Bus 50 Course Synopsis

Greetings Everyone!

On behalf of Solano College, I wish to welcome you to Business 092, Business Communication.

I am Professor Thom Watkins and I will be your instructor for the class. You will find that the information that you gain from this course will be valuable to you whether or not you enter the Business field. Some of it will amaze and astound you. You will find yourself exclaiming on occasion, “I didn’t know that!” I know that you will find it all very interesting. My job is not only to give you the information, but to make you successful and to give you the desire to want to continue to learn.

I have attached the Syllabus. Please read it carefully as it gives valuable information concerning the Course.

Please note that we will be using CONNECT for this class and all assignments will be done in, or submitted through CONNECT.

• The CONNECT web address is:

If you received this email, please reply Sooooo, as your first task, I would like you to respond to this e-mail so that we can make sure you will have access to all course communication. I will see you on Tuesday, August 18 at 12:30pm in Room 506.

Have a great semester!

SOLANO COMMUNITY COLLEGE

BUSINESS COMMUNICATION

Business 092

Course Syllabus & Materials Handout

Fall 2015

CRN 80071 / Tuesday & Thursday / 12:30-2:00pm

Professor T. Watkins

BUSINESS COMMUNICATION

Business 092 / CRN 80071

Fall 2015

August 17 thru December20

Course Title: Bus 92, Business Communication Instructor: Professor Thom Watkins

Telephone: 707.864.7140 E-Mail: thom.watkins@solano.edu

Class Hours: Tues & Thur; 12:30 – 2:00pm Location:Room 506

Text: Business Communication: Developing Leaders For A Networked World,SecondEdition, Peter W. Cardon

Office Hours: Below are my office hours. If you are unable to meet with me during these hours, please contact me to make arrangements for a scheduled appointment. Feel free to consult with me about any assistance you may need concerning the course you are taking:

Mondays & Wednesdays: 9:00 – 10:00 am

Tuesdays and Thursdays: 11:00 – 12:00 pm

This syllabus is your guide to success in this course: tests, grading, student 00responsibilities, assignments, and scheduled readings. Don’t lose this syllabus. The questions that you may have will probably be answered by it.

Purpose of the Course.

To study communication theory in planning and preparation of various types of letters, reports, resumes and oral presentations, along with analysis of group dynamics, symbolic communication, interview techniques and listening skills. To stress audience analysis style, appearance and the importance of grammar, punctuation and vocabulary. Focus on gender and cultural communication issues and strategies in the workplace. Critical thinking is encouraged through written and oral assignments and case studies on business communication and ethical issues. It is hoped that this improved understanding will increase your appreciation of the importance of communication and will assist you in planning both your academic program and future career.

Goals of the course.

1. To improve your ability to plan and write business letters, memos and short reports effectively.
2. To improve your ability to prepare and deliver presentations effectively.
3. To improve your career development skills and strategies, including personal assessment, resume preparation and interview techniques.
4. To improve your understanding of cultural and cross-cultural communication problems and solutions.
5. To improve your awareness and understanding of the numerous subtle, and often subconscious, messages and symbolic statements we communicate daily.

Method of Instruction.

1. I plan to use a combination of any or all of the following instructional methods: lecture, discussion student case analysis, controversial topic debates, and films.

1. Lectures will not merely repeat information from the text. Some concepts in the text will be emphasized to the exclusion of others, and considerable additional material will be presented which is not in the text.

1. This is a CSU transfer course. I will teach this course with the same reading and writing requirements and the same grading standards. CSU level academic ability and performance is expected from each student in the class.

1. Students are responsible for the information presented and/or assigned in class. Although listed in the Course Schedule, the assignments and related due dates are subject to change as the course progresses. If you miss a class, get the information from another class member. It is your responsibility to find out what you missed.

Student Learning Outcome.

Prepare and demonstrate effective written and oral communication and identify career development skillsand strategies, non-verbal communications, and cultural and gender communications.

Class Attendance and Participation.

Students must attend class in order to participate in student-involvement activities. I expect each student to be prepared for each class lesson. That is, be prepared to ask questions, answer questions, and otherwise participate in discussion of the topics for that class.

Consistent and timely attendance is expected. Past experience indicates a direct relationship between regular attendance and passing grades.

Assignments.

All written assignments, with the exception ofWritten Assignments #1and #7,are from the Course MaterialsHandout (beginning with page 7).

All written assignments are due on the dates assigned and must be turned in order to receive credit for the course. In fairness to those students who turn in the written assignments on time, students will be assessed a ten-point penalty for those assignments turned in late. Late assignments will lose one full grade for each class session that they are late.

The Oral Presentation must be presented during the period assigned. As there will be no time for a make-up period for the presentations, a student’s failure to make his or her presentation at the assigned time will result in no points earned for the presentation.

Grades and Grading Criteria.

Grades will be based on your performance on the following:

1. Written Assignments ------730 Points

#1 – 30 points

#2 – 110 points

#3 – 110 points

#4 – 110 points

#5 – 110 points

#6 – 150 points

#7 – 110 points

Introductory Speech ------70 points

Oral Presentation ------200 points

LearnSmart Assignments------400 points

The following grading criteria will be in effect for this class:

A = 1260 - 1400

B = 1120 - 1259

C = 980 - 1119

D = 840 - 979

F = 839 and below

Business 092 Schedule – Fall 2015 – CRN 80071

AUGUST

TuesdayThursday

18th 20th

Intro to Course Chap 1

Chap 1

25th 27th

Chap 2

SEPTEMBER

TuesdayThursday

1st 3rd

Intro Speeches

Written Assgt #1 due

8th 10th

Chap 3Chap 3

15th 17th

Chap 4Chap 5

22nd 24th

Chap 6 Chap 7

29th

Chap 8

Written Assgt #2 due

OCTOBER

TuesdayThursday

1st

Chap 9

6th 8th

Chap 10 Chap 10

OCTOBER, cont.

TuesdayThursday

13th 15th

Chap 10 Chap 10

Written Assgt #3 due

20th 22nd

Chap 11 Chap 12

Written Assgt #4 due

27th 29th

Chap 12Chap 13

Written Assgt #5 due

NOVEMBER

TuesdayThursday

3rd 5th

Chap 13 Chap 14

10th 12th

Chap 15Chap 15

Written Assgt #6 due

17th 19th

======Individual Oral Presentations** ======

24th 26th

Chap 16<Thanksgiving Break

DECEMBER

TuesdayThursday

1st 3rd

Chap 16 Chap 16

8th 10th

Chap 16 Chap 16

Written Assgt #7 due

Final Exam: Tuesday, December 15, 1:30pm

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS, Bus 092,FALL 2015

Written Assignment #1: Writing An Introductory Assignment

Write an essay on “Where Do I Want to Be in Five Years.”

Written Assignment #2: Writing an Electronic Message - (Chapter 7)

Writing an E-Mail

Written Assignment #3: Writing a Good-News Message – (Chapter 9)

Revising A Positive Letter

Written Assignment #4: Writing a Persuasive Message – (Chapter 10)

“The Nirvana Alarm Clock”

Written Assignment #5: Writing a Bad-News Message – (Chapter 11)

“Notifying A Program Director That A Film Is Not Available”

Written Assignment #6: Writing a Report– (Chapters 12 13)

“The Telephone Answering Machine”

Written Assignment #7: Writing a Cover Letter – (Chapter 16)

Write a Cover Letter for A Resume

Written Assignment #2

Writing and Sending an E-Mail

WORLD-WIDE PRODUCTS, Inc.

2222 Global Avenue

Universe City

DATE:Sep17, 2015

TO:Executive Assistant

FROM:Thom Watkins, Vice-President

SUBJECT:Appropriate E-mail Use Policy

Please draft a policy outlining appropriate e-mail use for employees.

We need such a policy because I have received reports of misuse including defamatory statements, pornography downloads, and even gambling.

Here are a few points that the policy should cover:

•E-mail is for business only.

•E-mail messages may be monitored.

•No pictures or other attachments should be sent without valid reason.

• E-mail should not be used to discuss personnel matters.

Please include other items that you deem necessary and appropriate.

I need to have the draft e-mailed to me by September 29 since we hope to have a policy completed by October12. Contact me if you have questions.

TW

Written Assignment #3

Editing & Revising A Positive Message

One of your jobs as director of purchasing for City College is to maintain a list of approved vendors. To be on the list, vendors must comply with all local, state, and federal laws. You buy only from approved vendors.

You are now responding to a request from Amelia Kemp that her printing company be reinstated on the list. The company was suspended a month ago for paying less than minimum wage, but she didn’t own the business then. A subordinate has prepared this draft for your signature.

Dear Ms. Kemp:

This is in response to your letter of last week appealing your suspension as a printing vendor for City College because of non-compliance with the prevailing wage requirement.

I have had both our administrative and legal staff review the circumstances surrounding the suspension, and they have recommended that it be reduced to 30 days. Their recommendations based strongly on the fact that you were not the owner of the business when the violation occurred which resulting in your suspension. In addition, your letter of last week promised that you will be in compliance for all future jobs printed for City College.

Since the letter informing you of the suspension was dated 33 days ago, this means that you are immediately reinstated as an approved vendor. My office, however, reserves the right to review future jobs performed by your company to assure that you comply with the wage requirements and other requirements.

If you have any questions or concerns about this action, please feel free to contact me.

You know that this is a terrible letter. Both organization and style can be much better.

Assignment: Edit and Revise the letter.

Written Assignment #4

The Nirvana Alarm Clock

Robert Underwood, Ball State University

At your new job with a local advertising agency, you have been given the assignment of writing a persuasive letter to market the Nirvana Alarm Clock.

According to the list provided to you, these are the features of the clock:

1. Automatically resets the alarm for the next day.
2. Has a sturdy, nontip base.
3. Has a 5-decibel buzzer.
4. Has a snooze alarm.
5. Is available in the following seven colors: red, pink, blue, black, purple, green, and orange.
6. Is constructed of durable polystyrene.
7. Has a luminous face and projects the correct day and time on the ceiling.
8. Measures 6 inches by 6 inches by 2 inches.
9. Costs $21.95, plus $3.00 for shipping and handling.
10. Comes with an unconditional 2-year guarantee.

• Thousands of these clocks have been sold nationally, but your target market will be college students. Write a sales letter built around a central theme. You might not want to include all of the features listed.

Written Assignment #5

Notifying A Program Director That A Film Is Not Available

You’re the Energy “Information Specialist” for the local gas and electric company. As a public relations strategy, you offer films and speakers free to any organization. These films and talks present you in a good light to the public and help you get your points across. Many people do not feel very positively about their utility companies, and you want all the goodwill you can get.

Today you’ve received a letter from Carolyn Minocha, Vice-President of the Central High School Parent-Teacher Association, asking to reserve the film The Energy-Efficient Homefor the PTA’s meeting on the sixth of next month. Unfortunately, The Energy-Efficient Home is your most popular film, and all three copies are booked for the first two weeks of next month. Indeed, it is so popular that people who need a specific date would do well to request it six to eight weeks in advance. Already, one copy has been reserved for the first week of the month following next month.

You do have two films on somewhat related topics which are still available for the sixth of next month: Landscaping for Energy Savings (two copies) and The Heat Pump: Is It for You?(one copy). However, you allocate films on a first-come, first-served basis, and you don’t know how long they’ll be available.

Assignment: Write a letter to Ms. Minocha.

Hints:

• Should you recommend an alternative film to Ms. Minocha when you cannot guarantee that it will still be available when she gets back to you?

• Are you justified in holding one or both films for her? For how long?
• How long is it until the PTA’s meeting?
• What implications does that length of time have in terms of finding a program?
• What can you do in your letter to build goodwill?

Written Assignment #6

The Telephone Answering Machine

Marcia Mascolini, Western Michigan University

Andy smith runs Andy’s Plumbing Service out of his home. His business is small, and he does not have a secretary. Instead, he uses an answering machine on the family telephone to accept messages from customers when he is out on a call and his wife is at work. Andy believes that the answering machine is a necessity for anyone who runs a one-person operation like his; however, he is not happy with the recorded customer calls that he has been receiving.

This is the greeting, recorded by Andy’s wife, that customers hear when they call Andy’s number: “Hello. You’ve reached the Smiths’. When you hear the tone, please leave your message. We’ll get back to you as soon as we can.”

These are 10 typical calls recorded on the answering machine:

1. Hi, Andy. This is Dave. Call me back when you get a chance.
2. (No message)
3. Hello…. Um…I’m having trouble…. You know that new pipe you put in the basement last week? The cold water pipe? Well, something’s wrong with it. It looks sort of funny. I’m really worried. Should I shut off the water? I can’t shut off the water because I just put a load of clothes in, and the kids are all home from school sick. I don’t know what to do. It’s getting wet, sort of dripping. I’m over on Main Street, the white house on the corner. Please come over as soon as you can.
4. (No message)
5. (No message)
6. (No message)
7. Hello? Andy’s Plumbing? Please call me at 555-1212. Thanks.
8. –2325. Please call this evening after 6 p.m.
9. (No message)

Written Assignment #6, cont’d.

1. Hi. Andy. You were right about the faucet that you said that was going to go out on me. It went. Give me a call when you get a chance. It’s Charlie Ensminger. Call me at work if it’s before five.

NOTES:

1. Analyze the greeting on Andy’s phone. What specific suggestions could you give for improving it?
2. What do you think accounts for the large number of calls that people place without leaving messages?
3. Analyze the messages that people have left on Andy’s answering machine. Why would each one cause Andy additional work?
4. If you had a plumbing problem that you wanted Andy to fix, what specific message would you leave to ensure his speedy response?

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