MGT 3213-04 (Organizational Communications)
Fall 2013, TR 8:00-9:15 a.m.
McCool 113
Alexis Nordin
Research and Curriculum Unit, Office 103
662-325-1191
adp4@msstate.edu
Office Hours: TR 7-8 a.m. in McCool 113
and other availability by appointment
I will hold office hours in our classroom because my actual office is located off campus. Please email me
to arrange a meeting if you cannot meet me during regular office hours.
MSU Course Description
The application of communication principles through preparation of effective documents and presentations.
Includes study and application of team communication, multicultural communication, technology usage,
and ethical considerations. (Prerequisites: EN 1113 and junior standing)
Materials
BCOM, 5th edition, by Lehman & Dufrene (required; 3rd or 4th editions also permitted); Pocket Keys for
Writers, 4th edition, by Raimes (recommended). Used books are permitted.
Grade Distribution
In-Class Quizzes (6)*
Career Plan, Cover Letter, and Resume
Business Letter, Memo, and Email
Final Exam (Report-Writing Exercise)
*The two lowest quizzes will be dropped.
40%
20%
20%
20%
90-100%
80-89%
70-79%
60-69%
Below 60%
A
B
C
D
F
Class Policies
1. One typed hard copy of all out-of-class writing assignments must be submitted to me at the
beginning of class on the assignment due date. Out-of-class writing assignments must also be
submitted to Turnitin.com (see instructions below) prior to class on the due date to avoid the late
penalty.
2. In-class quizzes will cover chapter and lecture materials. In-class quizzes cannot be made up for
any reason, regardless of whether an absence is excused or unexcused; instead, your two lowest
quiz grades are dropped automatically at the end of the semester.
3. Students are expected to attend every class meeting and to arrive on time unless they must miss
class due to a University-approved absence. In the case of inclement weather, I will hold class and
expect you to be here unless the University cancels classes (check the MSU website).
4. If you must miss class due to a University-approved absence
(http://www.msstate.edu/dept/audit/PDF/1209.pdf), please notify me as far in advance as possible
and make plans with me to complete any upcoming assignments prior to your absence.
5. Students who turn in out-of-class assignments late will be docked 10 points for each 24-hour
period an assignment is overdue. You will also receive the penalty on weekends and holidays.
You may email late out-of-class assignments to me. The penalty clock stops as soon as I receive
the assignment AND the document has been submitted using Turnitin.com.
6. Students who consistently get off topic and distract other students will be asked to change seats or
leave the class. Students asked to leave class will receive zeroes on in-class quizzes.
7. Cell phones and any other electronic device must be turned off and put away during class. Any
student who has a cell phone or electronic device out during an in-class quiz will receive a zero on
the assignment.
8. Students who leave class during an in-class quiz must submit their assignment for grading before
leaving the class.
9. I will frequently communicate with you using email. According to MSU policy, email is an
official means of University communication, and you are responsible for checking your MSU email account daily.
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10. I will treat you like business professionals and expect the same courtesy. Students who behave
unprofessionally will be asked to leave the class and will receive zeroes on in-class quizzes. To
determine “professional” behavior, imagine how professionals should act if they were attending an
important business meeting with clients or colleagues. Any behavior that would be inappropriate
during that meeting is also inappropriate in this class.
11. The University and I are dedicated to making reasonable accommodations for students with
documented disabilities. Students should notify Student Support Services (325-3335,
http://sss.msstate.edu) and their instructors of any special needs at the beginning of the semester.
12. I will permit students to obtain help on out-of-class writing assignments using only the Writing
Center (http://www.writingcenter.msstate.edu/about.html). Remember, however, that the Writing
Center tutors are there to guide you, not to do your work for you. You are permitted to get general
feedback from Writing Center tutors on material you have written and to ask them grammatical
questions. A tutor cannot re-write sentences for you, point out every grammatical error in your
paper, or tell you what to include or exclude from your paper.
Academic Integrity
Students are responsible for learning and observing the University’s Honor Code and policies regarding
intellectual honesty, especially plagiarism. The penalties for academic dishonesty are severe, and
ignorance is not an acceptable defense. Student caught cheating or plagiarizing on any assignment, or
otherwise violating the Honor Code, will be reported to the Dean of Students and will face disciplinary
charges that may result in failure of the course, suspension or expulsion from the University, and a
permanent record of the incident on their MSU transcripts. To read MSU’s policies on academic
misconduct, visit http://www.honorcode.msstate.edu/policy/.
Course Outline
Note: This is a guideline only, possibly subject to change. Its primary purpose is to help us gauge our
progress throughout the semester. I will announce any changes to this schedule during class and/or via
email, and you are responsible for keeping up with those changes.
Aug. 20-22
Aug. 27-29
Sept. 3-5
Sept. 10-12
Sept. 17-19
Sept. 24-26
Oct. 1-3
Oct. 8-10
Oct. 15-17
Oct. 22-24
Oct. 29-31
Nov. 5-7
Nov. 12-14
Nov. 19-21
Nov. 26-28
Dec. 3
Course introduction & diagnostic exercise; Chapter 1
Chapters 2 & 3; Quiz #1; Register at Turnitin.com before class on Aug. 29
Chapter 4; Grammar & Usage Appendix (back of the book)
Chapter 13; Quiz #2
Career plan, cover letter, and resume due on Sept. 19 (1 hard copy due at the
beginning of class, electronic copy due via Turnitin.com before class)
Chapters 5 & 6
Chapter 7; Quiz #3
Chapter 8
Business letter, memo, and email due on Oct. 17 (1 hard copy due at the
beginning of class, electronic copy due via Turnitin.com before class)
Chapter 9; fall break (no class)
Chapter 10; Quiz #4
Chapter 11
Chapter 12; Quiz #5
Chapter 14
Catch-up day; holiday (no class)
Last class meeting; Quiz #6; Final exam due on Dec. 3 (1 hard copy due at the
beginning of class, electronic copy due via Turnitin.com before class)
Other Important Dates
Oct. 18
Midterm grades due in Banner (5 p.m.)
Dec. 16
Final grades due in Banner (12 p.m.)
You will find instructions on registering for Turnitin.com at
http://www.turnitin.com/en_int/training/student-training/student-quickstart-guide. The Class ID is
6776271, and the enrollment password is 0rgc0mm04f!3. Use your MSU email address to create a student
account. Please let me know if you have any questions.
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