InstructorCourse DescriptionRequired TextCourse PoliciesAssignments and GradingBlackboard SiteUniversity of South Carolina Honor CodeCourse SyllabusMGMT 250: Professional CommunicationFall 2014 / Lisa Bailey / University of South Carolina Classroom – DMSB 121Sections 16, 17, 18, 21Mon./Wed./Fri. 8:30-9:20; 9:40-10:30; 10:50-11:40; 12:00-12:50InstructorLisa BaileyEmail: [email protected] is usually the best way to contact me outside of class.Office: DMSB 206-G Office hours: Mon./Wed. 2:00-3:00 p.m. / other times by appointment / passing times between classes MWF 9:20-9:40; 10:30-10:50; 11:40-12:00; 12:50-1:10 in DMSB 121Course DescriptionThe purpose of this course is to improve your ability to communicate effectively in a professional environment. We will learn how to better communicate on all levels – as readers as well as writers, as listeners as well as speakers. We will review various communication techniques including report and letter writing, collaborative writing, using reading and listening skills, conducting research, and oral reporting. To build these skills, you willcomplete readings, submit written assignments, make oral presentations, summarize and respond to readings and oral presentations, and work together in groups with other students. Research suggests that frequent practice is the most effective way to improve reading, writing, listening and oral communication skills, so this course is taught as a workshop that emphasizes student participation over lecture. You are expected to actively participate in each class session by keeping up with readings, discussing lecture topics, listening carefully to the instructor and fellow students in class, doing frequent short writing assignments, providing feedback to fellow students, and making informal presentations to the class. You will read, listen attentively, produce written work, make a presentation, and/or provide feedback to other students almost every day. You will hone your listening, attention, and focusing skills every single class period. Your active participation in class and performance on short homework assignments, in-class assignments and listening/reading quizzes is worth 20% of your course grade. Upon successful completion of MGMT 250, students will be able to:- understand fundamental business communication concepts, models and strategies;- plan, organize and write a variety of business documents including emails, letters, memos, and short reports;- plan, write and deliver business presentations;- conduct comprehensive research on relevant business topics and properly annotate and cite research sources;- produce collaborative business presentations and written documents; - analyze their own and their peers’ documents and presentations to facilitate revision;1- evaluate business scenarios both independently and collaboratively to create and communicate solutions;- use rhetorical strategies to analyze communication situations and audiences in specific contexts and select the most effective communication strategies and delivery methods;- respond in a rhetorically flexible and resourceful manner when confronted with new communication tasks;- incorporate issues of effective document design;- use current business communication technologies, and possess the ability to flexibly and resourcefully adapt to new technologies as they emerge.Required TextLocker, K. (2014). Business Communication, Custom Edition. New York: McGraw Hill.Course Policies- Come to class prepared each day. Finish all required reading and assignments before class, and bring your textbook and any other assigned reading to every class meeting.- Classroom behavior models appropriate business behavior. All students participate fully in each class session and respect one another. Please refrain from carrying on side conversations with other students when we are having class lecture or discussion, and please refrain from using phones, earphones, or other electronic devices during class.- Treat this classroom as a work environment in which you try to put your best foot forward, and act professionally and maturely.- Our class time each week is extremely important. You will be expected to pay attention, focus, and listen attentively to your instructor and classmates. Many of your in-class assignments will be geared to test your ability to listen to what is happening in the classroom. Your class participation grade (20% of your overall grade in this class) will be lowered each time you fail to pay attention to what we are doingin class. In other words, your grade will be lowered if you are having side conversations during class, reading the newspaper or materials that are not required for MGMT 250, if you are texting or looking atyour phone, or if you are working on your computer for something other than a MGMT 250 assignment.- All written work done outside of class must be printed on a laser-quality printer in the appropriate business format (memo, letter, etc.). I do not accept late work or work submitted electronically.- Class attendance is mandatory and you will complete graded work almost every day. Absences are penalized according to university policy – 1 letter grade if you miss 10% (more than 4) of our scheduled class periods, and failure of the course if you miss 25% of our scheduled class periods.- You are bound by university policy regarding plagiarism, which includes severe punishments up to and including expulsion from the university. If you are unclear about the rules regarding plagiarism, check with the instructor prior to turning in an assignment.Assignments and Grading Assignments Graded Based on Your Individual Work (75% of course grade)2- Class Participation / In-class Assignments / Homework / Listening & Reading Quizzes – (20%) (work done in class such as short, unannounced quizzes, short presentations, short writing assignments, peer review sessions, class discussions, and short homework assignments)- Book Project – (10%) - Writing Portfolio – (15%) (a portfolio of business correspondence)- Midterm Performance Review/Self-Assessment – (5%)- Annotated Research Bibliography – (10%) (an annotated collection of sources for your research project)- Individual Oral Report – (10%) (a five-minute business report)- Final Evaluation of Team Project – (5%) (a short written evaluation of your team project)Assignments Graded Based on Your Work with a Team (25% of course grade)- Team Project Plan –