BUS 217

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COURSE SYLLABUS

1.	TITLE OF COURSE:	Business Communications and Report Writing
	PREFIX/NUMBER:	BUS 217	CREDIT HOURS:	3
2.	PREREQUISITE:	A minimum of 3 credit hours of 100 level English course or equivalent.

3.	RESOURCES NEEDED:
	TEXT:
	SUPPLIES:	Notebooks, pens, and pencils for note taking; 3-½ inch disk for in-class computer projects.
4.	COURSE DESCRIPTION: Emphasizes effective business writing—letters, memoranda, reports, application letters, and resumes. Includes the fundamentals of business communication and an introduction to international communication. Student will be required to have an Email address to send and receive class information.
5.	COURSE GOAL:

	Students will recognize and understand that success in business depends more on the ability to communicate effectively than on any other skill. Students will be able to compose various types of business correspondence while applying proper English grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Students will demonstrate this by their word choice, sentence development, and paragraph formation. Students will demonstrate ability to prepare and write a formal business report or proposal. Students will make an oral presentation to the class presenting the findings of their business report. Students will use PowerPoint when making the oral presentation. Students will develop a personal resume and letter of application for employment.
6.	COURSE OBJECTIVES:
	(A)	To identify changes in the workplace and the importance of communication skills
	(B)	To describe the process of communication
	(C)	To identify barriers to interpersonal and organizational communications and to name methods of overcoming these barriers
	(D)	To list the goals of ethical business communication and describe important tools for doing the right thing
	(E)	To explain the importance of communicating in a team-oriented workplace, the four phases of team development, and the role of conflict
	(F)	To explain the importance of intercultural sensitivity and clarify pivotal North American cultural values
	(G)	To describe three key attitudes that help overcome cultural barriers and to employ ten specific procedures for adapting messages to intercultural audiences
	(H)	To identify and apply the three phases of the 3-X-3 writing process
	(I)	To compose and prepare positive and neutral messages
	(J)	To compose and prepare negative messages
	(K)	To compose and prepare persuasive messages
	(L)	To compose and prepare goodwill messages
	(M)	To compose business messages with ethical content
	(N)	To compose business messages using unbiased language
	(O)	To understand and appreciate the importance of business studies and proposals
	(P)	To learn how to write formal and informal reports
	(Q)	To learn to research secondary (published) information to prepare a business report
	(R)	To learn to search the Internet to locate relevant information
	(S)	To learn to conduct a search for primary information (first-hand information--surveys, interviews, experiments, observations) to prepare a business report
	(T)	To learn to give an effective oral presentation using PowerPoint
	(U)	To learn to compose and prepare personalized resumes and letters of application
	(V)	To learn how to prepare for a job interview

7.	EVALUATION PROCEDURES:
		A.	Homework writing assignments, in class writing assignments, business letters, formal business report/proposal, oral reports, personal resumes or data sheets, letters of application, and all other writing assignments constitute 50 percent of the final grade. The formal business report/proposal MUST BE COMPLETED to receive a final grade.
		B.	Unit tests constitute 50 percent of the final grade. Tests will consist of true/false, multiple choice, and short answer/critical-thinking questions.
			1.	The following scale is used to evaluate the student's work:
				90 - 100 percent of total possible points	A
				80 - 89 percent of total possible points	B
				70 - 79 percent of total possible points	C
				60 - 69 percent of total possible points	D

Special Remarks:
1.	Attendance: College policy states that students may be dropped from enrollment when absent 20 percent of the scheduled class meetings. If enrolled from the beginning of the term, 9 hours will usually constitute 20 percent of a three-credit semester course. Reinstatement procedures are described in the PCC catalog.
2.	Cell Phones: Turn cell phones off or put on vibrate if on call.
3.	Missed Exams/Late Homework: If prior arrangements are made or extenuating circumstances exist, makeup of quizzes and tests may be allowed. Late homework papers will be penalized fifty percent or one letter grade
4.	Qualified students with disabilities are able to receive accommodations for this course. To receive a Letter of Accommodation, please make an appointment with the Adaptive Services Advisor in the College Center, Room 258, or call 549-3036. Additionally, you may speak with the instructor after class or make an appointment to discuss any concerns you may have.

8.	COURSE OUTLINE
	LECTURE OUTLINE
	GRADING RUBRIC for oral presentation and final report.
9.	METHODS OF INSTRUCTION:
	Teaching methods will vary one instructor to another, but some of the methods that may be use are: lecture, class discussion, group activities, mock trials, papers special research activities, and the incorporation of current, topical issues.
10.	ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
	The very nature of higher education requires that students adhere to accepted standards of academic integrity. Therefore, Pueblo Community College has adopted a policy of academic conduct as described in the Student Handbook. Violation of academic integrity may be defined to include the following: cheating, plagiarism, falsification and fabrication, abuse of academic materials, complicity in academic dishonesty, and personal misrepresentation. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of the behaviors that constitute academic dishonesty. Sanctions for violating the standards of academic integrity may include warning, probation, suspension, and/or failure of the course or assignment at the discretion of the instructor.
11.	ADA NOTICE:
	Students who have a documented disability may be eligible to receive accommodations for this class. Please contact the Disability Resources Center at 549-3446 for further information.