Course Assignments and Weight

**For more information on all course assignments, look in the Unit Assignments & Exams folders in Blackboard (there is one for each unit).**

The Communication Studies Department at Austin Community College requires that all students who take SPCH 1321: Business and Professional Communication successfully complete these minimum requirements: 

1. Employment Interview Simulation (100 points): Students will partner up to conduct professional employment interviews for positions relevant to their career field. Each student serves as both interviewer (hiring manager) and interviewee (job candidate). Students research industry-standard interview practices and prepare accordingly. Deliverables include: a professional resume and cover letter, 8-10 behavioral and situational interview questions with scoring criteria, and a 1 page analysis evaluating communication effectiveness, professionalism, and areas for improvement in both roles.

1. Informational Interview with Industry Professional (200 points): Students will conduct a 20-30 minute informational interview with a professional working in their target industry or role. The interview should focus on business communication expectations, professional networking strategies, and career development insights. Students submit: a professional email requesting the interview, 12-15 prepared questions organized by theme, a thank-you note, and a comprehensive report analyzing what they learned about professional communication standards and career pathways in that field.

1. Professional Development Workshop (200 points): Students will design and deliver an 8-10 minute informative presentation teaching a specific business communication skill or professional competency (e.g., business writing strategies, professional networking, personal branding, crisis communication, cross-cultural business practices). Presentation topics will be provided and students may sign up for which topic they would like. The presentation should be practical and immediately applicable, with clear examples. Multimedia should include templates, samples, or demonstrations. Q&A should address application across various business contexts.
   • This presentation will be an individual business presentation 
   • The presentation must include the following: 
     • A question-answer session, where you answer audience members' questions about the topic. 
     • A multimedia component used to support and supplement the presentation (e.g., PowerPoint, Keynote). 

1. Mock Team Meetings (200 points): Students will form teams and conduct four professional business meetings over the semester, each with a different purpose (planning, problem-solving, decision-making, project review). Team members rotate through formal roles (chairperson, secretary, timekeeper, facilitator). Each meeting must follow professional protocols and address a business objective. Teams submit: complete documentation for each meeting (agenda, minutes, action items), role reflection papers demonstrating understanding of effective meeting practices, and peer evaluations focusing on collaborative communication and professional conduct.  
   • This teamwork assignment will NOT be a presentation. 
   • To successfully complete this assignment, students will demonstrate one or more of the following communication skills:

 o Ability to listen effectively o Ability to manage conflict effectively oAbility to work effectively with others o Ability to solve problems as group/team o Ability to run meetings effectively 

1. Exams (200 points): Students are required to successfully complete two (2) exams in this course. Exams will consist of 25 multiple choice or true / false questions. Exams will be taken in-class via Blackboard (unless otherwise stated). Exams will be based on a combination of lecture and textbook material. To do well on exams be sure to follow the course reading schedule, attend class, engage in class, and come prepared for the exam review session. The exam review session will always take place during the class meeting directly preceding the exam. The exam is open note but NOT open book or open friend. This means it is your responsibility to take thorough notes on your reading and class lectures. Exams should be taken on your own, even if they are taken from home. If you require testing accommodations please let me know prior to exam day. Study guides will be provided for each chapter and will pertain directly to the exam material. 

1. Participation (100 pts. Total): Participation will be evaluated based on the following: 
   • Attendance and tardiness 
   • Respect and decorum in class (including using technology outside of its allowed usage) 
   • In-class projects, notes, and activity submissions
   • Frequency of participation during class (answering questions and contributing to discussion in a positive and respectful manner) 
   • **For more on participation, please refer to the participation and attendance policy in the course policies section below** 

ASSIGNMENT FORMAT

All major assignments in this class must be typed and submitted in either a Word document (.docx) or a PDF. Assignments submitted as plain text, Google doc link, Pages, etc. will not be accepted and will receive a zero. All written assignments must be:

• Typed using a one-inch margin (1.25 inches is also acceptable because it is the default setting)
• Typed using a 12-point, non-script font (i.e. Times New Roman, Arial, Tahoma)
  • Note cards can be handwritten
• Double-spaced (except for formal speech preparation outlines, which should be single spaced)

*Assignments that do not conform to these expectations will not be accepted. See “Writing Guidelines” on Blackboard for more information on and examples of acceptable written assignment formatting.  

Assignment Points Tracking Table

Course Calendar

Please note that schedule changes may occur during the semester.  Any changes will be announced in class and/or posted as a Blackboard Announcement.

Course Calendar

Please note that schedule changes may occur during the semester.  Any changes will be announced in class and/or posted as a Blackboard Announcement.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate communication competence and critical thinking through an understanding of the elements of the foundational communication models
• Identify the cultural dimensions influencing communication competence within a diverse workplace 
• Identify personality/communication styles that affect workplace communication 
• Demonstrate written and oral competencies related to job searches, interviewing, and performance appraisals
• Identify and/or demonstrate oral communication competencies related to professional interaction, ethics, and conflict management
• Compare and contrast effective and ineffective communication strategies in interpersonal workplace relationships
• Recognize and evaluate the dynamics of leadership and membership in workplace groups and teams
• Utilize various communication technologies competently in professional settings
• Identify and design strategies to facilitate effective meetings. 
• Create and deliver a professional business presentation including a question/answer session.