Diablo Valley College
Syllabus
Fall 2009
Business Division
Course: BUS 250-3126 Business Communications
(3 units, 54 hours)
Telephone: (925) 685-1230, Ext. 2306
Meeting Time/Place: Tuesday/Thursday 8-9:15 a.m..,
Room BFL 103
Fax: (925) 687-6384
Instructor: Carolyn M. Seefer
E-Mail: cseefer@dvc.edu
Office: BFL 227 (Business/Foreign Language Building)
Instructor's Web Site:
http://voyager.dvc.edu/~cseefer/carolyn.htm
Office Hours:
Tuesday/Thursday: 7:00-8 a.m., 11 a.m.-noon, 2-2:30 p.m. (on campus)
COURSE OBJECTIVES
BUS 250 is an introductory course designed to help you develop and refine the skills necessary to communicate
effectively in a professional business environment. The focus will be on communicating clearly, concisely,
considerately, correctly, and confidently, both orally and in writing. You will learn to plan, compose, and evaluate
basic business documents, including letters, memos, and short business reports; to use technology to communicate,
including e-mail and discussion boards; and to prepare and deliver oral presentations. The course will also contain
an introduction to employment communication, including résumés, application letters, and interview skills.
Emphasis throughout the course will be placed on intercultural communication and the ethics of communication.
Teaching/learning methods will include reading, close analysis of business and professional documents, in-class
writing and oral exercises, brief lectures, formal writing assignments, group projects, and examinations. Through
class meetings and out-of-class work, you should expect to do the following:
1.
Understand the process of communication from the positions of “receiver” and “sender” in a variety of business
and professional contexts.
2.
Apply specific reasoned, practical, and ethical business communication principles to composing and delivering
typical business and professional messages.
3.
Enhance awareness of communication contexts and practices in other cultures.
4.
Practice business communication skills in both independent and collaborative/team situations.
Recommended Prerequisites BUS 101, eligibility for ENGL 122
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (SLOs)
The purpose of this course is to help students develop the skills necessary to communicate effectively in a
professional business environment.
1. Students completing this course will be able to evaluate communication critically by analyzing and
defining complex problems.
COURSE WEB PAGE
http://webct.dvc.edu
TEXTBOOK WEB PAGE
http://www.meguffey.com
TEXTBOOK
Essentials of Business Communication, 8th Edition; Mary Ellen Guffey; Cengage, 2010, ISBN 0-324-58800-3
(required)
Save money and buy the eBook version of textbook: http://www.ichapters.com
SUPPLIES
Scantron Form 882-E (Green two-sided form) (4)
GRADING
Tests (will drop lowest score)
Writing Assignments
Oral Presentations
In-Class Activities/Homework
20%
30%
30%
20%
A grade of 90 percent or higher earns an A grade; 80 to 89 percent earns a B grade; 70 to 79 percent earns a C grade;
60 to 69 percent earns a D grade; anything below 60 percent earns an F grade.
GENERAL PROCEDURES
Attendance
It is important to attend class each day. Lectures and class activities extend your understanding and application of
your new skills and knowledge. If you must miss a class meeting, you are responsible for any missed assignments or
handouts. NO MAKEUP TESTS WILL BE GIVEN OR LATE WORK ACCEPTED FOR ANY REASON.
Outside Work
Please plan to devote at least three hours per week in addition to class meetings for completing homework
assignments, reviewing, studying for tests, and preparing for the next class session (a 54-hour class requires an
additional 54 hours of homework per state educational requirements). In order to be prepared for each class meeting,
you should complete each homework assignment prior to the following class meeting.
Classroom Rules
1. You are expected to arrive for class on time each day.
2. All assignments are due on the date indicated.
3. Plagiarism or cheating of any kind will not be tolerated.
4. Please take advantage of the textbook web page for extra help with your assignments.
5. It is the student’s responsibility to drop the course. If you drop the course, please let me know so that I can update
my records.
6. Learn a lot, and apply what you learn in school and on the job.
7. Show respect for all class members, and relax and have fun!!
Important Dates
September 11: Last day to drop a class without having it appear on your transcript
September 11: Last day for CR/NC option (if you choose this option, you must earn at least a “C” for a CR grade)
November 20: Last day to drop a class (W on transcript)
Tuesday, December 15: Last day of class (class meets from 8-10 a.m.)
ASSIGNMENTS
Date
Chapters/Topics
Assignments
Introduction to Course
Week 1
Introduction to Course
Discuss Chapter 1
Chapter 1
August 18 Career Success Begins With
Communication Skills
Homework for 8/20 (check when completed):
 Read Chapter 1
Chapter 1, cont.
Career Success Begins With
August 20 Communication Skills
Discuss Chapter 1, cont.
Homework for 8/25:
 TBA
Leadership/Communication Style Analysis
Week 2
August 25
Leadership/Communication Style
Analysis
Presentations
August 27
Week 3
September
1
Homework for 8/27:
 Prepare for Oral Presentation (introduction)
 Oral Presentation (Introduction)
Homework for 9/1:
 Read Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Planning Business Messages
Chapter 2, cont.
September
Planning Business Messages
3
Discuss Chapter 2
Homework for 9/3:
 TBA
Discuss Chapter 2, cont.
Homework for 9/8:
 Read Chapter 3
Week 4
Discuss Chapter 3
Chapter 3
September Composing Business Messages
8
Homework for 9/10:
 TBA
Date
Chapters/Topics
Assignments
Discuss Chapter 3, cont.
September Chapter 3, cont.
10
Composing Business Messages
Homework for 9/15:
 Read Chapter 4
Week 5
Discuss Chapter 4
Chapter 4
September Revising Business Messages
15
Homework for 9/17:
 Complete 2 discussion board assignments and replies
Discuss Chapter 4, cont.
September Chapter 4, cont.
17
Revising Business Messages
Week 6
September
22
Homework for 9/22:
 Study for Test 1
Take Test 1 (Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4)
Test 1
Chapter 5
September
Electronic Messages and
24
Memorandums
Week 7
Chapter 5, cont.
Electronic Messages and
September Memorandums
29
Homework for 9/24:
 Read Chapter 5
Discuss Chapter 5
Homework for 9/29:
 TBA
Discuss Chapter 5, cont.
Homework for 10/1:
 Read Chapter 6
Discuss Chapter 6
Chapter 6
October 1
Positive Messages
Week 8
October 6
Homework for 10/6:
 TBA
Discuss Chapter 6, cont.
Chapter 6, cont.
Positive Messages
Homework for 10/8:
 Read Chapter 7
Date
Chapters/Topics
Assignments
Discuss Chapter 7
October 8
Week 9
Chapter 7
Negative Messages
Chapter 7, cont.
Negative Messages
October 13
Chapter 8
October 15 Persuasive Messages
Week 10
Chapter 8, cont.
Persuasive Messages
October 20
Test 2
October 22
Chapter 11
Professionalism at Work: Business
Etiquette, Ethics, Teamwork, and
October 27
Meetings
Week 11
Chapter 11, cont.
Professionalism at Work: Business
October 29 Etiquette, Ethics, Teamwork, and
Meetings
Week 12
Chapter 11, cont.
Professionalism at Work: Business
November Etiquette, Ethics, Teamwork, and
3
Meetings
Homework for 10/13:
 TBA
Discuss Chapter 7, cont.
Homework for 10/15:
 Read Chapter 8
Discuss Chapter 8
Homework for 10/20:
 TBA
Discuss Chapter 8, cont.
Homework for 10/22:
 Study for Test 2
Take Test 2 (Chapters 5, 6, 7, 8)
Homework for 10/27:
 Read Chapter 11
Discuss Chapter 11
Homework for 10/29:
 TBA
Discuss Chapter 11, cont.
Homework for 11/3:
 TBA
Discuss Chapter 11, cont.
Homework for 11/5:
 Read Chapter 12
Date
Chapters/Topics
Assignments
Chapter 12
November Business Presentations
5
Discuss Chapter 12
Week 13
Discuss Chapter 12, cont.
Chapter 12, cont.
November Business Presentations
10
Homework for 11/12:
 TBA
Homework for 11/10:
 Complete Writing Assignment 2 (Rough Draft)
Discuss Chapter 12, cont.
November Chapter 12, cont.
12
Business Presentations
Week 14
Homework for 11/17:
 Study for Test 3
Take Test 3 (Chapters 11, 12)
Test 3
November
17
Homework for 11/19:
 Read Chapter 13
Chapter13
November
The Job Search, Résumés, and
19
Cover Letters
Discuss Chapter 13
Week 15
Discuss Chapter 13, cont.
Chapter 13, cont.
The Job Search, Résumés, and
November
Cover Letters
24
Homework for 11/24:
 TBA
Homework for 12/1:
 TBA
November
No Class!
26
Enjoy your Thanksgiving!
Week 16
Discuss Chapter 13, cont.
December
1
Chapter 13, cont.
The Job Search, Résumés, and
Cover Letters
Homework for 12/3:
 Read Chapter 14
Discuss Chapter 14
December
3
Chapter 14
Interviewing and Following Up
Homework for 12/8:
 TBA
Date
Chapters/Topics
Assignments
Week 17
Discuss Chapter 14, cont.
Chapter 14, cont.
December Interviewing and Following Up
8
Homework for 12/10:
 TBA
Chapter 14, cont.
December
Interviewing and Following Up
10
Discuss Chapter 14, cont.
Homework for 12/15:
 Study for Test 4
Week 18
December
15
(NOTE:
Test 4
Class
meets 810 a.m.
today)
December
No class today
17
Take Test 4 (Chapters 13, 14)
We meet only on Tuesday this week
Note:
This is a fast-paced, intensive course which will require a lot of outside work and preparation. It will be assumed
that you have a good understanding of basic business English grammar and punctuation rules. These will not be
covered extensively in class. Please see your instructor as soon as possible if you feel you need extra assistance or
would like exercises covering these rules. Also note that Appendix A in the back of your textbook summarizes these
rules and includes exercises. If you don’t feel you have these basic skills, it is strongly advised that you take BUS
101 Business English first.
You should also be aware that proofreading and revision are extremely important when preparing business
documents. All final writing assignments submitted should be final drafts and of the quality you would feel
comfortable submitting to your supervisor. Only error-free, sendable documents will receive an "A."
Your instructor reserves the right to make any necessary changes to the above syllabus.
NOTES