Spring 2020
Business Communication (Bus 220-1 and 220-2) Syllabus
Week 1, Jan 20: Course introduction and elements of strategy
Course and class introduction
Munter, ch. 1
Week 2, Jan 27: Micro and macro writing, persuasion
Ober, ch. 5
Different readings will be distributed and discussed in class; check for shared links in MYJCU
Week 3, Feb 3: Resumes and Linkedin
Ober ch 12; relevant shared links
In-class readings and exercises
Week 4, Feb 10: Routine communication and emails
Ober, ch. 4, 6
Material will be distributed in class; check for relevant shared links
Week 5, Feb 17: Persuasive communication
First Resume draft due
Ober, ch. 7
Week 6, Feb 24: Persuasive communication (cont’d)
Review of routine and persuasive communication, Cover letters
Week 7, March 2: Public Speaking
First Cover Letter draft due
Second Resume draft due
Ober, ch. 11; check for shared links
Week 8, Mach 9: Vacation
Week 9, March 16: Persuasive Communication (cont’d)
Persuasive Communication: Please take a look at the link to my presentation and Ober chapter 7, which provide a general review of Persuasive Communication, and resubmit your Ikea sales letter to a recent college graduate by March 20. Your Ikea letter before Spring Break won’t be counted.
Cover Letters: Please review the Cover Letter sample and my accompanying audio comment. The first draft of your Cover Letter is due March 20. The Cover Letter needs to be written to respond to a Job Profile (a job you are qualified for today). Please attach the Job Profile along with the Cover Letter.
Please join the Forum on Persuasive Communication and Cover Letters on Moodle. You will be able to participate after you add your comment. This will represent a large part of your participation grade going forward.
Week 10, March 23: Public Speaking
Public Speaking: Please review the link to my presentation and audio message, and other relevant links, on Public Speaking and Elevator Pitches. These should prepare you to do a great job on the Elevator Pitch (due March 31) and your own presentation on Sustainable Capitalism (due April 9), which will now be an individual project.
Communication on the Elevator Pitch procedures will be sent out to you very soon by the Institute for Entrepreneurship.
A good part of this week will be spent understanding how to create effective visual aids. Also check out other relevant available links.
Second Cover Letter draft is due.
Please join the Forum on Public Speaking.
Week 11, March 30: Elevator Pitch, Midterm
Elevator Pitch is due March 31
Midterm Review: Please review my presentation and audio for the review for the midterm.
Please join the Forum on Midterm Review
Midterm (April 2): the Midterm will cover the principles of Routine Communication, Persuasive Communication and Public Speaking. I will ask you to write an email or a persuasive letter and may add some short questions.
Week 12, April 6: Presentations, Linkedin,
Presentations on Sustainable Capitalism due April 9; the outline of your presentation is due April 6
Resume: Third Resume draft is due
Linkedin: Please consult my presentation and relevant available links on how to create an effective Linkedin profile.
Please join the Forum on Linkedin
Week 13, April 13: Bad news communication
Bad News: Please consult my presentation and audio on how to deliver Bad News and read the uploaded file with chapter 8 of Ober, plus all other relevant links.
Please join the Forum on Bad News communication
Week 14, April 20: Bad News (cont’d)
Bad News assignments are due
Final versions of Resume, Cover Letter and Linkedin profile are due
Please join the Forum on Bad News communication
Week 15, April 27: Final Week and Review
Final exam review: Please consult my presentation and audio, the relevant links and join the Review Forum.
Week 16, May 4: Exams