BA 290 Business Communication
Fall 2012
Instructor: John M. Penrose
Email: John.penrose@sdsu.edu
Voice/Message: 619.594.4759
Office: SSE 3126 (north end of building)
Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 2:15-3:45
Sections: 20284
Classroom: SS 2522
Units: 3
T/Th 12:30-1:45
Department office: SS 2411
Course Description: In this class, you'll learn concepts and develop skills directed toward written
business communication. You'll be able to apply these skills immediately in your other classes as well as
in your work. These communication skills are ones business executives repeatedly identify as the most
important factor in their success.
Learning Objectives: Upon successful completion of the course, you will be able to:
1. Learn the essentials of organizing business messages.
2. Gather primary information and interpret it effectively.
3. Prepare short documents for business such as memos, letters, e-mail, and business reports.
4. Prepare a substantial analytical report using both primary and secondary research and supported
with suitable graphics.
Required Texts and Readings:
Business Communication for Managers, 2004, 5th ed., Penrose, Rasberry and Myers (from Aztec
Shops; class materials from Aztec Shops.
Course design: lecture, discussion, experiential exercises, exams.
Course conduct: on-time attendance is expected at each class; assignments will be collected in class;
students are expected to be prepared for each class by having read assignments, prepared homework, and
so on. Turn off and put away all electronic devices at the beginning of class.
Grading: All your work and the final course grade will be evaluated on a performance scale rather than a
curve. Tests are based on both your knowledge about writing concepts and your application of these
concepts to a variety of writing assignments. These assignments are ones you are likely to encounter both
in the workplace and in your upper division work in business.
The following list shows the weighting of various components in your final grade.
Written assignments
45%
Good new message (5)
Bad news message (5)
Persuasive message (5)
Situational message (5)
Analytical report (25)
Visual support project
Mid-term exam
Final exam
10%
20%
25%
Grading Scale:
Cutoffs:
A+ = 99
A = 95
A- = 91
B+ = 88
B = 85
B- = 81
C+ = 78
C = 75
C- = 71
D+ = 68
D = 65
D- = 61
Attempted F = 50
Unattempted F = 0
90
80
70
60
Academic Honesty Policy: You are expected to comply with all university sanctions against cheating,
plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty and unethical conduct. While you’ll find cheating and
plagiarism defined more fully at http://its.sdsu.edu/resources/turnitin/pdf/Plagiarism_AcadSen.pdf,
some of its text below is highlighted for your special note.
“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.”
Lateness Policy: Out-of-class assignments turned in late will only be accepted one class period late and
then with a late penalty applied. Missed in-class assignments and exams cannot be made up without prior
arrangement with the instructor. Only severe illness or other grave circumstances will be considered valid
reasons for allowing make-up work.
Electronic Devices Policy: As both a courtesy to all and a way to keep your focus solely on the class
activities, please turn off all cell phones, and other electronic devices. If there is some extraordinary reason
why you must have an electronic device on, please see me. No devices will be permitted during tests.
Class Schedule: While the following class schedule gives you an idea of the material to be covered and
exam dates intended, you are responsible for any changes as announced in class or by email.
BA 290 Class Schedule – Fall 2012
Date
August
September
October
November
December
Topic
Assignment
28
30
4
6
11
Course Overview
Writing Style
Writing Style
Writing Style
Organizational strategies
Class materials
P1&2
13
18
20
25
27
2
4
9
11
16
18
23
25
30
1
6
P5
8
13
15
20
27
29
4
6
Positive messages
Neutral messages
Negative messages
Negative messages
In-class writing
Persuasive messages
Persuasive messages
Situational messages
Situational messages
In-class writing
Analytical report case discussion
Visual support
Mid-term examination
Writing analytical reports
Using the library to do research
Writing the analytical report (researching,
editing, and documenting)
Writing the analytical report (analyzing)
Writing the abstract
Using correct attribution
Job-getting procedures
Elements of an effective application letter
Preparing the resume
Oral presentations
Final exam discussion
11
Final exam 10:30-12:30 for 12:30 class
Final exam
”P” means the Penrose textbook
P4
Positive message due; P 6
Negative message
Persuasive message due; P7
Situational message
P3
Exam
Meet in the library
P9
Visual support project due
Analytical report
P 11