COM 3150 Section U12
Advanced Communication for Business
Florida International University
College of Architecture and The Arts
Communication Arts Department
Instructor: T. J. Lakin
Office: GL 488
email: tlakin@fiu.edu
Last day to drop the course:
Course Description And Purpose
Employers ranked the ability to communicate and to use technology as two of the most
important skills for new employees. As such, this course is designed to provide you with an
opportunity to learn managerial communication skills that can be immediately transferred into a
professional work environment. The course assignments and exercises are designed to improve
your practical business communication skills in the following areas.
There are four Learning Objectives for COM 3150:
A.
B.
C.
D.
Business Writing Skills
Oral Presentation Skills
Language Skills
Managerial Communication
A. Business Writing Skills: Instructors are required to design business writing skills assignments
that must consist of a minimum of
 1 original personal mission professional goals statement
 3 original memos
 3 original letters
 1 in-class written business proposal, evaluated with the Business
Writing Rubric (comprises 10% of the student’s course grade)
These the details of these assignments and documents will be discussed in class, the
purpose of these assignments is to improve students writing skills and more importantly
you help you progress toward the Business Writing Skills Learning Objectives of this
class.
B. Oral Presentation Skills: There will be an oral presentation – you will be required to do a
practice run of that speech in the Communication Arts Studio. This is further discussed in the
course content section.
C. Language Skills: You will be graded throughout the semester in the following areas:


Pre-Assessment
Periodic assignments and/or assessments
 D. Managerial Communication: You will develop and/or improve your ability to
recognize your own communication tendencies as well as the communication
tendencies of the persons you deal with professionally.
Course Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this course.
Textbook
Business Communication Essentials
Skills based approach by Bovee&Thill
ISBN-13: 9781269216630
E-BOOK
You need to purchase access to your instructor's MyCommLab section,
where your course material and special FIU edition eBook are located.
You can purchase an access code from the FIU Bookstore OR direct
access from the publisher, Pearson.
To access your course material after you purchase the code, follow the
online steps.
Three things you need to order MyCommLab :
1. Email address – one you access often
2. Course ID – code that links you to Mylab page
3. Access Code – gives access to MyLab program itself – purchased online during registration or
at the University Bookstore.
MyCommLab Instructions:
To enroll in a typical course, a student needs to have a:
Student access code, a valid credit card, or a PayPal account– Students get an access code with
a new book purchase or by buying the code separately in a student access kit/card at the campus
bookstore. Students can also buy access to a course online with a credit card or PayPal account
while they are enrolling.
The student access code is nontransferable and can be used only once.
To purchase course access online:
Go to the MyLab and Mastering website and click Student in the Register area. Enter the Course
ID provided by your instructor and click Continue. After verifying your course information, enter
your username and password, and click Sign In. If you don’t have a Pearson account, click Create
an account. Complete the Create an Account page. Helpful hints display to guide you. Read and
accept the license agreement. Click Create Account. Select the button for the access level you
want. Select whether you want to pay with a credit card or use PayPal and enter payment
information. Click Review to review your order details. If you need to change anything, click the
Change link. Click Make Payment to submit your order. Click Go to Your E Book and course
materials
Go to the MyLab and Mastering website and click Student in the Register area. Enter the Course
ID provided by your instructor and click Continue. After verifying your course information, enter
your username and password, and click Sign In. If you don’t have a Pearson account, click Create
an account. Complete the Create an Account page. Helpful hints appear to guide you. Read and
accept the license agreement. Optionally, you can select the check box to help us make our
products better and learn about new offers. Click Create Account. To get temporary access to
your course, click the link at the bottom of the page. When a confirmation message appears, click
Yes to complete your registration. You will receive a confirmation email with payment instructions.
Click Go to Your Course to access your course.
For more help with registration, go to the Get Started for Students area of the MyLab and
Mastering website. For instructions on registration, watch the Register for your course videos.
INSTRUCTOR EXPECTATIONS AND POLICIES
This course will focus on a practical approach to communication and performance. Disruptive
behavior, such as excessive talking unrelated to class activities and leaving the classroom to
attend calls or texts should be avoided out of respect to your classmates and the professor. All
cellphones should be on silent and kept out of sight while in the classroom.
Students are expected to read the chapters and come prepared prior to attending the
class. Students are accountable for the material discussed in class even if they were absent.
Assignments should be delivered at the beginning of the class the day they are due. Any
assignments delivered late (up to 7 days from due date) will be penalized by half of the points
after final assignment grade. Assignments will not be accepted one week after due date.
All documentation related to medical emergencies must be dated, signed by a licensed medical
professional, and contain the licensed medical professional's contact number. It is expected that
such documentation will be submitted no later than one week after the assignment's due date.
Supporting medical documentation is always kept confidential.
Students who are unable to continue in the course must notify the professor. It is their
responsibility to fill out an official withdrawal form with the registrar’s office. If they do not
officially withdraw, they may be purged from the class roll and receive an instructor withdrawal
or an “F” grade at the end of the course.
Attendance: Public speaking requires an audience. Attendance for this class is mandatory and
will count for 100 points of your total grade (each class is worth approx. 2.5 points). Attendance
will be taken during the first five minutes.
Tardiness: As in the workplace, you will be expected to arrive on time and to be prepared. Two
late arrivals equal one absence. (Leaving class early is also counted as being “tardy.”)
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
This syllabus is a contract of understanding between professor and student. If the assignments
and grading system are not acceptable, then the student needs to negotiate a change by
midnight Sunday on the second week of class or accept the rules as written.
CODE OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
This Code of Academic Integrity was adopted by the Student Government Association on
November 28, 2001 and reflects the values articulated in the Student Code of Standards.
Florida International University is a community dedicated to generating and imparting
knowledge through excellent teaching and research, the rigorous and respectful exchange of
ideas, and community service. All students should respect the right of others to have an
equitable opportunity to learn and honestly to demonstrate the quality of their learning.
Therefore, all students are expected to adhere to a standard of academic conduct, which
demonstrates respect for themselves, their fellow students, and the educational mission of
Florida International University.
As a student of this university:


I will be honest in my academic endeavors.
I will not represent someone else's work as my own.

I will not cheat, nor will I aid in another's cheating.
All students are deemed by the university to understand that if they are found responsible for
academic misconduct, they will be subject to the Code of Academic Integrity’s procedures and
sanctions, as outlined in the FIU Student Handbook. Students have the right to due process in
all disciplinary situations. For additional information concerning student rights and
responsibilities, please contact FIU’s Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution.
Note: Intensive auditing of the course will be conducted to prevent academic misconduct.
Plagiarizing: Plagiarizing is a serious academic offense. If you are caught plagiarizing an
assignment, you will receive a 0 for the assignment and academic misconduct charges will be
filed. These remain in your academic file and can change the course of your academic and
professional future. Refer to the section on plagiarism in the FIU Student Handbook.
Visit our Writing Resources webpage for more information on professional writing and technical
communication skills.
RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS
The University's policy on religious holy days as stated in the University Catalog and Student
Handbook will be followed in this class. Any student may request to be excused from an online
class to observe a religious holiday of his or her faith.
DISABILITY NOTICE
I understand that there is Office of Disability Services available to me should I need it. It is my
responsibility to contact them to process my request to have my needs met. I need to follow
their procedures as to proper notification to the instructor.
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT
A University is a learning community following a tradition more than 1,000 years old.  Florida
International University is such a community dedicated to generating and imparting knowledge
through excellent teaching and research, the rigorous and respectful exchange of ideas, and
community service.  As a member of this community:
 I will respect the tradition of academic inquiry, the University’s rules of conduct,
and its mission.
 I will respect the opinions and differences of all members of the FIU community.
 I will practice civility and demonstrate conduct that reflects the values of the
institution.
 I will be diligent and honest in my personal and academic endeavors.
The FIU Student Handbook outlines the Student Code of Conduct regarding students with
disruptive behavior:www.fiu.edu/~sccr/docs/disruptive_brochure.doc
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
The Center for Excellence in Writing is available to assist you with your business writing
skills. The Center is located in the Green Library, Room 125 or at BBC in the Library, 1st
Floor). The website for the Center is: w3.fiu.edu/writingcenter
The Communication Arts Studio offers students on both campuses instruction and coaching
on delivering presentations, developing and giving the all-important one-minute "elevator
speech," and practicing and perfecting job interview skills.
The studio is open five days a week at MMC and BBC with both day and evening hours. Our
experienced speech communications staff are eager to assist students with organizing ideas,
speaking more confidently, improving body language, reducing anxiety, improving eye contact,
and incorporating visual aids to create dynamic and focused presentations or prepare for any
kind of public speaking. The contact information for the studio – located on both campuses – is
below.
Modesto Maidique Campus: VH 230
Biscayne Bay Campus: HL 155
Phone: 305-348-0069/ 305-919-4140
Email: communicate@fiu.edu
Website and Appointment Link: communicate.fiu.edu
**Attendance and feedback from the CommArts Studio is mandatory before students can
present an informative or persuasive speech in class.
Course Assignments and Outline
Business Writing Skills
Memo #1
Problem/Solution Memo
Evaluated for language skills
and formatting. Not graded.
Percentage of total grade
Memo #2
Request for Action Memo
5%
Memo #3
Informative Memo
5%
Letter #1
Good News Letter
5%
Letter #2
Bad News Letter
5%
Letter #3
Business Proposal Letter
5%
E-Mail Memo #1
Executive Summary Memo
5%
E-Mail Memo #2
Persuasive Memo
5%
E-Mail Memo #3
TBA
Business Report
Business Topic
5%
10%
Oral Presentation Skills
Slide Presentation
Speech to Inform (Topic must be business related)
Content
10%
Delivery
10%
Language Skills
Grammar Quiz #1
5%
Grammar Quiz #2
5%
Final Grammar Test
10%
Midterm (Questions from readings and lectures)
5%
Final
5%
Exams
(Questions from readings and lectures)
Weekly Schedule
I reserve the right to modify, add, or delete assignments based upon circumstances of the
semester.
____________________________________________________________________________
Week 1
Business Writing - Memos
Grammar
____________________________________________________________________________
Week 2
Business Writing - Memos
Grammar
____________________________________________________________________________
Week 3
Business Writing - Memos
Grammar
____________________________________________________________________________
Week 4
Business Writing - Letters
Lectures/In-class writing
____________________________________________________________________________
Week 5
Business Writing - Letters
Grammar Quiz #1
____________________________________________________________________________
Week 6
Business Writing - Letters
Lectures/In-class writing
____________________________________________________________________________
Week 7
Informative and Persuasive Speaking and Writing Skills
____________________________________________________________________________
Week 8
Informative and Persuasive Speaking and Writing Skills
Midterm
____________________________________________________________________________
Week 9
Business Reports
Grammar/Writing
____________________________________________________________________________
Week 10
Business Reports
Grammar/Writing
Grammar Quiz #2
____________________________________________________________________________
Week 11
Business Reports
Grammar/Writing
____________________________________________________________________________
Week 12
Oral Presentations
Content/Delivery
____________________________________________________________________________
Week 13
Oral Presentations
Content/Delivery
____________________________________________________________________________
COM 3150
Week 14
Weekly Schedule
Oral Presentations
Continued
Content/Delivery
____________________________________________________________________________
Week 15
Review of Core Competencies
Final Grammar Test
____________________________________________________________________________
Week 16
EXAM WEEK
Final Exam
____________________________________________________________________________
Writing Assignments: You will have different writing assignments throughout the semester
(i.e., memos, letters, resumes, etc.). Each writing assignment will be submitted as a hard copy
the morning the assignment is due. . Specific instructions on formatting and writing topics will be
provided the week before the writing assignment is due.
Communication Arts Grading Scale
A
94 - 100%
B-
80 - 83%
D+
67 - 69%
A-
90 - 93%
C+
77 - 79%
D
64 - 66%
B+
87 - 89%
C
74 - 76%
D-
60 - 63%
B
84 - 86%
C-
70 - 73%
F
<60%