Advanced Communication for Business
COM 3150
______________________________________________________________________________________
Florida International University
College of Architecture + The Arts
Communication Arts Department
Professor Steve Luscher
Phone: 305/348-1984 (Department)
Fax: 305/348-6272
Email: luschers@fiu.edu
______________________________________________________________________________
University Drop Date:
______________________________________________________________________________
TEXT
Advanced Communication for Business Florida International University
ISBN#: 9781269218696
Note:
1. The textbook access code can be purchased from the FIU Bookstore or directly from the
publisher via a link in Blackboard that will be available when classes begin.
2. DO NOT try to register the access code until you have access to the Blackboard shell for
the course, where a unique registration link is available.
Course Description
In today's global environment effective communication skills are imperative in order to be able
to function in the ever-changing business world. In COM 3150 students will be empowered with
core competencies in business writing skills, oral presentation skills, and language skills. These
components will develop critical thinking skills which will enable students to become innovative
and creative contributors to the world of business.
Course Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this course.
There are four Learning Objectives for COM 3150:
A. Business Writing Skills
B. Oral Presentation Skills
C. Language Skills
D. 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.
Assignments
Instructors are required to design the following assignments to meet the core competencies of the
course. Instructors are required to give a final exam during the final exam time designated for
the course by the university.
Business Writing Skills
Percentage of total grade
Memo #1
Memo #2
Request for Action Memo
Informative Memo
5%
5%
Letter #1
Letter #2
Letter #3
Letter #4
Bad News Letter
Persuasive Message Letter
Business Proposal Letter
Writing Assessment
5%
5%
5%
5%
Business Report
Business Topic
10%
Oral Presentation Skills
Business Oral Presentation
Organization
Delivery
10%
10%
Language Skills
Grammar Quizzes (5 at 2% each)
Final Grammar Test
10%
10%
Midterm (Questions from textbook readings)
Final
(Questions from textbook readings)
10%
10%
Exams
Evaluation
Your instructor will state the specific point value for each weighted assignment, exam, or speech
on your syllabus. Examinations and presentations will be evaluated consistently with a
university level course. The following point scale is used to determine final grades.
A
AB+
B
94 - 100%
90 - 93%
87 - 89%
84 - 86%
BC+
C
C-
80 - 83%
77 - 79%
74 - 76%
70 - 73%
D+
D
DF
67 - 69%
64 - 66%
60 - 63%
<60%
Code of Academic Integrity
The Code of Academic Integrity was adopted by the Student Government Association. All
students are deemed by the university to understand that if they are found responsible for
academic misconduct they will be subject to the Academic Misconduct procedures and
sanctions as outlined in the Student Handbook. (Check policies online.)
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 to honestly 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 the University. All students
are deemed by the University to understand that if they are found responsible for academic
misconduct, they will be subject to the Academic Misconduct procedures and sanctions, as
outlined in the Student Handbook.
TURNITIN.COM and Grademark
Documents submitted to a Turnitin.com drop box in this course cannot be retracted or
revised once submitted.
All written assignments must be submitted to Turnitin.com by the posted deadline. Assignments
submitted by any other means or after the deadline will not be evaluated.
Turnitin.com drop boxes will be available in the Ecampus Blackboard learning management
system.
Once your assignment has been uploaded successfully to Turnitin.com, you will receive a
confirmation receipt. Please keep this confirmation number for future reference. Within a few
hours, your assignment will also be assigned an originality/similarity percentage. For further
information as to how the similarity/originality percentage is calculated and why it is important,
please review user guides that can be found at
http://www.turnitin.com/static/support/guides_manuals.html
Within two weeks after the assignment’s deadline has passed, you will receive written feedback
on your assignment. The written comments on your assignment are accessible using the
GradeMark function within Turnitin.com. If you do not know how to access the written
comments using the GradeMark function, please review user guides that can be found at
http://www.turnitin.com/static/support/guides_manuals.html
Policy for assigning an incomplete "I" grade
An incomplete grade is a temporary symbol given for work not completed because of serious
interruption not caused by the student's own negligence. An incomplete must be made up as
quickly as possible but no later than two consecutive semesters after the initial taking of the
course or it will automatically default to an "F" or the grade that the student earned in the course.
There is no extension of the two semester deadline. The student must not register again for the
course to make up the incomplete. Students who have incomplete grades on their records must
remove the incomplete by the end of the fourth week of the term in which they plan to graduate.
Failure to do so will result in a cancellation of graduation.
Incompletes are awarded only if the student has completed most of the course work. If a student
misses a significant portion of the course work, he/she should drop the course. If the drop period
has ended, the student may petition for a withdrawal—this requires the student to un-enroll in all
of their courses for that semester.
Incompletes are not to be used because a student took on too many credits and they cannot
complete everything that is now required of them.
In such cases where the course instructor determines that it appropriate to award a student a
grade of "I" (incomplete) the following steps must be followed.
Using an Official University Form the course instructor will report the following:
• The grade earned by the student to date
• The missing work and the percentage of the final grade it represents (this requires the details of
the specific missing assignment)
• The date the instructor expects the missing work to be submitted or in the case of an
examination made up
• The justification for awarding the grade of "I"
• Have the student sign the form
• Submit this form to the Department Chair and Dean and maintain a copy for instructor records
and provide a copy for the student
• Upon satisfying the requirements for a grade the instructor will sign off on the form and attach
it to the change of grade form she or he will submit.
Disability Clause
Students with disabilities, as defined by law, have the right to receive needed accommodations if
their disabilities make it difficult to perform academic tasks in the usual way or in the allotted
time frame. In order to receive accommodation, however, students with must register with
Disability Resource Center:
University Park Campus, GC 190
Voice: (305) 348-3532
TTY: (305) 348-3852
Fax: (305) 348-3850
Email: drcupgl@fiu.edu
Sexual Harassment Policy
Please refer to the University Policy on Sexual Harassment.
Religious Holiday Policy
The University's policy on religious holydays as stated in the University Catalog and Student
Handbook will be followed in this class. Any student may request to be excused from class to
observe a religious holyday of his or her faith.
Absences and Makeup Work



Oral presentations and exams can be made up only under circumstances in which the
student can document injury/illness or the assignment falls on a religious holiday for a
religion which the student practices. In the case of missing an oral presentation for an
excusable reason, the student will have to make up the presentation in the following
semester, after which his or her official grade will be changed. This excuse must be
accompanied by medical documentation. There are otherwise no permissible excuses for
missing exams or oral presentations.
Written work can not be submitted after the due deadline. Written work will be
submitted to Turnitin.com. There will be ample time prior to the deadline to submit each
assignment. If your completed assignment is not successfully submitted within that
timeframe, it cannot not be accepted. There is a “LATE DROP BOX” at Turnitin.com
to which you can submit one written assignment. Turnitin.com only allows you to
submit one file per assignment drop box. You must submit your documents in MS word
format with a .doc extension. Once you have submitted a file to an assignment drop box,
you will not be able to retract it or submit another one.
Exams (the midterm, the final, the language skills assessment, and the in-class writing)
cannot be made up.
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. (Biscayne Bay Campus - Library, 1st
Floor). The website for the Center is: w3.fiu.edu/writing center
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"

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.
Communication Arts Studio
Communication Arts Department
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
P80 Schedule
Topics
In-Class Assessments
Week
1
Due by 11:55 PM in
Turnitin.com Drop Box in
Blackboard
Exams
Introduction to course
Qualities of Business Writing
Week
2
Qualities of Business Writing
Business Writing: Memos
Week
3
Grammar
Grammar Quiz 1 (in class)
Memo 1 (Request for Action
Memo)
Business Writing: Memos
Week
4
Week
5
Grammar
Grammar Quiz 2 (in class)
Memo 2 (Informative Memo)
Business Writing: Letters
Business Writing: Letters
Letter 1 (Bad News Letter)
Public Speaking
Grammar
Week
6
Grammar Quiz 3 (in class)
Business Writing: Letters
Public Speaking
Week
7
Grammar
Grammar Quiz 4 (in class)
Public Speaking
Week
8
Week
9
Week
10
Business Writing: Reports
Textbook Exam 1 (Online in
the eBook during class
meeting time)
Public Speaking
Business Writing: Reports
Speeches Delivered
Grammar
Last day to withdraw with a grade of DR is 3/23
Week
Speeches Delivered
11
Grammar Quiz 5 (in class)
Week
Speeches Delivered
12
Week
Grammar Exam (Online in
13
the eBook during class
meeting time)
Week
Writing Assessment (in14
class)
Week
15
Letter 2 (Persuasive Message
Letter)
Textbook Exam 2 (Online in
the eBook during class
meeting time)
Letter 3 (Business Proposal Letter)
Business Report (due 11/24)