Syllabus

Course Title	Business Communication
Course Number	English 93
Credits	3 Units
Prerequisite(s)	None
Co-requisites	None
Instructor: Email: Office hours: Blog: Wiki: Text site: Instructional Materials and References	Dr. Sylvia Y. Schoemaker Rippel profs360@gmail.com T, Th 11:45-12:30 and by arrangement http://bcomcenter.blogspot.com/ http://bcomcenter.wetpaint.com/ http://www.mhhe.com/angell2e Required text: Angell, Pamela A. Business Communication Design. (2nd Edition). New York: McGraw-Hill, 2007. ISBN-13 9780073223582 MHID 0073223581) Recommended text: Business Communication Handbook.
Course Description	The course emphasizes the role of critical and creative thinking in the business communication process. Students learn a systematic approach to designing messages for targeted business communication situations. Course description (current university catalog): Eng 93 eng 93 - Business Communication Communication and information science in the applied context of business studies, including vocabulary, reading, writing, and speaking skills in the subject areas of marketing, international business, data processing, accounting, finance, management. (3 units)
Course Objectives	Primary E93: Business Communication objectives include improved ability to: comprehend and produce effective written and oral business communications evaluate business messages within appropriate local and global contexts apply systematic language processing strategies for critical thinking, problem solving and decision making in a variety of business settings. Students will demonstrate competency in achieving the course objectives through presentations, discussion and applications. They will be able to create effective business documents to mastery level with increasing competence in composition and mechanics.
Topical Outline	The scope of the course involves applying and extending communication skills relevant to managerial discourse, including the theoretical foundation and technological extensions of business communications. For each of the following units (as well as additional assignments given in class), students will do the following: Read assigned materials with care and understanding, Reflect on the weekly assignments in writing, addressing primary content and points of personal interest, Create a personalized, three-level map for each week’s assignment using the open source program Freemind (available in the computer lab and downloadable from http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page Email your assignments to me at profs360@gmail.com, Blog your work for sharing and presentations. Note: The maps for your blog need to be in .graphic (.png or .jpg) format and you will need to save the native Freemind (.mm) format for submitting your work to me by email. Assignments are due on the dates indicated in the schedule below. Additions/revisions to the schedule will be announced in class as needed. Class attendance is mandatory for content,
Course Outline	Week Date Assignment 1 15-Jan-09 C1 The Basics 2 22-Jan-09 C2 How Business Communicates 3 29-Jan-09 C3 Creating Effective Messages 4 5-Feb-09 C4 Listening: A Silent Hero 5 12-Feb-09 C5 Creating and Using Meaning 6 19-Feb-09 C6 Designing Messages with Words 7 26-Feb-09 C7 Designing Oral Presentations 8 5-Mar-09 C8 Business Writing Design 9 12-Mar-09 Midterm 19-Mar-09 Spring Recess 10 26-Mar-09 C9 Direct and Indirect Communication Strategies C10 The Business of Reports: Informal and Formal Report Writing 11 2-Apr-09 C11 Writing Strategies for Reports and Proposals 12 9-Apr-09 C12 Culture: Inside and Out 13 16-Apr-09 C13 Interpersonal and Collaborative Messages 14 23-Apr-09 C14 The Business of Change and Conflict 15 30-Apr-09 C15 Creating a Career and Designing Resumes, C16 Interviewing to Get the Job C17 Creativity and Visual Design In-class Part 1 (objective) final 16 7-May-09 Final Part 2 (emailed)
Date Syllabus was Last Reviewed	January 2009

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA & METHOD OF EVALUATING STUDENTS

Students will demonstrate their level of achievement through appropriate and accurate application of classic and contemporary business communication theory and best practices. Students will be evaluated on their increased communicative competence, including effective business communication skills for analysis, problem-solving, decision-making. Students attaining the higher levels of course goals will show successful application of critical and creative communication skills in approaching and solving academic and real-world examples, individually and as group participants. The following tables quantify assignment areas and grade distribution scales.

Class Participation 10%
Midterm/Quizzes 15%
Projects 15%
ePortfolios / Blogs 25%
Presentations 15%
Final Exam 20%
Total 100%

100-95 A
94-90 A-
89-87 B+
86-84 B
83-80 B-
79-77 C+
76-74 C
73-70 C-
69-67 D+
66-64 D
63-60 D-
59 or < F