Joseph M. Bryan School of Business and Economics
Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Hospitality, and Tourism
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION, MKT309
Williams, Spring 2015, Online
The syllabus and course schedule are subject to change.
Catalog Description – This course focuses on business and professional communication, such as job search skills,
collaboration, verbal and non-verbal strategies. Emphasis is on effective persuasion, interpersonal, intercultural, and
organizational strategies through business styles, formats and presentations.
Course Instructor:
Mrs. Maria Williams
441 Bryan Building
mmwilli3@uncg.edu (best way to contact me)
Office hours: By Appointment Tuesday/Thursday
Credits: 3 hours
Additional Support: Business Communication Coaches
Prerequisites: Junior standing, admission to approved program
Additional Support: Writing Center, Speaking Center, Career Center, Digital Act Center, Digital Media Center
Course Overview & Philosophy
You are graded on WHAT you say (content) and HOW you say it (delivery). In this class, we will practice our
writing, speaking and relating skills. This Writing Intensive & Speaking Intensive course is performance-based.
Since knowledge and skills improve through practice, you are graded on your performance activities, not on effort.
Said another way, you are measured on your resulting production.
This course is designed on your engagement. You MUST prepare for every class. This is not a cram-for-the-exam
the night before course. You MUST view videos, read documents, complete assignments BEFORE you come to class.
A major portion of our class time will be interacting and problem solving with the topic.
This course is designed for your learning success:
1. It is sequenced – one topic prepares you for the next task and topic.
2. It is sequenced at a consistently steady pace, which helps you not to procrastinate.
3. It is designed for a spirit of collaborative success.
4. It is designed to offer you a significant amount of feedback. Feedback and reflection is fundamental.
Student Outcomes After successful completion of this course, you should:
1. Understand the importance of effective communication in the workplace.
2. Identify communication strategies to business situations.
3. Create responses to communication needs.
4. Conduct business research for evidence-based writings & presentations.
5. Use accurate documentation of sources.
6. Write concise and organized documents using the appropriate format.
7. Use the three step writing process.
8. Write reports based on the evaluation of data.
9. Develop and demonstrate effective oral presentations with verbal and nonverbal proficiencies.
1
Get comfortable being uncomfortable. Learning is by nature uncomfortable.
Course Requirements
1. Course text: Writing That Works by Oliu, Brusaw, and Alred, 11th edition
ISBN-10: 1-4576-1113-9 / ISBN-13: 978-1-4576-1113-1
2. All writing assignments must be submitted using Microsoft Word.
3. Recommended reference for writing rules: Stunk & White’s Elements of Style. Find it for FREE in our UNCG library
database at http://www.bartleby.com/141/.
4. Use your UNCG email account daily.
5. Check the UNCG website for any adverse weather conditions as they occur. However, in our online learning
environment, the weather should not impact our activities.
6. You are expected to adhere to the UNCG Honor Code which can be found online at
http://academicintegrity.uncg.edu/. As your professor, I will hold you to your integrity.
7. Please review the faculty/student guidelines http://www.uncg.edu/bae/faculty_student_guidelines.pdf.
The Student Code of Conduct short link is http://sa.uncg.edu/handbook/student-code-of-conduct.
8. Disruptive Behavior in the classroom: Any behavior that inhibits the learning process and or is disruptive to the
classroom environment will not be tolerated. It is imperative that you read, understand, and adhere to this policy
which can be found online at
http://sa.uncg.edu/handbook/wp-content/uploads/disruptive_policy.pdf.
Course Policies & Procedures
1. Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: To establish reasonable accommodations, students with disabilities
are to contact the Office of Disability Services (334-5440) in the first week of school.
2. Religious Observances: See your instructor if any class assignments conflict with your religious practices.
3. Do not email any assignments to me; unless, you ask special permission and I agree to that delivery. Submit all
assignments as instructed.
4. By enrolling in this course, you are agreeing to this timeline and responsibilities. You are to manage your time.
Everyone has personal and professional tasks to balance.
5. You are responsible to monitor your Canvas grades.
6. Email me with professionalism using appropriate tone. Always remember that I am your authority and offer
respect. Remember audience-centeredness too. I care about what you say and how you say it. When you write me
use appropriate paragraphing, capitalization, etc. If you do not, I may ask you to re-do your email before I answer
your question.
7. Final grades are rounded up to the next point at ‘.5’ and more only. For example, a 74.5 is rounded to a 75.
8. Grades are non-negotiable.
9. If you write using more than one passive voice construction after mid-term, I may reduce your assignment grade
by a full letter grade. (Only exception is the Indirect Approach assignment.)
10. Do not say something electronically that you would not say in person to the instructor or to your classmates.
11. Do not ask for grade reconsideration at the end of course.
12. You will receive more feedback from me at the beginning of the course as opposed to the end of the course.
13. No late work is accepted.
14. No extra credit is offered on coursework.
15. No make-up work is offered.
Email Etiquette
I care about writing excellence and teach business writing, so when you write to me, do your best. Include the
following information:
- Hi Professor Williams
-end loaded purpose (direct approach) with appropriate tone at all times.
2
Get comfortable being uncomfortable. Learning is by nature uncomfortable.
_____________________________________________________________________
Teaching Methods and Assignments
The administrative information and content is delivered via Canvas – canvas.uncg.edu .Canvas has a module for each
class that holds the topical information and your assignments. You will submit your assignments via the link provided.
You are expected to check Canvas daily. Take advantage of the wealth of information offered to you.
Use the textbook and reading assignments for supportive reading and reference.
Direct communication with me is via email or by appointment. I teach traditional classes on campus Tuesday and
Thursday. I would be happy to meet with you. Please contact me in advance to schedule an appointment.
Course Evaluation
Deliverables
Percentage of Final
Grade
40%
30%
20%
10%
100%
Writing Assignments
Speaking Assignments
Reflection Assignments
Final
Total
Speaking Assignments
Effective oral communication is essential to business success. In this course you will
experience extemporaneous speaking assignments. Part of your grade is completing and submitting the preparation
documents.
Video Presentation 1: Welcome Video
Introduce yourself to me. You will learn from your first video.
Video Presentation 2: Instructional Video
How to – teach us how to do something. You can make up your business and your business
situation. An example is you own a cupcake bakery and create a video for your employees that
informs on How to Frost a Cupcake.
Video Presentation 3: Research Project Video
Speaking Issues
delivery that need performance improvement.
Writing Assignments
Complete your assignment according to the schedule posted. Carefully read directions on submission requirements.
All writing assignments are to be in at least three paragraphs: an introduction, body, and conclusion.
Your feedback quantity will match your effort. In other words, if you do little effort in your work, your feedback
quantity will be an energetic match.
As your learn, your feedback should lessen. As you know, you do not need my reminder.
I do not note every error.
If you continue to make the same error, then you are showing me that you need to work harder to apply the
feedback. At some point, I will not continue to repeat myself and the consequences are yours.
3
Get comfortable being uncomfortable. Learning is by nature uncomfortable.
Research Report & Information Literacy
You have a course requirement to learn and conduct business research. Therefore, you have an online meeting with
our business librarian, Mr. Steve Cramer for a business research experience. Your research project assignment is
announced in Canvas.
Reflection Assignments
You are to write memos (one full page, single-spaced in Tahoma 10 point font) to me detailing your personal
learning journey. This is not a regurgitation exercise; instead, it’s a look back and a look forward to how you will
apply the information. You are to have an opinion of the content and how this information affects your academic,
career, and professional life.
Final
1. You are to re-do your Application Letter and Resume. To improve your documents, simply applying a few items of
feedback is usually not be enough! Some students will need to do major re-writing.
2. You are to write a 400-word quality in-depth course reflection relating your learning to the course objectives. What
did you learn? How are you a better writer, speaker and interpersonal communicator?
Grading
Your grades are held in the Canvas Gradebook. Grades are non-negotiable.
Because this is a skills course, you are held accountable to skill development as learning progresses. This means
grading gets more rigorous as we move forward. An ‘A’ on the first assignment is not ‘A’ quality on the final
assignment, meaning as we progress through the course you are held accountable for higher level performance.
Said again another way, when you re-do the documents for your final, only changing the items previously noted by
the instructor is not enough to receive a higher grade.
+
-
A, Exceeds
Expectations
B, Achieves
Expectations
100 - 97
96 - 94
93 - 90
89 - 87
86 - 84
83 - 80
A
Exceeds
Expectations
Expands assignment
into excellence, adds
creativity.
+ (plus)
Exceeds Expectations
C, Working
Toward
Expectations
79 - 77
76 - 74
73 - 70
B
Meets Expectations
Complete all that is
required with high quality
D
Below
F
Below
69 - 67
66 - 64
63 - 60
59>
C
Working Toward
Expectations
Complete the work with a
few areas for improvement
Null
Meets Expectations
(a few un-impactful errors)
D/F
Below Expectations
Did not meet the assignment
requirements
(minus)
Working Toward Expectations
A few impactful errors
4
Get comfortable being uncomfortable. Learning is by nature uncomfortable.
COURSE SCHEDULE
Changes may be made to the schedule/assignments. You are responsible for adhering to any/all updates. Each unit
opens on Monday 8am. Complete your work and submit by Sunday evenings 11:55pm.
Week 1 - January 12
Welcome and Orientation
Personal Introduction & Academic Integrity Committment
Reflection One - My Understanding of the Course
Week 2 – January 20
Business Speaking
peaking Assignment One – Introduce Yourself
Reflection Two - My Speaking
Week 3 – January 26
Audience-Centeredness
riting Assignment One - Case Study
Three - Audience-centeredness
Week 4 – February 2 Stage One of the Writing Process:
Organization & Writing Instructions, Writing for the Web
Speaking Assignment Two – Instructional Video
Four - My Organization
Week 5 – February 9 Stage Two & Three of the Writing Process
Stage Two: Academic Writing to Business Writing
Stage Three: Proofreading and Editing
riting Assignment Two - Case Study
Five – My Understanding of Business Writing
Week 6 – February 16
Emotion - Style, Tone & Word Choices
riting Assignment Three – Case Study
Six - Communicating Emotion
Week 7 – February 23
Negative Writing
riting Assignment Four – Case Study
Seven - Negative Messages
Week 8 – March 2
Job Search- Application Letter & Resume
riting Assignment Five - Application Letter & Resume
5
Get comfortable being uncomfortable. Learning is by nature uncomfortable.
***Week of March 9 – Happy Spring Break!
Week 9 – March 16
Job Search – Application Letter & Resume
Eight - My Job Search
Week 10 – March 23
Cultural Communication
Cultural Intelligence Assessment
Nine - My Cultural Communication
Week 11 – March 30 Research Project Announcement - Introduction to Reporting, Library & Work Plan
riting Assignment Six - Research Project Work Plan
Week 12 – April 6
Reporting, Document Frame, Powerpoints & Visuals
riting Assignment Seven - Research Project Document Frame
Weeks 13 & 14 – April 13 & 20
Research & Writing Weeks, Development of Video Presentation
riting Assignment Eight: Research Business Report
peaking Assignment Three: Research Project Video
Week 15 - April 30 Final Resume & Application Letter, Final Reflection
Final Resume & Application Letter
Final Reflection
6
Get comfortable being uncomfortable. Learning is by nature uncomfortable.
Date
Topic
Jan 12
Welcome
Review syllabus, course organization, Canvas, website, etc.
Jan 20
Decision Fatigue, Procrastination, Learning How to Learn
7
Get comfortable being uncomfortable. Learning is by nature uncomfortable.
Jan 26
Business Speaking and Nonverbal Communication
Feb 2
Storytelling/Story Board
Feb 9
Writing Instructions
Feb 16
Jan 13
Welcome
Review syllabus, course organization, Canvas, website, etc.
Jan 15
Decision Fatigue, Procrastination, Learning How to Learn
Jan 20
Business Speaking and Nonverbal Communication
Jan 22
Storytelling/Story Board
Jan 27
Writing Instructions
Jan 29
Audience-centeredness
Feb 3
Grading Demonstration and Giving and Receiving Feedback
Feb 5
Academic Writing to Business Writing
Deconstruct Two Documents
Feb 10
Communication Strategy Worksheet
Feb 12
Business Writing
Feb 17
Tone, Style, Emotion, and Word Choices
Feb 19
Negative
Feb 24
Editing
Feb 26
Strategic Writing and Persuasion
Mar 3
Reading a Job Search Advertisement (Audience-centeredness)
Mar 5
Persuasive Resume and Application Letter
Mar 10
Spring Break
Mar 17
Group Mid-term Reflection
Mar 19
Introduction to Research Report Project
Mar 24
Report Workplan and Frame
Mar 26
Introduction to the Easy Breezy
Mar 31
Library
Apr 2
Writing Introductions
Apr 7
Report Examples
Apr 9
Powerpoints and Visuals
Apr 14
Research Report Draft Peer Feedback
Apr 16
Powerpoint Draft Peer Feedback
Apr 21
Open- Course Reflection Draft
8
Get comfortable being uncomfortable. Learning is by nature uncomfortable.
9
Get comfortable being uncomfortable. Learning is by nature uncomfortable.
THE BRYAN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS
As noted in the 2014-2015 Undergraduate Catalog
Our Mission Statement
In the Bryan School of Business and Economics, we create and disseminate knowledge about the theory and practice
of business. In addition to our courses and research, we accomplish this through hands-on projects, global
experiences, and outreach to the community. Our work produces principled leaders and exceptional problem solvers
who have a global perspective, an innovative mindset, a broad understanding of sustainability, and a commitment to
improve the organizations in which they work and the communities in which they live.
Bryan School Student Learning Goals
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Students will implement the various steps of the critical thinking process, supported by the appropriate use
of analytical and quantitative techniques, to formulate recommendations for subsequent decision-making.
Students will apply appropriate ethical standards when making recommendations for business decision
making.
Students will evaluate business decisions in the context of sustainability goals, balancing environmental,
social, and economic needs, conditions, and potential decision impacts.
Students will formulate appropriate strategies, in the context of global issues and forces, to improve
business performance in the world economy.
Students will explain the roles of innovation and innovation management in achieving successful business
strategies, decisions, and performance.
Students will be able to plan, schedule, contribute to, and lead projects.
Program Student Learning Goals Applied to MKT309 Student Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of Business Communications, students will met the Student Learning Goals of the
Collaboration, Communication and Knowledge-Integration goal (#6 above). More specifically, students also meet
various learning components of the critical thinking, ethical decision-making, and strategy formulation, with audience
considerations relative to global and multicultural communication decisions.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Understand the importance of effective communication in the workplace.
Identify communication strategies to business situations.
Create responses to communication needs.
Conduct business research for evidence-based writings & presentations.
Use accurate documentation of sources.
Write concise and organized documents using the appropriate format.
Use the three step writing process.
Write reports based on the evaluation of data.
Develop and demonstrate effective oral presentations with verbal and nonverbal proficiencies.
10
Get comfortable being uncomfortable. Learning is by nature uncomfortable.