Black River Technical College
Course Name:  Business Communications
Course Number:  ADMS 2563
Course Credit: 3 credit hours

Instructor:             Deborah Prichard, BSE, MSE & SCCT

Office Hours:          Posted on Office Door (AC 105)

Phone:                  (870) 248-4000, Ext. 4179

E-mail address:      debbiep@blackrivertech.org

Textbook:             Himstreet & Baty’s Business Communications, Lehman & DuFrene, Southwestern Publishing Company, Anniversary Edition

Course Description:

This course is designed to facilitate student’s understanding of crucial communication principles and to develop effective writing skills.  This course provides opportunities to analyze complex issues, organize thoughts logically, and communicate these complex ideas concisely.

Course Objectives:  Upon completion of the course the student should be able to:

1.      Devine communication and describe the main purposes for communication in business.

2.      Describe and use effective interpersonal communication and listening skills.

3.      Identify the various aspects of the organizational setting for business communication.

4.      Plan and deliver a short presentation.

5.      Apply techniques for adapting message to the audience and for developing effective sentences and unified and coherent paragraphs.

6.      Edit and rewrite message for vividness, clarity, and conciseness.

7.      Revise and proofread a m3essage for organization, content, style, mechanics, format, and layout.

8.      Compose good-news letters using the deductive sequence.

9.      Write letters conveying unpleasant news using the inductive sequence.

10.  Write effective sales messages and requests that are persuasive, but ethical.

11.  Prepare resume.

12.  Prepare for and participate effectively in a job interview.

13.  Write effective letters related to employment and complete application forms accurately.

14.  Write an effective format report using assigned format and acceptable writing style.

Student Assessment:

1.      Oral presentation (100 points)*

2.      Written exams (given at checkpoints) (100 points each)*

3.      Business correspondence (100 points each)*

4.      Job interview (100 points)*

5.      Four to six page business report (200 points)*

6.      Final examination (100 points)*

*Any late assignments will be assessed a 10% penalty.

Grading Scale:                100%-90%=A

                          89%-80%=B

                          79%-79%=C

                          69%-60%=D

                         Below 60%=F

Course Requirements:

Attendance:  Students are expected to attend class regularly and to be punctual in attending class.  If a student must miss a class, it is the sole responsibility of the students to contact the instructor as soon as possible to obtain assignments and work missed.  Excessive absenteeism may result in loss of credit for the course.  Excessive is defined as two times the number of times the class meets per week.

Class Participation and Behavior:  Class participation is a vital part of the learning environment.  Therefore, each student is expected to participate in classroom discussions, answer questions and offer input.  Students are also expected to behave in a professional manner in class; no loud talking, etc.  Students are not allowed to bring food or drink into the classroom.

Exams:  The exams may consist of true/false, multiple choice, short answer, problems, or essay.  Test results will be handed back as soon as they are graded, usually the following class period.  Students should not come to the instructor before the exams are handed back for their scores.  Students are expected to keep a record of test and homework scores—do not depend on the instructor having your grade calculated.  Mid-term grades and final grades are mailed out by the registrar’s office; do not call the college or the instructor for your grades.  The instructor reserves the right to deviate from the test format throughout the semester (i.e.: may be all practical).

Make-up Exams and Late Assignments:

Students will be allowed to make up an exam (no more that one exam may be made up) only if prior arrangements have been made with the instructor.  Emergencies and sudden illnesses will be taken into consideration; however, the instructor reserves the right to refuse to administer a make-up exam.  Make-up exams will be given the last day of regular classes.  The make-up exam may not be the same format as the original exam.  Any student who misses an exam should contact the instructor immediately following their return to school.  Students will not be able to take a make-up exam if the instructor is not contacted immediately after missing the exam.  If a student misses more than one exam, a zero will be given for that exam.  Students will not be allowed to retake an exam for any reason.  Any assignment turned in late will be assessed a 10% penalty if turned in by the following class.  If the assignment is not turned in by the following class time, the student will be given a zero for that assignment.  The assignment is termed “late” if the assignment is not handed in when the instructor calls for them (Not 5 or 10 minutes later).  NO EXCEPTIONS ON LATE ASSIGNMENTS.  In class assignments that are done and turned in during class cannot be made up.

STUDENT EVALUATION:

Instructional Methodology:

1.      Classroom situation will follow a lecture/discussion format.

2.      Students will participate in various classroom activities such as : an oral presentation and a mock job interview.

3.      Students will plan and write various types of business correspondence and a research paper.

Course Schedule*

Activity                       Subject

Chapter 1                     A Framework for Business Communication

Chapter 2                     Organization Setting for Business Communication

Written Exam covering Chapters 1 & 2

Chapter 3                     Organizing and Composing Messages

Chapter 4                     Revising and Proofreading Messages

Written Exam covering Chapter 3 & 4

Chapter 5                     Writing Good-News, Routine and Special Letters

Chapter 6                     Writing Memos and Electronic Communication

Chapter 7                     Writing Bad News Letters

Chapter 8                     Writing Persuasive Letters

One letter will be assigned for Chapters 5-8

Business Report

Chapter 13                   Preparing Resumes and Application Letters

Chapter 14                   Interviewing for a Job and Preparing Employment Messages

Resume, Application Letter, Application Form, and Mock Job Interview

Final Exam

*Course Schedule subject to change if needed during the semester.

OFFICE HOURS

Office hours will be posted on my office door and on this site throughout the semester.

N.B.    This syllabus is intended as a guide for class work and assignments and as such is thus subject to change as deemed appropriate to suit the needs of an individual class.

IMPORTANT:

Black River Technical College seeks to be in compliance with both the spirit and the letter of  the law as stated in section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended, and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Students seeking ADA accommodations must contact Mr. Jim Ulmer, Director of Disability Support Services, P.O. Box 468, Pocahontas, AR 72455.  Phone 870-248-4000, fax 870-248-4100, or e-mail him at jamesu@blackrivertech.org .  Contact must be made two weeks prior to beginning date of each enrollment period.

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