

Read:

Chapter 11

“Writing and Completing Business Reports and Proposals”

*PYK, Act. #4, p. 305

*GLOBAL WORKPLACE INFORMATIONAL PROGRESS REPORT AND PPT PRESENTATION DUE

*April 9

Read:

Chapter 12

“Preparing and Giving Oral Business Presentations”

*AYK, p. 354

*VIDEO #4

*April 16

Read:

Chapter 13

“Searching for Employment and Preparing Employment Messages”

*PYK, Act. #8, p. 388

*SPEAKER’S CRITIQUE NARRATIVE AND EVALUATION FORM DUE

*April 23

Read:

Chapter 14

“Interviewing for Employment and Following Up”

*AYK, p. 427

*PYK, Act. #7, p. 455

*Case #4, pp. 431-432

*April 30

All assignments due by May 1!

*TEST (Chapters 10-14)—Must complete by May 7

*May 1-7

*Chapter assignments are due by the beginning of the week following the chapter covered. A grace period of one week (e.g., assignment due February 12 still accepted by February 19) will be honored. No assignments beyond one week late will be accepted.

Instructor: Beverly J. Yeagle, Professor of Business, CLR-117, 301-790-2800, ext. 328; yeagleb@hagerstowncc.edu; office hours: TU, 4-5 p.m.; W, 4-5 p.m.; TH, 4-5 p.m.

TOPICAL OUTLINE:

BUSINESS COMMUNICATION FOUNDATIONS

· Understanding Business Communication in Today’s Workplace

· Communicating in Teams and Mastering Listening and Nonverbal Communication Skills

THE THREE-STEP WRITING PROCESS

· Planning Business Messages

· Writing Business Messages

· Completing Business Messages

BRIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENCE

· Working with Letters, Memos, Email, and Instant Messages

· Writing Routine Messages

· Writing Bad-News Messages

· Writing Persuasive Messages

LONGER BUSINESS MESSAGES

· Understanding and Planning Business Reports and Proposals

· Writing and Completing Business Reports and Proposals

· Preparing and Giving Oral Presentations

EMPLOYMENT MESSAGES

· Searching for Employment and Preparing Employment Messages

· Interviewing for Employment and Following Up

CONTACT INFORMATION: Office located at CLR-117; 301-790-2800, ext. 328; yeagleb@hagerstowncc.edu; office hours: TU, 4-5 p.m.; W, 4-5 p.m.; TH, 4-5 p.m.

Services for Students with Special Needs: Students who have special needs are encouraged to identify themselves to the coordinator of special student services as early as possible. Reasonable accommodations based on current documentation are provided to qualified students.

PLEASE TAKE TIME TO READ THE ENCLOSED MATERIALS. THIS INFORMATION REPLACES WHAT WOULD EQUAL AN HOUR ORIENTATION SESSION IF PRESENTED ON HAGERSTOWN COMMUNITY COLLEGE CAMPUS.

January 2007

Dear BUS 113 Student

Welcome to BUS 113 Business Communication for the Spring 2007 semester at Hagerstown Community College!

Your experience as an online student for this course will be a true test for your communication skills and mine as your instructor. Our main connection is through e-mail. However, my scheduled office hours are TWTh from 4-5 p.m. when you can contact me by phone or a face-to-face appointment. If these hours are not good for you, we can make other arrangements. In addition to teaching, my current position as chair for the Behavioral and Social Sciences/Business Division keeps me on campus many hours every week.

The first step to your success in this course is to take the Distance Education Readiness Quiz 1 and Quiz 2 found on the Hagerstown Community College (HCC) Website under “Distance Education.” This should assure you are prepared for the responsibility of taking an online course. If you do not receive positive results from this exercise, perhaps you need to reconsider taking an online course at this time.

Although this information packet is being sent to you rather than requiring you to attend an orientation session on campus, please understand you can meet with me one-on-one to go over course requirements and procedures. This is the first time I have used this orientation method for any of my online courses. Therefore, I would appreciate your comments regarding this introduction to your course.

The importance of e-mail communication and meeting deadlines cannot be stressed enough. Both are critical to student success. Your HCC e-mail address will be used (e.g., mlsmith@credit.hagerstowncc.edu) throughout the course. If you are a new student, you need to activate your HCC e-mail account at the HCC Library located on the second floor of the LRC building (tall building to the left of the Administration building). You should check your e-mail at least once a day. My e-mail address is yeagleb@hagerstowncc.edu. Always use a subject line (e.g., Chapter 8 PYK Assignment) and send your assignments as attachments to your e-mail, not part of the e-mail message itself. PLEASE label all attachments with your name, date, and assignment description (e.g., Corey Lane, January 23, 2007, Chapter 8, PYK, #5, page 231). Consider copying yourself (cc:) so that you receive a copy also in your “Inbox.” You will receive a confirmation e-mail from me to indicate that I have received your assignment. Give me a couple of days for a reply—perhaps more if e-mail is sent on a weekend—and then check with me again if no e-mail is received from me to make certain I have received your work.

Pay particular attention to the deadlines for your assignments given in your course syllabus. Assignments will be accepted one week beyond the scheduled deadline. No assignments will be accepted more than one week past the deadline (e.g., assignments due January 22 will be accepted no later than January 29).

Blackboard will be used for this course. You can access Blackboard by going to the HCC Website. Specific directions for accessing Blackboard can be found on page 4 of your course syllabus. Here is what you will find posted at the following locations:

· Announcements

Notes from your instructor and Blackboard Administrator

· Course Information

Browsers Tune-Up

Student Orientation Letter

Syllabus

Enrollment Form

One Key (will activate your access to all online materials from the publisher; code comes with your textbook)

About This Course

Chapter Review Notes (good for preview/postview of chapter and preparation for tests)

· Staff Information

Instructor contact information and picture

· Course Documents

English Handbook Diagnostic Test Key

Chapter Critique Model solutions

Student Learning Resources

Chapter Resources (includes PowerPoint presentations)

· Assignments

Getting to Know You

Speaker’s Critique

Global Workplace Informational Progress Report

Answer Key to Workplace Odd-numbered Items

AYK Possible Solutions

· Communication

Announcements

Discussion Board

Roster

Send Email

· Discussion Board

Who are you?

Apply Your Knowledge (AYK) activities

· External Links

· Tools

Calendar

Personal Information

User Manual (for Blackboard features)

· Help with Bb

· Textbook Website

Chapter Self-Study Quizzes

Enclosed you will find a copy of your course syllabus; enrollment/grade form; “Getting to Know You” information sheet for first e-mail; “Discussion Board Forums” information sheet; “Global Workplace Informational Progress Report and PowerPoint Presentation” information sheet; and “Speaker’s Critique” information sheet with Evaluation Form. Sample computer screens for Blackboard also are enclosed for your reference.

Remember, I am only an e-mail (yeagleb@hagerstowncc.edu) or phone call (301-790-2800, ext. 328) away if you have any questions or need help with your course.

Sincerely

Beverly J. Yeagle, BUS 113 01 Professor

Enclosures

BUS 113 BUSINESS COMMUNICATION

“Getting to Know You”

E-mail the following information to your instructor by January 22, 2007. Respond with brief answers in complete sentences.

1. What is your major?

2. How close are you to graduating?

3. What career are you preparing for?

4. If you have a job, what field is it in?

5. How long have you been in that field?

6. What kinds of business communication do you already engage in?

7. What kinds of communication do you need to work on most?

Please send to yeagleb@hagerstowncc.edu.

BUS 113 BUSINESS COMMUNICATION

GLOBAL WORKPLACE INFORMATIONAL PROGRESS REPORT AND POWERPOINT PRESENTATION

SPRING 2007

You are working for Higher Communication Channels (HCC) and report to Beverly Yeagle, HCC Division Manager. At Ms. Yeagle’s request you are asked to research cultural differences between the United States and (select country of your choice) since HCC will be expanding its business to global communities.

Refer to sample progress report on page 287 of your textbook. Letter format should be used to report your information. Refer to pages A-2 to A-15 in the back of your textbook for letter format and layout information. Address the letter to: Ms. Beverly Yeagle, Division Manager, Higher Communication Channels, 11400 Robinwood Drive, Hagerstown, MD 21742. Please limit your letter to two pages.

This project will be evaluated on content, format, and grammatical/mechanical correctness. References should be listed on a separate page in APA style (pp. A24-25 of your textbook). At least three references should be cited. Do not limit your references to the Internet! Prepare your report using Microsoft Word software.

To accompany your report, you will be responsible for developing a short PowerPoint presentation related to the content of your report. At least five slides (excluding an introductory/title slide and summary slide) are required. In addition to applying concepts described in Chapter 12 of your textbook, you will find additional information available on the Internet (e.g., www.bitbetter.com; www.powerpoint-graphics.com; www.rdpslides.com). If you are not too familiar with the Microsoft PowerPoint software application, contact your instructor for assistance.

Background Information. Many businesses are crossing national boundaries to engage in international business. Operating in a global environment can be challenging so it is important for companies to understand and appreciate cultural differences to avoid negative business consequences. An extensive amount of time should be devoted to learning about specific cultures/countries with which an organization does business. Communication across language, cultural, time, and technology barriers can be challenging. A significant amount of research needs to be conducted before a company can engage in successful global business ventures. It is necessary to thoroughly examine differences in gestures, expressions, and dialect when communicating across cultures so as not to offend anyone. Difference in time zones also causes organizations to carefully plan in advance in order to develop, translate, and deliver information in a timely manner.

Research your country, utilizing various resources, to identify important cultural characteristics specific to that country. For example, you may want to gather information about gestures and other nonverbal communication that would be considered offensive, work ethic, and/or laws related to conducting business in that country. The characteristics you identify should be useful and accurate.

Videos, “Communicating Effectively in the Global Workplace” and “Impact of Culture on Business: Spotlight on Latin America,” accompanying your textbook can be helpful resources.

REPORT AND PPT PRESENTATION DUE APRIL 9, 2007!

BUS 113 BUSINESS COMMUNICATION

SPEAKER’S CRITIQUE

Select a speaker who is giving information on a topic, preferably related to business or a topic covered in your textbook. Prepare a narrative indicating the speaker’s name, date of presentation, topic of presentation, length of presentation, purpose of presentation, and audience. Give a short summary of the presentation. Complete the “Speech Communication Evaluation Form—Informative Speech” evaluation form. Submit the narrative (at least one page) double-spaced using Microsoft Word software and the evaluation form to your instructor. (Due April 23)

SPEECH COMMUNICATION EVALUATION FORM -- INFORMATIVE SPEECH

Speaker _________________ Topic ________________ Time ________________

Student Evaluator:

4 (Excellent); 3 (Good); 2 (Average); 1 (Below Average)

Introduction

Factor

Performance

Comment

Gained attention and interest

Introduced topic clearly

Established credibility

Previewed body of speech

Body

Factor

Performance

Comment

Main points clear

Main points adequately supported

Cited sources - primary or secondary

Supports varied and relevant to the audience

Organization well planned

Language appropriate, clear, concise

Transitions effective

Delivery

Factor

Performance

Comment

Maintained eye contact

Used voice effectively

Used nonverbal communication effectively

Maintained posture effectively

Used gestures effectively

Conclusion

Factor

Performance

Comment

Prepared audience for ending

Reinforced central idea

Overall evaluation

Factor

Performance

Comment

Specific purpose well chosen

Speech adapted to audience

AV Notes:

BUS 113 Business Communication1Spring 2007