INDEPENDENT UNIVERSITY, BANGLADESH (IUB)
ENGLISH-105 SUMMER 2019
COURSE OUTLINE
Course Information:
Course Code ENG 105
Course Title Business English
Course Section/Location Section Room:
Class Schedule
Pre-requisites:ENG 101 & ENG 102 (MINIMUM GRADE OF C/C+AS PER IRAS
GUIDELINES)
Instructor Information:
Name: Mohammed Kamal Uddin Office:
Title: Adjunct Faculty of English Tutorial Hours:
Department of English Email :
[email protected] Mobile: 01715 213521
Required Text(s)
(1) Business Communication Course Kit (purchased) (2) Handouts/Case Studies (distributed in
class)
References
Business Communication Today : C. L. Bovee, John V. Thill& B.
E.Schatzman
Basic Business Communication : Raymond V. Lesikar & John D. Pettit, Jr.
Business Communication : P D Chaturvedi & MukeshChaturvedi
Business Communication & Report Writing : R C Sharma & Krishna Mohan
Advanced Business Communication : John M. Penrose, Robert
Rashberry&Myers
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
-Understand and demonstrate the use of basic and advanced writing techniques
-Write effective and concise letters, emails and memos
-Prepare informal and formal reports
-Proofread and edit copies of business correspondence
-Write complete and accurate resumes and cover letter
-Attend meetings and interviews successfully
-Prepare and deliver effective presentations
Course Contents
Week Topics Activities/Functions
One & Two Principles of Proper Speaking in Business Settings
Effective Business - Greetings, Asking Questions, Correct Register
Communication - Verbal and Non Verbal Communication
- Formal and Informal Speech in Business settings
-Style and Tone in Conversations
- Common Communication problems
7 Cs of Communication
- Clarity and appropriate choice of message
-Care, completeness and conciseness in word choice
- Selecting words that readers comprehend
- Culturally appropriate communication methods
- Avoiding sexist or inappropriate language
Barriers to Communication
- Physical/Effective Listening barriers
- Socio-Psychological barriers
- Perception and Viewpoint barriers
******CASE STUDY********
Three Business Intercultural Communication In The Workplace
correspondence: An - High context and low context cultures
introduction - Overcoming context, stereotypes and cultural gaps
Qualities of Effective Written Correspondence
- Negative to Positive Language writing
- You Viewpoint usage in Business Writing
- Formalizing business messages
- Minimizing technical language
******CASE STUDY********
Four & Five Routine business - Planning business letters
correspondence: - Understanding layout
Application of - Different approaches to business letters
principles - Inviting / Sending orders and quotations
- Writing emails
Six Specialized business - Writing sales letters
correspondence - Writing claim and adjustment letters
- Writing memorandums
* MIDTERM*
Seven Business Report: An - Definition of a report
Introduction - Different between Formal and Informal Reports
- Memo Report, Progress Report, Incident Report
- Objectives of a Report
- Form/Written Reports
- Basic Structure of a report
Eight Business Report - Introduction
Writing - Background
- Methodology
- Data collection
- Data analysis
- Conclusion/ Recommendations
REPORT SAMPLE(S)
Nine Job application & - Format of cover letter
Interview -Analyzing and responding to Job posts
-Action verbs and assertive language in Cover letters
- Resume Structure and Resume Writing
- Interview basics: speaking and communication
- Strategies for success at interviews
- Assessment criteria of job interview
MOCK INTERVIEW PRACTICE/ VIVA
Ten Writing business - Objectives of business proposals
proposal - Kinds of business proposal
- Business proposal format
Eleven Meetings - Conducting effective meetings
- Writing minutes
- Preparing Agendas
- Verbal Introductions, Proposing, Making Suggestions
Twelve Business Talks / - Planning talks
Presentations - Organizing ideas / Delivering talks
- Using technology in talks/ presentations
- Handling questions & Presenting Reports
- Revision for Final Exam
GROUP REPORT SUBMISSION
Thirteen *FINAL EXAMINATION *
Attendance/Presentations
Punctuality and regular attendance in classes are of prime importance for the successful
completion of this course. Attendance is also regarded as an important criterion of assessment,
and presentations must be made with the assigned report group, and on the date that is assigned
by the instructor. No late submission of Presentations/ Reports will be allowed.No marks will be
given for incomplete group presentations.
Cautionary Note
If you think you will miss a class due to some unavoidable reason, you must inform your
instructor immediately. If you miss a total of EIGHT classes throughout the semester you will be
given an F or Wgrade for the course. No excuses will be entertained. With online attendance
being mandatory and timed, no one entering the class after the first five minutes will be marked
as present for that day’s class. This means any late attendance will be automatically counted as a
missed class. NO exceptions will be made.
Methods of Evaluation
a) There are two terminal tests-1 Midterm Examination and 1 Final Examination. The date
and time for the combined Midterm and Final Exams will be held as per the schedule announced
by the Exam Controller.No section or student will be allowed to sit for separate midterm or final
exams or give a make-up exam until prior written permission to do so has been obtained from the
Head of the Department.
b)A total of 4 class-tests (2 prior to the midterm exam and 2 before the final exam) will be
taken.
c) A Group Report on a business issue will be assigned, and must be submitted before the Final
Exam.
d) Oral Presentation: Students’ mock interview on their CV/Cover letter will be evaluated in
the course.
e) Class participation and homework submissions are evaluated and counted towards the final
grade.
Evaluation Scheme Explanation of Letter Grades
Participation/Homework: 05% A : 90-100
Class Tests : 20% A- : 88-89
Mid-Term Exam : 30% B+ : 85-87
Report/Presentation : 10% B : 80-84
Mock Interview : 05% B- : 78-79
Final Exam : 30% C+ : 75-77
Total : 100 C : 70-74
C- : 68-69
D+ : 65-67
D : 50-64
F : Fail
I : Incomplete
W : Withdrawal
Exams Dates
Class Test (CT – 1)
Class Test (CT – 2)
Mid Term
Class Test (CT – 3)
Class Test (CT- 4)
ENGLISH 105 (Business English)
Communication: From Greek word – ‘Communis’ means common. Business Communication is
about business.
Purpose of BC: To convey/ask for: Opinion, proposal, intent, interest,
Feeling, acceptance, agreement,
Information, decision, policy, guidelines, principles
Ideas. Instructions, punishment, rewards, recognition etc.
(Manifestation: Internal – Office Memorandum, Notice, Circular, Letters of various kinds
External- Letters, MOU, Letters of various kinds, Reports, etc.
Sender Media Receiver
Messages Barriers
Barriers
Feedback Letter
Memos Feedback
Circular
Report
Minutes
Presentation
Process of Communication
Through: Words (Written/ Spoken)
Body Language
Signs
Classification of Communication:
1 According to number of persons
a. Intra-personal communication
b. Inter-personal com
c. Group com
d. Mass com
2 On the basis of Medium
a. Verbal (words (written/spoken)
b. Non-verbal (Using pictures/signs/gestures/facial expression/using sign
language/Action language/object language..
i. Through acts of speaking or writing: wordless message conveyed through
1. Gesture (Sign)
2. Movement
3. Object language (pictures/clothes
4. Personal space (proximics)
5. Body language (kinesics)
6. Touch (haptics)
7. Eye (oculesics)
8. Sense of smell (olfacties/olfaction)
9. Time (Chronemics)
10. Meta Communication (slant/loaded)
3 Purpose of Communication:
a. Inform (News papers, electronic media …..)
b. Persuade or convince (Advertisement/sales letter/business proposal/job letters…..)
4 Process of Communication:
a. Linear Concept (One way process)
Sender > Message > Media > Message>Receiver> Action
b. Shannon Weaver Model
Information Source>Encoding>Noise>Channel>Noise>Decoding > Feedback
(Information Source; Encoding; Channel/ Transmission; Decoding; Action; Noise
Filters)
5 Elements of Communication:
a. Message
b. Sender
c. Encoding
d. Channel
e. Receiver
f. Decoding
g. Action
h. Feedback
i. Filters
6 Problems/Barriers of Communications
a. Noise
b. Lack of planning
c. Wrong / Un-clarified assumption
d. Semantic problem
e. Cultural barriers
f. Socio-psychological barriers
g. Emotions
h. Selective perceptions
i. Filtering
j. Information overload
k. Loss of transmission
l. Poor retention
m. Poor listening
n. Goal conflicts
o. Offensive style
p. Time and distance
q. Abstracting
r. Inferring
7 Barriers (Senders)
a. Lack of planning
b. Vagueness about the purpose of communication
c. Objective to be achieved
d. Choice of wrong language
e. Unshared and Un-clarified assumptions
f. Different perception of reality
g. Wrong choice of the channel
Barriers (Receivers)
a. Poor listening
b. Inattention
c. Mistrust
d. Lack of interest
e. Premature evaluation
f. Semantic difficulties
g. Biasness
h. Different perception of reality
i. Attitudinal clash with the sender
j. Not in a fit physical state
8. Principles of successful communication: ( 7 Cs)
a. Clarity of conception/Expression
b. Candidness- honest expression, not to mislead anyone
c. Completeness- in terms of information, sentence structure, spellings
d. Conciseness- Brief in size, avoiding unnecessary things, less wordy.
e. Concreteness- avoiding abstract, emotional, poetic expression
f. Correctness- in terms of information, language
g. Courtesy- saying things politely, courteous, with respect and civility.
1. Clarity
a. Express things clearly; use familiar words/expression; accurate words; simple
words, proper stress/intonation, pause; short sentences
b. Thought be clear, well organized
c. Clarity of thought & expression
2. Candidness: Our view of the matter be:
a. Honest, sincere and guileless
b. Write, speak and listen without prejudice
c. Fairness to self and to others concerned
d. Sharing thoughts and views without reservation
e. Candidness implies consideration of / for others concerned
f. It exhibits self confidence/trust
g. Helps long term business partnership and collaboration
3. Completeness
a. Clarity by completeness
b. Difference between oral and written communication
c. Should be planned and structured
d. Providing answer/information to all questions/concerned
e. Oral interview situation
4. Conciseness
a. Should be brief/in minimum of words
b. Avoid wordy expression/flowery expression
c. Avoid to be repetitive
d. Avoid expression like:
i. At this point of time …. now
ii. As regards the fact that ….. considering
iii. Because of the fact that ……………. As / because
iv. In due course of time ………………… soon
v. Not very far from here ……………… near by / close by
vi. As far as the matter is concerned …. Regarding
5. Concreteness: Things may be complete in form, but not concrete. Any abstraction
may create confusion.
6. Correctness: in information and language. Any incorrect information and linguistic
expression may lead to credibility crisis.
7. Courtesy: Costs nothing, buys many thing. It creates an impression of honesty,
integrity, acceptance, mutual respect etc.
Types of Communication (Organizational)
a. Formal
Upward (Bottom up>Application, Prayer, Request for favor, grievances, unrest,
protest, objection, opposition, suggestion, Reports etc
Downward: Various policies, guidelines, principles, regulations, Office orders,
Circulars, Memorandum, Decisions, Manuals, Notices, Minutes, Reports etc.
Horizontal: Memorandum, Minutes, Circular, Notes, Suggestions, Recommendations,
Advice etc
b. Intra organization: Within the Organization>
c.
d. Inter-Organization: Between/among organizations
End of Part – One
Please consult your text book, Chapter 1, (Nature and Process of Communication, Page 15 – 41)
