AOM 221 BUSINESS/OFFICE COMMUNICATONS COURSE SYLLABUS

Transcription

1 AOM 221 BUSINESS/OFFICE COMMUNICATONS COURSE SYLLABUS Course Information Course Description: The importance of communications in business will be stressed as well as how to organize and express ideas in writing. A study of principles, practices and mechanics of all types of business letters, memos and reports. (3 hours credit.) Course Objectives: Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: Review the communication process and related behavior. Arrange thoughts into understandable written words. Demonstrate improved communications and composition skills. Write clear, concise, persuasive, and natural English. Arrange the parts of letters, memorandums, and reports in their proper order so that the communications are usually appealing and easy to read. Prepare a resume and a letter of application that will be effective in getting a job. Write positive, negative, and persuasive letters. Locate, utilize, and document relevant reference sources when preparing typical business reports. Use planning and editing effectively in business report writing. Apply effective oral communication techniques for presenting business reports. Use graphic aids to reinforce the impact of material presented in oral and written business reports. Apply good ethics and cross-cultural communication skills in business writings. Prerequisite: ENG 1010 Course Topics: Communication in the Workplace Fundamentals of business writing Basic patterns of business messages Fundamentals of report writing Oral forms of business communication Cross-cultural communication, Correctness, Technology, Research

2 Specific Course Requirements: Students should follow the course in a linear manner. Complete Unit 1 and then progress to Unit 2, etc. Student must have a basic knowledge of the use of a microcomputer and Internet access. Students must complete all assignments by deadlines. Students must complete all tests as required. Students will be expected to read and study the text as assigned. Students will be expected to compose the following using Microsoft Word: letters, memorandums, and a short report with a graphic. All written assignments must be typed in an appropriate business style. Use Microsoft Word if possible. Assignments must be turned in on due dates, unless prior consent from the instructor. Assignments turned in late will receive a penalty charge of five (5) points per day that has passed since the due date. Discussion Questions (six total) must be answered as assigned which is before you take each of the six tests. You will receive 5 bonus points on each test for answering its discussion question. Textbooks, Supplementary Materials, Hardware and Software Requirements Required Textbooks: Basic Business Communication: making Connections in a Digital World, Twelfth Edition by Lesikar, Flately, and Rentz, McGraw-Hill Irwin ISBN Supplementary None Materials: Software Requirements: Word, PowerPoint or PowerPoint Viewer Instructor Information Instructor Name: James L. Barham, MBA Instructor Contact Information: Dyersburg State Community College 1510 Lake Road Dyersburg, TN Glover Building Room E mail: jbarham@dscc.edu Office Hours: M: 9:30a-2:30p T: 9:30a-11a; 12:45p-2:15p W: 9:30a-2:30p R: 9:30a-11a; 12:45p-2:15p F: By Appointment

3 Communications Preference: I typically respond within 24 to 48 hours, excluding weekends. If you do not receive a response within 48 hours, then inquire again. It could have slipped through. Responses may be sent to the class as a whole to answer other students' questions as well. Private concerns, including grades, will, of course, be handled discretely. Assessments and Grading Testing Procedures: All testing will be completed online. Grading Procedures: Each student will be evaluated by a grade that will consist of the following criteria: Assignments/Labs: 35% Tests and Final Exam: 50% Class Participation / Discussions: 15% Grading Scale: A B C D 0 59 F Overview of Assignments Assignments and Projects: ASSIGNMENT # 1 Complete pretest and getting started quiz. The first assignment requires reading Chapters 1, 15, 16. Be sure to view the PowerPoint for chapters 1 and 15. Be sure to review chapters by reading the Summary by Chapter Objectives at the end of all chapters, except for 16. Review the lecture notes that are provided for each chapter, except chapter 16. It is very important that you review the quiz questions for each chapter. These quiz questions are in the Online Learning Center located at Practice Tests for 12th Edition Business Communication Textbook. By reviewing all these multiple choice questions for each chapter, you will have a good idea of the type of test questions you will have on your tests. TEST # 1 ASSIGNMENT #2: The second assignment requires reading Chapters 2, 3, and 4. Be sure to view the PowerPoint for 2, 3, 4. Be sure to review chapters by reading the Summary by Chapter Objectives at the end of all chapters. Review the chapter lecture notes and the quiz questions for each chapter at the online learning center (url already provided in syllabs above). By reviewing

4 all these multiple choice questions for each chapter, you will have a good idea of the type of test questions you will have on your tests. TEST # 2 ASSIGNMENT 3: The third assignment requires reading Chapters 5, 6, 7. Be sure to view the PowerPoint for 5, 6, 7. Be sure to review chapters by reading the Summary by Chapter Objectives at the end of all chapters. Review the chapter lecture notes and the quiz questions for each chapter. These quiz questions are in the Online Learning Center located. By reviewing all these multiple choice questions for each chapter, you will have a good idea of the type of test questions you will have on your tests. Beginning with chapter 6 you will have written assignments. In chapter 6 you will complete two Critical Thinking Problems. In chapter 7 you will complete one Critical Thinking Problem. Be sure to refer to Assignment #3 on your D2L homepage for detailed instructions such as what these assignments are and when they are due! TEST 3 and Drop Box Assignments 1,2, and 3 ASSIGNMENT # 4--DROP BOX ASSIGNMENT DUE The fourth assignment requires reading Chapters 8, 9. Be sure to view the PowerPoint for 8, 9. Be sure to review Summary by Chapter Objectives at the end of all chapters. Review the chapter lecture notes and the quiz questions for each chapter that is located in the Online Learning Center. In Chapter 9 you will complete your own personal resume and cover letter. Be sure to refer to Assignment #4 on your D2L homepage for detailed instructions such as when these assignments are due! TEST 4 ASSIGNMENT # 5(Drop box Assignment) The fifth assignment requires reading Chapters 10, & 11. Be sure to view the PowerPoint for 10, and 11. Be sure to review Summary by Chapter Objectives at the end of all chapters. Review the chapter lecture notes and the quiz questions for

5 each chapter that is in the Online Learning Center. Review the chapter questions that will be provided through handouts. Be sure to refer to Assignment #5 on your D2L homepage for detailed instructions such as how and when this assignment is due TEST 5 ASSIGNMENT # 6 : Drop Box Assignment Due The sixth assignment requires reading Chapters 12, 13, 14. Be sure to view the PowerPoint for 12, 13, 14. Be sure to review Summary by Chapter Objectives at the end of all chapters. Review the chapter lecture notes and quiz questions for each chapter that is in the Online Learning Center. TEST 6 Post Test due also Due Punctuality: Assignments are due on specific dates as described in the Assignment section above. Assignments turned in late will receive a 5 point penalty per day passed the due date! Failing to complete a Test during the period specified will result in a 0 for that Test. Course Ground Rules General: Students will be expected to: 1. Participate in class and online 2. Communicate with other students in team assignments 3. Navigate within the course management system. 4. Keep abreast of course announcements 5. Use the assigned college or university address as opposed a personal address 6. Address technical problems immediately Observe course netiquette at all times, such as: guidelines for communication by , discussion groups, and the use of web resources 1. Always include a subject line. 2. Remember without facial expressions some comments may be taken the wrong way. Be careful in wording your s. Use of emoticons might be helpful in some cases. 3. Use standard fonts. 4. Do not send large attachments without

6 Discussions: Web Resources: permission. 5. Special formatting such as centering, audio messages, tables, html, etc. should be avoided unless necessary to complete an assignment or other communication. 6. Respect the privacy of other class members. 1. Review the discussion question thoroughly before entering the discussion. 2. Respond to a discussion question by hitting the "Compose" button rather starting a new topic. 3. Do not make insulting or inflammatory statements to other members of the discussion group. Be respectful of other's ideas. 4. Be patient and read the comments of other group members thoroughly before entering your remarks. 5. Be positive and constructive in group discussions. 6. respond in a thoughtful and timely manner. You can access the textbook's online publishing site at: OnlineLearning Centerar12e. Other Important Information Library: For the DSCC library or help desk go to and click on Learning Resource Center link. For the Tennessee Virtual Library go to and click on TBR Virtual Library. Reporting Fraud, Waste, or Abuse: State law requires all public institutions of higher education to provide a means by which students, employees, or others may report suspected or known improper or dishonest acts. In addition, DSCC is committed to the responsible stewardship of our resources. Whether you are part of departmental management, a faculty or staff member, a student, or an interested citizen, we encourage you to report known or suspected dishonest acts by employees, outside contractors, or vendors. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ What Should I Report? Dishonest acts, either known or suspected, should be reported, such as: Theft or misappropriation of funds, supplies, property, or other university/college resources Forgery or alteration of documents

7 Unauthorized alteration or manipulation of computer files Improper and wasteful activity Falsification of reports to management or external agencies Pursuit of a benefit or advantage in violation of the college's conflict of interests policy Authorization or receipt of compensation for hours not worked ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Think Before You Speak! Before making allegations of dishonesty, be reasonably certain of any claims. Such allegations can seriously and negatively impact the accused individual's life and adversely affect the working environment of the department. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Reporting Options Several options are available to all college employees, students and others for reporting known or suspected dishonest acts. You may report your concerns: To your supervisor or department head To an official at your campus or institute To DSCC Internal Audit ( ) To the Tennessee Board of Regents by at ReportFraud@tbr.state.tn.us To the Tennessee Comptroller's Hotline for Fraud, Waste and Abuse at If you are a supervisor, department head, or campus official and you receive a report of a dishonest act, contact Internal Audit at for further assistance. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Investigations When Internal Audit receives allegations of dishonesty or other irregularity by an employee, outside contractor, or vedor, they are required to conduct an investigation. Departmental management should not attempt to conduct investigations nor alert suspected employees of an impending investigation. In an investigation, objectives include verifying the facts, maintaining objectivity and confidentiality, determining responsibility, and recommending corrective actions to help ensure that similar actions do not occur in the future. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Protection under State Law As Internal Audit investigates allegations of dishonesty, the

8 reporting individual's confidentiality is protected under Tennessee Code Annotated Title 10, Chapter 7 (subject to court action requiring disclosure). Also, state law prohibits discrimination or retaliation of any kind against employees who report allegations of dishonest acts. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Reporting Responsibility Internal Audit has reporting responsibility to the Audit Committee of the Tennessee Board of Regents through the Director of System-wide Internal Auditing. This reporting relationship enables them to independently and objectively review matters involving any level of administration at the college. Preventing Fraud, Waste and Abuse College management is responsible for establishing and implementing systems and procedures to prevent and detect fraud, waste and abuse. The basic elements of a proper control system include: Creating a culture of honesty and high ethics Evaluating risks and implementing processes, procedures and controls to prevent, deter and detect fraud, waste and abuse Developing an appropriate oversight process Management at all levels of the college should review the information that is available from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants in the document, Management Antifraud Programs and Controls: Guidance to Help Prevent and Deter Fraud, at their website: Please contact Internal Audit at if you need assistance in reviewing risks, processes, procedures or controls, or in providing internal control Assignments and Participation Assignments and Projects: Late labs and assignments are NOT accepted. Assignments and Projects will be given a due date when assigned. Library: Dyersburg State Community College Learning Resource Center Participation: Student involvement is essential in the learning process and produces 15% of the class grade. This grade is based primarily on classroom discussions both online and in-class. To stay on track, please check D2L at least three times per week. Students With Disabilities: Dyersburg State Community College is committed to providing a discrimination free environment for all students. Students with disabilities are encouraged to

9 inform the College of any assistance they may need. Please notify your instructor or Sheri Baker, ADA Coordinator at (731) Syllabus Changes: From time to time during the semester it may be necessary to make changes to the material in the course syllabus. Any necessary changes to the course syllabus will be sent to you by and posted within the online course material. Policies Punctuality: Each assignment and exam must be completed before or by the date as listed in D2L. An excessive absence report is filed for any student who does not attend class for three consecutive classes. This report is filed with the Dean of Student Services. If a student has been absent to the point of being unable to complete the course requirements, a request to administratively withdraw from this class may be submitted. If you have stopped attending class, your class attendance status will be changed to stopped attending. No exceptions! Cell Phone: Cell phone MUST be placed on the desk while in class. Each phone should be turned off {not on silent}. Failure to follow this policy will result in loss of the Class Participation / Discussion grade. Roll: Roll is called at the start of each class. Arrival past roll call requires a face-to-face meeting after class. The door will be shut once class starts to prevent disruptions. Official DSCC policies will be used to determine consequences for consecutive tardies. Internet Usage: The use of the Internet is permitted for class related purposes only. Failure to follow this policy will result in loss of the Class Participation / Discussion grade during class times. Resources Learning Resource Dyersburg Campus Center Labs: 8:00-8:00 Monday-Thursday 7:30-4:00 Friday 9:00-1:00 Saturday Tipton County Center (Covington) 8:00-7:00 Monday-Thursday 9:00-3:30 Friday Gibson County Center (Trenton) 8:00-9:00 Monday - Thursday 8:00-4:30 Friday Printing: Printing is limited to 250 pages per term. Should additional copies be warranted, please add copies to your account at either the business office or the LRC.

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