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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "BUS 220-1"
COURSE NAME: "Business Communications"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Fall 2024
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Theresa Lindo
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
MW 10:00 AM 11:15 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
Prerequisite: EN 110 with a grade of C or above
OFFICE HOURS:
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course trains students in the best practices of effective Business Communication, both written and oral. Class work is conducted against the backdrop of the contemporary business world and the challenges faced by businesses to be environmentally and socially responsible as well as profitable. Environment, Social and Governance issues, and their relationship to business, are analyzed at length.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
Provide students with concepts and techniques for effective written and verbal communication and personal presentation within corporate or other organizational settings. Emphasize the experience of the individual as a communicator and develop practical communications skills for employment exploration and early-career advancement.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Understand business communication concepts that serve as a basis for effective spoken and written communication in a business setting.
2. Understand how to approach internal and external interactions strategically and how to plan for these meetings and events.(Understand the communications standards and behavioral expectations within a corporate environment.)
3. Develop an understanding of the need to specialize communication approaches to the specific needs of the situation and the participants.
4. Learn how to ask good questions and provide meaningful answers to questions in a business setting. (Confidently and appropriately present oneself, express one’s ideas, construct effective business messages, and manage interpersonal workplace conflicts.)
5. Develop the fundamental skills of business communication techniques and the ability to be effective in writing business documents (Apply business communications standards to written documents (letters, proposals and updates/reports), presentations, digital platforms, collaborative projects, and personal interactions with colleagues, clients, vendors and other business partners.)
6. Learn to use standard formats, techniques, and documents to gain credibility in business settings (Use the communications tools created in the course to facilitate an internship, career exploration or job search and to succeed in early-career roles.)
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TEXTBOOK:
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Introduction presentation | | 5% |
| cross-cultural presentation | | 10% |
| Email | | 5% |
| Business letter | | 5% |
| Industry presentation | | 10% |
| Company presentation | | 10% |
| Team and self peer reviews (2) | | 10% |
| Social media strategy | | 10% |
| Elevator pitch (self branding) | | 5% |
| Resume/CV | | 10% |
| Cover letter | | 10% |
| Class participation | | 10% |
-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
Students are expected to attend every class. Any student not present at the beginning and the end of class will be considered absent. Any student who leaves early will be marked absent. I do not discern between excused and unexcused absences. Students are allowed 3 absences during the term, penalty-free; use those absences wisely. Each absence beyond 3 will result in a 5% deduction from the final grade. 7 absences or more will result in automatic failure of the course.
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed.
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ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic
dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred.
In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment,
may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of
academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student
who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from
the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation
to the President, who will make the final decision.
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STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap.
Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning
of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
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SCHEDULE
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Week
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Topic
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1
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~ Course Introduction
~ Introduction presentation
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2
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~ Cross-cultural theoryand analysis
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3
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~ Cross-cultural presentations
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4
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~ Emails
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5
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~ Business letters
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6
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~ Library workshop / Industry research
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7
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~ Industry presentations
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8
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~ Library workshop / Company research
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9
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~ Company presentations
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10
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~ Social media strategy
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11
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~ Social media strategy executables
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12
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~ Self-branding: elevator pitch
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13
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~ Self-branding: resume/CV and cover letter
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14
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~ Finals prep / make-up presentations (if pre-approved)
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15
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~ December 9-13: FINAL EXAMS
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