BCM 247.010 Business Communication Course Syllabus, Fall 2010 Instructor: Ms. Judith Biss Office: 229 T, McGee Business Building Phone: 468-1648 Office hours: M 8:55-9:55; 11-1 E-mail: jbiss@sfasu.edu T 10:50-12:20; 1:50-2:20 (use this address only if having W 8:55-9:55; 11-12 problems with Blackboard email) TH 10:50-12:20; 1:50-2:20 Department: General Business F 8:55-9:55 Class Time and Places: T/Th 12:30-1:45, McGee 237 or Lab 222 Required Text and Materials: Lehman & DuFrene, BCOM2 2010-2011 edition, (plus online interactive), Cengage Learning. ISBN:13: 978-0-538-75340-1 or 10: 0-538-75340-4. This is a required textbook. The book includes review cards and code for access to a web site with electronic study materials. Other textbooks by these authors will not have the same page arrangement and will cause confusion for students. 1 pocket folder. This will be used for in-class assignments. Course Description: Application to business of logical and psychological communication principles through letters, memos, reports, and oral presentations. Prerequisites: 6 hours from English 131, 132, 133, or 235, keyboarding skills of 30 wpm. Software to be Used in the Course: All documents and assignments that are submitted online must be completed using Microsoft Word. Assignments submitted in Microsoft Works, WordPerfect, or as PDF files will not be accepted. If you do not have Microsoft Word on your computer, plan to use the software in an oncampus computer lab. To read PowerPoint slides, you will need to download Acrobat Reader. Click on the icon I Need Techno Help on the course homepage for commonly asked computer questions/answers. General Education Core Curriculum Objectives: Objective 1: Objective 2: Objective 3: Objective 4: Objective 5: Objective 6: To understand and demonstrate writing and speaking processes through invention, organization, drafting, revision, editing, and presentation. To understand the importance of specifying audience and purpose and to select appropriate communication choices. To understand and appropriately apply modes of expression, i.e., descriptive, expositive, narrative, scientific, and self-expressive, in written, visual, and oral communication. To participate effectively in groups with emphasis on listening, critical and reflective thinking, and responding. To understand and apply basic principles of critical thinking, problem solving, and technical proficiency in the development of exposition and argument. To develop the ability to research and write a documented paper and/or to give an oral presentation. Student Learning Outcomes: Apply business communication strategies and principles to prepare effective communication for domestic and international business situations. Identify ethical, legal, cultural, and global issues affecting business communication. Utilize analytical and problem solving skills typical in business communication. Select appropriate organizational formats and channels used in developing and presenting business messages. Create and revise accurate business documents using computer technology. Make an effective oral presentation. Apply effective teamwork and collaboration skills.
Course Methodologies: The following methods may be used in the course: Illustrated lecture Group discussion Team report and oral presentation In-class and homework assignments Online assignments, exams, and quizzes Computer creation and editing of documents Students are responsible for checking Blackboard communication tools from team and instructor. Final Exam: BCM 247.010, T/Th. Dec. 14, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. BCM 247 Course Policies and Procedures Participation and Attendance: The instructor will give points for participation and in-class activities during the course. A student present on the day of the activity may earn points. There is no makeup of participation points. Attendance will be taken regularly. Perfect attendance for all course days will result in 10 bonus points at the end of the course. "Fired" from Team and Denied Access to Course on Blackboard: Students who miss three consecutive classes without official excuse will be "fired" from their teams by the instructor. Access to Blackboard will be denied until the student meets with the instructor. Make-up Policy: No assignment will be accepted after the assigned deadline for completion. If you are on school business, arrangements should be made before the missed class. You must contact the instructor within one class day of the absence in order to makeup the assignment. Tests and in-class writings MAY NOT BE COMPLETED at times other than the scheduled times. A grade of 0 will be assigned for missed work, except in the following situations: Serious illness verified by a doctor s note with a statement of inability to attend class. Personal or family emergency, documented appropriately. Official school business, with documentation from the appropriate campus representative. Cheating and Plagiarism: An assignment where plagiarism exists will receive a zero. Cheating on an exam will also result in a zero. This includes access to test answers in any form during the exam. The exam may not leave the examination site in any form. See the SFA website for the university policy on cheating and plagiarism. All incidents will be reported to the Dean of the College of Business. See the syllabus addendum, section titled Definition of Academic Dishonesty. Written documents: Handwritten documents will not be accepted for credit. Assignments that contain inappropriate business topics and unacceptable language will receive no credit. Lab Courtesy: Violations of lab policies will result in the loss of points from the total semester points, ranging from 5-50 as determined by the instructor. These violations include checking social online networks, playing games, accessing offensive web sites, working on unrelated assignments, and printing documents unrelated to class work. Class Calendar: The attached calendar should be referred to daily to keep up with assignments and activities. Changes may occur and will be announced in class, as well as posted on the Blackboard calendar. Read chapters before class to be prepared for discussion and activities. Rusche College of Business Syllabus Addendum See the attached addendum for College of Business policies on program learning outcomes, general student policies, academic integrity, withheld grades, and students with disabilities.
Estimated Distribution of Points Grading Scale Exam 1 100 A 900-1000 Exam 2 100 B 800-899 Exam 3 100 C 700-799 Grammar/mechanics quiz 30 D 600-699 Letters/messages 200 F 599 and below Research assignment 50 Written team report 200 Team oral presentation 100 Team evaluations 50 In-class activities/participation 70 Total possible points 1000 Team Report, Team Oral Presentation, and Final Exam must be completed to pass the course Program Learning Outcomes: Rusche College of Business Syllabus Addendum Program learning outcomes define the knowledge, skills, and abilities students are expected to demonstrate upon completion of an academic program. These learning outcomes are regularly assessed to determine student learning and to evaluate overall program effectiveness. You may access the program learning outcomes for your major and particular courses at http://cobweb.sfasu.edu/plo.html. General Student Policies: Academic Integrity (A-9.1) Academic integrity is a responsibility of all university faculty and students. Faculty members promote academic integrity in multiple ways including instruction on the components of academic honesty, as well as abiding by university policy on penalties for cheating and plagiarism. Definition of Academic Dishonesty Academic dishonesty includes both cheating and plagiarism. Cheating includes but is not limited to (1) using or attempting to use unauthorized materials to aid in achieving a better grade on a component of a class; (2) the falsification or invention of any information, including citations, on an assigned exercise; and/or (3) helping or attempting to help another in an act of cheating or plagiarism. Plagiarism is presenting the words or ideas of another person as if they were your own. Examples of plagiarism are (1) submitting an assignment as if it were one's own work when, in fact, it is at least partly the work of another; (2) submitting a work that has been purchased or otherwise obtained from an Internet source or another source; and (3) incorporating the words or ideas of an author into one's paper without giving the author due credit. Please read the complete policy at http://www.sfasu.edu/policies/academic_integrity.asp. Withheld Grades Semester Grades Policy (A-54) Ordinarily, at the discretion of the instructor of record and with the approval of the academic chair/director, a grade of WH will be assigned only if the student cannot complete the course work because of unavoidable circumstances. Students must complete the work within one calendar year from the end of the semester in which they receive a WH, or the grade automatically becomes an F. If students register for the same course in future terms the WH will automatically become an F and will be counted as a repeated course for the purpose of computing the grade point average.
Students with Disabilities To obtain disability related accommodations, alternate formats and/or auxiliary aids, students with disabilities must contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS), Human Services Building, and Room 325, 468-3004 / 468-1004 (TDD) as early as possible in the semester. Once verified, ODS will notify the course instructor and outline the accommodation and/or auxiliary aids to be provided. Failure to request services in a timely manner may delay your accommodations. For additional information, go to http://www.sfasu.edu/disabilityservices/. Acceptable Student Behavior Classroom behavior should not interfere with the instructor s ability to conduct the class or the ability of other students to learn from the instructional program (see the Student Conduct Code, policy D-34.1). Unacceptable or disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. Students who disrupt the learning environment may be asked to leave class and may be subject to judicial, academic, or other penalties. This prohibition applies to all instructional forums, including electronic, classroom, labs, discussion groups, field trips, etc. The instructor shall have full discretion over what behavior is appropriate/inappropriate in the classroom. Students who do not attend class regularly or who perform poorly on class projects/exams may be referred to the Early Alert Program. This program provides students with recommendations for resources or other assistance that is available to help SFA students succeed. August 20, 2010
Tentative Schedule Fall 2010 247.010 Business Communication Date Assignment Work Due 8/31Tues Intro to course/blackboard 9/2 Thu Chapter 1 Establishing a Framework for Business Communication 9/7 Tues Chapter 1 Establishing a Framework for Business Communication continued Review assignments 9/9 Thu Chapter 2 Focusing on Interpersonal Communication (Grammar/Usage Appendix) 9/14 Tues Chapter 2 Focusing on Interpersonal Communication (Grammar/Usage Appendix) continued Chapter 3 Focusing on Group Communication 9/16 Thu Chapter 3 Focusing on Group Communication continued 9/21 Tues Chapter 13 Designing and Delivering Business Presentations 9/23 Thu Exam I (chapters 1, 2, 3, 13) Work on Team Presentations 9/28 Tues Chapter 10 Understanding the Report Process and Research Methods 9/30 Thu Chapter 10 continued Team Report Assignment Components 1)Individual Secondary Research Assignments 2)Team Report Library (Secondary) Research 10/5 Tues Chapter 10 continued Primary Research Info 10/7 Thu Presentations Chapter 1 review card (read) Assign grammar quiz (due 9/28) Assign career memo (due 9/16) Sign up in Blackboard for Team by presentation topic- (due 9/19) Chapter 2 review card (read) Team sign up DUE Meet teams Assign 1)Did You Know & 2)Email articles (due 9/21) Chapter 3 review card (read) Folders DUE Career memo DUE Chapter 13 review card (read) Team postings DUE for 1)Did You Know & 2)email articles Chapter 10 review card (read) Grammar quiz (DUE by 11 p.m. Use course assessment tool.) Secondary Research (due10/14) Team Report draft (due 11/2) Team Report final (due 11/9) 10/12 Tues Presentations 10/14 Thu Chapter 4 Planning Written and Spoken Messages Chapter 9 Revising Written Messages Chapter 4 review card (read) Team evaluation DUE Chapter 9 review card (read) Secondary Research DUE 10/19 Tues Chapter 11 Managing Data and Using Graphics Chapter 11 review card (read) 10/21 Thu Chapter 12 Organizing and Preparing Reports and Proposals 10/26 Tues Team work day Chapter 12 review card (read) 10/28 Thu Exam II (chapters 4, 9, 10, 11, 12) 11/2 Tues Chapter 5 Communicating Electronically Team Report Draft Review Chapter 5 review card (read) Team Report Draft DUE
11/4 Thu Team work day 11/9 Tues Chapter 5 Continued Chapter 6 Preparing Good-and Neutral-News Messages- Chapter 6 review card (read) Team reports DUE 11/11 Thu Chapter 7 Preparing Bad News Messages Chapter 7 review card (read) & model docs Team evaluation DUE Assign Bad News homework (due 11/16) 11/16 Tues Chapter 7 Preparing Bad News Messages continued Bad News homework DUE 11/18 Thu Bad News Message Exam Assign Persuasive homework (due 11/23) 11/23 Tues Chapter 8 Preparing Persuasive Messages Chapter 8 review card (read) & model docs 11/26 Thu Thanksgiving Break 11/30 Tues Persuasive Message Exam 12/2 Thu Chapter 14 Preparing Resumes and Application Messages 12/7 Tues Chapter 14 continued Chapter 15 Interviewing for a Job and Preparing Employment Messages 12/9 Thu Chapter 15 Interviewing for a Job and Preparing Employment Messages continued 12/15 Tues Exam III (chapters 5, 6, 7, 8, 14, 15) Chapter 14 review card (read) & model docs Assign letter/resume (due12/7) Application letter/resume DUE Chapter 15 review card (read)