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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "BUS 220-3"
COURSE NAME: "Business Communications"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2016
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Ian Roberts
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MW 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 deals with the definition and analysis of problems and the production of written and oral business reports. Use of appropriate computer software (e.g. word processing, spreadsheets, graphics) is an integral part of the course
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

This course will help students enhance their understanding of the important 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.

The course evaluates 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 is writing-intensive.


LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Students will learn what makes written and oral business communication effective, how think about communication and how to achieve their aims by communicating successfully, both in writing and speaking.

 

Specifically, students will learn how to write routine emails, letters and memos; how to write bad news and persuasive letters; how to 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, including how to structure and deliver a business presentation using visual aids.

 

All students in this class will participate in the JCU Elevator Pitch competition, thanks to which they will practice the art of persuasion in one minute.
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Guide to Managerial Communication 10th EditionMary MunterPrentice HallISBN-13: 978-0132971331     
Business CommunicationScot OberSouth-Western Cengage LearningISBN-13: 978-1-4390-3569-6     
Essentials of Business CommunicationMary Ellen GuffeyCengage LearningISBN-10: 1285858913     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Class participation 10%
Homework assignments 10%
Elevator pitch 10%
Midterm exam 15%
Research report 20%
Powerpoint presentation 20%
Final exam 15%

-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 course.
BThis is 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 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:

Students are allowed three absences during the semester for whatever reason. There is no need to justify these three absences and they will have no effect on the final grade. Every additional absence after that, for whatever reason, will lower the student’s final grade by one grade level (e.g., a final grade of a B+ would be lowered to a B and so on).
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  Description Reading Activities
1 Introduction to the course and to business communication Munter chapter 1  
Communicating in today’s global workplace Munter chapter 1 E-mail to Keith
2 Effective resumes and cover letters Ober chapter 12 Write resume
Effective resumes and cover letters   Apply for job
3 Interviewing and Following Up Guffey ch. 14; Ober ch. 12 Discuss interview experiences; ask/answer questions
Composing efficiently & revising your writing Munter chs. 2, 4; Ober ch. 5 HW exercises
4 Routine Communication Munter ch. 3; Ober chs. 4 and 6  
Planning business messages Guffey chapter 2 HBS articles 1 & 4; writing improvement exercises
5 Persuasive Communication. Ober ch. 7, Guffey ch. 8. Exercise 9; ex. 14; read HBR/Martin article
Persuasive Communication Ober ch. 7, Guffey ch. 8. Exercise 15; ex. 22
6 Composing business messages Guffey chapter 3 Exercise 6.1 - Fun with Grammar
Revising business messages Guffey chapter 4 Ex. 6.2 - Writing improvement
7 Review    
Midterm exam    
8 Communicating Bad News Ober Chapter 8 Exs. 12, 13, 16, 18
Electronic messages and memoranda Guffey chapter 5 Exs. 5.1 - 5.4 - re-write!
9 Proposal, reports and visual aids Munter ch. 6; Ober chs 9, 10, Guffey ch. 10 Watch David McCandless video
Proposal, reports and visual aids Munter ch. 6; Ober chs 9, 10, Guffey ch. 10 Read Berinato 2016 - HBR article
10 Guest speaker Listening skills! Prepare questions
How to run a meeting. Ober Chapter 3. Organise in class meeting on project
11 Interpersonal communication Guffey. p. 321-327 Read 10 examples of social media command centres
Business Presentations Guffey chapter 12  
12 Delivering persuasive presentations Munter Chapters 5 and 7.  
Delivering persuasive presentations Ober Chapter 11.  
13 Presentations    
Presentations    
14 Final exam review.    
Resume workshop.    
TBD Final exam