Instructor Information

Name:

Deborah A. Kitchin, EdD

Email:

Use Insight e-mail OR dkitchin@ccsf.edu

Office:

Cloud Hall 116

Office hours:

Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Other times may be arranged with the instructor.  Appointments are recommended.

Phone:

(415) 452-5836

Course Information

Course title:

Business Correspondence

Course No.:

BSEN 74   CRN 32095

Course description:

This course provides students with practice writing business documents, such as letters, memoranda, and e-mail messages and with experience using correct, forceful English in business contexts. It involves class discussions on style, structure, and the aims of written business messages. The writing assignments will reinforce techniques for writing effective sentences and paragraphs and for editing and proofreading documents.

Textbook

Course Objectives

Course goals:

Students receiving a passing grade will be able to do the following:

• Write clear, correct, concise, courteous, well-organized business communications.
• Analyze the purpose of the communication and organize ideas into a logical sequence before writing the communication.
• Identify the appropriate psychological approach to achieve the desired result by anticipating the needs and expectations of the prospective reader.
• Apply writing strategies in composing letters, memos, and e-mail messages.
• Choose vocabulary appropriate to readers from diverse cultures.
• Proofread, edit, and revise their work and the work of others.

Course Overview

Textbook Content:

The course will cover the following ten chapters in Essentials of Business Communication (8^th edition):

• Chapter 1: Career Success Begins With Communication Skills
• Chapter 2: Planning Business Messages
• Chapter 3: Composing Business Messages
• Chapter 4: Revising Business Messages
• Chapter 5: Electronic Messages and Memorandums
• Chapter 6: Positive Messages
• Chapter 7: Negative Messages
• Chapter 8: Persuasive Messages
• Chapter 13: The Job Search, Résumés, and Cover Letters
• Chapter 14: Interviewing and Following Up

Grading Policy

EVALUATION

Your grade in the class will be based on the average of your writing assignments, quizzes, editing assignments, and participation in the class.

• Weekly Writing and Editing Assignments 30%
• Aplia Online Exercises 20%
• Class Participation (quality, quantity, and appropriateness of Discussion Board postings) 15%
• MANDATORY On-Campus Midterm Writing/Editing Exam 15%
• MANDATORY On-Campus Final Writing/Editing Exam 20%

GRADING SCALE

You must earn 70 percent of the possible points to receive a satisfactory grade of C.

90-100%     A
80- 89%      B
70- 79%      C
60- 69%      D
Below 59%  F

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

• The Pass/No Pass grading option is available for this class. If you are interested in being graded in this way, you must select the option online through Web4 by February 21, 2012.
  
• If you do not log in to Insight for a two-week period (14 consecutive days), you can be dropped from the class.
  
• If you wish to withdraw from the course, it is your responsibility to do so by April 19, 2012.

Please consult the CCSF calendar for other important dates.
 

Special Needs

Please read this important message from the Disabled Students Program and Services (DSPS) at CCSF:

http://www.ccsf.edu/NEW/ccsf/en/student-services/student-counseling/dsps/about/online.html

If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability or if you have emergency medical information to share with me, please contact me as soon as possible.