Page 1 of 4 Course Outline –CCMN279-D10

COURSE CCMN279-D10 INTRO TO BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS

COURSE OUTLINE FOR FALL 2014

INSTRUCTOR: Wally Kowal

INSTRUCTOR PHONE: 519-841-8075

INSTRUCTOR E-MAIL: wkowal@ryerson.ca

COURSE PREREQUISITES: None.

The Chang School Office Hours:

Monday to Thursday – 8:00am – 7:00pm

Friday – 8:00am – 4:30pm

Saturday – 8:15am – 1:15pm

Every effort will be made to manage the course as stated. However, adjustments may be necessary at

the discretion of the instructor. If so, students will be advised and alterations discussed in the class

prior to implementation.

It is the responsibility of students to ensure that they understand the University’s policies and

procedures, in particular those relating to course management and academic integrity. A list of relevant

policies is included at the end of this outline.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

At the centre of our knowledge-based economy is effective communication: contemporary, clear,

concise. In a world of demographic diversity, changing technology, conflicting values, and a thriving

global economy, future business leaders must learn how to communicate across all societal sectors,

with both excellence and style. This dynamic, foundational course helps students meet these pervasive

challenges, preparing them to succeed in this complex and rapidly changing world.

COURSE OBJECTIVE/LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Students successfully completing this course will have the ability to communicate effectively in written

and oral formats in a variety of business situations.

TEXTBOOK & READING LISTS:

Communicating for Results: A Canadian Student’s Guide, Third Edition

Author: Carolyn Meyer (2014). Oxford University Press, Canada

ISBN 13: 9780199001316

Note: First Edition (2007) and Second Edition (2010) can be used but pages numbers will vary

The textbook is also available as an e-book at http://www.coursesmart.com/communicating-for-results-

a-canadian-student/carolyn-meyer/dp/9780199001323.

Page 2 of 4 Course Outline –CCMN279-D10

OTHER MATERIALS:

Each student is required to create a video recording of themself presenting an informative presentation.

Students must have access to appropriate video recording technology.

METHOD OF INSTRUCTION:

This is a distance education course delivered via Ryerson University’s Blackboard learning system.

Students must have appropriate Internet access.

METHOD AND SCHEDULE OF STUDENT EVALUATION:

Graded Assignments

Assignment Due Date

#1 Routine Correspondence (10%) Friday, Sep 26 by midnight

#2 Oral Topic Proposal (5%) Friday, Oct 10 by midnight

#3 Persuasive Message (15%) Friday, Oct 31 by midnight

#4 Negative Message (15%) Friday, Nov 14 by midnight

#5 Informal Report (20%) Friday, Nov 28 by midnight

#6 Oral Presentation (20%)

Oral presentation must be delivered electronically

by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 4. You may

deliver the assignment at any point during the

semester, but this is the absolute deadline.

Participation (15%) Most Fridays throughout the course as assigned on

Discussion Board.

TOTAL 100%

Students will complete 6 graded assignments as outlined above. Assignments are released on

Blackboard two weeks prior to their due date and are due by the end of day on the indicated day

via Blackboard’s dropbox feature for that assignment. Late assignments are not accepted.

Discussion Board Participation

In addition to the assignments posted above, for each online Module, you will have a Discussion

Board posting to make. The topics for these Discussion Board postings may be found online on

the Discussion Board. Postings should be completed the week that they are assigned but you

can post up to the end of the following week and still receive credits against marks.

MISSED TERM WORK OR EXAMINATIONS:

Students are expected to complete all assignments by the dates indicated in this outline. Exemption or

deferral of an assignment, term test, or final examination is only permitted for a medical or personal

emergency or due to religious observance (request must be received within the first two weeks of the

course). The instructor must be notified by e-mail prior to the due date or test/exam date, or as soon as

possible after the date, and the appropriate documentation must be submitted. For absence on medical

or religious observance grounds, official forms may be downloaded from the Ryerson website at

www.ryerson.ca/undergraduate/currentstudents/forms or picked up from The Chang School at Heaslip

House, 297 Victoria St., Main Floor.

Page 3 of 4 Course Outline –CCMN279-D10

COURSE SCHEDULE:

Each week begins on a Saturday and ends the following Friday at midnight. All times specified in this

course are Eastern Time (GMT-05:00). Students in other time zones should account for the difference

between Eastern Time and their own local time when submitting assignments.

Schedule Topics Reading

Week 1 Sept 6-12

Introduction & Communication Theory

Buy text

Discussion board posting – Module 1

Meyer, ch. 1, 2

Online Module 1

Week 2 Sept 13-19

The Writing Process and Effective Writing Strategies

Discussion board posting – Module 2

Meyer, ch. 3, 4, Appendices A&B

Online Module 2

Week 3 Sept 20-26

Routine Messages

Discussion board posting – Module 3

Assignment 1 (Due Sep 26)

Meyer, ch. 5, 6

Online Module 3

Week 4 Sept 27-Oct 3

Oral Communication

Discussion board posting – Module 4

Meyer, ch. 12

Online Module 4

Week 5 Oct 4-10

Oral Communication

Assignment 2 - Presentation Topic (Due Oct 10)

Meyer, ch. 12

Week 6 Oct 11-17

Fall Study Week

No course activities this week

Week 7 Oct 18-24

Visuals in Oral Presentations

Discussion board posting – Module 5

Meyer, ch. 12, pp. 299-311

Online Module 5

Week 8 Oct 25-31

Persuasive Communication

Discussion board posting – Module 6

Assignment 3 (Due Oct 31)

Meyer, ch. 8

Online Module 6

Week 9 Nov 1-7

Negative Messages

Discussion board posting – Module 7

Meyer, ch. 7

Online Module 7

Week 10 Nov 8-14

Short Report Overview

Discussion board posting – Module 8

Assignment 4 (Due Nov 14)

Meyer, ch.10

Online Module 8

Week 11 Nov 15-21

Proposals & Formal Reports

Discussion board posting – Module 9

Meyer, ch. 11

Online Module 9

Week 12 Nov 22-28

Proposals & Formal Reports

Assignment 5 (Due Nov 28)

Meyer, ch. 11

Week 13 Nov 29-Dec 5

Personnel Reports

Discussion board posting – Module 10

Assignment 6 - Presentation (Due Dec 4)

Meyer, ch.10, 11

Online Module 10

Week 14 Dec 6-12

Course completion

Discussion board posting – Learning Outcomes

Page 4 of 4 Course Outline –CCMN279-D10

PLAGIARISM:

The Ryerson Student Code of Academic Conduct defines plagiarism and the sanctions against students

who plagiarize. All Chang School students are strongly encouraged to go to the academic integrity

website at www.ryerson.ca/academicintegrity and complete the tutorial on plagiarism.

The work submitted by students in this course may be submitted to Turnitin. Students who do not want

their work submitted to this plagiarism detection service must, by the end of the second module,

consult with the instructor to make alternate arrangements.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:

Ryerson University and The Chang School are committed to the principles of academic integrity as

outlined in the Student Code of Academic Conduct. Students are strongly encouraged to review the

student guide to academic integrity, including penalties for misconduct, on the academic integrity

website at www.ryerson.ca/academicintegrity and the Student Code of Academic Conduct at

www.ryerson.ca/senate/policies.

RYERSON STUDENT EMAIL:

All students in full and part-time graduate and undergraduate degree programs and all continuing

education students are required to activate and maintain their Ryerson online identity at

www.ryerson.ca/accounts in order to regularly access Ryerson's E-mail (Rmail), RAMSS,

my.ryerson.ca portal and learning system, and other systems by which they will receive official

University communications.

COURSE REPEATS:

Senate GPA Policy prevents students from taking a course more than three times. For complete GPA

Policy see policy No. 46 at www.ryerson.ca/senate/policies .

RYERSON ACADEMIC POLICIES:

For more information on Ryerson’s academic policies, visit the Senate website at

www.ryerson.ca/senate.

Course Management Policy No. 145

Student Code of Academic Conduct No. 60

Student Code of Non-Academic Conduct No. 61

Examination Policy No. 135

Policy on Grading, Promotion, and Academic Standing Policy No. 46

Undergraduate Academic Consideration and Appeals Policy No. 134

Accommodation of Student Religious Observance Obligations Policy No. 150

Academic Accommodation of Students with Disabilities Policy 159