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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "BUS 220-1"
COURSE NAME: "Business Communications"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2014
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Michele Favorite
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: MW 10:00 AM 11:15 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: EN 110 with a grade of C or above
OFFICE HOURS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course helps students become proficient in written and oral business communication. The standards used in the American business world are used as benchmarks for the course: emphasis is given to accuracy in writing and speaking, to the proper format of documents, to timeliness and to style. With this object in mind, papers that have a misspelling are not accepted until the mistake is corrected. 

This course expects students to participate in John Cabot's Elevator Pitch Competition.

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
This course will help students enhance their understanding of the strategic role that communication plays in the business world, and how effective communication can make or break a deal, an idea, a proposal, etc. The course will analyze how communication is used to inform, motivate, facilitate change and create value in today’s rapidly evolving organizations, and how the means of communication are changing constantly.



It will evaluate what determines effective business communication, and how to achieve it. Students will learn how to develop, support and organize arguments and how to strengthen their research skills. They will develop their written, oral and interpersonal communication skills in business settings and across a range of tasks including letters, memoranda, resumes, press releases, emails, reports and presentations. Students will learn how to effectively deliver negative and positive business news while maintaining a confident tone, how to communicate persuasively, how to present themselves to the business world through resumes and cover letters and how to create and present effective visual aids. The course will include at least one guest speaker and a resume workshop.



This course is writing-intensive.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Students will learn what makes written and oral business communication effective, how to think strategically about communication and achieve their aims by communicating successfully. Routine, bad news and persuasive communication will be covered in depth, both in writing and speaking.



Specifically, students will learn how to write routine emails, letters and memos, how to write effective bad-news and persuasive letters, how to effectively research and write a business report and how to prepare an effective resume and cover letter. The course will spend considerable time on oral communication: how to structure and deliver a business presentation, including visual aids.
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Commmunicating in Business, 8th editionScot Ober, Amy NewmanSouth-Western Cengage LearningISBN - 13: 978 1 111 97176 2     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberComments
Guide to Managerial CommunicationMary MunterPrentice Hall978 0 13 713046 7 Several texts are available on reserve reading in the library. Digital copies are also available on the class webpage.

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
   
Participation 15%
Short assignments  15%
Research report 15%
Power Point group presentation 15%
Midterm 15%
Final Exam  15%
Elevator Pitch Competition 10%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the cour
BThis is a highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised. There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluate theory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture and reference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performance demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material. Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included. In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the key issues raised. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant or insufficient.

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Two latenesses are considered an absence. After two absences, students may be asked to leave the class.  Absences directly affect the participation grade.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

Bus 220

Business Communication

 

Week 1:  Introduction to the course and to Business Communication; Fundamentals of communication strategy.

Class discussion:  Munter: chapter 1.



Week 2:  How to write an effective Resume

Class discussion:  Ober: chapter 12. Different resumes will be distributed and discussed during class.   A revised draft will be due ever week before the Resume workshop.  Please staple all versions of your resume together, with the most recent on top. The final draft will be due a week before the Resume Workshop, which takes place towards the end of the course.



Week 3: Micro and macro writing

Class discussion:  Munter:  chapters 2, 4;  Ober:  chapter 5.



Week 4:  Routine communication

Class discussion:  Munter:  chapter 3; Ober:  chapters 4 and 6.  Harvard Management Communication Letter (HMCL):  “The best memo you’ll ever write;” HMCL:  “Don’t push that send button!” 

Report topics will be assigned.



Week 5:  Persuasive communication

Class discussion:  Ober, chapter 7.

Assignment of presentation topics.

Week 6: Persuasive communication (cont’d)

Review of  persuasive communication, in-class exercises.



Week 7:  Midterm week

Review for midterms and midterm exam.



Week 8: Communicating bad news 

Class Discussion:  Ober:  chapter 8.



Week 9:  Writing reports; how to create effective visual aids

Class Discussion:  Munter: chapter 6;  Ober: chapters 9 and 10.  HMCL:  “Picture it: the power of visual speaking;”  



Week 10: Spring vacation



Week 11: How to create effective visual aids (cont’d); the power of blogs:  how they are changing business communication 

Class will focus on visual aid exercises.  Material on blogs to be distributed in class. 



Week 12: Delivering persuasive presentations

Class discussion:  Munter: chapters 5-7;  Ober, chapter 11.  HMCL:  “Why the best presentations are good conversations.”

Reports are due.



Week 13:  Practice presentations; globalization and communication.

Class discussion:  Friedman, ch.  2.



Week 14:  Presentations



Week 15:  Review and Resume workshop



P
lease note that class schedule may vary according to guest speaker availability.