Syllabus

A study of communication skills which have been identified as essential for persons entering business and professional careers. Special attention is directed toward communication competencies at the management level, including oral presentations, committees, employment, and appraisal interviews. Students will use Microsoft PowerPoint presentation software to enhance clarity and persuasiveness of presentations. Business and professional speaking focuses on processes involved in effective speaking in business and industry. The primary focus is developing skills in presenting and delivering presentations to organizational audiences. In addition to preparing you for experience in the workplace, students will become familiar with materials related to communication processes in organizations at the interpersonal level. Students will learn how to polish communication skills in preparation for unique situations encountered in modern organizations.

Prerequisite: CM 130.

Requirements

Required Text

Deborah Britt Roebuck. Improving Business Communication Skills. 4th ed.

Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2006.

ISBN-10: 0131184598 or

ISBN-13: 978013118456

E-mail & Internet Requirements

Students MUST activate their campus e-mail accounts with our college no later than one week into the semester. The instructor distributes and collects assignments via online resources such as campus e-mail and NetLearn. Students should check messages at least 2-3 times each week. Basic online operations will be reviewed in class by the instructor as needed.

Course Goals & Objectives

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge about 1) written communication in business, 2) using technology to communicate, 3) communicating within virtual teams, 4) creating cover letters and resumes, and 5) developing successful interviewing skills. Objectives of the course address these specific areas:

	technology and communication,
	writing electronically and on paper,
	writing directly,
	delivering bad news,
	persuasive writing,
	writing memos, e-mails & short reports,
	appearance of electronic/printed documents,
	writing formal reports, plans, papers,
	three p's of oral presentations,
	technology and communication within virtual teams,
	communicating in meetings and by telephone,
	career searching,
	composing cover letters and resumes,
	interviewing,
	ethical communication, and
	to recognize the inherent value of all human beings by demonstrating the importance of effectively and respectfully communicating with all members of society, including women, people with varied cultural backgrounds, people with special needs, and others.

Course Procedures

Attendance Policy

Class participation is vital. Significant portions of course material will be presented through in-class interactive assignments and discussions; therefore, attendance will directly affect your success and course grade. Each absence is a one-point deduction from the final course grade, and each tardy is a 1/2-point deduction from the final course grade.

It is the student�s responsibility to sign the attendance sheet. If the student fails to sign in, s/he will be recorded absent. If absences are because of college-sanctioned events, then the absence will be recorded but the absence will not carry a penalty. (Submitting late work will, however, will carry a penalty.) Any written excuses, such as a doctor's excuse, must be given to the instructor within one week of the absence to allow make-up tests or assignments.

Responsibility Grade

Eight percent of the course grade will be a direct reflection of the student's attendance, conduct in the classroom, participation in class discussions, group work, interaction with peers, instructors and guests. This reflects issues of attitude, effort, attentiveness, timeliness, participation, the ability to work well with others, meeting deadlines, etc.

Automatic Grade Reductions

Reading a Speech

Presentations require extemporaneous speaking style, not manuscript. Students who read or appear to read will receive zeroes on those assignments.

Missed Deadlines

Because of the nature of the business industry, timely communication, and the importance of time management skills in any field, this instructor does not give full credit for any assignment or in-class exercise after the deadline/due date. Late submissions result in a deduction of 20 points per each day after the deadline for the assignment or exercise.

Each deadline for each assignment and exercise is clearly outlined in the course schedule of this syllabus, and the instructor usually reminds students frequently about upcoming deadlines. However, it is the responsibility of the student to keep up with deadlines and plan accordingly.

If the student foresees a problem with meeting a deadline, for example an absence on that particular deadline date, then that student should plan to submit that assignment before the deadline and should talk to instructor to arrange that. Early submissions are always welcome.

Failure to Cite Sources

Assignments which intentionally or unintentionally omit sources will receive a grade of zero. The instructor may or may not give one warning, but do not expect two. This refers to written, visual, and audio sources. "In plain language, plagiarism is taking someone else�s work and passing it off as one�s own without proper acknowledgment or documentation" (www.ala.org, July 3, 2003).

Copyrighted Works

Unless the artists or their representatives have granted permission to use a copyrighted works, students will NOT be allowed to use copyrighted works in their projects. This includes--but is not limited to--music, film, images, etc. Violations will result in a grade of zero.

EC's Distance Education Policy

Because some of this course in handled in an online format, please be aware of Emmanuel College's policy:

"Because of the nature of online courses, if a faculty member has any concerns that a student�s work might not be his/her own, the College reserves the right to require any distance education student to take or re-take any quizzes or exams in a supervised setting. Furthermore, under such circumstances, the College reserves the right to base the entire course grade upon the results of a supervised comprehensive exam. Students refusing to take supervised quizzes/exams will be subject to administrative withdrawal from the course(s). Attempts by any student to buy, borrow, or steal work from another individual for the purpose of submitting that work as one�s own will be treated as the equivalent of actually having submitted the work and may result in failure of assignment, failure of course, and/or expulsion from the College."

Dress Code

Students are expected to comply with the dress code modesty in the Student Handbook.

Examinations

Four exams will be given and constitute 32 percent of the overall course grade (see Class Schedule for dates). Students who anticipate absences on exam dates should arrange to take tests before exam dates. Approval is at the discretion of the instructor.

Conversely, students who do not anticipate absences but are unable to attend class on exam dates may be allowed at the discretion on the instructor to complete late exams. However, late exams must be completed within one week of the original exam date; a doctor�s excuse or similar documentation is required to receive the opportunity to make up a missed exam. Failure to take exams on scheduled dates results in automatic elimination of any curve or bonus points which might be added to exam scores.

Writing Assignments

The five writing assignments count six percent each to make up 30 percent of the course grade. Students are able to apply their knowledge of communicating good- and bad-new messages. Students will also prepare individual resumes and cover letters to present themselves and their credentials to prospective employers. Finally, students will write a 3-page comparative essay based on the last chapter in the text, "Understanding the Challenge of Ethical Communication."

Presentations

Students are able to apply their knowledge of business and professional speaking and its various contexts by preparing and delivering a variety of presentations. Students will sign up for presentation dates in advance. Students may switch dates with one another but should inform the instructor of the schedule change. If a student is absent on a presentation date, he or she receives a grade of zero.

Calculation of Course Grade

Grading Scale

A = 93-100, A- = 90-92, B+ = 87-89, B = 83-86, B- = 80-82, C+ = 77-79, C = 73-76, C- = 70-72, D+ = 67-69, D = 63-66, D- = 60-62, F = 0-59

Examinations...32%

Four Exams = 8% each

Writing Assignments...30%

	Good-News Message...6%
	Bad-News Message...6%
	Resume...6%
	Cover Letter...6%
	Ethics Essay...6%

Presentations...30%

	Good-Bad Presentation...10%
	Business Presentation...10%
	Career Presentation...10%

Responsibility Grade...8%

Writing Across Curriculum Policy

Consistent with our college's goal of striving for writing excellence in all classes, this instructor will grade all high stakes assignments for correct grammar, spelling, and the like. Points will be deducted for writing mistakes and will not receive an A regardless of content. For assistance, visit EC's Success Center in Aaron 207.

Multicultural Objective

Students are expected to show respect for all, regardless of gender, ethnicity, cultural background, disability, or religious viewpoint.