OADM110 Business Communication

Department of Business Studies: Office Administration

I. Course Number and Title
OADM110 Business Communication
II. Number of Credits
3 credits
III. Minimum Number of Instructional Minutes Per Semester
2250 minutes
IV. Prerequisites
Writing Placement score of 6 or better or COMP107 (C or better)
Corequisites
None
V. Other Pertinent Information
None
VI. Catalog Course Description
This course emphasizes the strategies and techniques of writing letters, memos, and reports. Students develop and refine these skills through assignments that include positive letters, negative letters, and other types of business messages. Students apply these principles for writing and submit a business research report.
VII. Required Course Content and Direction

  1. Learning Goals:

    1. Course
      2. Students will:
      1. identify effective techniques and writing styles for letters, memorandums, and reports in business;
      2. demonstrate the usefulness of pie charts, bar charts, line charts, tables, and other graphic aids found in business reports;
      3. write letters, memorandums, and reports using correct format;
      4. write a formal business report using primary and/or secondary data; and
      5. analyze business report data.

    2. Core (if applicable)
      3. Category I:
      College Level Writing I
       Students will be able to:
      1. tailor academic and professional communication for a culturally diverse audience.
      2. eliminate stereotyping and gender bias from all written communication.
      3. revise documents by editing for content organization, style, readability, mechanics, and format.
      4. articulate requirements for academic integrity and apply appropriate methods for citing and documentation.

      Category III:
      Critical Thinking/Problem Solving
       Students will be able to:
      1. reason from what they know to form new knowledge, draw conclusions, solve problems, explain, decide, and/or predict (Inductive and/or Deductive Reasoning Skills).

      Category III:
      Information Literacy
       Students will be able to:
      1. determine the nature and extent of the information needed.
      2. determine the technologies and information formats appropriate for the information identified.
      3. access needed information effectively and efficiently.
      4. evaluate information and its sources critically and incorporate selected information into their knowledge base and value system.
      5. develop an understanding of many of the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use of information and access and use information legally and ethically.

  • Planned Sequence of Topics and/or Learning Activities:

    1. communicating in the new world of work
    2. expanding communication power: listening, nonverbal, and intercultural skills
    3. analyzing, anticipating, and adapting techniques in the writing process
    4. researching, organizing, and composing in the writing process
    5. revising, proofreading, and evaluating in the writing process
    6. writing direct business letters
    7. writing direct memos
    8. writing negative newsletters
    9. writing persuasive and sales messages
    10. writing goodwill and special messages
    11. writing reports and proposals
    12. report organization and presentation
    13. typical business reports
    14. proposals and formal reports
    15. preparing effective oral presentation
    16. employment communication

  • Assessment Methods for Core Learning Goals:

    1. Course
      2. The assessment of course learning goals is based on quizzes, written assignments, tests, and a written analytical business research report.

    2. Core (if applicable)
      3. Category I:
      College Level Writing I
       Students will be assessed on the following:
      • Students will submit for evaluation formal business letters, direct memos, negative newsletters, persuasive sales messages , goodwill and special messages, and an analytical business research report.
      Category III:
      Critical Thinking/Problem Solving
       Students will be assessed on the following:
      • In their analytical business research report, students will demonstrate the ability to analyze, synthesize, evaluate, summarize, paraphrase and cite textual sources.
      Category III:
      Information Literacy
       Students will be assessed on the following:
      • Writings will be evaluated on their sources of information, including websites, electronic databases, and public records. Students will demonstrate that they are able to incorporate this information without infringing copyright.

  • Reference, Resource, or Learning Materials to be used by Students:

    See course format
    • VIII. Teaching Methods Employed
    Section VIII is not being used in new and revised syllabi as of 12/10/08.

    Review/Approval Date - 2/06; Core Goals/Objectives added - 4/04; Updated 4/06; Revised 1/2010