ORG536: Contemporary Business Writing and Communication

ORG536: Contemporary Business Writing and Communication Credit Hours: 3 Contact Hours: This is a 3-credit course, offered in accelerated format. This means that 16 weeks of material is covered in 8 weeks. The exact number of hours per week that you can expect to spend on each course will vary based upon the weekly coursework, as well as your study style and preferences. You should plan to spend 10-25 hours per week in each course reading material, interacting on the discussion boards, writing papers, completing projects, and doing research. Faculty Information Name: Phone: CSU-GC Email: Virtual Office Hours: Course Description and Outcomes This course is designed for the practicing professional and focuses on internal and external communications practices and strategies within and beyond organizational settings. Audience is considered and includes employees, executives, first-line supervisors, community, customers, and board members. Students consider communication styles, interpersonal skills, business and professional writing, reports, and presentations based on substantive and credible data, and various modes of communication, including virtual communication. Course Learning Outcomes: 1. Analyze the process of 21st century business communication and how to use it effectively. 2. Describe effective practices and technologies for planning and participating in face-to-face and virtual meetings. 3. Apply the components of the writing process to business documents and reports. 4. Describe the role digital media play in the world of business communication. 5. Describe and analyze the basic features of informal and formal business reports, plans, and proposals. 6. Explain and apply the major elements in organizing and presenting a business presentation. Participation & Attendance Prompt and consistent attendance in your online courses is essential for your success at CSU-Global Campus. Failure to verify your attendance within the first 7 days of this course may result in your withdrawal. If for some reason you would like to drop a course, please contact your advisor. Online classes have deadlines, assignments, and participation requirements just like on-campus classes. Budget your time carefully and keep an open line of communication with your instructor. If you are having technical

problems, problems with your assignments, or other problems that are impeding your progress, let your instructor know as soon as possible. Course Materials Required: Guffey, M., & Loewy, D. (2011). Business Communication: Process and (7th Ed.). Independence, KY: Cengage Learning. ISBN-13: 9780538466257 **All non-textbook required readings and materials necessary to complete assignments, discussions, and/or supplemental or required exercises will be provided within the course itself. Please read through each course module carefully. Course Schedule Due Dates The Academic Week at CSU-Global begins on Monday and ends the following Sunday. Discussion Boards: The original post must be completed by Thursday at 12 midnight MT and Peer Responses posted by Sunday 12 midnight MT. Late posts may not be awarded points. Mastery Exercises: Students may access and retake mastery exercises through the last day of class until they achieve the scores they desire. Critical Thinking Activities: Assignments are due Sunday at 12 midnight MT. Week # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Readings Assignments Chapters 1 & 2 in Business Communication: Process and Discussion (25 points) Chapter 3 in Business Communication: Process and Discussion (25 points) Chapters 4, 5, & 6 in Business Communication: Process and Discussion (25 points) Chapters 7 & 10 in Business Communication: Process and Discussion (25 points) Chapters 8 & 9 in Business Communication: Process and Discussion (25 points) Chapters 11 & 14 in Business Communication: Process and Discussion (25 points) Chapters 12 & 13 in Business Communication: Process and Discussion (25 points) Chapters 15 & 16 in Business Communication: Process and Discussion (25 points) Portfolio (350 points) Assignment Details This course includes the following assignments/projects:

Module 1 Module 2 Critical Thinking: Ethical Dilemmas (75 points) As a business communicator, you may face various ethical dilemmas in your career. Many factors can determine your choice of action to take. Study the scenarios below. For each scenario, apply the tools for doing the right thing in choosing an appropriate action: a. Is the action you are considering legal? b. How would you see the problem if you were on the opposite side? c. What are alternate solutions? d. Can you discuss the problem with someone whose advice you trust? e. How would you feel if your family, friends, employer or co-workers learned of your action? For this critical thinking activity, decide on the action you would take for each scenario below. Explain the action and why you selected that response. Analyze your response against the tools for doing the right thing. Support your thinking with research. At least three outside references (other than the course readings and content) should be included. Be sure to include each of the doing the right thing elements (a through e above) in your response. 1. E-mail Message You accidentally receive a message outlining your company s restructuring plan. You see that your coworker s job will be eliminated. He and his wife are about to purchase a new home. Should you tell him that his job is in danger? 2. Customer Letter You are writing a letter to a customer who is irate over a mistake you made. Should you blame it on a computer glitch, point the finger at another department, or take the blame and risk losing this customer s trust and possibly your job? 3. Progress Report Your team leader has asked you to write the quarterly sales report. She has told you that you should inflate the sales figures just a little bit so that you can meet the quarterly goal. She strongly reminds you that you and your team members will all receive a healthy bonus if the team meets the goal. 4. Presentation You are rushing to prepare a presentation. On the Web you find perfect wording and great graphics. Should you just lift the graphics and wording but change a few words to make it your own? Your reasoning is that if it is out on the Web, it must be public domain. The assignment should be completed in MS Word and in APA format according to the guidelines of CSU- Global Campus; also include an Introduction, Conclusion and a Reference page. Three outside references to support your thinking are required. The CSU-Global Library is a good place to find these references. Your paper should be 3-5 pages long. Critical Thinking: What Makes a Best Company for Minorities? (75 points)

Module 3 Fortune listed in its ranking of the 50 Best Companies for Minorities, the following suggestions for fostering diversity: Make an effort to hire, retain, and promote minorities. Interact with outside minority communities. Hold management accountable for diversity efforts. Create a culture where people of color and other minorities feel they belong. Match a diverse workforce with diversity in an organization s management ranks and on its board (Daniels, 2004). For this critical thinking assignment, assume you believe it would be better if your organization were more diverse. You have openly stated this in the workplace. Because of your interest in this area, your boss asks you to write an information report to present at the next board meeting. Your assignment is to discuss what the leading minority-friendly companies are doing. You decide to prepare your report based on the bulleted points above from Fortune magazine s suggestions for fostering diversity. Daniels, C. (2004). 50 best companies for minorities. Fortune, 149(13), 136-146. The assignment should be completed in MS Word and in APA format according to the guidelines of CSU- Global Campus; also include an Introduction, Conclusion and a Reference page. Three outside references to support your thinking are required. The CSU-Global Library is a good place to find these references. Your paper should be 4-5 pages long. Critical Thinking: Selecting the Best Channel (75 points) After identifying the purpose of your message, you need to select the most appropriate communication channel. Click here to view a list from your textbook called Choosing Communication Channels. Using this figure, suggest the best communication channels for the following messages. Assume that all channels shown are available. Support your reasoning with examples and research. 1. You need to know whether Crystal in Reprographics can produce a rush job for you in two days. 2. As part of a task force to investigate cell phone marketing, you need to establish a central location where each team member can see general information about the task as well as add comments for others to see. Task force members are located throughout the country. 3. You want to know what team members are available immediately for a quick teleconference meeting. They are all workaholics and glued to their computers. 4. As a human resources manager during a company reorganization, you must tell six employees they will lose their jobs. 5. A prospective client in Japan wants the price quotes for a number of your products as soon as possible. Include an introductory paragraph that outlines the importance of selecting appropriate communication channels. The assignment should be completed in MS Word and in APA format according to the guidelines of CSU- Global Campus; also include an Introduction, Conclusion and a Reference page. Three outside references to support your thinking are required. The CSU-Global Library is a good place to find these references. Your paper should be 3-5 pages in length.

Module 4 Module 5 Critical Thinking: Persuasive Press Release (75 points) Press releases announce information about companies to the media. The information could be about new products, new managers, new location, sponsorships, participation in community projects, awards, given or received, joint ventures, donations, seminars, demonstrations and so much more. For a company where you work or an organization you belong to, identify a product or service that could be publicized and design a persuasive press release. Utilize these guidelines to design your press release: Open with an attention-getting lead or a summary of the important facts. Include answers to the five Ws and one H (who, what, when, where, why, and how) in the article but not all in the first sentence. Appeal to the audience of the target media. Emphasize reader benefits written in the style of the focus publication or newscast. Present the most important information early, followed by supporting information. Do not put your best ideas last because they may be chopped off or ignored. Make the release visually appealing. Limit the text to one or two double-spaced pages with attractive formatting. Look and sound credible no typos, no spelling or punctuation errors, no factual errors. The assignment should be completed in MS Word or any desktop publishing software and then should be saved as a PDF file. Upload the PDF file to the Week 4 Assignments page. Your press release should be 2 pages in length. Critical Thinking: Social Media and Business (75 points) Select a major, publicly traded company that you are interested in and visit their blog, wiki or Facebook page. Evaluate their use of this social media tool and how they use the tool to deliver good news and bad news to their stakeholders. Set up your assignment following these guidelines: Introduction (present an overview of the company you have selected, the link to their blog, wiki or Facebook page, and a general description of the media format that is used, blog, wiki, or Facebook.) Evaluate how the company uses the media for the delivery of good news and bad news in these areas: Public/Customer Relations Market Research Building an Online Community Internal Communication Potential Risks (Discuss the company s potential risks for how they are using this social media.) Recommendations (Make recommendations for how the company might improve their use of the social media tool in the delivery of good news and bad news.) The assignment should be completed in MS Word and in APA format according to the guidelines of CSU- Global Campus; also include an Introduction, Conclusion and a Reference page. Three outside references

Module 6 Module 8 to support your thinking are required. The CSU-Global Library is a good place to find these references. Your paper should be 4-6 pages in length. How to Make Better Presentations (75 points) In preparation for your Portfolio Project (where you will create a rather lengthy presentation on Best Practices in Business Communication), this week for your critical thinking activity you are to prepare a short presentation that you could potentially deliver to corporate trainers in your workplace. Your goal is to teach these trainers how to make a better presentation. Create a short presentation (8-10 slides) that delivers the content that you think corporate trainers need to know about delivering effective presentations. Be sure your presentation is visually appealing and follows the Eight Steps in Making a Powerful Multimedia Presentation found in this week s assigned readings. The presentation for your critical thinking activity must be completed using presentation software and uploaded online (to a place like Slide Share or Google Presentations) or use an online presentation alternative like Prezi, PreZentit, Vuvox, Zoho Show, SlideRocket, Empressr, Screencast-o-matic, etc. For this part of the assignment you will submit a live hyperlink to where your presentation can be found online. (You will not be submitting the presentation file; just a link to where the file is located on the Internet.). In addition to the presentation, you must also submit a one-page handout to accompany the presentation. Project Format - In a MS Word document, submit the following: Standard assignment cover page URL to the presentation One-page handout that accompanies the presentation. Suggested length: Aim to design the presentation to be approximately 10 minutes in length. Presentation should have 8-10 slides. Portfolio Project: Best Practices in Business Writing & Communication (350 points) For this portfolio project you are to design a Best Practices in Business Writing and Communication presentation. You must include information about the following topics in your presentation: Best practices in: Effective and ethical business communication Professionalism in the workplace Intercultural business communication Writing tips for the business professional The use of electronic messages and digital media for business communication Positive and negative messages Business presentations Business reports, plans and proposals The presentation must be completed using presentation software and uploaded online (to a place like Slide Share or Google Presentations) or use an online presentation alternative like Prezi, PreZentit,

Vuvox, Zoho Show, SlideRocket, Empressr, Screencast-o-matic, etc. For this part of the assignment you will submit a live hyperlink to where your presentation can be found online. (You will not be submitting the presentation file; just a link to where the file is located on the Internet.) All of the best practices topics listed above must be included in your presentation with a detailed explanation and examples of the best practices for each component. Visuals, graphics, screenshots, etc., should be included in the presentation. Be sure to follow the Eight Steps to Making a Powerful Multimedia Presentation found in the course text. In addition to submitting a link to your presentation online, you must also submit a handout that accompanies the presentation. Project Format - In a MS Word document, submit the following: Standard assignment cover page URL to the presentation Handout(s) that accompany the presentation. Suggested length: Aim to design the presentation to be approximately 15-20 minutes in length. Presentation should have no fewer than 25 slides and a 4-page handout. Course Policies Late Work Students are permitted a 7 day grace period during which they may submit a Critical Thinking assignment after the original due date without penalty. Papers submitted between 8 and 14 days after the original due date will be accepted with a potential 10 percent reduction in grade for late submission. Papers submitted 15 or more days beyond the original due date may not be accepted unless prior arrangements have been made with the instructor. No Portfolios will be accepted late and no assignments will be accepted after the last day of class unless a student has requested an incomplete grade in accordance with the Incomplete Policy. Course Grading 20% Discussion Participation 45% Critical Thinking Activities 35% Final Portfolio Paper Grading Scale and Policies A 95.0 100 A- 90.0 94.9 B+ 86.7 89.9 B 83.3 86.6 B- 80.0 83.2 C+ 75.0 79.9 C 70.0 74.9 D 60.0 69.9 F 59.9 or below FN* Failure for Nonparticipation I** Incomplete * Students who stop attending class and fail the course for nonparticipation will be issued the FN grade. The FN grade may have implications for financial aid and scholarship awards. ** An I grade may be assigned at the Instructor s discretion to students who are in good standing (passing) in the course. Students should have completed a majority of the coursework in order to be eligible for the I grade. Students should request an "I" grade from the Instructor with a written justification, which must include explanation of extenuating circumstances that prevented timely completion of the coursework. If the request is approved, the Instructor will require a written agreement consisting of a) the specific

coursework to be completed, b) the plan to complete the coursework, and c) the deadline for completion. The agreement will be kept on file at CSU-Global Campus. An incomplete course must be satisfactorily completed within the time frame stipulated in the agreement, but no later than the end of the following semester from the date the I was given. An incomplete not removed within one year shall convert to an F and be included in the computation of the student s grade point average. Academic Integrity Students must assume responsibility for maintaining honesty in all work submitted for credit and in any other work designated by the instructor of the course. Academic dishonesty includes cheating, plagiarism, unauthorized possession of academic materials, and falsification. The Student Handbook provides information on how students can avoid plagiarism by understanding what it is and how to use library and internet resources appropriately with proper citation. Please refer to the Academic Catalog for complete policies regarding plagiarism and academic dishonesty. APA Students are expected to follow the CSU-Global APA requirements when citing in APA (based on the APA Style Manual, 6th edition). For details on CSU-Global APA style, please review the APA resources located under the Library tab in Blackboard. Netiquette All posts and classroom communication must be conducted in a professional and respectful manner in accordance with the student code of conduct. Think before you push the Send button. Did you say just what you meant? How will the person on the other end read the words? Any derogatory or inappropriate comments regarding race, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, are unacceptable and subject to disciplinary action. If you have concerns about something that has been said, please let your instructor know. Institutional Policies Refer to the Academic Catalog for comprehensive documentation of CSU-GC institutional policies.