Topic outline

  • Business Communication Skills course home page

    Dear student,

    welcome to Business Communication Skills course workspace for Group K02 (2020). 

    This is a highly interactive course with several assignments and deadlines. Please study the course program and schedule carefully. You can find it below on this page and also under Materials/Program and Schedules as a pdf. 

    You will find all the needed information and materials as well as the assignment submission boxes through the drop-down menu on the left-hand side of the workspace.


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      Course Schedule Folder

      Group K02: Time and location

       

      Date (weekday)

      Time

      Location

      1

      09.03.2020 (Mon)

      16:15-19:15

      Y346

      2

      16.03.2020 (Mon)

      16:15-19:15

      Zoom

      3

      23.03.2020 (Mon)

      16:15-19:15

      		Zoom

      4

      30.03.2020 (Mon)

      16:15-19:15

      Zoom

      5

      31.03.2020 (Tue)

      16:15-19:15

      Zoom

      6

      06.04.2020 (Mon)

      16:15-19:15

      Zoom

       

      Course Standards & Requirements         

      Deadlines: To pass the course, all the required assignments must be completed by the given deadlines.

      Grading criteria: All assignments are assessed using rubrics (grading criteria) on a scale of 0-5. Final grade criteria: A total of 4.5 and above is a 5; 3.5-4.49 range is a 4; 2.5-3.49 range is a 3.

      Team assignments: Only one group member needs to submit your team's assignment.

      Extra assignments not possible: Students are not able to redo assignments or do any extra assignments to improve grades. 

      Class participation: Attendance is mandatory on this highly practical and experiential course. However, one absence during the course is possible if a student has a valid reason (to be communicated before the class!). This will result in a 20% reduction of the class participation grade. More than one absence will result in NOT passing the course.

      _____________________________________________________________________________________

      Summary of Course Assignments and Deadlines 

       

      Task

      Type of work

      %

      Deadline

      A1

      Written email request

      Team

      10

      Mar 16/Mar 23

      A2

      a.     Persuasive presentation outline (15)

      b.     Persuasive presentation in class

      Individual

      15

      Mar 23

      A3

      In-class test

      (quiz 10%, written task 20%)

      Individual

      30

      Mar 30

      A4

      Team presentation

      Team

      15

      Mar 16/Mar 31/Apr 6

      A5

      Evaluation of two presentation (A2+A4) performances

      Individual

      20

      Apr 11

       

      Preparedness for class; contribution to group activities

      Individual

      10

       

       

      Detailed Course Program

      SESSION 1 (MAR 9)

      Content:

      • Introductions
      • Course overview
      • Communication strategy
      • Instructions for A1: written request
      • Practicing communication strategy analysis with A1 context (case analysis, presentations, discussion)
      • Instructions for A4 (10-minute team presentation)


      Preparation for SESSION 2 (MAR 16):

      • Read inputs 1-3

      1. Communicating strategically
      2. Persuasive techniques
      3. Reader-focused business writing

      • Prepare: A1 version 1 + bring two (2) paper copies to class for peer review
      • Decide: your A4 topic and preliminary title (submit to MyCourses by Mar 16, 21:00)

      __________________________________________________________________________

      SESSION 2 (MAR 16)
      Due today:

      • A1 version 1, bring two (2) paper copy to class
      • A4 topic and preliminary title (submit to MyCourses by 21:00)

      Content:

      • Effective business writing
      • Understanding modes of persuasion (Ethos + Pathos + Logos)
      • Peer feedback on A1
      • Instructions for A2 (individual persuasive presentation):

      1. A2a: presentation outline
      2. A2b: actual 5-7-minute presentation
      3. A5: reflection paper

      Preparation for SESSION 3 (MAR 23):

      • Finalize A1: written request (submit to MyCourses by Mar 23, 9:00)
      • Prepare A2a: Individual, 5-min presentation outline (submit to MyCourses by Mar 23, 9:00)
      • Prepare A2b: Individual, 5-min presentation
      • Read Input 4: Impactful presentations

      ____________________________________________________________________________

      SESSION 3 (MAR 23)
      Due today:

      • A1: final                                        (submit to MyCourses by 9:00)
      • A2a: outline                                  (submit to MyCourses by 9:00)
      • A2b: presentation  (in class)

      Content:

      • Presentation structure, openings and closings
      • A2b: presentations in small groups (breakout rooms: U261/U359b/U359c/U360a/U360b)

      Preparation for SESSION 4 (MAR 30):

      _____________________________________________________________________________

      SESSION 4 (MAR 30)
      Content:

      • A3: timed test on the readings on computer: quiz 10% + written part 20%, classroom (U256);

      Preparation for SESSION 5 (MAR31):

      • Prepare A4: presentation visuals (submit to MyCourses by 9:00 and bring to class Mar 31)

      _____________________________________________________________________________

      SESSION 5 (MAR 31)
      Due today:

      • A4: presentation visuals (submit to MyCourses by 9:00 and bring to class)

      Content:

      • Designing effective visuals
      • Nonverbal communication
      • Consultation and peer feedback on A4: team presentation
      • Exercises

      Preparation for SESSION 6 (APR 6) 

      • Finalize A4: team presentation (based on feedback) (submit slides to MyCourses by Apr 6, 16:00)

      _____________________________________________________________________________

      SESSION 6 (APR 6)

      Due today:

      • A4: final presentation visuals (submit to MyCourses by 16:00)

      Content:

      • A4 team presentations
      • Feedback

      Preparation for APR 11 deadline:

      • A5 presentation performance evaluation on A2 and A4 (submit to MyCourses by 23:00)

      …AND THEN YOU’RE DONE 😊