COMM 3160 - BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS - Belk College Of Business

COMM 3160 - BUSINESS COMMUNICATION Section 090 Spring 2018 M 5:30 – 8:15 Instructor: Frances Walton M.A. Office: Colvard 5035 Phone: 704-525-3378 E-mail: fwalton@uncc.edu Office Hours: M 3:30-5:30 REQUIRED Excellence in Business Communication by Thill and Bovee TEXTBOOK Prentice Hall/Pearson Publishing Company, UNCC Customized Edition. 1.Online e-text and the MyLab access code (9780134390116) 2.The soft cover text with the MyLab access code (9780134472430) 3.The loose-leaf text with the MyLab access code (9780134421810) My class does not require the online MyLab access. Course Information University Catalog Description COMM 3160. Business Communications. (WO) (3) Prerequisite: Junior standing. The nature and problems of individual, interpersonal and organizational communication in business. Various verbal techniques such as presentations, graphics, public speaking and writing will be developed and practiced for effective organizational and individual performance. (Fall, Spring, Summer, Evenings) General Education Requirements Statement COMM 3160 satisfies part of General Education requirement for Goal I - Communication: Oral Communication (O) and Writing Intensive (W) course. This goal states that UNC Charlotte graduates should be able to effectively send and receive in English written and oral messages in different situations for a variety of audiences, purposes and subjects. Class Format What you can expect from me: I will use a combination of lecture, discussion, and activities to facilitate your learning in this course. I will also moderate discussion and activities regarding key concepts included in the course materials. I will offer unique examples to illustrate concepts. My goal is to create an active learning environment (side note: do not expect every class to be “entertaining”). This multi-faceted approach is used because students receive no long-term benefits when instructors spoonfeed course materials and there is simply not enough time in the semester to go over every term or concept necessary for your success in this course. This means I will NOT cover all the material you will need for exams and assignments during class sessions. In order to excel, stay on top of assignments and read your material!

Learning Objectives Upon completion of this course, you should be able to: 1. Understand the communication process and recognize the role of audience in preparing and presenting messages 2. Appreciate diversity and intercultural differences as a part of the communication process 3. Understand and use technology to improve written and oral communication 4. Organize and develop effective informative and persuasive business presentations 5. Understand and develop effective business correspondence including memos, letters, and reports 6. Understand the job search process including cover letters, resumes, and interviewing techniques 7. Understand the process of interpersonal and group communication 8. Develop a critical mindset towards business communication in today’s modern world Class Policies and Business 1. Read assignments required for that day before class. If you do not understand certain concepts in the readings, ask questions in class or schedule a time to meet with the professor. 2. Participation NO CELL PHONES in CLASS!!! It is not active participation when you are holding a conversation with someone elsewhere! Excessive usage will greatly affect your participation grade. Regular attendance in class is expected. Students who attend class on a regular basis and attend on time usually earn a higher grade on assignments and exams. DON’T BE LATE. It is rude to your fellow students. 3. Attendance If you miss any class sessions, you are responsible for getting notes and finding out details about the assignments that have been discussed on that day from your classmates. Missing class through unexcused absences or arriving late to class will impact your overall grade. Attendance for this class is based on an Honor System Consider this class like a job, you must attend work or face the consequences of termination. However attendance is not mandatory. In accordance with University policies, students should notify the instructor before missing class due to a religious observance or holiday. 4. Oral Assignments The team presentations are conducted during finals week. All students must wear professional business suits for the final presentation and interviews. 5. Written Assignments All major assignments you turn in must be typed in order to receive credit. No exceptions. Please use 12 point font size in Times New Roman unless otherwise instructed. When you submit an assignment, please keep a copy for your records. The resume, memo and proposal will be graded on content, format, organization, grammar and spelling. Always proofread and edit your assignments before turning them in.

The following criteria will be used in grading your written assignments: Content (missing important information/details) Organization (direct/indirect style) Misspelled words Format errors Grammatical errors In-Class Assignments- Throughout the semester there will be in-class assignments provided. There is no make-up offered for lack of attendance on classwork days. 6. Late Work Hard copies of the assignments are collected/expected at the beginning of the class session (specifically within the first five minutes of class) on the day they are due. Assignments turned in late are automatically deducted 10 percent. 10 percent will be deducted daily thereafter. Assignments more than one week late (5 days) will not be reviewed at all. I do not accept late online submissions, you will have plenty of time to complete them, missing deadlines is unacceptable. 7. Missed work If you miss an exam, assignment, presentation, or interview, you will receive a “zero” unless you have a documented, excused absence. In the case of an excused absence, it is up to you to schedule the exam and make up the work. Absences may be excused for personal illness (doctor’s note required) or participating as a University representative in an athletic or out-oftown event. 8. Academic Integrity Students have the responsibility to know and observe the requirements of The UNC Charlotte Code of Student Academic Integrity. This code forbids cheating, fabrication or falsification of information, multiple submissions of academic work, plagiarism, abuse of academic materials, and complicity in academic dishonesty. Standards of academic integrity will be enforced in this course. Students are expected to report cases of academic dishonesty to the course instructor. All students are required to read and abide by the Code of Student Academic Integrity. Violations of the Code of Student Academic Integrity, including plagiarism, will result in disciplinary action as provided in the Code. Definitions and examples of plagiarism are set forth in the Code. The Code is available from the Dean of Students Office or online at: http://www.legal.uncc.edu/policies/ps-105.html. 8. Statement on Diversity The Belk College of Business strives to create an inclusive academic climate in which the dignity of all individuals is respected and maintained. Therefore, we create diversity that includes, but is not limited to ability/disability, age, culture, ethnicity, gender, language, race, religion, sexual orientation, and socio-economic status. 9. Disability Accommodations UNC Charlotte is committed to access to education. If you have a disability and need academic accommodations, please provide a letter of accommodation from Disability Services early in the semester. For more information on accommodations, contact the Office of Disability Services at 704-687-0040 or visit their office in Fretwell 230.

*** This Syllabus is tentative as well as malleable, changes to the course may occur upon my discretion. Assignments and Grading I will base your grade in this class on the learning and competence you demonstrate in the successful completion of the following class assignments: Assignment Points Exam 1 Exam 2 Exam 3 Memo Resume Cover Letter Mock Interview Team Presentation and Proposal Peer Evaluation Class Work Class Participation 50 50 50 50 100 70 50 250 30 150 50 Total: 900 The following is the grading scale used for assigning final grades: A 900-810 B 809-720 C 719-630 D 629-540 F 539 and below

Date Details Mon Jan 8, 2018 Introduction to Class/ Ch 1 Start up podcast Mon Jan 15, 2018 Dr. King Day No Class Chapter 2 Team and Group Comm Mon Jan 22, 2018 Assignment: Introductory Benchmark Presentation slide portal Chapter 1 Mon Jan 29, 2018 Ch 3 Diversity Ch 4 Planning Business Messages Sun Feb 4, 2018 Cultural Diversity Assignment Mon Feb 5, 2018 Ch 5 Writing Business Messages Sun Feb 11, 2018 The Secrets of Body Language Mon Feb 12, 2018 Ch 6 Completing Business Messages Student lead discourse Ch 5 Writing Business Messages Sun Feb 18, 2018 Exam 1 Mon Feb 19, 2018 Ch 8 and 9/ Assign Memo Draft Sun Feb 25, 2018 Target Letter Edit Activity Ch 11 and 12 Mon Feb 26, 2018 Memo Draft Due in class Planning Reports Facilitation Mon Mar 5, 2018 Spring Break No Class Mon Mar 12, 2018 Ch 10 Persuasive Messages

Date Details Assignment: Persuasive Benchmark Uploader Memo Due Sun Mar 18, 2018 Exam 2 Mon Mar 19, 2018 Ch 15 and 16 Career Center Speaker Mon Mar 26, 2018 Ch 15 and 16 Continued Ch 7 Introduction Mon Apr 2, 2018 Resume/Cover Letter draft due Mock Interview Assignment Due Tonight Mon Apr 9, 2018 Ch 7 Digital Presentation Uploader Resumes and Cover Letter Due Mon Apr 16, 2018 Ch 14 Presentations Workshop Day Mon Apr 23, 2018 Delivering presentations assignment Sun Apr 29, 2018 Exam 3 Mon Apr 30, 2018 Workshop Day Mon May 7, 2018 Assignment: Peer Evaluation Uploader

Ch 4 Planning Business Messages 12am Sun Feb 4, 2018 Cultural Diversity Assignment e by 11:59pm Mon Feb 5, 2018 Ch 5 Writing Business Messages 12am Sun Feb 11, 2018 The Secrets of Body Language e by 11:59pm Mon Feb 12, 2018 Ch 6 Completing Business Messages 12am Student lead discourse Ch 5 Writing Business Messages ue by 5:30pm