Debbie Saunders, Instructor

Office Phone No. 253-3171Office: Room #1437

Email: ffice Hours:Mon: 10:30-12:30; Tues: 7:00-8:00

Wed: 7:30-8:00; 11:00-12:00

Thurs: 7:30-8:00

BUSINESS 105 - BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS

3 units, 3 hours

CATALOG DESCRIPTION

Written communication for business. Reviews punctuation, sentence structure, and style. Focuses on writing skills in letters, memos, and business reports. Introduces students to research methods and procedures. Written assignments total a minimum of 8,000 words.

RECOMMENDED PREPARATION

Eligibility for ENGL 120, or successful completion of ENGL 90.

STUDENTMATERIALS

Textbook: Business Communication Process & Product, by Mary Ellen Guffey 6thEdition, 2008, published by South-Western Cengage Learning

Highly Recommended: MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, by Joseph Gibaldi. (See Appendix C, p. C-1of the text for further information.)

OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this course, the student will:

understand factual, mechanical, and verbal precision, and analyze their importance to all manner and styles of business communications
compare the nature, purpose, and structure of various kinds of letters and memos
demonstrate empathy, character, and tone as they relate to business letters and memos
understand the nature and structure of the formal business report
develop and prepare an acceptable business report with required prefatory and supplementary parts
distinguish particular issues of international communication and appreciate the need for sensitivity to the cultural distinctions of one's audience in order to have successful international business communications

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (SLOs)

*Demonstrate empathy, character, and tone in writing business correspondence.

*Develop and prepare an acceptable business report with required prefatory and supplementary parts.

EVALUATION AND GRADING STANDARDS

Writing Assignments (letters, memos, etc.)35%

Résumé, Application Letter, Follow-Up Letter10%

Business Report20%

Quizzes*10%

Midterm Exam10%

Final Exam15%

100%

A = 90% - 100%

B = 80% - 89%

C = 70% - 79%

D = 60% - 69%

F = 59% and below

*There will be unannounced quizzes during the semester. The one quiz with the lowest score will be dropped and the quiz grade will be based on the remaining quiz scores. NO MAKEUPS WILL BE GIVEN ON QUIZZES.

MISCELLANEOUS COURSE INFORMATION

--Any assignment turned in up to one week late will have 10 points automatically deducted from the score. Any assignment turned in later than one week of its due date WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AND THE STUDENT WILL RECEIVE A ZERO FOR THAT ASSIGNMENT!! AN ASSIGNMENT IS CONSIDERED LATE IF IT IS TURNED IN ANY TIME AFTER THE CLASS HOUR THAT IT IS DUE. IT IS EACH STUDENT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO SEE THE INSTRUCTOR FOR ANY ASSIGNMENT GIVEN DURING A STUDENT'S ABSENCE AND MAKE UP THAT ASSIGNMENT IN A TIMELY FASHION.

--All assignments are graded on form, neatness, AND content!! Unless otherwise instructed, ALL assignments must be typed. It is advisable and HIGHLYRECOMMENDED that all assignments be completed on a computer using a word processing software program (e.g., Microsoft Word). There are computers with word processing software available for student use in the Campus Computer Lab, Building 800.

--Regular attendance and class participation are absolutely necessary; students may be dropped from the course for lack of attendance (see college attendance policy). It is the student's responsibility to complete a drop card in the Admissions and Records Office if it is necessary to withdraw from the course during the semester.

--Inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated and can ultimately result in the inappropriately behaving student being dismissed from class. Further disciplinary action may result.

--Students should turn their cell phones to silent during class.

--Cheating will not be tolerated on any homework, in-class exercise, exam, report or any assignment in this class. If it is determined that a student has cheated on any portion of an assignment, that student and any student assisting inappropriately will receive an “F” grade for that assignment. Further disciplinary action may result. Please refer to the NVC catalog’s section on Academic Standards for detailed information on academic honesty as that policy will be strictly enforced.

--Some NVC students, staff, and faculty are seriously impaired by environmental illness or Immune Dysfunction syndrome. They can experience breathing problems, headaches, sudden fatigue, mood swings, or memory lapses when exposed to perfumes, soaps, scented sprays or lotions, chemicals, tobacco smoke, or dust. Your sensitivity to the problem is extremely important, because by minimizing the use of strongly scented soaps, perfumes, and other products, we can help those affected. Thank you very much for your cooperation.

--Any student who feels s/he needs an accommodation based on the impact of a learning disability should contact the Diagnostic Learning Services in Room 861 of the 800 building to schedule an appointment with a Learning Disabilities Specialist. If you need accommodation for physical or any other type of disability, schedule an appointment with Sheryl Fernandez of the Counseling Department.

--Child care is available on campus at the Child Care Center. Please consult with the Center to arrange child care of make other arrangements for the care of your children during class hours. Children may not accompany parents in the classroom.

(H:\BUSI 105 Business Communications 9th edition syllabus forFall 2010