Cuyamaca College – www.cuyamaca.edu
Online Platform – https://gcccd.instructure.com/
Prerequisites – “C” grade or higher or “Pass” in ENGL 110 or equivalent
3.0 Units
 
Instructor: Dr. Michael Aubry
Phone: Office – (619) 660-4217, Cell – (619) 757-7124
Email:  michael.aubry@gcccd.edu, mbaaubry@gmail.com
Skype Username: mbaaubry
Office Number: E-111B
Office Hours: Monday/Wednesday – 8:00 to 9:30 (AM), Tuesday – 10:00 to 11:00 (AM), Online Office Hours – Monday – 8:00 to 9:00 PM
 
Text: Bovee. Business Communication Today, 14^th Edition. Pearson Education, 2018
 
Course Description:
Development of the ability to analyze, organize, and compose various types of written and oral business communications with emphasis on the writing of clear, concise and persuasive letters, memos and reports.
 
Student Learning Outcomes (rev 10/20/15):
Upon completion of this course, you will

• Identify strategies for communicating effectively both orally and in writing in today’s business environment.
• Define the major characteristics of effective oral and written business communication.
• Define and apply the five “C’s” of communication to achieve a business-like tone that is clear, concise, complete, correct, and courteous in both oral and written communication.
• Describe and apply the three-step writing process when preparing business reports, composing memos, letters, good news, bad news and persuasive messages.

 
Attendance:
Because this class is online and onsite, there is no formal attendance policy; however, your success depends on your active participation in online discussions and activities.
 
Format:
The instructional format consists of online activities – this includes the possibility of discussion boards, Internet research assignments, and writing activities.  Each student is expected to respond to and actively participate in weekly online discussions.
 
Accommodations:
Students with disabilities who may need accommodations in this class are encouraged to notify the instructor and contact Disabled Student Services & Programs (DSP&S) early in the semester so that reasonable accommodations may be implemented as soon as possible. Students may contact DSP&S in person in Room Z300 or by phone at 619-660-4239 or 619-660-4386 (TTY for deaf).
 
Tutoring:
The General Tutoring Center provides assistance at no cost to currently enrolled Cuyamaca College students seeking help with course work. Tutoring is available in a variety of subjects including business, child development, computer science, foreign languages, graphic design, all sciences and social science courses. Study groups are available for certain subjects. The General Tutoring Center is located in the LRC, with all tutoring by appointment only. Appointments can be made by stopping by the Center. For more information call (619) 660-4306.
 
Writing Center:
The Writing Center, located in B-167, provides support for students in any course who would like assistance with reading, writing, or ESL skills. Thirty minute tutoring sessions are available by appointment. Drop-in students are also served when scheduling permits. The Writing Center’s computer lab with wireless Internet access provides a supportive environment in which students may work on course-related assignments. Reading, writing, and ESL skill-building software is available for self-paced study.  For more information, please contact (619) 660-4463.
 
Academic Integrity:
As a student it is important to understand the implications of plagiarism.  According to Webster’s dictionary, plagiarism is defined as “the unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author, and the representation of them as one’s own original work.”  Because plagiarism is considered the ultimate academic offense, it is important for students to be familiar with the various components of this type of Academic Misconduct.  These components are closely examined on the http://www.plagiarism.org/ website.  This website will further explain the various facets of plagiarism and how you can avoid this by following various rules; including:
 

1. Turning in your own work
2. Properly citing your references
3. Paraphrasing properly

 
You must give credit for any outside references used – this includes: Assignments, Discussion Boards, and your Research Report.
If you are caught cheating or plagiarizing, the following actions may be taken:
 
 

1. Review – no action.
2. An oral reprimand with emphasis on counseling toward prevention of further occurrences.
3. A requirement that work be repeated.
4. A reduction of the grade earned on the specific work in question, including the possibility of a failing grade or no credit for the work.
5. A reduction of the course grade as a result of item 4 above including the possibility of a failing grade for the course, if a failing grade for the work produces such a result.
6. Referral to the office of the Associate Dean of Student Affairs for further administrative action, such as a failing grade for the course, suspension or expulsion.

 
Grades:
This class is made up of a variety of assignments. Points will be awarded as follows:
 

 
The instructor will use the plus/minus grading scale for all grades C or above.
 
Grading Scale: 790 – 766 = A+; 765 – 735 = A; 734 – 711 = A-; 710 – 687 = B+; 686 – 656 = B; 655 – 632 = B-; 631 – 608 = C+; 608 – 553 = C, 552 – 474 = D, 473 and below= F
 
*****It is the student’s responsibility to monitor their grades throughout the class and immediately bring to the instructor’s attention any discrepancies.  The instructor will assign grades on the scores posted in Canvas after the last assignment has been graded.  If a score is missing, then it is treated as a -0- if not brought to the instructor’s attention immediately. If the student needs the grade so transcripts can be sent to a transfer college, the instructor will not put that student’s request before other students’ grades that were properly handled.   IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU SNOOZE, YOU LOSE.
 
Assignments must be turned in through Canvas as directed.  If the assignments are not showing for the instructor, they cannot be graded.  Remember to always “submit” your assignments.  You can tell if it is submitted properly by going to the grade center and looking at the icon that’s contained in the assignment column.  If it’s a green! then you’ve done it properly.  If nothing is there or there is a note pad, contact me immediately.  Do not ask the instructor to check to see if it has been properly submitted – that responsibility lies with the student.  The problem will arise if the work was submitted in the wrong format.  In that case, resubmit the work with an explanation.  Each written assignment can be submitted twice if necessary*****
 
Course Requirements:
 
Discussion Boards:
 

• Three discussion board forums will be posted each week. Discussion questions will be posted by Sunday at 6 a.m. each week.  Your initial posting and reply must be received by Saturday at 11:55 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time) the same week – late work will not be accepted under any circumstances for discussion boards.  Discussion topics will be relevant to the material that is being discussed that week.

• Students are expected to apply the weekly reading towards the discussion board postings. Please use chapter concepts and terms in your initial posting.  Posts that use the chapter concepts are considered good and above.  Posts that incorporate little if any information from the chapters is considered average or below.  Your posts will also be evaluated to make sure that they are on topic and incorporate concepts from the weekly readings.  Please use full responses when replying to your classmates (i.e. – responding to your classmates postings with “that’s cool”, “I agree”, “right on” – in other words, please explain why you agree or disagree – if you disagree, please do so in a courteous and a professional manner – use “Netiquette”).    You are highly encouraged to reply to your classmates’ postings and bring outside material to the discussion boards.

• You may find that some student(s) who posted prior to you may have covered the points you wanted to cover. Explore the material to see if there isn’t something additional to add or a new perspective.

• Check your grammar and spelling before posting to the discussion boards.

• Do not plagiarize or use texting language on the discussion boards (examples of this includes OMG, BFF, etc.)

• Do not use profanity, derogatory, or abusive language.

• The discussion boards are left open in case you need to refer to prior postings for case studies or your final paper. YOU CAN ALWAYS REFER TO THE MODULES IN CANVAS FOR THE APPROPRIATE DISCUSSION BOARDS. 

 
Discussion Board Grading Rubric:
 

• TO RECEIVE FIVE POINTS ON THE WEEKLY POSTINGS PLEASE FOLLOW THESE REQUIREMENTS (Please choose one of the following):

1. One post – an extremely good one paragraph post (this would be a minimum of eight full lines)
   2. Two extremely good 1+ paragraph posts (this would be a minimum of two three line posts)
   3. Three one paragraph posts (this would be a minimum of three two-line posts)

• TO RECEIVE FOUR POINTS ON THE WEEKLY POSTINGS PLEASE FOLLOW THESE REQUIREMENTS (Please choose one of the following):

1. One post – with good information (this would be a minimum of seven full lines)
   2. Two good 1+ paragraph posts (this would be a minimum of two-two line posts)
   3. Three one paragraph posts (this would be a minimum of three one-line posts)

• TO RECEIVE THREE POINTS ON THE WEEKLY POSTINGS PLEASE FOLLOW THESE REQUIREMENTS (Please choose one of the following):

1. One post – with average information (this would be a minimum of four-six full lines)
   2. Two posts (this would be a minimum of two one-line posts)

• TO RECEIVE ONE-TWO POINTS ON THE WEEKLY POSTINGS PLEASE FOLLOW THESE REQUIREMENTS (Please choose the following):

1. One post – with below average information (this would be anything below four full lines)

• TO RECEIVE 0 POINTS ON THE WEEKLY POSTINGS PLEASE FOLLOW THESE REQUIREMENTS (Please choose the following):

1. No participation on the discussion boards.

Tests:

• Tests ARE open book and timed – therefore it is important that you understand and have read the material prior to taking the exam – your success is contingent upon your ability to comprehend the reading assignments. You will have only one opportunity to complete each exam.  You cannot retake an exam.  You will be able to view your results immediately after completing each exam.

 
 
 
 
                                                                                                     
Research Report – Selling Overseas and Marketing in Another Country:
 

• This project should be completed individually.

• Select a product or service that you currently own (or use) and a country that you’re not familiar with. You are encouraged to select a product or service that is unique and innovative.

 
Imagine that you are with the international sales department of the company that manufactures and sells the item (or service) that you are proposing to make or introduce in the country you have selected.
 
The first step is to learn as much as possible about the country where you plan to market the product.  Check almanacs, encyclopedias, the Internet, and library databases for the most recent information, paying particular attention to descriptions of the social life of the inhabitants, their economic conditions, and cultural traditions that encourage or discourage use of the product or service.
 

• Your Task – Write a five page report that describes the product or service you plan to market abroad; briefly describes the country you have selected, indicates the types of people who would find the product or service attractive, explains how the product or service would be transported or introduced into the country (or possibly manufactured if materials and labor are readily available in the host country), recommends a location for a regional sales center, and suggests how the product or service should be sold. Your report is to be submitted to the chief operating officer of the company, whose name you can either make up or find in a corporate directory.  The report should include your conclusions (how the product or service will do in this new environment) and your recommendations for marketing (steps the company should take immediately and those it should develop later).  You are highly encouraged to include financials, action plan, and a social media strategy.
• General Format –

1. The paper must be typed
2. Use headings within the report when appropriate (please review Pages 433-452 for Parts of a Formal Report).  For this report please include a Cover, Memo of Transmittal, Table of Contents, Introduction, Body, Summary, Conclusions, Recommendations, and a Bibliography (The Cover, Memo of Transmittal, Table of Contents, and Bibliography will not be counted towards the five page requirement).
3. Plan the paper carefully so as to develop an organized and non-redundant report. It should be organized and assembled as a continuous report and should not appear to be several independent segments bound together.
4. You must have a minimum of five sources.  Please cite your sources using MLA or APA Format – (the Writing Center can offer assistance if you do not know how to do this).  Some other helpful sites include – http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/, http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/557/01/, http://www.cuyamaca.edu/tpagaard/EnglDept/Resources.htm

 
Assignments:

• There will be several assignments given during the class. The requirements for these assignments will be discussed on Canvas before they are due.  Your success is related to your ability to understand and comprehend the lecture material that is being discussed in class.

 
Oral Report:
You will be presenting your research report.  Because this is an online class it will have to be a virtual presentation.  You will need to create PowerPoint slides and either (1) “Click to Add Notes” at the bottom of each slide (2) Click on the “Slide Show” tab in PowerPoint, then click “Record Slide Show” – if you choose this option, your presentation should be approximately 5-10 minutes in length; or (3) If you are not sure how to do either of the following two options, then you will still need to create a PowerPoint Presentation and include a Word Document explaining the bullets on each slide (use appropriate numbering).
 
 
 

 
 
******LATE WORK WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED*****
 
*****THIS COURSE ADHERES TO THE POLICIES OUTLINED IN THE CUYAMACA COLLEGE CATALOGUE.  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION SEE ACADEMIC POLICIES STATED IN THE CATALOGUE*****
 
*****THIS SYLLABUS MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE*****
 

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