Syllabus for

 

                                      BUS213-1 BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS

                                                           Revised, Spring 2005

 

This class meets every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 8:00-8:50 a.m. in Room 118.

 

Prerequisites:    OFT003 Keyboarding or permission of the instructor

 

Instructor:           Mrs. Baker

                              Phone (H) 479-394-4533; please call before 9:00 p.m.

                              Phone (W) 479-394-7622, ext. 1352

                              Office 105, located in the Business Office

                              sbaker@rmcc.edu

 

Educational/Professional Experience:

     BSE Business and Vocational Education, Arkansas State University

                                MSE Vocational Education, Arkansas State University

                                Ed.S Vocational Education, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

                                Office Technology Instructor, 27 years

 

Office Hours:       See schedule posted on M105

 

Mission Statement:

Rich Mountain Community College exists to provide all citizens of the Ouachita Mountain Region with exemplary educational and enrichment opportunities to improve the quality of life and standard of living.

 

Instructor:            Mrs. Baker

                  Phone (H) 479-394-4533; please call before 9:00 p.m.

                  Phone (W) 479-394-7622, ext. 1352

                  Office 105, located in the Business Office

                  sbaker@rmcc.edu

 

Educational/Professional Experience:

                              BSE Business and Vocational Education, Arkansas State University

                              MSE Vocational Education, Arkansas State University

                              Ed.S Vocational Education, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

                              Office Technology Instructor, 27 ˝  years

 

Office Hours:     See schedule posted on M105

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Mission Statement:

Rich Mountain Community College exists to provide all citizens of the Ouachita Mountain Region with exemplary educational and enrichment opportunities to improve the quality of life and standard of living.

 

ADA Statement:

It is the policy of RMCC to accommodate students with disabilities, pursuant to state and federal law. Any student with a disability who needs accommodations, for example in seating placement, examinations, or access to information on the web, should contact the Dean of Students Services Office, which is located in the Abernathy Building, Room 301, 479-394-7622 ext.1400.

 

 

Text:        Business Communication, 14e., by Carol M. Lehman and Debbie D. DuFrene. Thomson/South-Western Publishing Company.  2005.

 

Objectives of the Course:

 

!      Understand the purposes of effective communication

!      Identify the purpose of the message and the appropriate channel

!      Prepare visually appealing documents using effective sentences

!      Understand the effective use of communicating electronically

!      Understand the report process and research methods and prepare effective formal reports using acceptable format and writing style

!      Apply principles of effectiveness and ethical responsibilities in the construction of graphic aids

!      Organize and develop an effective presentation

!      Identify career opportunities and prepare effective employment seeking documents

 

Nature of Course:

Business Communications is a comprehensive study of correspondence used in a modern business office.  Emphasis will be placed on writing effective business letters and reports.  In addition, students will research a formal report and give an oral report on their findings.  Because good spelling habits are a must, weekly spelling tests will also be given.

 

Course Requirements:

Four tests will be given, one after every three or four chapters.  You will be required to complete the end of chapter assignments which will be discussed in class.  The due dates for assignments and test dates will also be given in class.  Weekly spelling tests will also be given.

 

Grading and Evaluation:

            Your chapter assignments will carry the following point values

                     Chapter assignments

                             Single page documents, 10 points

                             Multi-page documents, 15+ points, depending on length and complexity

                     Spelling Tests, 20 points

                     Tests, 100 points

                     Research paper, 100 points

                     Speech, 100 points

There will be no make up tests.  If you miss a test, the next test will count twice.  It is possible that your final test would count four times.

Assignments must be turned in on their due date, at the beginning of class.  I will not accept late assignments.

 

All assignments are subject to change.  If you are absent, call me or another class member for your assignment.

 

The grading scale for this course is as follows:

            A = 92 - 100%

            B = 84 -  91%

            C = 72 -  83%

            D = 62 -  71%

            F = Below 62%

 

Academic Dishonesty Policy:  Cheating on a test or assignment will result in a zero (0) for that work.

 

 Attendance Requirements:

You should make every effort to be in class and to be punctual.  You are developing work habits that will carry on to the workplace.  If you are unable to be in class, please call and tell me you have to miss.  If I am not in my office, please leave a voice mail.  It is your responsibility to find out what you missed in class.  Each class is important.  If you have to miss, then you will probably miss something important.  Failure to come to class or failure to drop the course will result in the student receiving an  F for the semester.

Topical/Unit Outline:

 

I.                Establishing a Framework for Business Communication

A.                                                  Define communication and describe the main purpose for communication in business

B.                                                  Explain the communication process model and the ultimate objective of the communication process

C.                                                  Identify the five levels of communication

D.                                                  Explain how legal and ethical constraints influence the process of communication

E.                                                  Explain how diversity influences the process of communication

II.                Focusing on Interpersonal and Group Communication

A.                                                  Explain how behavioral theories about human needs, trust and disclosure, and motivation relate to business communication

B.                                                  Describe the role of nonverbal messages

C.                                                  Identify aspects of effective listening

D.                                                  Identify factors affecting group and team communication

III.               Planning Spoken and Written Messages

A.                                                  Identify the purpose of the message and the appropriate channel

B.                                                  Develop clear perceptions of the audience to enhance the impact of the communication and human relations

C.                                                  Recognize the importance of organizing a message before writing the first draft

IV.              Preparing Spoken and Written Messages

A.                                                  Apply techniques for developing effective sentences and unified and coherent paragraphs

B.                                                  Identify factors affecting readability and revise messages to improve readability

C.                                                  Prepare visually appealing documents

D.                                                  Revise and proofread a message for content, organization, and style

V.              Communicating Electronically

A.                                                  Discuss the effective use of e-mail and instant messaging in business communication

B.                                                  Explain principles for creating, designing, and publishing, maintaining, and writing effective web pages

C.                                                  Discuss the effective use of voice and wireless technology

VI.              Delivering Good- and Neutral-News Messages

A.                                                  Identify the steps in the deductive outline for good news and routine information

B.                                                  Prepare messages that convey good news, to include thank-you and appreciation messages

C.                                                  Write messages presenting claims and making adjustments

D.                                                  Write routine requests and favorable responses to routine requests

E.                                                  Write messages acknowledging customer orders

F.                                                   Compose messages providing credit information and extending credit

VII.             Delivering Bad-News Messages

A.                                                  Explain the steps in the inductive outline and the importance of selecting an appropriate communication channel for bad news

B.                                                  Identify exceptions to using the inductive approach

C.                                                  Discuss strategies for developing the five components of a bad-news message

D.                                                  Prepare messages refusing requests, denying claims, denying credit, handling problems with customer orders, and providing constructive criticism

VIII.                  Delivering Persuasive Messages

A.                                                  Develop effective outlines and appeals for messages that persuade

B.                                                  Write effective sales letters

C.                                                  Write effective persuasive requests

IX.              Understanding the Report Process and Research Methods

A.                                                  Identify the characteristics of a report and the various classifications of business reports

B.                                                  Identify the four steps in the problem-solving process

C.                                                  Select appropriate secondary and primary methods for solving a problem

D.                                                  Explain the process for documenting referenced information

X.              Managing Data and Using Graphics

A.                                                  Communicate quantitative information effectively

B.                                                  Apply principles of effectiveness and ethical responsibilities in the construction of graphic aids

C.                                                  Integrate graphics with documents

XI.              Organizing and Preparing Reports and Proposals

A.                                                  Identify the parts of a formal report and the contribution each part makes to the report-s overall effectiveness

B.                                                  Organize report findings

C.                                                  Prepare effective formal reports using an acceptable format and writing style

D.                                                  Prepare effective short reports in letter, memorandum, and e-mail formats

XII.             Designing and Delivering Business Preparations

A.                                                  Plan a business presentation that accomplishes the speaker’s goals and meets the audience’s needs

B.                                                  Organize and develop the three parts of an effective presentation

C.                                                  Select, design, and use presentation visuals effectively

D.                                                  Deliver speeches with increasing confidence

XIII.                  Preparing Resumes and Application Letters

A.                                                  Prepare for employment by considering relevant information about yourself as it relates to job requirements

B.                                                  Identify career opportunities using traditional and electronic methods

C.                                                  Prepare a persuasive resume that reflects the most effective organizational pattern

D.                                                  Write an application message that effectively introduces an accompanying print or electronic resume

XIV.                 Interviewing for a Job and Preparing Employment Messages

A.                                                  Explain the nature of structured, unstructured, computer-assisted, group, and stress interviews

B.                                                  Explain the steps in the interview process

C.                                                  Prepare effective answers to questions often asked in job interviews

D.                                                  Recognize and bypass illegal interview questions

E.                                                  Complete application forms accurately and write effective messages related to employment

F.                                                   Write positive and negative recommendation that are legally defensible

          

Text Box: Good luck to you.  Refer to the college catalog for any policy issues that are not covered in this syllabus.  Please call me or come see me if you have any questions or concerns.  I am here to make this class a worthwhile and successful experience for you.