Indian Institute of Management Rohtak

Course Outline

Course Title : Language skills in English-I

Credits : 1 (20 Sessions)
Type : Compulsory
Session Duration : 75 minutes
Term : I
Year : 2023
Faculty : Dr. Mark Dressman; Mr. El Mehdi El Madani
________________________________________________________________________

Introduction
The course titled Language Skills in English-I is meant for the students of Term I. It
aims at reviewing and polishing knowledge of English grammar and usage and
communication skills, including speaking, listening, reading comprehension, and
academic writing. The course is designed to enhance students’ academic and professional
communication skills with a focus on digital media.

Course Objectives
1. Improved use of English grammatical and written conventions
2. Improved discussion and presentation skills
3. Improved vocabulary and reading comprehension skills
4. Professional-level communications across multiple digital platforms (e.g., webpages;
blogging and vlogging)

Pedagogy
Focus is on workshop projects individually and in small groups, with some lectures and
small and large group discussions as relevant.

Evaluation Scheme
Individual assignments 15 %
Small group project work & Presentation 25 %
Mid Term Exam 30 %
Final Exam 30 %

Brief Outline

We will begin the course with an in-class writing assignment, from which basic
problems in grammar and usage will be identified. Each subsequent class will have one
lesson focusing on an identified problem; improvement will be assessed at the Mid
Term and Final Exam.

Most class sessions will focus on a workshop assignment (making a vlog; blogging;
webpage design; a PowerPoint presentation). Students are expected to bring their
 charged laptops to class and be prepared to work at times on individual assignments
and at times in small groups.

Course Textbook

Sessions 1-10: Becoming Rhetorical: Analyzing and Composing in a Multimedia World

Sessions 11-20: Business Communication, Process and Product

Assignments

Sessions 1-10

Session One: Individual short persuasive essay 5%

Session Four: Small-group written analysis of business model for YouTube creators 5%
Session Nine: Small-group vlog and report 10 %

Sessions 11-20

Individual essay assignments: 5%

Class participation: 5%
Pair work & presentations: 5%
Small-group reports: 5%

Schedule

Sessio
Topic and Activities Assignments
n
Becoming Rhetorical, Part I:
Introductions; In-class assignment: Find your Introduction: What it Means to
favorite YouTube video (under 3 minutes) and Become Rhetorical
1
write a short persuasive essay in which you argue
for why we should watch it in class. Individual short persuasive essay
on YouTube video
Grammar lesson with practice on one identified
grammar point.
Becoming Rhetorical, Part II:
YouTube videos: Students work in small groups
Rhetorical Analysis, Chapter 5:
2 of 4-5 to watch their chosen videos and select the
Analyzing Multimodal Rhetoric
best. Students bring the YouTube link and their
essays. Students read their essays aloud and we
discuss.
Grammar lesson with practice on one identified
Homework: Read this article and
grammar point.
its links. Be prepared to discuss in
Presentation of YouTube videos; class discusses
Session 4 the business model for
3 and votes on the best.
YouTube content creators in the
Read (for homework): How to Make Money on
linked article: How to Make
YouTube
Money on YouTube
 Grammar lesson with practice on one identified Becoming Rhetorical, Part III:
grammar point. Rhetorical Production: Chapter 10:
4
Small group and class discussion: Analysis of Evaluating
YouTube business model for content creators.
Becoming Rhetorical, Part IV:
Grammar lesson with practice on one identified Tools for Composing: Chapter 13
grammar point.
Introduction to vlogging assignment: In small Due: Small group written analysis
groups, the videos of 3 vloggers (from list) and of business model
note the best and worst qualities of the content
5 they produce. Vlogging small group
Class discussion: What makes a good/bad vlog? assignment: Due Session Nine.
Students will organize into groups of 2 or 3 to Homework: Read the link and
make a vlog about life at IIM Rohtak (or another come to Session 6 prepared to
relevant topic). discuss: How to Become a
YouTube Influencer (and make
money doing it).
Grammar lesson with practice on one identified
grammar point. Becoming Rhetorical, Part IV:
View and discuss: YouTuber Earnings Revealed!
(https://youtu.be/EThq9oGql0k)
Tools for Composing: Chapter 16
6
Small group and whole class discussion about
becoming an influencer (see homework Homework: Vlogging assignment.
assignment)
Grammar lesson with practice on one identified
grammar point. Becoming Rhetorical, Part II:
In small groups, students will watch and fact- Chapter 3: Analyzing Textual
7
check this video: Here’s How you Can Become a Rhetoric
Millionaire YouTuber
https://youtu.be/OB_YIadOB-k Homework: Vlogging assignment.
Grammar lesson with practice on one identified
8 grammar point. Homework: Vlogging assignment.
Discussion of fact-check from day before
Becoming Rhetorical, Part III:
Grammar lesson with practice on one identified Rhetorical Production: Chapter 10:
grammar point. Evaluating
Presentations of vlogs in small groups and to
9
class; students evaluate each vlog based on
standards from discussion in Session Five DUE: Vlogs (for presentation to
groups and class) and short written
report
Grammar lesson with practice on one identified
Becoming Rhetorical, Part III:
grammar point.
Rhetorical Production: Chapter 10:
10 Continuation of vlog presentations;
Evaluating
Review for Mid Term exam

Mid
Short-Answer Essays
Term
11 Brief introductions; Revision of Grammar exercises
 Revision of Grammar lessons introduced in the
first half of the course.

Todays’ Vlogs and the content of YouTube

videos
Group discussion and class
Reading for next session (homework): Chapter 1: discussion
Business Communication in the Digital Age: 1-1:
Thriving in a Digital, Mobile, and Social
https://student.cengage.com/course-
Workplace & 1-2 :Building Future-Proof link/MTPPLHPZCTGW
Skills for the Twenty-First-Century
Workplace

Grammar lesson with practice on one identified

grammar point.

Assigned article: Students work in small groups

of 4-5 to discuss and write a short essay about the
most important points of the article. Have each
group read their essay and we discuss.
12 Homework: Read this article. Be
Reading for next session (homework): Chapter 1: prepared to discuss in Session 13
Business Communication in the Digital Age: the linked article.
1-3: Trends and Challenges Affecting You in
the Information Age Workplace
https://student.cengage.com/course-
link/MTPPLHPZCTGW

Grammar lesson with practice on one identified

grammar point.

Assigned article: Students work in small groups

of 4-5 to discuss and write a short essay about the Homework: Read this article. Be
most important points of the article. Have each prepared to discuss in Session 14
group read their essay and we discuss. the communication challenges in a
global workplace in the linked
13 article.
Reading for next session (homework): Chapter 1:
Business Communication in the Digital Age:
1-4: Communication Channels in
https://student.cengage.com/course-
Organizations and Media Richness link/MTPPLHPZCTGW
1-5: Ethics in the Workplace Needed More
Than Ever

14 Grammar lesson with practice on one identified
grammar point.
Assigned article: Students work in small groups
of 4-5 to discuss and write a summary about the
Homework: Read this article. Be
prepared to discuss in Session 15
how to develop presentations
through social media in the linked
article:
 most important points of the article. Have each
group read their work and we discuss.

Reading for next session (homework): Chapter 2:

Professionalism: Team, Meeting, Listening,
Nonverbal, and Etiquette Skills: https://student.cengage.com/course-
2-2: Preparing and Participating in Face-to- link/MTPPLHPZCTGW
Face and Virtual Meetings
2-3: Practicing Active Listening

Grammar lesson with practice on one identified

grammar point.

Assigned article: Students work in small groups
of 4-5 to discuss and write a summary about the
most important points of the article. Have each
group read their work and we discuss.
15
Reading for next session (homework): Chapter 2:
Professionalism: Team, Meeting, Listening,
Nonverbal, and Etiquette Skills:
2-4: Communicating Nonverbally
2-5: Developing Professionalism and Business
Etiquette Skills at the Office and Online
Homework: Read this article. Be
prepared to discuss in Session 16
how to develop presentations
through social media in the linked
article.
https://student.cengage.com/course-
link/MTPPLHPZCTGW

Grammar lesson with practice on one identified

grammar point.

Assigned article: Students work in small groups
of 4-5 to discuss and write a summary about the
most important points of the article. Have each
group read their work and we discuss.
16
Reading for next session (homework): Chapter
13: Proposals, Business Plans, and Formal
Business Reports
13-2: Preparing Formal Proposals
13-3: Creating Effective Business Plans
13-6: Final Writing Tips
17 Grammar lesson with practice on one identified
grammar point.
Assigned article: Students work in small groups
of 4-5 to discuss and write a summary about the
most important points of the article. Have each
group read their work and we discuss.
Reading for next session (homework): Chapter
Homework: Read this article. Be
prepared to discuss in Session 17
how to develop presentations
through social media in the linked
article.
https://student.cengage.com/course-
link/MTPPLHPZCTGW
Homework: Read this article. Be
prepared to discuss in Session 17
how to develop presentations
through social media in the linked
article.
https://student.cengage.com/course
-link/MTPPLHPZCTGW
 14: Business Presentations
14-1: Creating Effective Business
Presentations
14-4: Refining Delivery, Rehearsing, and
Performing Your Talk
14-5: Developing Intercultural and Team
Presentations

Grammar lesson with practice on one identified

grammar point.

Assigned article: Students work in small groups

of 4-5 to discuss and write a summary about the
most important points of the article. Have each
group read their work and we discuss.

Discuss pair assignments (homework) of coming

18 up with proposals on a business project
employing the discussed techniques.
Pair work: presentations of a
Whole class engagement: Have students deliver business project proposal
their presentations about their chosen business
project. Have the other students ask questions and
give remarks about both the content and
performance.

Grammar lesson with practice on one identified

grammar point.

Whole class engagement: Have students deliver

Pair work: presentations of a
19 their presentations about their chosen business
business project proposal
project. Have the other students ask questions and
give remarks about both the content and
performance.

Grammar lesson with practice on one identified

grammar point.

Continuation of business project presentations. Group work: Reflection reports

20
& Revision of the whole course on the whole course

Review for the final exam

Final Final Exam