Syllabus

COMM 2253 Communication in the Workplace
 Instructor, Scott Maiorca TR 12:30 - 1:45 SPRING 2015 Horace Mann, 332
Contact information: Email: dmaiorca@ecok.edu and scott.maiorca@gmail.coms Office: Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center, 108 Skype ID: scott.maiorca Virtual Office hours: MW, 11-12, Office Hours:T/TH by appointment

 Textbook: Communicating for Results: A Guide for Business and the Professions, Cheryl Hamilton, 10th ed., Wadsworth Publishing, 2014. ISBN-13: 978-1-111-84216-1. Online textbook purchase: http://www.cengagebrain.com/shop/index.html

 UNIVERSITY MISSION STATEMENT: East Central University's mission is to foster a learning environment in which students, faculty, staff, and community interact to educate students for life in a rapidly changing and culturally diverse society. Within its service area, East Central University provides leadership for economic development and cultural enhancement.
 GENERAL EDUCATION PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT: East Central University embodies its commitment to the values of a liberal arts education through its general education requirement, which is designed to assist students in attaining the knowledge, skills, and attitudes recognized by the University as fundamental to every educated person’s understanding of and response to the world. A liberal arts education contributes to the development of informed, responsible citizens capable of promoting and maintaining a free society, and it provides individuals a foundation for making those ethical, logical, technological, and ecological decisions requisite to effective participation in such a society.

 GENERAL EDUCATION PROGRAM MISSION STATEMENT: As part of a liberal arts education that inducts students into an intellectual community in preparation for and enhancement to disciplinary majors, the General Education Program at East Central University provides students the integrated and thorough foundation needed to reflect critically on information, to understand and acknowledge the diversity of life and cultures, to see the relationships among concepts, and to appreciate the interrelatedness of academic areas. Program Outcomes
 LEARNING OUTCOME 1: Communication Students demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively in multiple contexts.
 LEARNING OUTCOME 2: Intellectual Skills Students demonstrate the ability to comprehend and process concepts, to establish relationships within and among disciplines, and to interpret and evaluate information for knowledge-building and decision-making.
 LEARNING OUTCOME 3: Information Literacy Students demonstrate the ability to find, evaluate, and use information effectively and appropriately for any given learning situation
. LEARNING OUTCOME 4: Intercultural Knowledge Students demonstrate the ability to recognize the complexity of culture, their own as well as others, and see themselves as members of a global community.

 ORAL COMMUNICATION COURSES: 1. Students should meaningfully and coherently organize their ideas. 2. Students should deliver an original presentation for a definite purpose. 3. Students should critically assess other’s oral or expressed messages. 4. Students should use computers for word processing, spreadsheet, database, and electronic communication applications. 5. Students should demonstrate a basic skill level of communicating with deaf and hard-of-hearing persons. 6. Students should communicate at the novice-mid level in a second language. Course Description: • Fundamental communication skills for students planning to enter business/professional settings. • Central focus: interpersonal and group communication, and public speaking. This class provides general education credit.

 Course Objectives: • Define and explain basic communication terms and principles needed in competent business and professional communication situations by demonstrating knowledge of various probable outcomes and impacts that would result from different communicative choices. • Demonstrate knowledge of theory and competence through experiential assignments in listening, interviewing, problem-solution team meetings, preparing and presenting informative and persuasive messages.

 Topical Outline I. Elements of Human Communication A. The Communication Process l. Perspectives 2. Functions B. General Communication Skills l. Language 2. Nonverbal Communication 3. Listening 4. Problem Solving & Conflict Management II. Business/Professional Arenas A. Working in Teams l. Team Characteristics 2. Team Communication 3. Team Meetings 4. Team Problem Solving B. Interviews l. Preparation 2. Conduct 3. Types C. Presentations l. Development 2. Organization 3. Support 4. Delivery 5. Informing and Persuading Course Requirements & Evaluation:

  • To pass the course you must complete all assigned outlines, examinations, and prepare and deliver all speech presentations; and all work must be handed in or presented by the due date to receive full credit. •

assignments POINTS EARNED POINTS POSSIBLE Impromptu 1 25
IMPROMPTU 2 25
Video Essay 1 50
 Encomium 50
 Informative Speech 100
Persuasive Speech 200
Group Presentation 250
Communication Movie 100
Quizzes 100
 Digital Resume 100
EXTRA CREDIT Non Verbal Scavenger Hunt 10
Encomium Review 5
Informative Review 10
Persuasive Review 10
Group Review 10
Unassigned 5

 • It is department policy that students who miss more than 9 classes of a three-credit hour course be failed or drop the course. • Regular class attendance and participation are expected. • A grade of “0” will be given for missed exams or speeches unless the student has a valid excuse for missing class as described in the University policy for excused absences. These exams or speeches must still be completed or see the first bulleted item in this list (That’s right, you will fail the course, not just the missed assignment!).

· I follow the new university policy on excused absences.  After 3 unexcused absences, each additional absences will result in a 3.33 drop in this grade.  Also, see department policy earlier on 9 absences.

. • It is the student’s responsibility when absent to notify the instructor and arrange for assignments or assigned speaking date.
 • Quizzes will be posted once a week on Edmodo. All quizzes must be completed by the day before the first class of the week meets. Quizzes will primarily cover the assigned reading from the book, but will overlap with the class time activities and lectures. Quiz values will vary weekly but will equal 100 points on the final grade. •

All cell-phones, i-Pods, and any other electronic device you have or can conceive of will be turned off during class unless specifically agreed to by the professor for cause.

 • Plagiarism and/or cheating will result in an F in the course.

 • Classroom Etiquette: • Turn off all cell phone devices before the start of each class. Students who continually disrupt class with electronic devices will be asked to leave class.

 • If you should arrive late to class, please don’t enter the classroom while a student is making a presentation. Wait outside until that student has finished, and then enter. Repetitive late arrival is unacceptable and sends negative messages to fellow class members and the instructor.
 • Respect the opinions, values, and contributions of others.
• All students should adhere to the appropriate dress policy on presentation dates– casual business/school attire is acceptable – flip flops, shorts, tank tops, and baseball caps are examples of inappropriate dress and should be avoided.

 Readings & Assignments: • Students are expected to study the assigned readings and prepare answers to the assigned study questions BEFORE class discussions.
 • Assignments are due at the beginning of class. Late work is discouraged and subject to final grade reduction.
 • All work should be typed.
 • Quizzes/Exams are only given once. If you are aware you may miss a quiz/exam, please make alternative arrangements prior to the quiz/exam date with your instructor. Once the exam has been administered to the class, no make-ups will be allowed.
 • Students should be aware of their current grade via Edmodo.

 Writing Across the Curriculum In keeping with the university’s emphasis on writing proficiency, all student produced writing will be expected to reflect clear content, coherent and organized structure, and adherence to the stylistic and mechanical standards articulated by the professor. The ECU Writing Center offers free assistance for any student working on any writing task. The trained staff can help you understand an assignment, get started with ideas, develop your thesis, revise your draft, or learn to proof read your own work. The Writing Center is located in Faust Hall 147; you may reach them by phoning 580-559-5312. You can also find many valuable handouts and on-line resources via their web page: www.ecok.edu/writingcenter

 Academic Integrity The university policy on Academic Integrity applies to this course (as well as all others at ECU). Students caught engaging in any form of plagiarism or collusion on any assignment, quiz, or presentation will be automatically withdrawn from the class with a failing grade.

 ADA Statement: East Central University is committed to providing equal access to University programs and services for all students. Under university policy and federal and state laws, students with documented disabilities are entitled to reasonable accommodations to ensure the student has an equal opportunity to perform in class. If any member of the class has such a disability and needs special academic accommodations, please report to Student Support Services, Room 155 Administration Building, as soon as possible. Reasonable accommodations may be arranged after Student Support Services has verified your situation. Contact the Academic Affairs Office if any assistance is needed in this process. * * * * * * The instructor reserves the right to alter any assignment or policy at any time in the course of the semester. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of course changes. * * *