West
Valley College, Business Division
Business 78 – 3
units
Business Communication
Materials Required:
Text: Business Communication, Mary
Ellen Guffey, (Thomson/Southwestern, 6th edition)
Course Description:
This course reviews techniques
used to improve communication ability in the business world. It covers
oral communication, grammar and punctuation, and business writing style. Writing
clear, coherent and direct letters, memoranda, resumes and reports is emphasized.
A final team project gives students an important business presentation
and collaborative experience. This course is
West
Valley AA/AS degree and certificate applicable. Credit/No Credit Option
Course Outcomes/Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, students
should be able to:
- Understand how to communicate
effectively and in small groups.
- Comprehend workplace listening and
nonverbal communication.
- Communicate across cultures.
- Understand and apply writing
process tools and approaches.
- Write clear, direct, and effective
business correspondence.
- Organize and submit thorough
and well researched business reports.
- Present reports with confidence both
in the class and in the workplace.
Course Outlines:
Week: |
Chapters: |
Topics: |
1 |
1 |
Communicating in Today’s
Workplace |
2 |
2 |
Developing Team, Listening
and Etiquette Skills |
3 |
3 |
Communicating Across Cultures |
4 |
4-5 |
Writing Process: Phase
1
Writing Process: Phase 2 |
5 |
|
Test Review, Test 1 |
6 |
6 |
Writing Process: Phase
3 |
7 |
7 |
E-mail Messages and Memos |
8 |
8-9 |
Positive Letters and Messages
Persuasive and Marketing Messages |
9 |
10 |
Negative messages |
10 |
|
Test Review, Test
2 |
11 |
11-12 |
Business Report Basics
Informal Business Reports |
12 |
13-14 |
Proposals and Formal Reports
Business Presentations |
13 |
15-16 |
The Job Search, Resumes,
Cover Letters
Interviewing and Following Up |
14 |
|
Business Presentations |
15 |
|
Business Presentations |
16 |
|
Test Review, Test 3 |
Class Requirements:
- Attendance is essential. Attendance,
class participation and a portfolio of cases count towards 20 percent
of the final course grade. Students may call or e-mail the instructor
regarding missed classes and work. Students may also go to http://wvmccd.angellearning.com to
get class notes and assignments and to send class e-mails.
- There will be three tests. It
is your responsibility to let me know if you are going to be absent
on a testing day. Make up testing will be handled on a case by
case basis.
- There will be a group business
project and presentation. The project and presentation will be developed
in progressive steps throughout the semester.
- There will be extra credit opportunities.
Policy Statements:
-
West
Valley
College makes reasonable accommodations for persons with
documented disabilities. Students should notify the Disability and Educational
Support Program (DESP) at 741-2010 regarding special needs.
- If you have a complaint, or someone
has shared information with you as a student that is unlawful discrimination
or sexual harassment, contact the Associate Vice Chancellor of Human
Resources at the West Valley College District Office at 741-2060.
- The College’s policy on
academic dishonesty covers in-class cheating, out-of-class cheating,
plagiarism, and furnishing false information. Plagiarism is the unauthorized
use of ideas from published or unpublished works as a student’s
own work for a grade in a class. (WVC catalog)
Office Hours:
- Office hours are offered so that you may have additional
time to meet with your Instructor to discuss class projects, papers and
Internet assignments.
- My office hours are posted on my office door
“G”.
- To schedule an appointment at a time other than those
listed, please contact me at 741-2426 or heidi_diamond@wvm.edu.
Grading |
Letter Grade or Credit/No Credit Option |
Attendance, class participation |
10 percent |
Homework |
10
percent |
Test 1 |
20 percent |
Test 2 |
20 percent |
Test 3 |
20 percent |
Business Project |
20 percent |
Updated: May 26, 2008