BBA Program

Spring 2021

Business & Human Communication (Course Code: BUS 201) (3

Credits, Prerequisite: ENG 102)
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I. CLASS AND INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

 Class Time and Location : Online Asynchronous Delivery

 Instructors : Team Teaching by Fabiha Enam (sec 8 & 9), Shamim
Ehsanul Haque and Feihan Ahsan
Email : fabihaenam@bracu.ac.bd, fahsan@bracu.ac.bd and
sehaq@bracu.ac.bd
Consultation/Office Hours/Example Classes: (Live Streaming)

II. COURSE DESCRIPTION

The primary objective of Business Communication is to introduce learners to the various forms
of written and oral communication that are helpful and, in most cases, necessary in real-life
business situations or in our professional lives. We will mainly focus on the contemporary
aspects of business communication, in the work-place in particular, and businesses in general.
We will have a brief look at the theory of communication and then rapidly drill down to the
practical details and essentials of business communication. This means the course will cover
business writings such as business letter and memo writing, persuasive message writing,
employment letters and examine what sort of tone, language, style and format should be adhered
to whilst doing so. The course will also require the students to learn the basics of a writing a
business report or proposal, and require them to write a business report on a cognate topic.

III. LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. To understand the theories of communication, and the ethical aspects of communication

within a business context.
2. To be able to produce artefacts such as memos, business letters and reports that managers
utilize in traditional business contexts in an organizational as well as office settings.
3. To be able to prepare résumés and cover letters so that employment seeking endeavours can
be professionally supported with requisite artefacts and documents.
4. Apply correct grammar and stylistic techniques in writing sentences and paragraphs so that
grammatically accurate, professionally appropriate, and standard business documents can be
produced.

IV. INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. Students will be able to relate the theories of communication and business ethics in situations
where business messages are exchanged and prepared for circulation.
2. Write standard common business letters that are of an acceptable standard and expected in
the contemporary business world (in terms of style and construction).
3. Assess employment opportunities and target those situations with appropriate employment
letters and résumés.
4. Utilize improved writing and oral communication skills to compose documents and make
presentations respectively.
5. Apply correct English grammar when constructing sentences and paragraphs.
V. LEARNING RESOURCES

Core / Required Reading:

1. Business Communication Essentials
Edition: 4th Edition (2006)
Authors: Bovee, L. C., Thill, J.V. , Schatzman,
Publisher: Prentice Hall, New Jersey.

2. Business Communication Today

Edition: 12th Edition (2019)
Authors: Bovee, L. C., Thill, J.V. , Schatzman,
Publisher: Prentice Hall, New Jersey.

VI. COURSE FORMAT

The course is conducted by online teaching: lectures, presentations, and course material will be
presented online through four (4) to fifteen (15) minute long video presentations (altogether making
60 minutes) for each class. Each video of 15 minute segment will be interspersed with a 5 to 10
minute short class exercise or quiz: no more than 3 such exercises appearing in each online class.
Individual interaction of students and group interaction with the faculty are deemed important for
learning. Therefore, during example classes
Range of Marks  Grade  GPA Remarks while live sessions will be administered the
90   to  100  A  4. Excellent students can interact and discuss material
0 which had been covered in earlier classes.
85  to  <90  A‐  3. “ Quizzes, assignments and other formative
7 assessment methods keep track of learning
80  to  <85  B+  3. “ progress. Midterm, final exam and weekly
3 assignments are utilized to come up with
75  to  <50  B  3. Good summative assessment of individual enrolled
0 students as they finish the course. A capstone
70  to  <75  B‐  2. “ assignment (group assignment) will also be
7 due at the end of semester.
65  to  <70  C+  2. “
3
60  Activities
to  <65  C  2. Fair % of the Total Assessment
0
Attendance (50% excluding exam dates) 5%
VII. 57  Assignments
to  <60  C‐  1. “ 10%
Marked Quiz 7 10%
55  Mid-term
to  <57  ExamD+  1. “ 20%
3
Group Project (Report Writing) and presentation 20%
52  Final
to  Exam
<55  D  1. Poor 35%
Total 0 100%
50  to  <52  D‐  0. “
7
<50    F  0.0 Failure GRADING
Letter grades for the course will be based on
the following scale - as specified in BRACU catalog.

VIII. TOPIC AND ACTIVITY SCHEDULE

INTRODUCTION: Introductory class will be live streamed by each member of the teaching team to
their respective audience of students (divided in different sections). Detailed discussion on the
following will be held in that session on:
- Online course structure
- Recorded class lecture
-Example classes ( to be held by each individual faculty member)
The recorded class lectures and contents are arranged in the table that follows on a week by week basis:

Week / Topics Activities & Readings

Session Assignments

1. Business Communication and Online Class 1 Chapter 1

Communication Challenges Segment 1:
Faced by Businesses. Understanding Communication
Quiz 1: TBA
Segment 2:
The Communication Process
Quiz 2: Draw a model.
Segment 3:
Ethical Issues connected to
Communication (I)
Mini Task: Solve this ethical issue
(ethical dilemma).
Segment 4:
Ethical Issues connected to
Communication (II)
1 Collaboration and Online Class 2 Chapter 2
Interpersonal Communication Segment 1:
Communication and Teams
Quiz 1: Advantages and
Disadvantages of Teams
Segment 2:
Preparing for Meetings
Segment 3:
Efficient Meetings and Virtual
Meetings
Mini Task: Write and agenda.
Segment 4:
Developing Business Etiquette
Quiz 2: Online Etiquette
2 Communication Challenges in Online Class 3 Chapter 3
a Diverse, Global Segment 1:
Marketplace Cultural Diversity and Communication
(I)
Quiz 1: Globalization
Segment 2:
Ethnocentrism and Stereotyping
Quiz 2: Ethnocentrism
Segment 3:
Cultural contexts
Mini Task: Solve a case on cultural
context.
Segment 4: Improving intercultural
communication
Quiz 3: Style/Grammar problems.
2 Planning Business Messages Online Class 4 Chapter 4
Segment 1:
The 3 step writing process
Quiz 1: Analyze the process.
 Segment 2:
Audience centered communication.
Quiz 2: TBA
Segment 3:
Organizing Information (I)
Mini Task Solve a mini-case.
Segment 4: Organizing Information
(III)
Quiz 3: Style/Grammar problems.
3 Writing Business Messages Online Class 5 Chapter 5
Segment 1:
Adapting to your audience (I)
Quiz 1: Using the “you” attitude.
Segment 2:
Adapting to your audience (II)
Quiz 2: Bias Free Language,
Emphasizing the Positive.
Segment 3:
Letter and Email formats
Mini Task: Class exercise on style
and tone.
Segment 4: Controlling Style and
Tone (II)
Quiz 3: Effective sentences.
3 Writing Business Messages Online Class 6 Chapter 5
(& Email/Letter formats) Segment 1: &
Composing messages (I) Chapter 6
Quiz 1: Paragraph development.
Segment 2:
Composing messages (II)
Quiz 2: Developing a coherent
paragraph.
Segment 3 (Ch6) :
Letter, Mem0 and Email Formats
Segment 4 (Ch 6)
Designing messages for mobile
devices
Quiz 3: TBA
4 Digital Media Online Class 7 Chapter 7 &
Segment 1: Chapter 8
Email
Quiz 1: Writing email content.
Segment 2:
Business Messaging and Website
Content (i)
Quiz 2: Write an email.
Segment 3 : Business Messaging and
Website Content (ii)
Segment 4 (Ch8) :
Social media for external and internal
communication
Quiz 3: TBA
4 Online Class 8 Chapter 8
Segment 1:
Business Blogging (i)
Quiz 1:Tips for successful blogging
Segment 2:
Business Blogging (II)
Quiz 2:TBA.
 Segment 3 : Twitter
Quiz 3: Effective Business Tweets
Segment 4:
Monitoring the Social Media

5 Midterm Online Class 9 Midterm

Midterm Syllabus will
Online Class 10 be announced
Midterm earlier.
Announcing Report Writing Topics and Groups for each BUS 201 Section by Email/Online
6 Good News Online Class 11 Chapter 10
Messages/Routine Positive Segment 1:
Messages Strategy for routine positive letters.
Quiz 1: Points to remember when
writing good news letters.
Segment 2: Common Examples of
Good News Letters (i)
Quiz 2:TBA.
Segment 3 : Common Examples of
Good News Letters (ii)
Mini Task: Write a letter requesting
information.
Segment 4: Common Examples of
Good News Letters (iii)

6 Writing Bad News/Negative Online Class 12 Chapter 11

Letters Segment 1:
Process for writing negative
messages.

Segment 2:
Direct and Indirect Approach
Quiz 1: Writing buffer sentences.
Segment 3 : Common Examples of
Bad News Letters (i)
Mini Task: Write a bad news letter
requesting information.
Segment 4: Common Examples of
Bad News Letters (ii)

7 Persuasive Messages Online Class 13 Chapter 12

Segment 1:
Developing Persuasive Business
Letters/Messages
Quiz 1: The AIDA Plan
Segment 2:
Writing Persuasive Sales Letters
Quiz 2: TBA
Segment 3 : Common Examples of
Persuasive Letters (i)
Mini Task: Write a sales letter.
Segment 4:
Common Examples of Persuasive
Letters (ii)
7 Report Writing and Business Online Class 14 Chapter 14
Presentations Segment 1:
Planning Reports
 Quiz 1: Organising your information
Segment 2:
Planning Reports (II)
Quiz 1: Organizational Strategies
Segment 3 :
Components of a report (i)
Mini Task: TBA.
Segment 4:
Components of a report (II)
8 Online Class 15 Chapter 15
Segment 1: and Chapter
Drafting Report Contents (i) 17
Quiz 1: TBA
Segment 2:
Drafting Report Contents (ii)
Quiz 2: TBA
Segment 3 :
Planning presentation visuals.
Mini Task: TBA.
Segment 4:
Designing Effective Slides
8 Writing Résumés and Online Class 15 Chapter 18
Employment Letters Segment 1:
Job market and opportunities.
Quiz 1: What are employers looking
for?
Segment 2:
Writing a Resume (I)
Segment 3:
Writing a Cover Letter (I)
Quiz 2: TBA
Segment 4:
Example Cover Letter and Resume
9 Online Class 16 Final Exam
Final Exam Syllabus will
Online Class 17 be announced
Final Exam earlier.
IX. COURSE POLICIES

1. Instructor’s Expectations of Students:

Students are expected to strive for excellence in acquiring knowledge – through attending all
classes from start to end; participating actively in class discussions; preparing for class
lectures in advance; spending at least two hours for each class-hour on, self-study,
completion of assigned tasks and preparation for class, quiz, exam, presentation, etc.; and
completing and submitting required tasks on-time.

Students are also expected to maintain a classroom environment conducive to learning, be

respectful of others’ opinions and be completely honest by implementing the highest ethical
standards. It is also expected that students will uphold this principle in all their future
endeavors, including their career activities.

2. Academic Integrity:
Although group-study is encouraged strongly, all students/groups are expected to complete
all assignments individually. As such, one may not share, lend or borrow another student’s
(group’s) work in any manner - either on paper, by computer or by word of mouth. Any
cheating, plagiarism and other forms of scholastic dishonesty or misconduct will result in the
 strictest disciplinary action - according to the BRACU regulations (please refer to BRACU
__________ Handbook).

3. Make-Up:
No make-up quiz/exam will be administered and no late homework, assignment, case or
project will be accepted except for conflicts with official university business or extreme
emergencies. In the former case, please notify the instructor (at least) one week in advance;
in the latter case, please inform prior to the exam/quiz or immediately after. Under both
situations, students are expected to provide appropriate and authentic documentation.

4. “I” and “W” Grades:

A grade of “I“ (Incomplete) will be granted only as a result of most extreme circumstances -
beyond a student’s control and only after stringent verification of the circumstance and
approval.A grade of “I” is not given in lieu of an “F” or any other passing grade.Any
student who discontinues attending class, and who does not officially drop the course/
withdraw from the university, will receive a grade of “F”.

5. Disability:
Any student who has a disability that prevents the fullest statement of his/her abilities should
contact the instructor personally. All efforts will be made to devise the appropriate
accommodation in order to facilitate student’s successful completion of the course.

6. Others:

X. DISCLAIMER
Every effort will be made to ensure that the information contained in this document is adhered
to, however, it is subject to change. Changes will be notified in class, in advance. Students are
encouraged to check with the instructor if there are any doubts. It is the student’s responsibility
to be informed.