BUSINESS COMMUNICATION

BAN 263

FALL  2007

Instructor:      Carolyn Harper

Office:             A128

Phone:  338-6474  Ext. 1128

E-mail:            charper@pccua.edu 

COURSE OBJECTIVE:

This course is designed to acquaint students with the theories and principles of nonverbal, oral, and written communications, emphasis on basic writing skills as applied in composing a variety of letters, memorandums, and resumes. 

Textbook:       Effective Communication for Colleges

                        By Brantley and Miller, 11^th edition, 2007. 

*All students are required to have the textbook for the course.

CATALOG DESCRIPTION 

Ban 263 Business Communication

3 hrs., 3 credits

Theories and principles of nonverbal, oral, and written communication; emphasis on basic writing skills as applied in composing a variety of letters, memorandums, and resumes.  This course will be offered during the fall and spring semesters. 

Prerequisites:  EH 113, CT 114 or departmental approval.

PCCUA Core Competencies
The six PCCUA core competencies are incorporated within the context of the subject being taught.  The competencies address skills the College has committed to developing in all students.
         1.   Communication - Communicate effectively in a written or oral manner in the business environment.
         2.   Cultural Awareness - Acknowledge diverse groups of individuals possessing different beliefs, values, attitudes and customs.
         3.   Social and Civic Responsibility - Demonstrate a legal/ethical behavior that is appropriate for the business professional in today's society.
         4.   Critical Thinking - Analyze, interpret and evaluate data necessary to solve problems and support business decisions.
         5.   Mathematical Reasoning - Perform computational skills and financial analysis appropriate to the business environment.
          6.   Technology Utilization - Demonstrate the ability to use computer technology.

OUTCOMES, COMPETENCIES, AND MEASUREMENT INSTRUMENTS

CHAPTER LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 

After students have studied each chapter and have completed the activities and exercises, they should be able to: 

CHAPTER 1 – Partners for Effective Communication         

1.          Name your two partners in originating effective communication.

2.         Identify the five elements of the communication cycle.

3.         Name potential communication barriers and explain how barriers influence the communication cycle.

4.         Name the three major components of the CBO approach.

CHAPTER 2 – The Six Cs of Effective Messages

1.                Revise messages to reflect courtesy.

2.                Revise messages to enhance clarity.

3.                Apply techniques that ensure concise messages.

4.                Make messages concrete by providing specific information.

5.                Review messages for correct content, mechanics, and appearance.

6.                Determine whether a message meets the completeness criteria of who, what, when, where, why, and how.

CHAPTER 3 – The Communication-by-Objectives Approach 

1.                  Plan a message using the Communication-by-Objectives approach.

2.         Compose a message draft following the Communication-by-Objectives approach and incorporating the six Cs of effective messages.

3.          Identify the activities involved in Complete a Message, the third step of the Communication-by-Objectives approach.

CHAPTER 4 – Communication and Technology

1.         Conduct efficient, productive Internet searches.

2.          Determine appropriate channels for transmitting written and spoken messages

3.         Apply techniques for composing and formatting effective electronic/wireless messages.

 4.        Use print and electronic reference tools to aid message accuracy.

5.         Discuss benefits of conferencing as an alternative to face-to-face collaboration.

6.         Discuss uses for voice recognition.

CHAPTER 5 – Good News and Neutral News Messages

 1.                 Identify situations for which the good news strategy is appropriate.

2.         Analyze good news and neutral news messages to verify that they reflect the six Cs of effective messages, acceptable message formats, and the good news strategy.

3.         Prepare good news and neutral news messages by applying the CBO approach and the good news strategy.

CHAPTER 6 – Bad News Messages 

1.                  Analyze bad news messages to verify that they reflect the six Cs of effective messages, acceptable message formats, and the bad news strategy.

2.         Prepare bad news messages by applying the CBO approach and the bad news strategy.

CHAPTER 7 – Persuasive Messages 

1.                 Discuss situations when persuasion may be necessary.

2.         Discuss and incorporate ethics into persuasive messages.

3.         Determine persuasive appeals based on analysis of the product and audience and on the message objective.

4.         Identify unique characteristics of nonroutine requests and sales messages that promote favorable responses.

5.         Analyze persuasive messages to verify that they reflect the six Cs of effective messages and acceptable message formats.

6.         Apply the CBO approach and the persuasive strategy AIDA to prepare effective persuasive messages.

CHAPTER 8 – Job Searches, Resumes, and Cover Letters

1.                 Develop a job search strategy.

2.         Analyze both resumes and cover letters to accommodate traditional and digital delivery.

3.         Prepare effective resumes and cover letters using the CBO approach and the  AIDA strategy.

4.         Prepare effective cover letters to accompany traditional paper résumés or online résumés implementing the CBO approach and the persuasive strategy AIDA.

CHAPTER 9 – Applications, Interviews, and Follow-up Messages                              

1.                  Complete applications that generate interviews.

2.          Identify and implement successful interview techniques prior to, during, and following interviews.

3.          Analyze employment applications and employee-related messages to verify that they reflect the six Cs of effective messages and acceptable message formats.

4.          Prepare effective employment-related messages—follow-up inquiries, thank-you messages, acceptances, refusals, and resignations—by applying the CBO approach and the strategy appropriate for the message.

CHAPTER 10 – Visuals and Presentations

1.         Discuss the characteristics of meaningful and ethical visuals for written reports and spoken presentations.

2.         Explain techniques to adapt visuals and spoken presentations to international audiences.

3.         Identify the purpose of each part of a spoken presentation and the techniques used to maintain audience interest.

4.         Discuss four modes of presentation delivery.

5.         Identify helpful techniques to prepare and deliver a spoken presentation.

6.         Analyze visuals and spoken presentations to verify that they reflect the six Cs of effective messages.

7.         Apply the CBO approach and the six Cs of effective messages to prepare both visuals and spoken presentations.

Class Participation: 

Class participation is important.  This is one reason a high value is placed on attendance. You will be expected to discuss the material covered in class and answer questions about the material. (See attached attendance policy.) 

Course Activities and Responsibilities That Will Be Utilized for Assessment: 

A.                 Written Activities

1.                  Weekly Work/Letters.  Written assignments will be given throughout the semester.  Students will receive a final grade on each assignment that is turned in. All letters and most assignments MUST be typed.  Late assignments will not be accepted unless the instructor has stated otherwise.

2.                  Cover Letter and Resume

3.                  Article Summaries/Internet Research

4.                  Portfolio.  This will include all handouts and returned assignments specified by instructor to be included in your portfolio.  A table of contents should be set up in the front of the binder. A cover page with student name, class, class date and time, and instructor’s name should be the first page of the portfolio, followed by the table of contents.   This must be a neat, professional portfolio.    Each section should have appropriate dividers, etc.  Students should retype and rework graded/checked assignments for a better portfolio grade. Materials needed:  3-ring binder, dividers. 

B.                 Examinations

1.                  There will be five to ten examinations during the term.  Exams will consist of true/false, multiple choice, completion, and discussion questions.  Any test that is missed must be made up within five class days or a grade of ZERO is recorded.  It is the student's responsibility to meet with the instructor and arrange a convenient time to make-up the exam.

2.                  Quizzes cannot be made up and a grade of ZERO is recorded. 

*Failure to show up for the final exam could result in failure in the course. 

C.         Evaluation 

D.                 Speech/Group Presentation: Using Internet and PowerPoint. 

E.                 "Business Reception" at the Pillow-Thompson House.  Attendance at the final reception and lunch is required.  Failure to attend could result in the final grade being lowered one letter grade. 

Grades: 

40%     Homework/Letters/Article Summaries/Class Assignments/ Employment    Messages

50%     Tests/Speech or Group Presentation (individual and group grade average)/ Portfolio/Resume and Cover Letter

10%     Unit Test(s); Pillow-Thompson Activity Final Exam

Grading Scale 

90-100                         A

80-89                             B

70-79                             C

60-69                             D

Below 60           F 

*Your attendance, class participation, and attitude could affect your grade in this class. 

*The instructor has the right to make changes in the grade requirements and their weights in determining the final grade.

*The instructor reserves the right to change this syllabus in order to meet the needs of the students.
 

Campus Support Services:
Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas provides student support services that assist students in achieving their educational objective.  Those services include advising, financial aid, counseling and guidance, and safety and security.

ADA Policy:
Lynn Boone, the Vice Chancellor for Student Services serves as the ADA Compliance Officer.  If you reside in Arkansas County you may contact Vice Chancellor Carolyn Turner (DeWitt) or Susan Luebke (Stuttgart).  The process of student referral under the Americans with Disabilities Act can be found in the Student Handbook.

FERPA Policy:
Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas complies with the Family Educational rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974.  A student has the right to inspect and review all of his/her records that meet the definition of educational records.  No third party has the right to review student records.

INSURANCE

      Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas does not provide insurance for its students.  The college does encourage each student to secure his/her own insurance, and for that reason, the college has contacted United Healthcare Student Resources.  Forms for this insurance are available in the Registrar’s office.

ACTS

The Arkansas Course Transfer System (ACTS) contains information about the transferability of courses within Arkansas Public Colleges and universities. Students are guaranteed the transfer of applicable credits and the equitable treatment in the application of credits for the admission and degree requirements. Course transferability is not guaranteed for courses listed in ACTS as “No Comparable Course.” Additionally, courses with a “D” frequently do not transfer and institutional policies may vary. ACTS may be accessed on the Internet by going to the ADHE Website and selecting Course Transfer.     

    
 http://acts.adhe.edu/secure/institutiontransferinfo.aspx

The syllabus and the policies, guidelines, and dates included are subject to change at the instructor’s discretion.

PORTFOLIO REQUIREMENTS

     FOR

                 BUSINESS COMMUNICATION

 1.                  Cover sheet with:

Student’s Name
BAN 263 Business Communication
Date
Instructor’s Name

2.                  Table of Contents 

3.                  Place exercises in order behind dividers for each chapter.  Include ALL handouts, copies of PowerPoint slides, etc.  Place all behind the appropriate chapter divider. 

4.                    Include the following exercises, graded ones with retypes (if required by the instructor) in front of them. 

                        Chapter 1 –

H/O Communication Skills Survey
Listening Self Evaluation
Listening Video Questions & Listening Review
First Impressions Checklist and Perceptions
Work Ethic - "What Upsets Employers Most"
Ethics in Action 1.3

                        Chapter 2 –

Exercises. 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 2-4, 2-5, 2-6, 2-7, 2-8, 2-9, 2-10
H/O Concise Messages and Unnecessary Words (4)
Ethics in Action 2.3

                        True Colors

Chapter 3 –

H/O Preparing and Delivering Oral Presentations with Visuals & International Business Guidelines
Can You Read This???
Letter Styles
Letter Placement Table
US Mail Guidelines
Can you raed this?  Olny 55 plepoe can!

Chapter 4 –

Exercises 4-1, 4-5
Ethics in Action 4-4
Part B – Proofreading Application

Chapter 5 –

Letter/Corrected Letter
Ethics in Action 5.11
Ode to Spell Checker
Rubric for Business Correspondence
 

Chapter 6 –

Ethics in Action 6.6
Letter/Corrected Letter

Chapter 7 –

Letter/Corrected Letter 
Part B – Proofreading Application

                        Chapter  8 -

Self Assessment – Gregoric and Myers-Briggs (Internet) 
Action Words
Company Research
Standard and Poors
Resume and References
Ethics in Action 8.8
Cover Letter

Chapter 9-

Job Application
Interview questions and answers
“Small Talk” notes
Business Etiquette 
Tipping Faux Pas
Ethics in Action 9-7
Thank-you/follow-up letters and miscellaneous letters

 *ALL handouts from employment unit

 *The Instructor may make changes and/or additions to the portfolio requirements.

PHILLIPS COMMUNITY COLLEGE OFTHE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS

BUSINESS COMMUNICATION PORTFOLIO

GRADING RUBRIC

Name:     _______________________

Title:   Business Communication Portfolio

Date Submitted:

The following scores are identified so that you can see how I award points.  I have listed things that are important and that I will be grading.

Total Portfolio Items = 60

CAROLYN HARPER

PCCUA

P.O. Box 785

Helena, AR 72342

(870) 338-6474 ext. 1128

charper@pccua.edu

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

FALL 2007