Western Technical College 10106119 Business Communication Skills Course Outcome Summary Course Information Description Career Cluster Instructional Level Total Credits 3.00 Total Hours 54.00 This course emphasizes the principles and correct application of grammar, style, usage, and punctuation through reinforcement exercises ranging from basic to advanced levels. Introductory writing concepts required to prepare basic business letters and memos are briefly presented. Students apply basic proofreading, editing, and formatting skills to revise a variety of business documents commonly encountered in the work setting. Business Management and Administration Associate Degree Courses Types of Instruction Instruction Type Lecture Credits/Hours 3 CR / 54 HR Course History Purpose/Goals To effectively create and edit business documents. To use proper grammar when speaking or writing. Textbooks Business English (with printed access card) with MindTap within Bb; loose-leaf (Custom Book). 11th Edition. Guffey, Mary Ellen and Carolyn M. Seefer. Publisher: Cengage Learning. ISBN-13:978-1-3050-3928-5. Required Core Abilities 1. Use effective communication skills. Status Active 2. Use technology effectively. Status Active Course Outcome Summary - Page 1 of 6
Program Outcomes 1. Demonstrate effective workplace communications. Type TSA Status Active 1.1. you format documents correctly 1.2. you edit and proofread documents 1.3. you demonstrate attention to details 1.4. you create accurate business communications 1.5. you write effectively (clearly, concisely and professionally) 1.6. you speak effectively (clearly, concisely and professionally) 2. Apply technology skills to business and administrative tasks. Type TSA Status Active 2.1. you select appropriate technology 2.2. you apply technology to accomplish tasks 2.3. you integrate multiple resources when appropriate 2.4. you troubleshoot and solve problems in technology and systems 3. Model professionalism in the workplace. Type TSA Status Active 3.1. you demonstrate punctuality 3.2. you demonstrate ethical principles in the workplace 3.3. you solve problems 3.4. you apply team-building techniques to accomplish goals 3.5. you present a professional image 3.6. you develop personal and professional goals 3.7. you demonstrate initiative 3.8. you maintain confidentiality 3.9. you accept constructive feedback Course Competencies 1. Analyze the eight parts of speech. Domain Cognitive Level Analyzing Status Active - Performance will be satisfactory when: 1.1. learner successfully labels the eight parts of speech in sample sentences 1.a. Define the eight parts of speech. 1.b. Recognize how parts of speech function in sentences. 2. Identify sentence elements, sentence types, and sentence patterns. Domain Cognitive Level Understandin g Status Active - Performance will be satisfactory when: 2.1. learner applies correct end-of-sentence punctuation to statements, commands, questions, and exclamations 2.2. learner correctly identifies three basic sentence patterns 2.3. learner correctly converts incomplete, run-on, or comma splice sentences into complete, properly Course Outcome Summary - Page 2 of 6
punctuated sentences 2.a. Recognize subjects and predicates. 2.b. Convert fragments into complete sentences. 2.c. Compose sentences in three basic sentence patterns. 2.d. Punctuate statements, commands, questions, and exclamations. 2.e. Identify basic sentence faults and patterns. 3. Use nouns and pronouns correctly. Domain Cognitive Level Applying Status Active - Performance will be satisfactory when: 3.1. learner correctly edits sample sentences and business documents using nouns and pronouns 3.a. Form and spell plural nouns. 3.b. Use the apostrophe to make nouns possessive. 3.c. Use nominative, objective, and possessive case personal pronouns correctly. 3.d. Make personal pronouns agree with their antecedents. 3.e. Use who and whom correctly. 4. Form possessive constructions where required to indicate ownership, origin, authorship, or measurement. Domain Affective Level Valuing Status Active - Performance will be satisfactory when: 4.1. learner distinguishes between possessive nouns and descriptive adjectives 4.2. learner differentiates between possessive nouns and noun plurals 4.3. learner correctly places apostrophes in possessive terms 4.4. learner eliminates awkward possessive constructions 4.a. Analyze sentences to determine the need to use possessive form. 4.b. Correctly insert apostrophes in nouns. 4.c. Correctly form the possessives of personal, relative, and indefinite pronouns. 4.d. Rewrite sentences to avoid awkward possessives. 4.e. Recognize possessives standing alone. 4.f. Correctly form the possessives of singular/plural abbreviations and organization/product names. 4.g. Determine separate or combined ownership and form the appropriate possessive. 4.h. Use the possessive form of a noun or pronoun modifying a gerund. 5. Use verbs correctly. Domain Cognitive Level Applying Status Active - Performance will be satisfactory when: 5.1. learner correctly edits sample sentences and business documents using verbs 5.a. Identify transitive, intransitive, and linking verbs. 5.b. Convert sentences written in passive voice to active voice. 5.c. Create sentences using the subjunctive mood correctly. 5.d. Create sentences using verb tenses to indicate precise time. 5.e. Make verbs agree with subjects. 5.f. Use verbs correctly in sentences. 6. Use modifying and connecting words correctly. Course Outcome Summary - Page 3 of 6
Domain Psychomotor Level Practice Status Active - Performance will be satisfactory when: 6.1. learner correctly edits sample sentences and business documents using modifiers and connecting words 6.a. Use adjectives correctly to modify nouns or pronouns. 6.b. Use adverbs correctly to modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. 6.c. Use prepositions correctly. 6.d. Use subordinating conjunctions and relative pronouns correctly to join grammatically unequal words or word groups. 6.e. Use coordinating conjunctions, conjunctive adverbs, and correlative conjunctions correctly to join grammatically equal words or word groups. 7. Apply punctuation according to standard practices. Domain Psychomotor Status Active - Performance will be satisfactory when: 7.1. learner correctly edits sample sentences and business documents using appropriate punctuation 7.a. Use basic comma rules to punctuate sentences. 7.b. Use semicolons to punctuate compound sentences and to separate items in a series. 7.c. Use colons to introduce lists, quotations, and explanatory sentences. 7.d. Use periods to correctly punctuate sentences, abbreviations, and numerals. 7.e. Use question marks and exclamation points correctly. 7.f. Use dashes, parentheses, quotation marks, brackets, underscores, and italics correctly. 8. Apply capitalization according to standard practices and ordinary business correspondence. Domain Cognitive Level Application Status Active - Performance will be satisfactory when: 8.1. learner correctly edits sample sentences and business documents applying appropriate capitalization 8.a. Distinguish between common and proper nouns for purposes of capitalization. 8.b. Capitalize proper adjectives when necessary. 9. Use the correct form for writing numbers. Domain Psychomotor Status Active Linked Program Outcomes Apply technology skills to business and administrative tasks. - Performance will be satisfactory when: 9.1. learner defines the functional difference between using figures and using words to express numbers 9.2. learner identifies the meaning of figure style versus word style 9.3. learner applies the basic guidelines of figure style to ordinary business correspondence 9.4. learner correctly edits sample sentences and business documents using proper number format 9.a. Use figure form for numbers according to conventional rules. 9.b. Use word form for numbers according to conventional rules. 10. Write effective sentences and paragraphs. Course Outcome Summary - Page 4 of 6
Domain Cognitive Level Creating Status Active Linked Program Outcomes Demonstrate effective workplace communications. Apply technology skills to business and administrative tasks. - Performance will be satisfactory when: 10.1. learner composes effective sentences and paragraphs with appropriate transitions 10.2. learner revises sample paragraphs 10.a. Write coherent paragraphs. 10.b. Write concise paragraphs. 11. Integrate language skills principles to create, edit, and/or format basic communication messages. Domain Cognitive Level Creating Status Active - Performance will be satisfactory when: 11.1. learner composes a memorandum and email message in proper format using a writing plan 11.2. learner revises memorandums from unedited copy 11.a. Identify the purpose and characteristics of memorandums and email messages. 11.b. Summarize the contents in the subject line. 11.c. State the main reason for writing the opening. 11.d. Arrange the body in logical order. 11.e. Close the memorandum with a request for action or with a summary. 11.f. Apply basic rules of sentence and paragraph writing. 11.g. Apply language skills principles. 12. Integrate language skills principles to create, edit, and format basic business letters. Domain Cognitive Level Creating Status Active - Performance will be satisfactory when: 12.1. learner composes business letters in proper format 12.2. learner revises business letters from unedited copy 12.a. Identify the purpose of business letters. 12.b. Write business letters concisely, clearly, and correctly using non-discriminatory language. 12.c. Organize letters using an opening, body, and closing. 12.d. Compose business letters in block, modified block, and simplified styles using open and mixed punctuation. 12.e. Compose a personal business letter. 12.f. Apply the basic rules of sentence and paragraph writing. 12.g. Apply language skills principles. 13. Evaluate the importance of correct business writing. Domain Cognitive Level Evaluating Status Active - Performance will be satisfactory when: 13.1. learner explains why a desire to learn standard English is an advantage 13.2. learner contrasts the impression a poorly written letter makes on the recipient with the impression a wellwritten letter makes on the recipient Course Outcome Summary - Page 5 of 6
13.3. learner explains how changing technology requires one to continue learning from such sources as current periodicals, professional organizations, continuing education classes, and the Internet 13.a. Value standard English. 13.b. Value the importance of correct spelling in the image projected by written communications. 13.c. Value the importance of vocabulary skills in expressing oneself precisely. 13.d. Value the importance of well-written correspondence in correct format. 13.e. Value the importance of various resources for life-long learning. 14. Produce written communication documents. Domain Cognitive Level Creating Status Active Linked Program Outcomes Demonstrate effective workplace communications. Apply technology skills to business and administrative tasks. Model professionalism in the workplace. - Performance will be satisfactory when: 14.1. learner analyzes word structure and word pronunciation in order to apply basic spelling guidelines 14.2. learner uses mnemonic devices to assist in spelling difficult words correctly 14.3. learner eliminates spelling errors in written communication 14.4. learner applies correct word usage to the context of the sentence, paragraph, or document 14.a. Follow basic guidelines for doubling the final consonant before a suffix. 14.b. Adopt a traditional mnemonic device to remember words containing the "ei" or "ie" combinations. 14.c. Memorize word endings that sound alike but are spelled differently. 14.d. Recognize words retaining their French form and insert appropriate diacritical marks. 14.e. Examine words representing exceptions to the basic spelling guidelines. 14.f. Memorize words which follow no clear-cut spelling pattern. 14.g. Establish a plan to improve spelling skills for words frequently misspelled by business writers. 14.h. Compare definitions of words that sound or look alike and select the correct word. 14.i. Differentiate between commonly confused and misused words and use the correct term within the sentence. Course Outcome Summary - Page 6 of 6