Business Academic Skills

Session 1
Introduction. Email communication.

Lecturer: Anna Loseva

anna.loseva@isb.edu.vn
Today we will...
● Keep getting to know each other
● Learn ALL THE IMPORTANT THINGS about this course
● Receive a gift from my previous students
● Review email communication basics
● Take the first quiz!
Which 5 words describe you?
Make a note.
Moscow
Tokyo
bookworm
travelling
beach
 Speaking activity: Get to know me!
Ask and answer the following questions. SPEAK NON-STOP!
1. What is your name? Which 5 words describe you and why?

2. What is your previous experience with academic skills (writing,

reading, public speaking, research)? Describe in detail.

3. How good are you at soft skills (teamwork, critical thinking,

problem-solving, communication, independent learning)? Explain
and give examples.
BAS Unit Guide analysis

Work in pairs to analyse the

Unit Guide for our course. Find
the answers for Anna’s
questions.

Unit Guide is on Canvas

 Find answers to these Qs in the Unit Guide:
1. How can you pass this course? How can you fail this course?
2. How many classes must you attend? What else is important to know about
attendance policy?
3. How many of the course assessments are done in groups?
4. What are the stages of working on the group essay assessment?
5. How are Poster presentation and Report assessments connected?
6. What is your homework? Where and how often do you submit it?
7. What is Capstone project? How is it connected with the weekly HW?
8. What referencing system should you use in this subject?
9. What textbooks are used and where do you find them?
10. What will happen if your assignments are found to be plagiarized?
11. What are the general formatting requirements for your written
submissions?
12. What will happen if you do not submit your major assignments by the due
date?
 QUIZ (10%)
➢ 5-10 minutes at the
beginning of each class, in
class
➢ CANNOT be taken again
if missed
➢ based on specific
homework reading
(textbook chapters or
extra materials)
Annotated bibliography ➢ Essay groups (4-5 ppl)
(5%)
➢ Summarize and
evaluate the reading
for your group essay
(minimum 8 sources)
→ minimum 800 words

➢ submitted by Session 6
on Canvas
Group essay (20%) ➢ essay groups (4-5 ppl)

➢ 1300-1500 words

➢ topics decided in session 2

➢ minimum 8 references

➢ outline + draft workshops

➢ submitted by Session 7 on
Canvas
 ➢ NEW groups (4-5 ppl)
Group presentation ➢ topics are related to a
(15%) particular academic or soft
skill, chosen by you &
confirmed by Anna

➢ 10-12 mins + Q&A

➢ outline + rehearsal
workshops

➢ performed in class in
Session 12
Individual project = exam (35%)

PROBLEM-SOLVING PROJECT
 Individual project ➢ walk-around poster
presentations held in a
Task 1 conference format

Poster presentation (15%) ➢ your individual

problem-solving ideas for a
real issue

➢ minimum 3 references

➢ performed in class in
Session 11 (30 min
discussion)
Individual project ➢ minimum 1200 words and
5 references
Task 2
➢ a formal report describing
Report (20%) a problem and offering
solutions

➢ outline and draft

workshops

➢ submitted on Canvas 3
days after Session 12
Capstone project
➢ represents your achievements, learning
and progress in this course

(15%) ➢ is evidence-based (10 course

“artifacts” of your choice)

➢ is reflective (the choice of artifacts is

explained and justified)

➢ consists of 2 parts:
(1) a .pdf collection of artifacts
(2) a screencast video with
reflections/explanations of each artifact
as related to course learning
outcomes
➢ submitted 7 days after Session 12 on
Canvas
Capstone artifacts will largely be
based on weekly HW

➢ video recording, writing, discussion

posts submitted on Canvas

➢ individual and/or group

➢ builds up practical skills

➢ HW will be submitted every week

and marked complete/incomplete.
ONLY COMPLETE HW can be used
in the Capstone!

➢ missed HW cannot be resubmitted

If you submit your HW at least 3
days before it is due, there is a
chance that Anna will check it
early.
Then, if it is marked incomplete,
you can fix and resubmit it before
the due date.
Course maintenance: Canvas use
1. Check the settings: make sure you receive notifications.

2. Use the t0-do list to plan your time.

3. USE uploaded materials!

4. Session slides will be uploaded after each class -

always review them!

5. Submissions are accepted on Canvas, unless instructed

otherwise.
Letters from my students - to YOU!
From Viet Thi

From Ai Phuong

From Phuong Trang

Academic integrity
“Academic integrity means acting in a way that is honest, fair, respectful and
responsible in your studies and academic work. It means applying these
values in your own work, and also when you engage with the work and
contributions of others” (Monash University, 2023).
WSU expects you to study responsibly and have
honest, fair, and ethical practices in…

➔ Writing
➔ Doing HW
➔ Test/quiz taking
➔ Doing research
➔ Working in a group
Use the Academic Integrity checklist to foster responsible learning
(uploaded on Canvas)
 ● plagiarism
● peer plagiarism
● self plagiarism
● collusion
● cheating
Problems to be aware of ● irresponsible AI use
that have serious
academic consequences
Plagiarism is using someone else’s words, sentence
structure, and ideas without acknowledging where
they come from.
Reliable sources (for ALL assignments)
UEH Smart Library Database
• Academic articles
• Books
Instructions to use are
• Scholarly journals
on Canvas
• Government and
corporate websites
• WIKIPEDIA OR BLOGS
are NOT accepted as
sources
 Image source: https://appinventiv.com/

Generative AI should be used RESPONSIBLY

(read this document, also uploaded on Canvas)
IMPORTANT!
3 common problems: Why?
Anna’s solution #1
Anna’s solution #2
Anna’s IMPORTANT solution #2
 How do I contact Anna?

STRICTLY by email: anna.loseva@isb.edu.vn

1. subject of your email should be clear

2. introduce yourself (full name, class code)
3. be specific about your question/request + be patient (2-3 days)
4. practice FORMAL email etiquette and follow the rules!
Communication for university students:
With whom? Why?
 Communication principle #1:
KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE!
Identify their needs and attempt to meet them.

Recognize the context, too. Your message (e.g. email) should

conform to specific conventions (medium, style, tone, format).
Who is the audience?
What differences can you notice?
Common problems
1. Subject line
2. Level of formality (teacher is not your buddy!)
3. Long unnecessary explanations that are more confusing
than helpful
4. Unclear request (what do you need from Anna?)
5. Poor formatting (punctuation, paragraphs, standard email
rules)
6. Missing information
 1. CLEAR: information, structure, and
language enable the reader to get the
intended meaning.
An effective, 2. CONCISE: maximum meaning using as few
audience-centered words as possible.

message is... 3. COMPREHENSIVE: style, organization,

medium, and visual impact of the message

help the reader to understand and act.

4. COMPLETE: information is enough to

evaluate the message and act on it.
the 5Cs
5. CORRECT: information is accurate, free of
errors in punctuation, spelling, grammar, word
order, and sentence structure.
 Subject line
Basic email format
Salutation

Text

Sign-off
*attachment
Subject line: concise & relevant
Subject line: concise & relevant
 Positive & negative messages have different purposes
Message that is positive Message that is negative

for the recipient: for the recipient:

➔ Provides information ➔ Brings bad news

➔ Builds/maintains a ➔ Asks to do smth
relationship ➔ Maintains good will
ORGANIZE your positive & negative messages
❏ Main point ❏ Buffer (neutral/positive statement to
❏ Details delay the negative)
❏ Negatives, if any ❏ Explanation of reason (clear
❏ Reader benefits & convincing)
❏ Negative (stated clearly and ONCE)
❏ Goodwill ending
❏ Alternatives, if any
❏ Goodwill ending
 1. No angry/rude/anxious
messages (sleep on it! Ask
a friend to proofread)
2. Send messages when
needed
3. Avoid SHOUTING AT PPL
WITH ALL CAPS
SOME of the rules 4. Avoid abusing text
formatting
Recipient: ……………….
CC (carbon copy): everyone knows I am reading this
BCC (blind carbon copy): no one knows I am reading
this

Subject: Re quiz scores

When sending an attachment…

→ make sure it is necessary

→ introduce it in the body of email
→ name files appropriately!
Writing emails takes time!
plan, write, revise
 TIP:
Add the recipient’s email address LAST
Helpful file on Canvas
Emails
 For ALL HW file submissions:
1. NAME your HW files properly:
HWnumber_class code_yourfullname

2. On top of EVERY written HW file document:

Student name/names (and team name, if relevant)
Class code
HWnumber
Task description (from Anna’s slides)

3. Cover sheets are NOT required for HW submissions

4. Due date is midnight before class each time. Submission will be

closed as the session starts.
 TO-DO LIST for Session 2, Part 1
1) HW1.1 (individual): Skills self-assessment (video, 5 mins max)
STEP 1. Carefully read the list of the skills (22 skills on the next slide).
STEP 2. Record a video answering the following questions:
a) What are the top 3 skills you feel most confident about? Why?
Explain in detail.
b) What are the 3 skills you feel least confident about? Why?
Explain in detail.
c) After considering your responses to the 2 questions above AND
the course assessments, what are your specific goals for this
course? How are you planning to achieve them?
Academic and soft skills necessary for success in
academic and business environments:

1) Active learning 12) Social skills (e.g. coordination,

2) Research skills persuasion, mentoring, negotiation)
3) Collaboration and teamwork 13) Decision-making
4) Critical thinking 14) Adaptability
5) Problem-solving 15) Detail-orientedness
6) Self-awareness and reflection 16) Autonomous learning
7) Effective communication 17) Technology literacy
18) Information literacy
8) Time-management skills
19) Analytical reasoning and evaluation
9) Public speaking
20) Self-direction and goal setting
10) Leadership 21) Academic integrity
11) Creativity 22) Active listening
 TO-DO LIST for Session 2, Part 2
2) HW1.2 (individual): Email communication
Create 1 positive and 1 negative message (= emails) related to YOUR
academic or professional life. The two emails should be real emails that
you might have to send. Submit a file with the following parts for each of
the two emails:
Part 1. Describe the context of the situation and the audience for your
email.
Part 2. Compose your email draft. Pay attention to format and
organization. Remember to include all necessary elements of positive and
negative messages.
Part 3. Analyse your email draft using PAIBOC (write full sentences).
TO-DO LIST for Session 2, Part 3
3) READ for CLASS: Braun et al. Modules 20 & 21
READ for QUIZ: Cheesebro et al. Chapters 6, 7, 8

+ Complete WELCOME DISCUSSION

BOARD on Canvas!
 Thank you
and
see you next week!
anna.loseva@isb.edu.vn