The
College of
Liberal Arts and Sciences
036:016
Business and Professional Communication
Section
004—Fall 2002
Instructor: Amy N. Aldridge
E-mail: amy-aldridge@uiowa.edu (This is the absolute best way to get a hold
of me).
Office Phone: 319.353.2256 (Please only call during office
hours).
Home Phone: 319.338.7807
Office: 120 Becker Communication Studies Building
Mailbox: Across from Carol Schrage’s office (111 BCSB)
Office Hours: 2:30-3:30 Tuesdays; 11:30-1 and 2:30-3
Thursdays; other times by appointment
Course Location: 313 PH
Course Meeting Time: TR 9:30-10:45
Faculty Adviser: Professor David Hingstman, 157 Becker,
353.2263
Department Information: Dr. Randy Hirokawa, DEO,
Communication Studies, BCSB 117, 319.353.2255
Course Descriptions and
Objectives:
Communicating
in business and professional settings can be very different from everyday
conversations. Thus, the main objective
of this course is for students to recognize the differences between everyday
and professional communication and develop the skills to adapt to the business
world accordingly. This course
emphasizes the performative aspects of communication in professional settings;
therefore, students will be required to actively participate in class
discussions and activities.
Specifically,
you should expect to achieve the following goals by the end of the semester:
1. Confidence in developing and
presenting individual and group presentations.
2. The ability to craft
effective written documents for business and professional audiences.
3. Knowledge and practice of
the skills for effective employment interviewing.
4. Skills for providing
professional feedback.
5. The ability to think
critically about and analyze professional interactions.
6. Advanced knowledge about a
particular career field or interest.
Roman, Kenneth and Joel
Raphaelson. (2000). Writing that Works.
Ziglar, Zig.
(1998). Success for Dummies.
*Available
at the IMU Bookstore.
Additional
In
addition to the text, you may be asked to read various articles regarding
communication in the business community.
These readings will be provided for you or placed on reserve in the
BCSB. You are responsible for
photocopying materials that are placed on reserve. Specific titles and further information will
be announced at appropriate times during the semester.
Miscellaneous Items:
1. Binder/Notebook for class
lectures and discussions.
2. Resume paper and a
professional portfolio folder to keep materials developed for this class.
3. Access to either an inkjet
or a laser printer (both are available at ITC labs on campus).
4. Access to the Internet and
e-mail.
5. Additional small purchases,
such as 4x6 note cards, magazines, newspapers, photocopies, etc. will be needed
throughout the semester. You will be
completing research for class assignments that will require you to photocopy
readings as needed.
Attendance:
The
emphasis on performance and participation in this class requires closes
attention by students and the instructor to attendance. You will be allowed two class periods of unexcused absences. For each additional absence, 20 points will
be deducted from your final grade.
Please note the following:
1. You may not make up in-class
assignments unless i) the University
officially excuses your absence, ii)
you’re absent while under a doctor’s care, iii) your absence is due to attendance at legal
proceedings requiring your presence, or
iv) your absence is due to the
death or serious illness of an immediate family member. All of these absences will require written
documentation and will be considered excused.
Please do not abuse this privilege.
All written documentation is due
the last day of class before finals.
2. If you miss a class, you are
responsible for finding out all assignments, content, activities, and any
changes in due dates. If you contact me
BEFORE class, I will be happy to provide this information for you. If you try to get this information AFTER a
class session has already passed, you will need to contact one of your
classmates. I will not keep extra copies
of assignments or class notes.
3. An attendance sheet will be passed
out at the beginning of every class period.
NOTE: You are absolutely,
positively 100% responsible for signing the attendance sheet each class period. If you are late, you must get the sheet and
sign it after class… “I forget to sign it” or “I’m sure I was there” will not
be sufficient to document your attendance at the end of the semester.
Outline of Course:
This
class will be divided into five sections:
1) Job Search, 2) Business Writing, 3) Informative Speaking, 4) Group
Communication, and 5) Persuasive Speaking. The
expected course outcomes will be realized through a variety of instructional
strategies. Those strategies include,
but are not limited to, the following:
discussion, demonstration, inquiry and group activities. All of
the following assignments and point totals are considered tentative and may
change over the course of the semester due to your progress and interests.
Section
1: Job Search
Suggested
Expected
Assignments: resume, cover letter, interview,
follow-up letter
Possible
points: 100
Section
2: Business Writing
Suggested
Expected
Assignments: business letters, e-mails,
memos, award
presentations/acceptance speeches
Possible
points: 100-200
Section
3: Informative Speaking
Suggested
Expected
Assignments: company profile speech
Possible
points: 100
Section
4: Group Communication
Suggested
Expected
Assignments: card game, heart
transplant, block game, letter assignments, Ziglar
presentations
Possible
points: 200
Section
5: Persuasive Speaking
Suggested
Expected
Assignments: proposal speech
Possible
points: 100
Final Exam: Tuesday, December 17, at noon
Grading:
Your
grade for this course is based on a point system. Each assignment is worth a set number of
points. To determine a letter grade for
each assignment, calculate 10% of the points and subtract accordingly. For example, on an assignment worth 75
points, 67.5-75 is an “A,” 60-60.44 is a “B,” etc.
Work
that meets the minimum requirements of an assignment, is completed on time and
displays average involvement with the course content is deserving of a
“C.” Higher grades are awarded to work
that goes above and beyond the minimum standards to produce papers and
presentations that reflect superior intellectual effort, excellence in critical
analysis and overall creativity in the approach towards any given assignment.
The
|
A |
|
B |
|
C |
|
D |
|
|
> 98.5% |
A+ |
> 87.5% |
B+ |
> 77.5% |
C+ |
> 67.5% |
D+ |
|
> 92.5% |
A |
> 82.5% |
B |
> 72.5% |
C |
> 62.5% |
D |
|
> 89.5% |
A- |
> 79.5% |
B- |
> 69.5% |
C- |
> 59.5% |
D- |
Missed/Late Assignments:
1. Written Work: For each class session that an
assignment is turned in late, you will be assessed a penalty of 10 points for
that particular assignment.
2. E-mailing assignments/computer problems: You will need to submit most of your
assignments in hard copy. On occasion,
it will be possible to submit assignments via e-mail. Please note:
your computer breaking, printer not working, etc. will never be accepted
as an excuse for late work. It is your
responsibility to begin work early enough to accommodate unforeseen
circumstances. In addition, e-mailed
work is recorded as “turned in” according the time stamp in the introduction to
your message. “I got your address wrong”
or “my e-mail wasn’t working” will not be accepted as reasons for late
assignments.
3. Speeches/Presentations/Interviews: If
you miss an assigned speech, we may not have not have time to allow you to
present it later. If you know you are
going to miss an assigned speech, trade speaking dates with someone in the
class, and let the instructor know about the change. Failure to make a
speech/presentation/interview will result in a zero for that assignment.
Plagiarism:
According
to Webster’s New Universal Unabridged Dictionary (1983, 2nd
Ed.), to plagiarize is “to steal or pass of ideas or words of another as one’s
own…to use created productions without crediting the source…to commit literary
theft…to present as new and original an idea or product derived from an
existing source” (p.1371). Students in
this course will be responsible for authenticating any assignment submitted to
the instructor. If asked, you must be
able to produce proof that the assignment you submitted is in fact your own
work. Therefore, it is recommended that
you engage in a verifiable working process on assignments. Keep copies of all drafts of your work, make
photocopies of research materials, write summaries of research materials, keep
logs or journals of your work on assignments and papers, learn to save drafts
or versions of assignments under individual file names on computer diskettes,
etc. The penalty for plagiarism can
include, but is not limited to, failure on an assignment and/or an entire
course or placement on academic probation.
For more detailed information, see the official university policy on
plagiarism printed in the Fall 2002 schedule of courses on p. 40.
Student Disabilities
Services:
I
would like to hear from anyone who has a disability that may require some
modification of seating, testing, or other class requirements so that
appropriate arrangements can be made. If
any member of the class feels that he or she has a disability and requires
special accommodations, of any nature whatsoever, the instructor will work with
you and the Office of Student Disability Services (3101 Burge Hall) to ensure
that you have a fair opportunity to perform in this class. Please advise the instructor of such
disability and the desired accommodations at the close of the first class
period. Do not put this off until the
last minute (before a quiz or presentation), as it will be more difficult to
make appropriate arrangements.
Human Rights:
The
Classroom Climate:
The
success of this course is directly related to the sense of community that we
will develop in this classroom.
Participation is essential to this process. I encourage you to share your views and
listen to those of others. Debate and
discussion are an important part of the learning process. While there will no doubt be disagreements, I
expect the members of this community (including myself) to challenge ideas in a
manner that reflects respect and recognition of opposing viewpoints without
attacking individuals. There is no doubt in my mind that
controversial topics will come up during the course of this class. They always do. If you are a person who is easily offended by
the topics of sex, alcohol, abortion, the death penalty, racial stereotypes,
and other potentially controversial topics, then it is advised that you enroll
in another communication course not taught by this instructor.
Extra Credit:
Students
may or may not be eligible for extra credit points this semester, depending on
what options emerge as the semester progresses.
Many times, communication studies researchers seek participants for
their studies from students enrolled in undergraduate communication studies
courses. If researchers would like to
seek your participation in exchange for extra credit, I will ensure that you
have a choice in whether to participate in these studies or earn extra credit
through a comparable option that does not involve participation in a research
study. If extra credit options become
available, they will be announced in a manner that enables students to choose
among all available options.
Participation in a given study cannot be counted for extra credit in
more that one course.
Questions and
Troubleshooting:
If
you ever have any questions about this class, please feel free to come talk
with me during office hours or by appointment.
If I am unable to provide an appropriate response to your concerns about
the class or an individual assignment, please contact the course
supervisor: David Hingstman, 157 BCSB,
335.2263. If you still have concerns,
you may follow the procedure for grievances outlined in the undergraduate
liberal arts catalogue.
Additional
Information/Things That Cause Your Instructor to Smile: