The Joseph M. Bryan School of Business and Economics
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT GREENSBORO
MGT 309 - Business Communication
Spring 2011
Dr. Michael Beitler
372 Bryan Building
mike@mikebeitler.com (write MGT 309 & section # on subject line)
Office hours: By appointment
In case of inclement weather, go to UNCG website.
This syllabus is subject to improvements & minor changes, & corrections.
Course Description
Your learning in this 3-credit hour course is business communications. Our focus is four areas:
relating, writing, speaking and teaming. This course is classified as Writing Intensive & Speaking
Intensive. Emphasis is on verbal/nonverbal strategies with persuasive, negative, interpersonal,
intercultural, and presentations skills. Additional topics include job search skills and teamwork. Course
prerequisites are junior standing and admission to approved program. Prerequisites are reviewed by
the Office of Undergraduate Student Services and the Registrar’s office.
This is a performance-based class. Your knowledge and skills improve through practice. You are
graded on your performance activities, not on effort.
As we cover the course material, I will help you with the application, but you are ultimately responsible
for learning the material. The course grading gets harder as we progress.
You are graded on what you say (content) and how you say it (delivery). Excellence in grammar &
mechanics is expected in all communications (emails, individual assignments & group assignments).
Course Requirements:
Course text: Writing That Works, Communicating Effectively on the Job, 9th Edition, Walter Oliu,
Charles Brusaw, Gerald Alred. Bedford/St. Martin’s, ISBN: 10: 0-312-44844-9 or ISBN: 13: 978-0312-44844-8.
Course text: Download the ebook from the UNCG library at http://www.bartleby.com/141/. This text
by Strunk & White, although written some time ago, is wonderful at teaching paragraphing. Please
review this book for information to advance your writing.
Academic integrity. You are expected to adhere to the UNCG Honor Code which can be found at
http://academicintegrity.uncg.edu/complete. Plagiarism violations are handled according to policy.
Please review the faculty/student guidelines at
http://www.uncg.edu/bae/faculty_student_guidelines_sp07.pdf.
Educational Objectives:
At the end of the course, every student should be able to…
Understand the importance of effective communication skills in the workplace.
Identify communication strategies for business situations.
Create responses to communication problems.
Conduct research for evidence-based writings and presentations.
Use accurate documentation of sources.
Practice work place team behaviors.
Write concise and organized documents using the appropriate format.
Use the eight-step writing process.
Write reports based on evaluation of data.
Develop effective messages.
Demonstrate effective oral presentation skills with verbal & nonverbal proficiencies.
1
“If you think a teacher is tough, try a boss.” Bill Gates
The Joseph M. Bryan School of Business and Economics
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT GREENSBORO
Classroom Attitudes
The course demands active learning. We will engage in exercises, group discussions, debates and
teamwork.
My classroom is run like a business meeting. At this point in your career, your attitude is more
important than your knowledge. I expect you to have a professional attitude.
No late work will be accepted. No make-up presentations will be permitted. No makeup tests.
When you email me, use what you are being taught. I expect a well-crafted email. If you write poorly,
I may respond with an email asking you to recompose your message.
Like your boss, I expect you to follow instructions.
You will receive feedback on your writing and speaking. View this feedback as a gift to grow in your
skills instead of personal criticism. You will learn more if you do not let any feelings of resistance keep
you from listening and applying the feedback.
Some assignments (or instructions) will be delivered verbally only – just like in business. I may
reminder you, I may not; be responsible.
My Teaching Philosophy
I value excellence (and fun) in the classroom and the professional world. Do not mistake my relaxed
approach for a relaxed standard; I insist on performance excellence (your boss or client will expect no
less).
I value integrity. Integrity is the cornerstone of good character and ethical business practice;
therefore, it is foundational in my classroom. I expect you to be honest, respectful, and willing to
admit when you are wrong.
I am a consultant (and former executive). As a consultant, I share everything I know with my clients;
I hold nothing back. I believe by the time my client applies what I currently know, I will have moved on
to the next level. I offer the same thing to my students.
Inappropriate Behavior
No laptops, cell phones, or electronic devices are permitted in this class.
No chatting will be permitted during class.
No hats or caps may be worn during class.
No student may sit in a seat other than the one assigned.
No student will be admitted late to the class.
Any behavior that is inappropriate for a business meeting will not be permitted in this class.
Any student who violates these behavior rules will be dropped from the course.
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“If you think a teacher is tough, try a boss.” Bill Gates
The Joseph M. Bryan School of Business and Economics
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT GREENSBORO
Learning Activities & Grading Percentages
Writing Assignments (Individual, Peer-reviewed)
1 – “How to” Letter
2 – Persuasive Letter
3 - Resume
4 - Negative Letter
Speaking assignments
1 – Individual
2 – Group (Chapter Presentation/PowerPoint Required)
40%
10%
10%
Exams
Mid-Term Exam
Final Exam - write direct/indirect
Participation & Contribution the Class
15%
15%
10%
Writing Assignments
What you say is as important as how you say it.

All submissions are to have your full name and section number.

I give feedback. Learn to welcome the information. Take the feedback as a gift and improve.
Grades “A” & “F’ get less feedback; grades of “B” & “C’ get the most feedback. I do not bring
attention to every single error. I am your boss or client, not your editor. You are to inspect your
paper for recurrences of the same mention.
I will use this numbering system for your writing feedback.
Number Item
Description
1
Wordiness
Using too many words to make your point
2
Flow - organization &
Needs to be easily readable
transitioning
3
Tone off
Emotional tone is inappropriate
4
Awkward
5
Paragraphing
Paragraphs too long, short, poorly organized
6
Punctuation
Missing or inappropriate use
7
Grammar/mechanics
8
Not ‘pretty on the page’
Inappropriate formatting, white space, etc.
9
Vary sentence lengths
Sentences too long or too similar
10
Poor word choices

These writings, as in business, are an exercise in the balance of following directions and
innovation.
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“If you think a teacher is tough, try a boss.” Bill Gates
The Joseph M. Bryan School of Business and Economics
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT GREENSBORO

You will be assigned peers and a team. You are encouraged to discuss strategy and be each
other’s editor. Collaboration is important business behavior. However, I caution you – each
individual paper is to be an individual’s paper.

A requirement of this course is all work is to be in at least three paragraphs (intro, body &
conclusion). (The body information may be more than one paragraph.) If you submit a work
outside of this requirement, you will get an automatic “F.”

Submit your assignments as instructed. I require a hard copy at the beginning of class. Email
is not acceptable, unless I give you special permission.

You are required to visit the Speaking Center for group practice.
Speaking Assignments
Each student will have three experiences in front of the classroom. Two are graded. You are graded
on what you say and how you say it.
Impromptu
Individual Informative Speech
Group Persuasive Speech (one chapter from the book)
You are required to visit The Speaking Center for oral presentation practice on your group persuasive
speech assignment.
Mid-Term & Final Exams
On the mid-term exam you will be responsible for all material covered during the first half of the
course. On the final exam you will be responsible for all material covered during the entire course.
Excel Spreadsheets
You are required to have an Excel spreadsheet as a component of at least one of your written
assignments.
Grading
The course learnings are built on one another. If you do not understand a particular principle or
concept, it will affect your performance later in the course.
Feedback will be in writing. If you have questions regarding an assignment, ask within one week of the
return of the grade, NOT at the end of course. Any grading appeals will only be considered in the form
of a well-crafted written document that includes supporting evidence for the requested change. No
grading appeals will be accepted after one week.
4
“If you think a teacher is tough, try a boss.” Bill Gates
The Joseph M. Bryan School of Business and Economics
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT GREENSBORO
Matrix
A
Promoted & mentored by the boss – offered stock
options (C-level potential)
93 – 100
A-
Promotion track with a mentor
90 – 92
B
Promotion considered with more improvement
82 – 89
C
Maintain current status-promotion unlikely
72 - 81
F
Fired
Less than 72
Writing Rubric
A - Excellent
Understood the
assignment –
Great product
Content rich
Free of
grammatical error
At least 3
paragraphs
Strong thesis & set
up
Great
organization/flow
Speaking Rubric
A - Excellent
Content rich
Organized
interesting
introduction
Energetic delivery
with appropriate
voice & hands
Complete
engaging
conclusion
B - Good
Understood – good
product
C - Fair
Okay product
Content
acceptable
Unaffecting
grammatical errors
At least 3
paragraphs
Good thesis
Content fair (too
much, too little)
A few errors that
impact message
At least 3
paragraphs
Somewhat vague
thesis
Fair
organization/flow
Good
organization/flow
B - Good
Content
acceptable
Good introduction
miss one tactic
C - Fair
Content fair
Good delivery
Fair delivery
Good conclusion
Fair conclusion
D – N/A
F – Unacceptable
Not acceptable
Less than 3
paragraphs
D – N/A
Fair introduction –
missing 2 tactics
5
“If you think a teacher is tough, try a boss.” Bill Gates
F – Unacceptable
Didn’t do the work
The Joseph M. Bryan School of Business and Economics
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT GREENSBORO
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“If you think a teacher is tough, try a boss.” Bill Gates