SALEM COMMUNITY COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS
KEYBOARDING/WORD PROCESSING

Course Code: BUS 114

Lecture Hours: 4 Laboratory Hours: 0 Credits: 4

Course Description: Keyboarding/Word Processing:

The Keyboarding/Word Processing course is designed to teach students
how to use a computer and a word processing application. The course
activities focus on developing the touch method of keyboarding and basic
word processing formatting of business documents. Activities are selfpaced. The students will increase straight-copy speed and develop mastery
of word processing skills. Accuracy and editing are emphasized in the
preparation of business correspondence, reports, tables and employment
documents.

Prerequisite: None
Co-requisite: None

Place in College Curriculum: This course is a required course for the

Administrative Assistant Certificate program. It may be taken as an elective by other
interested students.

BUS114 pg. 2

Course Outline:
I.

Keyboard Control
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.

II.

Alphabet Letters
Numbers
Symbols
Accuracy Development
Speed Development
Timed Writings

Skill Drive
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.

Accuracy Development
Speed Development
Timed Writings
Skill Refinement
Diagnostic Practice
Progressive Practice
Paced practice
Pretest/Practice/Posttest

III. Document Processing/Word Processing Skills

A.
Navigating in Windows
B.
Basic Functions using Microsoft Word
C.
Academic Business Report
D.
Business Letters
E.
Email Message
F.
Memos with Attachment
G.
Memos with Tables
H.
Reports: Itinerary, Agenda, Procedures Manual, Magazine
Article, Agenda, Minutes of Meeting, Magazine Article
IV. Tables
A.
Boxed with Footnotes or Source Notes
B.
Braced Column Headings
C.
Boxed Table in Landscape
D.
Multipage Boxed Table
E.
Revising Tables
V.

Specialized Applications
A.
Medical Office Applications
B.
Legal Office Applications
C.
Employment Documents
D.
Designing Office Forms
BUS 114 pg. 3
E.

Designing Office Publications

F.
VI.

VII.

Language Arts Skills

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.

Designing Web Pages

Proofreading
Spelling
Punctuation
Capitalization
Number expression
Subject-verb agreement
Abbreviations, and word choice.

Tests
A.
B.

Skills Assessment Tests

Word Processing Objective Test

Course Performance Objective #1

The student will apply proper techniques for the operation and care of the computer.
Enabling Objectives:
1. The student will demonstrate correct log-on procedures as specified by the instructor.
2. The student will demonstrate start up procedures of the GDP program and use of
the mouse.
3. The student will display the proper position when sitting at the workstation as indicated by
the instructor.
4. The student will demonstrate correct exiting of program and shut down procedures as
specified by the instructor.
5. The student will identify and describe the functions of the hardware at the workstation.
6. The student will identify and describe the keyboard and the function of the special keys on
the keyboard.

BUS 114 pg. 4

Course Performance Objective #2

The student will key straight-copy material on a computer using Microsoft Word and the
GDP software at a rate of 50 words a minute for five minutes with five or fewer errors.
Enabling Objectives:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

The student will key accurately using the alphabetic, number, symbol, and
function keys on the keyboard.
The student will complete accuracy drills as directed by the instructor.
The student will practice speed-building drills according to criteria set by the
instructor.
The student will key straight-copy material at a rate of 50 words a minute for
five minutes with no more than five errors at least five times.
The instructor will evaluate enabling objectives 1 and 4 when timed writings are
submitted for grading beginning with the second week of class and continuing at
least once a week.

Course Performance Objective #3

The student will utilize touch keying and word processing skills in the preparation of
documents as indicated in Roman Numeral III of the Course Outline.
Enabling Objectives:
1.
2.
3.

The student will use the GDP and/or Microsoft Word software to prepare and
print business documents.
The student will produce acceptable copy from statistical, rough draft, and
handwritten material.
The student will use high-level proofreading skills to correct each document for
accuracy.

BUS 114 pg. 5

Course Performance Objective #4

The student will compose and key original documents on the computer.
Enabling Objectives:
1.
2.

As directed by the instructor and given a topic, the student will compose and
print original documents on the computer within 30 minutes.
The student will use acceptable language arts skills and correct keyboarding
techniques according to criteria indicated by the instructor.

Course Performance Objective #5

The student will display office standards in quality of work, demeanor, work habits,
business ethics, and attendance.
Enabling Objectives:
1. The student will print documents with three or less errors.
2. The student will demonstrate a professional demeanor that would be acceptable in an
office setting as indicated by the instructor.
3. The student will work efficiently and accurately in the production of business
documents.
4. The student will exhibit ethics that would be acceptable to an employer in an office
situation.
5. The student will work independently, follow directions, and employ problem-solving
abilities to complete assignments.

BUS 114 pg. 6

Course Activities:

The student will be required to utilize keyboarding/word processing skills to key

and print a wide range of basic business documents, tables, and reports. The student will
take scheduled word processing objective tests and skill progress tests in addition to
timed writings using refined proofreading and problem-solving techniques. Students will
use correspondence and report templates and learn to design notepads, office forms,
announcements, flyers, and newsletters. Web page design will include creating Web
pages with hyperlinks.

BUS 114 pg. 7

Course Schedule
Week

Assignments

First

Introduction to the course requirements

Review of equipment and software applications
Review of textbook and Reference Manual
Review of Microsoft Windows and WORD 2000

Second

PART 1 The Alphabet, Number, and Symbol Keys

UNIT 1 AND UNIT 2
Keyboarding the Alphabet
Lessons 1-10

Third

Fourth

UNIT 3 AND UNIT 4

Keyboarding the Numbers and Symbols
Lessons 11-20
Part One - Progress Test
PART 2 Letters, Memos, and Reports
UNIT 5, WORD PROCESSING
Lessons 21-25
Objective WP Test

Five

UNIT 6, REPORTS
Lessons 26-30
UNIT 7, CORRESPONDENCE
Lessons 31-35

Six

UNIT 8, TABLES
Lessons 36-40
Part Two Skill Assignment

Seven

Eight

PART 3 Reports, Correspondence, and Employment Documents

UNIT 9, REPORTS
Lessons 41-45
UNIT 10, CORRESPONDENCE
Lessons 46-50
UNIT 11, EMPLOYMENT DOCUMENTS
Lessons 51-55
UNIT 12, Optional Lessons 56-60 Reviews
Part Three Skill Assessment

BUS 114 pg. 8

Ninth

PART 4 Advanced Formatting

UNIT 13, SKILL REFINEMENT
Lessons 61-65
UNIT 14, REPORTS
Lessons 66-70

Tenth

UNIT 15, CORRESPONDENCE

Lessons 71-75
UNIT 16, TABLES
Lessons 76-80

Eleventh

TEST 4 SKILLS ASSESSMENT ON PART 4

Twelfth

Thirteen
Fourteen

PART 5 Specialized Applications

UNIT 17, FORMAL REPORT PROJECT
Lessons 81-85
UNIT 18, INTERNATIONAL FORMATTING
Lessons 86-90
UNIT 19/20, MEDICAL/LEGAL OFFICE APPLICATIONS
Lessons 91-95 and Lessons 96-100
TEST 5 SKILLS ASSESSMENT ON PART 5
PART 6 Using and Designing Business Documents
UNIT 21, USING AND DESIGNING OFFICE FORMS
Lessons 101-105
UNIT 22, DESIGNING OFFICE PUBLICATIONS
Lessons 106-110

Fifteenth

UNIT 23, DESIGNING WEB PAGES

Lessons 111-115

Sixteenth

TEST 6 SKILLS ASSESSMENT ON PART 6

BUS 114 pg. 9

Course Requirements and Evaluation
Assignments: 40 percent of the final grade
a. Read the assigned unit and lessons before coming to class. Assignments should
be clearly marked with your name, the unit, lesson, and page.
b. If assignments are not completed during the assigned class periods, the student
will be expected to attend open lab to complete the assignments. Approximately
four to six hours per week of computer time, outside of class, is recommended to
complete assignments.
c. A perfect assignment will receive a score of A (acceptable) A percentage will be
deducted for omissions or text additions; for each typographical error; and for each
formatting error. All assignments must be completed to satisfactorily complete the
requirements of this course.
Tests: 30 percent of the final grade will be the average of all skill assessment tests.
a. The student will complete all tests as scheduled.
C.

Time Writings: 20 percent of final grade will be the average of five best timings.
a. Five timed writings at a rate of 50 words a minute, for five minutes, with five or
less errors.

D.

Attendance and Demeanor: 10 percent of final grade

a. The instructor will evaluate the student's businesslike demeanor and
attendance according to the criteria presented during the instructor's
lectures.
b. Attendance Policy: The student is expected to attend scheduled classes
on time. Any student who misses class or who is late for class will be
liable for grade reductions according to the policy indicated by the
instructor.

BUS 114 pg. 10

Final Grades will be determined using the above weighted as follows:
Letter Grade
Numerical Value
Grade Points
A
93-100
4.0
A90-92
3.7
B+
88-89
3.3
B
83-87
3.0
B80-82
2.7
C+
78-79
2.3
C
73-77
2.0
C70-72
1.7
D+
68-69
1.3
D
60-67
1.0
F
< 59
0
FA
Failure due to non-attendance 0
Withdrawal Note:
Withdrawing from a course must be completed through Student Services.
Attendance: Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes.
Academic Honesty Policy: Students found to have committed an act of academic
dishonesty may be subject to failure in this course, academic probation, and/or
suspension from the college. See the Student Handbook for additional details.

Required Text
Ober, College Keyboarding Etc., 10th edition
ISBN# 9780077260538
Supplies:

One diskette
One pocket folder

References: This manual may be used in other courses

Savin, William: The Gregg Reference Manual, Ninth Edition, Glencoe/McGrawHill, 2001.