Instructor: Dr. Richard 0. Dalbey

Section 05: Schedule number 17894, Tuesday and Thursday, 0800 - 0915, BA 439
Section 07: Schedule number 17916, Tuesday and Thursday, 1100 - 1215, BA 249

Office Hours:  T & TH, 0930 - 1045, BA-312 (and by special appointment & e-mail)
E-mail: rdalbey@mail.sdsu.edu

Dalbey's WWW SDSU Home Page: http://www.monstermind.com (Click on Profiles and then click on Richard O. Dalbey, Ph.D.)

My shared campus faculty office: BA-312 (halfway down the corridor, east side).

My campus phone: (619) 594-5138 (shared faculty phone number -- sorry, no voice mail)

IDS department office SS-2411 (end of second floor, southeast location)
IDS phone and message number (619) 594-5316; fax (619) 594-3675

PREREQUISITES:
Rhetoric and Writing Studies 100 and SDSU Writing Competency requirement.  Since the course requires a satisfactory knowledge of grammar, language usage, and chief aspects of style, a course in Business English is highly recommended.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Principles, techniques and procedures of effective communication applied to business letters, memos, and long reports. Includes the organization, writing, and presentation of all kinds of written communications.  Oral communication is also given attention.

COURSE OBJECTIVE:
The objective of the course is to help students make the progress they desire and need in bettering their own ability to communicate effectively in business writing. Each student successfully completing the course will show planning, organizational, and writing abilities by preparation of mailable letters, memos and reports.

REQUIRED TEXTS:
Ramond V. Lesikar and Marie E. Flatley, Basic Business Communication (Ninth Edition, Irwin/McGraw-Hill, 2001); William A. Sabin, The Gregg Reference Manual (Ninth Edition, Glencoe, Esterville, OH, 2002); and Richard 0. Dalbey, editor, Report Writing and Communicating for Employment packets (SDSU Bookstore).

Highly Recommended: an up-to-date dictionary (good recently released college editions are Meriam Webster and American Heritage, and a good Thesaurus.

Bring all required texts and handouts to each class meeting.

GRADING AND APPLIED STANDARDS:
The instructor utilizes the full spectrum of the University's four-point numerical grading system (soory, grade inflation doesn't exist in the College of Business Administration):  "A" denotes superior work = 4, "B" above average/praiseworthy performance = 3, "C" satisfactory = 2, "D" below average/barely passing = 1, and "F" failing = 0  (see the SDSU General Catalog). A plus/minus grading system can also be utilized at the discretion of the instructor.

Papers are graded on content, structure, language usage, grammar, punchuation, spelling, format, accuracy, originality, interpretation of the problem, and following instructions.

There are no make-ups for a higher grade on outside written assignments. I do not give extra credit work or incomplete semester grades.

LATENESS POLICY:
You are responsible for the timely submission of all out-of-class writing assignments. Assignments are due at the BEGINNING of the class period designated on your course schedule.

Papers turned in on time are graded on the university's A-F scale. A late paper (turned in late the same day or the next class period) will receive a full grade deduction; after that, a paper turned in is no longer acceptable and will receive a failing grade. If a paper is just not turned in at all (a "no-show" paper) you receive the grade of "G" (minus 1) the first time, a grade of "H" (minus 2) the second time, etc.

In other words, it is not worth it. Just get your papers in on time. Once papers have been turned in, no coming up asking to add or delete something (e.g., I forgot to sign my letter).

Do not under any circumstances shove papers under my office door, place on my office desk, or turn in to the departmental secretary (unless you have my permission). Simply said, get your papers in on time at the beginning of class to receive full credit.

Keeping all your papers is a good idea.  If you are not in class the day graded work is returned, you will have to pick up your paper from me in my office.  (I do not carry around graded work from day to day.)

EMERGENCIES: Although bona fide emergencies will be handled on an individual basis, only documented, proven emergencies will be considered valid reasons for an assignment turned in late. Pre-arrangements can be made for situations that the student knows in advance may affect an assignment. In any event, the professor must be contacted in advance (by e-mail, IDS message phone or fax, etc.).

ATTENDANCE:
Attendance will be taken at random. For early morning class meetings, attendance will be monitored very carefully. Days indicated as "Required Attendance" on the course schedule are mandatory.

Enrollment in the College of Business Administration assumes maturity, seriousness of purpose, and self-discipline. Every student is expected to attend each meeting of all classes for which registered. You have to be in class to know what the assignment is.  All teacher announcements will be made at the beginning of class right on the hour.

Repeated absences or failure to participate in class will have an adverse effect on the final semester grade. Should you miss a class, it is your responsibility to find out the course content covered in class as well as work assigned. Establish a buddy system for notes, assignments, etc., should you be absent from class.  Missed in-class writing assignments cannot be made up.

Punctuality is as important in the classroom as in business, and interruptions of class by latecomers (tardiness) will not be tolerated. Class begins on time, and all announcements are made at that time. Since your attendance is required for the FULL class period, adjust your outside work schedules accordingly (leaving class early to go to work is unacceptable).

CHEATING AND DISRUPTION:
Please click here and also refer to the SDSU General Catalog.  If someone asks to see a draft or the finished product of you communication, just say NO!  In other words - DO YOUR OWN WORK!

GRADE COMPONENTS:

• Four major written outside assignments (12% each)         48%
• Long Analytical Report (collaborative)                             27%
• Final Exam (200 true/false & multiple choice)                 25%
•                                                                             TOTAL  100%   

I am always looking for improvement throughout the semester when I compute final course grades for each student.

OTHER:
Graded work will ONLY be discussed during office hours, not before or after class. Please adhere to this request.  It is always best to meet in my office where privacy can be maintained after you have had the opportunity to digest the instructor's comments and reflect on them (and maybe "cool down" if necessary).  Be assured we can accomplish a great deal when we meet on a one-to-one basis.

No food or beverages in the classroom at any time. Cellular phones, watch alarms, and pagers must be turned OFF. Proper classroom decorum and civility is in order.  Please, no talking among yourselves while the instructor is lecturing.  (Your voices carry and disturb me and others.)

This is a demanding writing course.  It certainly will require your time and effort.  Good organization skills are essential.  You just can not try to put together a challenging communication the night before the due date.

Whenever you have questions, concerns, gripes, etc., always go to your instructor first.

COURSE SCHEDULE:
While the Course Schedule attempts to give you a week-by-week itinerary of the material to be covered, you are responsible for any changes as announced in class.  Sometimes it is necessary to revise the schedule due to unforeseen circumstances.

OFFICE HOURS (read carefully):
Office interaction provides the unique opportunity of getting to know an instructor and to enhance the learning experience.  Students are expected to prepare for meetings with instructors.

Take into account the following:

• (1) Come to my office with specific questions (write them down beforehand).
• (2) Bring all necessary material with you (texts, handouts).
• (3) If you are coming to discuss graded work, be prepared to discuss ideas, not points.
• (4) If you want a communication reviewed, it should be typed and in final form.
• (5) Write down specific questions to discuss rather than take the stance, "What do you think of it" (in which case I will ask you what you think of it and your immediate concerns).

My job is to review and throw out ideas, not correct or rewrite your paper unless you want a grade at that time. Remember, it is up to you to PROOF your communications, not me.  You must be adequately prepared to help me accomplish objectives and meet me half way. I will always announce extended office hours in class when I feel there is a need.

Please bring your syllabus to all classes for referral.

"To write is to plumb the unfathomable depths of being.  Writing lies within the domain of mystery.  The space between any two words is vaster than the space between heaven and hell.  To bridge it, you must close your eyes and leap . . . . To write is an act of faith."  Elie Wiesel, author, human-rights activist and 1986 Peace Prize Nobelist, reflecting on his captivity n the Auschwitz death camp and other key "moments" in his life.

Quoted from Elie Wiesel:  First Person Singular, PBS documentary.

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ids290/dalbey/spring2004