BUSINESS COMMUNICATION

Instructor: Natalie Meyer

Sections 32
Office: 323 Ross Hall
Hours: MW 12-3 p.m., T/R 3:30-4:30 and by apt.

E-mail nbaltz@iastate.edu

Textbook: Locker, Kitty and Donna Kienzler.

Business and Administrative

Communication, 11th ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2013

Course Web site:

http://courses.isucomm.iastate.edu/

Course Description: (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.SS. Prereq: 250, junior classification.

Theory, principles and processes of effective written communication typically encountered in
business and the professions. Extensive practice in many areas of workplace communication,
including letter, memo, and email correspondence; short proposals and reports; policies and
procedures; letters of application and resumes; website analysis; brochures; and individual and
team presentations.

Goals/Objectives
By the end of this course, you should know how to:
1. Understand that writing well means writing and revising multiple times to create
and polish effective documents.
2. Conceptualize issues of purpose, audience and delivery in professional
communication.
3. Approach business communication as a problem-solving process.
4. Learn and apply document design principles to create effective business
documents.
5. Write for an organization or your own professional interests to understand how
writing and other communication skills spur, and potentially improve, an
organizations operations.

Attendance
Regular attendance is required, so you should plan to be here for every session. Because this is
not simply a lecture course, rather one that involves your participation and engagement, you must
be here if you are to do well. English 302 allows 4 absences, no questions asked. Please use
your 4 absences wiselyfor emergencies, for scheduling interviews, and so on.
Missing more than four classes will lower your grade, and excessive absences
(more than eight classes) will result in a failing grade for the course.
o Specifically, absences after four will reduce your class grade by one step (a B+
becomes a B; a C becomes a C-), and after a total of eight, you will receive an F.
I cannot take class time with you to discuss the missed material when the other students are
ready to move on to new concepts. If you know you will miss a class due to appointments or
other conflicts, turn in early any assignments due at that class. In other words, being absent is not
an excuse for turning in late any major assignments. Penalties apply to papers turned in late,
even in the event of illness and emergency. If your absence is due to a legitimate emergency, or a
university or military obligation, simply provide me with a note from your adviser or academic
representative. Acceptable notifications include those from the athletic department in the case of
athletic commitments, departments in the case of departmental service, doctors in the case of

medical emergencies, and advisers in the case of family emergencies. Note: Excused absences
allow your instructor to evaluate your circumstances regarding making up work, such as
retaking a quizexcused absences still count toward your absence total.
Even with valid reasons to miss classes, it is possible to accumulate multiple absences in
a semester such that you fall too far behind in your work for you to perform competently
on the assignments. The Director of Advanced Composition Courses and your instructor will
advise you if your absencesregardless of their reasonbecome too numerous for you to
remain in English 302, and that you should drop the class and re-take it in a future semester.
Being absent during group work days or on the day of your oral presentation means
taking a 0 for that activity, since they cannot be made up individually.
Our standard class may be changed during the semester, so that I may hold conferences in my
office to work with you individually on your projects, and offer you guidance. Missing a
scheduled individual or group conference counts as an unexcused absence.

Punctuality and Class Conduct

Please be on time for class. Three tardies will result in one absence. If you are late by more than
15 minutes, you will be counted absent. If you leave more than 15 minutes before class ends
for any reason other than an emergency, a university obligation (e.g., inter-collegiate
athletics, ISU Program/Dept. field trips, and so on), or a military obligation, you will be
counted absent. Scheduled appointments with a doctor will not be excused. However, your
instructor reserves the right to excuse partial attendances in serious cases. Check with your
instructor before such instances occur, since it is reasonable for students to want to sit in class for
important information before an appointment for a serious health condition.

Being Successful in English 302

Be active. If you want to do well in this course, take the time to read each assigned reading at
least once. You will be expected to understand and use the course concepts from the text.
Students who take this course and hope simply to get along by skimming content, speaking about
course concepts without knowing the texts definitions and explanations, writing generally to
assignment purposes, and paying minimal attention to discussion do not perform well. You will
find that communication concepts are easy to understand; in performing them, however, you will
find that communicating well is complex and difficult. Ask questions during class, or see me
during office hours or after class if you are unsure about any information the class or the text
addresses.
Many people struggle with English 302 because the course content seems to be different from
conventions they have learned to use in their field, and thus reject English 302 concepts. To
ensure your success in this class, remember this point: if we cover a concept, you will be
required to know it and use it. Be aware that even your course instructor understands that
conventions vary among fields. The ultimate goal of this course is to enable you to choose the
most appropriate questions and guidelines for any given professional communication situation.
Therefore, we will sometimes cover content whose value does not seem to be immediately clear.
This class will use classroom exercises and assignments to provide you with opportunities to
familiarize yourself with the application of communication concepts.

Reading and Discussion

Completing the readings will be essential to your progress in this course because the readings
will be linked to the writing assignments. On the day a reading is due, youll be expected to have
read it through at least once. Come to class prepared to question or discuss the material. There
will often be both announced and unannounced quizzes over assigned reading.

Grading
Note: Late papers area docked ten percent for each class day past the due
date.
Other smaller assignments (including quizzes) will not be accepted late.
1.

Oral and written products (presentations, letters, memos, reports, proposals, etc.) will be
assessed on a point system, consistent with the assignments demands.
Your documents in English 302 will be graded according to how well they 1) meet the
principles of business communication in our text and 2) meet the ISU standards for scholarly
work.
A= Excellent. No errors, revisions needed. The document is thoroughly professional, by
showing outstanding insight, clarity, perceptiveness and originality. I may provide stylistic
suggestions, but it is otherwise excellent work, and could go to intended audiences without
changes.
B= Very Strong. May have marks pointing to minor corrections and adjustments, but is still
very competent. Supports ideas well with concrete details, and is interesting and precise. It
would require simple, minor corrections before going to intended audiences.
C=Competent. Meets the general scope and purpose of the project. Nothing is remarkably
good or bad about the work. Few major and many minor revisions would be required before
sending it to intended audiences.
D=Weak. Document shows attention to purpose, but does not competently achieve it.
Additionally, it needs significant revisions before sending it to intended audiences.
F=Does not meet assignment. Document deviates from assignment such that purpose is
irrelevant or unclear, or may contain errors that hinder comprehension. Also, see
Integrity.
I will comment upon each project in order to discuss how it may accomplish these criteria. My
rubric for evaluating your work will be the five criteria of all business communication: Clarity,
Completeness, Correctness, Saves Time, and Builds Goodwill (Locker & Kienzler, p. 12).

2.

Homework, Quizzes, Tests: The points possible per lab exercise, quiz, or test will be
provided when assigned. Typically, these items range from 510 possible points.

3.

At the end of the semester, the percentage of possible points earned will translate to
letter grades as follow:
94100%

8889%

B+

7879%

C+

6869%

D+

9093%

A-

8487%

7477%

6467%

8083%

B-

7073%

C-

Below 63%

Conferences
Effective writing requires collaboration and revision. Conferences with your instructor can provide
you advice as well as the encouragement of a reader. If you have any questions about the
assignments, need additional help during the writing process, or want to talk about how things are
going for you in the course, please stop by my office during my office hours or make an
appointment to see me.

Professional Discourse

ISU does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual
orientation, gender identity, sex, marital status, disability or status as a U.S. Veteran. All written,
oral, and visual communications you create in this class shall be free from discriminatory or
debasing language. Check your prejudices outside the door.

Academic Dishonesty
Plagiarism involves using another authors work without correctly giving due credit to that author.
Be advised that plagiarism is a serious offense in the academy and will not be tolerated. It is just
as serious to plagiarize the work of another student as it is to plagiarize the work of a published
author. Works found on the Internet are considered to be published works and cannot be copied
without crediting the source. Use MLA documentation methods carefully. If you have any
questions about documentation, see me before you turn in an assignment.

Computer Ethics
You are expected to use the university computers responsibly and to communicate courteously
with others in your class. For information on ethical guidelines for computer use, go to
http://policy.iastate.edu/it/ethics/

Disability Accommodation
If you have a disability and require accommodations, please contact me early in the semester so
that you learning needs may be appropriately met. You will need to provide documentation of
your disability to the Disability Resources office, main floor of the Student Services Building,
Room 1076, (515) 294-6624.

Syllabus Revisions
The assignments and due dates in the course schedule are tentative. Deadlines and details may
be adjusted to meet the needs of the class. The online syllabus will be revised accordingly.

Course Schedule and Assignments

Details are available on the course web site at http://courses.isucomm.iastate.edu/

List of Assignments
Assignment #1: Cover Letter
Assignment #2: Professional Memo/Letter
Informative (15%)
Negative (15%)
Assignment #3: Proposal
Assignment #4: Audience Analysis of Proposal/Report
Assignment #5: Report
Assignment #6: Portfolio
Assignment #7: Style Presentation
Smaller Assignments/Participation

15%
30%

10%
5%
15%
10%
5%
10%

English 302 Spring 2015 Calendar

This course calendar provides an outline of readings and due dates for projects during the
semester. Your course instructor may lengthen or shorten due dates, depending on the progress of
the class as a whole. Any modifications to the Course Calendar will be provided with advance
notification, and you will receive a copy of the modified calendar for your own records.
To ensure your ability to apply concepts to assignments successfully and to perform well on
quizzes, assignments to be completed for the next class are listed in bold. (For example: On
Wednesday, January 14th, Log on to Moodle and Read Chapter 1 is bold. This is to be
completed for Friday, January 16ths class).

1/12-1/16

Introduction

M Introductions. Discuss policy sheet.

Make sure that you have the textbook
W In-Class writing.
Log on to Moodle

1/19-1/23

Introduction

F Finish discussing class policies/objectives. Begin discussing

Chapter 1.
Read Chapter 1 for Wednesday
M No Class Martin Luther King Jr. Day
W Quiz over Chapter 1. Discuss Chapter 2
Read Chapter 2 for Friday
F 1Quiz over Chapter 2. More discussion of Chapter 1 and 2
Read Chapter 3 for Monday

1/26-1/30

Cover Letter

M Quiz over Chapter 3. Discuss Chapter 3.

W Further discussion Chapters 2 & 3

Read Chapter 12 for Friday
F. Discuss Chapter 12. Look at Cover Letter Assignment Sheet.
4

2/2-2/6

Cover Letter

M. Discuss Chapter 12 & 13.

Read Chapter 13 for Wednesday
W Quiz over Chapter 13. Cover Letter Activities
Read Chapter 5
F Cover Letter Activities. Discuss Chapter 5.
Read Appendix A A Brief Guide to Editing and Proofreading

2/9-2/13

Cover Letter/Informative
Memo

M Style Presentation. Cover Letter Activities. Discuss Peer

Response.
Bring draft of cover letter for Peer Response on Wednesday

W Style Presentation. Peer Response Cover Letter Assignment.

Final Draft of Cover Letter due Friday

F Style Presentation. Cover Letter due. Discuss Informative Memo

Assignment.
Read Chapter 9 for Monday
6

2/16-2/20

Informative Memo

M Style Presentation. Quiz over Chapter 9. Informative Memo

Activities.
Complete Exercise 9.3 for Wednesday
W Style Presentation. Informative Memo Activities

F Style Presentation. Informative Memo Activities.

Bring draft of Informative Memo for peer response Monday