Gonzales+Syllabus

Business Communication in its Rhetorical Contexts__**
 * __English 205OL (#17218):


 * Instructor: Angelina Gonzales **
 * Office/Hours: M/W 10-11am @ ST 833, and by appointment**
 * Email Address : ** __ angelina.gonzales@csun.edu __
 * Classroom Website:** [|https://webteach.csun.edu]

Development of critical writing, thinking, research, and technology skills in the context of business. Through substantial writing and other work, students will hone their written, oral, and visual communication skills and their ability to find, synthesize, and make arguments based on primary and secondary sources. Emphasis on communication with a diverse audience and case studies about ethical issues common to the local and global business world. This course is required of students who have declared a major in Accountancy, Business Administration, Management, Marketing, Information Systems, or Finance. May also be taken as an elective by other students who wish to enhance their professional communication skills.
 * __Course Description__**

Our entire course will be conducted online via WebCT. For the most part, the course will be asynchronous – that is, it will not be “live.” You are free to log on and off at your convenience, but you must make sure to contribute to the discussions and to submit your assignments by the due dates. However, the first two weeks of course will have a live chat component. This is an important and required component as it will be your chance to “meet” me and ask questions about the course that can be immediately answered. As our course is posted to meet Wednesdays, 4:20-6:45 p.m., these first two meetings will begin at 4:20 p.m. and run for as long as needed for me to give you information about the course and for everyone to ask questions.
 * __Online Course Information__**

In addition, you can always contact me via email to set up an appointment to meet with me in my office in Sierra Tower 833 or via live chat on WebCT.

> (This text is also available via an online-only “e-book.” See []). · //any college-level writing handbook (see me for suggestions)  //
 * __ Required Text __**
 * // Contemporary Business Communication/7th edition //, by Scott Ober
 * __ Recommended Text __**
 * __Technical Requirements__**
 * To access the [|WebCT] system, you will need to have a) access to the internet, b) Microsoft Explorer, Firefox, or Safari, c) an active CSUN email account, and d) Java.
 * For many of the assignments in this class you will need topost an attachment using Microsoft Word. However, I suggest making sure you have access to all of Microsoft Office applications. You will need PowerPoint to do a required presentation at the end of the semester. See the Matador bookstore or [|efollet.com] for student discounts on Microsoft Office software.
 * It is your responsibility to make sure you **attach** documents properly so that they can be viewed by the due date. Forgetting to attach documents, even if you post by the due date, will cause you to be docked for a “non-submittal.”
 * Since we will all be sharing documents, you must have an active anti-virus software on your computer. You are able to download one for free from the CSUN ITR website (see []).

**Important WebCT Links**
Because our whole course will be conducted on WebCT, you will need to orient yourself to the system well in advance of the due dates of assignments. Please look at the links below and read the instructions for WebCT.

1) Student Instructions for Getting Started in WebCT 4: [] Follow the steps in the guide above to get started in an online class WebCT course. You must register for all classes at CSUN the traditional way through TTR or Solar and acquire a CSUN email before getting started in WebCT.

2) Student Instructions for WebCT Assignment Posting []

3) Student Instructions for WebCT Discussion []

· Can't login? If you see the main WebCT login screen repeatedly, despite entering a valid email address and password, then you may need to enable cookies in your web browser's options or preferences area. You can visit the WebCT browser tune-up page to check your computer settings at: []. · If you try to use a Java-based program and Java has not been installed on your system, you will see a message indicating that you need to download "JAVA Virtual Machine." You may download and install Java for free at: []. (Follow the directions for installation, closing your web browser and/or restarting your system.) · Further information about online courses, visit the Office of Online Instruction at: [].
 * __ Common Problems __**



The entire course will be worth 1,000 points and your final grade will depend on how many points you earn, according to the chart below:
 * Course Grading Information **


 * __Grading Scale__**

1000-940 930-900 890-880 870-840 830-800 790-780 || // Letter grade/percentage // 770-740 730-700 690-680 670-640 630-600 590 and less ||
 * // Letter grade/percentage //
 * A **100-94
 * A-** 93-90
 * B+** 89-88
 * B **87-84
 * B-** 83-80
 * C+ **79-78 || // Points //
 * C **77-74
 * C-** 73-70
 * D+** 69-68
 * D** 67-64
 * D-** 63-60
 * F **59 and below || // Points //

Your assignments, which are discussed later in this syllabus, are weighted according to the following scale. You can convert the percentages to points to see how much each is worth. For example, the group project at 30% of your grade is worth 300 points (300 points is 30% of 1,000 points). Please feel free to ask me if you have any questions about the course grading.

· Group Project  30 % § 15% group assignment components § 15% individual assignment components · Responses to Discussion Questions (DQs)  20 % · Writing Assignments 25 % · Common Assessment Assignment  10% · Participation 15%
 * __Grades__**



** THE ONLINE CLASSROOM ** Our classroom will always be at [|https://webteach.csun.edu]. When you login, select our classroom (English 205OL Business Comm. in its Rhetorical Contexts). You will then be brought to our homepage where you will see a number of icons on the page as well as the corresponding menu items along the left-hand side. Clicking on the menu items or icons will bring you to a new page. Each of these pages will be called **forums**.

Following is a list of some of these forums and what their purposes are:

(this is our “main” classroom)
 * Forum...................What is it Used for...............................................Notes **
 * Discussion

“Class Discussions” and “Group Projects” || Submitting responses to questions, responding to one another. You earn your participation points here. There will be a number of “Threads” such as DQs, Questions, etc. All student responses should reply to the original thread. || Discussion Questions will be assigned here. Each will read: // DQ #__:due__ __.__ // Everyone will respond to the DQ here, and also respond to other students’ DQ responses. Aside from major assignment submissions, all class discussions will take place here. || Other forums may be added or changed, as needed. Any changes will be announced in advance.
 * Assignments || Submitting assignments || All non-DQ assignments will be submitted here. Check the due dates! ||
 * Course Resources || Housing important class documents for you to access and read. || Items such as the class syllabus and assignment instructions will be here. There should be no student postings or discussions in this forum. ||
 * Announcements || Highlighting important or last-minute information. || Special reminders, new information, class changes, etc. will be posted here. Check this page regularly. There are no student postings or discussions here. ||
 * Links || Housing links to related websites. || There are a number of links here that can enhance your experience in 205OL. Check these regularly. ||
 * Email || Sending emails to the whole class or some students. || This is an easy way to reach one another. You can email just me, one student, or the whole class. All class-related emails should be sent through this function. ||
 * Chat || Chatting during the first 2 week’s “live” class as well as conducting live discussions with group members. || Our first two classes will have a live chat to help everyone acclimate to the new course. After that, students will use the chat rooms to hold chats with group members. ||

QUESTIONS? See the “Questions” thread on the “Class Discussion” page of the Discussion Forum. In addition to emailing me or seeing me during office hours, you can always submit questions to the “Questions” thread and that way other students might have an answer for you (I will answer you also).

FEELING SOCIAL? There will be a “Break Room” thread in the Discussion Forum where you can chat freely with one another about anything. All other discussion threads should be for class-related discussions only, but the “Break Room” is for any socializing you would like to do! 

** ASSIGNMENTS **

The majority of the work in the second half of the course will focus on the group project. You will be given detailed assignment instructions explaining the expectations, as well as a point break down for the multiple parts of this project. The Course Resources Forum will have copies of instructions for all major assignments. Approximately half of your total “Group Project” grade will be based on individul achievement, while the other half will be based on group achievement.
 * Group Project **

Writing Assignments You will be responsible for approximately 5 individual writing assignments, beyond the DQs and Case Study Assignments. Some of these assignments will be from the textbook; others will be assigned via instructions in the class forums. As we progress, you will be able to find more detailed instructions for each assignment in the forums. The Course Resources Forum will also have copies of instructions for all major assignments.

Discussion Questions (DQs) For the first 12 weeks of the semester, you will be responsible for readings from our text and written responses. The written responses will be based on the reading and your own experience and you will answer related Discussion Questions (DQs) posted in the Discussion Forum. I expect you to include specific information from the week’s readings in each response, and I am looking for 200+ words of thoughtful and well-edited writing. Your initial response to the Discussion Questions will not count toward Participation—these are separate portions of your grade.

Participation Get involved! Your success, enjoyment, and learning in this course are closely related to how you engage the material presented. Your participation grade is based on substantive replies to others’ notes; y ou will have the opportunity to earn participation points every week. Each week (excepting Spring Break week) you need to post at least **three substantive* notes** in the Discussion F orum to earn full participation credit. Your initial response to the Discussion Question does not count towards participation.


 * Substantive notes go beyond "I agree" or "I see your point." Effective responses relate readings, theory, or methods to personal experience, so feel free to comment, critique, and suggest. Think about quality and frequency as you strike up a conversation with your fellow classmates. A substantive response is at least a complete paragraph and well-edited.**

** Netiquette ** Just as society has rules of conduct governing interactions in the face-to-face environment, the virtual community also has rules of conduct for electronic interactions. The term **netiquette** is used to refer to online etiquette. Following these rules will improve the readability of your messages and will help others handle the large volume of information in an online classroom. Recommendations include the following:

· ** Stay on topic. ** While discussion is encouraged in online classrooms, rambling and tangential conversations may not be conducive to a quality learning experience. There will be a designated “Break Room” discussion thread where you are free to socialize and chat about anything. <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt;">· ** Use appropriate subject lines in your replies. ** As a conversation evolves, it’s helpful to change the subject line of a threaded message to reflect the changing topic. For example, if the subject line reads "Oral Presentations" and the conversation has now evolved into a discussion of PowerPoint, change the subject line to “PowerPoint” in your reply. <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt;">· ** Place your message at the top of your replies. ** The new content you provide should be the first thing the reader encounters. The reader can then elect to scroll down to the previous message(s) if necessary. <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt;">· ** Edit others’ messages in your replies. ** Remove the portions of the message to which you are replying that aren't necessary to understanding your comments. Leave just enough of the previous message(s) to place your note in context, or quote or summarize the relevant passage in your own message. You will seldom need to include the entire original message or the full "string" of preceding messages. Conversely, you should seldom eliminate the entire message to which you are responding, leaving no references at all. Don’t make people guess at your meaning, especially if you’re responding to a particular point in a previous message. <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt;">· ** Add multiple comments directly into messages in your replies. ** While a straight-forward reply is usually appropriate, interspersing your comments throughout an original posting may be more effective if you wish to respond to multiple points. For example, interspersing *multiple* comments in the body of the original message *like this* increases the readability of a response that addresses various points. <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt;">· ** Avoid I agree and Me, too! messages. ** Spending time reading messages without substance can be frustrating for all parties. <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt;">· ** Avoid the use of all caps. ** (IT'S LIKE SHOUTING!) Use caps occasionally for strong emphasis, but only for individual words. <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt;">· ** Avoid writing errors, even when "talking" with one another. ** Messages in the Discussion Forum are conversational and often informal; thus, they are prone to occasional grammatical, spelling, and typographical errors. Be sure to consistently post intelligible messages despite the informality of the environment. Type messages and read through them out loud a couple times, and edit carefully before posting. <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt;">· ** Carefully choose the format for your messages **. Long paragraphs are difficult to follow on-screen. As a general rule, limit each paragraph to five to seven lines. Avoid fonts that are difficult to read because of style, color, or size. In addition, do not use stationery, as it adds to download time. <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt;">· ** Avoid responding when emotions are running high. ** For example, if you are angry, put your message aside. Remember, the ability to write and save messages for later review is one of the advantages of asynchronous learning. <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt;">· ** Be aware of your tone. ** Without being able to see one another in person, we miss out on things like intonation and body language, which can help with understanding. Because of this, sometimes jokes and sarcasm can come across as angry or offensive. Again, always make sure to re-read your messages out loud and make sure they say what you want them to, thinking of how others might interpret your words.

**GENERAL CLASS INFORMATION**

Late Work All assignments are required to be submitted by midnight (PST) on the due date indicated on the course schedule. In general, reading and assignments (DQs, etc.) assigned for a week are //due// for that week. For example, reading assigned for Week 2 should be completed before the Week 2 class would take place (Weds @ 4:20 p.m.). Accordingly, the DQs assigned for Week 2 would be due before that Wednesday, no later than midnight on Tuesday. Unless otherwise stated, assignments are always due by midnight on Tuesday of the week it is due.

Late work will only be accepted if you and I have come to some sort of alternate agreement – only with a legitimate and evidenced problem, and with the caveat that you will be docked significant points. You can only earn credit for Discussion Questions and Participation during the designated weeks the work is assigned – no exceptions.

Disability Issues Please email me early in the semester if you require academic accomodations based on a documented disability. Further information: CSUN Center On Disabilities at: []. Policy on Plagiarism Plagiarism is the act of “intentionally or knowingly representing the words, ideas, or work of another as one’s own in any academic exercise” (CSUN catalog, page 553). Plagiarism is grounds for disciplinary action by the university, including expulsion. We will discuss this in class more, but do keep in mind that you should always //do your own work//. Do not use old assignments, friends’ assignments, or anything you download off the internet. Not only are you cheating yourself from actually learning, but you risk a fail in the course and possibly expulsion from CSUN! <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">

** TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE __** // Like all good writing, this document is subject to revision. // -Live chat in the “General Classroom” at 4:20 p.m. -Familiarize yourself with WebCT. DUE: Make sure you have your textbook, post your Introduction during Week One.
 * English 205OL: Business Communication in its Rhetorical Contexts – Spring 2009 **
 * Week 1: 1/21 ** (First Week of Class)

-Read Chapter 1 DUE: DQ2 due in //Class Discussion//, Continuing Case for Ch. 1 due in //Assignments//
 * Week 2: 1/28/09 **

-Read Chapter 2 DUE: DQ3 due in //Class Discussion//
 * Week 3: 2/4/09 **

-Read Chapter 3 -Groups to be Assigned DUE: DQ4 due in //Class Discussion,// Continuing Case for Ch. 2 due in //Assignments,// Email Assignment due in //Assignments//
 * Week 4: 2/11/09 **

-Read Chapter 4 DUE: DQ5 due in //Class Discussion//, Group Progress Report #1
 * Week 5: 2/18/09 **

-Read Chapter 5 DUE: DQ6 due in //Class Discussion,// Memo Assignment (from pg. 170, Ex. #1) due in //Assignments//
 * Week 6: 2/25/09 **

-Read Chapter 6 DUE: DQ7 due in //Class Discussion,// Continuing Case for Ch. 4 due in //Assignments,// Group Progress Report #2
 * Week 7: 3/4/09 **

-Read Chapter 7 DUE: DQ8 due in //Class Discussion,// Continuing Case for Ch. 7 due in //Assignments,// Letter Assignment due in //Assignments//
 * Week 8: 3/11/09 **

-Read Chapter 8 DUE: DQ9 due in //Class Discussion,// Continuing Case for Ch. 8 due in //Assignments//
 * Week 9: 3/18/09 **

-Read Chapters 9 & 10 DUE: Group Progress Report #3 DQ10 (#12 from Ch.10) due in //Class Discussion// Exercise #2 from Ch.9 is due in the //Assignments// forum
 * Week 10: 3/25/09 **

-Read Chapter 11 DUE: DQ11 due in //Class Discussion//
 * Week 11: 4/1/09 **

Catch up on reading and work on your resume!
 * Week 12: Spring Break **

-Read Chapter 12 DUE: DQ12 (last one!) due in //Class Discussion.// Resume due in //Assignments.//
 * Week 13: 4/15/09 **

-Finalize Group Project (PowerPoint presentation) -No participation/posting requirements this week, so use this time to work on finishing your project!
 * Week 14: 4/22/09 **

DUE: Group Final Projects due in //Group// //Projects// forum (this is the only thing you will be posted in the entire forum so ensure whoever in your group is posting the project knows where it is), Progress Report #4
 * Week 15: 4/29/09 **

DUE: Common Assessment Assignment due in //Assignments//
 * Week 16: 5/6/09 **