Atlanta Metropolitan College
Division of Business
Business Communication
BUSA 2105
Course Syllabus – Spring Semester, 1999

This syllabus provides a general plan for the course. Any necessary deviations will be announced and distributed in written form. Individual instructors may supplement this document with additional information and/or requirements.

Course Materials

The following materials will be used in this course and are available at the College Bookstore in the Academic Building, room 160.

Required Text Business Communication - Process and Product, by Guffey

Course Objectives and Methodology

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

To empower the student to communicate successfully and effectively in the business environment. Principles of oral and written communication will be emphasized with particular focus on formulas for letters, memos and reports. Upon completing this course, the student should be able to:

Write successful business letters.

Use the computer to write letters, reports and design presentations using appropriate software.

Think critically and use this process to solve problems in the business communication environment.

Present information formally and informally using excellent oral and non-verbal techniques.

Present information in a positive, non-threatening manner for success in obtaining desired goals.

Perform effectively in any active learning, sharing environment.

Demonstrate improved listening and speaking skills.

Demonstrate a greater knowledge and use of business ethics

Homework

You will write approximately 10 letters and/or short memo reports. You will also create a PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO which will be described to you prior to mid-term. The portfolio will include a resume and cover letter, as well as samples of work, reports, letters of commendation, copies of certificates and awards. There will be one group project concerning business ethics TBA. You will view various communication films during the semester. There will be INTERNET assignments. Homework will include various problems and critical thinking cases. Also,two  current events per week will be read, summarized and attached in your homework folder. One current event must come from www.fool.com. An interview with a company/entrepreneur is required. Guideline questions will be provided. All CLUE review exercises will be assigned. There will be a major research paper and a minor position paper on ethics. Homework will be collected at mid-term and at semester’s end. You will need to purchase folders for this purpose.

An interview of a professional/managerial personality is required.

1. Assignments must be keyed, stored, and printed using a personal computer/word processor/printe

2. If you do not know a word processing program, I suggest that you familiarize yourself with the Microsoft Word program which has been installed on most of the computers in the Academic Support Center (A. S. C.). I have scheduled one lab period each week in the A. S. C. During our lab period, I will help you learn this program as well as direct you as you write/revise your letters and other assignment

3. Spelling is very important when it comes to business correspondence. Be sure that you use the spell-check program on every document before submission. But realize that the spell checker is only a tool. Telling me that you spell checked a document is not a reason for me to overlook misspelled words

Because spell checkers are imperfect, verify spelling in a dictionary. Your first spelling error in any document will cost you 25 points plus the points off for any additional errors (grammar/punctuation, tone/style, content, format, sentence/paragraph construction). Your second spelling error in that same document will cause you to receive a zero for that assignmen

Please save copies of all papers you submit throughout the semester as proof of the grades you have received. Get organized! Buy a work in progress folder now and keep your Business Communications work in i

4. Written/Oral Reports: You must submit a 3x5 inch card no later than mid-term, giving the following information: your name, date of card submission, and your report topic. This topic must relate to your major, minor, or area of concentration

The sooner you submit your card, the sooner you will be assured of locking in your topic. Once you have received my approval for your topic, you may not change it

5. Your 3-5 page business report must be based on the same topic as your oral report (see #4 above). Before beginning serious preparation of your written technical report and your oral report, you must submit a written proposal (format to be specified by me) that explains your topic choice in great detail. Your proposal is due no later than the beginning of class at mid-term.. The paper will include a frontis piece, outline, cover fly, body and bibliography. The final presentation of this report will be presented orally using POWER POINT as a visual ai

6. Using Power Point, you will present a 3-5 minute oral report based on your written report. You can use other visual aids during this presentation - for example - a poster, a handout, and a transparency. We will take time to develop Power Point presentations on the topics selected. Each student will present his/her topic in Power Point forma

7. I strongly suggest that you use the library facilities to videotape your oral-report practice sessions. You will not pass this course if you do not submit your written report on or before the due date and give your oral presentation when it is schedule

8. Attendance is mandatory for all students during the class sessions when oral reports are presented. You will be asked to evaluate every student’s presentation, and your evaluations will be reflected in the speaker's oral report grade. If you choose to miss class, at least three points will be deducted from your oral report grade for every class that you miss.

9. To succeed in this course you should (1) attend every class meeting, (2) submit assignments when due, and (3) get serious about writing effective letters, memos, and reports. Each week you should budget at least six hours outside of class to prepare your assignments. Review the BUSCOMMPPT Tutorial periodically

10. If you should miss a day of class, please contact a fellow student to review his/her notes. If you have any questions regarding the material, stop by my office during office hours or make an appointment

11. During the semester you will have at least three in-class letter-writing assignments. You will be told what chapter these letters will come from during the previous class period. Then you will have only one class period to write the body of the letter. You may refer to any previously written letters, any handbooks, and your textbook. But I will help only with hardware and/or software problems

Examzes will be given to encourage you to keep current with your reading assignments. You cannot make-up Examzes, tests, or in-class letters

12. To help boost your average, your lowest Exam grade, your lowest in-class letter grade, and your lowest homework letter grade are usually dropped

13. Part of your final will consist of a grammar, spelling, and punctuation test. We will be reviewing for this throughout the semester while discussing the C.L.U.E. exercises. This test will be given during the scheduled final exam time and will count as 10 percent of your final grade.

14. Various films will be used to support lectures. You are expected to participate in group discussions following the films   Required films:   Class Action (Gene Hackman) and Disclosure (Douglass/Moore) --students will view these films outside of class.   Essay questions will be given on mid-term and final.

15. Attendance policy - please refer to and comply with current AMC policy listed in catalogue.

You will turn in two current events each week along with a synopsis of each.

______________________________________________________________________________

The course grade will be determined by the instructor by evaluating student performance on assignments, tests, oral presentations, homework and research papers.

Homework        20%  (includes portfolio and intervew)

Papers                 20%

Exams                    20%

Powerpoint        20%

Final                          20%

How to Study for this Clas

In order to successfully complete the requirements for this course, students MUST keep up and not get behind with assignments. Much emphasis will be put on speaking and writing, and it is essential that you practice these skills in and away from the classroom. If you are constant, persistent and consistent with your learning process, you will enjoy this class,

Attend all classes on time.

Read and complete all assignments on time.

Practice your INTERNET and Word Processing Skills.

Review class notes after each session.

Work with study partners.

Do not miss exams and group presentations.

Plan to spend at least five hours per week preparing for this class.

 

INSTRUCTOR WILL NOT WITHDRAW STUDENTS FROM THIS CLASS FOR BREECH OF ATTENDANCE. STUDENTS MUST WITHDRAW THEMSELVES.  POOR ATTENDANCE WILL RESULT IN LOWER GRADE.