OFFC 205 BUSINESS ENGLISH

 

Instructor:  Helen Grattan

Phone:        (515) 964-6412

E-Mail:        hggrattan@dmacc.edu

Office:          8-01C Ankeny Campus

 

Course Description:

 

The fundamentals of proofreading, grammar, spelling, punctuation, word usage, capitalization, abbreviations, and number usage

 

Required Texts:

 

The Gregg Reference Manual and Worksheets by Sabin, Ninth Edition, Published by Glencoe (Macmillan/McGraw-Hill).

Business English by Mary Ellen Guffey, Seventh Edition, Published by South-Western Publishing Company

 

 

Course Competencies

 

During this course, the student will be able to:

 

 1.            Analyze information included in reference materials.

            1.1       Use dictionary to determine spelling, meaning, pronunciation, syllabication, accent, word usage, and word history.

            1.2       Select helpful instruction from reference manual for punctuation, capitalization, numbers, abbreviations, plurals, possessives, spelling, compound words, word division, grammar, and usage.

            1.3       Practice techniques, procedures, and guidelines suggested from reference manual for editing and proofreading.

            1.4       Examine parts of business documents with suggested formatted styles.

 

 2.            Develop general business terminology and spelling skills.

            2.1       Use memory devices (mnemonics).

            2.2            Examine spelling guidelines.

            2.3            Practice rote memorization.

            2.4       Differentiate spelling of similar sounding words.

 

 3.             Appraise forms of noun usage rules.

            3.1       Recognize concrete, abstract, common, and proper nouns.

            3.2       Review spelling guideline of noun plurals.

            3.3       Distinguish between possessive nouns and noun plurals.

3.4              Choose pronoun usage from various types of pronouns.

 

4.            Analyze verb usage rules.

            4.1            Identify verbs and verb moods.

            4.2             Use verb tenses.

            4.3            Recognize verb participles.

            4.4            Make verbs agree with subjects.

            4.5            Select appropriate modifiers of gerunds.

            4.6            Use punctuation in verbal phrases.

 

 5.        Identify basic rules of modifiers.

            5.1       Form comparative and superlative degrees of adjectives and adverbs.

            5.2            Punctuate adjectives.

            5.3            Compare degrees of adjectives.

 

 6.        Relate punctuation rules to sentences for effective business writing.

            6.1       Punctuate statements, commands, questions, and exclamations.

            6.2       Demonstrate ability to apply commas, semicolons, and colons.

            6.3            Identify use of double and single quotation marks.

            6.4            Practice usage of dash, parentheses, and Italics.

 

 7.             Interpret capitalization rules.

            7.1            Distinguish between common and proper nouns.

            7.2            Select appropriate rules in capitalizing titles.

            7.3       Practice capitalization of organizations, government agencies, places, periods, academic, product names, and artistic works.

 

 8.            Analyze number rules.

            8.1       Demonstrate ability to choose between figures or words to express numbers.

            8.2       Use numbers appropriately for specific situations.

 

 9.        Apply abbreviation rules.

            9.1            Select appropriate use of abbreviations.

            9.2       Prepare abbreviations using punctuation, spacing, and capitalization.

 

10.            Proofread business documents.

            10.1     Recognize sentence fragments, comma splices, and run on sentence faults.

            10.2     Recognize simple, compound, complex sentence patterns.

            10.3     Identify misspelled words.

            10.4     Correct punctuation within written material

            10.5            Apply word division rules.

            10.6     Reconstruct complete sentences.

           

Grading:

 

            90-100% = A                               Spelling/Vocabulary             20 percent          

            80-89%  =  B                               Daily Work                           20 percent

            70-79%  =  C                               Final Exam                          20 percent

            60-69%  =  D                               Unit Tests                           40 percent

 

 

ATTENDANCE IS IMPORTANT.  Participation is vital in learning communication skills.  There will be numerous participation activities as part of the class lectures that you must be present in class in order to receive credit.  No distinction will be made between an approved or unapproved absence in terms of student grade, potential for credit, or the right to make-up missed assignments.  Failure to complete a make-up assignment within a reasonably designated time shall be grounds for failure of that assignment.  Late assignments that are accepted will be reduced 10 percent.

 

UNIT TESTS are given at the end of Units 1 to 5.  You will be graded on the best four out of five tests.  No make up are allowed on unit tests.

 

SPELLING/VOCABULARY TESTS will be given weekly.   The spelling/vocabulary lists are found in Appendixes I & II in Business English by Guffey. Your grade will be based on your best eight out of ten tests.  No make-up Spelling/Vocabulary Tests will be given.

 

GET HELP EARLY.  Tutors are available at no additional costs.  Business English is a skill you will always use.  Please take advantage of all services available for your success.  Extra Credit is given to those students who need additional instruction through the Academic Achievement Center.  See the instructor if you believe that this kind of assistance would be helpful to you.

 

Need Support.  If you are a student with a disability or special needs who would like to learn about services that are offered by DMACC to support you in your academic pursuits, please contact:  Pam Parker, Special Needs Coordinator, Building 6, Room 30-D, or call her at (515) 964-6850.

 

UPHOLD THE VALUES OF ACADEMIC HONESTY.  Each student is expected to be honest in his or her work.  The college regards dishonesty in assignment, examinations, or other academic work as a serious offense.  A student who cheats is subject to disciplinary action at the discretion of the instructor.