Claflin University

BADM 201 - Business Communication

Syllabus

Instructor Information

INSTRUCTOR:Professor Rodney Hudson

OFFICE PHONE:(803) 535 5470

CELL PHONE(937) 626 9879

OFFICE LOCATION:N/A

E-MAIL POLICYIf possible, I check email during the day and repond promptly, Text messages are acceptable for emergencies

OFFICE

Course Information

Course Description

Business Communication is designed to help students develop effective communication skills necessary for successin the business world. Writing assignments focus on the most common--and useful--types of business communication, such as letters, memos, e-mail, reports, resumes, and cover letters. Readings include case studies, which detail how business communication works in the real world. In addition, students will develop and refine skills in response to a wide variety of business situations.

Credit Hours: 3

Required Materials

Required Course Text*:

Bovee, C. L. & Thill, J. V. (2012). Business Communication Essentials (6th ed.). New York, NY:

Pearson. ISBN-10: 0132971321

*Pearson Business Communication Essentials course site access is also required.You can buy an access code packaged with your textbook or as a standalone access code kit. Or you can buy instant access with a credit card or PayPal account.For more information, see the Pearson Learning Solutions login page, here.

Course Objectives

At the end of this course, students will be able to:

  • Evaluate elements of effective business communication
  • Explain barriers that can create ineffective communication
  • Analyze ethical issues related to communication
  • Examine how technology has impacted business communications
  • Explain the importance of intercultural communication in the business setting
  • Use the English language appropriately in business communications
  • Write an effective business message
  • Develop effective visual aids for a business proposal
  • Prepare an oral presentation
  • Create a resume, application letter, and follow-up messages

Instructional Methods

Lesson Checklists

Every lesson has a prescribed checklist of activities required to successfully complete the lesson. Follow this checklist, in the specified order, to complete each lesson.

Course Components

Business Communication is made up of numerous graded and ungraded activities listed here. These are suggested activities and can be customized by the instructor.

Graded Assignments

  • Discussion forums
  • Article reviews
  • Practice exercises
  • Analysis exercises
  • Writing assignments
  • Presentations
  • Web research
  • Quizzes

Ungraded Activities

  • Online practice (in the lesson presentations)
  • Reading assignments

Course Assessment

Grades

The following table shows the activity types contained within this course and the assigned weighting to determine the final course grade.

Graded Assessment Types / Weights (%)
Discussion Forums / 15%
Writing Assignments, Presentations, Article Reviews, and Web Research / 35%
Quizzes / 15%
CU InTeGrated! NSF-Carleton College project / 20 %
Final Exam / 15%
Total: / 100%

Letter grades for the course will be based on the following grading scale.

Grading Scale

A=100–94%

A-=90–93

B+=87–89

B=84–86

B-=80–83

C+=77–79

C=74–76

C-=70–73

D+=67–69

D=64–66

D-=60–63

F=Below 60 points

Course Policies

Academic Success

Early Alert Statement

The Claflin University Early Alert Program is designed to assist you with your academic success. Should your instructor determine that you need additional help, you will be referred to the Academic Success Center. The Academic Success Center will assist you in successfully completing the course.

Students with Disabilities

Assurance Statement

Claflin University adheres to all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities should register with Disability Services and contact their instructor(s) in a timely manner to arrange for appropriate accommodations.

Academic Integrity

Claflin Code of Honor Policy Statement

Claflin University prohibits all forms of academic or scholarly dishonesty, including written or oral examinations, term and research papers or theses, modes of creative expression, and computer-based work.

Scholarly dishonesty includes lying, cheating, plagiarism, collusion, and the falsification or misrepresentation of experimental data. (See Claflin University Student Handbook: Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics.)

All students are required to take the following code of honor pledge:

“In my enrollment at Claflin University, I do hereby solemnly pledge that I will adhere to the Code of Honor. As a Claflin University Student, I do solemnly pledge to uphold the integrity of Claflin University. I will not participate in nor tolerate dishonesty in any academic endeavor.”

Code of Honor Definition of Violations
  1. Academic Dishonesty:Includes any other act (not specifically covered in previous provisions) that compromises the integrity of a student or intrudes on, violates, or disturbs the academic environment of the university community.Examples include attempting or agreeing to commit, or assisting or facilitating the commission of, any scholastic dishonesty; failing to appear or testify without good cause when requested by the Council for the Code of Honor; failing to keep information about cases confidential; supplying false information to the Council for the Code of Honor; and accusing a student of a violation of this code in bad faith.
  1. Cheating:Act that implies the intent to deceive.It includes all actions, electronics or other devices, and deceptions used in the attempt to commit this act.Examples include, but are not limited to, copying answers from another student’s exam and using a cheat sheet or crib notes in an exam.
  1. Collusion:The act of working together on an academic undertaking for which a student is individually responsible.Examples include, but are not limited to, sharing information in labs that are to be done individually.
  1. Plagiarism:Representing the words or ideas of someone else as one’s own.Examples include, but are not limited to, failing to properly cite direct quotes, the false utilization of copyrighted material, and the failure to give credit for someone else’s ideas.
Code of Honor Sanctions

All proven cases of academic dishonesty shall be penalized as appropriate under the circumstances.The imposition of any sanction will include a statement of reasons supporting its severity.Recommendation of sanctions for cases of proven dishonesty will be forwarded by the Council for the Code of Honor to the Vice President for Academic Affairs.All proven cases of academic dishonesty will result in a grade of “XF” which shall remain on the student’s transcript for a minimum of two years.After two years, the student may petition the Vice President for Academic Affairs to have the “X” removed; however, the “F” will remain.

Other sanctions may include, but are not limited to:

•A defined period of probation or suspension with or without the attachment of conditions.

•The withdrawal of university funding.

•Expulsion from the university.

For more information, see the “Student Regulations” section of the Academic Catalog.

Netiquette

Although it is not expected to be a problem, students are asked to behave in the discussions and other class interactions in a professional and civil manner. If you are in doubt, do not post it! Instructors reserve the right to remove any postsdeemed inappropriate, unprofessional, or otherwise distracting from the course.

Course Schedule

Week 1: Lesson 1

All lesson content is due by 11:55 PM on Sunday of Week 1.

Lesson 1: Introduction to Business Communications
  • Reading Assignment: Chapter 1, “Understanding Business Communication in Today’s Workplace” (pp. 2-30)
  • Discussion Forums:
  • Discussion 1.1: Introduction to Effective Communication
  • Discussion 1.2: Barriers and Tools to Effective Communication
  • Assignments:
  • Assignment 1.1: Impact of Technology on Business Communication
  • Assignment 1.2: Ethics and Etiquette
  • Quiz 1

Week 2: Lesson 2 & 3

Lesson 2: Listening and Nonverbal Communication Skills
  • Reading Assignment: Chapter 2, “Mastering Team Skills and Interpersonal Communication” (pp. 31-54)
  • Discussion Forums:
  • Discussion 2.1: Working in Teams
  • Discussion 2.2: Analyzing Body Language
  • Assignments:
  • Assignment 2.1: Preparing for a Business Meeting
  • Assignment 2.2: Analyzing Body Language
  • Quiz 2
Lesson 3: Communicating Across Cultures
  • Reading Assignment: Review Chapter 1, “Understanding Business Communication in Today’s Workplace,” Communicating in a World of Diversity section (pp. 12-17)
  • Discussion 3.1: Challenges of Intercultural Communication
  • Assignments:
  • Assignment 3.1: Software to Assist with Intercultural Communication
  • Assignment 3.2: Improving Intercultural Communication
  • Quiz 3

All lesson content is due by 11:55 PM on Sunday of Week 2.

Week 3: Lesson 4

Lesson 4: Composing a Business Message
  • Reading Assignment:
  • Chapter 3, “Planning Business Messages” (pp. 56-77)
  • Chapter 4, “Writing Business Messages” (pp. 78-103)
  • Chapter 5, “Completing Business Messages” (pp. 104-126)
  • Chapter 6, “Crafting Messages for Electronic Media” (pp. 128-165)
  • Chapter 7, “Writing Routine and Positive Messages” (pp. 166-191)
  • Discussion 4.1: Communicating by Email
  • Assignments:
  • Assignment 4.1: Writing Effective Business Messages
  • Assignment 4.2: Communicating by Email
  • Quiz 4

All lesson content is due by 11:55 PM on Sunday of Week 3.

Week 4: Lessons 5 & 6

Lesson 5: Communicating Routine Information
  • Reading Assignment:
  • Review Chapter 6, “Crafting Messages for Electronic Media” (pp. 128-165)
  • Review Chapter 7, “Writing Routine and Positive Messages” (pp. 166-191)
  • Discussion 5.1: Writing Routine and Positive Messages
  • Assignments:
  • Assignment 5.1: Producing a Routine Business Message
  • Assignment 5.2: Developing an Effective Business Memo
  • Assignment 5.3: Responding to a Message
  • Quiz 5
Lesson 6: Communicating Bad News
  • Reading Assignment:
  • Chapter 8, “Writing Negative Messages” (pp. 192-221)
  • Discussion 6.1: Conveying Bad News
  • Assignments:
  • Assignment 6.1: Conveying Bad News
  • Assignment 6.2: Cultural Considerations in Conveying Bad News
  • Assignment 6.3: Writing a Bad News Message
  • Quiz 6

All lesson content is due by 11:55 PM on Sunday of Week 4.

Week 5: Lesson 7

Lesson 7: Persuasive Communications
  • Reading Assignment:
  • Chapter 9, “Writing Persuasive Messages” (pp. 222-246)
  • Quiz 7
  • CU InTeGrated! NSF-Carleton College project
  1. Overview of CU InTeGrated! Project
  2. Link to pre-module survey available in Moodle. Due date for submission: 2/ 14 /2016
  1. Pre-Module Quiz.
  2. What does the field of Geosciences involve?
  3. Career paths in Geosciences.
  4. Unit 1: Hazards, vulnerability and risk Lecture and Discussion
  5. Documentary “The Storm” (Frontline investigation).
  6. Combined Lecture on Introduction to Risk and Vulnerability for Geoscience Courses and Introduction to Risk and Vulnerability for Social Science Courses. Lead group discussions on “think, pair, share” on vulnerability, hazard and risk.
  7. Combined Links to US Hazard Maps power point ppt. with Credible data Interpretation power point, ppt. Class project announced. Students will receive materials and links needed to complete the mapping project (maps will be presented in color print).
  1. Unit 2: Perception of hazards, vulnerability and risk Lecture
  2. Survey data disseminated to class (E-Surveys Pro charts and graphs for analysis). The mapping project incorporates Part B, students using survey results and hazard maps to analyze research questions.
  3. Project presentations ( written) and Post-Module Quiz (Moodle)

All lesson content is due by 11:55 PM on Sunday of Week 5.

Week 6: Lessons:8 & 9

Lesson 8: Introduction to Business Reports and Proposals
  • Reading Assignment:
  • Chapter 10, “Understanding and Planning Reports and Proposals” (pp. 248-276)
  • Discussion 8.1: Evaluating and Identifying Types of Reports and Proposals
  • Assignments:
  • Assignment 8.1: Understanding Business Reports and Proposals
  • Assignment 8.2: Finding and Critiquing Research Materials
  • Quiz 8
  • Midterm Chapters 1 to 8
Lesson 9: Composing Business Reports and Proposals
  • Reading Assignment:
  • Chapter 11, “Writing and Completing Reports and Proposals” (pp. 277-324)
  • Discussion 9.1: Producing Effective Visual Aids for Reports and Proposals
  • Assignment 9.1: Writing a Business Report with Visual Aids
  • Quiz 9

All lesson content is due by 11:55 PM on Sunday of Week 6.

Week 7: Lesson 10

Lesson 10: Formal Reports and Proposals

  • Reading Assignment:
  • Review Chapter 11, “Writing and Completing Reports and Proposals” (pp. 277-324)
  • Discussion 10.1: Critiquing a Formal Report
  • Assignments:
  • Assignment 10.1: Writing a Formal Report
  • Assignment 10.2: Writing an Informational Report
  • Quiz 10

All lesson content is due by 11:55 PM on Sunday of Week 7.

Week 8: Lesson 11 & 12

Lesson 11: Oral Presentation Skills

  • Reading Assignment:
  • Chapter 12, “Developing Oral and Online Presentations” (pp. 325-352)
  • Discussion 11.1: Producing Effective Visual Aids for Oral Presentations
  • Assignments:
  • Assignment 11.1: Planning and Composing an Oral Presentation
  • Assignment 11.2: Effective Visual Aids
  • Quiz 11

Lesson 12: Resume Writing and the Employment Interview

  • Reading Assignment:
  • Chapter 13, “Building Careers and Writing Resumes” (pp. 354-382)
  • Chapter 14, “Applying and Interviewing for Employment” (pp. 383-412)
  • Discussion 12.1: Crafting Effective Employment Messages
  • Assignments:
  • Assignment 12.1: Résumé Writing
  • Assignment 12.2: Writing an Application Letter
  • Assignment 12.3: Follow-Up Messages
  • Quiz 12
  • Final Exam Chapters 9 - 12
  • Course Evaluation

Additional Resources

The Writing Center

The Writing Center, located in the Grace Thomas Kennedy building, Room 228, is an excellent,free, on-campus resource for help with writing and building reading comprehension and proficiency. Peer and faculty consultants are available to help you brainstorm, organize, and work through some common writing and reading hurdles. Please note that the Writing Center is not a proofreading or writing service; instead, the faculty members and staff at the Writing Center are concerned with helping you become a better writer. They will provide valuable feedback and assistance on any kind of writing activity. You may make a 20- to 30-minute appointment with a consultant by e-mailing , or calling (803) 535-5422, or you may simply walk in. The best approach for the best results is to plan ahead. If there are additional questions,please check with Writing Center director, Dr. Melissa Pearson, in GTK 208 or at (803) 535-5092.

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