BC_Anderson-Rush

Forsyth County Course Syllabus|2017-2018

Business Communications

TEACHER INFORMATION

Teacher Email Phone Location
Shannon Anderson-Rush 160848 848
[email protected]

GENERAL INFORMATION

Course Description
What message are you sending when you speak, write, and listen? As one of the most important skills for
employers, students will explore the value of communication in their personal and professional life. The digital
presence and impact of written and visual communication in a technological society will be addressed.
Students will create, edit, and publish professional appearing business documents with clear and concise
communication. Creative design, persuasive personal and professional communications will be applied through
research, evaluation, validation, written, and oral communication. Leadership development and teamwork skills
will be stressed as students work independently and collaboratively. Presentation skills will be developed and
modeled for students as they master presentation software in this course.

Various forms of technologies will be used to expose students to resources, software, and applications of
communications. Professional communication skills and practices, problem solving, ethical and legal issues,
and the impact of effective presentation skills are enhanced in this course to prepare students to be college
and career ready. Employability skills are integrated into activities, tasks, and projects throughout the course
standards to demonstrate the skills required by business and industry. Competencies in the co-curricular
student organization, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), are integral components of the employability
skills standard for this course.

Standards
The Business Communications Course Standards will be provided to each student in PDF format through
itsLearning, including a detailed list of objectives and topics within each objective. The standards may also be
accessed at: https://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/CTAE/Documents/Business-
Communications.pdf

Learning Resources/Textbook(s):
• itsLearning, Learning Management System

Supplies
• Something to write with and paper (not all of the work is done on a computer)
• USB jump drive (so files can be carried between home and school) or the use of Google Drive
• Students with laptop computers are welcome to use them in class for assignments and note taking, as
long as they do not become a distraction. Convenient access to power is not guaranteed.

Course Fee
• $30.00 for FBLA Membership

1|Page Business Communications

Forsyth County Course Syllabus|2017-2018

Future Business Leaders of America
The FBLA Mission is to bring business and education together in a positive working relationship through
innovative leadership and career development programs. We bring our mission to life through the application
of our Motto: Service, Education, and Progress. Competencies FBLA are integral components of both the core
employability skills standards and the technical skills standards, and FBLA activities are incorporated
throughout instructional strategies developed for the course.

• Promote competent, assertive business leadership
• Strengthen confidence of students in themselves and their work
• Create interest in and understanding of American business enterprise
• Encourage development of individual projects to improve home, business, and community
• Facilitate the transition from school to work
• Assist students in the establishment of career goals
• Encourage scholarship and promote school loyalty
• Encourage and practice sound financial management
• Develop character, prepare for useful citizenship, and foster patriotism

Availability for Extra Help
The lab is open before school or after school by appointment. Additional study sessions will be posted in
itsLearning. Students may also seek help during IF.

Makeup Work
Make up work is defined as work assigned during a student's absence, not work assigned prior to an absence.
The student has five (5) school days upon returning to school to complete make-up work. The teacher has the
discretion to grant a longer period to complete the work, if there are extenuating circumstances.

Industry Credentialing/End of Pathway Assessments: Students are encouraged to select a career
pathway beginning in the ninth grade that is connected to college and career goals. This course is one of three
courses in the career pathway chosen by a student. At the conclusion of the third pathway course, students
will be required to take an industry credentialing End of Pathway Assessment. This assessment provides
students an opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned by completing an online, nationally recognized
exam. Students who complete a pathway and earn an industry credential by passing the assessment will
receive a graduation cord to signify their achievement.

Business Communications is the third course in the Business and Technology pathway in the Business
Management and Administration cluster. Students enrolled in this course should have successfully completed
Introduction to Business and Technology and Business and Technology. After mastery of the standards in this
course, students should be prepared to take the end of pathway assessment in this career area.

• Students in the Business and Technology pathway will take the following EOPA: Certiport M icrosoft
Office Specialist – Powerpoint 2016

College Majors: Business, Communications, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Education

Professions: Business Owner, Entrepreneur, Teacher, Motivational Speaker, Public Relations Specialist,
Technical Writers, Social Media Specialist

Dress for Success: Career and technical education pathways in Forsyth County incorporate Dress for Success Days
throughout the school year. These experiences allow students to foster confidence and continue to develop a positive
self-image, while understanding the importance of dressing well for their future profession. At certain intervals
throughout the course, students will analyze industry standard of the profession and study the importance of dressing
well for a job interview. This will culminate into being fully prepared for Community Mock Interviews which occur as
students complete a career pathway.

2|Page Business Communications

Forsyth County Course Syllabus|2017-2018 Units/Topics
Communication Basics
Course Curriculum Content
Course Standards Active Listening
Digital Media
BMA-BC-1: Demonstrate employability skills required by business and industry
BMA-BC-3: Apply effective oral communication by communicating in a clear, courteous, Business Writing
concise, and professional manner
BMA-BC-4: Use active and international listen skills to respond appropriately to oral Presentation Basics
communication Job Acquisition
BMA-CS-8: Use digital technologies (computers, PDAs, media players, GPS, etc.),
communication/networking tools, and social networks appropriately to access, manage, Communication Ethics
integrate, evaluate, and create information to successfully function in professional & International
settings. Communications
BMA-BC-2: Examine and practice grammar, mechanics, and process of comprising Multimedia
professionally written business communications Presentation
BMA-BC-5: Master word processing software at an expert level to create, edit, and
publish professional appearing business documents FBLA
BMA-BC-7: Apply skills and strategies for the delivery of effective oral communication
and presentations
BMA-BC-1: Demonstrate employability skills required by business and industry
BMA-BC-6: Integrate multiple forms of communication in the successful pursuit of a
career/employment
BMA-BC-1: Demonstrate employability skills required by business and industry

BMA-BC-7: Apply skills and strategies for the delivery of effective oral communication
and presentations
BMA-BC-9: Master presentation software to create, edit, publish, and deliver
professional-appearing business presentations
BMA-BC-10: Explore how related student organizations are integral parts of career and
technology education courses through leadership development, school and community
service projects, entrepreneurship development, and competitive events

Course Projects Project Description FBLA Integration
Unit Magazine Cover and Feature FBLA Benefits of Membership at the
Story: Create a Tomorrow's local, state, and national level
Communication Basics Business Leader Magazine cover
and feature story about the
upcoming NLC with at least three
photos and two quotes for the
spring issue of Tomorrow’s
Business Leader, FBLA’s national
magazine. Include at least one
photo on the cover as well as a
bulleted list of articles that are
inside this edition. Check out the
Conferences page on the FBLA-PBL
web site to find out about the next
NLC in Baltimore, Maryland.

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Forsyth County Course Syllabus|2017-2018

Active Listening Community Meeting: Attend or FBLA Career Awareness
Digital Media listen to a recording a local FBLA Goal Setting & Business
Business Writing meeting such a community or Achievement Awards
school board meeting, Rotary Club,
4|Page Chamber of Commerce, Jaycee's, FBLA Leadership Development,
Kiwanis, PTA, etc. Summarize who Community Service, professional
the local organization was, the date communication, and employability
and location of the meeting, and skills
what was discussed. FBLA State Project Overview
Travel Brochure & Video: Create FBLA Business Achievement Awards
a travel brochure and a video or
podcast (no more than 2 minutes
in length) about the FBLA National
Leadership Conference in
Baltimore, MD.

Virtual Reality Project: Research FBLA Competition Overview
virtual reality, artificial intelligence, FBLA Career Awareness
and holographic entertainment
worlds. Discuss how this
technology will reshape economics
and marketing and how FBLA and
other student organizations can use
some of this information in a two
to three-page report. Follow the
formatting in the FBLA Format
Guide attached below.
Environmental Newsletter:
Design an environmental
newsletter. Include:

• 'Green' tips for students
• Information on 'green' FBLA

chapter projects
• An article on the importance

of recycling
• An article on Earth Day

including the history of the
day
• An article on an important
environmental issue
• An article about the
importance of saving eh
rainforest
• an article about an
endangered special
• Include at least one graphic
(clipart)
• Include at least one photo
• Include 2 additional
environmental or green
articles of your choice.

Business Communications

Forsyth County Course Syllabus|2017-2018

Presentation Basics Oral Communications FBLA Competitions
Job Acquisition Assignment: Develop and post
Communication Ethics & a YouTube video about how CTAE FBLA Internet Safety Quiz
International and FBLA has helped you prepare FBLA Business Achievement Awards
Communications for your future career. Your video
should be no less than 60 seconds FBLA State Project
Multimedia Presentation and no more than 90 seconds. FBLA Business Achievement Awards
GeorgiaBest ePortfolio:
GeorgiaBest certification serves as
validation to employers that
students have displayed strong
work habits that will foster success
in higher education and in the
workplace.

International Business
Presentation: Create an
electronic business presentation a
foreign country of your choice.
Your presentation must include:

• Outline of your topic
• Title Slide
• Country Information
• Things to know before

traveling
• Making appointments
• Business Dress
• Addressing Others
• Gift-giving
• Entertaining

International Recruitment
Project: Complete the FBLA
International Recruitment Project.
You and a partner will select a
country outside of the United
States. Download the full
assignment below.

Compare/Contrast Formats: FBLA Business Achievement Awards
Create a presentation to compare FBLA Guest Speakers from the
and contrast file formats. Your Business Community
presentation must compare and
contrast two image formats, two
audio formats, and two video
formats with a focus on data
compression.

FBLA Georgia FBLA State Project: Ongoing integration throughout the
5|Page TBA year

Business Communications

Forsyth County Course Syllabus|2017-2018

Business Achievement Awards: FBLA State Project
Students enhance their leadership FBLA Business Achievement Awards
skills, expand their
business knowledge, contribute to
their local communities, and earn
recognition each step of the way by
immersing themselves in their
school, community, and FBLA
programs.

GeorgiaBest ePortfolio:
GeorgiaBest certification serves as
validation to employers that
students have displayed strong
work habits that will foster success
in higher education and in the
workplace.

Course Pacing Guide

Course Pacing Overview

Duration Unit/Topic Standard

(Weeks) BMA-BC-1
BMA-BC-3
1 week Communication Basics BMA-BC-4
BMA-BC-8
1 week Active Listening BMA-BC-2
3 weeks Digital Media BMA-BC-5
6 weeks Business Writing BMA-BC-7
BMA-BC-1
4 weeks Presentation Basics BMA-BC-6
4 weeks Job Acquisition BMA-BC-1

5 weeks Communication Ethics & International BMA-BC-7
6 weeks Communications BMA-BC-9
Multimedia Presentation BMA-BC-10

Ongoing FBLA

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Forsyth County Course Syllabus|2017-2018

GRADING CALCULATIONS AND POLICY

Non-Georgia Milestones EOC Assessment Course Average
50% (1st Sem. Course Work) + 50% (2nd Sem. Course Work)
1st and 2nd Semester Course Work = 75% Summative + 25% Formative

Concept of formative and summative assessment
http://www.forsyth.k12.ga.us/assessmentconcepts

Grading Policy

A = 90 – 100 B = 80 – 89 C = 70 – 79 Failing = Below 70

* Formative Assessments include, but are not limited to homework, class work, practice tests, rough drafts, and sections of projects/
research papers/presentations.

* Summative Assessments include, but are not limited to unit tests, final projects, final essays, final research papers, and final
presentations.

Career Tech Grading Policies for 2017-2018

In order to receive recovery students must complete some type of remediation (i.e. coming in before/after
school or during designated recovery time).

All recovery assignments are to be completed within ten school days. Based on a 100 point score a 20-point
reduction will be taken off the final grade of the assignment.

All grades become locked after the 9 week grading period ends.

In the event a student is dealing with extenuating circumstances the student must have academic waiver
signed by Career Tech Administrator, to allow for an extension.

The Career Tech Department will be following the county wide policy on absences from school.

7|Page Business Communications