1. Business and Professional Communication SCOM 1321, Section 70 - Three Credit Hours Fall 2005Instructor Information:K. Diane HallCourseMail and E-mail: kdhall@amaonline.com (best ways to reach me)Home Phone: (806) 655-8749 (yes, you may call me at home!)Office Hours by appointment Required Text: DiSanza, J. & Legge, N. (2005). Business and Professional Communication Plans, Processes, and Performance (3rd Edition) Boston: Allyn & Bacon. Required On-Campus Meetings: You are required to attend four on-campus meetings for this course. You will present three speeches and one group presentation at these meetings. The remainder of your coursework will be done online. Meeting dates are on Thursdays (6:00 p.m.), Sept. 8, Oct. 6, Nov. 3, and Nov. 17 in Room 226 of the Fine Arts Building. Course Objectives:1. Obtain a basic working knowledge of the interactive communication model and itsapplication in the real world.2. Develop and improve listening skills.3. Analyze audience characteristics and adapt topic material appropriately.4. Improve delivery skills utilizing verbal, nonverbal, and written communication.5. Develop research skills required for speech developments while being mindful ofprofessional expectations. This will include an emphasis on oral footnoting to avoidplagiarism.6. Develop working knowledge of informative and persuasive speeches and the appropriate useof each in professional and business situations.7. Locate supporting material from Internet sources evaluating it in regards to usefulness andcredibility.8. Appreciate public speaking elements and apply them to professional interviewing andorganizational communication.9. Appreciate the diversity of talents and attitudes within small groups and enhanceproductivity through clear communication when placed in team or small group situations ormeetings.10. Recognize the elements of effective resumes and interviewing principles.1

2. Class Policies:1. Speeches are to be delivered on the assigned day. Speakers who are absent on the assigned speaking day will receive a zero unless prior arrangements are made with the instructor.2. All late speeches and make-up speeches will receive a twenty-point penalty.3. A new unit begins as indicated on the Schedule and Course Calendar. Late work will result in a loss of points for that unit.4. No Incompletes are issued in this class. If you cannot complete the course, please drop the class.5. No substances or equipment in violation of WTAMUs Student Code of Life will be permitted in business communication courses.6. Plagiarism is considered serious academic misconduct. All speeches and papers presented should be the work of the student enrolled in the course. Proper documentation should be made of materials cited from all sources. Instructors determining that a student has plagiarized a speech or paper will assign a failing grade for that assignment and may elect to pursue disciplinary proceedings against the student.7. No administrative withdrawals will be initiated by the instructor. If you stop attending class, but do not officially withdraw from the class, your name appears on the ending roll sheet. Grades will be assigned based on the work completed. Incomplete grade contracts may only be issued with the approval of Dr. Trudy Hanson, Course Supervisor (phone: 651-2800, Office FA 161).8. WTAMUs ADA Policy: West Texas A&M University seeks to provide reasonable accommodations for all qualified persons with disabilities. This University will adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations as required to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the students responsibility to register with Disability Support Services (651-2392) and to contact the faculty member in a timely fashion to arrange for suitable accommodations. Grading Policy: Your final grade is calculated as follows:100 pointsCareer Speech 100 pointsInformative Speech A=900 to 1000 100 pointsPersuasive Speech 200 pointsSales Presentation (group)B=800 to 899 Individual grade (100 points) C=700 to 799 Group grade (100 points) 100 pointsResume and Cover Letter D=600 to 699 100 pointsPowerPoint Presentation F= Below 600 80 points Two Business Emails (40 points each) 50 points Five Bulletin Board Postings (10 points each) 50 points Interpersonal Communication Assignment 100 pointsFinal Exam 10 points Syllabus Quiz 10 points Filling out Student Pages 1000 Points TOTAL 2 3. Major Assignments:Career Speech Prepare a 3-4 minute speech detailing the career you are in or would like to be in. Present information on what the job entails, education needed, and salary information. In addition tell why you want to pursue this career. Provide a typed outline that follows the format of the sample outline. You need to include at least 3 sources of information in the speech and the outline.Informative Speech -- Choose a topic for this speech that is informative in nature and includes at least 5 sources of information listed on your speech outline. Provide a typed outline that follows the format of the sample outline. This 5-7 minute speech should demonstrate good organizational skills and audience adaptation skills.Persuasive Speech--You must choose a controversial topic for this speech and take a position either in support or in opposition. For example, you could choose to speak about why the University free speech policy should be altered. You must cite at least 5 sources in this speech, sources that meet the tests of reliability and credibility. (Internet sources may be used, but be sure to evaluate them very carefully.) Prepare a typed outline that follows the format of the sample outline. This 5-7 minute speech should demonstrate good persuasive arrangement, as well as appropriate use of logical and emotional appeals.Sales PresentationYou will prepare (along with your group members) a sales presentation for a product or service that could be sold to students attending WTAMU. Each group will delegate internal roles in a manner so that the instructor can easily identify each group members participation. The group will receive a grade and each group member will receive an individual grade.Resume and Cover Letter Students will compose actual resumes and cover letters, as if they are applying for employment at an actual company/institution using factual information about the student and the company. Resumes must be accompanied by adequate cover letters.PowerPoint Presentation Students will individually prepare a PowerPoint presentation based on their informative speeches.Business Emails Students will prepare two business emails typical of email communication used in businesses. More information will be provided later.Bulletin Board Postings Students will post information to the class bulletin boards regarding information from the textbook and assorted web sites.Interpersonal Communication Assignment - Students will create a brochure, handout, pamphlet, PowerPoint presentation or other document similarly related, describing sexual harassment in the workplace and how to prevent. General information regarding sexual harassment, how to prevent it, and what actions to take if it occurs will be included.3 4. Extra Credit Opportunities:Voices of the Wind Storytelling Festival: Attend the storytelling festival on Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. in the Branding Iron Theatre (Fine Arts Building) and receive 25 extra points. (Be sure to sign in at the festival in order to receive the extra points).British Debate Team: Attend the debate by the British Debate Team on Oct. 24 to receive 25 extra points. (Be sure to sign in at the debate in order to receive the extra points).Best Speaker Contest: There will be a best speaker contest at the end of the semester (exact date and time to be announced). All SCOM 1321 and 1315 class members are eligible to participate. Cash prizes are awarded and you can earn 50 extra points in the class by participating.Common Readership Program Assignment: After reading A Hope in the Unseen by Ron Suskind, compare and contrast your first year of college to Cedrics. Explain why you think your first year compares (and/or contrasts) to his. Email your response to me through Coursemail with the subject A Hope in the Unseen. (Worth 50 extra points). (This book is part of the common readership pilot program and the book is made available to all incoming freshmen. If for some reason you do not have a copy of the book, they are available at the Cornette Library or the WT bookstore.) Freshman Convocation: Don't forget the Freshman Convocation on Sept. 9 at the Event Center. You need to arrive by 11:30 a.m. Both Ron Suskind and Cedric Jennings (writer and main character of the book A Hope in the Unseen) will be speaking! (This should be enjoyable as well as help you with the above assignment) SCOM Majors: Please save copies of your speech outlines, resume, cover letter, interpersonal communication assignment, and your PowerPoint presentation to be included in your SCOM portfolio.4 5. Schedule Date: Unit #: Assignments:ChapterCampus ReadingMeetingsAug. 29 One The Role of Communication inChapter 1 Sept. 4 Business and the Professions Chapter reading Syllabus Quiz Fill out Student Pages Start preparing Career SpeechSept. 5-Two Listening and Feedback in Chapter 3Thursday, 11Organizational Relationships Sept. 8Chapter reading In Room 226 ofPresent Career Speech the Fine ArtsBulletin Board Assignment BuildingSept. 12- Three Considering Audience Feedback Chapter 6 18Chapter readingSept. 19- FourInterpersonal Politics: Power and Chapter 4 25Sexual Harassment in OrganizationsChapter readingBulletin Board AssignmentInterpersonalCommunication AssignmentSept. 26FivePreparing and DeliveringChapter 7 Oct. 2PresentationsChapter readingBulletin Board AssignmentPrepare for InformativeSpeechOct. 3-9Six Informative Speech Thursday, Oct. 6Present Informative SpeechIn Room 226 ofBusiness Email Guidelines the Fine ArtsBusiness Email 1Building Oct. 10-Seven Creating and Using Visual AidsChapters 8-9 16Technical PresentationsChapter readingPrepare PowerPointpresentation 5 6. Date: Unit #: Assignments: ChapterCampusReadingMeetingsOct. 17-EightThe Employment InterviewChapter 2 23 Chapter readingResume and Cover LetterBusiness Email 2Oct. 24-Nine Proposal PresentationsChapter 10 30 Chapter readingPrepare Persuasive SpeechOct. 31 TenPersuasive SpeechThursday, Nov. 6 Present Persuasive SpeechNov. 3Bulletin Board AssignmentRoom 226 of the Fine Arts Building Nov. 7- Eleven Communicating in Organizational Chapter 5 13 Groups and TeamsChapter readingBulletin Board Assignment(Groups) Nov. 14-Twelve Group Sales Presentations Chapter 11 Thursday, 20 Present group SalesNov. 17Presentation In Room 226 of the Fine Arts Building Nov. 28 Thirteen Risk CommunicationChapter 12 Dec. 4 Chapter readingDec. 5-12 Fourteen Crisis CommunicationChapter 13Final Exam6 7. Sample Outline Title: Resumes Specific Purpose: To inform my audience how to construct a resume. Thesis Statement: Today I want to share what Ive learned about resumes.IntroductionAttention material: How many of you want to land your dream job? I know I do. One of the first steps is to know how to prepare a superior resume.Thesis Statement: Today I want to share what Ive learned about resumes.Preview: Today, well go over the content of a resume, the format, and finally some general resume tips.(Transition: Lets begin by looking at the content) BodyI. A good resume should include the following information: A. Personal Data 1. Name 2. Permanent address 3. Permanent telephone number 4. Email address B. Objective or Summary 1. Be specific 2. Tailor to each employer C. Education Information1. Most recent listed first2. Include degree, major, institution attended3. Add grade point average (GPA) if higher than 3.04. Mention academic honors D. Work Experience1. Title of position2. Name of organization3. Location or work (town, state)4. Dates of employment5. Description of work responsibilities7 8. E. Skills1. Make entries short, clear, and to the point.2. Use action verbs, such as: a. organized b. presented c. coordinated d. designed(Transition: Now that weve looked at the content, we need to focus on the format.)II. The format of a resume should follow these guidelines: A. Limit to one page1. Employers prefer to read only one page2. Two pages are acceptable for over 10 years experience B. Use 8 X 11 plain white bond paper C. Use block form 1. One-inch margins on both sides 2. One-half to one-inch margins on top and bottom D. Use a heading at the beginning of each section(Transition: Now that we have a feel for the content and formatting, Ill share a few general tips on resumes.)III. Resume tips: A. Use proper grammar and punctuationB. Accurate spellingC. Have someone else review and proofreadD. Dont use fancy typefaces, good fonts to use are: 1. Times New Roman 2. Arial(Transition: I have a handout for you as we close that outlines the basic elements Ive discussed as well as a few sample resumes.) ConclusionSummary Statement: In short, you need remember to the proper elements to include in your resume, the correct format, and tips such as accurate spelling.Concluding Remarks: A winning resume is the key to opening doors. It can stand out from all the other resumes on an employers desk. I hope you have learned a few of the steps needed to make your resume stand out from the crowd.8 9. ReferencesBeale, Andrew V. (2004) Tips for writing winning resumes: Answers to students most frequentlyasked questions. Techniques: Connecting Education & Careers, 79(5), 22-25.D. Hall, personal interview, June 7, 2004Jobweb. (n.d.). Your guide to resume writing. Retrieved June 7, 2004, from http://www.jobweb.com/Resumes_Interviews/resume_guide/how_to.htmResume writing. (n.d.). Retrieved June 7, 2004, from http://www.ccs.neu.edu/co-op/Manual/ResumeWriting.htmlRosenberg, A., Hizer, D. V., & Hizer, D. (2003). The resume handbook (4th ed.). New York: Adams Media Corporation. Copyright 2005 by K. Diane Hall, Dr. Trudy L. Hanson, and the SCOM 1321 teaching staff. This syllabus and all instructional materials may not be reproduced without written consent from Mrs. Hall. 9