Northeastern State University

                                                                      College of Business and Technology

                                                        Department of  Information Systems and Technology

                                                                                          Tahlequah, OK

 

INSTRUCTOR:

 

Dr. Jo Ann Starkweather                                                                  Office:  BT 221B

Office Hrs:             W 9:00-11:00                                                        Phone: 918-456-5511  ext. 2938

                                T/Th  9:00-11:00                                                  FAX:  918-458-2337

E-mail: starkwea@nsuok.edu                         

 


COURSE TITLE AND NUM0892BER:                                                CLASS DAYS & TIME:

IS 3113 –Business Communications                                            Online (Section 0929)

 

PREREQUISITES:

Has met English Proficiency and has completed MIS-1133 or equiv. with C or better.

 

CATALOG DESCRIPTION OF COURSE:

Theory and application of the communicative processes with emphasis on business letters, reports, ethical considerations and international/intercultural communications.

 

COURSE PURPOSE:

Business Communications is designed to equip you with the communication skills needed in today’s dynamic workplace.  The abilities to read, listen, speak, and write effectively are crucial to being successful in the demanding new world of work.  Highly developed communication skills lay the groundwork for success.

 

EXPECTED COURSE OUTCOMES:

After completing IS 3113, students should be able to:

 

1.                                           Demonstrate basic language skills in grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, number usage and sentence

                                 structure.

2.                                           Exhibit advanced communication techniques including skillful use of words, parallelism, emphasis, unity, tone, and style.

3.                                           Communicate in concise, clear, straightforward language.

4.                                           Develop problem-solving and critical-thinking skills by analyzing business problems, resulting in functional business

                                documents:  memoranda, letters, and reports.

5.                                           Demonstrate the interpersonal, listening, and speaking skills necessary in both independent and collaborative situations.

6.                                           Apply functional and flexible communication skills within an expanding business environment constantly affected by

                                international, ethical, and diversity needs.

7.                                           Integrate electronic elements in the oral and written communication process.

8.                                           Identify important aspects of and develop materials for the job-search process.

 


INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS: (Required Textbook & Materials)

 

John V. Thill and Courtland L. Bovee.  Excellence in Business Communication. (7th ed.).  Upper Saddle River, NJ:  Prentice Hall, 2007.

 

INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES:

 

The expected course outcomes will be realized through a variety of instructional strategies including:  lecture notes, textbook slides, textbook and other related readings and activities.

 

        Assignments may include (but are not limited to):

                4 exams @ 100 pts. each                                                  400 points

                4 BlackBoard Discussion Threads:                                                100 points

                                Initiate 1 assigned thread @ 20 pts.

                                Respond to 4 threads @ 20 pts. each                                           

                3 short writing assignments

                                @ 100 pts. each (letters, memos, email)                       300 points

                Group PowerPoint Project                                                 200 points

                Resume                                                                                                100 points

               

 

 

 

 

 

        ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:

 

Professional, ethical, honest behavior is a MUST in the business world.  These same behaviors are essential in the classroom, as well.  Dishonesty includes (among other things) copying another individual's  work or allowing someone to copy your work; plagiarizing someone else's work as your own; accepting or giving help on quizzes, tests, or writing assignments; and using notes or the textbook for quizzes or tests.  Downloading information from the internet or copying letters, memos, etc., from books is a common form of plagiarism; do not do this.  All your work must be your own original work; if you quote others or use their ideas, give them credit for it.  If any type of academic dishonesty is detected (including violations of the list above), students will be subject to disciplinary action including reduction of a grade(s), expulsion from the class with an F, and/or expulsion from the university as outlined in the Northeastern State University catalog.


 

 

ASSIGNMENT DUE DATES:

 

You are expected to participate in all class activities and you are required to complete all assignments on time.  All assignments are to be prepared and submitted according to directions given for the assignment (both oral and written).  Each assignment must be keyed (no handwritten work will be accepted).  Assignments that do not meet specifications will receive a grade of “0.”  Any assignment submitted after the specified due date is late and no credit will be given.   Extended illness, injury, or emergency situations will be handled on a case-by-case basis at the professor’s discretion.

 

Interruptions in class participation due to involvement in officially  validated school activity (e.g., athletic team participation, research conference presentations, etc.) require that the student submit work due or take tests scheduled PRIOR TO that absence.  If a test will be missed, the student must confer with the professor prior to the absence.  Make-up tests will not be given except for absences due to VALIDATED illness or emergencies (at the professor’s discretion).  The student must contact the professor immediately if a test is missed.

 


 

STUDENT EVALUATION:

 

Given the heavy emphasis on written work for your course assignments, the 4 exams in this class are in an objective (T/F, multiple choice) format.  Exams are available during a specified date/time:

 

                Exam 1  (Ch. 1, 2, 13)         Available Fri., Feb. 2 – Wed., Feb. 7

                Exam 2  (Ch. 7-9)                                Available Fri., Mar. 2 – Wed., Mar. 7

                Exam 3  (Ch. 10-12)            Available Fri., Mar. 30 – Wed., Apr 4

                Exam 4 (Ch. 14-15)             Available Fri., Apr. 27 – Wed., May 2

 

The last date on which a student may drop the course with an automatic “W” is Friday, Apr. 6. If you drop after this date, you will receive the grade you have earned up to the drop date.  The grade of “W” will be assigned only if your grade is a “D” or higher; an “F” will also be assigned if you stop participating and have not turned in assignments or have not taken scheduled exams prior to the drop date.

 

 

GRADE APPEALS:

 

A student may petition a grade change by using the Grade Appeals Process if satisfactory resolution cannot be achieved after consultation with the instructor and/or Dean.  The Grade Appeals Process must be formally initiated with a written appeal to the Dean within four months following awarding of the original grade.  Please contact the Dean of the college in which the grade was given for a copy of the grade appeals process.

 

ADA COMPLIANCE:

If any member of the class feels that he/she has a disability and needs special accommodations of any nature whatsoever, the instructor will work with you and the University's Office of Student Affairs to provide reasonable accommodations to ensure that you have a fair opportunity to perform in this class.  Please advise the instructor of such disability and the desired accommodations during the first week of class.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BUSINESS COMMUNICATION 3113

SPRING 2007

 

COURSE SCHEDULE AND ASSIGNMENTS

(SUBJECT TO REVISION by DR. J)

 

                                                                                               

WK.

Week of Monday:

TOPIC

CHAPTER

ASSIGNMENT

1

8 Jan.

INTRO/ORIENTATION

1

 

2

15 Jan.

SPEAKING SKILL

13

 

3

22 Jan.

BlackBoard Discussion    

Separate

Handout

BlackBoard Discussion Thread Initiation & Response

4

29 Jan.

INTERCULTURAL COMM.

2

EXAM 1 (Ch 1,2, 13) Available Fri. 2/2 –Wed. 2/7

5

5 Feb.

GOOD NEWS

7

Good News Letter Due Fri.

6

12 Feb,

BAD NEWS

8

Bad News Letter Due Fri.

7

19 Feb.

PERSUASIVE/SALES

9

Persuasive Letter Due Fri.

8

26 Feb.

LETTERS

 

EXAM 2 (Ch 7-9) Available Fri. 3/2 –Wed. 3/7

9

5 Mar.

REPORT PLAN / WRITE

10-11

 

10

12 Mar.

PROPOSALS

12

PPP Sources Due Friday

11

19 Mar.

  !!  Spring Break !!

 

 

12

26 Mar.

 

 

EXAM 3 (Ch. 10-12) Available Fri. 3/30 –Wed. 4/4

13

2 Apr.

EMPLOYMENT

14

 

14

9 Apr.

EMPLOYMENT

14

 

15

16 Apr.

INTERVIEWS

15

Resume Due Friday

16

23 Apr.

PPP, ppp, ppp, etc.

Separate

Handout

Group PowerPoint Pres. & Peer Eval. Of Pres.’s

 

 

Final Exam

 

Exam 4 (Ch. 14-15) Available Fri. 4/27 –Wed. 5/2

THIS CLASS WILL BE CONDUCTED WITH LECTURE NOTES/SLIDES, AND WITH

INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP PROBLEM-SOLVING ACTIVITIES

 

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NOTE:  Students are responsible for downloading complete syllabus and detailed instructions from Instructor’s web site:  http://arapaho.nsuok.edu/~starkwea