Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
School of Business
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Specifically, you will practice drafting and editing clear, precise, and readable written
business documents as well as learn to design documents to make information easily
accessible to a busy, executive-level reader. In addition, you will develop and deliver an
individual presentation, using appropriate and effective visual support, in which you
present a persuasive argument that demonstrates relevance and benefits to an audience
at different levels of expertise or interest.
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Design and deliver a persuasive presentation that convinces the audience of the
topic’s relevance and overcomes resistance, using appropriate visual support and
adhering to a specified time limit.
Employ principles of effective group communication to cultivate trust and
understanding, increase open participation, and strengthen decision making in
work groups and teams.
Build an understanding of different organizational cultures, business practices,
and social norms to communicate more effectively in domestic and cross-cultural
business contexts.
Analyze a company’s communication processes or key messages and recommend
changes that can help advance communication as an integral part of that
organization’s management strategy.
As a team, design and deliver a presentation that both informs and persuades, using
an appropriate visual support strategy and adhering to a specified time limit.
Written Communication: Students write letters, memos, proposals, formal and informal
reports, work plans, email evaluation, and progress reports.
Oral Communication: Oral presentations from 10-20 minutes long address informative,
persuasive, and extemporaneous methods of delivery. Some oral presentations require
the use of visual aids such as handouts, overhead transparencies, and presentation
software such as PowerPoint.
Grades are based on a student’s work in two key content areas. These content areas
reflect the mission of the course, the course objectives, and the core communication skills
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that students are expected to learn. Each of these content areas represents a fixed
percentage of the course’s content. In two of these areas, there are a minimum number of
specific assignments required for all sections of the course. Students should review the
required assignments.
Written Communication p
Including a minimum of
Two a 2-page long assignment (e.g., memos, emails, letters, summaries,
email evaluation etc.).
One business research report or proposal
Oral Communication
Including a minimum of
One group or individual presentation Assignm
ents for
GRADED ASSIGNMENTS
The final grading scale will be as follows: A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, F.
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B- = 80 – 82
C+ = 77 – 79
C = 73 – 76 C = 70 – 79
C- = 70 – 72
D+ = 67 – 69
D = 63 – 66 D = 60 - 69
D- = 60 – 62
F = 0 – 59 E = 50 – 59
Fx = 40 – 49
F = 0 – 39
ATTENDANCE POLICY
Since teaches both conceptual knowledge and skills, daily attendance and active
participation in the class are required. Students should view class attendance as they
would work attendance and communicate to their peers and instructor in an appropriate
manner. If your absences exceed three classes, your final grade is impacted by a
minimum of a 1% deduction of your final grade per absence.
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BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS
Writing Instructions for General Business Writing
Format
The image you are presenting through format, spacing, font, layout, and appearance
should be consistent with the message, tone, and relationship you are trying to convey
to the reader.
Business documents should be uncluttered and easy to read. Short paragraphs and
sentences are preferred; paragraphs may have less than three sentences and should
convey a focus on one idea or concept. All paragraphs should begin with a topic
sentence and highlighting (headings, bullet lists, etc.) should be used to make the
document accessible to readers who may only scan the document.
Justify left margins only, include page numbers on all documents greater than one page,
and follow your instructor’s instructions on specific margins, fonts, and formatting.
Single-spaced assignments: first line of paragraphs should NOT be indented but should
have flush left margins, leaving one blank line between paragraphs.
Organization
Use transitions to add coherence, guide the reader, and make the document easy to scan.
For all direct approach assignments, lead with your recommendation, request,
information, or answer, and then provide supporting details (why are you writing?). All
indirect approach assignments will follow the opposite strategy (facts/reasoning, then
conclusion).
Include only those details absolutely necessary to follow your line of logic, leaving all
other data to an attachment, appendix, or available on request.
Specify in the closing or conclusion what you want the reader to do.
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Style
The tone should reflect an understanding of the audience’s needs and perspective.
Use present, past, future tense - avoid perfect tense in direct format business writing
(replace "I have had experience..." with "I worked...").
Use first and second-person (I am; he is) and avoid third-person (one is) in
conversational, direct format assignments. Note professor instructions for more formal
letters and reports where pronouns, first-person, and contractions (e.g. I’ll, it’s, etc.) may
be inappropriate.
Use active voice in direct format business writing ("Captain Handsome saved the
baby" instead of "the baby was saved by Captain Handsome").
Write in the affirmative. Using a positive statement (e.g. Please park on the upper two
floors) maintains a friendlier tone and usually states things more directly than using
negatives (e.g. Please do not park on the first two floors).
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Using "feel" or "love" or other emotional words (replace "feel" with "think" or
"understand").
Using slang, idioms, humor, or overly colorful, flowery language (just the facts).
Using offensive or inappropriate language.
Using overly trite or 'lawyerly' language (in which, in order to, with regards to).
Using multiple prepositional phrases, jargon, or complex words/phrases - keep
sentences short and clear.
Mechanics
Proofread for correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, names and numbers, and parallel
construction (within lists, bullets, etc).
Use Oxford comma rule - include a comma in the last item in a series: "We
bought milk, eggs, and butter."
Use commas when linking two COMPLETE sentences with a coordinating
conjunction (and, but, for, nor, or, yet, so).
Use a comma after any introductory subordinate clauses (after, since, if, because,
while, unless, as...) or a conjunctive adverb (however, therefore, nevertheless,
consequently). Do not use a comma before a subordinate clause in the middle or
end of a sentence.
Use a comma to separate non-essential modifiers within a sentence (when you
can remove the modifier without affecting the primary meaning of the sentence)
e.g. We bought the car, which was red with tan leather interior, from our
neighbor. Note: That clauses after nouns are always essential and do not require
commas - e.g. The apples that fell out of the basket are bruised.
Use a comma before elements/clauses when additional thought is incidental,
explanatory, or contrasting: "Not only did I get the interview, but also the job."
Use lower case and periods to indicate time (10:00 a.m., 9:30 p.m.).
Use numbers correctly:
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o Refer to numbers 11 and above as Arabic numerals except at the
beginning of sentences
o If mixed within a sentence, be consistent (typically use Arabic numerals
for all)
o Begin sentences with words, not numerals
Place periods and commas inside closing quotations marks (As King said, “I have
a dream.”).
Use a comma after each element in a date or a geographical name (on December
7, 1941, Japanese warplanes bombed Pearl Harbor. We will hold the meeting in
Austin, Texas, at corporate headquarters). No comma is needed if you only use
the month and year (We will hold our meeting in January 2008 at the City Club)
or if you only use the month and date (We will hold our meeting on January 12th
at the City Club).
Failing to make all sentences and lists grammatically and conceptually parallel.
Failing to capitalize the word “The” when writing “The University of Texas”
(capitalize “The” when referring to UT even if in the middle of a sentence).
Evaluation
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WRITING RUBRIC
Business Communication: Oral and Written
Organization Writing is not concise Focus and direction of Writing is concise and
and tends to ramble; lack writing are acceptable and clear; information is easy
of direction interferes with do not interfere with to understand; focus and
audience understanding; audience understanding; and direction of the writing
lacks clear topic sentences minor errors in cohesion are obvious to audience
Introduction and Main idea or purpose is not Main idea or purpose is Introduction not only
Conclusion established in the appropriate established in the
appropriate establishes main idea or
paragraph; conclusion does paragraph; conclusion is purpose as appropriate, but
not include contact information, satisfactory but lacks at least also has an interesting
hook;
end date, goodwill, or future one important statement
conclusion includes every
relationship necessary action or statement
Punctuation and Writing contains numerous Writing contains occasional Writing is nearly error free
Spelling and/or significant errors which errors, which do not distract
with no item that distracts
distract from the message from the message from the message
Sentence Structure Sentence structure lacks Most sentences build within Sentences are clear, well
and Transitions readability and/or is awkward; paragraphs for readability;
developed, and express
connections between topics, a few sentences lack transition
concise ideas; transitions
ideas, or arguments lack clear create strong
readability
transition
Background and Ideas lack support or are Ideas are supported with Arguments are supported
Critical Thinking expressed with personal views; occasional citations or class
with cited references or
no original thoughts that show lessons; some individual,
relevant facts; strong use of
critical thinking original ideas are expressed originality is shown
throughout the message
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Professional Format Document is not professionally Document follows most
of the Professional format style is
and Tone formatted; tone and language traditional format guidelines
but obvious; all aspects of the
are inappropriate has at least one distracting error; tone and language lend
to
tone and language use are fair audience’s verbal and
non-
verbal understanding
Adapted from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) Assessment Writing
Rubric
A D speech does not meet one or more of the standards for a C speech or:
1. Is obviously unrehearsed.
2. Is based entirely on biased information or unsupported opinions.
An F speech does not meet three or more of the standards for a C speech, reflects
either of the problems associated with a D speech, or:
1. Uses fabricated supporting material.
2. Deliberately distorts evidence.
3. Is plagiarized.
These same criteria will apply to all oral presentations in this course.
COURSE OUTLINE
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Class #1, Welcome and Course Policy Courtland L. Bovee’s
Sept. 17 Understanding the Business
4 hours Foundations of Business Communication Today,
Communication tenth edition, 2010, p.
Business Communication 35-64.
2.0 concept
Characteristics of effective
business communication
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Class # 4,5 Crafting Brief Messages Turn in the first 2-page Courtland L. Bovee’s
Oct.9,15 Crafting messages for long written assignment Business
8 hours electronic media Communication Today,
Writing routine and tenth edition, 2010, p.
positive messages 209-345.
Writing negative messages
Writing positive messages
Class # 6,7 Writing reports Courtland L. Bovee’s
Oct.22, 29 and proposalsPlanning, Business
8 hours Writing, and Completing Communication Today,
Reports and Proposals tenth edition, 2010, p.
Planning, Writing, and 409-505
Completing Reports and
Proposals
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Dec.10 Exemplify employer- page long written
4 hours employee/interviewer- assignment
interviewee relationships
Simulation Game-varied
topics
Conflict settlement
Culturally sensitive issues
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EVALUATION FORM
Speaker______________________ Topic________________________________
Introduction Delivery:
_____Gained attention and interest ____Began speech without rushing
_____Introduced topic clearly ____Maintained strong eye contact
_____Established speaker’s credibility ____Avoided distracting mannerisms
_____Previewed body of speech ____Articulated words clearly
____Used pauses effectively
Body ____Used vocal variety to add impact
_____Made main points clear ____Departed from lectern without
rushing
_____Fully supported main points
_____Organized the material well Overall evaluation
_____Used clear language ____Chose a challenging topic
_____Used appropriate language ____Chose the specific purpose well
_____Used effective connectives ____Adapted message to audience
____Completed speech within time
limit
Conclusion: ____Held interest of audience
_____Prepared audience for ending
_____Reinforced central idea of speech
_____Presented vivid ending
General comments:
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Combine the elements of effective persuasion strategy with strong presentation skills to
convince your audience to support your conclusions on a business issue. Choose the
topic for your persuasive presentation from the list below. In the case of a topic that has
two sides to the issue, indicate whether you want the pro or con side so that a classmate
can take the other side. If you don't see a topic that interests you, submit a proposed
topic for my approval.
This presentation should be a combination of your own thoughts on the issue and some
expert opinion, so some research is necessary. You have ten minutes for your
presentation. Unfortunately, due to the class size, we won’t have much time for
questions.
Suggested Topics
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Communicating Change In The Workplace—Why So
Many Companies Do A Lousy Job
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