BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
SYLLABUS - SPRING 2011
SorrellCollege of Business Vision STATEMENT
Sorrell College of Business will be the first choice for higher business education students in their quest to succeed in a dynamic and global economy. Sorrell College of Business will create the model for 21st century business education and community service.
SorrellCollege of Business Mission STATEMENT
Through operations that span the State of Alabama, the United States, and the world, Sorrell College of Business equips our students with the knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies to become organizational and community leaders who make a difference in the global village and global economy. Through this endeavor, we serve students, employers, faculty, and TroyUniversity at large as well as the local and global communities.
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COURSE TITLEBUSINESS COMMUNICATION
COURSE NUMBERBUS 3382
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES
The course involves the development and use of skills in critical analysis and composition of business and personal communications. This includes evaluating the mechanics and content of letters, reports and memoranda.
COURSE PURPOSE
The purpose of the course is to introduce the student to all aspects of written, electronic and oral communication applicable to the business world. Both theoretical knowledge and practical experience in business communications are included as part of instruction.
Upon completion of the course the student should be able to:
A.Correctly select, plan and compose letters, resumes, memoranda and reports.
B. Explain business communication concepts, methodologies and
formats
C.Plan and deliver a well organized oral presentation
D.Participate effectively in business discussions with peers
E.Critically review work, accept suggestions and make revisions
F.Discuss essential facets of intercultural business communication.
COURSE TERM - Spring 2011
COURSE PREREQUISITE - Successful completion of ENG 1102 or 1104
COURSE SCHEDULE (DAYS AND TIME:
MWF - TBWA - 08:00 AM- 08:50 AM 120 McARTHA
MWF – TEWA – 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM, 120McARTHA
MWF – TUWA– NOON - 12:50 PM, 120McARTHA
Tth - TJWA - 2:20 PM- 3:45PM , 302 GAB
COURSE INSTUCTOR James M. Orendorff, J.D.
INSTRUCTOR’S OFFICE HOURS - MWF 8:00 AM – 2:00 PMunless teaching class,
or by appointment
INSTRUCTOR’S OFFICE LOCATION –203 McCARTHA HALL
INSTRUCTOR’S OFFICE TELEPHONE - 334.670.3290
INSTRUCTOR’S E-MAIL -
COURSE REQUIRED TEXT - Guffey, BUSINESS COMMUNICATION, 8TH ED
COURSE RELATED MATERIALS
The university library, in addition to the Internet, has substantial additional informative and instructive materials applicable to the subject matter of this course. Group study rooms, on an as available or reserved basis, are available at the library. Do not hesitate to make use of the available resources and research facilities, and if in doubt make inquiry of the instructor.
COURSE SUPPORT MATERIAL
There are available to those with appropriate needs, support classes at Computer Works, WritingCenter, Tutorial Lab, ESL and the American Idiom etc. See the instructor if you are interested.
COURSE PROCEDURES
1.Classes:Classes are scheduled for the semester as set out in
the attached “Provisional Class Schedule.” Classesare a combination of the instructor’s leadership and supervision of class discussion on the applicable chapter material and presentations, They will make extensive use of the Socratic Method(use of dialogue between the students and instructor examining the principles under consideration). Each student MUST have read the relevant material for the class, considered the concepts individually as well as in a study group and be prepared to discuss aspects of the course as scheduled. The instructor’s presentation will not necessarily cover all material of the course for which the student is held responsible.
2.Team and Team Assignments.Students are arbitrarily assigned to a study
group orteam and the team is arbitrarily assigned a subject for practice and graded written and oral presentations. Development of a business-like ability to handle the circumstances and work in such an atmosphere is part of the course. It is intended that each student will fully participate in the team effort so that the businesslike experience of working with others and on topics, neither of which is the student is acquainted, can be fully experienced.
3.Grades:Grades are earned by the individual student in class
participation, quizzes, tests, personal efforts, formal and informal reports and teamwork efforts.Unit andchapterrelated written and oral presentations are for practice and evaluation. These presentations are not graded – but pragmatically arenot forgotten either.
Final grades follow a review of the student’s efforts throughout the semester and
are:
A – for outstanding performance,
B – for excellent performance,
C – for adequate performance,
D – For barely passing performance, and
F – for failure to perform at an acceptable level.
The standard is set by the instructor.Timely student inquiry, on a course matter,
is welcomed, but a grade challenge will be considered solely after receipt of thestudent’s explanatory memorandum in proper form. Dr. Henry M. Findley, 117 McArtha Hall, 3271, is Chairman of Business Programs of the Sorrell College of Business, and may be contacted in the event resolution is not reached.
Combined grades of the chapterquizzes (ten one per chapters 2 through 12) and
Tests (five,including a comprehensive final) are one half of a student’s final grade for the course. These with the grades for the graded reports are the basis for the student’s earned grade. Completing the student’s final grade is recognition of professionalism by the student of chapter and unitpresentations (oral and written) and class participations, i.e., discussions and demeanor.
- Tests: Tests, one-half of the student’s finalgrade, are based on
the text and matters considered in class.All test essay answers must be in ink and in a “Blue Book.” Only a “Scranton Card” is to be used for answering the true/false, multiple choice questions. All reports, memoranda and test answer papers must clearly state, on the front upper right hand corner, the student’s name, date of examination and class time.
A.At the end of the text’s first unit, the “first test” will include an individual student prepared memoranda, using the applicable principles of the text, including the criteria check sheet and memoranda forms that are part of and attached to this syllabus. The subject will be that student’s college experience. The personal memorandum should not be more than three pages. There will be also a series of test essay questions to be answered in a Blue Bookdue as scheduled and with the college experience memorandum.
B.Thereafter, tests will be held as scheduled upon completion of each unit. The non—final tests will be 50 minutes each consisting of 25 true/false questions and 25 multiple choice questions with 5 essay questions. The final test is comprehensive of the testwith 50 true/false questions and 50 multiple choice questions.
5. Reports: Grades for reportsand memoranda are based on the use of the
principles of the course applied by the student to the materials, i.e., both student development of form and content are considered. All reports, memoranda and test answer papers must clearly state, on the front upper right hand corner, the student’s name, date of examination, group and class time.
All written instruments, including the reports and memoranda, shall be prepared in light of and use the principles of the text and are:
(a) Anindividual informal memorandum on the student’s college experience, not to exceed three pages, and its companion
Critiquememorandum,also not to exceed three pages and due as scheduled for all written instruments at the end of the semester.
(b) Ateam developed formal report, (the format as set forth in the text andmeeting the criteria set forth in the evaluation check list part of the syllabus), with a “body” of not less than ten pages, on an assigned subject (part 1).
(c) A team developed informal memorandum,(the format as set forth in the textand meeting the criteria set forth in the evaluation check list, part of this syllabus), concerning us of the course principals of the text used in preparing the formal report,not to less than three pages,(part 2), and
(d) A team developed oral report on aspects of the assigned subjectof not less than ten minutes (the format as set forth in the text and meeting the criteria set forth in the evaluation check list, part of this syllabus), concerning
(e)A team developed oral and written memoranda on the units for evaluation. Each group will prepare a not less than ten page informal memorandum for each unit, due the date of that unit’s examination, and an oral report on one chapter of the text, starting with team 1 presentation Chapter 2, etc. These are for practice and will be evaluated but not graded.
(f)Individual informal memoranda starting with Chapter 2 and the first classroom discussion of the chapter, there will be a short quiz. The total of the quizzes will considered equal to that of a test; and in lieu of the lowest test grade excluding the final will be eliminated.
Every report or memorandum is due on the scheduled due date. All such work, to receive full credit, must be turned in on the date scheduled and prior to the beginning of class on that date. Evaluation will be in the format as set forth on the attached evaluation criteria sheet.
6.Participation:Effective communication with peersand supervisors or coordination of other’s work is part of the business communication course as it is partof the business experience.Relating to authority figures requires similar development and exercise of communication skills. It is the student’s responsibility to become known to the instructor, as an authority figure, through oral, electronic and written communication.
The implementation and regular meeting of the arbitrarily assigned study groups or teams for this course is strongly suggested. Study groups will be formed, arbitrarily, at an appropriate time, for memoranda and report preparation and to develop skills of working together as a team, for the balance of the semester.
Students are expected to act at all times with appropriate professional and
businesslike respectful behavior. This includes, a student’s rudeness to others or other unacceptable behavior, by action, attitude, comment or dress. Unprofessional behavior is inappropriate business communication.
The use of the Socratic Method requires full participation and attendance by allstudents.All classes commence promptly at the time stated. Late arrival is unprofessional, disrespectful, disruptive and to be avoided. Chronic (more than three unexcused classes missed) non-attendance or chronic tardiness (more than three) arre deemed unacceptable. This unacceptable behavior affects a student’s performance and impairs the ability to make a contribution to the class. It will be appropriately reflected in the student’s final grade.
Excused absences or tardiness require an explanatory “e-mail” in proper
memorandum form from the student within the week of the missed class or the behavior will be considered as not excused.
THERE ARE NO MAKE UP EXAMINATIONS for missed tests. Once during the semester if a test is to be missed, arrangements can be made to take the test prior to the scheduled test date. Otherwise, once during the semester other than the final, if a test is missed, with a valid excuse, a not less than three page memoranda on an assigned topic and a “take home” test may be substituted. If done well it will be treated as a “pass,” if not, or if not returned within a week of returning to school, it will be treated as a “F.”
Incomplete and missed examinations otherwise meeting the criteria for a “pass” require appropriate completion not later than one week after the assigned due date with a reducing adjustment of the student’s applicable grade reflecting the situation. A student’s failure to meet the extended time arrangement, and unexcused missed examinations, will result in a grade of an “F” for the work or examination
7.Policies:Anti-cheating policy:See the Troy University Student Handbook. All
work is expected to be that of the named student(s). Team or group activities will require the full participation of each member, for each member to get the credit earned. Plagiarism and other forms of fraudulent behavior are not acceptable and such unacceptable behavior will be appropriately reflected in the student’s grade.
Any student, whose disabilities fallwithin ADA, must inform the instructor at the
beginning of the term of any special needs of equipment necessary to accomplish the requirements of this course.
TroyUniversity supportsSection 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which insure that postsecondary students with disabilities have equal access to all academic programs, physical access to all buildings, facilities and events, and are not discriminated against on the basis of disability. Eligible students, with appropriate documentation, will be provided equal opportunity to demonstrate their academic skills and potential through the provision of academic adaptations and reasonable accommodations. Further information, including appropriate contact information, can be found at the link for TroyUniversity’s Office of Human Resources at
Students who have or may be dealing with a disability or learning difficulty
should speak with the instructor, contact the Adaptive Needs Office or call 670-3220. Various accommodations are available through the Adaptive Needs Program.
The faculty in the School of Business makes every effort to accommodate unique
and special needs of students with respect to language, speech, hearing, vision seating or other possible disabling conditions. Please notify the instructor the first class day of any special needs.
Dates of importance:
January 6 classes beginJanuary 10 last day to add or drop class
January 17 MLK HOLIDAY March 7- 13 Spring Break
April 26 classes endApril 27classes end
NOTES:
*BUT FOR THE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE REPORTS, AFTER TEAM AND TOPIC ASSIGNMENT UNIT AND CHAPTER MEMORANDA WILL BE BY TEAM ONLY!
*THERE IS MANDATORY ATTENDANCE BY ALL STUDENTS IS REQUIRED DURING TEAM TOPIC ORAL REPORTS.
*CELL PHONE AND OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES:Use of any electron devise by students in the instructional environment is prohibited unless explicitly approved on a case-by-case basis by the instructor of record or by the Office of Disability Services in collaboration with the instructor. Cellular phones, pagers, and other communication devices may be used for emergencies, however, but sending or receiving non-emergency messages is forbidden by the University. Particularly, use of a communication device to violate the TroyUniversity “Standards of Conduct” will result in appropriate disciplinary action (See the Oracle.)
In order to receive emergency messages from the University or family members, the call receipt indicator on devices must be in the vibration mode or other unobtrusive mode of indication. Students receiving calls that they believe to be emergency calls must answer quietly without disturbing the teaching environment. If the call is an emergency, they must move unobtrusively and quietly from the instructional area and notify the instructor as soon as reasonably possible. Students who are expecting an emergency call should inform the instructor before the start of the instructional period.
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ATTACHMENTS:
a.Memorandum form:
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MEMORANDUM(AUTHOR’S NAME)
(TEAM NUMBER )
DATE: (DUE DATE)(TIME OF CLASS )
TO: (INTENDED RECIPIENT)
FROM: (AUTHOR)
RE: (SUBJECT OF MEMO)
(Must be included:
AINTRODUCTION INCLUDING TOPIC AND PURPOSE OF MEMO
BBODY/DISCUSSION
CSUMMARY/REVIEW
With a clear, concise and compelling statement or the topic
and purpose of the memorandum)
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b.EVALUATION CRITERIA CHECK LIST & FORMAT FOR BUSINESS MESSSAGES:
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DATE: [when was presentation made]
MESSAGE:[what was the subject]
PRESENTER(S):[who is the author and who made the presentation]
PRESENTATION:
- AUDIENCE’S ATTENTION SEIZED?
- AUDIENCE’S INTEREST MAINTAINED?
- THEME DEVELOPED & MAINTAINED?
- AUDIENCE REACTION AS INTENDED?
- CORRECT FORM, MECHANICS ETC. USED?
- TOPIC CLEARLY STATED?
- PURPOSPE CLEARLY STATED?
- EFFECTIVE INTRODUCTION?
- MESSAGE LOGICAL AND COMPLETE?
10. EFFECTIVE CONCLUSION?
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- PROVISIONAL CLASS SCHEDULE, INSTRUCTOR RETAINS THERIGHT TO MODIFY AT HIS ELECTION
Course schedule – Spring 2011 - subject to revision at
instructor’s discretion
Classes begin January 5/6introduction
January 5/6 - 16/17 study and
article: How to:
(1) Study,
(2) Write Reports or Memoranda,
(3) Outline and
the nature of the “Socratic Method.”
Active participation in class discussion of referenced articles is required – also see commentary in the text on team effort and above matters.
Read Chapter 1 of Unit 1
January 17 HolidayMLK
First testJanuary 18-19: Covers above matters and preparation of personal memorandum on college experience due.
Unit 2 team oralteam
Chapter 2January 20-261 20 & 21 1
Chapter 3January 27-February 32 1 & 2 2
Chapter 4February 4 -103 9& 10 3
Second testFebruary 10-11 (Tth last 50 minutes)
Re: Chapters 2, 3 & 4
Unit 2 team memorandum due on test day
Unit 3team oralteam
Chapter 5February 14 -164 15 & 16
Chapter 6February 17- 215 17 & 18
Chapter 7February 22-256 24 & 25
Chapter 8February28-March 47 3 & 4
March 7 – 11 Spring Break
Third testMarch 14-15
Re: Chapters 5, 6, 7 & 8
Unit 3 team memorandum due on test day
Units 4 & 5
Team oralteam
Chapter 9March 16-228 21 & 22
Chapter 10March 23-299 28 & 29
Chapter 11March 30-3110 39 & 31
Chapter 12April 4-811 7 & 8
Fourth testApril 11 & 12ALL PAPERS FOR
Re: ChaptersGRADE MUST BE
9, 10, 11 & 12RECEIVED BY 4/8/11
Units 4 & 5 team memoranda due on test day
Unit 6
Chapter 13April 13 & 14
Chapter 14 April 15 & 16
Oral PresentationsApril 19-23 team 1 – 4, 5 – 8 and 9 – 10
April 26/27Individual Team conference with instructor regarding 4/8 papers
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