Communication Strategy in Business (BUAD 302) - SEE

HIGHLIGHTS FOR CHANGES effective 9/3/2015 (page 10)

Fall 2015
Professor: Sabrina K. Pasztor, Ph.D.
Office: ACC 400B

Office Phone: 213-821-4701 Cell Phone/Text: 847-730-7040

Mailbox: ACC 400
E-mail: [email protected]

Lecture Class
Section 14679
Section 14689
Section 14693

Tuesday/Thursday
Tuesday/Thursday
Tuesday/Thursday

Office Hours
Tuesday/Thursday

12:00 noon-1:50 p.m. Room: HOH 302

4:00 p.m. 5:50 p.m. Room: HOH 302
6:00 p.m. 7:50 p.m. Room: HOH 302

11:00 a.m. 11:45 a.m.; 2:00 p.m. 3:45 p.m. and by appointment

______________________________________________________________________________________
COURSE DESCRIPTION
You are working in an increasingly complex world characterized by explosive growth in access to and quantity
of informationand your professional life will likely revolve around how you generate, organize, evaluate, and
manage the communication of this information. Almost without exception, todays business professionals
attribute their success largely to their ability to write well, to speak dynamically, and to cultivate business
relationships through strong interpersonal communication skills.
Armed with astute communication strategies, business professionals can effectively exercise influencean
essential management skilland produce desired results.
Whether making a presentation, creating and executing an integrated persuasive appeal, or engaging in group
problem solvingyou should be able to convey ideas and feelings to your audience clearly, accurately, and
persuasively. This course is designed to sharpen your existing skills as a strategic thinker, writer, and speaker
and to employ those skills to realize an actionable understanding of strategic communication.
The class is structured to emphasize experiential (hands-on/practical) learning so that our study of managerial
communication theory can be applied to exercises and activities mirroring real-world challenges you will face in
your professional lives.
At the end of this course, you will be a more articulate and influential business communicator. You will
understand the rhetorical reasoning that supports the strategies you learn such that you can successfully meet all
types of new communication challenges.
A special note: BUAD 302 is more than just a public speaking class. We want you to practice and hone your
strategic communication skills. This includes not just completing all the assignments to the best of your ability,
but really applying the concepts, models and frameworks you read about and we discuss, using the terminology
and tools to maximize your presentation, practicing your presentation skills (verbal and non-verbal), engaging in
teamwork and making a contribution as a leader/team member, and reflecting your command of practical
strategy use (i.e. I can craft a strong resume and cover letter) as well as theoretical application (I can apply
what I did/learned in this assignment to subsequent challenges, because I understand the ideas/concepts and
strategies involved).
1

GLOBAL LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Business Communication StrategyTheory & Concepts
Demonstrate understanding of the elements of business communication theory and apply this understanding to
communications in a wide range of business contexts.
Business Communication Strategy Application
Apply communication theory to develop business communication strategies, including evaluation of purpose,
audience, context, and channel choice. Demonstrate the ability to analyze, compare and critique these strategies,
and effectively communicate this assessment.
DETAILED LEARNING OBJECTIVES
This course is designed for you to acquire knowledge and skills in business communication. The BUAD 302
experience will enable you to:
1. Identify and discuss communication theories, models, and principles that impact business
communication across diverse industries and fields in a global landscape by analyzing specific
communication behaviors, strategies, and goals through case studies and group discussions.
2. Apply communication theories and principles to achieve communication goals by evaluating the
purpose of your message, conducting audience analysis, and selecting the appropriate communication
channel to successfully construct and deliver presentations individually and as part of a team in various
business contexts.
3. Utilize critical thinking skills to develop and implement communication strategies across diverse
business environments by analyzing, comparing, and evaluating the effectiveness of these strategies via
scenario-based simulations and exercises.
4. Develop an understanding and awareness of ethical principles and intercultural and diversity factors that
impact the communication process as business leaders, managers, colleagues and employees by
analyzing and explaining ethical challenges and incidents in their cultural and organizational contexts.
5. Acquire and apply an understanding of small group communication dynamics, including learning to
evaluate and articulate obstacles that impact effective team communication and developing
collaborative deliverables.
After only fifteen weeks, you probably will not reach a level of professional excellence in all business
communication areas; mastery sometimes takes years and always takes dedication. You will, however, clearly
understand the strategic objectives toward which you are working, understand the necessary processes involved
in meeting those objectives (and helping others meet them), appreciate your strengths and challenges, and feel
increased confidence in your communication decisions and in the execution of those decisions.
REQUIRED MATERIALS
Cardon, Peter W. Business Communication: Developing Leaders for a Networked World (Mc Graw-Hill 2014).
Available in the USC Bookstore. Note: you may also use the online version of the text, available with
CONNECT PLUS, the publishers (McGraw-Hills) website. Whether you purchase the text/print copy of the
book or opt for the online version, you receive a CONNECT PLUS login code to use. See powerpoint on
Blackboard for more information.
***You are required to have the printed textbook or access via CONNECT PLUS.***
Other

Adobe Reader (http://get.adobe.com/reader/) for PDFs

Access to a computer and course files (which are in Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint 2013)
Access to YouTube, TED (talks), and other internet sites/links relevant to class
Regular access to Blackboard for assigned readings, web links, and your university e-mail account (you
are required to check one routinely, which means at least 2-3 times per week for the semester).
2

A YouSeeU account (for presentation rehearsals, recording your individual presentations, and exercises.
Instructions for setting up your account will be covered in class).

COURSE ASSUMPTIONS
In addition to computer and language skills, I assume an ability to perform basic research as part of this course
and others. I expect you will be as enthusiastic about this course as you would be in any course important to
your future, and that you will actively participate and take responsibility for your own learning. You should
consider the classroom a professional environment, in which you are expected to arrive on time, be prepared for
whatever activities are scheduled that day, focus on the work at hand, and demonstrate respect for your
supervisor and colleagues Whether writing or speaking, you should be able to connect with your audience,
conveying ideas and message points in an accurate, complete, and convincing way. Communication skills are
developed by practice, so class time will often be devoted to exercises that are applicable to the real-world
challenges you will face in your professional lives.
My goal is to help you become more professional business communicators. If you prepare for and attend all
classes, participate actively in activities and discussions, and complete all assignments conscientiously, you will
improve your skill level. By the end of this course, you will have increased your ability to organize and present
ideas more clearly, develop stronger and more convincing arguments, thoughtfully apply communication
strategies to a variety of professional situations, participate in job interviews, work more effectively with other
people, and how to incorporate media into your message. You may not have attained mastery in all these areas,
for significant improvements sometimes take years and always require dedication to achieve. You will,
however, have a better understanding not only of your strengths and weaknesses but also the processes involved
in improving your communication skills over time.
Participation and Classroom Demeanor
I consider this Syllabus to be my contract with you. I am confident that both of us will conduct ourselves
professionally in our classroom and office hour interactions. In that vein, we both have certain expectations of
each other. Below you will find mine:

I anticipate you will attend every class, and be ready to begin work at start of class.
A course roster (sign-in sheet) will be passed around at the beginning of every class, and students must
sign the roster for their attendance to be accurate. The roster is the final arbitrator of your attendance: if
you do not sign, you will not receive credit for attendance on that date. Therefore, if you arrive late to
class, you should still sign in at the end of class.
Should you need to be absent for any reason I will expect to receive an email message from you
([email protected]) before the start of class. You do not need to tell me why you will be
absent. Keep in mind this email does not excuse your absence. It does, however, show me that you are
taking responsibility for your actions and decisions. See section below on Absences and Missing
Class on a Day an Assignment is due for more specifics.
I am confident that all of us will conduct ourselves professionally in our classroom and office hour
interactions. The following activities are not appropriate in class: 1) reading materials during lecture,
discussion or class activities that are not related to BUAD 302; 2) disturbing others in class (with loud
comments, conversations, or interruptions); 3) using technology unless instructed to do so (all mobile
devices see section below on Technology Use in Class).

Technology Use in Class

Communication devices, such as cell phones and Blackberries which are capable of sending and/or receiving
electronic communication, and all entertainment devices, such as iPods or other MP3 players, are to be turned
off and kept off throughout the class session. Receiving or sending communication during class disrupts the
learning environment. Use of laptops and iPads is not allowed in this class without the instructors
permission. While you are in class, you are expected to conduct yourself professionally. This includes being
focused exclusively on BUAD 302, not on extraneous matters. It also includes treating everyone else in the
room with the same respect and consideration you want to receive.
3

Absences
If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to stay current with the content, class notes, due dates, and changes
to class information via Blackboard. Reach out to another student for class notes (i.e. the email to your instructor
that reads, I missed class did I miss anything? Can you tell me what I missed? is not appropriate). You can
always schedule office hours with me as well for help with understanding or interpreting class materials, but the
onus is on you to catch up.
Further, if you are absent six or more times prior to September 15, 2015, I will ask you to withdraw by that
date. These policies maintain professionalism and ensure a system that is fair to all students.
Missing Class on a Day an Assignment is due or Quiz date
Due to ELC scheduling constraints, making up ELC presentations or activities is not possible. If it is absolutely
necessary for you to miss an ELC presentation or activity, and a make-up opportunity is granted after a
discussion during office hours with the instructor, you will need to deliver your presentation to the class at the
beginning of the subsequent class session. You will also forfeit 25 points automatically for missing the original
presentation.
If you miss class or the beginning of class on a quiz date, you will forfeit the points for that quiz. You should
ask your instructor for a copy of the quiz so that you are aware of the questions that were asked (since they may
also be on your final exam).
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Plagiarism that is, the act of copying another individuals work and attributing as your own original work is
dishonest and unacceptable in an academic (and business!) setting. Some examples of plagiarism include but are
not limited to: Misquoting a source, not quoting or citing a source (meaning not identifying it clearly with the
authors name and date of publication), not preparing a bibliography; writing sentences that are too similar to the
original work; buying a paper, presentation, or other document online, eyes wandering to your classmates
quizzes in class, and copying and pasting an entire resume and/or cover letter from the internet and simply
changing it to your name/contact information.
If you need guidance on how to avoid plagiarism, please see: http://www.usc.edu/studentaffairs/SJACS/forms/tig.pdf. Most importantly, dont wait until the last minute to throw together an
assignment: the likelihood you will rely upon other sources too much increases exponentially when you dont
give yourself sufficient time. Finally, come and see me (or email me with specific questions) about your work. If
you are not sure if you might be plagiarizing, we can take a quick look at your work and adjust it if needed.
When in doubt, check it out!
Students will be referred to the Office of Student Judicial Affairs and Community Standards for further review,
should there be any suspicion of academic dishonesty. The Review process can be found at:
http://www.usc.edu/student-affairs/SJACS/ Failure to adhere to the academic conduct standards set forth by
these guidelines and our programs will not be tolerated by the USC Marshall community and can lead to
dismissal.
BLACKBOARD
This class uses Blackboard extensively. The most updated version of the Syllabus, class announcements,
assignments, links to videos/websites (except YouSeeU), copies of Powerpoint lectures, additional assigned
readings, and your grades for each assignment are posted on BBD. You are 100% responsible for keeping upto-date with the posted course materials.
WRITTEN WORK
You should use the spell-checking and grammar-checking features built into Microsoft Office for any written
deliverables including your own PowerPoints. I will ask that you challenge yourself to include charts, video,
4

sound, and external links into your PowerPoints. For PowerPoints, these types of good to great elements can
make a positive impact on this component of your presentation grade.
If you are having difficulties with the mechanics of writing, help exists. The USC Writing Center located on the
third floor of Taper hall is an excellent resource. You may schedule 30-minute appointments with writing
consultants trained to assist you in planning, organizing, and revising your assignments. Some consultants are
graduate business students in the Marshall School of Business. Others have special skills in working with
students for whom English is a second language. The Writing Center also offers daily workshops on
troublesome language and grammar issues, and makes available a number of handouts on an array of grammar
and usage points: http://www.usc.edu/dept/LAS/writing/writingcenter/.
International students and non-native writers and speakers of English will also want to investigate the help
available to them through USCs American Language Institute: http://dornsife.usc.edu/ali.
ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING
There are a total of 1,000 points available in this course. Final grades in the course will depend on your
performance in the following types of assignments in addition to participation and engagement:

Oral Presentations Individual (2) and Team (2)

Written Communication
Online Briefing (YouSeeU)
Classroom assignments/exercises/exams

** No extra credit is given in BUAD 302.**

GRADING SUMMARY
Assignment
Oral Presentations 550 points
Presentation I am - introductions
Presentation 1 Individual; Informative (my career goals/path)
Presentation 2 Individual; Persuasive
Presentation 3 - Team
Presentation 4 - Final Team Presentation

Points

% of Grade

N/A
100
125
150
175

0.0
10.0
12.5
15.0
17.5

Written Communication 150 points

Resume
Cover Letter
Networking Report

50
50
50

5.0
5.0
5.0

Online Briefing 50 points

YouSeeU Assignment

50

5.0

100

10.0

50
100

5.0
10.0

Participation/Engagement 100 points

Includes Mock Interview, ELC Simulation Activities 1 and 2,
Career Center Session, Leadership Activity, Individual contributions
in class (participating in discussions), attendance
Quizzes/Exams 150 points
Quizzes (5 total; 10 points each)
Final Exam
TOTAL

1,000

100.0%

Oral Presentations
550 pts.
Each of you will complete five presentations: one (the introductory presentation) is ungraded but required as
part of the course. The remaining four are significant graded presentationstwo individual and two as part of a
group. Group presentations will consist of both an individual grade and a group grade/rating and will include a
self and peer evaluation. There is a point-value increase with each subsequent presentation, as it is assumed you
are reading my feedback/comments from each subsequent presentation, and using these as opportunities for
additional practice and improvement. The second individual presentation and two group presentations will need
to incorporate elements of academic (industry, business, scholarly) research. Details are included in the
assignments for each (posted on Blackboard).
You will record your all your presentations on YouSeeU (www.youseeu.com). For the first presentation, you
will go to the Experiential Learning Center (ELC) in Bridge Halls basement (note: there may be some weeks
where we are in Popovich Hall instead), and use the YouSeeU system in the ELC. For the second presentation,
you will record your presentation on your own on YouSeeU (from your desktop/laptop). See below for how to
access YouSeeU. The third presentation (team) will be in the ELC; the fourth presentation (team) will be in our
classroom.
Individual
PRESENTATION ONE: Informative (Professional Path/Interests)
PRESENTATION TWO: Persuasive (Sales/Product/Idea Pitch)

100 pts.
125 pts.

Group
PRESENTATION THREE: Informative (Case Study Analysis) - Team
PRESENTATION FOUR: Persuasive (TBD) - Team

150 pts.
175 pts.

Written Communication
150 pts.
There are three significant written assignments: 1) a resume; 2) a cover letter; and 3) a networking briefing.
Each of you will create a new or revised resume, cover letter to a future/prospective employer, and a networking
report as part of a career portfolio. We will discuss various resume formats and appropriate content for both
the resume and cover letter. You will also have the opportunity to hear from USC Career Services regarding
resources available to you to optimize your portfolio. The networking report involves seeking out an external
contact (an individual of influence/import who can provide you information about your career), interviewing
that person, writing a memo about your interview learnings, and creating a thank you letter. Details will be
discussed further in class and posted on Blackboard.
Resume
Cover Letter
Networking Report

50 pts.
50 pts.
50 pts.

Online Briefing
50 pts.
YouSeeU is a web-based application that allows students to upload self-recorded presentations, and professors
to provide direct online feedback and comments. You will need to register for the YouSeeU system as follows:
Follow the Self-Enrollment steps below, using the following code to register:
Section 14679
Tuesday/Thursday 12:00 noon-1:50 p.m. Code: RHM28JJ
Section 14689
Tuesday/Thursday 4:00 p.m. 5:50 p.m. Code: 4VCP4XQ
Section 14693
Tuesday/Thursday 6:00 p.m. 7:50 p.m. Code: DCVS5G5
Self Enrollment
1. Visit YouSeeU.com, click on the Registration link and select Student.
2. Complete the form, starting with the class code.
6

3. Your email address will serve as your username.

4. Enter a password following the requirements of using at least eight characters, one uppercase letter, one
number, and one symbol. Keep your username and password in a safe location.
5. Review the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and then agree.
6. After clicking on the Register button, your account will be processed and you will be logged into YouSeeU.
Self Enrollment Login
1. Begin by logging into your class. To login, click Login on the YouSeeU homepage.
2. Enter your Email and Password and click Login.

For more help with any of the above, visit www.youseeu.info.

Engagement/Participation
100 pts.
I assume that you will be present and on time for every class and ready to begin work at the time class is
scheduled to start. Should you need to be absent I expect to receive an e-mail from you PRIOR to the start of
class. Keep in mind that a message in advance of class does not excuse your absence it simply shows me
that you are taking responsibility for choosing to do something else during class time. Multiple absences, even
when accompanied by conscientious notification, may be viewed as unprofessional behavior and negatively
impact your engagement/participation grade.
Attendance and full participation are baseline expectations. You do not receive credit for simply attending all
classes. To receive top points for engagement/participation you will need to take an active role in class
discussions, volunteer for leading ELC and in-class exercises, ask questions, and apply concepts from readings
and discussions. Challenge yourself to think of at least one relevant question from the readings and class
discussions, and ask it (no question is too dumb). We are here to learn from each other through discussion.
Part of your score in this category will be based on your participation and engagement in a number of
experiential learning activities conducted at Marshalls Experiential Learning Center (ELC). Among these, you
will also be expected to take part in a mock interview. Please refer to the course schedule for these dates, and to
Blackboard for further assignment details.
Please note: ELC exercises are non-negotiable. Missing an ELC exercise will result in a deduction of 25
participation/engagement points (per missed session) unless excused by me in advance of the class. Further,
if you miss the mock interview ELC session, you will lose 50 points unless excused by me in advance. There
will be no make-ups for the ELC Exercises or for the mock interviews. This is a professional commitment, and
you will be expected to treat it as you would any real-world internship or job interview.

Quizzes/Final Exam
150 pts.
A total of five quizzes (10 points each; 10 questions each) will be given over the course of the semester,
approximately every two to three weeks. They will be administered hardcopy, at the beginning of class. If you
arrive late to class on quiz dates, you will not be given additional time to complete it (hint: show up on time!). If
you miss the quiz entirely, you forfeit those points. These quizzes will be based entirely on the textbook
7

chapters. Therefore, if you do the reading and know the concepts/ideas covered in each chapter, you will have a
much better chance of doing well on the quizzes. The quiz questions also relate directly to questions that will be
asked in the final exam, so use them as study guides. Each quiz will cover more than one chapter. A final
exam is a required component of this required business course and will be based on the entire semesters
content. I will provide a thorough and detailed comprehensive review prior to the exam. Please see the course
schedule for quiz and final exam dates.
ELC Exercises
ELC activity: Hi-Fli (Thursday, October 8th)
Working in teams in a facilitated session, you will have an opportunity to develop a business product using
planning, development, production, and strategic communication. We will briefly discuss this activity and your
assigned job roles in the class session on Tuesday, October 6th.
ELC activity: Ethics
What will you do when presented with an ethical dilemma? How will you handle all the components that go
along with making a strategic and ethical decision? This activity gives you a chance to find out using teamwork,
strategic communication, and the concepts we discuss in class.
ELC activity (in Popovich Hall): Mock Interviews (Thursday, October 15th)
Mock interviews in fall 2015 will take place as an ELC exercise in POPOVICH HALL (3RD Floor). You must
complete all components of this exercise or you will lose 50 points from your final total course points. On the
day of the interview you must be dressed in professional interview attire and have a resume and cover letter for a
specific job for your interview partner or you will be turned away. Students who do not meet these standards
will not be allowed to interview. We will discuss the Mock Interview assignment in detail on Tuesday,
October 6th.
GRADING DETAILS
This is the university grading rubric:
Grade
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF

GPA
4.00
3.72
3.44
3.16
2.88
2.60
2.32
2.04
1.76
1.48
1.20
0.92

Range/Percentage
94.00 100.00%
90.00 93.99%
87.00 89.99%
84.00 86.99%
80.00 83.99%
77.00 79.99%
74.00 76.99%
70.00 73.99%
67.00 69.99%
64.00 66.99%
60.00 63.99%
0.00 59.99%

Because of the Marshall School targeted mean (3.0 GPA for undergraduate business classes), your ultimate
grade in the course is determined a variety of factors. Historically, the average grade for this class is in the B
range. Three items are considered when assigning final grades:
1. Your average weighted score as a percentage of the available points for all assignments (the points you
receive divided by the number of points possible).
2. The overall average percentage score within the class.
3. Your ranking among all students in the class.

Also, please note that while your four major presentations will be graded on a point basis, for example, 100/125
points, other assignments will be letter-graded due to the context of the assignment per the professors discretion
and therefore translate differently into points.
Review of Grades
If an assignment is returned to you and you believe that some error has occurred in the grading, you can, within
one week of the date the assignment is returned, requestusing a memothat I re-evaluate the assignment. If
necessary, I am glad to clarify my commentary on returned assignments (after you have had time to digest the
commentary), but if you wish to discuss your grade, you must initiate the discussion with a memo. Any
reference and discussion of grades (written or otherwise) must be initiated and conducted with diplomacy and
thoughtfulness.
If you are requesting a grade review, the original assignment or presentation evaluation form should be attached
to your memo. The memo should fully and carefully explain why you think the assignment should be reevaluated. Arguing that I worked hard and put in a lot of time or simply saying I dont understand why I
received this grade are neither full nor careful explanations. Remember that the re-evaluation process can
result in three types of grade adjustments: positive, none, and negative.
All grades will be posted on Blackboard. You will receive a mid-term grade based on your progress-to-date (and
dependent upon the 25-30% of assignments everyone will have completed thus far in to the term). Any issues or
concerns you have about your progress should be directed to me during office hours. Schedule a time/date so we
can discuss them and tips to improve your efforts.
All grades assigned by faculty members are final. Students have the right to seek explanation, guidance, counsel
and reasons for the assignment of a grade. Students may appeal a grade according to university policy as set
forth in SCampus. Faculty may initiate a change in grade if there is an error in the calculation of a grade.
However, a faculty member may not change a disputed grade outside the formal appeals process. In response to
a disputed academic evaluation by an instructor, a student is entitled to two levels of appeal after review by the
instructor: first to the chairperson of the department and then to the appropriate dean of the school. The full
university policy can be found on page 125 of SCampus and at:
http://www.usc.edu/dept/publications/SCAMPUS/gov/disputed_academic_evaluation_procedures.html
UNIVERSITY ADD/DROP PROCESS
Marshall undergraduate courses are open enrollment through the first week of the semester open enrollment; Rclearance), and many are open through the first three weeks. Students can add these courses using Web
Registration so long as there is a seat available. All classes are closed (switched to D-clearance) at the end of
the first week. This policy minimizes the complexity of the registration process for students by standardizing
across classes.
Faculty cannot add to students to a course that is full, and there are no wait lists for Marshall undergraduate
courses. Contact the Office of Undergraduate Advising if you would like to add your name to an interest list for
classes that are currently full ([email protected]). Marshall instructors may drop any student
who, without prior consent, does not attend the first two class sessions (week 1). Instructors are not required to
notify the student s/he is being dropped. Please note: If you decide to drop, or if you choose not to attend the
first two sessions and are dropped, you risk being not being able to add to another section this semester, since
they might reach capacity. You can only add a class after the first week of classes if you receive approval from
the instructor.

Further, if you are absent six or more times prior to September 15, 2015, I will ask you to withdraw by that
date. These policies maintain professionalism and ensure a system that is fair to all students.

Statement for Students with Disabilities:
Any student requesting academic accommodations based on a disability is required to register with Disability
Services and Programs (DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for approved accommodations can be
9

obtained from DSP. Please be sure the letter is delivered to me (or to TA) as early in the semester as possible.
DSP is located in STU 301 and is open 8:30 a.m.5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The phone number for
DSP is (213) 740-0776.
COURSE SCHEDULE (Note: Schedule Is Subject To Change) SEE HIGHLIGHTS FOR CHANGES effective
9/3/2015

Date

Class Topic/Activities

Readings
(All readings due
prior to class)

Assignments (listed by
Due Date)

Course
Learning
Objectives
(per session)

Week 1
T, Aug 25

TH, Aug 27
Week 2
T, Sept 1

TH, Sept 3

Course Introduction and

Syllabus Review; Individual
Introductions; Basics of
Communication Strategy: Why It
Matters to You!
Communication Theory/Strategy
(cont.) USCCT/SMART model;
Credibility in Class exercise
Interpersonal Communication
Effective presentation skills: Verbal
& Non-Verbal communication
(interpersonal)
Effective Presentation skills:
Verbal/Non-verbal

Presentation I am (nongraded)

1, 2

CH. 1: Credibility

Presentation I am (nongraded) - continued

1, 2

CH 2:
Interpersonal
Comm
Handout on BBD:

DUE: Create your Profile

on YouSeeU; upload 2minute video on
Credibility (instructions
on BBD)
QUIZ 1 in class
(Chapters 1, 2)

1, 2, 3, 5

Do what you are

Postings on BBD:
Effective Verbals/
Non-Verbals

1, 2,3

CH 14 and 15

Week 3
T, Sept 8

TH, Sept 10

Effective presentation skills: Verbal

& Non-Verbal communication
(cont.)

CH 16:
Employment
Communication

Communication and Career

Development Part A; Intro to Career
Package Assignments and
Presentation One
Career Center Presentation Guest
Speaker

QUIZ 2 in class (Chapters

14, 15)

QUIZ 3 in class
(Chapter 16, questions on
career presentations)

2,3,5

Communication and Career

Development Part B:
Written Communication and
Developing Winning
Resumes/Cover Letters

Week 4
T, Sept 15

Peer Coaching: Presentation One

Be ready with a
rough-cut run
through!

DUE: Bring your draft

speech to class; be prepared
to practice with two other
peers

10

TH, Sept 17
Week 5
T, Sept 22

TH, Sept 24
Week 6
T, Sept 29

TH, Oct 1
Week 7
T, Oct 6

TH, Oct 8
Week 8
T, Oct 13

TH, Oct 15
Week 9
T, Oct 20

TH, Oct 22
Week 10
T, Oct 27
TH, Oct 29

Week 11
T, Nov 3

ELC PRESENTATION ONE

(Individual)
100 Points
Intro to Presentation Two;
Persuasive Communication; The
Power of Story;
Persuasion Techniques; Ethics in
Persuasion

Assigned
Articles/TedTalk
Videos

MEET IN ELC

2,3

DUE: First Draft

Resume/Cover Letter

1,2,4

CH 10:
Persuasive
Messages

Persuasion (continued);
Motivation and Audience Analysis

1, 2, 4

Peer coaching/Presentation Two

Bring draft of
presentation two
to class!

ELC PRESENTATION TWO

(Individual)
125 Points

QUIZ 4 in class
(Chapter 10)

2,3,5

MEET IN ELC

2,3

Preparing for Mock Interviews;

Brief Review of Networking Report;
Brief Review of Hi-Fli Exercise
(and role assignment);
Effective Inteviewing
Interview role-playing
ELC Hi-Fli Exercise

Reread pages
498-505 and other
materials posted
to BBD on
interviewing

Brainstorm questions to ask

about interviewing

1, 2, 3, 4

No prep
necessary (except
dress code)

MEET IN ELC

2, 3, 5

Hi-Fli Debrief;
Introduction to Presentation Three;
Dynamics of Group
Communication; Team Assignments
and First Team Meeting
Mock Interviews

CH 3: Team
Communication

Massive prep
necessary

1, 2, 4, 5

MEET IN JKP (NOT ELC)

Mock Interview Debrief;

Discuss YouSeeU Assignment;
Effective Teamwork; Teamwork
activity

DUE: Final resume and

cover letter

2, 3

ELC Ethics Exercise

MEET IN ELC

4, 5

DUE: Networking Report

1, 2,3, 4

Debrief Ethics Exercise;

Effective emails and other business
correspondence
Effective emails (cont.);
Teamwork in class for presentation
three

CH 7, 9: Email,
etc.

Teamwork in class for presentation

three

Be prepared to do
a dry run with
your team

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

11

Quiz 5 in class (Chapters, 3,

7, 9)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

TH, Nov 5
Week 12
T, Nov 10
TH, Nov 12
Week 13
T, Nov 17

TH, Nov 19
Week 14
T, Nov 24

TH, Nov 26
Week 15
T, Dec 1
TH, Dec 3

PRESENTATION THREE
Group presentation
150 Points

MEET IN ELC

2,3, 5

Leadership

Take leadership assessment

(due by class)
DUE: YouSeeU Assignment

1, 2, 5

Leadership (cont.)
Review of presentation
four/teamwork; Effective Group and
team management
Debrief YouSeeU assignment
Q&A Exercise in ELC

Debrief Q&A exercise

Teamwork for presentation four;
individual team meetings with
professor
Thanksgiving Holiday NO CLASS

1, 2, 5

MEET IN ELC

Be prepared to do
dry run

PRESENTATION FOURGroup presentation

175 points
PRESENTATION FOURGroup presentation (cont.)
175 points;

1, 2, 3,5

3, 5

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

1, 2, 3,4, 5

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Class wrap-up and celebration;

Review for final exam

Week 16
Finals week

FINAL EXAM
DATE/LOCATION/TIME TBD

COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. Identify and discuss communication theories, models, and principles that impact business
communication across diverse industries and fields in a global landscape by analyzing specific
communication behaviors, strategies, and goals through case studies and group discussions.
2. Apply communication theories and principles to achieve communication goals by evaluating the
purpose of your message, conducting audience analysis, and selecting the appropriate communication
channel to successfully construct and deliver presentations individually and as part of a team in various
business contexts.
3. Utilize critical thinking skills to develop and implement communication strategies across diverse
business environments by analyzing, comparing, and evaluating the effectiveness of these strategies via
scenario-based simulations and exercises.
4. Develop an understanding and awareness of ethical principles and intercultural and diversity factors that
impact the communication process as business leaders, managers, colleagues and employees by
analyzing and explaining ethical challenges and incidents in their cultural and organizational contexts.
5. Acquire and apply an understanding of small group communication dynamics, including learning to
evaluate and articulate obstacles that impact effective team communication and developing
collaborative deliverables.
12

13