SPCH 175 Business Communications

This course encompasses the vital components of business communication applicable to any employment setting: business writing, interpersonal business communication, business etiquette and professionalism, and business communications utilizing technology. Students will create a business writing portfolio, an individual presentation, and work together with a team to create a group presentation, using current technologies and learning to communicate in diverse environments.

Credits

3

Prerequisite

Eligible to enroll in ENGL 121

Hours Weekly

3 hours weekly

Course Objectives

1. Explain the importance of oral and written communication in business, demonstrate appropriate and ethical use of various methods of communication in formal and informal environments, and discuss the appropriate use of different channels of written and oral communication.
2. Discuss the importance of presence, body language, and listening skills in business communications, and describe tools and techniques that can be used to improve these skills.
3. Discuss, describe, and demonstrate techniques one can use to create an audience-centered focus, including using bias-free language, a "you" focus, and clear and concise language.
4. Create well-designed and professional business messages, including documents to be used internally (such as meeting agendas, meeting minutes, informative messages, team-focused messages, criticism, response messages), externally (such as business reports, business letters), and for a job search, which demonstrate knowledge, audience focus, clear purpose, writing skill, and language mastery.
5. Create well-designed, professional, and audience-appropriate visual media, including a presentation using slides and other visual aids.
6. Identify ways to collaborate in business within a team and across multiple teams.
7. Use current technology, including online collaboration software, video conferencing, and group messaging tools, to organize and participate in meetings and to streamline team communications.
8. Develop tools and demonstrate skills needed to prepare for a job interview, and describe effective strategies for recruiting and selecting job applicants.
9. Propose solutions to challenges that may occur in communication, especially across cultures in a global marketplace.
10. Adapt topic, goals, and language of presented material as appropriate for the audience, purpose, and context.
11. Use clear language and a purposeful, consistent organizational pattern, with an introduction, body, and conclusion, to create a cohesive business presentation.
12. Support presentations through careful analysis and research, citing sources and using information gathered to support communication goals and establish one's credibility.
13. Demonstrate the ability to speak effectively in front of a group, using techniques such as clear diction, appropriate volume, body language, tone, and pacing.

Course Objectives

1. Explain the importance of oral and written communication in business, demonstrate appropriate and ethical use of various methods of communication in formal and informal environments, and discuss the appropriate use of different channels of written and oral communication.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments
2. Discuss the importance of presence, body language, and listening skills in business communications, and describe tools and techniques that can be used to improve these skills.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments
   • Team Project

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Other (please fill out box below)
3. Discuss, describe, and demonstrate techniques one can use to create an audience-centered focus, including using bias-free language, a "you" focus, and clear and concise language.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments
   • Team Project

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Other (please fill out box below)
4. Create well-designed and professional business messages, including documents to be used internally (such as meeting agendas, meeting minutes, informative messages, team-focused messages, criticism, response messages), externally (such as business reports, business letters), and for a job search, which demonstrate knowledge, audience focus, clear purpose, writing skill, and language mastery.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Other (please fill out box below)

   Oral Communication

   • OC1
5. Create well-designed, professional, and audience-appropriate visual media, including a presentation using slides and other visual aids.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Presentation

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Other (please fill out box below)

   Oral Communication

   • OC2
6. Identify ways to collaborate in business within a team and across multiple teams.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Team project

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Other (please fill out box below)
7. Use current technology, including online collaboration software, video conferencing, and group messaging tools, to organize and participate in meetings and to streamline team communications.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Team project

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Other (please fill out box below)

   Oral Communication

   • OC4
8. Develop tools and demonstrate skills needed to prepare for a job interview, and describe effective strategies for recruiting and selecting job applicants.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Mock interview and writing assignment

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Other (please fill out box below)

   Oral Communication

   • OC3
9. Propose solutions to challenges that may occur in communication, especially across cultures in a global marketplace.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments
10. Adapt topic, goals, and language of presented material as appropriate for the audience, purpose, and context.

    Learning Activity Artifact

    • Other (please fill out box below)
    • Team business presentation

    Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

    • Oral Communication Rubric

    Oral Communication

    • OC1
11. Use clear language and a purposeful, consistent organizational pattern, with an introduction, body, and conclusion, to create a cohesive business presentation.

    Learning Activity Artifact

    • Other (please fill out box below)
    • Team business presentation

    Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

    • Oral Communication Rubric

    Oral Communication

    • OC2
12. Support presentations through careful analysis and research, citing sources and using information gathered to support communication goals and establish one's credibility.

    Learning Activity Artifact

    • Other (please fill out box below)
    • Team business presentation

    Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

    • Oral Communication Rubric

    Oral Communication

    • OC3
13. Demonstrate the ability to speak effectively in front of a group, using techniques such as clear diction, appropriate volume, body language, tone, and pacing.

    Learning Activity Artifact

    • Other (please fill out box below)
    • Team business presentation

    Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

    • Oral Communication Rubric

    Oral Communication

    • OC4