College of Business and Entrepreneurship

Business Communication Syllabus

Course Number: BCOM 301 VF
Semester/Year: Spring 2015
Instructor Name: Dr. James (Skip) Ward
Office Room Number: McCartney, Room 309
Phone Number: 281-793-6791. I do not use my office number. This is my personal mobile
number.
E-mail: jgward@fhsu.edu
Office Hours: Text any time before 7:00 pm, 7 days a week. Tell me your name and class at the
top of the text.
Introduction to the Syllabus Podcast on Soundcloud
https://soundcloud.com/skip-ward/introduction-to-the-bcom-301-1

Course Prerequisite
Junior standing or permission.

Course Description
This course is a study of the various aspects of business communication. The course includes the
application of the principles of written communication to business letters and reports and the
development of listening, nonverbal communication, and presentational speaking techniques. I
reserve the right to alter this course in any way as we proceed in order to meet changing
circumstances.

Course Materials
1. Business Communication: In person, in print, online. Newman and Ober.83. We do not use
the CourseMate. We do use the textbook blog www.bizcominthenews.com; Facebook
BizCominTheNews; and Twitter @BizCominTheNews. Sign up for weekly BizCom in the
News emails. http://www.bizcominthenews.com/bizcom_in_the_news/chapter-1understanding-business-communication/
2. Microphone for your laptop or PC and a web cam if it is not built in. You will record videos
and upload. Sound is poor without a microphone. Clip on microphones are preferred over
headphones for visual imagery, but headsets will do.
3. Skype account for team meetings. http://www.skype.com/en/. Or Google Hangout
http://www.google.com/+/learnmore/hangouts/. Google account for work on a Google Doc or

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Google Hangout on a team project. Mandatory. If you are not familiar with Google Drive
(Google Docs), check out this link. https://support.google.com/drive/?hl=en#topic=14940
4. MS Office

Program Objectives
Objective
Demonstrate understanding of the
functional areas of business:
accounting, economics, finance,
management, and marketing
Demonstrate the ability to
communicate effectively in written
form
Demonstrate the ability to
communicate effectively in oral
form
Demonstrate the use of appropriate
analytical tools in decision making
and problem solving.
Demonstrate an understanding of
teamwork, team contributions, and
team development within
organizations.
Demonstrate an understanding of
the nature of leadership, key
leadership traits and behaviors, and
different approaches to successful
leadership within organizations.
Demonstrate an understanding of
global business issues
Demonstrate an understanding of
current information technology
Demonstrate an understanding of
the legal environment and of social
responsibility and ethical issues
facing businesses today

How Objective will be Evaluated

Not Covered

An analytical report is required.

A video presentation is required.
Excel charts are required in the analytical report.
The analytical report is a team project.

Not Covered

Not Covered
Excel charts are required, homework is done in word
processing, and a video presentation is required.
The analytical report is submitted through SafeAssign.

BCOM 301 Course Objectives

1. Understand communication as a complex interaction that uses a variety of symbols, styles
and channels to transmit messages. Develop a communication model. Practice effective
listening and feedback skills as used in the communication model.
2. Define the role of verbal and non-verbal communication in building successful business
relationships. Explain this role in a communication model.

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3. Apply communication skills to achieve desired outcomes for various types of business
communication.
4. Plan, analyze, create and evaluate effective presentations.
5. Demonstrate the ability to be an effective member of a productive group/team.
6. Critique and write different types of business communications.
7. Demonstrate the ability to plan, research, and apply analytical business report writing
skills.
8. Demonstrate appropriate responses to key diversity issues in the work place.
9. Understand the importance of using various technology tools throughout the writing and
communication process and the impact technology has on business communication.
10. Demonstrate the ability to write resumes, cover letters and follow-up communications.
11. Demonstrate the ability to engage in mock job interviews.

Course Delivery and Structure

Teaching methods used in the delivery of course content may include but are not limited to:
audio and video podcasts, social media tools, Blackboard tools, Skype or Google Hangout
team meetings.
Each chapter has a study guide and a support podcast.
Big time suggestion- title the podcast by chapter and take notes as you listen. You WILL BE
TESTED on the content of the podcasts. I have created them to aid in your learning of key
points.
In addition to Discussion Board, you will engage in two team projects. The first project
requires your team to create a YouTube video about the first theme of the course,
communication basics. The second project requires the team to a virtual bulletin board
related to the second theme of this course, managing corporate communication.

Grading and Evaluation

Weighted Grading and Grade Description
What is weighted grading? View my Screencast-o-matic video explanation. http://www.screencast-omatic.com/watch/cIhqYaVui3 (Requires Java 1.5 or later) I use weighted scoring- all automatically
completed by Blackboard software. The number of points do n ot matter- the weight does. The class
will operate on a curve. Late work is not accepted unless I approve in advance and the Discussion
Boards will automatically close as scheduled. I do not round up on grades. I do not accept extra

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credit- there is no extra credit in business. Extra credit in a job is expected daily. An 89 is a B. I do
not round up.
Failure to fully engage in team projects will lead to failure in the project. Team members are
empowered to fire team members who do not attend meetings, deliver work on time and in full
(OTIF). Dysfunctional team members will be reported to me and I will accept a team decision to fire
a member and I will fail him or her on that project.
Here are my comments on grading. http://screencast-o-matic.com/watch/c2huornAED

What is scored?
Team video- one team grade fits all. Any
member fired by the team for dysfunction
receives a
0. Rubric for the video is on the left hand
menu
Team paper and supporting slides- one team
grade fits all. Any member fired by the team
for dysfunction receives a 0.
Rubric for both the paper and slides are on
the left hand menu

What is it worth collectively?

15%

Discussion Board

10% All DB assignments are due on

Sunday by midnight. No late work is
accepted.
Failure to deliver on time will result in a
0 for that DB activity.

7 Quizzes on 7 chapters- 10 questions

each, 10 points per question

10%

Midterm Exam- 20 questions. 5 points each.

20%

Comprehensive Written Final Exameverything covered in the semester,

readings, my audio and video podcasts. 20
questions. 5 points each

30%

15%

The midterm, final and chapter quizzes are timed, short answer in Blackboard. One question at a
time and no backtracking is allowed. No multiple choice, no publisher quizzes or publisher exams.
Quizzes are tied directly to the study guides and book. Mid Team and final are directly tied to the

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book and all other materials-a) podcasts; b) YouTube videos; and c) the work of other classmates. I
suggest you watch the videos and support materials and take notes as we go. Exam questions are in
random order, one at a time, no backtracking allowed. NO MAKE UP PERMITTEDUNDER ANY
CIRCUMSTANCS UNLESS I APPROVE IN ADVANCE. I reservethe right to change the
testing/assessment process, class assignments and weighting percentages as we proceed. I also
reserve the right to change the due dates. I do not give incompletes as a course grade.
Failure to fully engage in team projects will lead to failure in the project. Team members are
empowered to fire team members who do not attend meetings, deliver work on time and in full
(OTIF). Dysfunctional team members will be reported to me and I will accept a team decision to fire
a member and I will fail him or her on that project.
Description of Grades
Letter Grade

Definition

Percent

Outstanding work that is

almost flawless in content and
presentation. A work reflects
thought and superior
application. An A grade does
not just reflect the lack of
errors, it reflects superior
performance.
Above average work with
some errors, minor or partially
missed concepts, or poor
editing.
Average work. C
assignments include omissions
of key points, poor editing, and
superficial depth in answers.
Inadequate work. Typically
questions have not been
answered or answered in a
wrong manner.
Failure of a course. Students
who fail usually do so due to a
lack of commitment to the
coursework or whom are
overextended. If you discover
the class is over your head
academically and you do not
have the background for this
course, you are encouraged to
drop as early as possible in
order to take courses that will
prepare you for this one.

90-100

80-89

70-79

60-69

59 and below

Course Policies
Electronic Files: The College of Business and Entrepreneurship at Fort Hays State University
operates using the MS-Office 2003 or 2007 platform. All student assignments and projects for this
class will need to be readable by this format. When uploading your work to Blackboard do not
include filenames with symbols. (Example: #, /, &)
Communication: Communication for this course will take place through Announcements in
Blackboard, e-mail, and texts. All electronic communication (e-mail) for this class will be sent to the
students FHSU Scatcat e-mail account unless the student changes the e-mail address in
BlackBoard.com. Students MUST know how to use their campus student e-mail accounts. If
students wish their mail forwarded to another POP server, it is the students responsibility to obtain
the proper procedures from Student Computing Services in Tomanek Hall. Also, it is the students
responsibility to learn how to send/receive e-mail using the Scatcat e-mail account by contacting
Student Computing Services.
Homework: Homework assignments for each chapter can be found on Blackboard.com under
Assignments. All assigned work will be computer generated in a format readable by the MS-Office
2003 or 2007 platform. Homework assignments must be submitted as an attachment through the
Assignment link on Blackboard.com. Completion of assigned homework exercises is required; and
all assignments are due by 11:55 PM (CST) on the date indicated on the Course Schedule.
All assignments must be identified by the Students Name, Course Section and Chapter Number.
Example:
John Smith
BCOM 301 VA
Chapter 7
Homework is assigned to allow an ample time for completion. Do not wait to complete an
assignment until the night before it is due. Allow for hardware/software problems or difficulty in
completing the assignment. Contact the instructor to resolve any questions or problems with an
assignment.
Exams: Dates posted in the course schedule document
Discussion Board: Instructions are provided for each topic. Students are expected to participate in
class discussions, post and reply to posts regularly. I agree (or something similar) does not count as
a reply. Participation in Discussion Boards is required..
Online etiquette is extremely important. We must show respect to one another at all times. Rudeness
and disrespect will not be tolerated in this course. Please recognize that communication is rather
flat online where we cannot see and hear each other. Please be cautious when using sarcasm or
negative statements.
Exams: Midterm and a comprehensive final exam.
Late Assignments: Not accepted.

Projects- Described in the course schedule

Polices and Academic Honesty: All University, College of Business and Entrepreneurship, and
Management and Marketing Department rules apply to this course. Consult appropriate FHSU
publications or personnel for details. WARNING! Submitting another's work as your own is cheating
and violates the Academic Honesty policy of this University at all levels. It may result in a failing
grade for the work, a "U" for the course, and if warranted, expulsion from FHSU as provided in the
University policy on Academic Honesty. Cooperative study among students provides a positive
learning experience for all, but copying the work of others, or allowing one's work to be copied, is
forbidden
Important Dates
Tuesday, January 20- First day of class.
After you review the course schedule, DECIDE QUICKLY IF YOU HAVE THE TIME
FOR THIS COURSE. Team activities will require more than weekend work. You will have to
check your email multiple times a week. Your team mates may text you or call you during the
work week.
If you are reading this syllabus for the first time on Sunday, January 25 you may not have the time
to successfully complete this course. Because of two team projects, you will need to read email
frequently and may need to virtually meet in the workday time frame.
March 11 - Midsemester
March 14-20 - Spring Break
March 21 - Classes resume
As I prepare this document in January, I am tentatively scheduled to travel with a student group on a
service project to St. Lucia, May 13- 21. If this trip is confirmed, the final will be May 7-9, rather
than May 13-15. I will have to have grades submitted by May 12 if I am on the trip.

University Policies and Services

Academic Honesty: http://web.fhsu.edu/universitycatalog/gen/academichonesty.asp

Attendance: http://web.fhsu.edu/universitycatalog/gen/classattendance.asp
Withdrawal: http://web.fhsu.edu/universitycatalog/gen/withdrawalpolicystatement.asp
Notice of Accessibility and Services for Students with Disabilities:
If you have a disability that may have an impact on your ability to carry out assigned course
work and if you wish to seek any accommodations for this course, you must contact Services
for Students with Disabilities (SSD). SSD is located in the Kelly Center, Picken Hall, Room
111, 785-628-4401. SSD will review your documentation and determine, with you, what
academic accommodations are necessary and appropriate for you that can be accommodated
in this course. All information and documentation of your disability is confidential and will
not be released by SSD without your written permission.
http://www.fhsu.edu/disability/get-access/

Career Services: http://www.fhsu.edu/career/

Kelly Center: http://www.fhsu.edu/kellycenter/asp/Academic-Help/
Writing Center: http://www.fhsu.edu/english/Writing-Center/

Course Schedule
A complete and very detailed course schedule can be found on the left hand menu.
I reserve the right to alter this course, exams and syllabus at any time. I may add videos and podcasts as a
way to provide the class with feedback as we proceed. Feedback on assignment may come as an audio
podcast or video. The calendar and events are subject to change! I reserve the right to change due dates.
Watch for announcements in Blackboard, emails and texts!

As I prepare this document in January, I am tentatively scheduled to travel with a student

group on a service project to St. Lucia, May 13- 21. If this trip is confirmed, the final will be
May 7-9, rather than May 7-10. I will have to have grades submitted by May 12 if I am on the
trip.
All assignments are due Sunday evening, midnight. I have set Blackboard to automatically close. No late
assignments are accepted without prior approval.

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You may also wish to view this short video.

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NROcngiF_uY&feature=youtu.be)