MKT309 - Business Communication
Garrett, Spring 2014, Online
This syllabus & course schedule is subject to change.
Business and professional communication: job search skills; collaboration; communication technology; verbal and
non-verbal strategies. Emphasis on effective persuasion, interpersonal, intercultural, and organizational strategies
through business styles, formats and presentations.
Course Instructor:
Ms. Dianne Garrett
377 Bryan Building
336.334.4473
drgarret@uncg.edu (best way to contact me)
Office hours: T/R at 1:45pm – 2:45pm
Twitter: Dianne_Garrett
RSS on the class website
Additional Support: The UNCG Writing Center, The UNCG Speaking Center
Credits: 3 hours
Prerequisites: Junior standing and admission to approved program.
Course Overview & Philosophy:
You are graded both on WHAT you say (content) and HOW you say it (delivery). In this class, we’ll 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 for your learning success:
1. It is sequenced – the learning of one topic leads to the next. (Don’t miss an assignment.)
2. It is sequenced at a steady pace which helps you not to procrastinate.
3. It is designed for a spirit of collaborative learning. Everyone helps everyone learn.
4. It is designed to offer you about five times the amount of feedback. Feedback is a key to learning.
5. You have activities that are practice and non-graded which prepare you for the graded assignments.
The Bryan School of Business and Economic Student Learning Goals: Common to all business students.
1. Students will be skilled in critical thinking and decision-making, as supported by the appropriate use of
analytical and quantitative techniques.
2. Students can recognize and assess the ethical and social dimensions of management activities and evaluate
their impact on management decisions.
3. Students can communicate clearly and correctly, and can demonstrate collaborative and leadership skills.
4. Students understand the core organizational functions and activities and how they interrelate to accomplish
an organization’s major goals through effective processes.
5. Students can evaluate the role global markets have on management decisions and formulate appropriate
strategies to improve performance in the world economy.
MGT309 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.
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“I went to the gym when I wanted to, and I went to the gym when I didn’t want to.” Muhammad Ali
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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.
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
Recommended text: Make to Stick by Chip Heath & Dan Heath
ISBN: 978-1-4000-6428-1
2. 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/.
3. Read and reference the course material on dgarrettcomm.com, our class website.
4. Mobius SLIP, Social Learning Information Platform, http://www.ctasit.com/Students.
5. Use your UNCG email account.
6. Check Blackboard for any adverse weather conditions as they occur.
7. 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.
8. Please review the faculty/student guidelines at 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.
9. 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. You need to do the Preparation & Participation work as scheduled in order to do your Mobius
work on-time. The Mobius deliverables have a strict deadline schedule and late work is
not accepted.
2. Mobius assignments open and close on a schedule. You are expected to adhere to the schedule.
No exceptions.
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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.
Religious Observances: See your instructor if any class assignments conflict with your religious practices.
Do not email any assignments to me; unless, you ask special permission and I agree to that delivery.
Submit all assignments as instructed – Student/Instructor Box or Mobius.
By enrolling in this course, you are agreeing to this timeline and responsibilities. You are to manage your
time to fit – everyone has personal and professional tasks to balance.
You need to do the Preparation & Participation work on time in order to do you Mobius work on-time. The
Mobius deliverables have a strict deadline schedule and late work is not accepted.
You are responsible to monitor your Blackboard grades. Write a well-crafted to me requesting any grade reconsideration within two days of the grade’s posting, if you contest the grade.
9. 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
don’t, I may ask you to re-do your email before I answer your question.
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Final grades are rounded up to the next point at ‘.5’ and more only. For example, a 74.5 is rounded to a 75.
You are responsible to monitor your Blackboard grades.
Grades are non-negotiable.
If you write using more than one passive voice construction after mid-term, I will reduce your Mobius grade
by a full letter grade. (Only exception is the Indirect Approach assignment.)
Do not start packing your belongings until I indicate the class is complete.
Don’t say something electronically that you would not say in person to the instructor or to your classmates.
Do NOT ask for grade reconsideration at the end of course. No begs – for any reason, including an ‘A.’ Do
not tell me you are a 4.0 student with the intention to influence me to an ‘A’ grade.
No extra credit is offered on coursework.
No make-up work is offered.
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“I went to the gym when I wanted to, and I went to the gym when I didn’t want to.” Muhammad Ali
Email Etiquette: I care about writing excellence and teach business writing, so when you write to me, do
your best. Include the following information:
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A greeting. For instance, Hi Professor Garrett.
In-class or online section
Strategic subject line that links to your first sentence
Front-end loaded purpose.
Use appropriate tone, at all times.
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Teaching Methods and Assignments:
Most content is delivered via the course website at dgarretcomm.com. . Most administrative information will be
delivered via Blackboard. Use the text and reading assignments for supportive reading and reference. Direct
communication with me is via email, phone, or in my office. Our class time will be interactive.
I frequently post to the class website (dgarrettcomm.com) information that helps you in your weekly assignments.
My suggestion is that you click the RSS feed and allow this helpful information to come directly to your inbox.
Additionally, I offer helpful information regarding communication and NeuroCommunication via Twitter. I invite you
to follow me.
Deliverables
Preparation/Participation Activities
Mobius Assignments
Speeches
Reflections
Summative Portfolio
Total
Percentage of Final Grade
12%
46%
14%
14%
14%
100%
Preparation and Participation Activities: Post (via upload) these deliverables in the Student/Instructor
Box. All items posted on time that meet expectations/assignment target is ‘B’ work. Do all assignments,
graded or not-graded, as all the tasks are for your advancement. There is no such thing as busy work.
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Post (via upload) these deliverables in the Student/Instructor Box.
See the assignment list in Blackboard and/or on the course schedule.
Visit the Speaking Center for your first speech. Post of copy of the document they give you.
Visit the Writing Center during the second half of the course. Ask the consultant to send you a
copy of the email as well. Post of a copy of this email.
Grading will be completed at the end of term.
Mobius Social Learning Information Platform: (www.ctasit.com)
Mobius SLIP is a learning management technology tool that builds your critical thinking, creativity and
communication skills. By using this new technology, you are expected to advance your skills and therefore
result in advanced marketplace competiveness. UNCG business school is committed to graduating students
who are exceptional problem-solvers.
Your responsibility to each other is to offer your best information (critique) to help a colleague succeed.
While you have individual contribution, your contribution to others is significant. When you are part of a
team in business, you must learn how to offer your expertise and advance others at the same time. Mobius
provides you this environment for practice. Our intention is bettered community performance. You will see
many right ways and wrong ways of performance.
You must complete all three phases to score a passing grade for the assignment. You will (1) post your
deliverable (work document, video, etc.) as instructed, (2) give narrative feedback to your group peers with
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“I went to the gym when I wanted to, and I went to the gym when I didn’t want to.” Muhammad Ali
a ranking, and (3) rank the usefulness of the feedback your received. Analytics are computed from the
scoring and are a base to your grade. After reviewing the Artifact, Benchmarks/Critiques, I will post your
final grade to Blackboard.
Each assignment has three responsibilities which have strict non-negotiable deadlines. The
Benchmark/Critique stage is equally important to the Artifact. Do NOT underestimate the value of the
feedback section to each other and to your achievement. Generally, it takes about the same amount of
time to do A and B. Component three generally takes about 15 minutes only. You can think of the Artifact
as the CREATION phase, and the Benchmarking/Critiques and Concordance as the EVALUATION phase.
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Deliverable A - Artifact (most often due on Tuesday 11:55pm)
Deliverable B - Benchmarking/ Critiques (which includes a self-critique) (mostly often due
Thursday 11:55pm)
Deliverable C- Concordance (most often due on Sunday11:55pm)
I review the peer scoring and post a final grade to Blackboard.
Do NOT show your name in your artifact or in your filename. The groups are purposely blind in
engagement.
The quality of your feedback is a significant part of your Mobius grade. Give excellent feedback which
means give helpful truthful information. It’s a good venue for practicing delivering negative information
which is very important in business. I often say those that are successful in business are people who
can deliver bad news that does not destroy relationships.
If you miss posting your Artifact, you can still participate in the Benchmark/Critique stage only and
therefore receive partial credit.
You will have a significant penalty for missing posting the Concordance which will result in a failure
score.
If you receive feedback that simply states ‘good job,’ you are to rate that feedback low (not helpful).
Empty flattery is a learning waste.
You will be asked to pay the license user fee when you post your first assignment.
Do not tell someone they did well and then rank them low on the Slider. It’s an integrity error.
Mobius has a plagiarism reporting feature. Triple check your citing work as you have multiple reviewers
checking your performance.
If you suspect a peer for plagiarism, please raise that flag and I will take it from there. The flag does
not affect any scoring decisions for the giver or the receiver.
You are to write an extensive and thoughtful four paragraph self-critique – an example will be provided.
This is a separately graded deliverable on each Mobius assignment.
Sometimes, students tell me that they believe peers are retaliating in their scoring, but that is not
possible. Peer scoring is not released till the unit is closed.
I read the artifacts and the feedback as well. While not every post gets an instructor comment, know
that I am reading and watching. Don’t be a student who posts the same comments to every peer
thinking that I am not reading the works.
Research Report & Information Literacy: You will have a class in the library with our business librarian, Mr.
Steve Cramer. This is a course requirement. The research project assignment will be announced in
Blackboard, will be submitted via Mobius & your Summative Portfolio. The topic is cultural communication
intelligence.
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Writing Tips
Remember too, regarding colleague feedback, it is your decision what information you apply and
what information you don’t apply; however, one hint to help decide which information to apply is
to look for what is said to you in multiple ways.
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All writing assignments are to be in at least three paragraphs: an introduction, a body (can be
more than one), and a conclusion. The same applies in emails to me.
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Draft (or formative) assignments are not optional.
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“I went to the gym when I wanted to, and I went to the gym when I didn’t want to.” Muhammad Ali
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Don’t ask for re-do work as the course already has formative and summative rounds.
Speeches: Effective oral communication is essential to business success – both in person. In this course
you will experience extemporaneous speaking assignments. Part of your grade is completing and submitting
the preparation documents.
Video Speech 1: Introduce yourself to me. This is your practice video and I’ll give your feedback
to help you on your graded speeches.
Video Speech 2:
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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 Speech 3: Course closure. Tell me what you learned and how you are better, honestly
better. Be sure this is an organized, strategic message.
Speaking Tips
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If you are feeling intensive anxiety, I invite you to talk/email with me.
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From CST105, you should know aspects of your delivery that need performance improvement.
Reflective 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 you.
Your last reflection is video presentation to me; in this presentation, you are to hold yourself accountable to
the goals you set at the beginning of the course, inform me to your class learnings and inform me on how
you will apply this information to your life. Post the file(s) to your Student/Instructor Box.
Summative Portfolio & Letter of Transmittal: You are to re-do your Mobius writing assignments and
turn them in hard copy and spiral bound (clear front and black back – usually costs less than $5). In
bettering your documents, simply correcting a few items will not be enough. Additionally, you are to cut
the word count by 15 to 20% (unless your feedback is that you need to boost your content.)
The composite work is to have a cover document - a letter of transmittal – a memo written to me
referencing contents from your reflections and your course goals. Additionally, you are to comment on our
three foci: business writing, business speaking and relating.
No other presentation format will be accepted. No late submissions will be accepted.
Grading Matrix
Your grades are held in the Blackboard Gradebook.
Final grades are rounded up to the next point at ‘.5’ and more only. For example, a 74.5 is rounded to a 75.
+
A – Exceeds
Expectations
B – Achieves
Expectations
100 - 97
96 - 94
89 - 87
86 - 84
C – Working
Toward
Expectations
79 - 77
76 - 74
D - Below
F–
Below
69 - 67
66 - 64
59>
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“I went to the gym when I wanted to, and I went to the gym when I didn’t want to.” Muhammad Ali
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93 - 90
83 - 80
73 - 70
63 - 60
Overview Grading Rubric
Specific assignment rubrics are posted in Blackboard.
A
Exceeds
Expectations
Expands assignment
into excellence, adds
creativity.
+ (plus)
Exceeds Expectations
B
Meets Expectations
Complete all that is
required with high quality
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
1. (minus)
Working Toward Expectations
A few impactful errors
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“I went to the gym when I wanted to, and I went to the gym when I didn’t want to.” Muhammad Ali
Course Schedule
Blackboard will house the administration. See the Week by Week folder for more details. However, the Mobius
assignment information is located in the Mobius Software. Stay alert and as changes will be made as we move
through the course. While some of your Preparation assignments are listed here, reference Blackboard for your
responsibilities.
Date
Preparation/Participation
Turn into the Student/Instructor Box the end of
the week – Sunday at 11:59pm
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Jan 13
Welcome
Mobius Feedback
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Academic Integrity Pledge
Introductory Video
Current Resume
Course Goals
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Jan 20
Relating:
Audiencecenteredness
Assignments
Turn Mobius Assignments into Mobius - a MWF schedule
Turn Reflection Assignments into your Student/Instructor Box at
the close of the unit plus one day ( Mondays at 11:59pm)
Reflection: My Understanding of the Course – What will it take
for you to achieve your course goals? What is the most
important mention(s) in the syllabus? What are your
achievement concerns?
Reflection: My Audience-centeredness
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Jan 27
Business Speaking
5.
Speech Planning Document
Video – How to
Reflection: My Speaking
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Feb 3
Business Writing
Reflection: My Business Writing to Academic Writing
Mobius A1: Audience-centeredness & Business Speaking
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Feb 10
Relating:
Organization
Reflection: My Organization & Transitioning & Flow
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Feb 17
Relating: Tone
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Emotional Inventory Worksheet
Mobius A2: CSW, How To
Reflection: My Emotions, Others Emotions & Tone
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Feb 25
Relating & Writing:
Negative
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Mar 4
Job SearchApplication Letter &
Resume
Mobius A3: CSW & Goodwill & Tone
Reflection: My Negative
7.
Find a job that you want to apply for
Mobius A4: Negative Case
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Mar 8
Spring Break
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Mar 17
Job SearchApplication Letter &
Resume
Reflection: My Giving & Receiving Feedback
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“I went to the gym when I wanted to, and I went to the gym when I didn’t want to.” Muhammad Ali
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Mar 24
Intro to Reporting:
Library & Work
Plan
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Mar 30
Relating: Cultural
Comm
Mobius A5: Resume and Application Letter
8.
CQ Assessment
Mobius A6: Research Business Paper Work Plan
Reflection: My Cultural Comm
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Apr 7
Reporting - Frame
Mobius A7: Research Business Paper Formative Frame
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Apr 14
Reporting Formative
Reflection: My Business Reporting
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Apr 21
Reporting continued
Final
April 30
Mobius A8: Research Business Formative Report
9.
Speech Planning Document
Video to Professor – What did I learn in the course
Summative Portfolio
8
“I went to the gym when I wanted to, and I went to the gym when I didn’t want to.” Muhammad Ali