Syllabus: MGT 3003 (Section 01F), First Summer Session2013
Business Communication & Professional Development
Course #30985:11:00a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, Room BB 2.01.10
Office hours: MTWRF, 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m., and by appointment
(Last Non-substantive/clarifying editing update: June 12, 2013)
Dr. Wilson’s Web site:
NOTE: ONLY THE ONLINE VERSION OF THIS SYLLABUS IS CURRENT. Both PC and Mac users should use the Mozilla Firefox browser to access UTSA Web sitesand Blackboard Learn—Mozilla Firefox is the only browser to permit full access to Blackboard Learn and the Online Writing Lab (OWL). Access Blackboard Learn at .
COURSE TEAM / EMAIL ADDRESSES / PHONE / OFFICE HOURSProfessor / BB 4.04.29
Dr. Bennie Wilson / Blackboard Learn message:
- Point deductions
- Documented emergency absences
And by appointment
Teaching Assistants / BB 4.04.29
Vincent Rizzo
(Classroom TA) / Blackboard Learn message
- Quizzes, midterm, final
- Résumé
- RSO, Toastmasters
- Miscellaneous points
And by appointment
Vincent Rizzo
(OWL TA) / Blackboard Learn message
- Online Writing Lab (OWL)
- Respond to OWL queries within 24 hours
MTWRF: 10:30a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
And by appointment
College of Business Center for Student Professional Development (CSPD) BB 2.01.08
University Career Center (UCC) UC 2.02.04
Barbara Jackson
(CSPD & UCC) /
- Guest Lecturer
- Mock Interviews
- Résumé Grading
Claudia Giliberti
(CSPD & UCC) /
- Guest Lecturer
- Mock Interviews
- Résumé Grading
and 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., F
Morris Ellington
(UCC) /
- Guest Lecturer
- Mock Interviews
WELCOME TO THIS COURSE: You probably remember the classic book and movie, The Wizard of Oz, in which Dorothy laments to her pet dog: “Toto, I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” This course will take you out of “Kansas,” my metaphor for your experiences prior to entering the “real world” of work. In doing so, it will challenge your time-management skills, meaning you will have to do advance planning regarding when you will complete the parts of some assignments, particularly the Online Writing Lab assignments (OWL). Beware; if you are the type to wait until the last minute to do assignments, this course will not be fun for you.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: In this course, we will examine basic interpersonal communication processes within written and oral channels, with practical applications for the business environment. We will discuss issues regarding cross-cultural communication, crisis communication, and ethical considerations in business. The course emphasizes three areas: (1) planning, organizing, writing, editing, and revising businessdocuments; (2) planning, organizing, and delivering business presentations; and (3) preparing for professional success in the business world, including career planning, networking, job searching, résumé preparation, and job application and interviewing. Written assignments and oral presentations arerequired.
COURSE PREREQUISITES: COM 1053 or COM 1043 (Business and Professional Speech), and WRC 1023 or ENG 1023 (Freshman Composition II).
BACHELOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (B.B.A.) DEGREE PROGRAM GOALS:
- Students will be able to communicate, orally and in writing, information and ideas pertinent to business decision-making. (This course directly supports this goal.)
- Students will be able to use quantitative analysis and quantitative and non-quantitative reasoning to effectively identify and solve business problems.
- Students will be able to use current information technology to support business decision-making.
- Students will be able to incorporate a global perspective in business decisions.
- Students will be able to identify ethical and legal issues in a business context and find alternatives that demonstrate ethical values.
REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS:
- Business Communication & Professional Development, a customized text by Pearson, ISBN-10:1256272973
- Approximately 25 copies of ParScore test form (SCANTRON form number X-101864-PAR-L) for quizzes, exams, and attendance.
TECHNOLOGY & STUDY RESOURCES:
- Study and Learning Assistance. There are excellent exercises at the end of each chapter in the text. Additional writing resources and textbook exercises can be found at:
- UTSA Writing Center (HSS 3.03.08):
- Tomás Rivera Center. UTSA provides excellent resources that can help you with your studying, testing, and writing skills. The Tomás Rivera Center’s (TRC) academic support services are at no cost. Visit to learn more about:
- Learning assistance: One-on-one academic coaching and group study skills assistance.
For an Academic Coaching appointment call (210) 458-4694
For the Expert Learner Series schedule visit the TRC website or go to MS 1.02.02
- Supplemental Instruction:Collaborative/group learning for historically difficult courses.
Courses supported and schedules on TRC website
For more information about Supplemental Instruction call (210) 458-7251
- Tutoring Services: Call (210) 458-6783
Walk in tutoring (several subjects, various location options)
Math Assistance Program (MAP) for College Algebra and Pre-Calculus
- Office of Information Technology (OIT) Assistance: For assistance with the Blackboard Learn communication system, except for the Online Writing Lab (which is housed on Blackboard Learn), email or call 210-458-5555. Be sure to:
- Give your name, contact email address, banner ID/User ID, and phone number.
- Describe the specific problems you are experiencing and which course you are attempting to access.
- If emailing , please send “cc” copy to me ().
If you have problems with your OWL site, contact our OWL teaching assistant (Vincent Rizzo) via Blackboard Learn course message.
COURSE GUIDELINES & POLICIES:
- Academic Honesty–“Scholastic dishonesty is any form of cheating or plagiarism that violates the Student Code of Conduct. Scholastic Dishonesty or academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, collusion, falsifying academic records, and any act designed to give unfair advantage to the student, (for example, photographing test/assessment materials, texting during exams, etc.).” (2012-2014 Undergraduate Catalog)
NOTE: All instances of scholastic dishonesty will result in the referral of a faculty disposition of a scholastic dishonesty case to the UTSA Office of Student Judicial Affairs. Normally, I will recommend a minimum penalty of a grade of “zero” on the compromised assignment in question, plus the reduction of an entire course grade (minus 200 points), up to a maximum recommended penalty of expulsion from the University, depending on the severity of the infraction.
- Attendance –Students are to be on time for every class and to be attentive and participate in class activities until the professor adjourns each class.
- Attendanceis takenanytime (using the appropriate ParScore form)during each class in which there is a guest lecturer, and/orscheduled student oral presentations (marked with *** on the class schedule). Students must have on-hand at least two ParScore forms for every class.
- The University cannot be held liable for “students” who are not registered. Such individuals who have been dropped from this course by the registrar for failure to meet appropriate registration and financialobligations by the Census Date (listed on the class schedule) are not permitted to attend classes while in dropped status. Assignments due during such periods may only be counted if completed prior to being dropped. Examinations or quizzes during the dropped period may not be completed.
- Arriving in class after the class starting time means you are late, whether or not the guest lecturer has actually begun his or her lecture, or a student has begun his or her oral presentation.
- Attendance in conjunction with extra-credit events, whether in our class or at another time and location, is taken via attendance slips prepared by the event sponsors.
- To prevent disruption to the students taking quizzes (which are unannounced), students who are late for class during aquiz are required to remain in the hallway outside of the classroom until the quiz is completed.
- Progress Monitoring – Each student is responsible for monitoring his or her course performance and for taking steps to remedy any discrepancies between their actual learning or grades and their performance aspirations in these areas. Set your standards high! Check Blackboard Learnfrequently. Use the wealth of resources available to you. UTSA provides outstanding services to help you in your studies. Please contact the instructor during class hours or through appointment if you have questions, or if you would like to discuss your progress in this course.
- Students with Disabilities – The UTSA Office of Student Disability Services makes appropriate academic accommodations for students registered with that office, and you may contact them at 210-458-4157(voice); 210.591.7318 (videophone); 210.458.4980 (fax), Web site utsa.edu/disability/, and at email . (NOTE: Only the Office of Student Disability Services may issue instructions for academic accommodations.)
- Designated seating areas– State and Federal fire codes require students not sit or stand in aisle spaces, on landings, or on steps/stairs. Please do not block the designated exit areas. Neither students nor guests may sit at the tables and seats behind the last row of fixed seats at the back of the classroom. Only students certified as disabled by the Office of Student Disability Services and who require classroom accommodation may sit in this area.
- Professional Behavior– Please be respectful of each other at all times. Be on time and be good listeners.
- Laptop and Electronic Devices – Treat these classes as business meetings. The use of laptops, cell phones, and other electronic devices are not permitted in class. Further, please remove your cell phones from sight by putting them in your pockets, your purses, etc., or you will be asked to leave class. If you are expecting an emergency call, please notify me at the beginning of class.
- Grades –If you disagree with a grade you receive, bring the matter to my attention in writing (Blackboard Learn mail message, email, letter, etc.) within seven calendar days from the date I post the grade on Blackboard Learn.
- Assignment Submissions & Returns – In the event you must submit a hardcopy of an assignment by a specific date and/or time, and class is not in session or I am not in the office, you may slide the assignment under my office door or scan it and email it to me—on or before the deadline. Further, if you are not present when an assignment is returned in class you may pick it up during office hours.
ASSIGNMENTS & EXAMINATIONS
- File of Returned Assignments: Each student will pick up and retain in a personal file the documentation for each assignment that is graded and returned in class. These include, but may not be limited to the graded in-class oral presentation, results of quizzes not graded via ParScore forms, and the like. When a student raises questions regarding the accuracy of a graded item returned to him or her, the student must present the documentation during the discussion. Once I enter grades in the Blackboard grade book and return the source documents in class, I retain these documents in my office for only one week. (This excludes samples of source documents needed for student learning assessment purposes.)
- Online Writing Lab (OWL) Modules & Quizzes: You will complete many of the assignments online through the OWL. You should start the OWL after the OWL orientation in class on the date shown in the class schedule. The OWL runs via the course Blackboard Learn site. As with the other course assignments, it is vital that you do not wait until the last minute to attempt to complete the OWL assignments--“stuff happens” when dealing with computer systems.
- Since the OWL is part of the Blackboard Learn program, use Mozilla Firefox to access the OWL for full access to Blackboard.
- Blackboard Learn is down for maintenance on Saturdays, from midnight to 3:00 a.m., in addition to other periodicoutages as announced on Blackboard. Review these announcements prior to attempting to access the OWL.
- CAUTION: Doing any of the following actions while attempting to complete OWL assessments (quizzes) will cause your assessment attempts to terminate without the ability to again access the assessment:
- Assessments are timed, and will terminate when the scheduled assessment time is completed.
- Using a wireless connection; periodic, very brief disconnects are not unusual.
- Attempting to access the OWL module while you are connected to the assessment.
- Setting your computer to “time-out” when there is a level of inactivity.
- Accessing the assessment during times of increased probability of power outages, e.g., thunderstorms.
- OWL Core Modules Assignment (Four Core OWL Modules)- The four core modules are (1) writing composition, (2) English grammar mechanics, (3) business writing style, and (4) critical thinking. Your grade for the OWL Core Modules assignment will be the average of the four post-assessment scores—the initial assessment grades will not count toward the assignment grade. For each of the four modules:
- Complete the initial assessment
- Study the core module for the area
- Complete a graded post-assessment
- Supplemental OWL Modules Assignment (Six Supplemental OWL Modules) – The supplemental modules have no initial assessments and your grade for this assignment will be the average of the six post-assessment scores. The supplement modules cover:
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- Résumé writing
- Cover letter
- Report writing
- Writing emails,
- Presentation skills
- Citing sources
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- Take-Home Writing Assignment: For 200 points, you will complete atake-home business writing assignment that involves completing a business document. On June 20, you will receive (via Blackboard Learn “Announcements”) instructions for a writing assignment that will be due in class on June 24 in hard-copy form. You will submit it online for grading. The assignment will assess your ability to write a “routine” business message,a “negative” business document, ora “persuasive” business document. It will be graded to reflect your:
- Proper use of the writing concepts covered in chapters 1 - 9 in your text, and your
- Knowledge of the following “key writing concepts” discussed in class:
- Organization (direct, indirect, logical flow, etc.)
- Language (active, passive)
- “You” (not, “I,” “me,” “we”) orientation
- Reader benefit, reader alternative
- Tone (civil, respectful, etc.)
- Formatting (memo, letter, email)
- Spelling, grammar, punctuation, content)
- Design/readability (paragraphing, bullets, etc.)
- Closing with Goodwill
- Other (adherence to instructions, etc.)
- Résumé: You will prepare a professional job résumé as part of the professional development portion of this course. I encourage you to review the résumé preparation checklist linked at
Your résumé should be for a job or type of job you will likely be seeking--if you have no specific job or employer to refer to, then refer to a job you would like to apply for and/or employer that you may want to work for. The résumémust follow the CSPD format at
You will submit your résumé in class on the date listed in the class schedule and in this syllabus. It will be graded using protocol at
- Quizzes & Examinations: Most examinations will require the proper use of the appropriate ParScore form (see “Required Course Materials” above). All quizzes and exams--completed or not--remain the property of the professor. Students may view their completed exams during office hours.
The ParScore forms are machine graded by the testing office. The testing office staff will not hand-score any ParScore forms not properly completed. Students who submit improperly completed ParScore forms, e.g.,not providing or not bubbling in Banner IDs, recording the wrong Banner IDs, not recording the proper test form, using ink instead of pencilto record responses,etc., will receive a grade of "zero" on the quiz or examination.
- Quizzes: All quizzes are unannounced—mostly in a “listening quiz” format—covering the assigned text chapters and syllabus, using multiple-choice, true/false, and/or fill-in-the-blank short answers. There are no make-ups for missed quizzes; however, if you are absent or late for a quiz for one of the acceptable reasons listed under “Grading Policies” below, you will receive a quiz grade equal to your percent grade on the midterm exam. Late arriving students—no matter what the reason--must wait outside of class until quizzes conclude to avoid interrupting the quiz process.
- Midterm & Final Examinations: These exams will be multiple-choice and will cover the assigned readings from the text as noted in the class schedule.
- In-Class Oral Presentation: Each student will make an in-class business-oriented oral presentation, on a subject of his or her choosing. The grading sheets are linked at for individual presentations, and at for team presentations.
If a student scheduled for an in-class oral presentation misses the scheduled presentation date for a non-emergency reason, the student will receive a grade of “zero” for this assignment. (See “Grading Policies” below.)
EXTRA CREDIT POINTS
You have the opportunity to earn extra-credit points, using the following guidelines:
- Do not attend extra-credit events that conflict with your MGT 3003 classes or any other UTSA classes for which you are registered.
- You are responsible for keeping track of the extra-credit points you earn. If you desire to challenge the number of extra-credit points recorded for you, you mustlist in writing the extra-credit events you attended, including each event’s name, date, and time you attended.
- As in the real world of work, if you volunteer to undertake an extra-credit event, e.g., group mock interview, but you fail to fulfill your commitment (fail to attend, arrive late, etc.) for non-emergency reasons, the number of extra-credit points the event is worth will be deducted from your points (up to 50 points).
Extra-credit Items (Blackboard Learn label) / Extra-
credit Points / Due Not Later Than
Continuing or initial membership in a professional organization/association, including Toastmasters International (1) ("EC-Prof Org.") / 25 / June 13
Group mock interview (2)(“EC-Mock”) / 25 / June 27
University or College-wide symposia, lecture, conference, panel, or seminar annotated on the course schedule (3) (“EC-Lec.”) / 10+ (each) / As added to class schedule
Miscellaneous Points (4)(“EC-Misc.”) / As earned / July 5
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