- COURSE OBJECTIVES
English for Business Communication is an intensive course designed to help students become skillful communicators as effectiveness in communicating ideas, feelings, instructions, and thoughts are key to success, especially in business. In this course, we will explore how to communicate in written and oral form. We will look at the standard practices for communicating within and across business sectors. We will practice some of the fundamentals of business writing, including memos, business letters and reports, and discuss how to be persuasive and engaging in these writings. Additionally, we will explore oral presentation as it exists in different professional contexts and settings.
- COURSE CONTENT AND SCHEDULE
No.
Content
Time Allocation
CLO
Hour(s) on the class
Essays, exercise,
Assignments
Self-study with teacher’s tutorials
Lecture
Practice, Seminar…
1
-Introductions to Class, Syllabus
Chapter 1: Business Communication in the Digital Age
1
2
3
4
1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9
2.
Chapter 1: Business Communication in the Digital Age
Chapter 7: Electronic Messages and Digital Media: Writing Professional Emails
1
2
3
4
1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9
3.
-The Rhetorical Situation
Chapter 8: Positive and Neutral Messages:
Direct Informational Memo
1
2
3
4
1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9
4.
Chapter 10: Persuasive and Sales Messages:
Persuasive Claim Letters
1
2
3
4
1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9
5.
Chapter 10: Persuasive and Sales Messages
1
2
3
4
1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9
6.
Chapter 9: Negative Messages
1
2
3
4
1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9
7.
Chapter 15: The Job Search: Resumes and Cover Letters in the Digital Age
1
2
3
4
1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9
8.
Chapter 15: continue
Writing Job Targeted Resumes & Cover Letters
1
2
3
4
1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9
9.
Chapter 11: Report Writing Basics: Team Informational Report
Chapter 2: Working as a Team - Research
1
2
3
4
1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9
10.
Chapter 12: Informal Business Reports
Writing & Organizing Short Informational Reports
1
2
3
4
1, 2, 7, 8, 9
11.
- APA In-text Citations & Reference Page
1
2
3
4
1, 2, 7, 8, 9
12.
- Peer Review & Revision of Report
- Chapter 14: Business presentation - Business Attire
1
2
3
4
7, 9
13.
- Presentation Sign-up
- Chapter 14: Presentation Preparation & Practice
1
2
3
4
7, 9
14.
- Chapter 14: Presentation Preparation & Practice
- Presentations
1
2
3
4
7, 9
15.
- Presentations
- Review for Final Exam
1
2
3
4
7, 9
Total
15
30
45
60
- COURSE ASSESSMENT
3.1. Type of Assessment
Grading scale: 10
Form
Content
Criteria
CLO
Proportion
Formative
Attendance
Quizzes,
In-class discussions and peer reviewing on assigned paper.
Daily writing
The number of attendances and participation in lesson
2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9
10%
Midterm
Test Content: from chapter 1 to chapter 8
2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9
30%
Summative
Final
Business Report + Presentation
Group or individual assignment
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
60%
Final Examination
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Total:
100%
Assignment checklist
No.
Assessment
I
Mid-Term
1
In-class Exam #1: Direct Informational Memo
2
In-class Exam #2: Persuasive Message
3
In-class Exam #3: Sales Message
4
In-class Exam #4: Bad News Message
5
Career Packet: Job posting, resume & Cover letter
6
Mid term test
II
Final term
7
Student Informational Email
8
Team Informational Research Project (Report) with References
9
Team Presentation
10
Homework Assignments (4)
11
Quizzes (2)
12
Participation in Class
13
Final Examination
3.2. Assessment Criteria
Evaluation of Oral Presentation / Rubric Team #
Group Members: _________________________________________
Time Began______ Time Ended_______
Topic
4 Excellent
3 Good
2 Average
1 Poor
Preparedness
The team is completely prepared and has obviously rehearsed.
The team seems pretty prepared but might have needed a couple more rehearsals.
The team is somewhat prepared, but it is clear rehearsal is lacking.
The team does not seem at all prepared to present.
Enthusiasm
Facial expressions and body language generate a strong interest and enthusiasm about the topic in others.
Facial expressions and body language often generate a strong interest and enthusiasm about the topic in others.
Facial expressions and body language sometimes are used to try to generate enthusiasm.
Very little use of facial expressions or body language. Did not generate much interest in topic being presented.
Speaking
Speaks distinctly and loud enough all (100-95%) the time without reading from notes
Speaks clearly and distinctly most (85-94%) of the time, but refers to notes or slides.
Speaks clearly and distinctly partly (75-84%) of the time, but mostly reads from notes or slides.
Often mumbles or cannot be understood, and reads from notes, screen and slides all the time.
Positioning & Transitions
Appearance/ Attire
The team has excellent positioning and transitions between team members.
The team has good positioning and transitions between team
Some team member’s positioning is OK; others are clustered together. Some transitions between team members OK.
Positioning and transitions are poor and need improvement.
Content Coverage
Excellent understanding and coverage of the topic.
Presenter follows logical sequence
and provides explanations/
elaborations. Focuses on 2-4 clearly
defined main points. Strong takeaway.
Good understanding and coverage of most of the topic.
Presenter follows logical sequence
but fails to elaborate. Structure
lacks strong definition and
emphasis.
Some understanding and coverage of parts of the topic.
Presenter uses a checklist approach
to organize material or relies on
stock phrases (“Next” or “That’s it”).
Mechanical.
Does not understand the topic or give minimal coverage of content.
Presenter offers no logical
sequence of information.
PPT Slides / Visuals
Excellent supporting role & integration of slides, reinforced main points
Good supporting role & integration of slides, easy to understand
Fair supporting role & integration of slides, easy to see
Poor supporting role & integration of slides, too many lines on slides:
Presentation on the Whole
Overall, the presentation was excellent.
Overall, the presentation was excellent.
Overall, the presentation was average.
Overall, the presentation was poor.
Name
Positive Comment
Advice
Report rubrics: