Business & Professional Communication

Fall 2009

 

INSTRUCTOR:               Dr. Barbara J. Tarter (tarterb@marshall.edu)

               

Main Office:                               Smith Hall 257                                       Main Office #: (304) 696-6786   

Personal Office:                         Smith Hall 271                                       Office Phone:  (304) 696-2700

 

Office Hours:                             TTH – 10:00–11:00                    Classes:                        TTH 11:00-12:15

M W – 1:00-2:00                                                TTH 12:30-1:45

M --3:15-4:00                                                    M W 2:00-3:15

W -- 3:15-4:15                                                  M 4:00-6:20

M – 6:20-7:00   

 

Class Description:                   CMM 207 Section 105 CRN 1867 – TTH 11:00-12:15

                                                CMM 207 Section 106 CRN 1868 – TTH 12:30-1:45

 

TEXTBOOK:          DiSanza, J. R., & Legge, N. J. (2009).  Business and professional communication.              Boston: Pearson Education Inc.

 

WORKBOOK:        Business and Professional Communication Student Workbook – 3^rd Edition

 

            COURSE OBJECTIVES

 

1.         To identify and explain principles and terms common to business and professional communication

2.         To recognize communication contexts to include interpersonal, group, organizational, and public communication.

3.         To analyze communication contexts in order to develop effective messages.

4.         To research, organize and deliver informative and persuasive presentations.

5.         To demonstrate knowledge and competence in the interviewing process.

 

            CLASS ASSIGNMENTS

 

DUE DATES: Written assignments are due by midnight of the due date.  If you choose to e-mail the assignment, please make sure that you receive a response indicating that the assignment has been received.

 

LATE ASSIGNMENTS:  The semester will move very fast and it is difficult to stay on track unless you follow the syllabus closely.  Assignments not received by the due date will be subject to a reduced grading scale.  Assignments will not be accepted more than one class period late without special permission from the instructor.  Speeches cannot be made up unless prior consent is obtained from the instructor or the absence meets the requirements of a university excused absence.

 

COPIES OF ASSIGNMENTS:  It is a good college practice to always keep copies of your work, both before and after grading, in case the assignment is accidentally misplaced by the instructor.  Sorry, we make mistakes too!L

 

ATTENDANCE:  Attendance is required for the course.  A student that misses more than two unexcused absence* may start to lose a percentage of their final grade according to the following scale:

 

3 Unexcused Absences may result in one entire final grade reduction

4 Unexcused Absences may result in two entire final grade reductions

5 Unexcused Absences may result in three entire final grade reductions

A student that acquires 6 unexcused absences or that misses the equivalent of three weeks of the class will receive a failing grade for the course.

 

*Please see the university catalog for the definition of excused and unexcused absences.

 

STUDENTS with DISABILITIES:   Marshall University is committed to equal opportunity in education for all students, including those with physical, learning and psychological disabilities.  University policy states that it is the responsibility of students with disabilities to contact the Office of Disabled Student Services (DSS) in Prichard Hall 117, phone 304 696-2271 to provide documentation of their disability.  For more information, please visit http://www.marshall.edu/disabled or contact Disabled Student Services Office at Prichard Hall 11, phone 304-696-2271.

 

              CLASSROOM RESPECT

 

Late Arrivals:  Given the nature of the class, it is important that you arrive to class on time.  Late arrivals can significantly distract the speaker resulting in an unfair grade for their performance.  If you must arrive late during a performance day, please wait until the speaker has sat down before entering the classroom.

 

Cell Phones:  Please make sure that all cell phones are turned off before class starts.  If you have an emergency call that you are expecting, please let the instructor know prior to the start of class.

 

Text Messaging:  Please refrain from texting others during class time.  This is extremely distracting and disrespectful to the instructor and to other speakers who expect your attention.

 

Laptops:  Feel free to bring a laptop to take notes during class BUT other uses of the computer such as e-mailing friends, gaming, or surfing the WEB for unrelated class material, may result in class dismissal.

 

 

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

 

Plagiarism:  Copying another’s work without proper citation of the source constitutes plagiarism.  Plagiarism in any form will not be tolerated.  A student that is found plagiarizing another’s work will automatically receive an “F” in the course and may be subject to further university discipline.

 

Cheating:  According to university policy, cheating is defined as the use of any unauthorized materials during an academic exercise to include notes, study aids etc.  Cheating also includes the viewing of another person’s work or securing any part of an assignment or examination in advance of distribution by the instructor.  Cheating will not be tolerated in this class and will result in an automatic “F” for the class and the possible recommendation of suspension or expulsion from the university.

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

 

This course is a departmental course so the instructor has very little flexibility in course modifications.  The course requirements are detailed in the workbook.   Please note that the speech times have been reduced for some of the assignments and a new interview assignment has been added.

 

All exams are departmental so it is essential that you read the textbook thoroughly as the exams will be exclusively drawn from the textbook. 

 

Students can keep track of their final grade by writing in each of the assignment grades on the next page.

 

Attached is a fall calendar for your convenience.  This will allow you to not only keep track of your speech requirements but also your other class requirements.  The readings are noted in red and the class assignments in black.  Please keep track of the assignment due dates, as you can see they will occur very frequently.

 

GOOD LUCK!

 

 

 

 

1.         Written Assignments                                                              Points

           

            Informational Technical Outline                                                    25                     ____

            Sales Outline                                                                             30                     ____

            Persuasive Proposal Outline                                                         50                     ____

            Resume                                                                                     60                     ____

            Cover Letter                                                                               25                     ____

            Thank You Letter                                                                        15                     ____

            Interview Questions                                                                    30                     ____

            Crisis Briefing Outline                                                                  60                     ____

 

            TOTAL Points:                                                                          295                  ____

 

2.         Oral Presentations                                                                  Points

 

            Informational Technical Presentation                                            60                     ____

            Sales Presentation                                                                      70                     ____

            Persuasive Proposal Presentation                                     100                   ____

            Employment Interviewee (Taped)                                                80                     ____

            Employment Interviewer                                                 50                     ____

            Crisis Briefing Presentation                                                          120                   ____

 

            TOTAL Points:                                                                          480                  ____

 

3.         Exams                                                                                      Points

 

            Departmental Midterm                                                                60                     ____

            Departmental Final Exam                                                            120                   ____

 

            TOTAL Points:                                                                          180                  ____

 

            TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS:                                                         955                  ____

 

            A = 860-955

            B = 764-859

            C = 669-763

            D = 573-668

            F = 572 or less

 

*The syllabus is subject to change based on the needs of the class and the instructor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

August 2009
Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Notes:  COM 207 – 11:00-12:15 TR – 1867 -105  (ROOM 261 Smith Hall)               COM 207 – 12:30-1:45 TR – 1868 – 106  (ROOM 261 Smith Hall)						1
2	3	4	5	6	7	8
9	10	11	12	13	14	15
16	17	18	19	20	21	22
23	24 Classes Begin	25 Review Syllabus The Role of CMM in Business – CH 1	26	27  Listening & Feedback – CH 2 Interpersonal Politics & Power - CH 4	28	29
30	31	Notes:    *The syllabus is subject to change based on the needs of the class and the instructor.
September 2009
Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Notes:		1 Considering Aud. Feedback – CH 6 Preparing & Delivering Presentations – CH 7	2	3  Creating & Using Visual Aids – CH 8 Technical Presentations – CH 9	4	5
6	7 Labor Day Holiday – Classes Cancelled	8    Technical Presentations (5-7 minutes)	9	10 Technical Presentations (5-7 minutes)	11	12
13	14	15 Technical Presentations (5-7  minutes)	16	17   Sales Presentations –  CH 11	18	19
20	21	22 Resume Writing, Cover Letters, Thank You Notes	23	24 Sales Presentations (5-7 minutes)	25	26
27	28	29 Sales Presentations (5-7 minutes)	30	Notes:

 

October 2009
Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Notes:				1 Sales Presentations (5-7 minutes)	2	3
4	5	6 Professional Interviews – CH 5	7	8   * Resumes, and Cover Letters, Job Description are Due (2 copies)   Midterm Review	9	10
11	12	13 Departmental Midterm Exam Chapters 1,2,4,6,7,8 & 9	14	15 Taped Employment Interviews   Interviewers – ALL Copies of Questions	16	17
18	19 Midterm Grades Submitted	20 Taped Employment Interviews	21	22 Taped Employment Interviews	23	24
25	26	27 Proposal Presentations – CH 10	28	29 Communicating in Organizational Groups – CH 3	30	31
November 2009
Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
1	2	3 No Formal Class Work on Proposal Presentation	4	5 Proposal Presentations (5-7 minutes)	6	7
8	9	10 Proposal Presentations (5-7 minutes)	11	12 Proposal Presentations (5-7 minutes)	13	14
15	16	17  Risk Communication – CH 12 Crisis Communication – CH 13	18	19 Make-Up Assignment Day (Final Review)	20	21
22	23 Thanksgiving Holiday – Classes Cancelled	24 Thanksgiving Holiday – Classes Cancelled	25 Thanksgiving Holiday – Classes Cancelled	26 Thanksgiving Holiday – Classes Cancelled	27 Thanksgiving Holiday – Classes Cancelled	28
29	30	Notes:

 

December 2009
Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Notes:		1 Crisis Communication Presentations (5-7 minutes)	2	3 Crisis Communication Presentations (5-7 minutes)	4	5
6	7	8 Last Class Day Crisis Communication Presentations (5-7 minutes)	9	10 11:00-12:15 Class Comprehensive Final  Exam @ 10:15-12:15	11	12
13	14	15 12:30-1:45 Class Comprehensive Final Exam @ 12:45-2:45	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26
27	28	29	30	31	Notes:  CMM  308 – Persuasion – 1876 – 103 MW 2-3:15 (Final – 12:45-2:45 – Mon. 12/14   CMM 481 – Nonverbal – 1891 - M 4-6:20 – (Final 12/14 4:00-6:20 p.m. )