B. Kenny/ POFT 1301 CIS Fall 2009

 

POFT 1301 COURSE INFORMATION SHEET

Course Name and Title

POFT 1301 - Business English

Course (Catalog) Description

A study of communication skills needed for the industrial trades.

Note: This course requires extensive use of computers for word processing and other assignments.  In order to pass this course, you should be able to:

  • Basic keyboard knowledge
  • Ability to open and save computer files,
  • Knowledge of how to change margins, font styles and sizes
Instructor:  Mrs. Barbara Kenny
Email Address:  Barbara.kenny@harlingen.tstc.edu
 Office:  342 Science and Technology Building
 Office Phone: (956) 364-4812                                     Department Fax# (956) 364-5167
 Office Hours: Monday & Wednesday 10:00 12:30.  Fridays : By appointment only

Required Text Book

  • Camp, Sue C., and Marilyn L. Satterwhite. College English and Communication, 9e. New York: McGraw-Hll Irwin, 2007 (ISBN 007310650X)
  • Pen/Flash Drive
  • 1" binder and 1 set of dividers

Grading Criteria

Grading Scale

Perfect Copy Classic Lab Work             10% A = 90 - 100
Classwork and Quizzes                         40% B = 80 - 89
Letters, Memoranda, and email               35% C = 70 - 79
Resume Project/Informative Report          15% D = 60 -69
  F =  0 - 59

All assignments will receive a numberical grade based on a 100-point scale; the minimum to pass is 60.

*** Make-up Work & Late Assignments :   Assignments will not be accepted late, and no make-up work will be given.

*** Missed Moodle assignments and discussion forums will not be acceped late under any circumstances.

*** Any assignment which reads "due on or before" a specific date will not be accepted late under any circumstances.

A zero will be given to assignments that are plagiarized or copied.... to all students involved.

Course Content

Unit A:   Diagnostic reading and writing tests

Unit B:  Assignment and completion of remediation (Perfect Copy Class lab work)

Unit C:  English grammar (parts of speech)

Unit D:  Sentence sturcture patterns

Unit E:  Punctuation usage rules

Unit F:  Introduction to business communications

Unit G:  Planning, composing, and revising business messages

Unit H:  Routine (good-news) business messages

Unit I:  Negative (bad-news) business messages

Unit J:  Employment messages and Resume/ Infromative Research Papers:  MLA formatting and docmentation and using Databases

Unit L:  Interviewing techniques

Accommodations

If you have a documented disability which will make it difficult for you to carry out the work as outlined by the instructor, and/or if you need special accommodations due to a disability, please contact (956) 364-4520 or visit Support Services Office located in the Auxiliary Building as soon as possible to make approrpriate arrangements.

Classroom Policies

  • Student are expected to be in class every day the class meets, and they are expected to arrive on time.
  • All cell phones. pagers, etc. must be turned off or set on vibrate during class or lab time.
  • Only absences of an extreme nature will be excused and must be corroborated in writing by an appropriate authority (hospital or doctor). 

 

Copyright Statement

The materials used in the course (textbooks, handouts, media files (podcast, MP3, Videos, RSS Feeds), and all instructional resources on the colleges Learning Management System (Moodle)  are intended for use only by students registered and enrolled in this course, and are only to be used for instructional use, activities associated with, and for the duration of the course. By "handouts," this means all materials generated for this course, which includes but are not limited to syllabi, quizzes, exams, lab problems, in-class materials, review sheets, and any additional materials.  
 
These materials may not be retained in another medium or disseminated further. They are provided in compliance with the provisions of the Teach Act. These materials may not be reproduced, displayed, modified or distributed without the express prior written permission of the copyright holder or TSTC. For further information contact your instructor.

Communicating with your instructor (MyMail Email System)

The use of Your Mymail TSTC College student e-mail account will be the only way to receive official notices from the college.  When communicating with instructors and/or employees of the college you are required to use your TSTC Mymail student e-mail address.  If you choose to forward your e-mail to another account, please be advised that all communication from and within the college will use your Mymail student e-mail.

"TSTC Harlingen faculty, staff, and students are asked to report all threats, perceived or real, immediately to College Police located in the Auxiliary Building.  If the threat is imminent, the College Police emergency phone line at 364-4234 or 9-911 should be called.  College Police will then coordinate the proper response in accordance with State and federal laws and TSTC System/College rules and regulations."

Tutoring and Access to me and your fellow classmates:

Once you are familiar with Moodle, you will find that you truly have 24/7 access (through its Email system, Questions to the instructor forum, and Virtual office hours) to me and to your fellow classmates for any questions you may have.  The address for Moodle is below, 

http://moodle.harlingen.tstc.edu

In addition, I would like you to be aware that our lab in W-124 has tutors available to help you in addition to our lab workers, and the Student Success Office website listed below may be used to direct you to tutoring and supplemental instruction schedules that are available to you all!

http://english.harlingen.tstc.edu

Withdrawal from Class

Students must file a withdrawal form with the Admissions Office to be withdrawn from this course.  It is the responsibility of the student to drop the course prior to the last date for withdrawal without incurring a failing grade---an "F".  It is not the Instructor's responsibility to initiate the process.

NOTE:  Any changes to this Course Information Sheet will be provided in writing to the student.




If my office hours are inconvenient for you, let me know.  Together we can schedule a time that is better for you.