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"The most important things are the hardest to say, because words diminish them."
— Stephen King

In this course, students will learn to apply essential business communication concepts for the current work environment. They will learn how to create compelling digital written communication (e.g., emails and resumes). Present themselves online, both in online profiles (Linkedin) and during video interviews and presentations.

Instructor: Brian Spiering
Contact: Slack DM (more preferred) | [email protected] (less preferred)
Office hours: Thursdays 5p-6p (PDT) & By Appointment. Zoom link in Slack channel.

Grader: Akanksha
Contact: Slack DM | [email protected]
Office hours: By appointment

Website: github.com/brianspiering/ communication_course
Communication: Slack #communication_course_2020
Location: Zoom (links in course calendar, Canvas, or in Slack)

Sections:

1. Thursdays from 9:00a - 9:50a (PDT)
2. Thursdays from 1:00p - 1:50p (PDT)
3. Thursdays from 2:00p - 2:50p (PDT)
4. Thursdays from 6:00p - 6:50p (PDT)

Feel free to attend the section that works best for your schedule. Each section will cover the same material.

The classes will not be recorded. Given the personal nature of the topics, recording the material would be counter productive to an open classroom environment. Additionally, almost all of the value of the course will be from the live interactions during class.

By the end of the course, you should be able to:

1. Create a LinkedIn profile and resume.
2. Write business emails for common data science scenarios.
3. Present yourself during general and technical interviews.
4. Give a short, technical presentation.

1. 10/15 Welcome | Overview
2. 10/22 LinkedIn
3. 10/29 Resume
4. 11/05 General Interviewing
5. 11/12 Technical Interviewing
6. 11/19 Written Electronic Communication
7. 12/03 Presenting

Each item's contribution is capped its respective percentage. The total course percentage is capped at 100%.

Currently, there is no extra credit. If there is any extra credit, it is entirely at the discretion of the instructor.

We'll be using Canvas as the learning management system (LMS), aka the gradebook. The instructional team will do their best to have Canvas accurately reflect your current scores in the course. However, Canvas may not be completely accurate all the time. In other words, your actual grade maybe significant different than it appears on Canvas.

Note - Canvas may localize your timezone in a way that could appear confusing. The dues dates and times listed above are what matter.

Asking for acceptance of any late assignments without a medical emergency or submitting assignment not through Canvas will result in a loss of professionalism points (and your assignment will still not be accepted).

I expect you act professionally at all times: in-person and electronically; during class outside class. Since people come up from a variety of backgrounds, I'm explicitly defining professionalism:

• Show up on time and prepared.
• Remain fully present.
• Contribute appropriately and meaningfully.
• Follow staff and faculty instructions appropriately.
• Show respect to all people.

Professionalism points are entirely at the instructor's discretion.

Violations of Academic Integrity are unprofessional, thus you'll automatically lose all Professionalism points for any violations of Academic Integrity.

Tardiness negatively impacts an active learning environment, thus will impact your professionalism grade.

You must show-up to each session prepared. Each person is important to the dynamic of the class, and therefore students are required to participate in class activities. Expect to be "cold called". I call on students at random not to put you on the spot but to keep you engaged in the material at all times.

I expect you to be fully present and engaged during the class at all times. I strongly suggest taking notes on paper.

I except you follow the etiquette guidelines throughout the entire course. This is your warning. Every violation will result in a loss of participation points, negatively impacting your total grade.

There will be a required prework before each class. The prework is designed to make sure you are prepared for the in-class activities. For example if the in-class activity is revising your resume and you have not made a rough draft of your resume, you will get very little from the class.

The MSDS program considers a grade of "A" to represent exceptional work with respect to both the instructor's expectations and peer student achievements. I consider an "A" grade to be above and beyond what most students achieve. A grade of "B" represents the expected outcome, what is called "competence" in a business setting. A "C" grade represents achievements lower than the instructor's expectations for competence in the subject. A grade of "F" represents little or no work in the course.

I have the right, but not the obligation, to "curve" the final numerical grades at the end of the course. The mapping from percentages to letter grades (e.g., [95, 100] is an A, [90,95) is an A-, etc.) will not be established until the end of the course. Roughly, the top 15% of students will receive grades of A or A-. Roughly, 60% of students will receive grades of B+, B, or B-. Roughly, 20% of students will receive grades of C+, C, or C-. Students can receive failing grades.

The Learning, Writing, and Speaking Centers at USF provide individualized support to assist you in better understanding course material and to aid you on your path to success. Services are free and include one-on-one tutoring, group tutoring, and one-on-one Academic Skills Coaching appointments to discuss effective study strategies. The Learning Center supports over 80 courses each semester. The Writing Center helps students develop their writing skills in rhetoric, organization, style, and structure, through one-on-one interactive conferences. The Speaking Center helps students prepare for public speaking — including speeches, oral presentations, team presentations, and visual aid demonstrations. International students may also contact us to learn more about communicating with professors and general academic study skills. The Learning, Writing, and Speaking Centers are located on the Lower Level of Gleeson Library (G03). Please contact them at (415) 422-6713 for further assistance or visit: myusf.usfca.edu/lwsc

If you are a student with a disability or disabling condition, or if you think you may have a disability, please contact USF Student Disability Services (SDS) for information about accommodations.

All students are expected to behave in accordance with the Student Conduct Code and other University policies.

USF upholds the standards of honesty and integrity from all members of the academic community. All students are expected to know and adhere to the University's Honor Code.

If you ever have questions about what constitutes plagiarism, cheating, or academic dishonesty in my course, please feel free to ask me.

CAPS provides confidential, free counseling to student members of our community.

For information and resources regarding sexual misconduct or assault visit the Title IX coordinator or USF's Callisto website.