Florida International University
Fall 2015
College of Architecture + The Arts
Communication Arts Department
Business and Professional Communication
Date/Time: Mon/Wed/Fri 9:00 am to 9:50 am
Location: Charles E. Perry (PC) Room 438
COM3110-U08
Reference: 91085
Phone: (305) 348-1984 Dept.: (305) 348-1984
Professor: Jessica Delgado
Email Address: delgadoj@fiu.edu
Office Hours: Tuesday/Thursday 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Wednesday 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Employers ranked the ability to communicate and to use technology as two of the most important skills
for new employees. As such, this course is designed to provide you with an opportunity to learn
managerial communication skills that can be immediately transferred into a professional work
environment. The course assignments and exercises are designed to improve your practical business
communication skills in the following areas.
Important Academic Dates
University Drop Date: Monday, November 2
Labor Day: Monday, September 7
Veteran’s Day: Wednesday, November 11 Thanksgiving Holiday: Thursday, November 26-Saturday, November 28
Academic Calendar: http://onestop.fiu.edu/academic-calendar
E-BOOK
Course Number: COM 3110
Course Section: U08
Course ID: commarts10593
You need to purchase access to your instructor's MyCommLab section, where
your course material and special FIU edition eBook are located. You can
purchase an access code from the FIU Bookstore OR direct access from the
publisher, Pearson.
To access your course material after you purchase the code, follow the online
steps.
Three things you need to order MyComm Lab :
1. Email address – one you access often
2. Course ID – code that links you to Mylab page
3. Access Code – gives access to MyLab program itself – purchased online during registration or at the
University Bookstore.
MyCommLab Instructions:
COM 3110
Florida International University
Fall 2015
To enroll in a typical course, a student needs to have a:
Student access code, a valid credit card, or a PayPal account– Students get an access code with a new book purchase
or by buying the code separately in a student access kit/card at the campus bookstore. Students can also buy access
to a course online with a credit card or PayPal account while they are enrolling.
The student access code is nontransferable and can be used only once.
To purchase course access online:
Go to the MyLab and Mastering website and click Student in the Register area. Enter the Course ID provided by
your instructor and click Continue. After verifying your course information, enter your username and password, and
click Sign In. If you don’t have a Pearson account, click Create an account. Complete the Create an Account page.
Helpful hints display to guide you. Read and accept the license agreement. Click Create Account. Select the button
for the access level you want. Select whether you want to pay with a credit card or use PayPal and enter payment
information. Click Review to review your order details. If you need to change anything, click the Change link. Click
Make Payment to submit your order. Click Go to Your E Book and course materials
Go to the MyLab and Mastering website and click Student in the Register area. Enter the Course ID provided by
your instructor and click Continue. After verifying your course information, enter your username and password, and
click Sign In. If you don’t have a Pearson account, click Create an account. Complete the Create an Account page.
Helpful hints appear to guide you. Read and accept the license agreement. Optionally, you can select the check box
to help us make our products better and learn about new offers. Click Create Account. To get temporary access to
your course, click the link at the bottom of the page. When a confirmation message appears, click Yes to complete
your registration. You will receive a confirmation email with payment instructions. Click Go to Your Course to
access your course.
For more help with registration, go to the Get Started for Students area of the MyLab and Mastering website. For
instructions on registration, watch the Register for your course videos.
Course Expectations
Attendance: Attendance for this class is mandatory. You are allowed two absences during the semester, and it is
your responsibility to get caught up on missed information. One percentage point will be deducted from your final
grade for every absence after the two allowed absences.
Missing more than three classes may result in your failing the course. There will be no exceptions. Missing a
presentation will result in the loss of all points for that presentation. An excused absence is defined as one that can
be documented in writing and is due to a medical problem with the student or immediate family, death in the
student’s immediate family, or an officially recognized university sponsored event.
Tardiness or leaving early is not accepted and will result in a reduction of your grade. Tardy means not being in
attendance when roll is taken. Two “lates” are the equivalent of 1 absence. Students with more than four “lates” run
the risk of failing the class. You will be expected to arrive at class on time. If you arrive late on the day of your
presentation, you may not be permitted to deliver your speech that day. Anyone arriving late to class on
presentations days will not be allowed into the classroom. If you are tardy, notify the professor after class so the
absence can be changed to tardy.
Exams and Quizzes
COM 3110
Florida International University
Fall 2015
There will be exams and quizzes throughout the semester that cover grammar and textbook chapters. Exams and
quizzes will be located in Pearson MyComLab and will be conducted outside of class. You can access each quiz
anytime during the availability period. You will have one attempt per quiz. Keep in mind you must begin the quiz
with enough time to complete the quiz before the quiz expires. You cannot consult with another individual during
the quiz or discuss the quiz with another student until after the quiz date has expired and the grades have been
posted. Exams (the midterm and the final) and quizzes cannot be made up without proper documentation.
Evaluation
Please pay attention to requirements for the assignments. Satisfying all requirements of an assignment does not
entitle the student to an A for that assignment. Completing an assignment by fulfilling all requirements translates to
satisfactory work, which earns the student a C grade, as per university rules. Completing all requirements and doing
them well earns the student a B grade. The grade A is reserved for work that is above and beyond.
Please make sure you follow your grades and know where you stand in class throughout the semester. It is your
responsibility to know your grade. Examinations and presentations will be evaluated consistently with a universitylevel course. The following point scale will be used to determine final grades.
Letter
Range
Letter
Range
Letter
Range
A
AB+
B
940 to 1000
900 - 939
870-899
840-869
BC+
C
D+
800-839
770-799
700-769
670-699
D
F
600-669
000-599
Learning Objectives
There are four Learning Objectives for COM 3150:
A.
B.
C.
D.
Business Writing Skills
Oral Presentation Skills
Language Skills
Managerial Communication
A. Business Writing Skills: These the details of these assignments and documents will be
discussed in class, the purpose of these assignments is to improve students writing skills and
more importantly you help you progress toward the Business Writing Skills Learning Objectives
of this class.
B. Oral Presentation Skills: There will be an oral presentation – you will be required to do a
practice run of that speech in the Communication Arts Studio. This is further discussed in the
course content section.
C. Language Skills: You will be graded throughout the semester in the following areas:
♣ Pre-Assessment
♣ Periodic assignments and/or assessments
COM 3110
Florida International University
Fall 2015
D. Managerial Communication: You will develop and/or improve your ability to recognize
your own communication tendencies as well as the communication tendencies of the persons
you deal with professionally.
Assignments
Business Writing Skills
Memo #1 Problem/Solution Memo
Grammar #1
Evaluated for language skills and formatting
Grammar Assessment
Assignment Point Value
Memo #2 Request for Action Memo
Memo #3 Informative Memo
Memo #4 Informative Memo
50 points
50 points
50 points
Letter #1 Good News Letter
Letter #2 Bad News Letter
Letter #3 Persuasive Letter
50 points
50 points
50 points
Résumé Packet
50 points
Business Report Business Topic
50 points
Oral Presentation Skills
Topics must be business related. Both presentations are graded on content (10%) and delivery (10%). Rubric is
located in Blackboard.
Group Symposium
100 points
Speech to Inform
100 points
Language Skills
Grammar Quiz #2
20 points
Grammar Quiz # 3
20 points
Grammar Quiz #4
20 points
Grammar Quiz # 5
20 points
Grammar Quiz # 6
20 points
Exams
Midterm (Questions from readings and lectures)
100 points
Final
100 points
(Questions from readings and lectures)
Class Participation
Participation
COM 3110
50 points
Florida International University
Fall 2015
COURSE SCHEDULE
All dates are tentative and the instructor holds the right to change due dates and presentation dates if
necessary. All assignments are due before class on the assigned date.
Week 1
Monday, August 24
Wednesday, August 26
Friday, August 28
Course Introduction and Grammar Skills
Course Introductions
Week 2
Grammar Skills, Understanding Business Communication in the Workplace (Ch 1, 3)
Monday, August 31
Wednesday, September 2
Homework Due: Grammar Pre-Test
Friday, September 4
Homework Due: Grammar Quiz #1
Week 3
Monday, September 7
Wednesday, September 9
Friday, September 11
Grammar Skills, Planning and Writing Business Messages (Ch 3, Ch4)
Labor Day- No Class
Homework Due: Grammar Quiz #2
Week 4
Monday, September 14
Wednesday, September 16
Friday, September 18
Grammar Skills, Completing Business Messages (Ch 5)
Week 5
Monday, September 21
Wednesday, September 23
Friday, September 25
Writing Routine, Positive, and Negative Messages (Ch 7, Ch 8)
Week 6
Monday, September 28
Wednesday, September 30
Friday, October 2
Week 7
Monday, October 5
Wednesday, October 7
Friday, October 9
Homework Due: Grammar Quiz #3
Homework Due: Memo #1
Homework Due: Grammar Quiz #4
Writing Persuasive Messages (Ch 9)
Homework Due: Memo #2
Homework Due: Grammar Quiz #5
Team Skills, Interpersonal Communication, and Presentations (Ch 2, Ch 12)
Homework Due: Memo #3
Homework Due: Letter #1
Week 8
Monday, October 12
Wednesday, October 14
Friday, October 16
Presentations
Individual Presentations
Individual Presentations
Individual Presentations
Week 9
Monday, October 19
Wednesday, October 21
Friday, October 23
Presentations
Individual Presentations
Individual Presentations
Homework Due: Grammar Quiz #6
COM 3110
Florida International University
Week 10
Monday, October 26
Wednesday, October 28
Friday, October 30
Week 11
Monday, November 2
Wednesday, November 4
Friday, November 6
Fall 2015
Writing Resumes and Interviewing (Chapter 13 and 14)
Midterm Review
Midterm
Planning and Writing Business Reports (Chapter 10 and 11)
Week 12
Monday, November 9
Wednesday, November 11
Friday, November 13
Homework Due: Letter #2
Homework Due: Letter #3/Résumé Packet Due
Crafting Electronic Messages
Veteran’s Day- No Class
Homework Due: Business Report
Week 13
Monday, November 16
Wednesday, November 18
Wednesday, November 20
Group Presentations
Group Presentation Day 1
Group Presentation Day 2
Group Presentation Day 3
Week 14
Monday, November 23
Wednesday, November 25
Friday, November 27
Group Presentations
Group Presentation Day 4
Week 15
Monday, November 30
Wednesday, December 2
Friday, December 4
Week 16 Finals Week December 6 through December 12
Friday, December 11
Thanksgiving Break- No Class
Social Media (Ch 6)
Social Media Case Study
Final Exam Review
Final Exam
CommArts Studio (CAS)
The Communication Arts Studio offers students on both campuses instruction and coaching on delivering
presentations, developing and giving the standard one-minute "elevator speech,” and practicing job interview skills.
The studio is open five days a week at MMC and BBC with both day and evening hours. Our experienced speech
communications staff are eager to assist students with organizing ideas, speaking more confidently, improving body
language, reducing anxiety, improving eye contact, and incorporating visual aids to create dynamic and focused
presentations or prepare for any kind of public speaking. The contact information for the studio – located on both
campuses – is below.
Communication Arts Studio
Modesto Maidique Campus: VH 230
Phone: 305-348-0069/ 305-919-4140
Website and Appointment Link: communicate.fiu.edu
COM 3110
Biscayne Bay Campus: HL 155
Email: communicate@fiu.edu
Florida International University
Fall 2015
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
This syllabus is a contract of understanding between professor and student. If the assignments and grading system
are not acceptable, then the student needs to negotiate a change by midnight Sunday on the second week of class or
accept the rules as written.
CODE OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
This Code of Academic Integrity was adopted by the Student Government Association on November 28, 2001 and
reflects the values articulated in the Student Code of Standards. Florida International University is a community
dedicated to generating and imparting knowledge through excellent teaching and research, the rigorous and
respectful exchange of ideas, and community service. All students should respect the right of others to have an
equitable opportunity to learn and honestly to demonstrate the quality of their learning.
Therefore, all students are expected to adhere to a standard of academic conduct, which demonstrates respect for
themselves, their fellow students, and the educational mission of Florida International University.
As a student of this university:
• I will be honest in my academic endeavors.
• I will not represent someone else's work as my own.
• I will not cheat, nor will I aid in another's cheating.
All students are deemed by the university to understand that if they are found responsible for academic misconduct,
they will be subject to the Code of Academic Integrity’s procedures and sanctions, as outlined in the FIU Student
Handbook. Students have the right to due process in all disciplinary situations. For additional information
concerning student rights and responsibilities, please contact FIU’s Office of Student Conduct and Conflict
Resolution.
Note: Intensive auditing of the course will be conducted to prevent academic misconduct.
PLAGIARISM
All written assignments must be submitted through the Turnitin.com database by the posted deadline. Assignments
submitted by any other means or after the deadline will not be accepted and evaluated without proper supporting
documentation. Students will access Turnitin.com through their Learning Management System (LMS) by uploading
their paper to the given assignment dropbox/submission link. After submitting, the report will be made available for
review. For help with Turnitin.com visit http://api.turnitin.com/en_us/support/help-center
Student Code of Standards
A University is a learning community following a tradition more than 1,000 years old. Florida International
University is such a community dedicated to generating and imparting knowledge through excellent teaching and
research, the rigorous and respectful exchange of ideas, and community service. As a member of this community:
• I will respect the tradition of academic inquiry, the University’s rules of conduct,
and its mission.
• I will respect the opinions and differences of all members of the FIU community.
• I will practice civility and demonstrate conduct that reflects the values of the institution.
• I will be diligent and honest in my personal and academic endeavors.
The FIU Student Handbook outlines the Student Code of Conduct regarding students with disruptive behavior.
Website: www.fiu.edu/~sccr/docs/disruptive_brochure.doc
COM 3110
Florida International University
Fall 2015
Policy for Assigning an Incomplete "I" Grade
An incomplete grade is a temporary symbol given for work not completed because of serious interruption not caused
by the student's own negligence. An incomplete must be made up as quickly as possible, no later than two
consecutive semesters after the initial taking of the course or it will automatically default to an "F" or the grade that
the student earned in the course.
There is no extension of the two-semester deadline. The student must not register again for the course to make up
the incomplete. Students who have incomplete grades on their records must remove the incomplete by the end of the
fourth week of the term in which they plan to graduate. Failure to do so will result in a cancellation of graduation.
Incompletes are awarded only if the student has completed most of the course work. If a student misses a significant
portion of the course work, he/she should drop the course. If the drop period has ended, the student may petition for
a withdrawal—this requires the student to un-enroll in all of their courses for that semester.
Incompletes are not to be used because a student took on too many credits and they cannot complete everything that
is now required of them.
In such cases where the course instructor determines that it appropriate to award a student a grade of
"I" (incomplete) official steps must be followed, which can be found on the CARTA website;
http://carta.fiu.edu/comm-arts/students/incomplete-policy-2/
RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS
The University's policy on religious holy days as stated in the University Catalog and Student Handbook will be
followed in this class. Any student may request to be excused from class to observe a religious holy day of his or her
faith.
DISABILITY NOTICE
Students with disabilities, as defined by law, have the right to receive needed accommodations if their disabilities
make it difficult to perform academic tasks in the usual way or in the allotted time frame. In order to receive
accommodation, however, students with must register with the Disability Resource Center: GC 190, Phone: (305)
348-3532, TTY: (305) 348-3852, Email: drcupgl@fiu.edu
Additional Resources
The FIU Learning Center is available to assist you with your business writing skills. The website for the Learning
Center is: http://learningcenter.fiu.edu.
COM 3110