UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

AKADEMI PENGAJIAN BAHASA

Code : EWC 662

Course : ENGLISH FOR BUSINESS CORRESPONDENCE
Level : DEGREE
Credit Unit : 2
Contact Hours : 2
Part : FINAL YEAR
Course Status : Non Core
(Core/Non Core)

Prerequisite : ELC501 / ELC590

WRITTEN ASSESSMENT (25%)

PAIR WORK

PART A
A sample of poorly written business correspondence will be provided by the class lecturer.
Students have to write a paragraph of 200-250 words describing the mistakes discovered in the
selected sample. The description should highlight the correct values and attitudes of a good
business correspondence.
Students’ description should include;
ORGANISATION= Comment on whether the writer uses the correct and complete form for a
business letter.
CONTENT= Comment on whether each part is complete and correct. Indicate if the writer has
clearly stated the purpose of the letter and the required details.
LANGUAGE = Comment on whether there are errors in mechanics, usage, grammar, spelling,
punctuation, etc. Identify whether the body contains courteous and formal language used in a
good business correspondence.

1
PART B
Rewrite the letter to display the correct format, values and attitudes of a good business
correspondence.

Please refer to the following scoring guidelines.

SCORING GUIDELINE (LECTURER)

PART A - DESCRIPTION

A successful description should have the following:

Organisation

2 marks The description is well-organised which includes comments on the letter format
1 mark The description is poorly organised and does not include thorough comments
on letter format

Content

3-4 marks The description is well written and contains comments on the purpose of the
letter, the tone of the writer, use of formal language, and details.
1-2 mark(s) The description is poorly written and does not contain comments on purpose of
the letter, the tone of the writer, use of formal language, and details.

Language

4 marks Conveys message very effectively. Excellent control of grammatical structures,

use of language functions and choice of words.
3 marks Conveys message effectively. Good control of grammatical structures, use of
language functions and choice of words.
2 marks Conveys message with some difficulty. Fair control of grammatical structures,
use of language functions and choice of words.
1 mark Conveys message with great difficulty and almost incomprehensible. Poor
control of tenses, use of grammatical structures, use of language functions and
choice of words.

2
 SCORING GUIDELINE (LECTURER)
PART B - LETTER
Format/ Organisation: 1 mark
Content: 7 marks
Language: 7 marks

Format

The letter should have the following:

• Sender’s address
• Date
• Receiver’s name and address
• Salutation
• Subject line
• Complimentary close
• Signature block (signature, name and designation if required)
• Parts of business letter which include proper introduction, central section and
closing

Deduct ½ mark if any one item is missing or wrong. Do not award any mark if more
than one item is missing or wrong.

Content

6 - 7 marks Main points are very clear, with excellent support, examples and
explanations. Achieves the objective of the letter fully.
4 - 5 marks Main points are fairly well-developed with generally relevant support,
examples and explanations. Achieves the objective of the letter fairly
well.
2 - 3 marks Main points are not fully developed, few examples and explanations
to support ideas. Does not achieve the objective of the letter fully.
0 - 1 mark Does not understand question/task. Main points are undeveloped,
reasoning is poor and out of point. Does not achieve the objective of
the letter at all.

3
 Language

6 - 7 marks Conveys message very effectively. Excellent control of

grammatical structures, use of language functions of business
correspondence and choice of words.
4 - 5 marks Conveys message effectively. Good control of grammatical
structures, use of language functions of business correspondence
and choice of words.
2 - 3 marks Conveys message with some difficulty. Fair control of grammatical
structures, use of language functions of business correspondence
and choice of words.
0 - 1 mark Conveys message with great difficulty and almost
incomprehensible. Poor use of grammatical structures, language
functions of business correspondence and choice of words.