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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "BUS 220-5"
COURSE NAME: "Business Communications"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2015
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Jeff Link
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: TTH 1:30PM 2:45PM
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.
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!

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

 

The course will include at least one guest speaker and a resume workshop.
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 NewmanSouthWestern Cengage LearningISBN 13: 978 1 111 97176 2     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberComments
Guide to managerial communication: Effective business writing and speakingMunter, MaryPrentice Hall978 0 13 713046 7 Copies of this text will be made available on reserve in the library.
Harvard Management Communication LettersHBSHBS  Copies of these articles will be placed on reserve in the library.
The World is FlatFriedman, ThomasNew York: Farrar, Straus and Girouxn/a Copies of this book will be placed on reserve in the library.

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Participation 15%
Short assignments 15%
Research report 15%
Power Point group presentation 15%
Midterm exam 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 cours
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference 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 performances 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 issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until May 8, 2015.
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

Week 1: January 20 and 22

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

•Reading: Munter, chapter 1
•Assignments:
–Register for Elevator Pitch Competition (deadline Feb 14)
–Other TBD


Week 2: January 27 and 29

Topic: How to write an effective resume and cover letter

•Reading: Ober, chapter 12.
•Assignments: 
–Register for Elevator Pitch Competition (deadline Feb 14)
–Draft your resume (due Jan 29)
•An important component of this course will be the development of students' own resumes. 
•A revised draft will be due each week.  Please staple all versions of your resume together, with the most recent on top.  The final draft of your resume will be due the week before the Resume Workshop.

Week 3: February 3 and 5

Topic: Macro and micro writing

•Reading: Munter, chapters 2, 4; Ober, chapter 5.
•Assignments:
–Register for Elevator Pitch Competition (deadline Feb 14)
–Other TBD


Week 4: February 10 and 12

Topic: Routine communication

•Reading: 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!”
•Assignments: 
–Register for Elevator Pitch Competition (deadline Feb 14)
–Report topics will be assigned
–Other TBD


Week 5: February 17 and 19

Topic: Persuasive communication

•Reading: Ober, chapter 7
•Assignments:
–Attend Official Elevator Pitch Workshop
–Presentation topics will be assigned
–Other TBD

 


Week 6: February 24 and 26

Topic: Persuasive communication (cont’d)

•Reading: TBD
•Assignments:
–Prepare and practice elevator pitch
–In-class exercise
–Other TBD

Week 7: March 3 and 5

Topic: Communicating bad news

•Reading: Ober, chapter 8
•Assignments:
–Prepare and practice elevator pitch
–Other TBD

 


Week 8: March 10 and 12

**Midterm week**

•Reading: ---
•Assignments:
–Prepare and practice elevator pitch
–Review for midterms and midterm exam

 


Week 9: March 17 and 19

Topic: Writing reports; how to create effective visual aids

•Reading: Munter, chapter 6; Ober, chapters 9 and 10. HMCL, “Picture it: the power of visual speaking.”
•Assignments:
–Prepare and practice elevator pitch
–Other TBD

Week 10: March 24 and 26

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

•Reading: Material on blogs to be distributed in class
•Assignments:
–Prepare and practice elevator pitch
–Other TBD


Week 11: March 31 and April 2

Topic: Delivering persuasive presentations

•Reading: Munter, chapters 5-7; Ober, chapter 11. HMCL: “Why the best presentations are good conversations.”
•Assignments:
–Prepare and practice elevator pitch
–Reports are due

Week 12: April 7 and 9

**Spring vacation – No class**

 


Week 13: April 14 and 16

Topic: Globalization and multicultural communication

•Reading: Friedman, chapter 2.
•Assignments:
–Present elevator pitch before the jury
–Practice BusCom presentations

Week 14: April 21 and 23

•Deliver Presentations
•Elevator Pitch Competition Final Round (Monday April 20th @18:00)

Week 15: April 28 and 30

•Course review and resume workshop

 


Week 16: May 2-8

**Finals – date and time TBD**