Business and Professional Oral Communication
COMM 3155: 01
Fall 2013—MWF 1:00-1:50—Lang 346
Instructor: Marilyn Shaw
Office: Lang 369
Office Phone: 273-7478
E-mail: marilyn.shaw@uni.edu
Office hrs.—10:00 daily
and by appointment.
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Welcome! You probably don’t realize the fact that you have enrolled in one of the most important courses to your chosen
major. There is NOTHING more valued by employers than the ability to communicate effectively and work well with
others. A recent survey of U.S. businesses (Rockhurst University, 2007.) cites:
“Inability to communicate” and “poor Communication skills” listed as the top reasons for rejecting job applicants.
It is a proven fact that individuals with first-rate communication skills move further and faster up the professional ladder.
Contrary to what some people believe, “soft skills” as tact, finesse, and diplomacy can be enhanced and mastered like any
skill. (Comments from Lisa Waite, Kent State University)
This course provides theoretical and applied approaches to develop your interpersonal, written, and oral communication
skills for a business or workplace setting. It involves developing and enhancing your competencies in holding productive
professional conversations, collaborating in teams, communicating across cultures, writing effective business messages,
developing influential reports, speaking and presenting in workplace settings, and applying successfully for professional
positions.
Ultimately, you’ll work to enhance rapport and improve the skills to persuade and motivate others. I look forward to our
journey together this semester!
Text and supplies:
Cardon, Peter W. (2014). Business Communication: Developing Leaders for a Networked World. New York, NY.
The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
1 package of 3X5 notecards.
Learning Objectives:
1. Understand and build credibility as a communicator for professional purposes.
2. Learn and apply the theory and principles of interpersonal business communication, including listening,
communicating in teams, holding difficult conversations, and working across cultures.
3. Choose appropriate technologies for workplace communication.
4. Plan business messages by analyzing audiences, developing strong ideas, and structuring messages.
5. Participate in campus career fair.
6. Compose effective business correspondence, including routine messages, persuasive messages, and bad-news
messages.
7. Understand and apply principles for developing crisis communications and public relations messages.
8. Develop and deliver compelling presentations with and without visual aids.
9. Prepare effective job application packages and polish interviewing skills.
10. Understand ethical responsibilities as a business communicator.
Course Policies:
Attendance—
You are expected to attend class each scheduled session. Each class period you will be asked to turn in a notecard
with an answer to a question presented you from the previous class. Each card is worth 5 points. You are in control of
these points. If you are not in attendance, there are no points awarded. It is just as important to be present as an audience
member as it is to be an assigned speaker on a speaking date. Due dates for all class work will apply whether or not you
are present in class on that day. Promptness is important, too, as we often cover important due dates, detailed assignment
information, or various announcements during the first few minutes of the class session.
Late work: All work is due on the assigned date. 10% will be deducted for every class date late. For example, if the
assignment is due on Monday and I do not receive it until the following Monday and the assignment was worth 30 points,
you will lose 9 points. I will not accept any late work beyond two weeks. Any exception must be cleared with me on a
one to one basis.
I understand that, at times, due to circumstances beyond your control an absence occurs. Please notify me in advance of
this situation if possible or as soon as you can afterward. I WILL NOT accept excuses beyond 24 hours after the incident
in question. Any illness or extended absence will require a doctor’s verification. Without notification, assignments or
tests may NOT be made up. Failure to complete ALL assignments, tests, and activities WILL invite failure in this class.
Absences directly connected to University sponsored events will be excused if notification was provided
BEFORE the absence in question with proper notification. I will not accept ANY “after the fact” letters,
calls, etc. You are responsible to speak on all assigned dates. Any exceptions must be negotiated with
me.
Affirmative Action Statement:
The University of Northern Iowa is an Affirmative Action Equal Opportunity Institution. All persons, regardless
of gender, age, class, race, religion, physical disability, sexual orientation, etc. shall have equal opportunity in this
Business and Professional class without harassment. Any problems with or questions about harassment can be discussed
with your instructor. Students with disabilities and other special needs should feel free to contact me privately if there are
services or adaptations which can be made to accommodate specific needs. The University of Northern Iowa is an
Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity institution. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) provides
protection from illegal discrimination for qualified individuals with disabilities. Students requesting instructional
accommodations due to disabilities must arrange for such accommodation through the Office of Disability Services
(ODS). The ODS is located at 213 Student Services Center, and the phone number is 273-2676.
Cell Phones and Lap Tops
As a matter of courtesy and professionalism, turn off all electronic devices and cell phones during class time. No
electronic device will be allowed on your desk or in your work area during the class session. No ear mechanism will be
allowed to remain in your ear either. Allowing your cell phone to ring during class is your request for me to answer it. If
you are going to be receiving an urgent message, leave the phone with me at the beginning of class and I will handle the
call for you and forward the information. Texting during class time will result in 0 points for the day, even if you gave a
presentation.
The use of a lap top for taking notes will need prior approval from me and must be discussed in private outside of the
classroom.
Plagiarism:
All speeches and work must be the original work of the student and should reflect careful audience analysis,
preparation, and practice. Presentations should be worthy of the time you put into them and the time the class spends on
them. When you use others works to support and provide backing for your ideas. Be sure to acknowledge the source. All
sources consulted should be cited within the presentation (oral footnotes) and listed in the works cited portion of your
outline. Please refer to the University student handbook on penalties for plagiarism. Plagiarized work may cause failure
of the class or more severe penalties as outlined in the University policies.
Grading Policy
Each assignment requires forethought, research, planning and practice. You will be expected to display your
understanding of reading assignments and class discussion in all work and tests. Assignments must conform to the
guidelines given for each one.
Each assignment is worth a specific number of points. The amount and value of those assignments are found in
the next section. Your grade will be determined by adding your total point value and dividing it by the total number of
points possible for your percentage grade. The following percentages are used:
A
95-100%
C+
77-79
D-
60-63
A-
90-94
C
74-76
F
00-59
B+
87-89
C-
70-73
B
84-86
D+
67-69
B-
80-83
D
64-66
Grading Rationale:
A
B
C
D
F
Exceptionally well-prepared completion of assignment indicating
Effort, individualized style, and impact expected of effective communication.
Usually well-prepared completion of assignment indicating original application of course materials and individual
imagination distinctly superior to average effort.
Satisfactory completion of assignment indicating effort normally expected of the majority of students (basic
preparation, correct procedure, and disciplined technique.
unsatisfactory completion of assignment indicating technical irregularity, misperceived objectives, and methods,
and unorganized effort.
Failure to complete assignment during the scheduled time through lack of evident effort.
Assignments:
Name
Point Value
Points received
Elevator Speech
Career Fair Packet
Company Profile
Cover Letter
Resume’
Thank-you
Evaluation
Routine Message
Persuasive Message
Bad-News Message
Crisis Evaluation
Technical Presentation
Group Presentation
15
_____
30
15
50
10
25
25
25
25
25
50
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
Charter
Journal
Written Report
Presentation
Quiz 1
Quiz 2
Quiz 3
Quiz 4
Exam 1
Exam 2
Participation/Attendance
Discretionary pts.
15
15
40
50
25
25
25
25
50
50
210
75
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
Total
725-800
_____
I reserve the right to change or alter assignments as deemed necessary throughout the semester if needed.
Tentative Schedule
Date
8/26
8/28
8/30
9/2
9/4
9/6
9/9
9/11
9/13
9/16
9/18
9/20
Class coverage
Introduction to
class/orientation
The Role of Communication in
Business
Establishing
Credibility/www.cnbc.com
Corporate values
University Holiday
Elevator Speeches
Employment Communication
AIM/Skills Inventory/SelfAssessment/Company Profiling
QUIZ 1—Chapters 1, 16
Employment
Communication/Resumes/
Cover Letters/Thank-you
Employment
Communication/The Interview
In-Class review of Resume
No Class—Career Fair
Attendance Mandatory
Interpersonal Communication
Principles/Identify Your
Triggers
Listening, Team
Communication and Difficult
Assignment
Getting acquainted
Due material
Class Contract
Chapter 1/Assign Elevator Speech
Career Fair
Chapter 16/ Handouts/Company participation
Elevator Speeches
Look over the list of Career Fair participants. Select
five that you feel you would like to visit with. Bring
the list with you. Assign packet
488-496
Bring resume with you. Will work in groups for
comments
Ch. 2—Incivility in the workplace—identify a
situation in which you observed incivility. Describe
the event. Explain how each person involved
contributed to the event. How could the person most
involved change the outcome?
Chapter 3
Assign teams
Resume and Cover
letter due
Career Fair
attendance
Incivility paper
9/23
9/25
9/27
9/30
10/2
Conversations-Activity
Email and Social Media for
Business Communication
QUIZ 2—Chapters 2,3,7
Handouts
Mediated Communication
Intercultural Communication
Communicating Across
Cultures
Cultural Diversity in the
Workplace
Planning Presentations
Chapter 7
http://futureoftheinternet.org/
Chapter 4—Choose a country of your interest. Go to
the Executive Planet website
(www.executiveplanet.com). Read all of the
information about this country’s business culture and
then do the following: a. Write about the five most
intriguing aspects of the culture, b. Write about five
aspects of etiquette you would need to observe when
interacting with members of this culture.
http://www.businessweek.com/global-economics
Delivering Presentations
QUIZ 3—Chapters 4,14,15
Creating Effective Business
Messages
Chapter 15—Assign technical presentation
Chapter 5 www.forbes.com/2010/04/26/words-workcommunication-forbes-woman-leadership-career.html
10/9
Improving Readability with
Style and Design
Routine Messages
Research and Planning for
Business Reports
Persuasive Messages
Chapter 6
10/16
10/18
Exam 1—All Chapters
covered EXCEPT chapter 9
10/21
10/23
10/25
10/28
10/30
11/1
Technical Presentations
Technical Presentations
Technical Presentations
Technical Presentations
Persuasive Messages
Bad-News Messages
11/4
11/6
Bad-News Messages/Case
Crisis Communication
11/8
11/11
Public Relations
Public Relations and Risk
Management
Completing Business Reports
Understanding Work Teams
Workshop day
QUIZ 4—Chapters 9, 10, 11,
13
Organizational Culture
Leadership Theories
11/13
11/15
11/18
11/20
11/22
Executive planet
information due
Chapter 14/ www.slideshare.net
10/4
10/7
10/11
10/14
Career Fair
materials due
Chapter 8—Assign Routine Message
Chapter 12—Survey Activity
238-269—Chapter 9-Assign Persuasive Message
Routine message
due
Peer evaluation
Peer Evaluation
Peer Evaluation
Peer Evaluation
Chapter 10—Assign Bad-News Message
www.autoblog.com/2008/10/24/bob-nardelli-toemployees-we-want-a-25-cut-of-white-collar-job/
Chapter 11
Survey Activity
Persuasive Message
Due
Bad-News Message
due
Crisis
Communication Due
Chapter 13—The Future of Shopping Malls
11/2511-29
12/2
BREAK
Group 1 presentation
Peer Evaluation
Leadership Styles
12/4
Group 2 presentation
Peer Evaluation
Civility in the Workplace
12/6
Group 3 Presentation
Peer Evaluation
IPC Power and Politics
12/9
Group 4 Presentation
Peer Evaluation
Discussion and Meetings
12/11
Group 5 Presentation
Peer Evaluation
What Color is your Parachute
12/13
Work Life Balance
FINAL---Thurs, May 9th –10-11:50—All chapters and materials after Exam 1—9,10,11,13,handouts, PowerPoints