Structured Writing for Effective Communication

Description

Introduction: Communication is central in business operations. Organizations are created, operated, and managed between actors who negotiate their role in the world through communicative processes that aim to achieve mutual understandings. Skillful communication is recognized as being a critical success factor in business operations. Regularly appearing as the top three qualities that major employers look for in business school graduates are “written communication,” alongside “critical thinking” and “verbal communication” skills. In 2020, 306.4 billion emails were delivered daily , and by 2025, it will be 376.4 billion emails. Business communication in the 21st century is transnational, multicultural and is conducted largely via email. How masterful are you in your writing skills? How competent are you in concise, effective written communication within a professional multidimensional multinational environment? Do you find yourself sending five emails when one properly written email would have sufficed? How do you best use social media in today’s business environment? There are many different needs for business writing, starting with initiating job applications and requests for references and continuing with industry appropriate correspondence and communication on the job. In this class, we will craft skillful written communication with customers, business associates, and prospective clients across spaces in given industries within proper format, language, and pragmatics (word choice and meaning). This course will help you to develop the writing skills required in modern global business. Through the analysis of realistic business models, students will work on techniques for writing effective emails, letters, memos, proposals, reports, and working with social media. You will use your own writing to develop language skills, working on the specific grammar, punctuation, style, and usage needs. Focus will be given to structure, genre, formality, and specific language required for each of the different genres presented and studied. Weekly readings will focus on current research of the pragmatic and sociolinguistic backgrounds to the writing, by reflecting on audience and how others perceive your writing; how different cultures, genders, and backgrounds may interpret the same writing in different ways; and how to present yourself through your writing to clearly communicate within this complex social backdrop. Within this context, we will also consider the role of English as a lingua franca and what that may mean for your writing. You will develop your writing through the prism of each weekly genre (e.g., email, report, letters) and sociolinguistic focus (i.e., how genders communicate; how the communication styles are perceived by others; communicating across cultures) to become more sensitive to the sociolinguistic landscape underpinning your writing. Students will work with both one way communication (e.g., reports, memos, proposals) and dialogic writing (e.g., emails, letters, social media) and the blending of these concepts within genres. This is a practical learn-as-you-do course designed to develop students writing structure, grammar, punctuation, and mastery of pragmatics and meaning through intensive writing, individual feedback, and editing. Course content: Weekly written assignments - Weekly in-class writing tasks - Peer feedback and self-assessment - Learning through the writing process: write, edit, revise - Written communication analysis - Technology’s role in writing - Writing for appropriate situations and media - Critical thinking and problem-solving in writing - Writing for different audiences - Writing styles and genres - Considerations in writing – culture, medium, and purpose - Professional writing errors and blunders - Maximizing the efficiency and effectiveness of written communication - Metacognition communication - Small group activities Learning outcomes - Knowledge: This course seeks to prepare students for competent, efficient, effective professional communication in the business world. During the course students shall: - Acquire advanced knowledge and awareness of audience, structure, and organization. - Acquire advanced knowledge and awareness of English grammar and punctuation. - Develop awareness and command of different genres: i.e., persuasive writing, intercultural considerations, dialogic writing. - Work with tools and resources to support writing. Learning outcomes - Skills: After completed course students shall be able to: - Edit own writing - Write more accurately, clearly, and concisely - Develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills in writing - Manage the principles of English grammar and usage - Structure writing appropriately - Work within different registers and genres - Reflect on and write to the needs of the audience General Competence: Students shall be able to effectively function in daily work situations and demonstrate a mastery of writing: English grammar, punctuation, writing organization, persuasive writing, intercultural considerations, and dialogic writing. Teaching and learning activities: This course will be conducted with 13 lectures in plenary session and 14 workshops including weekly writing assignments and revisions. Students must participate in both lectures, workshops and complete all writing assignments. This practical course uses the writing process, which requires class participation and writing of both draft and revisions. The writing process is learning by doing (writing and discussing) and class participation. Class participation requirements Classes are designed to be interactive - small group activities, student-led discussions, writing, and peer feedback. Attendance and participation in class is expected. Students will develop their portfolios throughout the semester in an intense writing and feedback process: - Weekly writing tasks and revisions with peer and teacher-led formative assessment - In-class writing tasks - Written reflection blog Software and hardware tools: Software and hardware tools used is Microsoft Word, Laptop/tablet (but not phone), Its Learning, Eduflow. Software tools: No specified computer-based tools are required. Qualifications: Higher Education Entrance Qualification Disclaimer Deviations in teaching and exams may occur if external conditions or unforeseen events call for this. Required prerequisite knowledge: Participants should have a good command of written English. Assessments: Assessments Exam category: Submission Form of assessment: Written submission Weight: 100 Grouping: Individual Duration: 1 Semester(s) Exam code: ELE 39071 Grading scale: ECTS Resit: Examination when next scheduled course Type of assessment: Portfolio assessment Total weight: 100 Student workload: Activity Duration Comment Teaching 39 Hour(s) Participation in lectures (3-hour class) Teaching 28 Hour(s) Workshops (2-hour class) Prepare for teaching 115 Hour(s) Preparatory reading and work for lectures and workshops Student's own work with learning resources 165 Hour(s) Draft writing and revision Submission(s) 30 Hour(s) Assessment Feedback activities and counselling 23 Hour(s) Feedback Sum workload: 400 Incoming exchange students at BI Norwegian Business School select courses from BI's official semester-specific exchange course lists. BI defines a full semester as 30 ECTS; bachelor courses are typically 7.5 ECTS each (4 per semester) and master courses are typically 6 ECTS each (5 per semester). Course availability, prerequisites, and timetabling are confirmed via BI's International Office and the Learning Agreement process.