Multimedia Communications Fall, 2010 COURSE OUTLINE COMM 192 Business Communications 45 HOURS 3 CREDITS PREPARED BY: Hillarie Zimmermann, Instructor DATE: APPROVED BY: Jeff Wolosewich, Acting Dean DATE:
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Business Communications INSTRUCTOR: Hillarie Zimmermann OFFICE HOURS: TBA OFFICE LOCATION: T1032 TELEPHONE: 668-8869 E-MAIL: hzimmermann@yukoncollege.yk.ca WEB: comm192.wordpress.com COURSE OFFERING DAY/TIME: Tuesday/Thursday 1:00 to 2:30 Tuesday/Thursday 2:30 to 4:00 Thursday 6:30 9:30 COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course aims to help you develop the proficiency needed to succeed in today's technologically enhanced workplace by focusing on the development of professional oral and written communication skills. Having good oral communication and writing skills is imperative in today's workplace. In the past, business people may have written a couple business letters a month, but now they can receive and send hundreds of email messages weekly. Their writing skills are showcased in every message they send. As well, with the arrival of videoconferencing, large-scale meetings are possible with increased frequency. Through this course, you will improve your: memo, letter, email, report, policy and proposal writing; presentation skills; participation in and chairing of meetings; and job application strategies. LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon completion of this course you should be able to: Write e-mails, memos, press releases, and business letters with different tones and for different purposes Understand the importance of being an effective business communicator in today s changing workplace Write reports, policy documents, and proposals in different formats Communicate with the public and colleagues by phone, in person, and in meetings Deliver professional, oral presentations Write a polished resume and cover letter and effectively prepare for interviews
DELIVERY METHODS/FORMAT: This is mainly a classroom-based course. Topics will be covered through case studies that encourage students to work with authentic documents. Your written and oral responses to these case studies will be used to facilitate discussion and ground theory in real world examples. You are encouraged to use your textbook as a tool to help you respond to the case study assignments. The instructor will aim to keep the course material interactive and varied. In order to cater to a variety of learners, lectures using video, print visuals, audio, and culminating with group work will be employed along with student-led seminars. A well, students will participate in an online discussion form that will be monitored and evaluated by the instructor. PREREQUISITES: Nil COURSE REQUIREMENTS/EVALUATION: Attendance: Success in this course depends on attendance. It is your responsibility to take notes, to obtain missed assignments, announcements or material handouts for any classes you have missed. Yukon College s policy on Academic Conduct states that attendance is mandatory. [You] may be dismissed from a program if more than ten percent (10%) of the scheduled contact hours are missed in any one course. Demonstrated Leadership: Demonstrated leadership assessment is more effective than a general "class participation" grade. As you perform specific tasks, you show the instructor and the class that you are thinking like a business communication professional and improving your understanding of the discipline. You may earn this 10 percent of your grade if you: 1. Participate regularly in class and on-line discussions. 2. Bring into class or to on-line discussions two "real-world" examples from your own mail, work, reading, or discussions in other classes. Each example should reflect on or illuminate course topics. They may raise such issues as grammar, personal experience with current business communication practices, and/or business communication strategies. 3. Complete homework assignments. 4. At the end of the course, submit a short memo to the instructor explaining why you should get the 10 percent credit for demonstrating leadership. You also submit the letter grade you think you have earned. If you do not submit a memo, you receive no credit.
Assignments: There are seven assignments that make up 70% of your final mark in this course. The assignments are related to the case studies covered in class. They will demonstrate your ability to apply key course concepts. Assignments Breakdown % or Final Mark 1 (a&b) Cover Letter and Resume 10% 2 Annotated Bibliography 5% 3 (a&b) Information Request Letter and Memo that Informs 10% 4 (a&b) Persuasive Letter/Email and Bad News Email 10% 5 Formal Report 20% 6 Interview Evaluation 10% 7 Individual, Short In-Class Presentation 5% Exams: There are two, in-class exams. The exams are cumulative in nature. They will demonstrate your proficiency in basic business communication tasks (ex. writing letters for specific purposes). The assessments make up 20% of your final mark. NOTE: Written assignments are due at the beginning of the class for which they are assigned. Late assignments will have 10% deducted for every day they are late. Please type and double-space all assignments. Document all sources used with accurate citations; use A.P.A. style. All assignments must be proofed and held to professional writing standards. Please see the rubric for each assignment for specific marking criteria.. Evaluation: The final grade for the course will be based on the following: Deliverables % of Final Mark Assignments 70% Exams 20% Demonstrated Leadership 10%
REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS/MATERIALS: Guffey, Mary Ellen. (2009) Essentials of Business Communication (6 th Canadian Edition). Toronto, Ontario: Nelson. You will need a set of headphones that connect to the computers in class. OPTIONAL SUPPLIES: Computers are available for use at the college labs; it is not required that you own a computer. However, it may be helpful if you purchase a USB flash drive to transfer files between computers and to and from home. INSTRUCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS: As per program outline.
SYLLABUS: Date Topic Deliverables Week 1 Sept. 9 Week 2 Sept. 14, 16 Week 3 Sept. 21, 23 Week 4 Sept. 28, 30 Week 5 Oct. 5, 7 Week 6 Oct. 12, 14 Week 7 Oct. 19, 21 Introduction to Business Communication, Communication Challenges and Before You Write, Chapters 1 & 2 Listening Skills Nonverbal Communication Writing Process for Business Messages Communicating for Employment, Chapters 12 & 13 The persuasive resume The persuasive cover letter Before You Write and Writing and Revising, Chapters 2 & 3 Researching and organizing data Grammar tips and tricks Writing drafts Proofreading Library Session & Business Ethics, Chapters 8 & 10 Confidentiality Privacy Plagiarism E-mails, Memos, Routine Letters, Chapters 4-5 Internal/External Communication Improving Readability Persuasive Writing, Chapter 6 Online sales letters Persuasive claims and complaints Bad News, Chapter 7 Strategies for breaking bad news Resolving business problems Direct or indirect? Assignment #1: Resume and Cover Letter Assignment #2: Annotated Bibliography Assignment #3: Memo that Informs and Information Request Letter Weekly contributions to the class online discussion forum Assignment #7: Short, In-Class Presentation of Real World Example (date TBA)seminar
Week 8 Oct. 26, 28 Week 9 Nov. 2, 4 Week 10 Nov. 9 Week 11 Nov. 16, 18 Week 12 Nov. 23, 25 Week 13 Nov. 30 Dec. 2 Week 14 Dec. 7, 9 Week 15 Dec. 14, 16 Giving Oral Presentations, Chapter 11 Organizing content Engaging the audience Giving Oral Presentations (cont.) Summaries, Chapters 11 & 8 Planning visual aids Audience rapport Formal/Informal Reports, Chapters 8 & 9 Functions of reports Guidelines Six types of reports Proposals, Chapter 9 Researching Generating Documenting and illustrating data Meetings, Chapter 10 Planning and participating in meetings Productivity Group Presentations Dealing with the Public and Media, and Interviews for Employment, Chapter 13 Effective interview techniques Answering questions Review, Course Evaluation, and Interviews Final Exam Mid-Term Exam Assignment #4: Persuasive Letter/Email and Bad News Email Proposal for Assignment #5 Assignment #5: Group Formal Report Assignment #6: Interviews (Inclass) Final Exam