Lincoln Memorial University
BUSN 350 - Business Communications Course Syllabus Fall 2003

Instructor: Dwayne A. Gibson,

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

Office: DeBusk 318                              E-Mail:  DGibson@lmunet.edu

OFFICE HOURS:   R @ 5.30-6.30pm 
Virtual Office 24/7

Semester, Days, Time, and Meeting Place:
Fall 2003, R - 6.30-9.15pm

Prerequisites: ENGL 112 or 122.
Textbook and Other Materials:
Business and Administrative Communication, Locker, 6th edition, with CD-ROM 
ISBN: 0-07-246958-7

Class Web Site:
http://www.dwayne.gibson.name/lmufall2003/

Course Description:  This course will cover oral and written communications; the application of theory to the composition of business communications.

     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 Student Affairs (423-869-6393) to discuss specific needs."

General Education Competencies - Specific Competencies/Evaluation: Writing: To communicate effectively using standard written English. Students will 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 classroom lecture 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.
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:
Two 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: Several methods of evaluation will be used including Two (2) objective type tests (multiple choice or true/false), and or quizzes. 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.

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.

Tentative Semester Homework Schedule: Be prepared for more!!

Research Paper 
Structure:
APA Format
Double Spaced
Specific formatting to be discussed in class. Refer also to chapters 13-14 in your text.

Writing Requirement Time Table:

Schedule is tentative and subject to change!!!!

GRADING STANDARDS 

A = An excellent paper.  It offers an effective solution to the problem based on good audience analysis; it ful­fills minor as well as major purposes.  Its overall pattern of organization is appropriate; the internal organization of ideas is effective; transitions are smooth.  Reader benefits and logic are well developed.  The message is well written, interesting, and easy to read.  It may show originality in visual impact, reader benefits, details, or word choice.  

 B = A good paper.  It offers an effective solution to the problem.  Both the overall pattern of organization and the internal organization are good.  Reader benefits and logic are developed adequately.  The writing style is clear, concise, and friendly.  It may have a few minor mechanical errors or some awkward spots, but basically it is well written and has good visual impact.

 C = A satisfactory paper.  It offers a solution which is basically acceptable; it uses an acceptable pattern of organization; the writing follows the conventions of standard English and the principles of business writing.  There may be minor errors in style, tone, internal organization, or mechanics; reader benefits or logic may not be developed fully.

 OR  A good ("B") paper with a major flaw in one of the following:  the solution, organization, tone, or writing style

 D = A satisfactory (“C”) paper with a major flaw in one of the following: the solution, organization, tone, or writing style.  

OR  A paper which shows some evidence of attempting to solve the problem, but which has many minor errors in organization, development, word choice, style, tone, and mechanics.  None of these alone would necessarily doom the paper; however, together they make the paper unsatisfactory.

  E = A poor (“D”) paper with a major flaw in one of the following:  the solution, organization, tone, or writing style.  

OR  A paper that violates the facts explicitly given in the problem.

 OR  A paper that is marred by an unacceptable number of errors in organization, development, word choice, style, tone, and mechanics.