Department of

English and Modern Languages

Independent University, Bangladesh

COURSE OUTLINE

1. Course Information:
Course Code ENG 105 Course Title Business English

Semester / Year Summer 2023 Level / Term 1st Year/3rd Semester

Course Type Foundation Pre-requisite (If any) ENG 101 and ENG 102

Credit 3 Classroom 9016/7025

Section 8/19 Total Marks 100

2. Instructor Information:
Name Shakira Islam Designation Lecturer

E-mail supershaonslass@iub.edu.bd

Office 6027

MW-1:00 pm- 2:30pm / AR- Monday- 11:00am- 1:00pm

Schedule Office Hours
11:20am- 12:50 pm Thursday- 9:30am-11:15am

3. Course Rationale Overview

This course introduces students to the fundamental principles of business communications and
provides the opportunity to develop and practice communication skills; both written and oral.
Opportunities for improving academic and workplace language proficiency are embedded in the
course. This course introduces the various communication options available in a business context so
that students can make appropriate choices in the workplace. With an emphasis on the
development of professional oral and written communication skills, students will improve memo,
letter, email, writing and presentation skills and the ability to effectively participate in and chair
meetings. Students will also develop skills in resume writing and study the strategies and techniques
needed for success in interviews.

4. Course Objectives
Business communication differs from personal and social communication in addressing business use
of email, blogs, social networks, podcasts, and other technologies professionally in marketing,
servicing, and creating strong business relationships. The objective of this course is to provide
students with the principles of effective communication with an emphasis on speaking and writing
including oral presentations and demonstrations, writing techniques for business letters, memos,
reports, employment communication including job hunting sources, techniques of CV writing and
interviews. The course also aims to enhance students’ English grammar, vocabulary, and
intercultural competence, necessary to communicate in a variety of social and cultural contexts.

5. Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:

1 | Page4
 Bloom’s Domain and Level of
CLO CLO Statement
Learning Taxonomy

Understand business communication concepts that Cognitive Level 2 (Understand)

1 serve as a basis for effective spoken and written
communication in a business setting.

Demonstrate an understanding of formal and informal Cognitive Level 4 (Analyze)

2
communication in business settings

Demonstrate the use of basic and advanced writing Cognitive Level 3 (Apply)
3
techniques

Demonstrate an awareness of culture in various Cognitive Level 5 (Evaluate)

4
communication situations

Apply advanced writing techniques to write effective Cognitive Level 6 (Create)

5
and concise letters, emails, and memos

Cognitive Level 6 (Create)

6 Deliver professional oral presentations

Write a polished resume and cover letter and Cognitive Level 6 (Create)
7
effectively prepare for and participate in interviews

Learning Materials

(a) Textbook(s):
Thill, J. V. and Bovée, C. L. (2018). Business Communication Today, 14th ed. London: Pearson.

(b) Recommended readings:

1. Guffey, M. E. and Loewy. (2019). Essentials of Business Communication, 11th ed. Boston:
Cengage Learning.
2. Chaturvedi, P. D. & Chaturvedi, M. (2012). Business Communication. New Delhi: Pearson.
3. Lesikar, R. V., Pettit, J. D., & Flatley, M. E. (1993). Basic business communication. Homewood
(Ill.: Irwin.

(c) Supplementary Materials: Other supplementary resources (handouts) and materials (case
studies) will be available in Google Classroom.

Course Format
This is a classroom-based course. Topics will be covered through real-life examples that encourage
students to work with authentic documents. Written and oral responses to these documents will be
used to facilitate discussion and ground theory in real-world examples. The instructor will aim to
keep the course material interactive and varied. To cater to a variety of learners, lectures using
video, print visuals, and audio will be employed. Email and frequent internet access are important
parts of this course. The instructor will communicate through Google Classroom. The use of Google
Classroom is mandatory and an orientation will be provided. IUB email account which will be utilized
as a communication tool between class times. Keyboarding experience is necessary and helpful.

Part B

2 | Page4
Course plan specifying content, CLOs, co-curricular activities (if any), teaching-learning and
assessment strategy mapped with CLO:

Teaching-Learning Assessment
Week Topic CLOs
Strategy Strategy

● Introduction

● Principles of Effective Business

Communication
Proper Speaking in Business Settings

- Greetings, Asking Questions, Correct

Register
● Lecture ● CLO1
1 - Verbal and Non-Verbal
Communication ● Discussion ● CLO2
- Formal and Informal Speech in
Business settings

- Style and Tone in Conversations

- Common Communication problems

● 7 Cs of Communication

- Clarity and appropriate choice of

message

- Care, completeness and conciseness

in word choice

- Selecting words that readers ● Lecture

comprehend
● CLO1
2 - Culturally appropriate ● Tutorial ● Homework
communication methods ● CLO2
- Avoiding sexist or inappropriate ● Discussion
language

Barriers to Communication

- Physical/Effective Listening barriers

- Socio-Psychological barriers

- Perception and Viewpoint barriers

3
● Business correspondence: An ● Lecture ● Class Test ● CLO1
introduction
Intercultural Communication in The ● Tutorial ● Homework ● CLO2
Workplace

- High context and low context ● Discussion

cultures

3 | Page4
 - Overcoming context, stereotypes
and cultural gaps

Qualities of Effective Written

Correspondence

- Negative to Positive Language

writing

- You Viewpoint usage in Business

Writing

- Formalising business messages

- Minimising technical language

Routine business correspondence:

Application of principles ● Lecture
Planning business letters
● Class Test ● CLO1
- Understanding layout
4 - Different approaches to business ● Tutorial
letters ● CLO2
- Inviting / Sending orders and ● Discussion
quotations
- Writing emails
● Specialized business ● Lecture ● CLO1
correspondence ● Homework
5 - Writing sales letters ● Tutorial ● CLO2
- Writing claim and adjustment letters ● Assignment
● Discussion ● CLO5
- Writing memorandums
● CLO1

● CLO2
6 Review ● Mid Term
Midterm Exam
● CLO3

● CLO5

7
● Business Report: An Introduction ● Lecture ● CLO4
- Definition of a report
● Tutorial ● CLO5
- Different between Formal and
Informal Reports
● Discussion
- Memo Report, Progress Report,
Incident Report

- Objectives of a Report

- Form/Written Reports

- Basic Structure of a report

- Introduction

4 | Page4
 - Background

- Methodology

- Data collection

- Data analysis

- Conclusion/ Recommendations

● Job application & Interview

Format of cover letter

-Analyzing and responding to Job posts

● CLO2
-Action verbs and assertive language in ● Lecture
Cover letters ● CLO3
● Class Test
8 - Resume Structure and Resume ● Tutorial
Writing ● CLO6
● Discussion
- Interview basics: speaking and
communication ● CLO7

- Strategies for success in interviews

- Assessment criteria of job interview

Mock Interview Practice/Viva

● Lecture
● Writing business proposal ● CLO2
● Tutorial ● Assignment
Objectives of business proposals
9 ● CLO3
- Kinds of business proposal ● Discussion ● Homework
- Business proposal format ● CLO4
● Audio/Video

● Meetings
● Lecture ● CLO1
Conducting effective meetings
● Class Test
10 - Writing minutes ● Tutorial ● CLO2
- Preparing Agendas ● Homework
● Audio/Video ● CLO5
- Verbal Introductions, Proposing,
Making Suggestions

11
● Business Talks /Presentations ● Lecture ● Demonstration ● CLO4
- Planning talks
● Tutorial ● CLO5
- Organizing ideas / Delivering talks

- Using technology in talks/ ● Discussion ● CLO6

presentations

- Handling questions & Presenting

5 | Page4
 Reports

● Revision for Final Exam ● Presentation ● Demonstration ● CLO3

12
● Project Presentation/Group
● Report ● Project ● CLO6
Report Submission

13 ● Final examination (As per IUB Final

Examination schedule) ● Final Exam

Part C
1. Assessment and Evaluation:

Assessment Method Assessment Tools Marks Distribution Sub Total

Class Participation / Performance 5%

Continuous Assessment 10%
Attendance 5%

Class Test / Quiz 30%

Mid Term Examination

20%
Summative Assessment 90%

Final Presentation 10%

Final Examination 30%

Total 100%

2. Grading Scheme
The following chart will be followed for final grading.

A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D F

85- 80- 75- 70- 65- 60- 55- 50- 45-

90-100 < 45
89.9 84.9 79.9 74.9 69.9 64.9 59.9 54.9 49.9

Part E
Course Policy and University Regulations

1. Course Policy:
(a) Attendance: Regular class attendance is mandatory. A student may be barred from
appearing at the final examination(s) if their attendance falls below 75%. According to IUB
policy, students missing eight classes will automatically be withdrawn from the course. The
instructor may refuse admission to class to any student who arrives more than twenty
minutes late for a class. Absence will be counted if a student leaves thirty minutes or more
early. It is the student’s responsibility to take notes, to obtain information regarding
assignments, announcements or material handouts for any missed classes.
(b) Lecture Notes and Learning Materials: The lecture notes and/or other reading materials for
each class will be available in Google Classroom.

6 | Page4
 (c) Tutorials: Tutorials are offered during office hours and a prior appointment is required past
office hours. Students may ask questions about the course content and assignments, review
key course content in preparation for tests or exams, and consolidate their learning during
tutorials.
(d) Makeup Class: Students will be notified in due time for any class cancellation, extra class,
make-up class and tutorial class.
(e) Makeup Exams: There is NO provision for makeup exams. However, makeup for the final
examination may be arranged if there is a legitimate reason for absence. In such cases, a
written explanation of the situation along with supporting documents must be submitted to
the department before the exam date.
(f) Cheating and Plagiarism: IUB is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity
and honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic
honesty and to uphold the policies of the university in this respect. Students are referred to
the section on the Code of Conduct (please see pg. 48 - 49) in the Greenbook
(http://www.iub.edu.bd/files/GreenBooksp21.pdf) and are reminded that plagiarism or
cheating during exams is an extremely serious academic offence. A soft copy of every written
assignment MUST be uploaded to Google Classroom for a plagiarism check.
(g) Audit: Students who are willing to audit the course are welcome during the first two classes
and are advised to contact the instructor after that.
(h) Students with Disabilities: Students with disabilities are required to inform the Department
of English and Modern Languages of any specific requirement for classes or examinations as
soon as possible.

English Language Support for Graduate Students

The English Language Resource Center (ELRC) at IUB (Room – 7001, Level - 6) offers free academic
English tuition, self-study materials and advice for graduate students. The ELRC offers one-to-one
tuition (by prior appointment) for developing writing and referencing skills besides support in
developing listening, speaking and reading skills.

Recommended Resources for Self-study

● Lessons, games, quizzes & more for ESL learners

https://www.englishclub.com/

● English for University

https://www.adelaide.edu.au/english-for-uni/oral-presentation/

● Academic Word List

http://www.uefap.com/vocab/select/awl.htm

● Academic Collocation List

https://pearsonpte.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/AcademicCollocationList.pdf

● Guide to punctuation –

A comprehensive guide from the University of Sussex

http://www.sussex.ac.uk/informatics/punctuation/

https://www.thepunctuationguide.com/index.html

● Academic Phrasebank for writing–

Useful language for academic writing from the University of Manchester

7 | Page4
http://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/

http://www.tina-freyburg.eu/1/135/resources/document_1053_1.pdf

● Referencing (APA) for assignments

http://libraryguides.vu.edu.au/apa-referencing

● Quoting and paraphrasing

https://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/QuotingSources.html

● Academic Reading

https://www.eapfoundation.com/reading/skills/

● Giving presentations and taking part in discussions

https://www.eapfoundation.com/speaking/

● Using PowerPoint in Presentations

https://student.unsw.edu.au/using-powerpoint

● How to write a literature review

http://libguides.reading.ac.uk/literaturereview

● Writing an annotated bibliography

https://www.student.unsw.edu.au/annotated-bibliography

https://advice.writing.utoronto.ca/types-of-writing/annotated-bibliography/

https://www.monash.edu/rlo/assignment-samples/arts/writing-an-annotated-bibliography

● Doing a literature search

https://www.reading.ac.uk/library/finding-info/guides/videos/lib-video-literature-searching.aspx

● How to improve your writing

http://www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/exercises/grammar/grammar_tutorial/page_01.htm

● Study advice

https://www.reading.ac.uk/library/study-advice/guides/lib-sa-videos.aspx?#dissertationvideos

8 | Page4