BUSINESS COMMUNICATION 305
Course Syllabus – Fall 2015
Description:
Business Communication 305 is concerned with improving your communication
skills--both oral and written. The focus of the course is on the adaptation of
language when communicating in a business environment.
You will be assigned a variety of problems to learn to apply your knowledge and
experience. Specifically, the course is divided into three broad categories: (1)
language skills, (2) business correspondence, and (3) interpersonal communication.
Text:
Materials to study for BSCM 305 will be posted on Moodle.
Prerequisites: English 102, proficiency with and computer access to a word processing software
package, and computer access to Moodle.
Course
Objectives:
The primary objectives of the course are designed to provide you with the
opportunity to develop
1. a competency in basic writing skills and
2. an ability to compose business communications in solving different types of
business problems.
Course
Requirements:
Reading assignments will be given on a regular basis (please reference
Moodle where these assignments may be accessed).
It will be necessary that you have access to a computer that will enable you to
either download or access Moodle . Required handouts and reading assignments
will be “posted” via Moodle, and you should be able to print these handouts and
assignments on a daily basis.
Typewritten/printed assignments will be required in the course. (Note: It is
important that all written assignments be turned in by the date on which the
assignment is due.) A penalty of one letter grade will be assessed for a written
assignment that is up to one week late. A penalty of two letter grades will be
assessed for a written assignment that is up to two weeks late, and a penalty of
three letter grades will be assessed for a written assignment that is over two weeks
late. WARNING: Always submit a “hard copy” of any transmitted e-mail
attachment during the class period immediately following your e-mail
transmission. The e-mail transmission will be used to determine your “late
submission” date for your grade reduction (if any). Save a copy of your e-mail
and attachment for “proof of submission” date. It is the hard copy personally
submitted to Dr. Pullis, however, that is graded. Should a class absence be
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unavoidable (illness, death in the family, TDY, etc.), I will be reasonable in
assisting you in making up your homework assignments. A midterm and a final
examination will be administered to all students enrolled for credit in BSCM 305.
Attendance:
Punctual and regular class attendance is expected. Should a class absence be
unavoidable, please arrange with a classmate to obtain for you copies of any
handouts you may have missed. Also, arrange for your classmate to turn in any
homework for you that is due on the date you will be unable to attend a class
session. As was noted in the discussion of course requirements, should a class
absence be unavoidable (illness, death in the family, TDY, etc.), I will be
reasonable in assisting you in making up the homework assignments without
penalty. A missed spelling/multitasking test, a missed weekly writing quiz, or a
missed in-class or out-of-class writing assignment (up to a maximum of two) will
be made up at a designated time during the quarter. A missed midterm exam will
be made up during (i.e., immediately following) the next class period.
Remember: A late assignment that is submitted up to one week after the original
due date will be penalized one letter grade. A late assignment that is submitted up
to two weeks following the original due date will be penalized two letter grades.
A late assignment that is submitted over two weeks after the original due date will
be penalized three letter grades (see Course Requirements).
You should always submit a “Late Assignment Submission Form” with any late
assignment submission.
Class absences exceeding 20% of the total class meetings, regardless of the reason
for the absences, are considered to be excessive.
Special
Accommodations
If you are officially registered (and have a letter/memorandum to that effect) from
the Office of Disability Services (ODS) and are requesting special
accommodations for this class, please explain privately to Dr. Pullis early in the
quarter what accommodations are necessary in order that appropriate
arrangements can be made. Students needing testing or classroom
accommodations based on a disability are encouraged to discuss those needs with
me as soon as possible. Students requesting accommodations will present their
instructor a memo stipulating the accommodation(s) needed. Students needing
accommodation are not required to take examinations in the Office of Disability
Services. Students needing accommodation have the option of selecting their
examination site, whether in class or in ODS.
Qualified students needing testing or classroom accommodations based on a
disability are encouraged to make their requests to me at the beginning of the
quarter either during office hours or by appointment. Note: prior to receiving
disability accommodations, verification of eligibility from the Testing and
Disability Services Office is needed. Disability information is confidential.
Information for Testing and Disability Services may be obtained in Wyly Tower
318 or www.latech.edu/ods.
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Grading:
Two major objective examinations (a midterm examination and a final
examination) will be given in the course. The midterm examination will represent
25% of your overall grade, and the final examination will constitute 25% of your
overall grade. In-class and out-of-class writing assignments and daily/weekly
writing tests and spelling/multitasking/diligence tests will constitute 50% of your
grade. The "weight" given to each writing assignment will be a function of the
difficulty of the assignment. For example, should a writing assignment receive a
grade of 9/10, you would have received 90% on a writing assignment weighted ten
points. Should you receive a 14/20 on the next writing assignment, you would have
received 70% on a writing assignment weighted twenty points. Your "grade
average" on the first two writing assignments would be 23/30, or 77% (C+). A
grading scale of 60, 70, 80, and 90 is used for letter grades of D, C, B, and A,
respectively. A grade of A represents outstanding performance; a grade of B
represents excellent performance; a grade of C represents good performance; a
grade of D represents fair (marginally acceptable) performance; and a grade of F
represents poor (unacceptable) performance.
Calculating a "weighted" course average: If calculating a "weighted" course
average is "old hat" to you, fill free to skip this section.
If calculating a "weighted" course average is a new concept to you, please read this
section very carefully.
For illustrative purposes, let us assume that a student has an in-class and out-ofclass writing and daily test average of 90, a midterm exam score of 60, and a final
exam score of 50. The student's course average would be 73. (90 * .50) + (60 *
.25) + (50 * .25) = 73.
Do not "pool" all of your grades together without first calculating your average on
each of the three major components (in-class and out-of-class writing and daily test
average [50%], midterm exam [25%], and final exam [25%]) and then applying the
appropriate "weight" to that specific component average. Again, the "weight" being
assigned in BSCM 305 to each of the three major components is as follows: inclass and out-of-class writing and daily test average = 50%; midterm exam = 25%;
and the final exam = 25%.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------BUSINESS COMMUNICATION 305 – SECTION 051
This course may be “team taught” by a father-son team. Your primary instructor is Dr. Robert
Pullis (the younger, better looking and more humble instructor).
Instructor:
Robert M. Pullis, J.D., LL.M.
Box 3027 Tech Station
Ruston, LA 71272
Office Phone: 318-257-2241
Office:
CoBB 207
Home Phone: 281-797-3268
rpullis@latech.edu
Do not be reluctant to phone Dr. Pullis at home/cell (1-281-797-3268) between
6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on weekdays or at any time on weekends. The Tech email address for Dr. Robert M. Pullis is rpullis@latech.edu
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The home e-mail address for Dr. Pullis is robertpullis@yahoo.com
Should you send Dr. Pullis an e-mail message, please use the following subject
line: BSCM 305
When sending Dr. Pullis an e-mail message, use only the e-mail address(es) listed
above.
Always indicate your first and last name in any e-mail message. Also, if you
are including an attachment to your e-mail, please indicate in your message that
you have included an attachment.
Reminder: You will need computer access to Moodle in order to access and print
your assignments in Business Communication 305.
Please “fill in” the appropriate dates corresponding to the class meetings for the
following lectures (if they have not been “prefilled” for you).
Office Hours: My office hours for any given quarter will always be posted on my office door
(College of Business Building 207) as well as presented in class. If my office
hours are not convenient for you, we can arrange a time that works best with your
schedule. NEVER be reluctant to visit with me regarding any course-related
matter. If possible, I will try to always be available after class to discuss any
course-related topic with you.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Instructor:
Dr. Joe M. Pullis, Professor Emeritus
Box 3027 Tech Station
Ruston, LA 71272
Office Phone: 318-257-2368
Office:
CoBB 335
Home Phone: 318-255-8830
pullis@latech.edu
Do not be reluctant to phone Dr. Pullis at home (1-318-255-8830) between
6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on weekdays or at any time on weekends. The Tech email address for Dr. Joe M. Pullis is pullis@latech.edu
The home e-mail address for Dr. Pullis is pullisj@bellsouth.com
Should you send Dr. Pullis an e-mail message, please use the following subject
line: BSCM 305
When sending Dr. Pullis an e-mail message, use only the e-mail address(es) listed
above.
Always indicate your first and last name in any e-mail message. Also, if you
are including an attachment to your e-mail, please indicate in your message that
you have included an attachment.
Reminder: You will need computer access to Moodle in order to access and print
your assignments in Business Communication 305.
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Please “fill in” the appropriate dates corresponding to the class meetings for the
following lectures (if they have not been “prefilled” for you).
Office Hours: My office hours for any given quarter will always be posted on my office door
(College of Business Building 335) as well as presented in class. If my office
hours are not convenient for you, we can arrange a time that works best with your
schedule. NEVER be reluctant to visit with me regarding any course-related
matter. If possible, I will try to always be available after class to discuss any
course-related topic with you.
Honor Code: Business Communication 305 will adhere to the Louisiana Tech University Honor
Code. An online version is available at
http://www.latech.edu/administration/policies-and-procedures/2207.shtml.
In accordance with the Academic Honor Code, students pledge the following:
"Being a student of higher standards, I pledge to embody the principles of
academic integrity."
Also, Louisiana Tech University adheres to the equal opportunity provisions of
federal and civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color,
national origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, or disability.
The Title IX Coordinator is Ms. Carrie Flournoy, President's Office (Wyly
Tower 1620), P. O. Box 3168; phone: (318) 257-3785; E-mail:
flournoy@latech.edu
The Section 504 Coordinator is Ms. Annie Jantz, 305 Keeney Hall; phone:
(318) 257-2445; E-mail: ajantz@latech.edu
Emergency
Notification
System:
All Louisiana Tech students are strongly encouraged to enroll and update their
contact information in the Emergency Notification System. It takes just a few
seconds to ensure you're able to receive important text and voice alerts in the
event of a campus emergency. For more information on the Emergency
Notification System, please visit http://www.latech.edu/administration/ens.shtml.
Attachments (2):
Business Communication 305 Reading Assignments
Late Assignment Submission Form
BC 305 Syllabus Spring 2015 M-W (20) JMP & RMP v.15.09.10
5
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION 305 READING ASSIGNMENTS
(Tentative dates)
Lecture Period 1
Thursday, September 10, 2015
Introduction: Writing Mechanics Overview
Mechanics of Writing
Lecture Period 2
Tuesday, September 14, 2014 (etc.)
Mechanics of Writing
Periods, Question Marks, and Exclamation Points
Commas
Semicolons, Colons, Dashes, and Hyphens
Quotation Marks, Parentheses, Underscores, and Apostrophes
Abbreviations
Capitalization
Number Expression
Lecture Period 3
Theme Formatting
Writing Letters to Your Clients and Customers
Selecting Order and Formatting Your Letters
Writing Letters with a Neutral or Positive Message
Writing Letters with a Negative Message
Spelling/Multitasking/Diligence Test #1
Lecture Period 4
Letters and Memoranda Formatting
Distinguishing a Theme from a Report from a Research Paper
Targeted Writing Test #1
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Lecture Period 5
Writing with Style
Planning and Organizing Messages
Choosing Words
Creating Vigorous Sentences
Building Strong Paragraphs
Editing and Proofreading Messages
Spelling/Multitasking/Diligence Test #2
Lecture Period 6
Writing Memos and E-mail
Uses of Internal Documents
Formatting and Writing Effective Internal Documents
Abuses of Internal Documents
Writing Meeting Communications
Targeted Writing Test #2
Lecture Period 7
Technical Communication
Writing to Instruct
Writing to Describe
Writing to Persuade
Spelling/Multitasking/Diligence Test #3
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Lecture Period 8
Getting Your Job
Analyzing Yourself and the Market
Writing Your Resume
Composing Your Letter of Application and Completing the
Application Form
Interviewing Well and Writing the Follow-up Letter
Targeted Writing Test #3
Lecture Period 9
Review & Practice Test
Spelling/Multitasking/Diligence Test # 4
Lecture Period 10
Review
Tarageted Writing Test #4
Lecture Period 11
Midterm Exam – (Please bring a pencil. I will provide your Scantron answer sheet.)
Lecture Period 12
Language Foundations Review
Parts of Speech
Nouns
Pronouns
Pronoun-Noun Agreement
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Lecture Period 13
Language Foundations Review (Continued)
Verbs
Subject-Verb Agreement
Adjectives
Adverbs
Prepositions
Conjunctions and Interjections
Language Foundations Review (Continued)
Spelling/Multitasking/Diligence Test #5
Lecture Period 14
Language Foundations Review (Continued)
Targeted Writing Test #5
Lecture Period 15
Nonverbal Communication: A Key to Accurate Communication
Listening: An Important Interpersonal Skill
Presentations and Meetings
Oral Presentations
Effective Meetings
Spelling/Multitasking/Diligence Test #6
Lecture Period 16
Descriptive Language
Targeted Writing Test #6
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Lecture Period 17
Descriptive Language
Lecture Period 18
Review for Final Exam
Make-up Spelling/Multitasking/diligence Tests and Weekly Targeted
Writing Tests
Lecture Period 19
Final Exam for Graduating Seniors – (Please bring a pencil.)
Lecture Period 20
Final Exam – (Please bring a pencil.)
Please note the following "Late Assignment Submission Form."
BC 305 Syllabus Spring 2015 M-W (20) JMP & RMP v15.09.10
10
Name ______________________________________________________
BSCM 305 Section _____
Row _____
Seat _____
LATE ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSION FORM
Complete this form and submit it with your late assignment.
The date on which this assignment was originally due was
Was the late submission of this assignment due to a class absence?
YES
NO
If the late submission of this assignment was due to a class absence, how many class absences
including this absence have you incurred so far during this quarter in this course?
1
2
3
4
_____ 5
_____ 6
____ 6+
[Class absences exceeding 20% of the total number of class meetings, regardless of the reason
for the class absence, are considered to be excessive.]
The reason this assignment could not be submitted on time (either in person, by a classmate, by
e-mail, or by snail mail) is as follows:
Brief Description of Assignment: _________________________________________________
The grade deduction for this late assignment should be
1 letter grade
2 letter grades
3 letter grades
Assignments that are up to one week late receive a one-letter-grade deduction. Assignments that
are up to two weeks late receive a two-letter-grade deduction, and assignments that are over two
weeks late receive a three-letter-grade deduction. Remember that if you are absent from class,
you may have a class partner submit your assignment, or you may e-mail your assignment to me
as an e-mail attachment. If you e-mail your assignment to me as an e-mail attachment
(pullis@cab.latech.edu), you must also provide me with a “hard copy” of the assignment during
the next class period.
The number of late assignments, including this assignment, you have submitted in this course is
1
2
3
Date
BC 305 Syllabus Spring 2015 M-W (20) JMP & RMP v15.09.10
3+
Print Student’s Name
Student’s Signature