College of Undergraduate Studies Mission is to provide high quality innovative
learning opportunities that integrate theory, practice, and life experience in a
synergistic collegiate environment.
John F. Kennedy University
College of Undergraduate Studies
BUS 3400 Advanced Business Communications
4 Units
Fall Quarter 2015
Instructor’s Name: Frank J. Siegert MBA
Phone/Email: 925-485-0641; fsiegert@jfku.edu
Office Hours: ½ Hour before Class—Email anytime Phone or in person meetings can be
scheduled with instructor.
Class Days/Time
Wednesday from 7:15-9:45
October 7 –December 16, 2015
Class on November 25 will be online only There will be one more online class TBD
Units: 4
Minimum hours per unit:
1. For each week for approximately 15 weeks for one semester unit, or for
approximately 10-12 weeks for one quarter week
(a) One hour of instructional activity, either in the classroom, or online, or a
combination of classroom and online and
(b) At least two hours of out-of- class student work,
OR
2. The equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time
For purposes of class meeting time, 1 hour is defined as 50 minutes. Please note that
the time spent on out-of-class student work (preparation activities and assignments)
may exceed 2 hours per course unit hour each week
Classroom:
(TBD)
Description of Course:
This course was designed in response to industry feedback about the communication skills
needed for business graduates to successfully enter into today’s competitive marketplace.
Frank J. Siegert
Page 1
College of Undergraduate Studies Mission is to provide high quality innovative
learning opportunities that integrate theory, practice, and life experience in a
synergistic collegiate environment.
Addresses basic skills needed to both write effectively and understand verbal and nonverbal
communication, with an emphasis on business presentations, professional business writing,
team communication and identifying techniques to improve effective communication among
diverse workplace audiences.
College Mission: Our Mission is to provide high quality innovative learning
opportunities that integrate theory, practice, and life experience in a synergistic
collegiate environment.
Pre-work Assignment:
Write a brief biography of your work experience to date and what individual goals you
expect to accomplish in this class. Please Post on the Discussion Page Week 1 or submit a
Maximum one page-double spaced document and email to instructor before first night of
class
Program Learning Outcomes:
Students will apply and analyze theories and concepts in the areas of accounting,
finance, and economics.
Students will distinguish and apply management functions and strategies.
Students will identify and evaluate ethical issues in business.
Students will communicate in a variety of modalities, including written and oral
communication, as well as electronic communication.
Students will identify and analyze business operations and markets.
Students will apply business tools to gather information and draw conclusions..
Course Learning Outcomes
Through assigned readings, analyze organizational forms and strategies for writing business
documents that are grammatically correct and use appropriate business style. Through class
discussion, essays, learning assessments sheets, and oral presentations students will:
1. Select suitable research topic, access needed information using both traditional
and electronic methods to produce a working bibliography for a research paper.
2. Upon completing research, organize information into a logical formal outline
that incorporates a purpose (thesis) statement and its development.
3. Using the purpose (thesis) statement, outline, note cards, and/or online
research materials from the research stage, write a research paper
incorporating accepted format and documentation guidelines. (APA)
Frank J. Siegert
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College of Undergraduate Studies Mission is to provide high quality innovative
learning opportunities that integrate theory, practice, and life experience in a
synergistic collegiate environment.
4. Deliver effective business presentations which could require use of visual aids
such as handouts, samples and presentation software such as Power Point.
5. Apply critical thinking skills in learning, conducting applied research, and
defining and solving problems.
6. Identify and develop critical skills necessary for team environments
Required Texts: Guffey, Mary Ellen. Essentials of Business Communication.10h Edition.
Southwestern College Publishing ISBN- 978-1-111-82122-7
Alternatively, the eBook is OK to rent from Cengage
A comprehensive coverage of written and oral presentation skills which includes a
variety of alternative study practices with web based quizzes, end of chapter “Ethic
checks,” review Power Point slides and Case studies on current issues and
organizations.
Teaching Methodology
My teaching methodology includes the use of lecture, critical thinking discussions
with Power Point slides, and small team discussion & activities.
Assignments:
Homework Assignments/Case Study / 3 Minute
Quiz
Oral Mid-Term
Written Project
Final
Class Participation (In Class)
On Line Weekly discussions
14%
5%
20%
21%
20%
4%
16%
Homework assignments will be a combination of written assignments and oral
presentations. The Mid Term will be assigned in the 2rd class night to be presented on
Week 6 or 7 (depending on size of class). It will be an individual oral presentation
using all information learned during the 3rd through 5th weeks. Presentation time
requirements will be determined at a later date based on type of presentation. Written
Project will be a five page paper which will be based on the subject presented in the
Frank J. Siegert
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College of Undergraduate Studies Mission is to provide high quality innovative
learning opportunities that integrate theory, practice, and life experience in a
synergistic collegiate environment.
Midterm and will be due in Week 9. Final will be written exam given last night of
class.
Makeup exams will be permitted with proper scheduling and notification.
Grading:
Grades will be given based on attendance, participation, completion of course assignments,
and the quality of work submitted. Students are expected to be present the entire time for
each class session. If you are not able to attend class, please inform the instructor prior to
class time if possible. Note that participation in class discussion and activities is a percentage
of your final grade. Incompletes will not be given unless due to dire circumstances, such
grading is deemed appropriate by the instructor.
While content is critical, I also based my grades in some part on the degree to which your
work demonstrates an effective writing and oral presentation style. All written work must be
clear, written in active voice and demonstrates well developed critical thinking.
Written work is One and one-half space, 1 inch margins with 12 point type using Arial or
Verdana. .
Research must be thorough, concise and all work must be properly cited in APA style.
Oral presentation must be within time limits and exhibit a command of all basic format
objectives. Reading your notes to the class is not an oral presentation.
Late Assignments:
It is assumed that students will perform professionally in preparing work required for this
class and will submit all assignments on time.
If you are absent, be sure to submit assignments to the drop box
All work is due on the scheduled date at 1159 pm on the day before our class, unless other,
prior arrangements have been made with the instructor. Regardless of the reason, any work
submitted after the due date will be penalized 10 percent of possible points for each 24-hour
period past due. No assignments may be submitted more than seven days late, and no
assignments may be accepted after the last night of class (945 pm). No make-up/extra credit
work is possible
A 95-100%
A- 90-94%
B+ 87-89%
B 84-86%
B- 80-83%
C+ 77-79%
C 74-76%
C- 70-73%
Frank J. Siegert
GPA 4.0
GPA 3.7
GPA 3.3
GPA 3.0
GPA 2.7
GPA 2.3
GPA 2.0
GPA 1.7
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College of Undergraduate Studies Mission is to provide high quality innovative
learning opportunities that integrate theory, practice, and life experience in a
synergistic collegiate environment.
D 60-69% GPA 1.0
F 59% or lower
A grade (4.0) Work of superior quality; unquestionably of highest level
Research essay and assignments are excellently written, meeting all objectives and
containing well-articulated analysis and personal conclusions for grade level. Oral
presentations are well thought out, exhibiting high level presentation skill to include a
balance of information and relational content with understanding of audience interest and
reaction within time limits. Willingness to contribute to class discussions with well thought
out comments.
B grade (3.0) Work is well above average; thoroughly competent, but not exceptional. Good
written research essay, assignments containing above average analysis and personal
conclusions. Oral presentations are appropriate for grade level. Meets all time limit and basic
content objectives. Audience interaction at grade level.
Good class participation and
student contribution.
C grade (2.0) Work of average quality, meeting, but not exceeding, expected standards.
Adequately written essay, assignments and presentation skills. Lacks insightful analysis in
both oral and written work. Audience level interaction appropriate but average. Some class
participation.
F grade (0.0) Work below minimum standards. Substantial non-submittal of assigned work
and/or lack of evidence of sufficient work on assignments.
I grade (Incomplete) If the student has a valid reason for not submitting assigned material
that is due the last day of class, the student will receive a grade of Incomplete (I), which is
required to be made up, after the course has finished, by turning in acceptable required
material at a later date.
(Note: Incomplete grades are only given to students who have experienced an extraordinary
and unforeseen circumstance (such as hospitalization or death in the family) and who have
maintained satisfactory attendance and work throughout the majority of the course. If a
student requires more than one quarter completing the work, the final grade can be lowered
due to the lateness of the completed work.)
W grade (Withdraw) Student officially withdraws from the class.
Incomplete Policy:
An Incomplete (I) grade is given only to a student who has maintained satisfactory
attendance and work throughout most of the course, but due to extraordinary circumstances is
unable to complete the required work by the end of the quarter. The granting of an “I” grade
Frank J. Siegert
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College of Undergraduate Studies Mission is to provide high quality innovative
learning opportunities that integrate theory, practice, and life experience in a
synergistic collegiate environment.
is at the discretion of the instructor and must be approved by the Dean. It is the student’s
responsibility to provide an incomplete grade form and to request an “I” from the instructor
in writing prior to the last class meeting, stating briefly but specifically the reasons for the
request. The due date to complete work is determined by the instructor but may not exceed
two quarters.
Course Schedule:
Weekly schedule with major topics, reading and writing assignments will be handed out first
class and will be included in class shell.
Assignments:
Assignments should be submitted on time. Make-up assignments may be required by the
instructor if you are absent for personal or professional reasons. Project draft assignments
and updates; assigned readings and coursework are expected to be completed on time. If for
some reason a student will not be able to submit an assignment on time, arrangements should
be made to hand it in before the due date.
Written Work:
A student’s writing should reflect an undergraduate level of education (spelling,
organization, clarity, sentence structure, etc.). If it does not, you may be asked to
rewrite the paper. The University offers free writing assistance at the Academic
Support Center. To schedule an appointment contact acs@jfku.edu or call
925.969.3530.
APA Format:
All written assignments are to adhere to APA format. The JFK Academic Support
Center provides instruction and materials on utilizing APA style guidelines. The JFK
Library also provides resources on APA style. In addition, there are various internet
sites which demonstrate samples of papers written in APA format.
Attendance:
As noted in the University catalog, students are expected to attend all class meetings of
course in which they are enrolled and comply with attendance requirements specified in the
course syllabus. Excessive unexcused absences may affect the course grade. If a student
must miss a class meeting, they are required to notify the instructor prior to the meeting. A
student who misses more than 20% of the scheduled class meetings may not pass the course.
Students are responsible for all material presented during missed class time.
Being allowed to turn in a paper, (if it was due on a date that the student was absent), or
taking a test (if it was given on a date the student was absent), is at the discretion of the
instructor.
Frank J. Siegert
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College of Undergraduate Studies Mission is to provide high quality innovative
learning opportunities that integrate theory, practice, and life experience in a
synergistic collegiate environment.
Participation is essential; and you are invited to provide commentary on the topic at hand or
to explore a related thought. Challenging assumptions and expressing firm beliefs are most
welcome.
Learning Management System (LMS)
One or more units for this course may be taught online using Blackboard Learn. You
will be able to access your course(s) the day prior to the start date by going to MyJFKU
at https://my.jfku.edu/ics, logging on and clicking on the Blackboard (Bb) Learn icon.
To help familiarize you with Blackboard Learn, please take the Student Orientation
Course accessible through MyJFKU by clicking on the Bb Learn icon and clicking on the
course link found under “My Courses.” If you have any problems accessing MyJFKU,
please contact our helpdesk by calling 925-969-3464 or emailing helpdesk@jfku.edu. If
you have technical issues within Blackboard Learn, please email blackboard@jfku.edu
or call 1-855-877-3949.
Online Discussion Etiquette
Participating in online discussions as part of your coursework is different than blogging or
engaging in social media as the protocol is different between friendships and professional
relationships. Consider these guidelines for your contributions to online discussion:

Class Requirements: You must post on Discussions page a minimum of 3 different
days per Graded Topic per week. Answer the Discussion question then post
comments on other Student posts.
• Please be mindful that online communication differs from face to face
communication. Without the ability to read body language and facial expressions,
online communication can be misconstrued. Therefore, care must be taken in online
communication.
•Be careful of informal tone – sarcasm or joking can be interpreted as offensive or
mean-spirited online.
•Use proper punctuation and formatting – Capital letters online are the equivalent of
shouting in person. Proper capitalization and correct grammar will increase your
voice online by showing that you are educated, value what others think of you, and
that you value professionalism.
•Be honest and transparent – if you choose to use real-life examples, make sure that
they are real and check out under a bit of scrutiny, because people will check and
sometimes ask. If you are not honest and open, people will sense this and will not
trust you.
Frank J. Siegert
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College of Undergraduate Studies Mission is to provide high quality innovative
learning opportunities that integrate theory, practice, and life experience in a
synergistic collegiate environment.
•Contribute to the conversation – Contribute to the conversation with relevant replies
that show that you have read, processed and taken seriously the ideas of others.
Replying with useful information will encourage increased participation by others,
and you will also gain the reputation as someone who cares about others and the ideas
that are important to the entire group.
University Academic Policy, including Registration information:
http://www.jfku.edu/student-service/current-students/academic-catalog.html
Academic Honesty:
http://www.jfku.edu/assets/resources/pageResources/Plagarism.pdf
Policies and procedures relating to academic integrity are outlined in the catalog.
Check also with your program for additional guidelines and rules. Academic
dishonesty, including cheating and plagiarism, will not be tolerated at JFK University.
Cheating includes any dishonest means of obtaining or attempting to obtain credit for
academic work, such as:
•Copying, in part or whole, from another’s examination, paper, research or creative
project.
•Submitting as one’s own work which has been purchased, borrowed, or stolen.
•Fabricating data.
•Employing a surrogate to take an examination, write a paper, or complete, in whole or
in part, an assignment.
•Helping another student to engage in activities that constitute academic dishonesty.
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is the presentation of words, ideas or views of someone else as if
they were one’s own. Plagiarism is intellectual dishonesty and, as such, is a serious academic
offense. The potential penalties for plagiarism range from an unsatisfactory grade in the
course (an ‘F” or ‘no credit’), a letter of sanction placed in the student’s permanent academic
file, or even dismissal from the university. Plagiarism includes:
 Representing another’s work as your own.
 Failing to give credit to your sources for the ideas, information, and words you have
borrowed from them.
 Not quoting when you use another’s exact words.
 Not changing the wording or sentence structure significantly enough when you
paraphrase a source.
Institutional Review Board
Any research conducted by JFK University faculty, staff, or students that involves
human participants in any way must receive IRB approval before the research can be
Frank J. Siegert
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College of Undergraduate Studies Mission is to provide high quality innovative
learning opportunities that integrate theory, practice, and life experience in a
synergistic collegiate environment.
undertaken. Also, any research that utilizes JFK University faculty, staff, or students as
participants must be approved by the NU-IRB before the research can be
undertaken. The Office of the Institutional Review Board will only accept electronic
protocol submissions via IRBNet (www.irbnet.org ). All protocols (including revisions
and renewals) must be submitted electronically via IRBNet, and all review decision
letters will be issued electronically via IRBNet. Principal investigators, faculty sponsors
and IRB members will be required to complete human participant research training
through the Collaborative Investigator Training Initiative (CITI). JFKU programs that
train students to conduct research have courses identified in their curriculum where
students are instructed on how to use the CITI training and the IRBNet system.
Student Services
Information about Student Services is available on the JFKU website
(http://www.jfku.edu/Student-Service/Student-Services.html) and in the Academic
Catalog (http://www.jfku.edu/Student-Service/Current-Students/AcademicCatalog.html). The following are among the many services available to students:
Academic Support Center (ASC)
The ASC provides individual instruction in writing, study skills, and APA citation style.
The instructors can act as a second pair of eyes on your paper, working with you to
identify your patterns and improve your abilities. Appointments can be held in person
or via phone, fax or email. All ASC services are free to registered students, faculty, and
staff. Students can make an appointment by calling 925.969.3530 or emailing
asc@jfku.edu.
NU Writing & Math Centers: All JFK University students have access to additional free
writing and math support through the National University System’s Writing & Math
Centers. Schedule an appointment with the NU Writing Center at
http://www.nu.edu/OurPrograms/StudentServices/WritingCenter/OnlineWritingCent
er.html or with the NU Math Center at
http://www.nu.edu/OurPrograms/StudentServices/mathcenter.html
Disability Services for Students
Services are provided for students who are in need of accommodations related to a
documented physical, learning, or mental health disability. This office determines
accommodations that allow students with disabilities to fully participate in all academic
programs.
Please note that classroom accommodations cannot be made until you have registered
with Disabilities Services, received an Accommodation Letter, and provided a copy to
your instructor. For an appointment, contact ods@jfku.edu or call 925-969-3362.
Career Center
Frank J. Siegert
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College of Undergraduate Studies Mission is to provide high quality innovative
learning opportunities that integrate theory, practice, and life experience in a
synergistic collegiate environment.
For information on career services, call (925) 969-3542 or email
career@jfku.edu.
Center for Veteran Student Success
Information about services for veterans via the Center for Veteran Student Success is at
http://www.jfku.edu/Admissions/Military-Admissions/Center-for-Veteran-StudentSuccess.html
Libraries & Learning Resource Centers
The JFKU Libraries & Learning Resource Centers include the Robert M. Fisher Library,
Law Library and Computer Lab in Pleasant Hill, and the Berkeley and San Jose Learning
Resource Centers. The Libraries’ collections include nearly 200,000 books, journals and
media titles, most of which are accessible online. It is our mission to support learning,
scholarship, professional development and student success. Librarians are available to assist
with your research needs by phone, email, online chat or in person. Please visit your library
or the library web site at http://library.jfku.edu for further information.
Course Evaluation
Prior to your last class session, you will receive a request to complete an evaluation of the
course and instructor. The evaluation is confidential. It asks you to rate the course (from
Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree) in several areas. You are also encouraged to provide
comments to clarify your ratings. The College and instructor are only provided with a
summary of the evaluation results (including any comments submitted) and do not receive
individual evaluations. We appreciate the feedback you provide in the course evaluation.
We use that feedback as part of our ongoing program assessment and to inform possible
course and program changes. Please provide your feedback in a thoughtful and professional
manner.
This syllabus is subject to change at any time at the discretion of the instructor.
Frank J. Siegert
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