BUSINESS

COMMUNICATION
COURSE
ORIENTATION
 COURSE OBJECTIVES
By the end of the course, students will be expected to:

-Utilize essential knowledge in business communication (both in

writing and speaking) such as composing business messages, writing
reports and proposals, making business presentations, preparing for
job interviews, etc.

-Develop self-study skills, group work, presentation skills, etc...

-Work independently on their final course assignment using critical

thinking and analyzing skills
COURSE BOOK
- “Essentials of Business Communication”
(8th Edition)

- Authors: Mary Ellen Guffey & Dana

Loewy

- Published by : South-Western Cengage

Learning (2010)
 COURSE CONTENTS
Communicating 01 The writing 02 Communicating 03
in today’s process at work
workplace

Reporting 04 Professionalism, 05 Employment 06

workplace data Teamwork, communication
Meetings and
Speaking Skills
 STRUCTURE OF EACH CHAPTER
- Objectives
- Main contents
- Summing up and looking forward
- Critical thinking
- Chapter review
- Activities and cases/Video resources/Grammar exercises
- Communication workshop
 GENERAL SCHEDULE
WEEK UNIT CHAPTER CONTENTS
1. Unit 1 Chapter 1 Course orientation
2. Chapter 2 Planning business messages
Unit 2
3. Chapter 3 Composing business messages
4. Chapter 4 Revising business messages
5. Chapter 5 Electronic Messages and memorandums
6. Chapter 6 Positive messages
Unit 3
7. Chapter 7 Negative messages
8. Chapter 8 Persuasive messages
 GENERAL SCHEDULE
WEEK UNIT CHAPTER CONTENTS
9. Chapter 9 Informal reports
Unit 4
10. Chapter 10 Formal reports & Informal proposals
11. Chapter 11 Business etiquette
Unit 5
12. Chapter 12 Business presentation
13. Chapter 13 Resume & Cover letter
Unit 6
14. Chapter 14 Interview & Following up
15. Final show
 ASSESSMENT
LECTURE NOTES 5%

WRITING IMPROVEMENT CASES 15%

MINI-WORKSHOP 20%

FINAL COURSE ASSIGNMENT 60%

 1. LECTURE NOTES 5%
Requirements:
- Study thoroughly the content of the targeted unit and chapters
- Complete the lecture notes (given 1 week before each lesson)
à Submitted weekly at the beginning of each lesson.
- Fail to submit 2 sessions = 1 off lesson
In-class:
- Teacher will randomly call students to check the key for the lecture notes
and ask further questions to check their understanding & self-study.
 2. WRITING IMPROVEMENT CASES 15%
Requirements:
- Study thoroughly the content of the targeted unit and chapters
- Apply learnt knowledge to do the exercises in-class
In-class:
- Watch a short clip presenting the scenario & writing task
- Choose the correct answers based on the skills and techniques from the
course book.

*Notes: 9 cases, starting from Chapter 6 to Chapter 14

 3. MINI-WORKSHOP 20%
Requirements for the presenting group:
- Work in groups of 4 or 5
- Analyze and present the Communication Workshop at the end of the
chapter as assigned
- Length of time: 50 minutes (15’ for presenting, 30’ for follow-up activities
and 5’ for workshop summary & recommendations)
*Notes: 6 workshops will be on Week 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, and 13.
 3. MINI-WORKSHOP 20%
Requirements for the presenting group:
- Preparation package must be sent via email to the Teacher at least 3 days
prior to the presentation day, including:
○ Slides
○ Summary of the workshop
○ Report of each group member’s contribution to the workshop
○ Submit a complete hard copy of the package on the presentation day
 3. MINI-WORKSHOP 20%
Requirements for the whole class:
- Actively participate in every activity conducted by the presenters
- Contribute to the summary and recommendations at the end of the
workshop.
 4. FINAL COURSE ASSIGNMENT 60%
- Work in groups of 4-5
- Students have 2 topics to choose from:
(1) Interview
(2) Business meeting

Requirements:
- Write 6 writing entries about 6 types of business messages based on a given
scenario
- Conduct a final show on week 15
 4. FINAL COURSE ASSIGNMENT 60%
Topic 1: Interview
- Together, create a company with a logo and a short video of 4-5 mins to
introduce the company
Interviewers/Recruiters’ tasks:
(1) Write a recruitment routine (email/memorandum)
(2) Write a job description & requirements (email/memorandum)
(3) Prepare a list of interview questions and possible answers (based on
the job description above) (send to teacher only)
(4) Write an informal report about 2 interviewees after the final show
 4. FINAL COURSE ASSIGNMENT 60%
Interviewees’ tasks:
(1) Write a recommendation report: : Searching for career information (C9.2 p.245)
Draft 1: Describes your target career area. Discuss the nature of the work, working conditions,
necessary qualifications, and the future job outlook for the occupation. Include information about
typical salary ranges and career paths. (Secondary data)
Draft 2: Collect information about two companies where you might apply. Investigate each
company’s history, products and/or services, size, earnings, reputation, and number of employees.
Describe the functions of an employee working in the position you have investigated. To do this,
interview one or more individuals who are working in that position.
Final draft: Draw conclusions and making recommendations. Who might be successful in this field?
(2) Write a CV & cover letter
(3) Prepare for the interview
 4. FINAL COURSE ASSIGNMENT 60%
Final show:
- The interviewers
+ Present about their company (showing their logo and video)
+ Introduce the interview scene
+ Conduct an interview
+ Give a brief oral report on two interviewers
- The interviewees:
+ Participate in the interview
 4. FINAL COURSE ASSIGNMENT 60%
Topic 2: Business meeting
Scenario: A company received several direct claims à The leaderboard want
a survey about the product à Staffs need to write a survey report &
adjustment letters for the claims. Later, write recommendation proposal.
Interviewers/Recruiters’ tasks:
(1) Choose one product from a real company or a company of your own
imagination. Carry out a survey of people’s satisfaction in using the product,
find out the existing problems (price, quality, function, experience when using
the products,..).
(2) Choose only one problem from the survey, imagine yourself as a
customer having bad experience of the product. Write a direct claim.
 4. FINAL COURSE ASSIGNMENT 60%
(3) Together, create a company with a logo and a short video of 4-5
mins to introduce the company (Due: W8)
(4) Write an adjustment letter to answer the claim
(5) Write an informal proposal to present solutions to 2-3 problems that
the company is facing
Final show:
(6) Two staffs: Conduct a business presentation to present the solutions
(7) The other two: Evaluate the proposal orally & write a meeting minute
 4. FINAL COURSE ASSIGNMENT 60%
Week Final project preparation _ Interview topic deadlines
Week 1 Decision on groups & final assignments (Random)
Week 3 Decision on type of business, company name, job vacancies/targeted products
Week 8 - Recruitment routine (*)
- Recommendation report – Draft 1
Week 10 - Job descriptions & requirements (*)
- Recommendation report – Draft 2
Week 12 - Logo & Clip
- Recommendation report – Final (*)
Week 14 - Interview questions + Expected answers (Marking rubrics) – to teacher only
- CV & Cover letters (*)
Week 15 - Full package
- Informal reports (within 3 days after the show)
(*) Writings need peer-feedback
 4. FINAL COURSE ASSIGNMENT 60%
Week Final project preparation _ Business meeting topic deadlines
Week 1 Decision on groups & final assignments (Random)
Week 3 Decision on type of business, company name, job vacancies/targeted products
Week 5 - Survey (*)
Week 7 - Direct claim (*)
Week 11 - Adjustment letter (*)
- Informal proposal (*)
Week 12 - Logo & clip
Week 13 - Business presentation package
Week 15 - Full package
- Meeting minutes (within 3 days after the show)
(*) Writings need peer-feedback
COURSE POLICY

● Ss must bring their course books to class in every session.

● Ss who are absent for MORE THAN TWO sessions (20%) of the
course are not eligible for the final grade.
● Participation: 02 lateness (after 15’) = 1 off lesson
● Fully accomplish the required assignments
● Actively participate in group discussions
ASSIGNMENT CONDITIONS
Writing entries:
- Plagiarism will be penalized with 0 (Zero). If permitted to
resubmit, a maximum of 40% will be awarded.
- Work not submitted on time without prior approval will be
failed and a maximum mark of 40% will be awarded for the
resubmission.
Mini-workshop & Final show
- Failure to perform the presentation on the due date will result
in the group receiving 0 for the assignment.
INSTRUCTOR’S CONTACT

DUONG THI LE DUNG (M.A)

Email: dungduong5012@gmail.com
Mobile: 0942966105