Frederick  Community College

 

BU273 Business Communications (Online)

 

Summer Semester 2008

 

 

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:

 

Name:  Vivienne E. Werner

E-Mail:  vwerner@frederick.edu

Or VEWerner@hotmail.com

Work Telephone:  240-236-8200 ext. 68377

Home Telephone Number: 301-620-4312

Online Office Hours:  Wednesdays 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. or 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Campus Mail Box Number:

#416

On Campus at:  FCC Library by appointment only.

Room:  L214 by appointment only.

 

 

Course Information:

 

Credits: 3

Last Day to Drop: July 10, 2008

First Day of Class:  June 2, 2008

Last Day of Class:  July 24, 2008

Prerequisites: 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:

 

1.     Describe the process of communication.

2.     Discuss barriers to interpersonal communication and the means of overcoming those barriers.

3.     Identify the characteristics of successful teams.

4.     Explain how to become an effective listener.

5.     Present business topics using a variety of technological enhancements and visual aids.

6.     Write various forms of business correspondence and reports.

 

 

Additional Outcomes:

 

7.     Present business topics orally using a variety of technological enhancements.

 

 

Instructional Methods:

 

 

You will learn the core learning outcomes by doing the following:

 

 

·         Reading the textbook

·         Doing assignments and case studies that apply what you read in the textbook.

·         Creating different forms of written and voice communications

·         Participating in online discussions

·         Analyzing current events

·         Preparing one presentation

·         Completing three examinations, two will be administered online and the final examination will be administered at the Frederick Community College Testing Center.

 

 

 

 

 

Text for the Course:

 

“Business Communication,” 6th Edition, by Mary Ellen Guffey, Mason OH: Thomson/Southwestern Publishing, 2007.

 

 

Progress Report:

 

Students will receive an e-mail assessment of their progress before June 30, 2008.

 

Evaluation Methods:

 

Topic

Type of Grade

Points Possible

Total

Week 1

Communicating at Work, Small Groups & Teams

Discussion Board

Chapters 1 & 2

Text Assignments

 

5

10

 

10

 

 

 

 

25

Week 2

Workplace Listening and Nonverbal Communication, Across Cultures

Text Assignments

Chapters 3 & 4

Telephone Assignment

Test A

 

10

10

 

25

100

 

 

 

 

 

145

Week 3

Writing Process Phase 1 and Phase 2

Text Assignments

Chapters 5 & 6

Discussion Board

Article 1

 

25

10

 

5

20

 

 

 

 

 

60

Week 4

Writing Process Phase 3 and E-mail Messages and Memos, Editing

 

Text Assignments Chapters 7 & 8

Article 2

Test B

 

10

10

20

100

 

 

 

 

140

Week 5

Letters: Positive, Persuasive,  Marketing and Negative Messages

 

Text Assignments

Chapter 9 & 10 & 11

Test C

 

10

10

10

100

 

 

 

 

130

 

 

Week 6 Reports, Proposals, Business Presentations and

Organizational Skills

Text Assignments

Chapter 12 & 13 & 14

Article 3

Telephone Assignment 2

 

10

10

10

20

25

 

 

 

 

 

 

75

Week 7 Speaking with Confidence

Text Assignments

Chapter 15

Presentation

Test C

 

10

 

100

100

 

 

 

 

210

Week 8 Employment Communications

Text Assignments

Chapter 16

Discussion Board

Final Exam

 

25

 

 

5

200

 

 

 

 

 

230

Total Points

 

 

1015 possible

 

Grading Scale:

 

Grade A*

90-100%

Grade B

80-89%

Grade C

74-79%

Grade D

60-73%

Grade F

59% and below

 

*All assigned work for the course must be completed to achieve the grade of A.

 

Course Requirements:

 

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.

 

 

 

 

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, July 24, 2008.  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 e 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 BlackBoard site, and use the handbook online for specific help in using the website.

4.  Record your assigned BlackBoard 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 BlackBoard 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. 

*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.