Department of Business and Technology
BSMT 350: Business Communications
Department of Business Management
Syllabus
I
Basic Information
Additional Information:
Steve A Varela, born in Chicago, IL speaks
English, Portuguese and basic Spanish. He has
conducted business in 20+ countries and has
lived and worked in the US, Chile, Mexico,
Brazil, China and Taiwan within the technology,
telecommunications and agricultural sectors.
3 Credit Hours
Fall 2014
II Faculty Contact Information
www.ipartnersllp.com/svarela.htm
Name: Steve A. Varela
Office: Faculty office: 523
Office Hrs.:
Monday
9:30-10:15AM, 12:30-1:45PM
Tuesday
10:30-13:45
Thursday 15:30 - 17:00 or by apt.
Phone:
(219) 473-4355
Email:
svarela@ccsj.edu
III
Prerequisites:
1. Sophomore standing
This undergraduate level course anticipates
students have a basic fluency of written and
spoken English in addition to one year of
college coursework.
Course Description
Welcome to Business Communications!
Course Expectations:
This course introduces us to some basic communication principles with a This class is demanding in terms of outside-of-class
time. Students are expected to collaborate after course
focus on the individual and how we interact with others inside and
hours while developing several Group Assignments.
outside our organizations. As an active learning course, this class will
Expect to spend 2 hours in out-of-class preparation for
explore both theoretical principles and strategies that support effective
each in-class hour. My goal is for every single student
communication strategies as well as highlight some interesting
to see a noticeable improvement in your understanding
approaches that modern firms incorporate to get their message across of the human side (behavioral factors) of business. I
as effectively as possible.
expect you to work very hard on your own, and as
teammates to accomplish this goal.
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BSMT 350 Syllabus
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Department of Business and Technology
We will seek to understand communication processes in both written
and oral contexts along with their corresponding ethical, cultural and
technological influences. Topics include communication foundation,
theory, the writing process, business correspondence, report writing,
proposals and presentations, and oral communication skills. Finally,
students will be exposed to an extensive review of key grammar and
usage issues. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing.
Plagiarism will not be tolerated. When you put
your name on any assignment it is expected that the
entire assignment is your own original work. If you
use the work of others, you must provide complete
citations in APA Style. Cheating or sharing answers on
exams or other individual assignments will result in all
students involved receiving an “F” for the assignment
on the first offense. Repeat offenders will be
expulsed from the remainder of the course and
receive a final grade of “F”.
IV TEXT & Supplemental Reading
Required Text: Business Communication Process & Product, 8th edition,
2015, Guffey & Lowey, published by Cengage Learning. ISBN:978-1-28509406-0
V Learning Methods
Class lecture, video presentation, writexperience™ adaptive language
assignment engine, and group presentations.
VII Evaluation Criteria
Graded assignments are similarly weighted such that the likelihood of
falling behind is limited and a very low score from one assignment will
not jeopardize the student’s ability to successfully pass this course.
Quiz 1 (Ch 1-4):
Quiz 2 (Ch 5-8):
Quiz 3 (Ch 9-12):
Group Project:
Participation:
Assessments &
Assignments:
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15%
15%
15%
20%
10%
Quizzes generally last one hour in length
and can be multiple choice or essay.
Group projects measure both individual and team
contributions
Meaningful contributions to the class discussion or
the introduction of new material is considered
valuable participation
25%
BSMT 350 Syllabus
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Department of Business and Technology
BSMT 350 - Business Communications
Week
Session Information
Assignments / Comments
Week 1:
Session 1:
Note: all assignments are due prior to the start of
the next chapter's class meeting.
(September 2-7)
Course Introduction, Methodology, Syllabus,
Instructor, Course Technology
Read chapters prior to arriving in class and
complete the following on BB or in groups in
class:
Welcome!
Student work group establishment (5 persons
Critical Thinking #1 or #4 (always post on BB
maximum), Open Seating, Cengage Writ
prior to Session 1)
experience accounts ™,
Setting the Stage
Ch. 1. Business Communication in a Digital
Age
Items: Always add to Critical Thinking post on
BB Prior to start of Session 2 for each chapter.
Session 2:
Item 1.7 p. 34
Ch. 1. Business Communication in a Digital
Age (continued)
Week 2:
(September 8-13)
Session 1:
Chapter 2: Professionalism & An Intro to
Organizational Behavior
CT #1 or #3
Item 2.2 p. 72
Item 2.5 p. 72
Setting the Stage
Session 2:
Chapter 2: Continued
Week 3:
Session 1:
Chapter 3: Intercultural Communication
(September 14-20)
CT #1 or #4
Item 3.5, p.110
Item 3.6, P 110
Setting the Stage
Session 2:
Chapter 3: Continued
Week 4:
Session 1:
Chapter 4: Planning Business Messages
(September 21-27)
The Writing Process
Session 2:
Chapter 4: Continued
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Item 1.8 p. 34
BSMT 350 Syllabus
CT # 3 or #5
Item 4.2, p. 146
Item 4.9, p. 147
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Department of Business and Technology
Week 5:
(Sept 28-Oct 4)
Session 1:
Chapter 1-4: Review & Workshop
Instructor review of major objectives, test review &
student group exchanges
The Writing Process
Session 2:
Exam 1: Chapters 1-4
BB Test in Computer Lab
Week 6:
(October 5-11)
Session 1:
Chapter 5: Organizing and Drafting Business
Messages
CT # 1, or #2 and #5
Item 5.8, p. 172 Item 5.14, p. 173
The Writing Process
Session 2:
Chapter 5: Continued
Week 7:
Session 1:
Chapter 6: Job Revising Business Messages
(October 12-18)
The Writing Process
CT # 3 or #5
Item 6.4, p. 198
Item 6.12, p. 200
Session 2:
Chapter 6: Continued
Week 8:
(October 19-25)
Session 1:
Chapter 7: Short Workplace Messages and
Digital Media
Item 7.4, p. 235
Item 7.12, p. 237
Workplace
Communication
Chat: Start or contribute to topics 1, 3 or 5 on
BB p, 240.
Session 2:
Chapter 8: Continued
Week 9:
(October 26-Nov 1)
Workplace
Communication
Session 1:
Chapter 8: Positive Messages
CT# 1 or #4
Item 8.13
Group Project
Discuss and answer questions related to the
group project
Session 2:
Chapter 8: Continued
Week 10:
(Nov 2 - Nov 8)
Session 1:
Chapter 10: Sales and Persuasive Messages
Item 10.1, p. 359 or
Session 2:
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Department of Business and Technology
Week 11:
(November 9-15)
Chapter 10: Continued
Item 10.8, p. 362.
Session 1:
Chapter 9: Negative Messages
Item 9.23, p. 322 or Item 9.29, p. 323.
Group Project
Due: Submit brief written plan in class.
Session 2:
Chapter 9: Continued
Week 12:
(November 16-22)
Session 1:
Chapter 13: Proposals, Business Plans, and
Formal Reports
Item 13.1, p. 494 or
Item 13.10, p. 496
Session 2:
Chapter 13: Continued
Week 13:
(November 23-29)
Session 1:
Chapter 14: Business Presentations
Item 14.2, p. 536 or Item 14.12, p. 538
Session 2:
Chapter 14: Continued
GroupProject
Submit Executive Summary Written Report
Week 14:
Session 1:
(Nov 30-Dec 6)
Chapter 15: Employment Communication
Week 15:
(December 7-13)
Week 16:
(December 14-20)
(December 21-27)
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CT # 3, or #5
Prepare/Update Personal Resume based on
course material: Due next class
Session 2:
Chapter 15: TBD
Session 1:
Course Review and Attainment-To-Date
Session 2:
Class Presentations
Group Project
Deliver Group Presentations
Grades evaluated, calculated & reported.
Group Project
Deliver Group Presentations
Happy Holidays!
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Department of Business and Technology
VIII Calument College Policy
Policies and Procedures
Class Policy on
Attendance:
Class Policy on
Electronic Devices
Intellectual growth and success in college is reinforced through genuine interaction in the classroom.
Students reach personal goals and course outcomes through regular and prompt attendance. Our
business school classes are intense and rigorous and require genuine, heartfelt participation in order
to achieve the results you hope for. Therefore, if a student is absent “three (3) times” without prior
written approval, the student will be subjected to a grade of F or FW per policy stated under the
Withdrawal from Classes section on this syllabus. Any acceptance of late work will be subject to
instructor discretion and will be limited to a grade of 90% and will receive a 10% reduction in value for
each class session the assignment is late. There will be no make-up exams in this course.
No personal communications are permitted in class. Use of electronic devices is exclusively for course related
activities.
Class Participation:
See Grading Schedule in Section VI above.
Statement of
Plagiarism:
If an instructor or other Calumet College of St. Joseph personnel find that a student has plagiarized or been
involved in another form of academic dishonesty, the instructor or other personnel may elect to bring the matter
up for judicial review. The maximum penalty for any form of academic dishonesty is dismissal from the College.
The procedures for judicial review are listed under the section of CCSJ handbook that addresses student
grievances.
Please note: All papers can and may be submitted for checks on plagiarism from the Internet/Electronic
sources/Databases.
Citation Guidelines:
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Calumet College of St. Joseph uses citation guidelines, generally MLA or APA format, to document sources
quoted or paraphrased in student papers. Ths course uses APA 6 format. The Library has reference copies
of each manual; the Follett has copies for sale when required by the instructor. In addition, there are brief MLA
and APA checklists in your spiral “Student Handbook and Planner” and on the Library website and literature
rack. These texts show how to cite references from many sources, including electronic media, as well as how
to space and indent the “Works Cited” and “References” pages respectively. EBSCO and ProQuest articles
provide both formats for you to copy and paste. Proper documentation avoids plagiarism.
BSMT 350 Syllabus
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rack. These texts show how to cite references from many sources, including electronic media, as well as how
to space and indent the “Works Cited” and “References” pages respectively. EBSCO and ProQuest articles
Department
Business
provide both
formats forofyou
to copy and
and Technology
paste. Proper documentation avoids plagiarism.
Withdrawal from
Classes Policy:
After the last day established for class changes has passed (see College calendar), students may withdraw
from a course in which they are registered and wish to discontinue. A written request detailing the reason(s) for
the withdrawal must be completed with the Office of Academic Advising and filed with the Registrar. The Office
of Academic Advising must receive written request for withdrawal by the last day of classes prior to the final
examination dates specified in the catalogue. Written requests should be submitted in person or, when an inperson visit is not possible, may be mailed to the Office of Academic Advising, emailed, or faxed to 219-4734336. Students are to make note of the refund schedule when withdrawing from courses. If the request
requires instructor approval per the College calendar, it must be forwarded to the faculty member, who makes
the final determination to accept or deny the request.
If the request is honored by the faculty member, the student will receive notification of official withdrawal from
the Registrar after meeting or speaking with a member from Academic Advising, Financial Aid and Athletics (if
If the request is denied by the faculty member, the notification will indicate why the withdrawal is disallowed.
Please note that if the request does not require instructor approval, the student must still meet or speak with a
An official withdrawal is recorded as a "W" grade on the student's transcript. Discontinuing a course without a
written request for withdrawal automatically incurs an "FW" grade for the course (see Refund Schedule).
Grading Scale
(Percentage)
A=100-92, A-=90-91, B+=88-89, B=83-87, B-=80-82
C+=78-79, C=73-77, C-=70-72, D+=68-69, D=63-67, D-=60-62, F<=59
Resources
Student Success
Center:
The Student Success Center supports Calumet College of St. Joseph students through an interactive learning
experience. Students work with faculty tutors to develop course competencies and study skills such as time
management, test preparation, and note taking. In addition, students are provided with tutoring support to help
pass courses, to improve grade point average, and to promote continuing education and career advancement.
Tutors have a specific charge: to help students learn how to master specific subject matter and to develop
effective learning skills. The Student Success Center is open to all students at Calumet College of St.
Joseph at no charge and is available to support academic courses at the introductory and advanced levels.
For assistance, please contact the Student Success Center at 219 473-4287 or stop by the Library.
Disability Services strives to meet the needs of all students by providing academic services in accordance with
Americans Disability Act (ADA) guidelines. Students must meet with the Coordinator of Disability Services to
complete an intake form in order to request an accommodation and/or an auxiliary aid (e.g., additional time for
tests, note taking assistance, special testing arrangements, etc.) . It is the student’s responsibility to contact
the Academic Support Programs Office to request an accommodation at least one month prior to enrollment for
each academic term. Students who are requesting an accommodation and/or an auxiliary aid must submit
documentation from a professional health care provider to verify eligibility under Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and/or the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The cost of obtaining the
professional verification is the responsibility of the student.
Disability Services:
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Disability Services:
Department of Business and Technology
If a student believes that he or she needs a “reasonable accommodation” of some kind because of a physical,
psychological, or mental condition, he or she should contact Disabilities Services. The Coordinator will secure
documentation pertinent to the disability and work with faculty and staff, if necessary, to address the matter.
All questions and inquiries pertaining to disability services should be directed to the Disability Services
Coordinator at 219-473-4349.
CCSJ Alert:
Calumet College of St. Joseph utilizes an emergency communications system that transmits
messages via text, email, and voice platforms. In the event of an emergency, of weather related
closings, or of other incidents, those students who are registered for the system shall receive
incident specific message(s) notifying them of the situation. Please sign-up for this important
service at any time on the College’s website. Alternatively, you can register at the time you
register for classes. This service requires each user to register once per academic year. Therefore,
at the beginning of each academic year, please remember to re-register for the system. This can
be done at: http://www.ccsj.edu/alerts/index.html.
Radio:
School Closing Information:
WAKE – 1500 AM
WGN - 720 AM
WIJE – 105.5 FM
WLS – 890 AM
WZVN – 107.1 FM
WBBM NEWS RADIO 78
Internet:
http://www.ccsj.edu
http://www.EmergencyClosings.com
Facility: Calumet College of St. Joseph
Phone: 219.473.4770
TV Channels:
2, 5, 7, 9, 32
That's all folks!
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