Section 1: COURSE DESCRIPTION, OUTCOMES, and OBJECTIVES

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1 Eng Summer II Instructor: Mr. Scott Office: Academic Bldg. Room 110 B Phone: rscott@angelo.edu Office Hours: M/T/W/Th/F 9-9:45 a.m. And by Appointment Business Communication Section 1: COURSE DESCRIPTION, OUTCOMES, and OBJECTIVES Course Description Study of and practice in the skills and knowledge needed to communicate effectively in today s business environment. Prerequisite: One sophomore literature course. Course Objectives and Outcomes Objective #1: Develop skills in expressing yourself orally and in writing. Objective #2: Learn fundamental principles, generalizations, or theories of business communication. Objective #3: Developing specific skills, competencies, and points of view needed by business communicators. When you finish 3352, you should be able to: Understand communication in its social, political, and organizational context and the ethical responsibility of contemporary business writers Understand the communication process o Analyze the communication situation: purpose, audience, context, constraints o Determine appropriate genres of communication based on an audiences needs and expectations o Plan and manage individual communication projects o Gather, select, arrange, and interpret data o Use both primary and secondary research techniques o Design graphics and format effectively o Write clearly and persuasively for different audiences

2 o o o Revise drafts with purpose and understanding of how strategies of organization, style, and format may achieve particular goals Document sources according to the disciplinary conventions Present information orally COURSE WORK: STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES Please understand that this course will challenge you. If you want to do well in this class, you should plan to devote a lot of time and energy to it. You will need to ask questions when you have them and work hard to find answers to those questions. You will not do well in this class if you plan to regularly miss class or remain passive and disengaged from class discussions and activities. Students who hope to earn an A will consistently do the following: Completely and carefully read all reading assignments according to the reading schedule Take careful notes during class lectures and discussions Focus exclusively on course material during class sessions Work hard on all assignments, attending to all details (multiple hours per week outside of class) Work proactively through challenging tasks (be self-motivated; push yourself to perform better than you have before) Ask questions of others and answer them for others when possible Prepare yourself for success before each class period (get enough rest, eat breakfast and lunch, complete all homework, print any necessary documents, etc.) Section 2: STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES, GRADING, ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSION REQUIRED TEXT Workplace Communications: The Basics, 6 th Edition, George J. Searles. You can access the book at Amazon or the Bookstore. A computer with an Internet connection, MS Office, Adobe Acrobat Reader, and access. File Storage (e.g. flash drive, external hard drive, J: drive, , etc ) BLACKBOARD (Bb) You have access to course materials at all times as course assignments, lesson presentations, and a variety of supplements will be posted in Blackboard from time to time. You are required to print out supplemental materials and bring those print-outs to class. Course materials posted in Blackboard include: course syllabus, assignments, assignment examples, lesson presentations, and a variety of other supplements and aids.

3 From time to time, course announcements will be delivered through Blackboard and distributed via to all students enrolled in the class. Students are responsible for updates distributed via s. As a result, students should check their s on a daily basis (especially before attending class). All student enrolled in the course are automatically enrolled in Blackboard. ***All assignments directed to be submitted to Blackboard, must be submitted to Blackboard in the form of a PDF file. No other type of file will be accepted, and no assignments will be accepted as attachments. Adobe Acrobat Reader You will need to obtain Adobe Acrobat Reader (which can be downloaded free from the internet), as you will use Acrobat Reader to access some documents on Blackboard. Technical Support: If you are having technical problems with Blackboard, you can contact free technical support one of the following ways: Phone: servicecenter@angelo.edu Web: Any course content-related questions should be directed toward me. ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSION POLICIES Most assignments will be submitted to Blackboard. At time additional materials may be required to be turned in with the assignment. Assignments turned in to Blackboard must be submitted as a PDF file and will not be accepted as an attachment via . Graded Blackboard submissions along with my comments will be accessible through your Blackboard gradebook. Using Student Writing in the Classroom: I might bring student writing or Blackboard postings into the classroom for discussion or workshops. I do this because you can learn things from your peers writing that are hard to learn from any other source. This means that each student will likely have his or her writing (anonymously) discussed by the whole class at some point. If you turn something in to me that you do not want me to share with others, please let me know when you turn it in. If you have concerns about this, please let me know. LATE SUBMISSIONS All elements of an assignment (drafts, editing sheets, worksheets, final copies, and/or Blackboard submissions) are due at the assigned time and date. Late submission will not be accepted, resulting in a zero for that assignment. Any exceptions must be approved by me on an individual basis, most of the time requiring a visit to my office during my posted office hours.

4 LOST WORK You need to devise a strategy for securely storing digital files and back-up files. You must keep back-up files for all work as hard drives can fail and flash drives disappear. Back up all of your work in multiple locations. I will not accept technological breakdowns or lost files as valid excuses for missing assignment deadlines. GRADING Students are responsible for keeping up with the schedule outlined in the course syllabus. Missing class is not an excuse for a lack of preparedness. Information about changes in the syllabus, content of lectures, and/or changes in assignment deadlines will not be given out by telephone or ; a personal visit to my office is required. While Blackboard is reflective of your grade, it may or not be accurate; so, if you want to know your grade, you will need to visit with me in person. I will not communicate grade information via . Grade Determination: Grades for the semester will be determined as follows: Section One Job Application Materials 15% Section Two Intercultural Goodwill Letter/Memo 15% Section Three Proposal 25% Section Four Recommendation Report 15% Section Five Presentation of Recommendation Report 15% Quizzes 15% Total 100% Grading Policy: July 29th is the last day to drop. Withdrawal grades will be indicated by W. Grades on assignments will be determined according to the following criteria: A (90-99%) The document is superior. It exceeds all the objectives of the assignment. The information is ethical, sophisticated, thorough, and ideally suited for the audience. The style is clear and appropriate to the subject, purpose, and audience. The organization and design of the document make the information understandable, accessible, and usable. The mechanics and grammar are correct. B (80-89%) The document is good. It meets the objectives of the assignment, but requires minor improvements or reveals easily correctable errors in organization, style, design, grammar, or mechanics. C (70-79%) The document is adequate. It omits useful information or requires significant improvement in organization, style, design, grammar, or mechanics. It may be formally correct but superficial in its discussion. D (60-69%) The document is disappointing. It meets some of the objectives of the assignment but ignores others; the discussion is inadequately developed, omits

5 important information, or displays numerous or major errors in organization, style, design, grammar, or mechanics. F (0-59%) The document is unsatisfactory. It omits critical information, does something other than the assignment required, or displays major or excessive errors in organization, style, design, grammar, or mechanics. Proofreading You are responsible for knowing the errors found in Appendix B of the book (see pages ). I will deduct points for each first occurrence of an error as follows: Spelling 5% each (based on an accepted dictionary) Grammar..5% each (such as fragments, dangling modifiers, etc ) Punctuation..5% each (such as commas, hyphens, apostrophes, etc ) The exception to this list is your letter of application and resume, each of which should be error-free. Because of the severe consequences for errors on these documents, each first time error will be deducted 25%. PLAGIARISM POLICY Plagiarism is a type of academic dishonesty. It occurs when writers deliberately use another person s language, ideas, or materials and present them as their own without acknowledging the source. This class will cover plagiarism in great detail, so there is little excuse for failing to understand what constitutes plagiarism or the consequences that will result. Types of Plagiarism Plagiarism can include any of the following: Failing to quote material taken from another source. Failing to cite material taken from another source. Submitting writing that was written by another person or for another class. Submitting writing that was substantially edited by another person. Procedures for Handling Plagiarism Cases If an instructor thinks a student may have plagiarized, he or she will follow these steps: Meet privately with the student to discuss the assignment in question and the evidence of plagiarism; Identify the appropriate consequence; File a report with the Office of Student Services; Possible Consequences The instructor and the English Department Chair decide the academic consequence to be imposed, depending on the seriousness of the violation. Sanctions include the following: Adequately redo or revise the assignment in question, Fail the assignment in question, Fail the class, or

6 Be subject to more severe sanctions imposed by the Dean of Students. All students suspected of plagiarism will be reported to the Office of Student Services, who maintains a file of past plagiarism cases. The ASU Student Handbook further elaborates the Academic Integrity policy at Section 3: COURSE POLICIES & SERVICES ATTENDANCE POLICY Because this is a student-oriented class, regular attendance is required. Each student will be allowed two (2) absences. When the allowed number of absences has been exceeded, the student automatically fails the course. Classes begin promptly at the designated time, and role will be called at the beginning of class. Once role is taken, the door to the classroom will be closed and locked. No one will be admitted after that time. Attendance is more than simply occupying a chair. Students who fail to have required homework or are unprepared for class (lacking materials to take notes, assignment hand-outs, workshop drafts, or other required materials) may be marked as absence. Participation in classroom activities is also required. If in my opinion a student is not participating, I reserve the right to count that student absence (this includes laying heads on desk, sleeping, messing with a cell phone or other electronic device, or carrying on conversations unrelated to classroom activities). Exceptions There may be at times special circumstances that might require additional consideration on my part (such as medical emergencies). In such cases the student must appeal to the Student Life Office. Only after I have been contacted by that office with an official notification indicating that clear documentation has been submitted substantiating the emergency, will any additional consideration be given. Students who are participating in sanctioned university events may petition for excused absence. Excused absences for university sanctioned events and athletic events are not automatic and will not be considered if the student fails to notify me before the absence occurs. Students missing class for a school sanctioned event is still responsible for meeting all assignment requirements and deadlines. THE WRITING CENTER When necessary, students may be referred to the Writing Center for tutoring. Referrals are mandatory. When the student goes to the Writing Center, he or she must allow the Center to send me an concerning the visit. Failure to comply with a referral will have a serious impact on subsequent assignment grades. The Center is located on the third floor of the Porter Henderson Library, Room C305.

7 Additional Course Support: Monday-Thursday: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday evening: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday: 9:30 a.m. to noon Information Technology (IT) for help with , Blackboard, Ramport Library for help with conducting research English Language Learners Institute for English as Second Language (ESL) students Career Development for students wanting help with resumes, job applications, etc SMART for academic success and tutoring Disability Accommodations for disabled and impaired students ACADEMIC HONESTY All ASU students are expected to understand and to comply with the University s policy on Academic Honesty as stated in the ASU Bulletin and in the ASU Student Handbook. Students who violate the Policy on Academic Honesty will be subject to disciplinary action including a failing grade in the course. ( Student Handbook pgs ) SPECIAL ACCOMODATIONS Persons with disabilities that may warrant academic accommodations must contact the Student Life Office, located in room 112 of the University Center, in order to request such accommodations prior to any being implemented. You are encouraged to make this request early in the semester so that appropriate arrangements can be made. ( Student Handbook p.23) RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS A student who intends to observe a religious holy day should make that intention known in writing to the instructor prior to the absence. A student who is absent from classes for the observance of a religious holy day shall be allowed to take an examination or complete an assignment scheduled for that day within what the instructor deems a reasonable time after the absence. CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR POLICIES Classroom Decorum: ASU students and instructors are bound by the terms of the Code of Student Conduct, which is published in the Student Handbook at. Students are expected to behave as adults this is not high school. Active engagement in classroom activities is required. Students who sleep or disrupt the classroom will be asked to leave the room and counted absence. Continuous disruptions in the classroom will result in disciplinary action.

8 Leaving the classroom during class is disruptive. Personal needs should be taken care of before class. Students who continually leave the classroom during class will be asked to leave and counted absence. No cell phones or other electronic devices are allowed in the classroom during class. Students who violate this rule by having cell phones out or using an electronic device during class, may be asked to leave the class and counted absence. No food or drinks are allowed in the classroom. Section 4: COURSE SCHEDULE SYLLABUS SCHEDULE READING assignments are due the following date that the reading assignment appears on the course schedule. The content of each reading may or may not be discussed in class; however, each student is responsible for having an understanding of the reading assignment and participating in class discussions. In-class visual presentation and other course materials will be made available through Blackboard from time to time. Students are also responsible for those materials. QUIZZES, workshops, and/or classroom exercises cannot be made up in the case of an absence. Students missing class should make it a point to visit with me in my office about the missed materials. Do not send me an asking about what was missed in a class! The Course Schedule for this course is likely to change at some point. Any changes to the schedule will be announced in class and in a Bb . Students missing classes are also responsible for any schedule changes. Students who miss class are also responsible for being prepared to the next class. Students who are not prepared with the necessary materials can be counted as absence. Week One July Monday 7/11 Introduction to the Course, its concepts, and student introductions Business letter Diagnostic Read Appendix B (Review of Mechanics: Spelling Punctuation, and Grammar) Tuesday 7/12 Business letter Diagnostic Spelling, Grammar, Punctuation, and Mechanics

9 Read Chapter 2 (Workplace Correspondence: Memos, , and Business Letters) Wednesday 7/13 Spelling, Grammar, Punctuation, and Mechanics cont. Memos vs. Conventions; Developing a Signature line Thursday 7/14 Friday 7/15 Letter Conventions Resume conventions Rough Draft of Resume and Cover Letter Principles of Rhetoric and Persuasion Workshop on Letter and Resume Read Chapter 1 (The Keys to Successful Communication: Purpose, Audience, and Tone) Week Two July Monday 7/18 Negative Messages Re-read Chapter 2 (Workplace Correspondence: Memos, , and Business Letters) Draft of Memo Tuesday 7/19 Due Resume and Cover Letter Assignment to Blackboard by midnight.

10 Discussion of Ethics Workshop on Memo Final Draft of Memo Wednesday 7/20 Thursday 7/21 Friday 7/22 Discussion of Ethics cont. Workshop on Memo Read Chapter 10 (Proposals) Due Memo Assignment to Blackboard by midnight. Proposal Assignment: Choosing Topics Rough Draft of Proposal Proposal Conventions Principles of Effective Writing Final Draft of Proposal Read Chapter 11 (Long Reports: Format, Collaboration, and Documentation) Week Three July Monday 7/25 Brain Storming for Topics Workshop Proposal Read Chapter 3 (Effective Visuals: Tables, Graphs, Charts, and Illustrations)

11 Tuesday 7/26 Due Proposal to Blackboard by midnight. Principles of Research/Citations Principles of Visuals Read Appendix A (Ten Strategies to Improve Your Style) Wednesday 7/27 Principles of Visuals cont. Thursday 7/28 Friday 7/29 Principles of Recommendation Reports Rough draft of Recommendation Report Workshop Recommendation Report Second Draft Recommendation Report Week Four August 1-5 Monday 8/1 Workshop Recommendation Report Final Draft Recommendation Report Tuesday 8/2 Wednesday 8/3 Thursday 8/4 Workshop Recommendation Report Due Recommendation Report to Blackboard by midnight Class Exercise: Presentations

12 Friday 8/5 August 8-10 Monday 8/8 Tuesday 8/9 Class Exercise: Presentations Class Exercise: Presentations Class Exercise: Presentations Wednesday 8/10 Class Exercise: Presentations