LEWIS-CLARK STATE COLLEGE
BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY AND SERVICE
SYLLABUS
Applied Written Communication
GNBPT 185
3
Fall 2014
Molly MacGregor-Cole, Professor
SGC 200D
792-2380
mmacgreg@lcsc.edu
Monday and Wednesday 1:30 – 3:15 p.m.
Compass score of 68 or successful completion
of Basic English
Business Communication at Work, 3rd Edition,
McGraw-Hill Irwin 2007
(ISBN-13: 978-0-07-313831-2).
English Brushup by Langan and Goldstein, 6th
Edition, McGraw Hill
(ISBN 978-0-07-351360-7).
New textbooks only.
Computer disk
Dictionary
E-mail address
COURSE TITLE:
COURSE NUMBER:
CREDIT HOURS:
SEMESTER OFFERED:
INSTRUCTOR:
OFFICE:
OFFICE TELEPHONE:
E-MAIL:
OFFICE HOURS:
PREREQUISITES:
REQUIRED TEXTS:
OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
PURPOSE:
This course is designed to help students become better writers of business letters, memos, and
other business documents. The principles and techniques presented in this class are common to
all effective writing. This course is also designed to provide students with the basic principles of
the English language, including correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, and word usage.
EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Choose simple, concise, appropriate, correct, and positive words.
Write sentences and paragraphs that are grammatically correct and effectively communicate the
intended meaning.
Use positive language and project a “you” attitude.
Choose among the direct, indirect, or persuasive approaches for message writing.
Improve editing and proofreading skills.
Write routine memos, emails, and letters.
Write and respond to requests and inquiries.
Compose order messages and acknowledgments.
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Organize and write collection messages.
Compose effective claim and adjustment letters.
Recognize appropriate situations for sending goodwill messages and then write the messages.
Learn principles of writing memo reports.
Develop a personal portfolio.
Identify and properly use the parts of speech.
Recognize and proficiently use phrases and clauses.
Know and correctly use punctuation marks and capital letters.
Realize that a knowledge of English usage helps a person communicate more efficiently and
effectively both orally and in written form and prepares one for a successful entrance into
the work environment.
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION:
Lecture, grammar instruction and practice, and composing various business documents will be
used.
Students are expected to stay in class for the entire class time. As many of the assignments as
possible should be completed in the classroom.
You are required to use LC Mail for this course. All announcements will be sent to your
WarriorMail account. Please do not ask me to email you at another address. If you misplace
your syllabus, one is posted online.
METHODS OF EVALUATION:
Chapters 1-3, 5, 7-12, and 17-18 of Business Communication at Work will be covered. Activities
from each chapter will be turned in to the instructor. Ten points will be deducted for each
activity not completed. If absent from class, assignments need to be turned in by
the next class period or a score of “0” will be recorded for that chapter. Please
see instructor if you have a special circumstance.
Chapters 1 through 7 will be graded by the percentage correct. Starting with Chapter 8, the
instructor will choose one or more activities from each chapter to be graded. If more than one
document is chosen, the documents will be averaged together for the final grade. All documents
are to be completed on the computer.
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Writing Assignment Grading Rubric:
Category
Possible Points
Opening
10
Completeness, accuracy
10
Tone, goodwill effect
10
Clarity, coherence, conciseness
10
Format
10
Closing
10
Mechanics
40
Spelling, typo (-4)
Word choice (-4)
Errors (comma splice, run-on, fragment,
subject-verb agreement, parallelism, etc.) (-6)
If absent from class writing assignments must be emailed or turned in on my office door—Sam
Glenn Complex, Room 200D before the next class period. If assignments are not turned in by
then, a zero will be recorded for your writing assignments for that chapter.
It is suggested students keep a list of their own frequently misspelled words. Students can record
these words on the back cover of the English Brushup textbook.
Assigned application practices for English Brushup will be completed. Check the course outline
for due dates. If absent from class, grammar assignments need to be turned in by the next class
period. Assignments will be discussed in class, and some of them will be turned in for grading.
Students not prepared to answer the application practices in class will have ten points deducted
from that assignment.
Four exams will be given for Business Communication at Work. They will consist of short
answers, sentence revision, and document composition.
Six exams will be given for English Brushup. They will be similar to the Application Practices.
Unless prior arrangements have been made, no makeup exams will be given. There will be no
mid-term or final exams.
PERSONAL PORTFOLIO
Your portfolio should be contained in a professional-looking, loose-leaf binder. Each document
should be inserted into a plastic page cover. In addition, it should include a title page and a table
of contents at the beginning of the portfolio. It should contain one or two letters/memos from
each chapter and your resume and cover letter.
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GRADING SCALE FOR THE COURSE:
All chapter activities, exams, application exercises, attendance and work ethic will be added
together for the course grade.
Business writing chapters
English application practices
Business writing exams
English exams
Personal Portfolio
Attendance and Work Ethic
A
B+
B
=
=
=
90—100%
87—89%
80—86%
=
=
=
=
=
C+
C
F
30% of grade
15% of grade
20% of grade
20% of grade
10% of grade
5% of grade
100% of grade
=
=
=
77—79%
70—76%
Less than 70%
ATTENDANCE AND WORK ETHIC:
Students are expected to attend class on a regular basis and to participate in the classroom
discussions and activities. Class will begin and end on time. Students will also be required to
have read applicable chapters prior to lectures and activities in order to more fully participate.
Students are graded on attendance, participation, and work ethic. Work ethic includes such
things as possessing a good attitude, avoiding disruptions, being cooperative, displaying
classroom courtesy, working well with others, asking questions, using time wisely, and personal
hygiene/grooming. Students are expected to be on time for class. Students will receive 100
points if they have no more than four absences. Five absences = 90 points. Six absences = 80
points. Seven absences = 70 points. More than seven absences = 0 points.
SPECIAL NEEDS:
If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, if you have
emergency medical information to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case the
building must be evacuated, please contact me by the 10th day of the semester.
ACCEPTABLE USE OF TECHNOLOGY POLICY:
Students Enrolled in any BTS program or course have the right and privilege to use computer
systems and networks as far as that use does not violate policies set forth by the college and the
State of Idaho. All computer use must comply with the LCSC policy and procedures No. 1.108,
the Appropriate Use of Technology Guidelines found at
www.lcsc.edu/it/Policy_&_Procedures/LCSCFY2002 AppropriateUse.htm and State of Idaho
Executive Order No. 2005-22. Users must respect the rights of other users, respect the integrity
of the systems and related physical resources, and observe all relevant laws, regulations, and
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contractual obligations. Since electronic information is volatile and easily reproduced, users
must exercise care in acknowledging and respecting the work of others through strict adherence
to software licensing agreements and copyright laws.
LEARNING RESOURCE CENTER
The Learning Resource Center, located in Sam Glenn 218A, provides a computer lab and
tutoring services for students in professional-technical programs. There is also a scanner, copier,
and printer available for student use. Because the lab hosts study groups and encourages
students to assist one another, the LRC is not always a quiet lab, but it tries to contribute to
students’ learning experiences. Talk to the coordinator of the lab if you need assistance with
study skills such as note taking, time management, test-taking skills, etc.
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Date Due
August 25
August 27
COURSE OUTLINE AND DUE DATES: (subject to change)
Business Writing
English Brushup
Hand out syllabus.
Hand out syllabus.
Chapter 1, Setting the Stage for
Chapter 1, Subjects and Verbs. Tests 3
Effective Communication. Practice 1
and 5.
and 2 pp. 16-18. Due today.
September 1
September 3
Holiday
Chapter 2, Choosing the Right Words.
Practice 1, 2, and 3 pp. 38-41. Due
today. Start Chapter 3, Developing
Sentences and Paragraphs. Practice 1,
2, and 3 pp. 68-71. Due September
10.
Labor Day
Chapter 24, More about Subjects and
Verbs.
September 8
Work on Chapter 3 assignments.
September 10
Chapter 3 assignments due today.
Test Chapters 1, 2, and 3.
Start Chapter 5, Planning and
Organizing Business Messages.
Practice 1, pp. 117-122 odd numbers.
Due September 17. Write actual
letters for “Planning Your Message:
Brainstorming and Sequencing Ideas.”
Chapter 2, More about Verbs. Tests 3
and 5.
Chapter 25, Even More about Verbs.
September 15
Work on Chapter 5 assignments.
September 17
Chapter 5 assignments due today.
Start Chapter 7, Formatting Business
Messages. Practice 1, 2, and 3 pp.
179-184. Due September 22.
Chapter 7 assignments due today.
Test Chapters 1, 2, 3, 24 25, and 26.
Test Chapters 5 and 7.
Start Chapter 8, Goodwill Principles
and Goodwill Messages. Practice 1
(all); Practice 2, #s 1, 3, and 5;
Practice 3, Thank You and
Appreciation Letters #5; Letters of
Congratulations #6; Invitations,
Announcements, Welcome Letters, #1;
Get Well and Sympathy Letters, #6;
Letters Maintaining and Activating
Business #4, pp. 211-218. Due
September 29.
September 22
6
Chapter 3, Subject-Verb Agreement.
Tests 3 and 5.
Chapter 26, More about Subject-Verb
Agreement.
Due Date
September 24
Business Writing
Work on Chapter 8 assignments.
English Brushup
Chapter 5, Fragments. Tests 3 and 5.
September 29
Chapter 8 assignments due.
Begin Chapter 9, Messages for
Inquiries and Requests. Practice 1
Routine Correspondence (all); Writing
Requests, #1; General Inquiries (all);
Practice 2, #s 1, 6, 9, 10, and 11. Due
October 8.
Work on Chapter 9 assignments.
Chapter 6, Run-Ons and Comma
Splices. Tests 3 and 5.
October 1
October 6
October 8
October 13
October 15
October 20
October 22
October 27
Work on Chapter 9 assignments.
Chapter 9 assignments due.
Start Chapter 10, Claim and
Adjustment Letters. Practice 1, #6;
Practice 2, #s 3, 4, 5, 7; Practice 3, #1.
Due October 15.
Work on Chapter 10 assignments.
Work on Chapter 10 assignments.
Chapter 10 assignments due today.
Test Chapters 8, 9, and 10.
Start Chapter 11, Persuasive
Messages. Practice 1, #1; Practice 3,
#1; Practice 4, #s 1, 2, and 3.
Due October 27.
Work on Chapter 11 assignments.
Chapter 11 assignments due.
Start Chapter 12; Order, Credit, and
Collection Messages. Practice 1, 1-6;
Practice 3, 1-4a, b, c, and d. Due
November 3.
October 29
Work on Chapter 12 assignments.
November 3
Work on chapter 12 assignments. Due
today.
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Chapter 27, More about Run-Ons and
Comma Splices.
Tests Chapters 5, 6, and 27.
Chapter 7, Pronouns. Tests 3 and 4.
Chapter 8, Comma. Tests 3 and 5.
Chapter 28, More about the Comma.
Test Chapters 7, 8, and 28.
Chapter 9, Apostrophe. Tests 3 and 5.
Chapter 29, More about the
Apostrophe.
Chapter 10, Quotation Marks. Tests 3
and 5.
Chapter 30, More about Quotation
Marks.
Date
November 5
November 10
November 12
November 17
November 19
Nov. 24-28
December 1
December 3
December 8
December 10
December 15
Business Writing
Test Chapters 11 and 12. Begin
Chapter 17, Starting the Employment
Process. Practice 1—all. Due
November 12.
Work on Chapter 17 assignments.
Begin Developing a Portfolio, Practice
3, p. 466. Include a letter from each
completed chapter. Portfolios due
December 1.
Chapter 17 assignments due. Start
Chapter 18, Selling Yourself to
Employers; Practices 1-3. Practice 4,
# 1. Due November 19.
Work on Chapter 18 assignments.
Work on Chapter 18 assignments.
Due today.
Thanksgiving Break
Portfolios due today.
Video—Resumes.
Video—Interviewing.
Mock Interviews.
Follow-up—Mock Interviews.
Assign as needed.
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English Brushup
Test Chapters 9, 10, 29, and 30.
Chapter 11, Other Punctuation Marks.
Tests 3 and 5.
Chapter 31, More about Punctuation
Marks.
Test Chapters 11 and 31.
Chapter 15, Misplaced and Dangling
Modifiers. Tests 3 and 5.
Thanksgiving Break
Chapter 16, Parallelism. Tests 3 and 5.
Test Chapters 15 and 16.
Assign as needed.