Frederick Community College
BU273 Business Communications (Online)
Summer Semester 2011
Class Begins: 6/6/2011 Class Ends: 8/1/2011 Last Day to Withdraw: 7/13/2011
All students are expected to e-mail their instructor prior to the start date of their class, and then at least once per week.
Instructor Information:
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Name: Vivienne E. Werner E-mail: vwerner@frederick.edu Online Office Hours: Wednesdays 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. or 7 to 8 p.m. |
Office: L214 (appointment only) Phone: 240-236-8200 ext. 68377 Home Telephone Number: 301-620-4312 (leave message) |
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Campus Mail Box Number: #762 |
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Course Information:
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Credits: 3 |
Last Day to Drop: July 13, 2011 |
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First Day of Class: June 6, 2011 Prerequisites: |
Last Day of Class: August 1, 2011 On Campus Exams: 1 |
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EN50A & EN52 or ESL95 & ESL99 |
Co-Requisites: None |
Course Description:
The course emphasizes the theory and practice of oral, written, and interpersonal communications that are used in the workplace. Classroom activities and assignments will focus on writing business correspondence and reports, planning and delivering effective presentations and developing teamwork and collaboration skills.
Core Learning Outcomes:
By the completion of the course students will learn to:
Additional Outcomes:
Instructional Methods:
You will learn the core learning outcomes by doing the following:
Text for the Course:
“Business Communication,” 7th Edition, by Mary Ellen Guffey, Mason OH: Thomson/Southwestern Publishing, 2011.
Progress Report:
Students will receive an e-mail assessment of their progress before Week 3.
Evaluation Methods:
Any assignment received after the due date will be evaluated in the following manner.
1-2
days* late- reduced one letter grade
3-5 days* late - reduced two letter grades
> 5 days* - no credit for assignment
(*days will include weekends and holidays)
Note: No instructor will accept an entire semester's worth of assignments the last week of class.
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Topic |
Type of Grade |
Points Possible |
Total |
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Week 1 Communicating at Work: Effective and Ethical Messages. Professionalism: Workplace Listening and Communications
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Discussion Board 1
Chapters 1 & 2 Text Assignments
Telephone Assignment 1
Quiz |
5
25
25 25
20 |
100 |
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Week 2 Intercultural Communications |
Text Chapter 3 Quiz Assignments Discussion Board 2 Article 1 Test A |
20 25 5
20 100 |
170 |
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Week 3 Writing Process Plan Business Messages Organizing and Writing Business Messages and Revising |
Text Assignments Chapters 4, 5 & 6 Quiz Article 2 Presentation proposal
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25 25 25 20 25 5 |
125 |
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Week 4 Electronic Messages and Digital media Positive Messages |
Text Assignments Chapter 7 & 8 Quiz
Test B |
25 25 20 100 |
170
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Week 5 Negative Messages Persuasive and Sales Messages
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Text Assignments Chapter 9 & 10 Quiz
Test B
Discussion Board 3 |
25 25 20 100
5 |
175 |
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Week 6 Report and Research Basics Informal Business Reports
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Text Assignments Chapter 11& 12 Quiz Oral Assignment 2 Article 3 Discussion Board 4 |
25 25
20 25
20
5 |
120 |
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Week 7 Informal Business Reports Formal Business Reports |
Text Assignments Chapters 13 & 14 Quiz Presentation proposal
Test C |
25
25 20 5
100 |
175 |
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Week 8 Business Presentations The Job Search, Resumes, and Cover Letters Interviewing and Following Up |
Text Assignments Chapter 15 &16 Quiz Discussion Board 5
Test D FINAL ASSESSMENT |
25 25 20 5
100 |
175 |
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Total Points |
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1210 |
Grading Scale:
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Grade A* |
90-100% |
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Grade B |
80-89% |
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Grade C |
74-79% |
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Grade D |
60-73% |
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Grade F |
59% and below |
*All assigned work for this course must be completed to achieve the grade of “A.”
A = 1089 to 1210
B = 968 to 1088
C = 906 to 967
D = 730 to 905
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Course Requirements: |
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Course requirements and specific test dates will be forwarded to students following their course registration. The textbook for the course may be purchased at the FCC college bookstore. Students are expected to maintain a dedicated notebook for this course. The material has been divided into eight lessons with accompanying textbook readings and assignments, three current events, three major assessments, two voice mail assignments, one presentation, three discussion board assignments and a final examination. Specific text/workbook assignments will appear in your Topical Outline.
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Student Services:
A variety of services are available to assist students in succeeding at FCC. Students can learn more about these services by visiting the Student Services web page: http://www.frederick.edu/student_services/index.aspx.
Students with disabilities who are in need of accommodations or who have questions related to disabilities services should contact the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) office at 301-846-2408. Students can learn more about these services by visiting the Services for Students with Disabilities web page: http://www.frederick.edu/student_services/disability.aspx.
Participation Policy:
1. It is expected that students will participate fully in all course activities, this policy is designed to support your learning process.
2. Discussion Board opportunities are worth a maximum of 5 points each and participation is mandatory. Original threads are 2 points, piggybacking on established threads 1 point each. Threads and add-ons must be appropriate to course material. Comments such as: “I agree.” “Great!” will not count for points.
3. In case of serious illness, emergency, religious holidays, or participation in official college functions, students remain responsible for completing the requirements of the course.
4. If participation components cannot be met due to serious illness, emergency, religious holidays, or participation in official college functions, make-up opportunities in different class participation formats will be made available to students.
Attendance Policy:
Students are expected to make e-mail contact with their instructor at least once per week. All assessments, assignments, current events, discussion boards, and your class presentation must be completed to achieve excellence in this course. Students must have completed all course requirements on, or before, August 1, 2011. Excuses from strict due dates include: illness (with doctor’s note), emergencies, religious holidays, and official college functions. If a problem with a due date is anticipated, arrangements must be made in advance with your instructor regarding material to be submitted.
Introductory Information on Getting Started:
1. Print out a copy of the course syllabus and the schedule of assignments. It is always wise to keep a copy of this information handy “just in case” you are away from your computer and need to access this information.
2. Your readings and assignments will follow the Topical Outline.
3. Take an hour, or so, to practice navigating the online Black Board site, and use the handbook online for specific help in using the website.
4. Record your assigned Black Board username and password in a safe place. Both entries are necessary to login to the course site and to take quizzes and tests online.
5. Bookmark the login page so that you can quickly enter and exit the “classroom” at your convenience.
6. The FCC Computer Lab and Library Computers are available to provide you with easy access to the Internet and Black Board program. Check with FCC for their schedule of hours with the college.
Notes:*
Assessments should only be taken after the text/workbook assignments have been completed. Passwords will be obtained from your course instructor. Once you have the password, you are able to decide which day of the week you wish to take the assessment online. You can pace yourself, but remember that all assessments must be completed on or before the last scheduled day of class. Items appearing under the Black Board Assignment category take precedence over what appears in the topical outline. Follow the assignments listed under week 1, week 2, and so forth.
*The syllabus can be changed at the discretion of the instructor.
Academic Honesty:
Each student is expected to perform his/her own academic work. Plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty are considered an extremely serious offense. The student is personally responsible for understanding the various forms of academic dishonesty as they are explained in the “Student Code of Conduct” in the Student Handbook. Ignorance of any requirement for academic honesty will not constitute an excuse from disciplinary proceedings. Any form of cheating will be considered grounds for failure of the course. If the final exam grade is significantly different than any of the online tests, I reserve the right to require the student to come to FCC to retake that assignment.
Email Communication:
All students will receive and be expected to use their FCC e-mail address for correspondence with faculty and staff at the college. Students can establish and access their FCC e-mail accounts at the login page: https://myfcc.frederick.edu. Second e-mail address for your instructor is: VEWerner@hotmail.com.
Topical Outline:
Every effort will be made to keep to this schedule; however, the instructor reserves the right to alter or amend it as necessary. Additional dates, as published in the academic schedule of classes and listed below, may be required as make-up days for inclement weather.
Topical Outline Business Communications Online
BU273 Spring Session 2011
Vivienne E. Werner 240-236-8200 Extension 68377
VWerner@frederick.edu on Campus Mailbox #762
Announcement:
First Day of Class: 6/6/11. Last Day to Drop: 7/13/11 Last Day of class: 8/1/11
All students are expected to contact their instructor at least once per week via e-mail to VWerner@frederick.edu.
Submission Information:
All formal written assignments listed for editing should be prepared as hard copy, the file should be submitted as an e-mail attachment. These assignments will be indicated on Black Board under the assignment category. Make sure that you send all assignment attachments to VWerner@frederick.edu. You may also submit hard copies of your assignments to Mailbox #762 on the Frederick Community College Campus. Each text assignment is worth points towards your course point total. A point breakdown appears in your syllabus. LABEL all assignments with Course number, your name, page number, week number, and chapter number. All other assignments: (answers to questions, your practice quizzes, and etc.) should be keyed into the open documents that appear underneath the Weekly Folders. Those items that can be immediately graded will return a score to you. Those items that need individual scoring by your instructor will appear with an Exclamation Point indicating that the work has been received, but not yet scored.
CLUE extra credit assignments will always need to be sent to me as an e-mail attachment. These assignments are worth 1 point for each chapter submitted.
Please E-mail me ANY TIME you have submitted work to my on campus mailbox #762.
Text Assignments:
There will usually be several assignments scheduled each week. You may submit all the formal written assignments for a given week in one continuous e-mail attachment. Monday starts a new week, so assignments should be submitted every Sunday prior to midnight or earlier.
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Lesson
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Black Board Site |
Text Readings |
Assignments |
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Week 1.
Chapter One.
Chapter Two.
Week 2.
Chapter Three |
Discussion Board #1. Check the black board site.
Each Chapter, following assignments, has a Grammar and Mechanics Skills Review with C.L.U.E. Chapter 1. 1-10 page 37. And, C.L.U.E. Chapter 2. 1-10 page 77.
Clue assignments are expected to be submitted at the same time as your weekly assignment work.
Check Black Board category “assignments” for your brief vocal assignment #1 and the telephone number to use.
Also check Black Board for directions regarding your major presentation for this course.
C.L.U.E. Chapter 3. 1-10. Page 109. Submit with your other assignments.
Test A: Covers Chapters 1-3. E-Mail your instructor for the password. The test will only be available through Sunday at midnight. |
Chapter 1 Pages 2-30.
Chapter 2 Pages 38-70.
This week send all five completed assignments to your instructor as an e-mail attachment or put hard copies in Mailbox #762 on Campus.
Chapter 3. Pages 78-102. |
1. Page 32. Critical Thinking Questions 1-5. 2. Page 32. Activity 1.1 Online Communication Skills Assessment 3. Page 72. Critical Thinking Questions 1-5. 4. Page 74. 2.15 Nonverbal Communication: Body Language. 5. Page 76. 2.23 Business Etiquette.
1. Global Interactions: What went wrong? Page 104 & 105. 3.1 A, D. E. 2. Page 107. 3.13 Analyzing a Problem International Letter. 3. Page 107. 3.15 Baksheesh, Mordida, and Kumshah: Making Grease Payments Abroad. |
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Week 3.
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six |
Call in your telephone assignment #1.
e-Mail your proposed presentation idea to your instructor requesting approval
C.L.U.E. Chapter 4. 1-10. Page 136.
ARTICLE 1. Zooming In: Part I page 39. Read through the article and respond to the Critical Thinking Questions that appear at the bottom of the article. Page 48, Zooming In: Part 2. Read through the article and respond to the Critical Thinking Questions that appear at the bottom of the article. Page 70. Zooming In: Part 3. Read through the article and respond to “Your Task as an Individual.” You may create it as an e-mail message. SHOULD BE SUBMITTED WITH ASSIGNMENTS FOR WEEK 3.
C.L.U.E. Chapter 5. 1-10 Page 161.
C.L.U.E. Chapter 6. 1-10 Page 185. (Remember should be submitted with other assignments.) |
Chapter 4. Pages 111-132.
Chapter 5. Pages 137-156.
Chapter 6. Pages 163-180. |
1. Page 133. Critical Thinking 1-5. 2. Page 133. 4.1 Audience Benefits and the “You” View. 3. Page 135. 4.9 Channel Selection: Burger King and the $1 Double Cheeseburger. 4. Page 135. 4.12 Copyright Confusion: Myths and Facts.
1. Page 157. Critical Thinking 1-5 2. Page 158. 5.1 A-H. and 5.2. A-G. 3. Page 158. 5.4 Active Voice A-E. and 5.6 A-H. 4. Page 160. 5.11 Individual Brainstorming.
1. Page 181. 6.1 Flabby Expressions A-D. 2. Page 181. 6.5 Empty Words A-D. 3. Page 181. 6.6 Trite Business Phrases. All 4. Page 182. 6.9 Lists, Bullets, and Headings 5. Page 183. 6.13 Document for Analysis: Poorly Written Customer Letter. REWRITE THE LETTER AND SUBMIT FOR EDITING. |
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Week 4.
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Last Day to Drop 7/13/2011
Chapter Nine |
Article 2. Zooming In: Part I. Page 163. Taco Bell Tweaks Menu to Rebuild Customer Base. Read then answer Critical Thinking Questions. Zooming In: Part II Page 172. Read the article, address the Critical Thinking Questions. Zooming In: Part III Page 178. Read the article, clean up the manager’s memo. Submit with other assignments for the week. C.L.U.E. Chapter 7. 1-10. Page 218. (Submit with other assignments)
Discussion Board #2.
Telephone Assignment #2. Instructions appearing on Black Board. Call it in to the voice mail.
Spend some time working on your presentation.
C.L.U.E. Chapter 8. 1-10. Page 254. (Submit with other assignments)
C.L.U.E. Chapter 9. 1-10 Page 293.
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Chapter 7. Pages 187-213.
Chapter 8. Pages 219-245.
Chapter 9. Pages 295-322. |
1. Page 214. 7.1 Document for Analysis: Jumbled e-mail message. Revise it. 2. Page
215. 7.2 Document for Analysis: Poorly Organized 3. Page 215. 7.4 Choosing a Holiday Plan. Write the e-mail.
1. Page 246. 8.1 Direct Openings A-D. 2. Page 246. 8.2 Writing Instructions. A and B only. 3. Page 247. 8.3 Document for Analysis: Direct Request. Revise and Submit. 4. Page 247. 8.4 Document for Analysis: Direct Response. Revise and Submit. 5. Page 290. 9.19 Bad News to Customers. 6. Page 292. 9.26 Credit Refusal.
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Week 5.
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven |
Discussion Board #3.
Work on Presentation.
C.L.U.E. Chapter 10. 1-10. Page 334.
Work on Presentation.
C.L.U.E. Chapter 11. 1-10. Page 378. |
Chapter 10. Pages 295-322.
Chapter 11. Pages 337-371. |
1. Page 324. Critical Thinking 1-5. 2. Page 325. 10.1. List the document’s weaknesses. 3. Page 326. 10.4. List the document’s weaknesses. 4. Page 331. 10.24 Persuasive Organizational Message Flowing Downward: Cutting Overnight Shipping Costs. Create the memo.
1. Page 373. 11.1 Report Functions, Strategies, and Formats. A-D only. 2. Page 373. 11.3 A-C only. 3. Page 373. 11.5 Problem and Purpose Statements A, B, & C 4. Page 373. 11.6 Plagiarism, Paraphrasing, and Citing Sources. A and B only. |
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Week 6.
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen |
Discussion Board #4.
Article 3 Zooming In: Part I Read through the article on page 425, then answer the Critical Thinking Questions. Zooming In: Part II. Read through the article on page 431, answer the Critical Thinking Questions. You are only to complete Part I and Part II for this article. Submit with the other assignments for this week.
Practicing and Polishing your presentation.
C.L.U.E. Chapter 12. 1-10. Page 423.
Practice your presentation in front of a mirror, or in front of a friend. Look for nervous tics, like running your fingers through your hair as you talk, clicking your teeth, using the word OK more than three times and etc.
C.L.U.E. Chapter 13. 1-10. Page 455.
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Chapter 12. Pages 380-413.
Chapter 13. Pages 424-450. |
1. Page 415. 12.5 Buying a Car: Create a Decision Matrix. Submit your chart. 2. Page 416. 12.8 Writing a Survey: Studying employees use of Instant Messaging. 3. Page 421. 12.28 Feasibility Report: Can Rainbow Precision Instruments Afford a Children’s Center?
1. Write your instructor a progress report on your presentation for this class. 2. Request a presentation appointment time or indicate your media choice to use. 3. Page 452. 13.2 Proposals: Think like an Entrepreneur. Complete the written parts for submission. Write the letter. |
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Week 7.
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen |
Test C. Based on the material presented in chapters 7, 8, 9, 10. E-mail Instructor for the password. Remember that the test will only be available through Sunday midnight.
C.L.U.E. Chapter 14. 1-10. Page 492.
Deliver your Presentation according to your appointment schedule.
C.L.U.E. Chapter 15. 1-10. Page 535. |
Chapter 14. Pages 457-487. Pay particular attention to the segment on page 477 about Stage Fright.
Chapter 15. Pages 495-531
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1. Page 487. Chapter 14. Review Questions 1-15. 2. Page 487. Chapter 14. Critical Thinking 1-5. 3. Page 491. Chapter 14.18. Presenting Yourself as a Professional When Texting. Choose either A, B, or C. Write up your message as though you were texting it, send to me as an e-mail.
1. Page 533. 15.4 Evaluating Your Qualifications 2. Page 533. 15.7 Searching the Job Market
3. Page 534. 15.9 Writing Your Personal Resume. |
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Week 8.
Chapter 16.
Aug. 1, 2011 Last Scheduled Day of Class
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Final Examination based on Chapters 13, 14, 15, and 16. To be administered at the FCC testing Center. Find out their hours. You will need a photo ID and can take no study aids into the testing area with you. Dates for this examination will be posted as an announcement. THIS examination will close prior to the last day of CLASS.
Any work submitted after the last day of scheduled class will NOT count. C.L.U.E. Chapter 16. Page 565. (Should be submitted with the assignments this week.) |
Chapter 16. Pages 537-560. |
Final Examination. Test D must be completed on campus prior to 7/30/11.
You should check on the FCC’s testing center hours. You need to arrive at least 2 hours prior to their scheduled closing time. Remember to bring a photo ID with you.
You will not be allowed to bring any study materials into the testing center with you. |