Bahria University, Islamabad

Faculty Name: Tooba Shakoor

Assistant Professor
(MPhil in Management Sciences, MBA in Marketing,
MA in English Literature.)
Email: executivelead@gmail.com
Office: Quaid-e-Azam Block, Room 10, Faculty Cubicle #3
Department of Humanities& Social Sciences
COURSE OUTLINE
For the Department of Management Sciences

Course Name Business Communication /Skills Prepared on July 23rd, 2019

Course Code BCM-243/ENG243
Credit Hours 3
Course Prerequisite Oral Communication
Prerequisite Code ENG 105 Revised on No revision so
Course Type □ Core Course far
Program □ BS Accounting and Finance/Economics
Semester Fall 2019
Course Description
This course outline is intended as a develop language skills. The content may be altered and replaced with more
suitable materials at the discretion of your teacher based on you and your group’s needs. Supplementary
materials, although not listed, will also be used. The course will help you

1. develop the ability to communicate effectively

2. enable the students to read effectively and independently any intermediate level text

3. make the experience of learning Business English more meaningful and enjoyable

4. enable the students to use grammar and language structure in context

Course Learning Outcomes (These outcomes have been borrowed from Karen Payton’s Outline on Business Communication)
CLO # Description
1. • Demonstrate an understanding of basic communication theories
• Recognize the components of a communication strategy for business
• Critique communication strategies and techniques for business situations and contexts
(group communication, listening, non-verbal communication)
• Recognize the influence of culture & diversity on communication
• Compose effective business writing projects in a variety of formats
• Identify, select and compile information using appropriate technology and information
systems

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 • Apply ethical standards of business communications to coursework
2. To acquire advance (mid-level) proficiency in the following skills:
 Grammar
 Vocabulary
 Reading and Listening Skills
 Writing skills – Paragraph writing, Traditional Essay, Letter Writing, Short Story Writing

Teaching & Learning Methodology

The course entails the use of multiple teaching and learning methodologies to be used depending on the topic
being taught. Pre-dominantly the following methods are being used:
 Direct Method
 Structural Method
 Task-based Language Learning Method
 Interactive Audio-Visual Language teaching Approach

Note:
Students are provided with extra reading in the class so that they develop an impromptu understanding of the previously
unseen material. They are then allowed to have an interactive session amongst each other to share their ideas (Silent
Method of Language Learning). The instructor does not intervene in this session. Once the time is up, the instructor asks
questions randomly to ascertain how much was understood. These unseen reading texts are revised every semester and
often changed during the semester if the instructor finds something new and interesting to share with the students.

Text Book and References

Text Book:

1. Effective Business Communication. Murphy, Hildebrandt

and Thomas, 7th Edition, Tata-Mcgraw Hill

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 2. Business Communication Process & Product. Guffrey,
Loewy, Rhodes, Rogen, 5th Brief Canadian Edition
(with style guide)

Home Works and Assignments

Attendance is mandatory. Every class is important. All deadlines are hard. Under normal circumstances late work
will not be accepted. Students are required to take all the tests. No makeup tests will be taken since the
tests have already been announced in the course outline. Any form of cheating on exams/assignments/quizzes is
subject to serious penalty.

Attendance:
75% attendance is mandatory. Latecomers will be marked as absent.

Evaluation Criteria:
Assignments/projects 20%
Quizzes 15%
Mid-Term 25%
Final 40%

Quizzes Schedule:
Quiz # 1 Week # 4
Quiz # 2 Week # 7
Quiz # 3 Week # 11
Quiz # 4 Week # 12

Assignments Schedule (tentative)

Assignment Delivery date Submission Date

1 Week 3 Week 4 (Presentation Skills)
2 Week 6 Week 7 (Letter Writing)
3 Week 9 Week 10 (CV/ Resume Writing and Interview Skills)
4 Week 11 Week 12 (Business Proposal Report and Presentation)

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Topic wise Course Outline
Course Contents
1. Business Communications:
Tools for Business Success
2. 7 Cs Communication
Business Communication
Model
Situational Vocabulary (basic)
 Formal & Informal
 Jargon & Register
 Colloquial & Slang
3. Presentations for Confidence
Building and Assertiveness
Collaboration, Listening
Non-Verbal Skills
Objective Readings and Sources
Understanding the significance and Chapter 01
scope of Business Communication.
Objectives:
1. Describe how
communication skills
impact your career
opportunities
2. Identify barriers to
interpersonal
communication and how
they can be overcome
3. Identify impediments to
organizational
communication flow and
develop solutions on how
they can be addressed
4. Apply tools to
communicate ethically in
business
Students will be taught to use Chapter 2
language in various situational
contexts, highlighting the ways in https://www.uts.edu.au/sites/default/fi
which language needs to be adapted les/HELPS%20Formal%20and
to different situations in contexts %20Informal%20Language.pdf
like academic, formal and informal
situations etc.
http://examples.yourdictionary.com/2
0-examples-of-slang-language.html
CLO 1
This activity will allow the new Chapter 14, 15
students to gain confidence when
facing the audience. It will create
and opportunities for them to interact
with unfamiliar audience.
Objectives:
1. Describe listening
techniques
2. Distinguish verbal and
non-verbal communication
3. Describe the functions of
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 non-verbal communication

4. Impact of culture on non-

verbal communication

5. Practice business etiquette

4. Vocabulary in use This exercise will help students https://elt.oup.com/student/wordskills

grasp language and will facilitate /ipv?cc=us&selLanguage=en
 Recognizing formal them in using it for practical
and informal purposes of work allowing them to
vocabulary differentiate between formal and
 Using formal language https://www.thoughtco.com/understa
informal language use. This will
in sentences nding-vocabulary-words-in-context-
also aid them in constructing
3211741
 Using idiomatic meaning based on context which
phrases and phrasal will help them not to be dependant
verbs for understanding on dictionaries.
 Vocabulary in context
https://blog.prepscholar.com/vocab-
(constructing meaning
through context) in-context-questions-and-strategies-
iv. Commonly for-sat-reading
Used Slang
CLO 1

5. Cultural Communications and Exercises on these topics will make Chapter 3, 4, 17

Diversity the students’ work more precise
and will help them in avoiding CLO 2
common problems of at work place.

Objectives:

1. Discuss the importance of

teamwork in your career
2. Describe how to develop
effective teams
3. Make meetings productive
4. Discuss strategies to
enhance intercultural
communications
5. Demonstrate diversity
strategies in business

6. 1. Effective Presentation Objectives:

Skills 1. Discuss important first
2. Understanding the use steps in preparing effective
of the visual aid oral presentations
2. Explain the major
elements in organizing
content (introduction,
body, conclusion)
3. Identify techniques for

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 building audience rapport
4. Designing your
multimedia presentation
competently

7. Effective Presentation Skills Objectives:

(con’t)
1. Describe how to prepare
effectively for
presentations
2. Describe effective
techniques to stay in
control while speaking
3. Describe strategies to deal
with difficult audiences
4. Identify effective ways to
use hand-outs
5. Describe the qualities of
effective team
presentations

8. Everyday Business This exercise will develop the Chapter 5, 6, 7, 10

Correspondence writing skills of students with
regard to correspondence in various https://communicationchannelssc.wor
situations both formal and informal. dpress.com/2015/02/02/3-x-3-writing/
Moreover this exercise will be
adapted according to the
programme of the study. CLO 1
Objectives
1. Describe how the 3x3
writing process helps you produce
effective e-mail messages and
memos
2. Analyze the structure and
formatting of e-mail messages and
memos
3. Write letters that request
information or action
4. Analyze the structure and
characteristics of good business
letters
5. Identify effective
workplace blogging

9. Basic Letter Writing: This exercise will develop the https://targetstudy.com/languages/eng

(formal/informal)
 Business letters
 Applications
writing skills of students with lish/letter-writing.html
regard to correspondence in various
situations both formal and informal. Paragraph Writing/ Letter Writing
Moreover this exercise will be (Assignment 3)
adapted according to the
programme of the study.

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 CLO 1 and CLO 2

10. Listening This will help students reinforce all Chapter 14

comprehension the written skills that they had
 Short videos learned while keeping the CLO 1
atmosphere from getting too heavy.

11. Business Writing: A Three- Objectives:

Stage Process (Stage 1: 1. Identify the need for a
Preparing to Write) writing process
2. Clarify what is involved in
analyzing a writing task
and selecting a
communication channel
3. Analyze the process of
anticipating and profiling
typical audiences for
business messages
4. Spotlight audience
benefits in business
writing
5. Summarize the legal and
ethical responsibilities of
business communicators

12 Review Writing (low level of This will hone students’ ability to https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-
difficulty) compare and evaluate writings and tools/book-reviews/
other material effectively and
 Reading a text critically.
 Thinking about it
 Commenting on it https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/writ
critically ing-help/writing-a-fiction-or-non-
 Making comparisons fiction-review

CLO 2

13 Business Writing: A Three- Objectives:

Stage Process (Stage 2:
Writing) 1. Organize information
logically to make a topic outline

2. Select the direct or indirect

writing approach

3. Write in conversational
tone, professionally, simply,
concisely and courteously; avoid
bias

4. Compose your first draft –

use short sentences, active verbs

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 and meaningful paragraphs

14 Business Writing: A Three- Objectives:

Stage Process (Stage 3:
Revising) 1. Apply the last phase of the
3 X 3 writing process to make
written communication clear,
concise and conversational

2. Revising messages for

vigour, directness and readability

3. Improve readability
through formatting and the use of
online tools

4. Recognize proofreading
problems

5. Evaluate a message to
judge its success

13 CV/Resume Writing and This will help students develop Chapter 16, 18, 19
Interview Skills their writing skills while adapting
them to a particular format based https://resumegenius.com/how-to-
 Identifying the on need. This will help them to write-a-resume
differences between establish CVs that project them in
the two
the best light while abiding by the
 Composing a CV
margins of truth. In addition to this,
 Composing a Resume CLO 2
the students will be familiarized
with interviewing skills for better
self-portrayal.

14. Business Reports Objectives Chapter 11, 12, 13

1. Gather and sort through

research material to get needed
background information

2. Identify the general uses

and basic components of proposals

3. Identify formal reports and

how to anticipate a receiver’s
reaction to your message

4. Identify the components of

typical business plans and ethically
create buy-in for your business
ideas

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 5. Describe the formal report
components that follow the
introduction and how they further
the purpose of your communication

15. Informal Business Reports Objectives Chapter 11, 12, 13

1. Describe business report

basics including functions, patterns
(indirect or direct), writing style,
and formats

2. Draw meaningful
conclusions and make practical
report recommendations based on
the logical analysis

3. Organize report data

logically and provide cues to aid
reader’s comprehension

4. Prepare short
informational reports

16. Negative Messaging Objectives Chapter 8, 9

1. Plan for effective

interpersonal communications in
negative or aggressive situations

2. Selecting appropriate
techniques for delivering bad news
to customers, inside your
organization and staff

17. Précis Writing/ Abstract This exercise will help students https://gdpi.hitbullseye.com/precise-
Writing divest from verbosity and bring writing.php
more precision and clarity to their
 Discussing concise writing through using words
writing economically and deleting
 elaborating on the need CLO 2
irrelevant, digressive and extra
to be concise
material.
 Writing précis.

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