Syllabus: MRKT 460 International Marketing

Click here for your course syllabus!

Please note: The syllabus has been revised; only 1 required textbook. Make certain 
you download the revision as of 14 February 2012.

WILL Invites You To Improve Your Grades

GUST offers you the opportunity to improve your writing . . . so you can earn the grade you really want!

You (and I) can be very proud to be affiliated with a university that cares so much about the writing skills of its students. The Writing Lab (aka WILL) requires an investment of GUST's money . . . and it's now up to you (it's in your hands) to improve your writing skills. 

The Help You Need Is At The Writing Lab

In all cases (unless your writing skills are advanced) you should go to WILL and ask for help with grammar, spelling and punctuation. Help is available from 9 to 5 Sunday through Thursday. 

In some cases I will require you to go to WILL and get assistance before I will grade your work. If I tell you that you must seek help from WILL, please do so quickly so that I can assess your work and post your grade. Failure to go to WILL will result in a lower grade. 

Most of you can do yourselves a huge favor by improving your ability to write in English . . . what a wonderful opportunity. Hooray for GUST, and hooray for each of you who needs this help -- now you can get it easily and at no extra cost! 

Click on the image to enlarge it.

Assignments: Use Only English Language Formatting

If you submit assignments in the format below, the assignment will not be accepted and your grade will be zero. If you do not know how to submit written material with left to right formatting, and no justification on the right margin, then go to IT, or a colleague, and learn how!

Swipe Only One Card: Your Own!

It's been brought to my attention that some students are swiping cards for students who are not attending classes. Please revisit item #8 in this article: "My GUST Attendance Record Is My Responsibility."

I repeat: It is dishonest to swipe a card (or record attendance in any other way) for a student who is absent. Students who violate this policy are subject to disciplinary action. Don't do it!

Related to this point: Students sometimes swipe cards for friends who actually are in attendance, but for whatever reason don't come forward themselves to swipe their cards. To avoid any confusion (or suspicions), swipe your own card and tell your friends to do likewise.

How To Avoid Child-Like Treatment

The obvious message here is that you can avoid child-like treatment by avoiding child-like behaviors. Click on the link for the complete article . . . be sure to read it! Otherwise, you may be treated like a child during the semester.

Basic English Grading Rubric

For all Courses Taught by

Dr. John P. Hayes

Gulf University for Science & Technology

Score Yourself!

Spelling Errors

1-3                        - 3 PTS

4-7                   - 5 PTS

8 or more       - 10 PTS

Grammar Errors

1-3                      - 3 PTS

4-7                  - 5 PTS

8 or more       - 10 PTS

Incomplete Sentences

1                        - 3 PTS

2                    - 5 PTS

3 or more       - 10 PTS

Punctuation Errors

1-5                     - 3 PTS

6-9                 - 5 PTS

10 or more     - 10 PTS

Not Interested in Developing Your Skills? Then What Are You Doing in Marketing?

Please click on this link and read the advertisement placed by Universal Media (it's in the lower portion of the newspaper page, on the right).

Pay particular attention to the list of Skills required for these jobs. Some of you may argue that you're not going to get a job in marketing -- you're looking for a job in accounting or finance. Be aware that all employers seek to hire people who have many of these same skills. Accountants and finance people are expected to communicate and to work cooperatively.

Why do we have to do that? 

Students often ask me (usually to object) why it's necessary to work in teams, and why they have to make presentations to the class.

These activities build skills, the skills that employers seek.

Getting an education is not just about reading texts and supplementary materials. It's not just about passing quizzes and exams.  It's not about attending lectures and slide shows. An education isn't complete without the student learning skills.

Working with teams

This employer is seeking someone who has the "ability to foster a cooperative work environment." How do you learn that? By working with teams. Chances are very good that when you work with a team of students at GUST you'll be unhappy with the results. Some students, as you'll discover, aren't interested in doing any work. Some will agree to show up for meetings, but they won't show up and they won't give you any advance notice. Some are not capable of doing the work that's required, sometimes because their command of English is so poor. This usually means the better students do the brunt of the work -- and the poorer students do little or nothing. Keep in mind that the poorer students also are more likely to earn an F for their lack of contributions.

These jobs require people who have the "ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing." How do you learn that? By doing it! When you're required to write a presentation and present it to the class you begin to master this skill.

Wanted: Thinkers!

The employer seeks people who have the "ability to analyze and solve problems." That's why I include essay questions in tests. I want you to demonstrate your ability to think. Employers will demand that of you.

The employer wants to hire a person who has an "excellent command of English and preferably Arabic." That's why I emphasize Basic English. You must demonstrate your ability to use it! Sorry, I can't help you with your Arabic, but I hope that you have an excellent command of your native language.

And then the employer seeks to hire someone who has the "ability to communicate and motivate via written media with presentation skills." Employers seek people who can get results for their business. You must be able to communicate effectively with employees, as well as customers and suppliers.

How to develop these skills

You won't learn all of these skills in a Basic Marketing course. However, this course provides an opportunity to introduce the skills. Other courses, including some in other disciplines, are designed to help you acquire all of the skills that employers demand.

Pay attention! Unless you don't intend to seek a job, these skills are extremely important. The world is a competitive place and employers are looking for the very best people to hire.