ENGLISH LIT 344 / COMEDY & SATIRE / SYLLABUS

ENG 220: Business Communication
Fall 2007 / October 29 - December 23, 2007

SYLLABUS

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Instructor Information
Textbook
Course Description and Goals
Grading Policies
Academic Honesty Policy
Attendance Policy

Students with Disabilities
Assignments & Schedule
Online Course Structure / Blackboard Tools
General Expectations and Other Supplemental Information
Off Campus Library Services
Technical Support

Instructor Information:

• Dr. George Wilkerson has had successful careers in business and industry, as well as education. Most recently he was employed by Lockheed-Martin as an Editor at the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory. Prior to that, he worked for General Electric's Corporate Research and Development Center in Niskayuna, New York as a Technical Editor, Training Developer, and IT Leader. While there he was awarded a patent for an automated proposal development and production process. Prior to joining General Electric, George was employed by Radian International, an environmental engineering firm, to coordinate the writing and production of proposals for submission to government, private, and foreign clients. During his tenure there, he was responsible for the acquisition of more than $100M in contracts. Before joining Radian, he spent more than 10 years as a private contractor developing end-user documentation and computer supported training for companies like Dell Computers, IBM, and the Shell Petroleum Corporation. He also prepared accounting software documentation and authored newspaper and magazine articles. He has written trade books, texts, and reference manuals, and has won awards for his marketing brochures and fliers.
SNHU e-mail address: george.wilkerson@snhu.edu
Home Phone: 518.346.6414 / Best Time to Call: between 5 and 10pm

Textbooks

Title: ”Business and Administrative Communication”
Author: Kitty Locker
Publisher: McGraw Hill,
ISBN#: 0-07-296446-4

Course Description and Goals
This course is a practical introduction to the preparation of business correspondence, employment applications and resumes and formal research reports. Written communication skills are emphasized.

Course Goals :

To understand some of the features and processes of technical and professional discourse.

To adapt to the constraints of specific rhetorical situations, including audiences, purposes, and uses.

To develop strategies for accommodating multiple audiences in one document and for accommodating both technical and lay audiences.

To learn strategies for making documents accessible and user-centered.

To learn to use the elements of document design, including type, spacing, and color

To integrate tables and figures in a user-centered format.

To develop individual and collaborative writing processes appropriate for technical documents.

To learn conventions for common technical documents such as correspondence, reports, proposals, and instructions.

To refine writing style for more strategic clarity, concision, coherence, cohesion, and emphasis.

To work within limited time frames under budgetary constraints.

Course Objectives:

Analyze the communication situation fully and accurately: needs, audiences, and users.

Gather, interpret, and document information logically, efficiently, and ethically.

Develop professional work and teamwork habits.

Design usable, clear, persuasive, accessible documents:

Select the appropriate format for presenting information.

Organize information using reader-based principles.

Use graphics effectively.

Develop an effective, clear writing style.

Grading Policies
Grades in this course are calculated on the basis of contributions to the class and weekly assignments.

Class Contributions:
Online Discussion is graded as pass/fail. The requirement for passing is a minimum of three contributions on three different days for each week’s discussion item. Discussions constitute 40% of the final grade and papers are 60%.

Weekly Assignments:
The grade for each paper is based on the level of accomplishment*, as follows.

*In some instances, the opportunity to resubmit a paper to make it acceptable may be given.

Letter grades and their equivalent numerical values are shown below:

Letter Grade	Numerical Equivalent	Points
A	95-100	4.00
A-	90-94	3.67
B+	86-89	3.33
B	83-85	3.00
B-	80-82	2.67
C+	76-79	2.33
C	73-75	2.00
C-	70-72	1.67
D+	65-69	1.33
D	60-64	1.00
F	0-59	0.00

I	Incomplete
IF	Incomplete/Failure
W	Withdrawn

NOTE: : If there are any serious problems which preclude a student being able to complete the course in a timely manner they are likely to appear on the first assignment. In such situations, the instructor may recommend that the student drop the class. If extenuating circumstances preclude the student finishing the course on time, an Incomplete may be awarded provided the student submits a request for said grade at least two weeks prior to the end of the term. [See further details in the Withdrawal Policy, below.]

Attendance Policy
While Online Education classes are generally asynchronous, they are not correspondence or self paced. Although only a portion of students grades are tied to discussion, participation is MANDATORY. As noted above, students must attend (defined as logging in to the blackboard classroom and interacting; posting questions, thoughts, homework assignments, etc.) class during the first week, and at least three times, on three separate days per week thereafter. Failure to “attend” during the first week will result in an automatic withdrawal. Extended absences, defined as failure to post into the Blackboard classroom for more than five days, must be coordinated with the instructor. Students who fail to coordinate any such absence with the instructor may be withdrawn at the instructor’s discretion, and a tuition refund will be granted in accordance with university policy, based on the last date of login.

Participation Policy
As ongoing collaboration and dialogue are essential for effective online course delivery, it is imperative that students participate regularly. Those who do not participate regularly according to the guidelines outlined above may receive no credit for participation, and are subject to course failure at the discretion of the instructor.

Discussion Rubric Successful professionals generally need to, and take pride in, expressing themselves in a way that shows them in their best light. Students may not even be aware of it, but people draw conclusions about them based on they write.

The primary concern with posts to the Discussion Board is that they be thoughtful and subsrtantial. Simply posting "That was a great idea!" doesn’t tell the reader whose idea is being talked about about, nor does it explain what makes the idea so great. Saying "That was a great idea, Susan!" pasting Susan's idea into the reply, and extending it with addition thoughts about it is optimal. (On occasion, if a post is especially good, the instructor will respond to it as a way of illustrating the expectations for this requirement.)

Students should also note that if a post to the Discussion Board makes one appear to be less competent, what he or she has to say may not be taken seriously by others in the class (and likewise by the instructor). Therefore, spelling and grammatical errors are pointed out because such corrections can help make the student a better writer; however, such comments are never posted to the discussion board. Instead, an e-mail is sent to the student with suggestions for improvement

Furthermore, if a student is responding to another student, copying and pasting all or part of the comment being responded to into the student’s response is encouraged. The person's name should also be mentioned.

Withdrawal Policy:
Once a student has missed enough discussions and/or fallen behind in submitting assignments such that I believe the student cannot meet the goals of the course within the remaining time frame, the student may be given a failing grade, withdrawn from the course, or be considered for an incomplete at the instructor’s discretion. A student may receive a grade of incomplete (“I”) only if the student and instructor have agreed, in advance, to a plan or schedule for completion. Withdrawal is allowed due to lack of attendance or unusual circumstances, not as a method to prevent failing grades. No withdrawals are permitted during the last week of the term.

Academic Honesty Policy
Southern New Hampshire University requires all students to adhere to high standards of integrity in their academic work. Academic dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated by the university. Students involved in such activities are subject to serious disciplinary action. This includes course failure, academic suspension, and expulsion from the university.
[NOTE: Technological tools may be used to detect plagiarism or cheating at the instructor’s discretion.]

Definitions of Academic Dishonesty

1. Cheating
a) The unauthorized use of notes, textbooks, oral, visual or electronic communication, or other aids during an exam, quiz, or other related course assignment.
b) The copying of the work of another student during an exam, quiz, or course assignment.

2. Plagiarism
a) The use, whether by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the published or unpublished work of another without full and clear acknowledgement through proper citation format.
b) the submission of an assignment or parts of an assignment written by someone other than the student, including but not limited to, other students, commercial organizations, and electronic sources.

3. Misrepresentations
a) The substitution of another student/individual for completion of a course, or during the taking of a quiz, examination or other assignment.

4. Unauthorized collaboration
a) The sharing of quiz/exam questions or answers with another student without the instructors permission.
b) The copying of another student’s papers, homework or any assignment without the instructor’s permission.
c) Group collaboration on individual assignments without the instructor’s permission.

5. Alteration or fabrication of data
a) The submission of data not obtained by the student during the course of research.
b) The deceitful alteration of data obtained by the student during the course of research.

6. Duplication
a) The submission of the same or similar paper in more than one course without the express permission of the instructor.

7. Participation in or facilitation of dishonest academic activities
a) The stealing of quizzes or examinations.
b) The alteration of academic records, including grades.
c) The sabotaging of the work of another student.
d) The distribution of materials for the purpose of cheating.
e) The alteration, forging, or misuse of university-related documents.
f) The intentional reporting of a false violation of academic integrity.
g) The offer of a bribe to any university member in exchange for special consideration or favors.
h) The misuse of university resources, including library resources (print and electronic) and facilities, computer labs, university equipment and networks, etc.

This list is by no means comprehensive, but is representative of any actions completed in the spirit of academic dishonesty for which the university’s policy on Academic Integrity might apply. It is the student’s responsibility to seek clarification from an instructor if the student has questions about what constitutes academic dishonesty.

ADA/504 Compliance Statement
Southern New Hampshire University is committed to and concerned with meeting the needs of students challenged by physical, sensory, psychiatric and/or learning disabilities. At the beginning of each term, or as soon as you become aware of a disability, we encourage you to request those accommodations which you need to meet your academic goals. To ensure that all of your needs are met, the University recommends that you meet with one of the following individuals who will assist you in making contact with appropriate faculty members and support services staff regarding accommodations:

For questions concerning compliance matters, grievance or legal issues:
Jet Goldberg
Coordinator of Counseling Services, Wellness Ctr.
603-645-9679
j.goldberg@snhu.edu

For questions concerning support services, documentation guidelines, or general issues:

Assignments & Schedule
There are three kinds of assignments in this course: reading, posting, and writing.* The reading assignments are from the textbook. The posting assignments are done on the class web site in response to a discussion item posted each week. The writing assignment is a paper written with a particular focus on one of the topics in the course.

The reading and writing assignments for each week and the due dates for the writing assignments are shown on the ASSIGNMENTS page. Reading assignments are from the textbook, documents provided by the instructor, or through links to online material. The writing assignments are due no later than midnight of the date shown.

Because the final assignment will most likely require more than one week to complete, students should begin work on it early enough to have it ready by the time the readings are discussed and the paper is due.

Online Course Structure / Blackboard Tools
Your course is organized through Blackboard CourseInfo. Below are the tools in your class, how we will be using them, and expectations associated with each. Take time to acclimate yourself to the tools and contact me if have questions.

Button
How each tool and the sub tools or documents within are to be used; the expectations associated with this area, and any other relevant information.
AnnouncementsPosted as necessary; check this area daily
Course Information Background info, grading policy, etc; if material is added here, I will notify you via the announcements
Course DocumentsHere is where I will post commentary, links, and exemplary students papers
Assignments As it says; they are posted here
Communication Check the forums in the discussion boards on a daily basis; feel free to comment on others or post your own.
Student Tools These are generally self explanatory; use the Digital Drop Box to submit assignments; if you have questions, send me an e-mail (that’s one of the tools)
External Links I’ve posted some of these to support your reading; read the policy on plagiarism carefully to avoid misusing them
Faculty Information BB says “Staff Information”; if you’re curious about your instructor, check this out

General Expectations and Other Supplemental Information

Expectations for Students
Assignments and due dates are firm. The electronic date stamp on each assignment must be no later than midnight of the date due. This means you have to schedule carefully in order to have your work submitted on time. If you have a problem meeting an assignment deadline, you must contact me to let me know when you will have your work to me. I have to plan my schedule too and I will respond promptly to questions and problems but you are responsible for letting me know when you need help.

All of your written work must follow the conventions of standard English; if your writing errors are so distracting that I cannot understand the content of your work, your grade will be affected. At the very least, spell check your work. If you have someone you can call on to proofread for you, all the better. You or someone else must proofread for typos and. I also expect you to know how to use the correct MLA documentation. You can reach it at the Dr. Write web site http://www.drwrite.com/home/

Expectations for the Instructor
I will do my best to respond to questions or problems within 48 hours of receiving a direct email from you and more quickly if it’s posted to the BlackBoard site. I check my email [gwilkers@nycap.rr.com] several times a day. I also check in to the Blackbaord site regularly. I will return assignments with my comments before the next assignment is due so you know if you need to revise or rewrite them

Off Campus Library Services (OCLS)
OCLS provides holdings, materials, and services for faculty and students at continuing education centers and in distance education programs. A barcode is required to access materials. To obtain your barcode you can access a request form online. For further information or inquiries please contact Off-Campus Services Librarian Ed Daniels at ocls@minerva.snhu.edu or go to http://de.snhu.edu/library/ocls.htm
Fax: 603-645-9685 attn: OCLS
Phone: 603-645-9605 ext. 2163

Library Resources Statement: In addition to the intellectual resources available on site and online (http://www.snhu.edu/library.asp), Shapiro Library makes available group and one-on-one instruction in information literacy, enabling students to define and articulate what knowledge-based resources are relevant to their research interests. Library staff are available to assist students in effectively and efficiently accessing information from credible sources, to compare new knowledge with prior beliefs, and to consider the related ethical, legal, and socio-economic issues that are inherent in scholarly investigation.

Technical Support
Support for technology and Blackboard software issues can be found at http://acadweb.nhc.edu/InstructionalSupport/BB5students.htm. This site is a useful resource with information and solutions to common technical problems. Additional questions related to technology and Blackboard software issues should be directed to de-support@minerva.snhu.edu or by calling the Computing Services at 603 645 9628.