BUSINESS COMMUNICATION (3 units)
Tuesday/Thursday 9:30-10:45
EBA-260
SPRING, 2014
Instructor:
Office Hours:
Janet C. Lawry Office SSE 3322
(619) 594-3033
E-mail: jlawry@mail.sdsu.edu
T/TH 10-10:45
COURSE DESCRIPTION : This course teaches effective communication as it is applied to business messages and long reports. It includes researching, organizing, writing and presenting business documents on ethical, global, social and technological issues. It incorporates the basic principles of speaking effectively for business.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this course students should be able to:
1. Adapt the concepts of business communication to written and oral presentations through careful audience analysis and message planning.
2. Employ business writing techniques and the language of business communication in choosing words, writing sentences, and developing paragraphs for good news, bad news and persuasive messages that are clear, concise, complete and accurate.
3. Incorporate technology effectively in gathering, organizing, writing and presenting messages.
4. Gather, interpret, organize and attribute both primary and secondary information in analytical business reports.
5. Evaluate and produce graphics to communicate messages quickly and accurately.
6. Discuss effective collaboration in preparing written documents.
7. Explain the role of communication in intercultural and global setting.
COURSE DESIGN: This course consists of lectures, labs, oral presentations, group work, individual work and homework. You will be graded on each of the above-mentioned areas.

ALL OUTSIDE WORK MUST BE DONE ON THE COMPUTER IN 12 FONT, TIMES
NEW ROMAN—ON 8 1/1 BY 11 WHITE PAPER—NO EXCEPTIONS .
IDENTIFY YOUR WORK IN THE UPPER RIGHT-HAND CORNER:
This is how your paper should look
One (1) inch from the top
Your last name, your first name
BA 290-08
Assignment
Due Date
No right justification is permitted in your papers.
OBJECTIVES:
You will compose business letters, emails, a resume packet, memoranda and a
Business report/research paper utilizing correct format, grammar, tone, style and spelling in all assignments. You will participate in class discussions and oral presentations.
STUDENT PREPARATION : Each student is expected to check BlackBoard and email before each class session. It is a good idea to do this early enough so that you can complete any assignment that may be posted or print any materials that may be needed for that day’s class.
COURSE POLICIES: Attendance is very important in this class. I DO take attendance.
If a serious illness or situation arises and you will be absent more than two classes—email me.
REQUIRED TEXT : BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
—Developing Leaders for a Networked
Society by Peter W. Cardon
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED SUPPLEMENTS
A reference guide for grammar, punctuation and formatting available in print and digital versions such as Sabin. W. (2005) Gregg Reference Manual ( 11th edition)Boston, MA;
McGraw-Hill/Irwin and an up-to-date dictionary (a printed one or try an online one such as
Merriam Webster or Dictionary.com). There is even a version that works for your ipod/phone. iPod site is: http://www.ipreppress.com/Pages/Refrence/MWPocket.htm
Merriam-Webster dictionaries are also available for a variety of mobile devices, including
PDA’s and smartphones at: http//www.mobile-webster.com
Two good resources if English is NOT your first language:
Geffner, A.(1998). Barron’s ESL guide to American business English . Huckin, T. and Olsen,
L. (1991). Technical writing and professional communication for non-native speakers of
English (2 nd
ed.)New York, NY:McGraw
APA WEBLIKS: We will be using APA format in our report, so familiarize yourself with these two sites: http://owl.eglish.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED SOFTWARE : WORD—A full featured word processing program. This is available at a discounted rate in the Aztec Shops bookstore for SDSU

students. Word is available in the library computer lab as well as other labs around the campus.
PowerPoint or Prezi will be needed for your oral presentation. Works does not work on our system in the classroom, so do NOT do your presentation on an Apple computer in a Works program. It will not work. See me for further instructions.
COMPUTERS : You can use the computers in the library to access many of the abovementioned applications and the web with a wi-fi enabled laptop or handheld, you can access the internet from many hotspots on campus as well as some classrooms.
SUPPLIES :
One package of 815-E Scantrons
Two 882-E Scantrons
Flash Drive—keep all of your BA 290 assignments (in and out of class on this)—bring the flash drive to class daily.
Pen, pencil and highlighters
Dictionary/word division manual (optional)
Thesaurus (optional)
Office Reference Manual (optional)
260A COMPUTER
One sheet of Quality Resume Paper, one Thank You Card (blank inside)
One folder for your projects—I will show you a sample in class
WRITING : Writing is a skill. Business writing is a DIFFERENT type of writing and a different skill from most of the writing you have done previously. Your written work in this class will evaluated using a rubric that has been approved by the Business department. You need to bring a printed copy of this rubric for each in-class writing.
GRADING
Your grade will be determined by your scores on the assignments, quizzes, tests, group work, a written report, an oral report, the resume packet, the in-class writings, the midterm and the final. Your grades will be posted on BlackBoard. It is your job to keep track of your grades.
1000 Total Points
300
100
100
100
200
100
100
In-class writings
Quizzes and Connect
Resume Packet
Midterm
Report
Oral Report PowerPoint Presentation
Final
Grades: 1000 attainable points in this class
A = 900 - 1000
B = 800 – 899 This class is based on POINTS not PERCENTAGES
C = 700 – 799
D = 600 - 699 Plusses and Minuses will be determined by the instructor.
F = 599 or below
I cannot just “give” you points—you earn your points.

REDO—a redo is an in-class writing assignment in which you did not meet the required “C” writing level, and you are given the paper back to fix (redo).
NO REDOS will be accepted AFTER May 1, 2014
COURSE SCHEDULE : The course schedule on BlackBoard gives you an idea of the material covered, assignments, quiz and exam dates. You are, however, responsible for any changes that are made to the schedule in class, via email or announced on BlackBoard.
STUDENTS HELP : I am always available to help you with assignments, review drafts of your writing (but not on the day a writing assignment is due), OR to go over reading assignments you do not understand etc. during my office hours.
ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY : You are expected to comply with all university rules and regulations including those regarding cheating, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty and unethical conduct. Go to http://its.sdsu.edu/turnitin/pdf/Plagiarism_AcadSen.pdf
, for the entire document.
Plagiarism shall be defined as the act of incorporating ideas, words, or specific substance of another, whether purchased, borrowed, or otherwise obtained, and submitting same to the
University as one’s own work to fulfill academic requirements without giving credit to the appropriate source. Plagiarism shall include but not be limited to (a) submitting work, either in part or in whole, completed by another; (b) omitting footnotes for ideas, statements, facts, or conclusions that belong to another; (c) omitting quotation marks when quoting directly from another, whether it be a paragraph, sentence, or part thereof; (d) close and lengthy paraphrasing of the writings of another; (e) submitting another person’s artistic works, such as musical compositions, photographs, paintings, drawings, or sculptures; and (f) submitting as one’s own work papers purchased from research companies.
.
The library has the online information literacy tutorial, " Plagiarism: The Crime of Intellectual
Kidnapping ." This is a self-directed, 30-minute tutorial that teaches you about plagiarism, paraphrasing, and citing sources. The quiz helps you determine your ability to recognize and avoid plagiarism.
Take this tutorial outside of class time. You will receive a score on the screen that you can print and submit to me as proof of completion. The due date for this assignment will be listed on your class schedule.
I will discuss plagiarism in depth in class.
IN-CLASS ASSIGNMENTS /WRITINGS AND EXAMS : Your in-class written work will be evaluated using the SDSU rubric. You will be provided with a copy of this rubric on
BlackBoard. It must be turned in with each in-class writing assignment.
These assignments CANNOT be made up without prior arrangement with the instructor and then with a late policy applied. Only documented severe illness or other grave circumstances will be considered as valid reasons for allowing make up work for full credit. All ATHLETES etc. must see me at least one week BEFORE missing a graded assignment OR exam so that an early date can be set for you to do the assignment.

RESEARCH PAPER
You will be given a topic in February, 2014. Your report is due on Tuesday, April 21,
2014 at the beginning of the class—otherwise your report is late. Point deductions will be listed on the Report Information Sheet. We will use APA format via Owl at Purdue.
The research paper MUST be completed correctly to pass the class!!!!!!!!
The oral presentation must also be presented with PowerPoint to pass the class.!!!!!!
If you plagiarize, the penalty may range from a zero, an F in the class to even more serious consequences. Do Not take a chance.
YOU MUST HAVE IN-TEXT CITATIONS IN BOTH THE RESEARCH PAPER AND THE
ORAL PRESENTATION AS WELL AS on a REFERENCES PAGE.
RESUME PACKET— The resume must be done on resume paper, the thank you card must be blank on the inside. Your resume packet is due on _________________.
ELECTRONIC DEVICES POLICY : Please turn off all cell phones, iPods and other electronic devices except your computer when you are asked to bring it to class. If there is some extraordinary reason why you must have an electronic device on, please see me before class begins. Please do not leave the room to talk on your cell phone. No TEXTING in class.
You will be permitted to use your electronic device to enter assignments, changes to schedule etc.—I will let you know when you can do this.
Also, no recorders (audio or video), scanners, smart pens (Pulse etc.) or similar devices are permitted to be used without my permission.
NO ELECTRONIC DEVICES ARE PERMITTED AT YOUR DESK DURING
QUIZZES, IN-CLASS WRITINGS OR EXAMS.
CHAPTER ASSIGNMENTS
All reading/chapter assignments must be completed PRIOR to the class in which the chapter will be covered—that means on Tuesday. Assignments are due at the BEGINNING OF THE
CLASS. I accept work one class day late for one half ½ credit—after that it is yours to keep.
Expect an unannounced quiz on every chapter. If you are not in the classroom when the quiz begins, you may only answer the questions you can finish in the allotted regular quiz time.
Assignments will be marked down for major errors such as misspelled words, incorrect subject-verb agreement, incomplete sentences and incorrect language usage. You need to use spell and grammar check—however, remember neither of these programs is totally reliable— each one only catches approximately 60-70 percent of the errors.
EMAIL—You must have a proper business email address in order to email me or it will go to spam. I do not know your emails—I only send messages to you via BlackBoard and your name. An example of a proper business email is: jlawry@mail.sdsu.edu.
OTHER
Please remove your HAT/or other head coverings (except religious ones) when you enter the classroom—this means all ladies and gentlemen.
No visitors in the classroom
No food in the classroom—only water is permitted.
This syllabus may be altered during the semester.
YOU may NOT record (video or audio) the class/lecture etc. without my permission. It is illegal.

You are NOT permitted to have scanners of any type (pen type included) in the classroom.
The following items MUST BE COMPLETED TO PASS THE CLASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The research paper
Oral presentation of your research paper with PowerPoint or Prezi
All three in-class writings
The midterm exam
The final exam
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
SYLLABUS STATEMENT for Students with Disabilities
If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need accommodations for this class, it is your responsibility to contact Student Disability Services at (619) 594-6473 . To avoid any delay in the receipt of your accommodations, you should contact Student Disability Services as soon as possible. Please note that accommodations are not retroactive, and that I cannot provide accommodations based upon disability until I have received an accommodation letter from Student Disability Services. Your cooperation is appreciated.
ABSENCES
All students are responsible for what happened in class on days they were absent. Contact a fellow class member (preferably someone from your group) for this information. Please DO
NOT email me for this information.
I am dedicated to helping each of you achieve your potential in this class. I look forward to a great semester.
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