BA/EN 325 Business Communication

Assignment Details

Winter 2007

Modifications may be made to these assignment details based upon the needs, interests, and progress of students this term.

Being able to use proper grammar is very important for success in this course. If you know this is a challenge for you, please see me right away to resolve this weakness. The Writing Center is designed to help you with clarity of sentences, conciseness, and organizational structure, not proofreading. Make sure that you have the skills to carefully edit your work, as substantial points will be deducted on assignments with grammatical errors. Content is important, but defects diminish the professional impression you want to make. Lois Trachte in Pathways will also help with strategies to improve oral presentations. Additionally, all chapters include exercises to improve your grammar, mechanics, and usage. We will work some of these exercises together in class. I will be happy to review other exercises with you on an individual basis.

Job search skills will also be emphasized through development of a resume, application letter, and interview exposure, so begin to assess your career goals and personal skills now. Start to think of creative ideas to set yourself apart by developing a “visual brand symbol” to use on assignments, letters of application, resumes, etc.

Bring assignments to class in typed form unless you are directed to submit something as an email attachment. Please pay close attention to the instructions for each assignment. Points will be deducted for failure to submit assignments as requested.

1/9 Introduction to course and course mates

Chapter 1: Experiencing Communication in Today’s Technology Enabled World

1/11 Chapter 7: Making Business Letters and Documents Look Attractive on Paper and on the Computer Screen

Chapter 8: Writing Formal Reports, Business Plans, and White Papers

Only pages 182 – 184 on documentation of sources

You are to write a memo, due 1/16, to introduce yourself to me. How do you define who you are? (major, prior work experience, extra-curricular activities, etc.) What are your career goals? In what type of business environment do you hope to work? (Profit/non-profit, Mfg., service, etc.) In what size business and/or geographic location are you interested? What actions have you taken to reach these goals? What do you consider your most important achievements thus far to reach these goals? What technology skills have you developed? How do think your skills distinguish you from other job applicants? What will you do prior to graduation to continue your career growth?

Include a thesis paragraph to introduce the memo and headings to categorize sections of information and reflection. Note: Memos do not have typed complimentary closings and signature lines at the end. Information on memo format is on pages 120 – 128 of your text.

Grading template for introductory memo assignment:

___/10 points content: reflective description of self; sufficient detail about background, interests, achievements and goals; engaging style that connects with the reader

___/10 points editing: memo format is visually appealing; ideas are organized in clear way with thesis sentences for each paragraph; includes good mix of complex, compound, and simple sentences; uses transitional words to connect ideas; eliminates proofreading errors

1/16 Chapter 2: Writing for the Business World Electronically and on Paper

Branding letterhead and business card assignment introduced in class.

Your introductory memo is due.

1/18 Chapter 9: Learning the Three P’s of Oral Presentations: Preparation, Practice, and Presentation

Your first presentation is scheduled for 1/25 or 1/30. Select a business web site not widely used by college students. If you are at all concerned about the appropriateness of a site, please check with me. The possibility of downloading graphics from the site may be a factor in your choice, since you need at least 5 graphics on your PowerPoint slides that will accompany the speech. No content that is demeaning to any group or that is “adult” in focus should be included. A signup sheet will be distributed in class to reserve topics and avoid duplication.

The purpose of the presentation is to persuade your audience of college students to visit the site for their educational, career, or business use. You might include any of the following, but keep your focus around no more than 3 key points:

1. Brief information on the company or organization offering the web site

2. Services offered by the site, especially those relating to student needs and interests

3. Aspects of the site that are new or trendy

4. Success of the site in attracting visitors (if you can research this info elsewhere)

5. Your past experiences and reactions to using the site

Your presentation should be 4 – 6 minutes in length. You must have at least 6 PowerPoint slides with at least 5 graphics to illustrate the content of your presentation. Include a title slide to get the attention of your audience, a slide that includes the 3 main points you will be covering, slides for each of the 3 main points, and a closing slide that summarizes what you have covered. You may use more slides if you prefer. Note that you will lose graphic points if you rely on stock clipart from Microsoft PowerPoint or use standard background templates. Be creative.

PowerPoint should be done on a PC (not a Mac). Save your PowerPoint file to your NASCAR site. Do not use hot links to actual sites for this assignment. If you have storage problems, email your PowerPoint file to me as an attachment a day before your presentation and I will save it to my NASCAR site.

To incorporate a web page's visual content into your presentation, press the Print Screen button twice. Then paste from your clipboard onto PowerPoint slide. If you want only a portion of your screen, paste your image into Photoshop and crop as needed. Some individual graphics on web pages can be saved using a right " Save Image As" command.

Prior to your presentation, print your slides in DRAFT MODE with 3 slides to a page and hand in. Bring a blank videotape (rewound if partially used) so that your presentation can be videotaped for self-evaluation. Based upon student votes, awards will be given to the best presentation and the best slides.

1/23 Chapter 10: Using Technology to Communicate Within Virtual Teams

Your branding exercise is due.

1/25

and

1/30 Presentations on web sites you have researched.

You will be given evaluation packets and asked to evaluate some of your course mates’ presentations. Place specific comments in all sections of the evaluation sheet and be sure to enter numerical ratings. Be ready for vote for “bests” at the end of each class date.

After class, view your videotape and complete all sections of the self-evaluation with specific comments in every section plus clear goals for your final presentation. Your self-evaluation sheet is due on 2/1.

2/1 Chapter 12: Search for Your Career

Begin your resume, either for an internship or a job that you might apply for after graduation. Avoid using the Microsoft resume template – your goal is to set yourself apart from others. Include an objective (even if you remove or revise it later). Your draft is due on 2/8 and the revision is due on 2/20. Be sure to integrate elements of your letterhead branding.

Your presentation self-evaluation is due. Include comments in all sections, plus goals for next presentation.

2/6 Chapter 13: Composing Cover Letters and Resumes

Derek Solheim will join us to discuss interviewing and other job search skills. Multiple activities will be used to help you begin to understand interviewing do’s and don’ts and you will have ample time to ask questions.

We will also discuss opportunities for mock interviews designed for you to gain some interviewing experience. When participating in your mock interview, you should wear suitable business attire, take at least 2 copies of your revised resume, and take paper and pencil/pen for taking appropriate notes. Additionally, you should prepare questions you would like to ask during the interview.

2/8 Chapter 14: Preparing for and Surviving the Interview

Your resume draft is due.

2/13 Exam 1 over Chapters 1, 2, 7, 9 – 10, 12 – 14, and other in-class material

2/15 Technology used for web page development project will be introduced

in class practice with FrontPage

Review the student sites posted at www.wartburg.edu/bus. Questions for reflection:

1. What were the various purposes of the sites you analyzed? How did they differ in purpose?

2. Which of the sites are best? Why? Which sites didn’t hold your interest? Why?

3. Which sites document the skills and experiences of the student?

4. How do pictures and graphics add or detract from the web page? Was loading time a factor in your reaction? What happens if these pages are loaded from slower, modem-based computers?

5. Which pages helped facilitate movement with built in “back” buttons? What other utility functions help the user?

Start work on your professional web site which is due on 3/15. It should include your resume and internal links to at least 3 sub-pages and 3 external links. Include at least one sample of the quality of your work skills. Don’t include pictures of family and friends in this site, though you may include a link to your hometown, etc. External links could include interests that are related to your profession or what makes you unique. Note: this assignment is not identical to some of the samples currently on the web. Be sure to integrate aspects of your branding into your webpage.

The project needs to include at least 3 graphics in gif or jpeg format. With your permission, your work will be posted on the Wartburg web for several months so that others can see your creation! Your goal is to keep this project to 8 or fewer hours of work. Start early as complications often develop until you are familiar with the software. Complete specifications and helpful hints will be provided in a separate handout.

2/20 Chapter 6: Writing Memo’s, E-mails, and Short Reports

Documentation exercise will be introduced

Recommendation report guidelines will be distributed in class. A brief outline is due on 2/27. A complete draft is due on 3/22. Your final report is due on 4/5.

Your revised resume is due. Please staple your draft copy, with my comments, to your revision.

2/22 Chapter 8: Writing Formal Reports, Business Plans, and White Papers

Your documentation exercise is due.

2/27 Chapter 8 continued

Karen Lehmann from Vogel Library will join us to discuss research and information gathering strategies.

Your report outline is due with key decision factors clearly identified.

Wednesday 2/28 Career and Internship Fair

3/1 Work day – class meets to continue working on on-going projects

3/5 – 3/9 Winter Break

3/13 Mock Interviews

Class will not meet to allow students time to participate in mock interviews.

Your thank you letter to your interviewer is due by noon on 3/14. It should be sent as an email attachment to susan.meyeraan@wartburg.edu for feedback before sending it to the interviewer.

3/15 Chapter 5: Writing Persuasively on Paper and in Electronic Formats

Begin preparation of a solicited job application letter, due in draft form on 3/20. A final version is due on 3/29. Choose a specific company and job that interest you and prepare an application letter for this position (either an internship or a job after graduation).

All application letters refer to the job sought in the first paragraph and may include where the writer learned of the opening. The middle paragraphs interpret the resume by explaining the writer’s educational, work and personal qualifications (though not necessarily in that order). This section helps the reader understand what makes the writer a top candidate for the position. The last paragraph refers to the resume and refers to the next steps in the application process.

This is one of the most important letters you will ever write, so proof very carefully. Incorporate your brand image and try to avoid phrasings taken from Pathways Center sample letters, and don’t end with “Thank you for your time and consideration” (everyone else uses these – set yourself apart). Put ideas into your own words to come across as sincere and unique. Get feedback from a variety of people to keep improving it. Make sure that the letter sells you and what you can do for this potential employer.

Your web project is due. Details on how to submit it will be provided in class.

3/20 Chapter 4: Learning to Deliver Bad News

negative news exercise completed during class

Your draft version of your application letter is due.

3/22 Chapter 3: Learning to Write Directly Electronically and on Paper

Your completed draft of the recommendation report is due. This should include a listing of your works cited and a first attempt at your transmittal.

3/27 Brochure development project introduced

in class practice with brochure templates

This project will involve developing a tri-fold brochure for the product/service you will be recommending in your recommendation report/presentation.

3/29 Conferences on recommendation report drafts – no class meeting

Class will not meet to allow teams to meet individually with me. A meeting schedule will be distributed in class. Please come prepared with questions about how to improve your final report.

Your revised application letter is due. Please staple your draft copy, including my comments, to your revision.

4/3 Chapter 15: Understanding the Challenges of Ethical Communication

4/5 Chapter 11: Communicating in Meetings and by Telephone

Your completed written recommendation report is due. Please submit your outline and draft copy, including my comments, with your completed report.

Your brochure project is also due.

4/10 Exam 2 over Chapters 3 – 6, 8, 11, 15, and in-class material

4/12 Presentations

Share the results of your recommendation report research with your course mates. Supplement your presentation with PowerPoint slides that illustrate the options you researched. Make sure your speech includes a clear statement of how you have organized the presentation. The order of the presentation need not parallel the order of your written report, but make sure it states clearly why you selected one option. Each presentation team has 9 to 11 minutes and should include all members equally in the delivery.

Be prepared to hand in a printed copy of your slides, printed in DRAFT mode, 3 per page. You will be given evaluation packets and asked to evaluate some of your course mates’ presentations. Place specific comments in all sections of the evaluation sheet plus be sure to enter numerical ratings. Based upon student votes, awards will be given to the best presentation and the best slides.

4/17 3:00 – 5:00 Section 1 Presentations continue

4/18 3:00 – 5:00 Section 2 Presentations continue

If you have any questions, ASK!!!

Knowing when and how to ask questions is an important part of effective communication.