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Canyon College

COURSE SYLLABUS: Business Communications

Course Title:	Business Communications
Department:	Business
Instructor:	Duane A. Franceschi, M.S. E-Mail - Vita
Prerequisites:	None

Course Objectives:
Good communications is a universal essential in all business. The Business Communications student will learn the forms of business communication, verbal and non-verbal communications and the challenging need for excellence in communication. The newest forms of sending messages - e-mail, the Internet, fax, long distance - as well as more common forms of communicating messages from point A to point B, such as the typewritten word and the US mail system - are covered.

The course covers writing letters, proposals, resumes, application letters, memos, intercultural messages and more. Communicating good news as well as bad news is covered. The fundamentals of proper business writing, usage of grammar, format, style and layout of business documents are presented. The student will be graded on how well he/she uses correct grammar to solve today's multi-faceted business problems using modern forms of communication.

Purpose of the Course:
Demographic trends suggest that today's workforce in business will face ever-tougher competition obtaining jobs and vying for top corporate positions. Simply put, today's business oriented students, be they self employed individuals, persons already in the corporate world or resent college graduates will have to wait longer to get ahead.

Those with outstanding communications skills will have an advantage, and Business Communications can give them that crucial edge.

By presenting vivid insights into real-life business situations and employing a lively, conversational writing style, the course captures the dynamics of business communications in an easy to read and understand format. Students are drawn into the subject matter via real world examples taken from actual business papers, helping them understand the importance of developing excellent communication skills, and preparing them to obtain and pursue satisfying business careers.

Requirements:
The student will be required to read the chapters in the text as they are assigned, and to keep up with the written assignments for each chapter. The majority of the grade for the course will be based upon the student's ability to communicate the message in a concise and well-articulated manner.

Readings: Online Book Store
The required text is Business Communication Today, 7th Edition, by Bovee, Thill and Schatzman. Prentice Hall, a Simon and Schuster Company, Saddle River, NJ, 2002. ISBN: 0130928585

Conferences:
Students may communicate with the instructor via E-mail at any time. Normal response time will be within 24 hours from receipt of message. (francesc@canyoncollege.edu). The instructor will also be available in 2-hour time blocks, three times per week. This schedule will be announced at registration.

Exams:
There will be 6 exams: A mid-term, a final exam, and 4 quizzes during the 8-week course. In addition, the student will be required to express him/herself competently in several communication problems, to the satisfaction of the Instructor.

Grades:
Course work will be weighed per the following scale:

Quizzes	10%
Writing Exercises	30%
Midterm	30%
Final	30%

Grading Scale:

90-100	A - Excellent
80-89	B - Above Average
70-79	C - Average
60-69	D - Below Average
59 or below	F - Failing Grade