BUS 204 BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS PRESENTED AND APPROVED: MAY 4, 2012 EFFECTIVE: FALL 2012-13
Prefix & Number BUS 204 Course Title: Business Communications Purpose of this submission: New Change/Updated Retire If this is a change, what is being changed? Update Prefix Course Description (Check all that apply) Title Course Number Format Change Credits Prerequisite Competencies Textbook/Reviewed Competencies-no changes needed Does this course require additional fees? No Yes If so, please explain. Is there a similar course in the course bank? No Yes (Please identify) Articulation: Is this course or an equivalent offered at other two and four-year universities in Arizona? No Yes : It transfers as an elective at the universities. ASU Elective, NAU MGT Departmental Elective, and UA Elective Is this course identified as a Writing Across the Curriculum course? No Yes Course Textbook, Materials and Equipment Textbook(s) Current edition Title Author(s) Publisher Title Author(s) Publisher Business Communication Scott Ober Cengage Software/ Equipment Course Assessments Description of Possible Course Assessments (Essays, multiple choice, etc.) Exams standardized for this course? Midterm Final Other (Please specify): Where can faculty members locate or access the required standardized exams for this course? Reports, letters, essays, papers, questions Are exams required by the department? No Yes If Yes, please specify: Student Outcomes: Identify the general education goals for student learning that is a component of this course. Check all that apply: Method of Assessment
1. Communicate effectively. a. Read and comprehend at a college level. b. Write effectively in a college setting. Reports, letters, papers, essays, questions 2. Demonstrate effective quantitative reasoning and problem solving skills. 3. Demonstrate effective qualitative reasoning skills. 4. Apply effective methods of inquiry. a. Generate research paper by gathering information from varied sources, analyzing data and organizing information into a coherent structure. b. Employ the scientific method. 5. Demonstrate sensitivity to diversity a. Experience the creative products of humanity. b. Describe alternate historical, cultural, global perspectives. Office of Instruction Use only: CIP Code: ONET Code: Minimum Qualifications:
COURSE INFORMATION Initiator: Candace Hofstadter Date of proposal to Curriculum Sub-Committee: May 4, 2012 Effective Semester/Year Fall 2012 Spring Summer Prefix & Number: BUS 204 Full Title: (100 character limit) Business Communications Short Title: (30 character limit) Business Communications Catalog Course Description: Develops written and oral communication used in the workplace including preparation of business letters, memorandums, written and oral reports, resumes, and use of relevant communication equipment. SUN Course Number: Credit Hours: 3 Lecture Hours: 3 Lab Hours: 0 Prerequisite(s) Successful completion of BUE105 or ENG101. Co-requisite(s) Intended Course Goals By the end of the semester, students will be able to: 1. Demonstrate an understanding of the rhetorical elements that influence message success. 2. Write effective letters, memorandums, and reports 3. Prepare and deliver persuasive oral reports 4. Demonstrate techniques for effective communication in positive and negative message situations 5. Create a resume, cover letter, thank you letter and effectively prepare & perform during the job interview process.
Course Competencies and Objectives By the end of the semester, students will be able to: Competency 1 Identify the benefits of professional communications Objective 1.1 State the importance of communication accuracy and predict some major unfavorable consequences of misinterpreted messages. Objective 1.2 Show that human relations is a major communication by-product. Objective 1.3 Describe the components of communication Objective 1.4 Describe formal and informal communication networks. Objective 1.5 Discuss the verbal and nonverbal barriers to communication Objective 1.6 Discuss the ethical issues relating to business communications such as defamation, invasion of privacy, fraud, and misrepresentation. Competency 2 Explain Work-Team Communication and its effectiveness Objective 2.1 Describe how to communicate effectively in small groups Objective 2.2 Explain the meaning and importance of nonverbal messages Objective 2.3 Describe issues that relate to communicating effectively with diverse populations both within the United States and internationally Objective 2.4 Plan, conduct, and participate in a business meeting Objective 2.5 Use professional demeanor and appropriate behavior to maintain effective working relationships Competency 3 Identify the major sources of communication technology and their use Objective 3.1 Identify the major sources of electronic information Objective 3.2 Browse and research the World Wide Web Objective 3.3 Evaluate the quality of electronic data Objective 3.4 Share electronic information Competency 4 Describe individual elements of style in business communications. Objective 4.1 Demonstrate the proper use of individual words as they apply to clarity, accuracy, familiarity, dangling expressions, and jargon. Objective 4.2 Describe writing with "vigor." Objective 4.3 Demonstrate writing concisely in business communication. Objective 4.4 Provide examples of using positive language Objective 4.5 Write effective sentences (simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex) Objective 4.6 Describe when and how to use sentence variety and active and passive voice in written communication. Competency 5 Select an appropriate style of written communications including tone and readability Objective 5.1 Demonstrate how to build logical paragraphs using unity and coherence. Objective 5.2 Discuss the use of parallel structure as it refers to consistency in writing. Objective 5.3 Discuss issues relating to paragraph length in business writing. Objective 5.4 Demonstrate how to write confidently, courteously and sincerely. Objective 5.5 Incorporate the "you" attitude in a letter or memo. Objective 5.6 Demonstrate the use of appropriate emphasis and subordination of thoughts. Objective 5.7 Describe nondiscriminatory language and how to use it. Objective 5.8 Design documents for readability. Competency 6 Demonstrate a process of writing Objective 6.1 Specify the purpose and anlyze the audience. Objective 6.2 Complete a draft copy. Objective 6.3 Revise for content, style, and correctness. Objective 6.4 Arrange the document in standard format. Objective 6.5 Proofread a document for content, typographical, and format errors. Competency 7 Write routine messages Objective 7.1 Compose a routine request and/or routine reply. Objective 7.2 Compose a routine claim letter and/or routine adjustment letter. Objective 7.3 Compose a goodwill message Competency 8 Write persuasive messages
Objective 8.1 Compose a persuasive message promoting an idea and/or favor. Objective 8.2 Compose a persuasive claim letter Objective 8.3 Compose a sales letter. Competency 9 Write bad-news messages Objective 9.1 Compose a message that rejects an idea and/or a favor. Objective 9.2 Compose a message that refuses a claim. Objective 9.3 Compose an announcement that conveys bad news. Competency 10 Plan a report. Objective 10.1 Plan an effective oral presentation. Objective 10.2 Describe the common types and purposes of business reports. Objective 10.3 Analyze the audience for the business report. Objective 10.4 Evaluate the quality of data already available. Objective 10.5 Discuss the need for managing reports in the organization. Competency 11 Collect and analyze data for a report Objective 11.1 Develop an effective questionnaire and cover letter. Objective 11.2 Conduct a data-gathering interview. Objective 11.3 Construct clear, concise, and accurate tables. Objective 11.4 Determine the most effective chart form and construct any needed charts. Objective 11.5 Interpret the data for the report reader. Competency 12 Write a minimum 1500 word report Objective 12.1 Determine the appropriate report structure and organization. Objective 12.2 Draft the report body and supplementary pages. Objective 12.3 Use an effective writing style. Objective 12.4 Provide appropriate documentation when using someone else's work. Objective 12.5 Revise, format, and proofread the report. Competency 13 Prepare and deliver an oral presentation. Objective 13.1 Describe the important role that business presentations play in the organization. Objective 13.2 Plan a presentation by determining its purpose, analyzing the audience, and deciding the timing and method of delivery. Objective 13.3 Discuss when to use memorized, scripted, impromptu, or extemporaneous presentation methods. Objective 13.4 Develop effective visual aids and/or handouts for a presentation. Objective 13.5 Deliver a presentation in a clear, confident, and efficient manner. Competency 14 Prepare employment communication including a standard resume, electronic resume, job-application letter, and interview. Objective 14.1 Prepare an effective resume Objective 14.2 Compose solicited and unsolicited job-application letters. Objective 14.3 Discuss how to conduct yourself appropriately during an employment interview. Objective 14.4 Complete the communication tasks needed after the employment interview.