Lincoln Memorial University
BUSN 350 YO - Business Communications
Course Syllabus Spring 2006

Instructor: Dwayne A. Gibson,

Telephone: 423-869-6348 or 1-800-325-0900 x6348

Office: DeBusk 318B              E-Mail:  Dwayne.Gibson@lmunet.edu or lmudag@yahoo.com

Office Hours: 
M-W from 11.50am until 12.50pm and W-12.00pm until 4.00pm Harrogate
M- 3.30pm until 4.00pm and 6.45 until 7.00 and 9.45 until 10.00pm Cumberland
Virtual Office Thursdays 5.00pm until 7.00pm via e-mail, if you prefer a phone conversation e-mail a number where  you can be reached.  By Appointment - Anytime (just about)

Semester, Days, Time, and Meeting Place:
Monday 4.00 - 6.45pm Cumberland

Prerequisites: Senior classification.
Textbook and Other Materials:  The Business Writer (with Eduspace)  Author:  Van Rys
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin,   ISBN 0-618-37087-0

Semester site
http://dwayne.gibson.name/lmuspring2006
 

Course Description:  Oral and written communications; the application of theory to the composition of business communications.  An introduction to the basic forms of communication in the business world: letters, memos, e-mail, reports, and speeches.  Prerequisites:  MGMT 300; ENGL 112 or 122

Course Learning Objectives

1. Determine the best form of communication for a given business situation.
2. Compose an appropriate correspondence with proper structure and style.
3. Conduct a professional research project using both primary and secondary research sources.
4. Deliver a professional presentation using presentation software.
5. Write a professional resume and cover letter.

SPECIAL NEEDS
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), all qualified students enrolled in this course are entitled to “reasonable accommodations “.  Any student with a disability requiring accommodation's should make an appointment with the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Services (423-869-6393) to discuss specific needs."

General Education Competencies - Specific Competencies/Evaluation: Writing: To communicate effectively using standard written English. Students may be expected to answer essay test questions. In addition, students may be required to write an essay or term paper.
 

Reading: To analyze, summarize, and interpret a variety of reading materials. Exams are based on lectures and discussion as well as required reading in the text.
 

Integrated Learning: To think critically and make connections in earning across the disciplines. Students are expected to integrate facts and critically apply these through data analysis, theory application, interpretation of information and problem solving. This will be evaluated through scheduled tests and classroom discussion
 

Creative Thinking: To elaborate upon knowledge to create new thoughts, processes and/or products. Students are expected to think creatively from information presented in the classroom and from research done in the library. This will be evaluated as a part of scheduled tests.
 

Ethics/Values: To demonstrate an awareness of ethical considerations in making value choices. Students should become aware of ethical considerations in both general and business issues. They are expected to take responsibility for and show commitment to their studies and to understand the consequences of serious unethical behavior such as cheating or copyright infringement.

Teaching Methods:

Lectures:
Important material from the text and outside sources will be covered in class. Students should plan to take careful notes as not all material can be found in the texts or readings. Discussion is encouraged as is student-procured, outside material relevant to topics being covered.1
 

Assignments:
Problems, cases, and readings will be periodically assigned to help support and supplement material found in the text. These assignments may require the application of various software packages
 

Quizzes:
Occasional scheduled or unscheduled quizzes will be given to help ensure students stay up with assigned material.         Quizzes cannot be made up, no exceptions!!!     
 

Exams:
In addition to a final test, one primarily objective type tests (multiple choice/true-false, essay), will be given. Each test may also include short answer questions and/or a hands-on writing sample.  On test dates,  students are required to attend. 

No make-up test will be given without prior approval of the instructor.

Method of Evaluation and Grading: 
The final grade will be determined according to the following table:

Attendance Policy: It is the belief of the instructor that performance is directly related to class attendance and participation. Failure to attend and participate will result in reduced performance.
Missed Classes: The student is responsible for obtaining material, which may have been distributed on class days when he/she was absent. This can be done through contacting a classmate who was present or by contacting the instructor during his office hours or other times. Missed or late quizzes can not be made up under any circumstances but with good cause and adequate notice, an early quiz may be given. One quiz (lowest score) will be dropped at the end of the semester. There are no make-up exams. Only official excuses will be accepted.

Any uncoordinated, unexcused missed exam will result in a score of 0 for that exam.

Course Policies – CIS 100 

1. Homework must be turned in on time.  Late assignments cannot be accepted under any circumstances.  

All assignments should include assignment number, description, due date, and students’ name within the document’s text.

2. Students are responsible for backing up their work.  If a disk or file is damaged and unreadable, you will be responsible for the providing a back-up copy for grading.

3. E-mail is your instructor’s primary method of communicating notices and reminders. Students are responsible for checking their e-mail accounts on a regular basis.

4. Academic integrity is taken very seriously. A copy of the University policy is attached to this syllabus and can be found in the student handbook. 

Regular attendance is necessary! Class work cannot be made up. 

Computer Laboratories

Use of computing facilities is a privilege available to students, faculty and staff of the University. Persons exercising that privilege are to comply with the principles listed below.

1.      Courteous behavior is expected; non-disruptive conduct is required.
2.      Academic use always has priority over recreational use.
3.      Computers in a given lab are not available for individual research/recreation while class is being conducted in that lab.
4.      Because such is deemed clearly in direct conflict with the stated Mission and Purpose of Lincoln Memorial University, viewing, storing, downloading of pornographic matter via computers and facilities owned by the University is strictly forbidden; violators of this policy will suffer immediate loss of computer use privileges.
5.      Permission of authorized staff is required for downloading any executable files from the Internet.
6.      Unauthorized duplication of any copyrighted software is illegal; therefore, software licensed to LMU computers must NOT be copied by students, faculty or unauthorized staff.
7.         Funds and other considerations require that the printer use be limited to two (2) copies of a given document; photocopy machines are available

Certification of Academic Integrity: 

It is the aim of the faculty of Lincoln Memorial University to foster a spirit of complete honesty and a high standard of integrity.  The attempt of any student to present as his/her own any work which he/she has not honestly preformed is regarded by the faculty and administration as a very serious offense and renders the offender liable to severe consequences and possible suspension.

Cheating. 

Dishonesty of any kind on examinations or written assignments, illegal possession of questions, the use of unauthorized notes during an examination, obtaining information during an examination from another student, assisting others to cheat, altering grade records, or illegally entering an office are instances of cheating.
 

Plagiarism. 

Offering the work of another as one’s own without proper acknowledgement is plagiarism; therefore, any student who fails to give credit for quotations or essentially identical material taken from books, magazines, encyclopedias or other reference works, or from the themes, reports, or other writing of a fellow student has committed plagiarism.

Students must do their own work!!