Business Communications
Business Communications effectively presents and practices the core communication competencies. The course addresses the core communication competencies of business communication, ranging from audience analysis and the communication process to document design, inter cultural communication, and collaboration. We will also focus on specific applications of these competencies: delivering effective messages through traditional, electronic, and social media; researching, proposing, reporting, and presenting; and applying and interviewing for a job.
Date | Classroom Assignments |
Day 1 | Welcome to Business Communications Classroom Syllabus and Rules |
Day 2 | Team Activities |
Day 3 | Pre-Test Textbook Appendix A - B - C - D - E |
Week 1 -3 | Chapter 1 Developing Your Professional Presence Why is it challenging to communicate well? 4 What are the benefits of being a good communicator? 6 What characteristics will help you communicate effectively? 8 Successful Communication @ Work hhgregg 19 Study Questions 20 Critical Thinking Questions 22 Key Concept Exercises 23 Writing Exercises 25 Collaboration Exercises 26 Social Media Exercises 27 Speaking Exercises 27 Grammar Exercises 27 Test/Project Chapter 1 |
Week 4-6 | Chapter 2 Working with Others What listening skills will help you communicate better with others? 32 Culture Facial Expressions Are Not Universal 36 How can you help others listen will when you speak? 38 How can you manage Interpersonal conflict? 41 How can you improve your communication with people from different cultures? 47 How can you work effectively as part of a team? 51 Ethics Apple Faces Ethical Challenges Abroad 50 Conversations at Work ESPN Radio 59 Case Scenario Working as a Cross-Cultural Team 60 Study Questions 62 Critical Thinking Questions 64 Key Concept Exercises 65 Writing Exercises 69 Collaboration Exercises 69 Social Media Exercises 70 Speaking Exercises 70 Grammar Exercises 71 Test/Project Chapter 2 |
Week 7-8 | Chapter 3 Managing the Communication Process: Analyzing, Composing, Evaluating What are the benefits of analyzing? 77 Ethics How to Handle Information That Conflicts with Your Position 80 What is involved in composing? 82 Culture Composing for a Global Audience 90 How does evaluating improve your communication? 91 Technology Using "Track Changes" to Get Feedback on a Draft 97 ACE@WORK Coca Cola Company 99 Case Scenario Using ACE to Improve Communication Results 100 Study Questions 102 Critical Thinking Questions 104 Key Concept Exercises 105 Writing Exercises 110 Collaboration Exercises 111 Social Media Exercises 112 Speaking Exercises 112 Grammar Exercises 112 Test/Project Chapter 3 |
Weeks 9-10 | Chapter 4 Communicating Routine Messages and Building Goodwill 114 How do you compose messages containing questions and requests? 116 How do you compose informational messages? 120 Technology Using Technology to Simplify Routine Communication: Scheduling a Meeting 122 Ethics Is Blind Carbon Copy (bcc) Like Spying? 127 What kinds of messages build goodwill in business relationships? 128 Culture Differences in saying Thank You 130 Paperless Offices @ Work Trend Hunter 133 Case Scenario A Day’s Work of Routine Messages 134 Study Questions 136 Visual Summary 137 Critical Thinking Questions 138 Key Concept Exercises 139 Writing Exercises 141 Collaboration Exercises 142 Social Media Exercises 142 Speaking Exercises 142 Grammar Exercises 143 Test/ProjectChapter 4 |
Weeks 11-12 | Chapter 5 Communicating Persuasive Messages How can the ACE process help you persuade your audience? 146 What are the basic elements of persuasion? 151 Ethics Avoiding Logical Fallacies 156 What types of business messages typical require persuasion? 159 Technology Composing a Persuasive Recommendation with Presentation Software 162 How can you use persuasion to improve teamwork and collaboration? 167 Culture Adapting Persuasive Appeals 168 Case Scenario Starting a New Business 170 Study Questions 172 Critical Thinking Questions 175 Key Concept Exercises 176 Writing Exercises 178 Collaboration Exercises 179 Social Media Exercises 179 Speaking Exercises 179 Grammar Exercises 180 Test/Project Chapter 5 |
Week 13-14 | Chapter 6 Communicating Bad News How should you analyze and plan a bad-news message? 186 Technology Can You Email, Text, or Tweet Bad News? 188 What are effective strategies for composing bad-news messages? 189 Culture Did You Hear the Bad News? 194 How should you evaluate bad-news messages? 195 What types of bad-news messages are common in business? 196 Ethics Apologizing for Mistakes 203 Bad News@Work Kosta Browne Winery 204 Case Scenario Making the Best of Bad News 205 Study Questions 208 Critical Thinking Questions 210 Key Concept Exercises 211 Writing Exercises 213 Collaboration Exercises 214 Social Media Exercises 215 Speaking Exercises 215 Grammar Exercises 215 Test/Project Chapter 6 |
Week 15-16 | Chapter 7 Using Social Media in Business How can businesses plan, implement, and evaluate a social media strategy? 220 Culture The Effect of Culture on Social Media and E-Commerce 224 What are good practices for composing and publishing social media content? 225 Technology Making Social Media More Efficient 230 How can businesses use social media to accomplish specific communication goals? 232 Ethics Can You Trust Consumer Reviews in Social Media? 242 How can you, as an employee, use social media responsibly? 242 Social Media @ Work Northwestern University Press 243 Case Scenario Developing a Social Media Program 244 Study Questions 246 Critical Thinking Questions 248 Key Concept Exercises 249 Writing Exercises 250 Collaboration Exercises 250 Social Media Exercises 251 Speaking Exercises 251 Grammar Exercises 251 Test/Project Chapter 7 |
Weeks 17-18 | Chapter 8 Finding and Evaluating Business Information 256 How do you determine what information you need? 258 How do you conduct research in print and online sources? 263 Technology Going Beneath the Surface of the Web 268 Culture Researching Countries and Cultures Online 270 How do you conduct primary research? 271 Ethics How to Be an Ethical Researcher 277 How can you use social media in your research? 278 How can you effectively organize the results of your research? 279 Conducting Research @ Work HealthScape Advisors 283 Case Scenario Researching to Answer Business Questions 284 Study Questions 286 Critical Thinking Questions 288 Key Concept Exercises 289 Writing Exercises 291 Collaboration Exercises 293 Social Media Exercises 293 Speaking Exercises 293 Grammar Exercises 294 Test/Project Chapter 8 |
Weeks 19-20 | Chapter 9 Preparing Persuasive Business Proposals How do you use ACE to prepare an effective proposal? 298 What types of business proposals should you be prepared to write? 303 Ethics Does Your Proposal Demonstrate Integrity? 311 Technology Submitting Online Proposals 312 How do you structure and format a formal proposal? 313 Culture Writing Proposals for Different Cultures 318 Proposals @ Work TapWalk 320 Case Scenario Proposing a Corporate Volunteer Program 321 Study Questions 322 Critical Thinking Questions 323 Key Concept Exercises 325 Writing Exercises 327 Collaboration Exercises 327 Social Media Exercises 328 Speaking Exercises 328 Grammar Exercises 328 Test/Project Chapter 9 |
Weeks 21-22 | Chapter 10 Preparing Business Reports How can ACE help you write a business report? 332 Culture Making Reports Reader-Friendly for International Audiences 337 What types of short, routine reports are typical in business? 338 How should you structure longer, formal reports for print and online distribution? 344 Technology How to Use Software Features to Help Format Formal Reports 362 What guidelines should you follow for writing report decks? 365 How do you integrate tables and graphs into reports? 369 Ethics Representing Data Ethically 376 How should you document your research? 377 Case Scenario Reporting Results to a Client 379 Reports @ Work Pew Research Center 381 Study Questions 382 Critical Thinking Questions 384 Key Concept Exercises 385 Writing Exercises 390 Collaboration Exercises 392 Social Media Exercises 392 Speaking Exercises 393 Grammar Exercises 393 Test/Project Chapter 10 |
Week 23 - 24 | Chapter 11 Preparing and Delivering Business Presentations What do you analyze when planning a business presentation? 398 How do you compose the presentation? 403 Technology The Pros and Cons of Prezi 422 How do you deliver and evaluate the presentation? 423 Ethics Avoiding Plagiarism in Presentations 427 How do you handle questions and answers? 428 How do you adapt your approach for online presentations? 429 Culture Meeting Audience Expectations 432 Presentations @ Work SwipeSense 434 Case Scenario Culinary Adventure Tour Presentation 435 Study Questions 440 Critical Thinking Questions 442 Key Concept Exercises 443 Writing Exercises 446 Collaboration Exercises 447 Social Media Exercises 447 Speaking Exercises 448 Grammar Exercises 448 Test/Project Chapter 11 |
Week 25 -26 | Chapter 12 Communicating Your Professional Brand: Social Media, Resumes, Cover Letters, and Interviews How do you polish your professional presence for a job search? 452 How do you compose an effective resume? 459 Ethics Exaggerating Your Resume is Dangerous 465 Culture Selling Your Cross-Cultural Skills 467 How do you find job opportunities and submit applications? 468 How do you prepare for a job interview? 476 Technology Preparing for Virtual Interviews with Skype 479 How can you make a positive impression during and after an interview? 481 Social Recruiting @ Work Silicon Labs 491 Case Scenario Starting an Employment Search 492 Study Questions 494 Critical Thinking Questions 496 Key Concept Exercises 497 Writing Exercises 501 Collaboration Exercises 501 Social Media Exercises 502 Speaking Exercises 502 Grammar Exercises 503 Test/Project Chapter 12 |
| Field Trips - Interviews - Activities |