BUS 14 - Business Communication

Instructor: Rae Ann Ianniello
Email Instructor rianniello@chabotcollege.edu

Course Description

Theory and application of written and oral communications in a professional business environment: organization of messages, editing for tone and polish, presentation techniques, meeting management, job search communications.

Check the college catalog for CSU/UC transferability and to see if this course meets AA/AS degree requirements.

This class begins June 15th and ends August 7th

Optional On-Campus Orientations

There are no required on-campus meetings for this class. You can attend an OPTIONAL, on-campus Orientation to Online Learning that provides Blackboard log in instructions and help, an overview of the Blackboard course management system, and tips on netiquette, time management, and study skills for the online student. 

Attend either of these sessions:

• Monday, June 15th, 5:30-6:30 p.m., in Room 1618

• Tuesday, June 16th, noon-1:00 p.m. in Room 1618

Learn more about these orientations, which are NOT course-specific.

How This Class Operates

 

Class Activities

 

-Reading chapters and online lectures; viewing audiovisual materials
-Participating in discussion boards
-Completing online quizzes to test your grammar and punctuation skills
-Writing typical business documents, including email, memos, letters, proposals, and formal and informal reports
-Delivering oral presentations
-Interacting with other students through chat, discussion board, and peer partner activities
-Learning job search strategies, including interviewing techniques and salary negotiation skills

 

Term Project:

You have the option of completing an Individual or Group Project for this course. In addition, you may choose from three types of projects in the area of (1) career, (2) sales/marketing, or (3) global business.
 

Time Requirement:
You are expected to spend approximately six hours per week on class-related activities in a traditional 18-week semester. In the summer session, this number will be substantially larger. Typical weekly activities might include:

-Read chapter and view accompanying materials (2 hours)
-Review grammar segment and take assessment (2 hours)
-Complete discussion board (.5 hour)
-Chat with group members regarding term project (1 hour)
-Provide peer feedback (1 hour)
-Complete written or oral assignment (3 hours)

-Work on term project (3 hours)

Drop Policy:
If you do not submit the assignments for Week 1 (or do not contact the instructor to request an extension), you will be dropped.

Basic Requirements:
You must have an email address, word-processing software (such as Microsoft Word), and reliable access to the Internet to complete the online elements of the course.

Expectations:
-Log in to the course at least once a week.

-Complete all assignments by the due date
-Participate in a variety of oral activities (informational interview, mock interview, peer feedback)
-Work cooperatively with other students (provide feedback to your peer partner, provide responses to other students' comments on discussion boards, and contribute to the group project)

To Request an Add Number:
Please contact the instructor via email: rianniello@chabotcollege.edu

Textbook Information

Required text: Guffey, Mary Ellen. Essentials of Business Communication. 7th. Mason, OH: Thomson/South-Western, 2007.
ISBN: 9780324313925.  NOTE: An E-book for this course is also available.
 

How Students are Graded

Grading Scale:

Final grades are determined by the number of points earned divided by the number of points possible (600). You may have opportunities for extra credit (EC). EC activities are embedded in the course and may not be announced.

Late Work:

In general, late work will not be accepted. However, if you have unusual circumstances (such as a death in the family, medical emergency, or similar unexpected circumstances), you may request an exception to this policy. All requests must include documentation (for example, a doctor's note).

Assessment Criteria for Online Discussion Participation:

Quizzes/Exams:
Students will complete short quizzes on grammar and punctuation every other week, as well as three longer quizzes on concepts discussed in the textbook and online lectures.

In general, exams will be available for seven days. If you have technical difficulties (for example, your exam does not transmit), please contact Blackboard Help or the instructor via email.

Succeeding in an Online Course

Students who succeed in online courses tend to be independent, self-motivated learners with good computer skills. If you are a procrastinator who relies heavily on the instructor for motivation, or can't use a computer too well, you should probably consider enrolling in a face-to-face course instead.   Or, you might consider enrolling in our Introduction to Online Learning course (GNST-4910), which provides an overview of online learning and equips you to succeed in your first online class.

Don't enroll in this class if you believe the myth that learning online requires less effort than learning face-to-face. This course covers the same content and has similar activities as the face-to-face version of the course; only the method of delivery changes.

Blackboard

This course will use the Blackboard course management system as its virtual classroom. To learn how to log in to Blackboard, go to the How to Begin an Online Course page. Once you enroll, you will not be able to log in until the first day of class.  Students are expected to become familiar with the use and operation of Blackboard functions and are encouraged to attend an orientation session provided by the Distance Education program at Chabot College. In addition, the professor provides a general unit on "How to Navigate in Blackboard" for students to understand how to use the major features the professor employs.

Register for this course