SOLANO COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Introduction to Business, Bus 005
Fall 2015 Course Syllabus
CRN 80054 Credit Units: 3
Mon. Wed. & Fri. – 8:00 am Room 0506
August 17 thru December 20
Instructor:
Office Location:
Office Hours:
E-mail:
Office Phone:
Cell Phone:
Website:
LaVonne Slaton, M.B.A.
Building 500, Room 513
Monday 1:00 – 5:00pm; Tuesday 12:30 – 1:30pm
or by appointment call (707)365-2314
lavonne.slaton@solano.edu
(707) 864-7000 ext 5821
(707) 365-2314
http://connect.mheducation.com/class/l-slaton-bus-005-fall-2015-crn-80054
Textbook INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS (cover) – Understanding Business, (inside title) 11th
edition, Nickels, McHugh, & McHugh.
Purpose of the Course
The purpose of this class is to introduce you to the many facets of the free enterprise system and of
the business that operate within it. Since it is the first course in business, Introduction to Business is
not going to teach you "everything you wanted to know about business, but were afraid to ask." It is
anticipated, though, that through your experiences in this course, you will gain a better
understanding of what private enterprise is all about and what is included in each of the several
academic areas of study in business at institutions of higher learning such as the one you are
attending. It is hoped that this improved understanding will increase your appreciation of the free
enterprise system and will assist you in planning both your academic program and future career.
Goals of the Course
 Acquaint you with the free enterprise system - the foundation upon which American business
is built;
 Acquaint you with the American economic system and contrast it to other possibilities:
 Acquaint you with the aspects involved with starting a business;
 Acquaint you with the various functional areas of business - accounting, finance, management,
and marketing, - and how these areas are interrelated by means of information systems;
 Acquaint you with the nation's security markets - a dynamic part of your everyday life;
 Stimulate you to think about how you are affected by the business system and how you
might fit into that system;
 Acquaint you with the language of business.
Student Learning Outcomes
Recognize the importance marketing, legal, economics, accounting, business forms, financing, risk,
and personnel management in business and formulate hypotheses based on these concepts.
Resource and Materials
Periodicals such as Business Week, The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Forbes, Newsweek,
Time, U.S. News and World Report, and your daily newspaper; The Library; and the Internet.
Ten (10) scantrons Form No. 882-E are needed for exams and class quizzes. A #2 pencil
is required to be used on the scantrons.
Method of Instruction
A combination of any or all of the following instructional methods will be used: lecture, PowerPoints,
discussion student case analysis, controversial topic debates, connect, learn smart, films, and guest
speakers.
Power Point Slides
The PowerPoint Slides used in lectures are available for use by going to bcs.solano.edu. In
the “Main Campus” box, click on “Drive H: Workarea.” Scroll down and click on ”lslaton2”. You
then will see a list of courses; Click on “Bus 5.” There, find the appropriate chapter and click on it.
You may view them there, or you may print them out and bring them to class to assist in note-taking.
If you wish to print them, at the top Tool Bar, go to “File”, “Print.” You should get a Print box. On
the left side of the box, near the bottom, find “Print What.” In the drop-down menu, select
“Handouts”, and then click “OK.”
Class Attendance and Participation
This is a college-level UC and CSU transferable course. Students must attend class in order to
participate in student-involvement activities. Each student is expected to be on time for class and
be prepared for each day’s lesson. That is, be prepared to ask questions, answer questions, and
otherwise participate in discussion of the topic(s) for that day. Consistent and timely attendance is
expected. Past experience indicates a direct relationship between regular attendance and passing
grades. Also, with that in mind, each student is expected to read and understand the attached page
titled Student Responsibilities, Attendance and Participation as extracted from the Solano
Community College Catalog.
Grades and Grading Criteria
There will be ten-points or a one-grade penalty assessed on the examination not taken when
scheduled. There will be only one (1) makeup exam allowed, and this will not be the Final.
Late assignments will not be accepted. They are due at the beginning of class on the
scheduled due date. There will be plenty of notice and sufficient time to complete assignments on
time. Assignments may be e-mailed.
Every
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
week students are responsible for completing the following assignments:
Read assigned textbook chapters
Writing Assignments
Connect Learn Smart Assignments (three lowest grades dropped)
Quizzes (lowest quiz dropped)
Exams
Grades will be based on your performance on the following:
Examination #1 (ch. 1 – 4) ----------------------------------- 150 points
Examination #2 (ch. 5 – 6 & A) ------------------------------ 100 points
Examination #3 (ch. 7 – 9) ----------------------------------- 100 points
Examination #4 (ch. 10 – 12) -------------------------------- 100 points
Examination #5 (ch. 13 – 16) -------------------------------- 150 points
Examination #6 Final Exam (ch. 17 – 20) ------------------ 150 points
(Final exam to be held on 12/16/15 – 8:00 am – 10:00 am)
Learn Smart Assignments (25 points each) ----------------- 450 points
Chapter Quizzes (15 points each) ---------------------------- 300 points
Current Business News (20 points each) -------------------- 100 points
Business Report (100 points) --------------------------------- 100 points
Total Points Available
1,700 Points
Participation------------------------------------ + / - (Instructor appraisal)
The following grading criteria will be used for this course:
Grade
A
Percent
(90% – 100%)
Points
= 1,530 – 1,700
B
(80% – 89%)
= 1,360 – 1,529
C
(70% – 79%)
= 1,190 – 1,359
D
(60% – 69%)
= 1,020 – 1,189
F
(59.9% and below)
= 1,019 and below
Extra Credit
Extra Credit may be offered during the semester. There are plenty of opportunities during the
semester for students to achieve the grade desired providing that they to put in the effort. Each
student can earn up to 25 extra credit points maximum. Students can do this by showing me that
you have learned the course material by answering bonus questions, completing short assignments in
addition to the class requirements. Please contact me for approval of assignments that may qualify
for extra credit.
Student Responsibilities
Attendance and Participation
Students must attend the first meeting of their classes to assure verification of their enrollments.
Students failing to appear may be dropped from class rolls.
Regular attendance and participation is required of all students enrolled in courses and laboratories at
Solano College. This includes regular attendance, completion of examinations, assignments,
participation in class activities and discussions. Instructors shall provide students with written
statements describing course requirements, grading standards and course prerequisites.
Regular attendance is an obligation assumed by every student at the time of registration. Absences
per semester should not exceed the number of hours or the number of days that a class meets per
week. Absences in excess of the maximum may result in students being dropped from classes or
having their grades lowered. Students who fail to attend their classes may be dropped by their
instructors no later than the end of 62.5% of a full-term class, short-term class, or summer session.
Students have the responsibility for verifying their enrollment status. Students who withdraw from
classes are responsible for initiating the drop process by the appropriate deadlines.
It is the responsibility of students to know the status of their attendance records and to complete all
academic work missed due to absences. Compliance with the above regulations may be waived in the
presence of verifiable extenuating circumstances including accidents, illnesses, shift changes and
temporary changes in military assignments. Students who are dropped from classes because of
unsatisfactory attendance and/or participation may petition their instructors for class reinstatement.
Instructors may reinstate a student by signing an add card and writing "Reinstate" on the card. The
add card must be submitted to the Office of Admissions and Records.
Withdrawal from Class
Students are responsible for officially withdrawing from classes. To officially withdraw from a class,
students must:
1. Drop the course(s) using online services at www.solano.edu
2. Turn in a completed drop card at the Office of Admissions and Records (Building 100).
Refunds are not automatic. If you are entitled to a refund, you must submit a completed “Refund
Request” form (available from the Office of Admissions and Records, Building 100). Refer to the
current Schedule of Classes for applicable time frames and policies regarding refunds.
A student may withdraw from a class during the first four weeks of instruction. Courses dropped by
the end of the first four weeks of instruction will not appear on the student's record.
Courses dropped after 30% of instruction through the end of 62.5% (full term classes only) of
instruction will be recorded as a "W" on the student's record. A student must petition the Academic
Council for a "W" after the last day to drop if extenuating circumstances apply. Documentation is
required.
Short-term or summer session courses, which are less than a full semester in length, dropped during
the first 30% of the class will not appear on the student's record. Courses dropped 31% to 62.5% of
the term/session will be recorded as a "W" on the student's record. Courses dropped after 62.5% of
the term/session may be recorded as a "W" if extenuating circumstances apply. Failure to
appropriately drop a class may result in a grade of "F" for the course.
The student must petition the Academic Council and provide documentation to verify cases of
accidents, illnesses, or other circumstances beyond the control of the student.
Withdrawal from College
Students who find it necessary to drop all courses during the semester are required to fill out a
Withdrawal Card at the Office of Admissions and Records. Seeing a counselor is advised before
deciding to withdraw. It is important to clear any debts owed to the College before leaving the
College. Failure to withdraw properly could result in a failing grade.
Academic Honesty Policy
The College community functions best when its members treat one another with honesty, fairness,
respect and trust. Therefore, an individual should realize that deception for the purpose of individual
gain is an offense against the members of the College community. Violation of the Academic Honesty
Policy includes but is not limited to:
1. Plagiarism – from the Latin word for “kidnap” – involves using another’s work without giving
proper credit, whether done accidentally or on purpose. This includes not only words and ideas, but
also graphs, artwork, music, maps, statistics, diagrams, scientific data, software, films, videos and
the like. Plagiarism is plagiarism whether the material is from published or unpublished sources. It
does not matter whether ideas are stolen, bought, downloaded from the Internet, or written for the
student by someone else – it is still plagiarism. Even if only bits and pieces of other sources are used,
or outside sources reworded, they must still be cited. To avoid problems, students should cite any
source(s) and check with the instructor before submitting an assignment or project. Students are
always responsible for any plagiarism in their work.
An instructor who determines that a student has cheated or plagiarized has the right to give a failing
(i.e. “F”) grade, or numerical equivalent, for the assignment or examination.
2. Violation of class assignments, examination rules, e.g., communicating or transferring information
to another student, using any materials such as books, notes, etc., other than those expressly
allowed for the exam, looking at another student’s exam, etc.
3. Unauthorized preparation, giving, selling, transfer, distribution, or publication, for any commercial
purpose, of any contemporaneous recording of an academic presentation in a classroom or
equivalent site of instruction, including, but not limited to, handwritten or computer generated class
notes, except as permitted by any college policy or administrative procedure.
Accommodations
If a student has a condition such as a physical or learning disability, which will make it difficult to
carry out the work or will require accommodations, please notify me as soon as possible. The
student will also need to contact the Disability Services Program (DSP) office located in building 400
or phone (707)864-7136. All information and documentation is confidential. Please feel encouraged
to make an appointment with me to discuss specific learning needs in this class.
Welcome to BUS 005
This syllabus and the information attached provides essential information about this course. Please
plan to refer to it often as questions arise. The tentative schedule attached is an approximate
schedule and may be altered as needed for particular topics or unforeseen circumstances.
Good luck and enjoy the class!
Professor Slaton
SCC Institutional Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
Upon completion of Solano Community College’s General Education program, a student will
demonstrate competency in the following areas:
I. Communication
Students will communicate effectively, which means the
ability to:
A. Read – Students will be able to comprehend and
interpret: various types of written information in (1)
expository prose and imaginative literature (including
essays, short fiction and novels), (2) documentation
such as manuals, reports, and graphs.
B. Write – Students demonstrate the ability to:
• Communicate thoughts, ideas, information, and
messages in writing
• Compose and create documents such as manuals
and graphs as well as formal academic essays,
observing rules of grammar, punctuation and
spelling, and using the language, style, and format
appropriate to academic and professional settings
• Check, edit, and revise written work for correct
information, appropriate emphasis, form, style, and
grammar
C. Listen – Students will be able to receive, attend to,
interpret, and respond appropriately to (1) verbal,
and/or (2) nonverbal messages
D. Speak and Converse – Students have the ability to:
• Organize ideas and communicate verbal or nonverbal messages appropriate to the audience and
the situation
• Participate in conversations, discussions, and
group activities
• Speak clearly and ask appropriate questions
II. Critical Thinking and Information Competency
Thinking critically is characterized by the ability to perform:
A. Analysis – demonstrated by the ability to:
• Apply appropriate rules and principles to new
situations
• Discover rules and apply them in the problem
solving process
• Draw logical conclusions based on close
observation and analysis of information
• Differentiate among facts, influences, opinions,
assumptions, and conclusions
B. Computation – demonstrated by the ability to:
• Use basic numerical concepts
• Use tables, graphs, charts, and diagrams to
explain concepts
• Use basic geometrical shapes
C. Research – demonstrated by the ability to:
• State a research question, problem, or issue
• Use discipline appropriate information tools to
locate and retrieve relevant information efficiently
• Analyze and evaluate information for
appropriateness, relevance, and accuracy
• Synthesize, evaluate, and communicate
information using a variety of information
technologies
• Recognize the ethical and legal issues surrounding
information and information technologies •
Demonstrate understanding of academic integrity
and honesty
D. Problem Solving –demonstrated by the ability to:
• Recognize whether a problem exists
• Identify components of the problem or issue
• Create a plan of action to respond to and/or
resolve the issue appropriately
• Monitor, evaluate, and revise as necessary
III. Global Awareness
Students will demonstrate a measurable understanding and
appreciation of the world including its:
A. Scientific Complexities – Students demonstrate an
understanding of:
• The scientific method and its application in
experiments
• How experiments work
• The major differences between social, natural and
physical sciences
B. Social Diversity and Civics – Students
demonstrate ability to:
• Communicate with people from a variety of
backgrounds
• Understand different cultural beliefs and behaviors
• Recognize important social and political issues in
their own community
C. Artistic Variety – Students have been exposed to:
• The visual and performing arts of one or more
cultures
• Analytical techniques for understanding the
meaning in the arts, and/or
• Hands-on experience with creative endeavors
IV. Personal Responsibility & Professional
Development
A. Self-Management and Self-Awareness –The
student is able to:
• Accurately assess his/her own knowledge, skills,
and abilities
• Motivate self and set realistic short and long-term
goals
• Accept that assessment is important to success
• Respond appropriately to challenging situations
B. Social and Physical Wellness – Students make an
appropriate effort to:
• Manage personal health and well being
• Demonstrate appropriate social skills in group
settings
C. Workplace Skills – Students understand how to:
• Be dependable, reliable, and accountable
• Meet deadlines and complete tasks
Bus 005 – Course Schedule – CRN: 80056
(Fall 2015 / M-W-F / 11:00 am)
Bus 5 Tentative Course Schedule – Fall 2015
Due Dates – Mondays as assigned
Week
Start Date
Chapter
Intro to course
Assignment
1
Mon 8/17
2
Mon 8/24
Chapters
1&2
3
Mon 8/31
9/6 Last
day drop
without
“W”
Chapter
3&4
Start Group
Reports
4
Mon 9/7
Labor Day
No Class
Mon. 9/7
5
Mon 9/14
Chapter 5 & A
6
Mon 9/21
Chapter 6
7
Mon 9/28
Group Report
Exam#2 Part 2 & A Textbook
Ch. 5-6 & A (Legal Environment)
Current Business News
Mon Review 9/28 & Wed Exam 9/30
8
Mon 10/5
Chapter 7 & 8
Read Ch. 7 & 8
Learn Smart Ch. 7 & 8
Quiz Ch. 7 & 8
9
Mon 10/12
Chapter 9
Group Report
Read Ch. 9
Learn Smart Ch. 9
Quiz Ch. 9
Exam #3 Part 3 Textbook Ch. 7-9
Current Business News
Wed Review 10/14 & Exam Fri 10/16
Chapter 4
-8-
Intro Chapter 1
Read Ch. 1 & 2
Learn Smart Ch.1
Quiz Ch. 1 – Due
Read Ch. 2 Read Ch. 3
Learn Smart Ch. 2 & 3
Quiz Ch. 2 & 3
Read Ch. 4
Learn Smart Ch. 4
Quiz Ch. 4
9/6 Last day drop without “W”
Exam #1 Part 1 Textbook Ch. 1-4
Current Business News
Wed Review 9/9 & Fri Exam 9/11
Read Ch. 5 & A
Learn Smart Ch. 5 & A
Quiz Ch. 5 & A
Read Ch. 6
Learn Smart Ch. 6
Quiz Ch. 6
Week
Start Date
Chapter
10
Mon 10/19
Chapter 10 & 11
Group Report
11
Mon 10/26
Chapter 12
Group Report
12
Mon 11/2
Chapter 13
Exam #4 Part 4 Textbook Ch.10-12
Mon Review 11/2 & Exam 11/4
Current Business News
Read Ch. 13
Learn Smart Ch. 13
Quiz Ch. 13
11/1 Last
day drop
with “W”
Assignment
Read Ch. 10 & 11
Learn Smart Ch. 10 & 11
Quiz Ch. 10 & 11
Read Ch. 12
Learn Smart Ch. 12
Quiz Ch. 12
Business Report
13
Mon 11/9
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Read Ch. 14 & 15
Learn Smart Ch. 14 &15
Quiz Ch. 14 &15
Business Report
Veteran’s Day Wed 11/11 No Class
14
Mon 11/16
Chapter 16
Read Ch. 16
Learn Smart Ch. 16
Quiz Ch. 16
Exam #5 Part 5 Textbook Ch.13-16
Review Fri 11/20 & Exam Mon 11/23
Current Business News
15
Mon 11/23
Chapter 17 & 18
16
Mon 11/30
SCFA Holiday
Wed. 11/25
17
Mon 12/7
Chapter 19 & 20
Final Report
Read Ch. 19 & 20
Learn Smart Ch. 19 & 20
Quiz Ch. 19 & 20
18
Mon 12/14
Review & Final
Exam Week
12/14- 12/18
Final Exam #6 Ch17-20
Part 6 Textbook
Wed. 12/16 @ 8:00am
Read Ch. 17 & 18
Learn Smart Ch. 17 & 18
Quiz Ch. 17 & 18
Read Ch. 19 & 20
Thanksgiving Holiday Break
No Class Wed. 11/25 & Fri. 11/27
Final Exam Schedule
Wednesday, December 16, 2015 at 8:00am - 10:00am
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“CURRENT BUSINESS NEWS” Assignment
This is an extremely important exercise. The transference of knowledge/understanding from the classroom to
real life is an expected outcome of this course. Researching relative information, summarizing it in your own
words, and recording your thoughts/comments enhances learning transference.
PROCESS FOR NEWS REPORTS
At the end of each Chapter, there is a section labeled “Key Terms.” Choose one of the Key Terms at the
end of the chapter section, from the section called, “Key Terms,” and research online or in written
publications; find a current news article that contains your chosen Key Term. Summarize it in two or three
paragraphs. Include two or three paragraphs with your personal Comments. Note: Each summary/
comment paragraphs must contain only 2-5 sentences. Watch out for plagiarism. This IS NOT a TERM
PAPER!!! Only “1” page in length!!!
GRADING CRITERIA
Everyone should make 100% on their news reports. However you need to know that it is very strictly
graded on the following criteria. You start with 100 and get a -10 for each item incorrect. Check your
spelling and grammar, and of course, watch out for plagiarism (copying of others’ words). It takes just as
much time to do it wrong as it does to do it right - only your grade will be better with the latter! (See
example news report on next page.) .
1. Correct news report header information (must use listed ‘bold’ identifiers)
Name: (Your full name)
Class Bus 5: (Course # – Days of Week – Time of Day)
Article: (Title of article)
Article Date: (Date of article)
Reference: (Source of article)
Chapter: (Chapter #)
Key Term: (End of chapter key-term)
2. Use bold/capitalized/underlined sub-titles, i.e., SUMMARY and COMMENTS
Leave a blank line (only) after the header and between paragraphs.
2-3 paragraph summary (2-5 sentences per paragraph).
2-3 paragraph comments (2-5 sentences per paragraph).
ONLINE RESOURCES
The source for your news article may be a newspaper, magazine, company newsletter, or online news
source, such as FlipBoard. The best single source for finding relevant news journal articles is the SCC
college library databases. I tried several of the key-terms and got numerous direct hits for each one.
1. Start by going to the SCC home page at: http://www.solano.edu and selecting the Library, in the
left menu tree, or go directly to the SCC Library at: http://www.solano.edu/library/
2. Select "Find Articles" (“Quick Search” at bottom of page), then Business from dropdown menu, then
select one of the databases to search a key term, use full text option for article.
3. All you need to login is a SCC or Solano County library card number (your patron ID). Except for the
Benicia & Dixon. If you don't have a library card, for this semester you may only use:
21177008334204
4. This will bring you to the search page.
5. Also try: www.findarticles.com Use the menu bar: Business, or any of the online news services.
6. For FlipBoard references, please either re-type the reference and enter it as noted above, or take a
screenshot from your handheld and place a copy of it in your article to the right of your writing.
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Current Business Assignment Example
Note: Keep report length to one page
Name: John Doe
Class Bus 5: 80445 - MWF – 11am
Article: The Money Supply
Article Date: July 7, 2009
Reference: http://www.ny.frb.org/aboutthefed/fedpoint/fed49.html
Chapter: 20
Key Term: Money Supply
SUMMARY
While historically the money supply has been believed to influence the economy the Federal
Reserve now feels that this influence is not as strong as it once was. The Federal Reserve
website states: “In the past few decades the relationship between growth in the money supply
and the performance of the U.S. economy has become much weaker, and emphasis on the
money supply as a guide to monetary policy has waned.”
The Federal Reserve publishes data weekly on the M1 and M2 money supplies. These two
measurements, the M1 and the M2, measure different degrees of liquidity that different types of
money have. The M1 is a measure of money in public hands that includes: cash, demand
deposit accounts, travelers’ checks, and other accounts against which checks can be written.
The M2 money supply includes the M1 money supply along with savings accounts, time
deposits under $100,000, and balances in retail money market mutual funds.
Most of the article discusses the different groups of money that historically composed the M1,
M2, and M3 money supply measures. The definitions of these measures have changed over
time due to laws, new bank products, et cetera. In 2006, the Federal Reserve ceased collecting
data and publishing the M3 money supply measure because they felt that the M1 and M2
measures were adequate.
COMMENTS
One of the first things that I thought of when reading this article is how cumbersome it must be
to collect the data to publish M1 and M2 money supply data. The article states that in April
2008, the M1 was approximately $1.4 trillion, and the M2 was approximately $7.7 trillion.
I will admit that the intricate workings of the Federal Reserve are still somewhat of a mystery to
me. While I do understand the “big picture” of what they do, there are still activities of the
Federal Reserve that are beyond my comprehension. This chapter in the textbook did explain a
lot of topics that I was not very familiar with, and it is always nice to have a greater
understanding of something.
The idea of having a centralized banking system, e.g. The Federal Reserve, is a good idea.
This makes it possible to unify the country with a uniform standard of money. There are some
issues that I am not entirely in agreement with. Primarily, the United States is no longer on the
gold standard. To me this was a bad decision. My understanding is that no major world
economic force uses this standard; however, if we did I speculate that our economy would be
more stable.
- 11 -