COMS 3302-008Fall 2011
Sheffield
Name:Allen Sheffield
Office Number:FineArtsBuilding, Room 417
Office Telephone Number:817-272-2163 for messages
Email Address:
MavSpace:
Office Hours: 9:25 – 10:55 AM TT, 5:00-5:30 PM MW or by arrangement
Course Number, Section Number, and Course Title:
Speech 3302 - Section 008 -- Professional & Technical Communication
Time and Place of Class Meetings:MondaysWednesdays7:00 – 8:20 PM
FineArtsBuilding, Room 122
Description of Course Content:Speech 3302 acquaints the student with communication in business and industry. Practical application of theory will be applied through assignments, class discussions, and readings from the text. Special attention is paid to business writing including letters and long reports. Students will give two oral presentations during the semester.
Practical consideration is given to the employment process, including interviewing, and each student will finish this course with an appropriate resume.
Student Learning Outcomes: Students will be able to give effective presentations. In particular, students will realize the value of adequate audience analysis in all communication activities.
Students will be able to discuss the value of good listening skills.
Students will be able to distinguish between appropriate formats for business messages: Informative or Analytical.
Students will be able to write a bad news message and will see the significance of organization in communication.
Students will be able to define the term interview and list the various types and purposes of interviews.
Students will be able to construct viable resumes – emphasizing appropriate background and targeting specific employers.
Requirements: Prerequisite: minimum sophomore standing.
Speech 3302 is an upper division course required for most engineering majors. As such, students must be at least a sophomore with a firm foundation in their major.
Required Textbooks and Other Course Materials:
Excellence in Business Communication,
(9th edition) by John V. Thill & Courtland L. Bovee
Students will provide oneMINIDVD+RW disk
Descriptions of major assignments and examinations with due dates:ATTACHED
Grading Policy:There are five exams. The final exam is not comprehensive.
There are five assignments which will be explained in detail at the time of the assignment. Daily activities, including short quizzes are worth 100 points. These cannot be made up, so attendance is important. A chart of the grading system is attached. SEE ATTACHED
Attendance Policy:
Attendance will be checked every class either by daily quizzes or roll call.
You must be sure to sign in daily
In order to receive full attendance and participation consideration you must attend at least 90% of classes (you may be absent three (3) times for any reason). For EACH additional class that you are absent, one percentage point will be deducted from your FINAL GRADE.
e.g., 4 absences = -1% from FINAL grade
5 absences = -2% from FINAL grade, ETC.
Tardiness is not condoned. Being tardy or leaving class early will count as .5 - .9 absence depending on how late you arrive or how early you leave. If you show up and then leave, you might as well skip the class altogether. The following examples show how this works: Up to 30 minutes = .5 absence
30 minutes = .6
45 minutes = .7
One hour = .8
Show & go = .9
Drop Policy: Refer to University drop policy
The drop date for the fallsemester 2011 is Friday,November 4.
Assignments:
Journal Article Analysis: There are two parts to this short assignment – After studying an article from a professional journal in the student’s career or specific field of interest – students will determine the target audience for the article and explain 1) in writing and 2) in an oral presentation why he/she is the target audience. The student will find and detail the specialized language (jargon) used by the author to reach the specific readers. The chosen article must be approved by the instructor.
Bad News Letter:Students will find this short exercise beneficial because at one time or another, we all have to break some bad news to someone. The student will learn a formula to get the “bad news” across but still show good will. Since your response is a direct reflection of you and your organization, it must be done with a professional style. You will prepare this letter for the instructor’s signature.
Persuasive Oral Presentation: Focusing on a professional topic, this is a 5-9 minute speech which requires the student to understand public speaking goals, purposes, concepts, and skills related to persuasive speaking. The student should focus on organization and delivery skills. Topic must be pre-approved by the instructor. Student MUST have a visual aid(s) for this presentation.
Persuasive Formal Written Report:Focusing on the same topic as the persuasive oral presentation, the student will write a formal paper (following the guidelines from class discussion and textbook) persuading the reader to accept his/her premise(s.) The formal written assignment emphasizes the importance of followingdirections, the proper use of English language, and presenting support to prove a point.
Resume:One of the most important documents students will write, in any profession is a resume. This most basic tool for gaining employment may be organized in several ways. Students will study these styles, and then choose and write a usable resume in an appropriate format. A well written resume may lead to the most important step in getting hired – the interview. The class will then engage in discussion of this vital skill.
Participation:Business and Professional Communication is not primarily a lecture course. Students are expected to be prepared for class. There will be pop quizzes and assignments over readings & previous class information
Americans With Disabilities Act:
The University of Texas at Arlington is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation; reference Public Law 92-112 - The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. With the passage of federal legislation entitled Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), pursuant to section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, there is renewed focus on providing this population with the same opportunities enjoyed by all citizens.
As a faculty member, I am required by law to provide "reasonable accommodations" to students with disabilities, so as not to discriminate on the basis of that disability. Student responsibility primarily rests with informing faculty of their need for accommodation and in providing authorized documentation through designated administrative channels. Information regarding specific diagnostic criteria and policies for obtaining academic accommodations can be found at Also, you may visit the Office for Students with Disabilities in room 102 of University Hall or call them at (817) 272-3364.
Academic Integrity:
It is the philosophy of The University of Texas at Arlington that academic dishonesty is a completely unacceptable mode of conduct and will not be tolerated in any form. All persons involved in academic dishonesty will be disciplined in accordance with University regulations and procedures. Discipline may include suspension or expulsion from the University.
"Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, collusion, the submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person, taking an examination for another person, any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student or the attempt to commit such acts." (Regents’ Rules and Regulations, Series 50101, Section 2.2)
Student Support Services Available:
The University of Texas at Arlington provides a variety of resources and programs designed to help students develop academic skills, deal with personal situations, and better understand concepts and information related to their courses. These resources include tutoring, major-based learning centers, developmental education, advising and mentoring, personal counseling, and federally funded programs. For individualized referrals to resources for any reason, students may contact the Maverick Resource Hotline at 817-272-6107 or visit for more information.
Final Review Week:
A period of five class days prior to the first day of final examinations in the long sessions shall be designated as Final Review Week. The purpose of this week is to allow students sufficient time to prepare for final examinations. During this week, there shall be no scheduled activities such as required field trips or performances; and no instructor shall assign any themes, research problems or exercises of similar scope that have a completion date during or following this week unless specified in the class syllabi. During Final Review Week, an instructor shall not give any examinations constituting 10% or more of the final grade, except makeup tests and laboratory examinations. In addition, no instructor shall give any portion of the final examination during Final Review Week. Classes are held as scheduled during this week and lectures and presentations may be given.
E-Culture Policy:
The University of Texas at Arlington has adopted the University email address as an official means of communication with students. Through the use of email, UT-Arlington is able to provide students with relevant and timely information, designed to facilitate student success. In particular, important information concerning registration, financial aid, payment of bills, and graduation may be sent to students through email.
All students are assigned an email account and information about activating and using it is available at New students (first semester at UTA) are able to activate their email account 24 hours after registering for courses. There is no additional charge to students for using this account, and it remains active as long as a student is enrolled at UT-Arlington. Students are responsible for checking their email regularly.
Should you need to do so, email is the best way to contact your instructor for this course. You will receive a response only if you use a UT System email address.
Make-up Exam Policy: Late work will NOT be accepted. If you fail to speak, take a test, or turn in any work on the assigned day, you will receive a ZERO for that assignment. IF time permits, AND I have been notified IN ADVANCE, you MAY be allowed to do the assignment with the maximum grade for that assignment reduced by 20%.
Grade Grievance Policy: Standard procedures as outlined in the catalog will prevail.
Additional Information
ENTERING DURING STUDENT SPEECHES
You must NEVER enter the classroom during another student's presentation. Students are normally nervous enough without having some rude, thoughtless other student disrupting their presentations. If you do enter during a student presentation, I will deduct ten (10) points from YOUR speech grade.
Leaving the room during a student presentation is just as disruptive and I will deduct ten (10) points if you do that, too.
GUM
There will be an automatic 20% deduction from your grade for chewing gum DURING your presentation.
HATS and ATTIRE
You can wear your hat all day long everyday, but you can NOT wear a hat during your presentation, UNLESS it is part of the appropriate attire for that particular presentation. In that rare case, you will mention the hat and its purpose during the speech. Otherwise, there will be an automatic 10% deduction for wearing a hat for no reason. (Bad hair day is not an excuse)
You are expected to make your presentations as professionally as possible -- this includes wearing appropriate clothing. You do not have to “dress up” necessarily but you will give a better speech if you prepare and this includes giving thought to your attire.
LATE WORK
Late work will NOT be accepted. If you fail to speak, take a test, or turn in any work on the assigned day, you will receive a ZERO for that assignment. IF time permits, AND I have been notified IN ADVANCE, you MAY be allowed to do the assignment with the maximum grade for that assignment reduced by 20%.
FAMILY
Your children are not enrolled in this class -- do not bring your children
CELL PHONES
Turn them off -- 1% deduction from your final grade each time your phone rings
COMS 3302-008 Grading – Fall2011
Exams:
Five worth a total of = 500 pts
Daily Quizzes/Activities= 100 pts
Assignment 1: 50 pts written + 50 pts oral = 100 pts
Assignment 2: Bad News Letter = 100 pts
Assignment 3: Persuasive Speech = 200 pts
Assignment 4: Formal written report = 200 pts
Assignment 5: Resume = 100 pts
TOTAL 1,300 pts
A = 1170 pts
B = 1040 pts
C = 910 pts
D = 780 pts
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