NAPA VALLEY COLLEGE
SPEECH 124—HYBRID : CAREER COMMUNICATION Fall/2013
“We grow, and as we grow we must find new and better ways to express ourselves.” HLP
Department: Language & Developmental Studies
Instructor: Tia Madison
Telephone: 259-8963
Email: tmadison@napavalley.edu
Office: Room 865, building, 800
Office Hours: M 11-12; T 3-4; W 2-4; TH 3-4
Course Description
In this course you will improve your communication skills in the workplace. This course will provide
you with the opportunity to learn about the research and theory of communication, and to practice the
skills necessary for effective communication in an organizational setting.
Upon successful completion of this course you will be able to:



Utilize critical thinking skills and an understanding of interpersonal dynamics to effectively communicate
verbally and nonverbally in the workplace.
Create effective resumes and demonstrate interviewing proficiency.
Demonstrate effective leadership, decision-making, problem-solving and conflict resolution skills.
Policies & Expectations
 A safe and supportive atmosphere is mandatory to craft an exciting and productive semester. To get the
most out of this course, be respectful of other’s opinions, have a positive attitude, and be ready to work. All
assessments depend upon the students’ achievement, rather than effort. You should read your text, complete
your assignments, and read your syllabus.
 We will use Blackboard for the online component of this course. ALL students must obtain a Blackboard
accoint and enroll in the Blackboard site by the second day of class (August 20, 2013)
 You are expected to check your email daily and be consistent with your communication online.
 I strive to answer emails within 24 hours.
 Comments that are unethical, disrespectful, or rude will not be tolerated. (This includes offensive comment
based on a persons ethnicity, religion, sexual orientaion, or disability). These types of comments will be
forwarded to The ViP of student services and may be openly used as teaching material..
 I will not provide tech support. If you experience any technical issues call the NVC IT Help Desk
 The IT Help Desk provides full support from 8:00am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday. After hours
you may leave a voicemail message and a Help Desk technician will return the call on the next
business day. In the event of an emergency or for any urgent problem that cannot wait until the next
business day, you may contact Public Safety at x511.
 All service requests should be directed to x7550 or x3114, faxed to x7559, sent to
support@napavalley.edu, or sent via inter-office memo. A web based request form is planned.
 Response time during regular business hours is typically within four hours; after hours all calls will be
returned the next business day.
Course Standards: Napa Valley College is committed to providing access to education for students
with disabilities. If you have a disability or medical condition that requires accommodation, please
contact me as soon as possible so arrangements can be made.
Students in need of accommodations in the college learning environment:
Any student who feels s/he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a learning disability should
contact Learning Services in the Library and Learning Resource Center (LLRC), room 1766, phone (707) 2567442. A Learning Disability Specialist will review your needs and determine appropriate accommodations.
If you need accommodations for physical or other types of disabilities, schedule an appointment with DSPS
Counselor, Sheryl Fernandez, in the Counseling Department located in the 1300 building, phone (707) 2567220 for appointment. All information and documentation is confidential. Please feel encouraged to make an
appointment with me privately to discuss your specific learning needs in my class.
Course Materials
 Ronald Adler & Jeanne Elmhorst, Communicating at Work.
 American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological
Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
SPEECH 124—HYBRID : CAREER COMMUNICATION Fall/2013
2
Grading
Introduction Speech
DQ's 1-20
Wkly Reflection 1-17
Team work (charter)
Participation (10)
Teamwork Part 1
Teamwork Part 2
Teamwork Part 3
Teamwork Part 4
Informational interview
Dream job package
25
200 (10 pts. each)
85 (5 pts. each)
15
100
75
75
75
125
150
75
TOTAL
1000
ASSIGNMENTS
2.5%
20%
8.5%
1.5%
10%
7.5%
7.5%
7.5%
12.5%
15%
7.5%
100-900=A
899-800=B
799-700=C
699-600=D
599-0= F
Introduction Speech DUE WEEK 1
Express yourself! Who are you? What are your likes and dislikes? You have two minutes to introduce yourself
to the class. What are the important details of your life that you would like to share?
Assignment Style: Informal Oral Presentation (in circle seated)
Written Requirements: NONE
Presentation Aides: Not Required
Dream Job Interview Package
DUE WEEK 10
This assignment is designed to assist you in preparing for your future. Where and what do you want to be? Do
you know what it takes to get there?
Job Posting: Locate a current (or semi-current  posting for a position that best identifies what you want to do
with the rest of your life.
Resume: Develop a Functional resume that reflects the education and skills that you presently have, but also
identify what is needed for the position and give an estimate as to when you will have those requirements met.
You should include your current academic, professional, personal experience, and abilities (make sure you use
transferable skills). The resume should be professional in nature and provide you with a tool for future interviews.
Resume will be evaluated on visual appearance, clear organization, clarity, use of active voice, accuracy,
professionalism.
Cover Letter: Create a cover letter that reflects the position in which you are applying. This should be a
professionally typed letter that reflects your strengths as they relate to the job posting. Your cover letter will be
evaluated on clarity, professionalism, content, and accuracy.
Assignment Style: Written
Written Requirements: APA Format; Typed (3 pages)
Informational Interview
DUE WEEK 11
An informational interview should be an integral part of your networking and job-hunting plan. An informational
interview involves talking with people who are currently working in the field to gain a better understanding of an
occupation or industry -- and to build a network of contacts in that field.
Identify one or more occupations you would like to investigate. Assess your own interests, abilities, values, and
skills, and evaluate labor conditions and trends to identify the best fields to research. Read all you can about the
field before the interview.
SPEECH 124—HYBRID : CAREER COMMUNICATION Fall/2013
Decide what information you would like to obtain about the occupation/industry.
Prepare a list of questions that you would like to have answered. Find out as much information as you can
about each place before setting up an interview.
Contact the resource person preferably by telephone or letter. You can also try to have someone who knows
the interviewer make the appointment for you. Identify yourself as a student seeking an informational interview.
Never ask for a job.
During the interview only ask those questions that are appropriate and important to you. You will convey your
motivation and interest to the employer by acknowledging that the information the interviewee is giving, is
important.
Assignment Style: Written
Written Requirements: APA Format; Typed (2-3 pages)
Step 1: Identify your occupational interests
Step 2: Locate a person/s in that field
Step 3: Contact the person and set an appointment
Step 4: Prepare questions for interview
Step 5: After the interview prepare an outline overview of the interview, and
questionnaire for submission.
Step 6: Have the person interviewed fill out evaluation form (provided)
Organizational Product
This semester your group will create and design a non-profit organization that would benefit children. This
project should be no more than 30 pages in length and must integrate graphic and presentational materials to
make your final product visually appealing. Your group should examine various organizations’ coverage of
existing informational and promotional materials. You may model your organization after an existing
organization, but group creativity is a qualitative element that have made group presentations stand out in the
past. This project should reflect your most professional effort.
Questions you should ask yourself:
What should we call ourselves?
Who are the decision makers?
What are the interesting aspects of the organization?
What experiences do we have that will assist us in managing and operating this organization?
What are our short and long term goals?
TEAM WORK (Part I) DUE WEEK 6&7
Organizational Portfolio Components:
1. Table of Contents
2. Organizational Overview
3. Corporate Mission Statement
4. Corporate Vision
5. One to Ten year plan
TEAM WORK (Part II) DUE WEEK 8 & 9
6. Employment policies
7. Management Style
8. Detailed organizational Structure (Structure should include Charts and Descriptions)
9. Products and/or services
10. Communication Style
11. Culture of the organization
TEAM WORK (Part III) DUE WEEK 15
12. Staff Benefits
15. Aesthetics
3
SPEECH 124—HYBRID : CAREER COMMUNICATION Fall/2013
13. Volunteer Benefits
14. Budget (these should be specific)
4
16. Marketing
Team Work (Part IV) DUE WEEK 18
Assignment Style: PowerPoint Presentation (15-20 slides)
Written Requirements: APA Format; Typed (20 pages)
Presentation Aides: Required
Weeks One: Orientation Week ON CAMPUS
Details
Readings
 Read the syllabus & all supporting materials
 Familarize yourself with blackboard
 Get to know eachother
Individual
Assignment
Introduction Speech
Express yourself! Who are you? What are your likes and
dislikes? You have two minutes to introduce yourself to the
class. What are the important details of your life that you
would like to share?
Due
Points
Monday
8/19/13
25
Due
Points
Sunday
9/1/13
&
Sunday 9/8/13
5 pts
each
Written Requirements: 300+ words
Week Two & Three: Reading Weeks
Details
Readings
Read all chapters of : Ronald Adler & Jeanne
Elmhorst, Communicating at Work.
Individual
Weekly
Reflection
Each week in this course, you will engage your thoughts and
abilities as a scholar, a practitioner, and a leader to advance your
knowledge and personal academic agenda. Consider saving
these weekly statements, which serve as a critical reflection upon
your growth as a scholar, practitioner, and leader throughout the
program.
Create a reflective and applied statement describing how the
week’s learning has affected your thought processes,
development, and professional disposition. This statement should
reflect your personal learning process—challenges, moments of
discovery, life experiences, and interactions. Ideally, you will use
these reflections throughout the course to document your
development as a scholar, practitioner, and leader, and to reflect
critically on the changes that occur during this process.
Format any citations and references in your reflective statement
consistent with APA guidelines.
Reply to the Module designated for Weekly Reflections, and post
SPEECH 124—HYBRID : CAREER COMMUNICATION Fall/2013
5
your response in the body of the post (for each week), not as an
attachment. 150 words
Week Four & Five: Communicating at Work
Details
Readings
Review Chapters 1 -5
Participation
Participate in class discussion. Participation standards require that
learners contribute to course discussions in the Main forum three out of
seven days per week in order to maintain a dynamic and interactive
discussion of the week's learning objectives.
Discussion
Questions
Respond to weekly discussion questions. You may locate your
discussion questions (DQ’s) on Sundays in the Discussion Questions
(DQ’s) Module
DQ 1. Wednesday 9/11/13
DQ 3. Wednesday 9/18/13
Due
Points
Ongoing
(3 days a
week/ 2 per
day)
20
10 pts
each
DQ 2. Friday 9/12/13
DQ 4. Friday 9/20/13
Team Work
Create a team Charter
 Identify standards, and requirements of each team member.
 Discuss the responsibilities and roles of each team member.
 Discuss the type of business your team would like to create.
Individual
Weekly
Reflection
Create & Submit a reflective and applied statement describing how the
week’s learning has affected your thought processes, development,
and professional disposition. Post your response in the body of the post
(for each week), not as an attachment. 150 words (see full
description under week 1).
15
Sunday
9/15/13
&
Sunday
9/22/13
5 pts
each
Week Six & Seven: Working in Teams
Details
Readings
Review Chapters 8 & 9
Participation
Participate in class discussion. Participation standards require that
learners contribute to course discussions in the Main forum three out of
seven days per week in order to maintain a dynamic and interactive
discussion of the week's learning objectives.
Discussion
Questions
Respond to weekly discussion questions.
Team Work
Business
overview
1. Create & Submit a template that illustrates the components of your
buisness and the respnsibilites of each team member.
DQ 1. Wednesday 9/2513
DQ 3. Wednesday 10/2/13
Due
Points
Ongoing
(3 days a
week/ 2 per
day)
20
10 pts
each
DQ 2. Friday 9/2713
DQ 4. Friday 10/4/13
2. Complete & Submit the first five (5) components (Part I) of your
organizational portfolio.
Sunday
10/6/13
75
SPEECH 124—HYBRID : CAREER COMMUNICATION Fall/2013
Individual
Weekly
Reflection
Create & Submit a reflective and applied statement … 150 words
(see full description under week 1).
6
Sunday
9/29/13 &
10/6/13
5 pts
each
Week Eight & Nine: Team Projects
Details
Readings
Review Chapters 8 & 9
Participation
Participate in class discussion. Participation standards require that
learners contribute to course discussions in the Main forum three out of
seven days per week in order to maintain a dynamic and interactive
discussion of the week's learning objectives.
Discussion
Questions
Respond to weekly discussion questions.
DQ 5. Wednesday 10/9/13
DQ 6. Friday 10/11/13
DQ 7. Wednesday 10/16/13
DQ 8. Friday 10/18/13
Team Work
1. Continue using the template you have developed.
Due
Points
Ongoing
(3 days a
week/ 2
per day)
20
10 pts
each
Sunday
5/13/12
75
Sunday
10/13/13
& Sunday
10/20/13
5 pts
each
2. Complete & Submit components 6-11 (Part II) of your organizational
portfolio
Individual
Weekly
Reflection
Create & Submit a reflective and applied statement describing how the
week’s learning has affected your thought processes, development, and
professional disposition. Post your response in the body of the post (for
each week), not as an attachment. 150 words (see full description under
week 1).
Week Ten: Resume & Cover Letters + impromptu Responses ON CAMPUS
Details
Readings
Review PowerPoint Lecture “Cover Letter & Resume”
Participation
Participate in class discussion. Participation standards require that
learners contribute to course discussions in the Main forum three out of
seven days per week in order to maintain a dynamic and interactive
discussion of the week's learning objectives.
Discussion
Questions
Respond to weekly discussion questions.
DQ 9. Wednesday 10/23/13
DQ 10. Friday 10/25/13
Individual
Peer
Feedback
Complete & Submit the Dream Job Interview Package ( See
Assignemnts)
Evaluate the cover letter & resume’s of your team members Complete the
Peer Feedback Form
Due
Points
Ongoing
(3 days a
week/ 2
per day)
10
10 pts
each
Sunday
10/27/13
75
SPEECH 124—HYBRID : CAREER COMMUNICATION Fall/2013
7
Submit the form to your facilitator.
Individual
Wk. Reflection
Create & Submit a reflective and applied statement … 150 words (see
full description under week 1).
Sunday
10/27/1
5
Week Eleven & Twelve: Mock Interviews ON CAMPUS
Details
Readings
Review Chapters 6 & 7
Participation
Participate in class discussion. Participation standards require that
learners contribute to course discussions in the Main forum three
out of seven days per week in order to maintain a dynamic and
interactive discussion of the week's learning objectives.
Discussion
Questions
Respond to weekly discussion questions.
DQ 11. Wednesday 10/30/13
DQ 12. Friday 11/1/13
Individual
Interviews
Review the feedback regarding your evaluation from your facilitator
and peers. Add your reflection to your weekly reflection statement.
Due
Points
Ongoing
(3 days a
week/ 2
per day)
10
10 pts
each
Sunday
11/3/13
150
Sunday
11/3/13
5
Complete & Submit feedback from your informational interview
(See assignments)
Individual
Weekly Reflection
Create & Submit a reflective and applied statement describing how
the week’s learning has affected your thought processes,
development, and professional disposition. Post your response in
the body of the post (for each week), not as an attachment. 150
words (see full description under week 1).
Week Thirteen: Team Projects
Details
Readings
Review Past work from team project.
Participation
Participate in class discussion. Participation standards require that
learners contribute to course discussions in the Main forum three
out of seven days per week in order to maintain a dynamic and
interactive discussion of the week's learning objectives.
Discussion
Questions
Respond to weekly discussion questions.
DQ 13. Wednesday 11/6/13
DQ 14. Friday 11/8/13
DQ 15. Wednesday 11/13/13
DQ 16. Friday 11/15/13
Due
Points
Ongoing
(3 days a
week/ 2
per day)
20
10 pts
each
SPEECH 124—HYBRID : CAREER COMMUNICATION Fall/2013
8
Team Work
Research examples of other organization’s business plans that are
similar to yours & Refine/edit and reorganize your organizational
plan.
Sunday
11/17/13
Individual
Weekly Reflection
Create & Submit a reflective and applied statement … 150 words
(see full description under week 1).
Sunday
11/10 & 17
5 pts
each
Week Fourteen-Eighteen : Presenting in a Team ON CAMPUS
(11/19; 12/3,5,10, & 12)
Details
Due
Points
2. Complete & Submit components 6-11 (Part III) of your
organizational portfolio
12/1/13
75
3. Assemble & Submit Parts I-III of the Organizational portfolio into
a finalized plan. Include any appendices you created.
12/8/13
4. Develop & Submit the team’s PowerPoint presentation
12/15/13
125
Create & Submit a reflective and applied statement describing how
the week’s learning has affected your thought processes,
development, and professional disposition. Post your response in
the body of the post (for each week), not as an attachment. 150
words (see full description under week 1).
Sunday
11/24/13
&
Sunday
12/1/13
&
Sunday
12/8/13
&
Sunday
12/15/13
5 pts
each
Readings
Review Chapters 10-13
Team Work
1. Continue using the template you have developed.
Individual
Weekly Reflection