BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS AND CORRESPONDENCE

POFT 2312

CREDIT HOURS: 3 LECTURE HOURS: 3 LAB HOURS: 0

Professor/Instructor: Nancy Whitworth Office T208: Phone 675-6333

Office Hours: As posted Email: nwhitworth@tvcc.edu

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is intended to develop skills in all phases of business communications including writing listening, and speaking, reading and interpreting nonverbal cues. Primary emphasis is placed on developing sound skills for writing letters, memos, reports, and correct telephone procedures and techniques. Awareness of electronic advances in information processing and management and their impact on communication is also included.

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK: EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION FOR COLLEGES,

10th Edition, Brantley and Miller

Optional: HOW 10 (OR HOW 9) A HANDBOOK FOR OFFICE WORKERS

Optional: Dictionary - Standard desk style or good paperback THE AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY or The WEBSTER NEW DICTIONARY.

Supplies: White typing paper

COURSE GOALS

To help students improve their abilities to develop clear, accurate business messages by providing a frame work called the Communication-by-Objectives (whole-into-parts) approach. Using this eight-step approach, students will plan, select, and organize information: apply a message strategy appropriate for the situation, and incorporate basic message qualities.

COMPETENCIES:

After completion of the course the student should be competent to do the following:

1 Recognize the relationship of effective communication skills to success in academic, work, and social environments.

2. Plan and develop messages that achieve the message objective and maintain goodwill by using the CBO approach, an appropriate message strategy, and basic message qualities.

3. Develop acceptable communication skills to produce clear, complete accurate messages.

4. Use message strategies and formats appropriate for professional communication situations.

5. Develop and apply critical thinking skills when determining solutions for communication-related problems.
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION:

The lecture/demonstration method, supplemented with overhead transparencies, handouts, practice exercises, and reviews will be used in the classroom. Outside of class, the student will employ the technique of learning by doing as the workbook assignments are completed. Some assignments will be required to be submitted in typewritten form.

ATTENDANCE AND BEHAVIOR

All students are expected to attend all classes. Excessive absences may result in the student being dropped from the class according to the college catalog. However, dropping a class to receive a “W” grade is the student’s responsibility, not the instructor’s.

Arriving 10 minutes or more late or leaving 10 minutes or more early is considered an absence. Tardies of less than 10 minutes should be reported to the instructor at the end of the class period incurred so that the recorded absence can be changed to a tardy. Not reporting a tardy may result in it being recorded as an absence. Three tardies will be counted as one absence. No children and only approved guests are permitted to attend the class.

All students are considered to be mature individuals by the instructor. Students will be required to conduct themselves with utmost consideration of the rights and property of others. Any behavior on the part of the student that interrupts or impedes the quality of instruction shall not be permitted. Unrelated talking and other disturbing behavior will not be tolerated. It is expected that each student respect the rights and opinions of other students. Inappropriate behavior which continues after the instructor’s reprimand will be dealt with by the Administration.

Radios, tapes, cell phones, pagers, CD players, and other audio or video equipment are not permitted in the classroom at any time. Obscene and profane language will not be tolerated. Food and drink may not be taken into the classrooms or labs. No children and only approved guests are allowed to visit the class.

GRADING CRITERIA:

1. Nine Unit Reviews

2. Two Unit Applications Tests (1-4) and (5-9)

3. Class and homework assignments

4. Final Project

GRADE ASSIGNMENT:

1. 90-100% of total possible points = A

2. 80-90% of total possible points = B

3. 70-79% of total possible points = C

4. 60-69% of total possible points = D

5. Less than 60% = F

TEST POLICY:

If a test is missed due to an emergency, the next test grade will be doubled to replace the test missed.

TEST MAKEUP:

No Make-up tests given. If a test is missed for whatever reason, the next test will be recorded twice. This procedure may only be utilized one time. The next test missed by a student will be recorded as a zero.

There will be no make-up test given for the final exam.

BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS TENTATIVE ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE

. Session	Assignment Due Instructor: Nancy Whitworth
1	No assignment - Orientation
2	No assignment - Communications Skills Evaluation Test
3	Read Ch 1; Complete CSD (Nouns) 1A, 1B
4	Listening Exercise “Effective Listening.” (In-class assignment)
5	Typed notes due: “Effective Listening” Complete 1-6
6	Read Ch 2; Complete CSD (Pron) 2A, 2B; Study Ch 1 for Review Quiz in class
7	Complete Exercises 2-1, 2-2, 2-3
8	Complete Exercises 2-4, 2-5, 2-6, 2-7, & 2-8
9	Read Ch 3; Complete CSD (Vbs) 3A, 3B; Study Ch 2 for Review Quiz
10	Complete Exercises 3-2, and 3-3
11	Complete Exercises 3-4, 3-5, 3-7, (Bonus 3-6); Study Ch 3 for Review Quiz
12	Read Ch 4 completing CSD (ADJ) 4A & 4B, Ch 3 Review Quiz
13	Complete Exercises 4-5 & 4-8; Study for Test 1-4 Units
14	TEST 1-4 UNITS (100 points)
15	Read Ch 5, Complete CSD (Adv) 5A & 5B
16	Complete Case Study 5-1,, 5-5
17	Complete Case Studies 5-7, 5-9, 5-10; Study Ch 5 for Review quiz
18	Read Ch 6 Completing CSD (Prep) 6A, 6B; Chapter 5 Review Quiz
19	Complete Exercises 6-1, 6-2, & Case Study 6-1
20	Complete Case Studies 6-3; Study for Ch 6 Review Quiz
21	Read Ch 7 completing CSD (A, B-Conj. & Interj.); Chapter 6 Review Quiz
22	Complete Exercises 7-3, A & B, (Bonus Credit 7-7)
23	Complete Case Study 7-1 & 7-7; Study for Ch 7 quiz
24	Read Ch 8 Completing CSD (Sen Pts) 8A & 8B; Chapter 7 Quiz
25	EMPLOYMENT MESSAGES (*Chapter exercises should be placed in a folder & submitted at the end of the chapter. Complete Exercises 8-1, 8-2, 8-3, 8-4, 8-5; 8-6, 8-7, & 8-8, 8-10
26	Read Chapter 9; Complete CSD 9A & 9B (Pun); Complete exercise 9-6, Case Studies 9-1, 9-3, & 9-4
27	Read Chapter 10 & 11 omitting exercises. (A few questions will be on the final exam)
TBA	Final Exam: Chapter 5-11 (True, False, & Composition) Graduates are Exempt. Date & Time of Exam:________________ Employment Kits will be returned on final exam day.