North Arkansas College
Business and Technical Division
BA 2103 –Business Communication
Course Syllabus – Spring 2013
Instructor:
Office:
Voice:
E-Mail:
Lana Fowler
B212 – Office hours posted on portal
870-391-3322
cell 704-9331
lanaf@northark.edu
I will respond to your emails within 24 hours. If I do not respond within the 24-hour time frame, I may not
have received your email so please resend.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: (3 credit hours) This course teaches principles and mechanics of business writing and
application of principles to specific business writing situations.
PREREQUISITES: ENGL 1013 or 1113 and CIS 1013 or 1023 or satisfactory completion of Keyboarding Skills
Assessment Test.
AUDIENCE: This course is a general requirement for Associate of Applied Science Degree in Business
Administration.
NEXT COURSE IN SEQUENCE: N/A
TEXT AND MATERIALS:
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Textbook – Mary Ellen Guffy and Dana Loewy , Business Communication Process and Product, 7th Ed.; 2011
Aplia.com – Assessment and Training Account. Login information for aplia.com is chosen by each student
upon registration of the account. Students are responsible for remembering their user names and
passwords; instructor will not have access to this information.
Binder – (1/2” or 1”) for Business Letter Portfolio
Pen, pencil and highlighter
North Arkansas College Email Account – A Northark email account was issued to you automatically when
you enrolled in our classes. To access your email, navigate to Northark’s Web site at www.northark.edu.
On the students tab, you should see a link on the right side to Student Email. Your email address will be
your username@mail.northark.edu
USB Flash Drive – This is not required but recommended if you plant to work on your assignments on more
than one computer. This is also helpful when working on other students on team project.
Business Attire- One business outfit suitable for mock interviews scheduled later in the semester.
WEBSITES FOR CLASS:
www.northark.edu
www.Cengagebrain.com
www.aplia.com
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS: Students will need access to a computer with the following capabilities:
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Internet Explorer 7.0 or higher
Microsoft Windows XP or higher
Microsoft Word 2007 or 2010
High-speed Internet Connection
COURSE RESOURCES
Personal computer - The student is expected to have access to a computer with these system requirements.
http://portal.northark.edu/ics/Academics/Academics_Homepage.jnz?portlet=Resources_for_Online_Students
If you have any problems with your computer, ie, computer crashes, internet goes down, or etc., it is your
responsibility to have a backup plan.
Email Account—A Northark email account was issued to you automatically when you enrolled in your classes. To
access your email, navigate to Northark’s Web site at www.northark.edu. On the Students tab, you should see a
link Student Email. You may also access your email from web.mail.northark.edu. Your email address will be your
username@mail.northark.edu
ON-CAMPUS RESOURCES
JPH Business Building--Computers are available in rooms B206, 207, 208, 209 and 302. (See the schedule on the
wall beside Mary Bausch's office on the 2nd floor.)
Libraries--There are computers available for all Northark students on the north and south campuses.
Monday-Friday 7:30 am-4:30 pm
Monday-Thursday 7:30 am-9:00 pm
Friday 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Saturday 8 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Writing Lab--South Campus room resources on the north and south campus including the library, computer labs,
and the Learning Assistance Center (math and science tutors, writing lab, testing center)
ASSISTANCE FOR COURSE
If you are having any issues in your online course, the first person you should contact is your instructor by email. If
you need technical assistance for logon issues, contact Brenda Freitas (Northark IT department) at
bfreitas@northark.edu or 870.391.3275.
RATIONALE: This is a required course for the student pursuing a business-oriented curriculum and is essential for
those planning a business employment.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to
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Prepare various business documents in proper format and one using appropriate media
Use correct grammar and punctuation in typical business communications
Prepare an effective written report and oral presentation on the culture of a different country to prepare a
business person to operate in a global workplace
Outline the employment search process, prepare an effective application and follow-up documents, create a
resume, and use interview strategies.
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION: The material will be presented by lecture, classroom discussion, online discussion
and video lecture. Projects will be assigned for the student to complete.
This course is an online course. You are responsible for the material and if there are any questions. You are
responsible for informing your instructor as soon as possible. On the course site, you will find the course is
organized by weeks. One week will be open at a time. This is structured for your benefit and successful
progression in learning Business Communications. Week 1 will be open for one week (M-S) to complete all the
requirements for that week. The assignments are due Sunday evenings at 11:55 p.m. No exceptions! On Monday
morning, 8:00 a.m., Week 2 will open and so on. This will be the structure all semester. Each week you will find: a
suggested textbook exercises/problems to complete. These assignments are required. This course will require
strict discipline on your part, because the responsibility is on You. You should check the course site daily to make
sure there are no new announcements or changes. Keep in touch with the instructor through email, mail or oncampus visits. There is a schedule on the course site as well as on the course calendar for you to follow with
specific due dates! This is a resource for your advantage!
All due dates will be strictly enforced. Late work will be accepted for 50% credit.
Illnesses, job requirements, travel, transportation issues, computer crashes, or internet problems are not
extreme circumstances. Prior planning for these circumstances is vital for online courses. Since this is an
online course, back-up plans are required for any computer and internet interruptions. You should
anticipate these interruptions and plan accordingly.
COURSE CONTENT:
Unit 1:
Communication Foundations
Unit 2:
The Writing Process
Unit 3:
Workplace Communication
Unit 4:
Reports, Proposals, and Presentations
Unit 5:
Employment Communication
EVALUATION: Students will be evaluated in this course and given grades: A, B, C, D, F or other “grade symbols” as
explained in the current College Catalog. Your Grade will be based on points earned from the following.
Points
% Final
Grade
Discussion Board Discussion Board
10%
International Team Report International Team Report
20%
Mock Interviews Mock Interviews
10%
Portfolio & Writings Portfolio & Writings
30%
Practice Writings Practice Writings
10%
Quizzes and Class Assignments Quizzes and Class Assignments
10%
Text Book Readings, APLIA and Videos Text Book Readings, APLIA and Videos
10%
GRADING SCALE:
90% - 100%
80% - 89%
70% - 79%
60% - 69%
Below 60%
A
B
C
D
F
PORTFOLIO: Your portfolio is a professional example of your work. The contents of your portfolio should be
perfect! Use a 3-ring binder. Hole-punch the contents or use sheet protectors. Documents must be in order as
presented in the list of portfolio assignments.
ATTENDANCE: Students are expected to attend all class meetings and officially withdraw from courses if they are
no longer attending. Instructor WILL NOT drop a student for excessive absences; students will be allowed to fail if
they do not drop themselves.
Please come to class on time. Tardiness disrupts the instructor and other students. Since we believe that
consistency in handling absences plays a vital role in promoting student success instructors will keep an accurate
record of attendance.
As a general rule, an instructor will not assign a grade of Incomplete (“I”) unless the student as completed
approximately 80% of the course but has not been able, because of illness or other reason beyond his/her control,
to finish the work assigned in the course. The student must contact the instructor to request an incomplete (“I”)
and make arrangements for completing the course. The instructor determines the requirements for making the “I”.
An incomplete grade not made up within one semester automatically becomes and “F” unless the instructor
notifies the Registrar’s office in writing on a later date.
ACADEMIC INTERGRITY: North Arkansas College is committed to academic achievement supported by a strict
but fair policy to protect academic integrity. The policy regards academic fraud and dishonesty as disciplinary
offenses requiring disciplinary actions. It is expected that students will conduct themselves with integrity. If you
cheat or assist others in cheating, you violate a trust. Cheating includes but is not limited to the following: (1) copy
files or lend your storage device to another student, (2) copy answers on exams or glance at nearby exams, (3)
print work for someone else, (4) turn in assignments that have been used in other classes, and (5) purchase or sell
assignments or exam materials. If you cheat, some or all the following actions will be taken: (1) You will receive a
lower point score up to and including a zero for that particular assignment or exam (2) a report of the incident may
be forwarded to Vice President of Instruction who may file the report in your permanent record and /or take
further disciplinary action. Please refer to North Arkansas College Catalog for additional information.
STUDENT RESOURCES: Please do not hesitate to contact your instructor during office hours. Computer labs are
available for you to use to complete your class work. The labs in the JPH Building are open for students to use
when classes are not in session; schedules are posted on the bulletin board outside B202. See the Library
information in the College Catalog or online at Northark’s Website for the library’s hours of operation. Other
computers may be available on the North Campus.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: See the current Northark College Catalog for information concerning the items
listed below. You may obtain a college catalog from Student Services.
ADA STATEMENT – Accommodations for Students with Special Needs: North Arkansas College complies with
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Students with
disabilities who need special accommodations should make their request in the following way:
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Talk to your instructor after class or during office hours about your disability or special needs related to
your classroom work; and/or
Contact Student Support Services in Room M184 and ask to speak to Kim Brecklein. Ms. Brecklein may also
be reached by phone at 870-391-3338.
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
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Read the college catalog and all materials you receive during registration. These materials tell you what
the college expects of you.
Read the syllabus for each class. The syllabus tells you what the instructor expects from you.
Attends all class meetings. Something important to learning happens during every class period. If you
must miss a class meeting, talk to the instructor in advance about what you should do.
Be on time. If you come in after class has started, you disrupt the entire class.
Never interrupt another class to talk to the instructor or a student in that class.
Be prepared for class. Complete reading assignments and other homework before class so that you can
understand the lecture and participate in discussion. Always have a pen/pencil, paper and other specific
tools for class.
Learn to take good notes. Write down ideas rather than word-for-word statements by the instructor.
Allow time to use all the resources available to you at the college. Visit our instructor during office hours
for help with material or assignments you do not understand; use the library; use the free tutors, tapes,
computers and other resources in the Learning Center.
Treat others with respect. Part of the college experience is being exposed to people with ideas, values and
backgrounds different from yours. Listen to others and evaluate ideas on their own merit.
PROVISION FOR CHANGES: Students will be notified by the instructor of any updates/ changes in the course
syllabus.