UNIVERSITAS INDONESIA

FACULTY OF ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS

SYLLABUS
INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS COMMUNICATION AND ACADEMIC WRITING
(FOR LECTURERS)

No. Lecturer’s Name E-mail address

1. Arga Hananto
2. Ledi Trialdi
3. Dian Nastiti/Ratna Dewi Antarina
4. Wasilah
5. Miranti Kartika Dewi
6. Nurul Husnah
7. Sonya Oktaviana
8. Agung Nugroho
9. Uswatun Hasanah/Muthia Pramesti
10. Wardatul Adawiyah
11. Annisa

Subject Code
Subject Title Introduction to Business Communication and Academic Writing
Credit Value 3
Pre-requisite/ -
Co-requisite/
Exclusion
Role and This course aims to equip students with basic communication skills as they embark on
Purposes their study in university. This course is designed to prepare students with the ability
to read and listen effectively so that students may get a better understanding on the
information they received. By getting a good understanding of information, students
are expected to be able to give a good respond by firstly understanding the
information they have received. Secondly, students will learn how to think analytically
so they can make a conclusion and come up with their own idea based on the
information they have received. Lastly, to communicate their idea effectively,
students will be introduced to strategies for effective written and oral
communication.

In order to organize their writings and to create attractive visual aids, students will
also be introduced to use several software used to improve their written and oral
communication skill. At the end of this course, students are expected to comprehend
various strategies for effective written and oral communication to be used in their
classes as well as to be practiced in their extra-curricular activities as university
students.
 Writing
Reading Skill
Skill Thinking Skill
Oral
Listening
R Comprehension Analysis R
Presentation
Skill
Skill
Feeling / Emotional Regulation
Observing
Non Verbal
Non Verbal
Communication
Language

Subject Learning Upon completion of the subject, students are expected to:
Outcomes Have a Good Basic Written Communication skill, by being:
a. Able to use some strategies for effective reading
b. Able to use some strategies for effective written communication
 Able to develop topic/main idea/focus of the essay/report
 Able to organize idea logically in paragraphs and connect them with effective transition
 Able to use good sentence structure
 Able to use appropriate language, correct spelling, and grammar
 Able to provide supporting ideas/reasoning/details relevant to the idea
 Able to use appropriate academic rules (referencing systems, etc.) and format in writing
essay/report
 Able to apply Audience Centered Approach in their writing assignments
Have a Good Basic Oral Communication Skills, by being:
c. Able to use some strategies for effective listening and note taking
d. Able to use some strategies for effective presentation
 Able to introduce their presentation in a clear and interesting way
 Able to deliver content with logical structure
 Able to organize their ideas in a presentation
 Able to use presentation techniques (body language, facial expression, etc.) appropriately
 Able to develop and use of visual aids or technology
 Able to manage their voice and pace appropriately
 Able to apply Audience Centered Approach in their presentation

Subject
Synopsis/
Indicative
Syllabus
Week# Topic and Sub Topic LO Assignment / Activity Reading
Materials

1 Introduction a, b, Lecturer: Introduction, Explain Bovee {1-3}

1. Four aspects of c the syllabus, group formation,
communication -> How active lecturing AR
those 4 skills are related
and how students are Assignment : Free Essay
expected to be after
(Eg. Opinion essay about
completing the course
Communication – 5 paragraphs /
2. Communication Process
 Why is communication 2 pages)
important?
 What is effective
communication?
Due Date: Week 2
 Communication Model
(stages, barrier, model)
Communication in different
settings:
- Intrapersonal
Communication
(listening, reading,
thinking)
 Interpersonal
communication
(counseling, specific
situation)
 Group Communication
(Discussion and
Presentation)
 Mass Communication
(public speaking skill)
 Intercultural
communication
2 Reading Skill Submission: Free Essay Week 1 Material for
reading skill
Thinking Skill Lecturers may use collaborative and Thinking
Analytical Thinking learning or small group skill practice is
- Matching (Compare discussion for reading and
& contrast) available in the
thinking skill exercise in the class. Dropbox (for
- Classifying
Lecturer will act as facilitator to lecturers only)
- Analysis of error
- Generalization facilitate the discussion in the
- Specifying class.

Assignment: Working in group,

students need to answer the
following question: What does it
takes to be an entrepreneur? 
after analyzing some
entrepreneurs’ biography
3 Class Discussion: Thinking a,b Lecturers make sure students Marzano
Skill have applied analytical thinking
Presentation from each steps in answering the question Other Critical
group. Thinking
in week 2, and give feedback on
their analysis. resources
Three Steps of Writing
Process
Assignment: Students are
- Planning, writing,
required to develop an idea
revising: What to do?
based on two or more sources of
- Types of Essay: information and apply thinking
Compare and skill to develop their own idea
Contrast Essay, for Draft Mid Term essay topic.
Opinion and
Argument Feedback on Free Essay

Assignment:

- Idea and outline for

Draft Mid Term Essay

4 Three Steps of Writing b Submission: Bovee

Process (2)
Feedback and discussion on - Idea and outline for Raimes
idea for mid term essay Draft Mid Term Essay

Active Lecturing

Class Activities: Evaluating Idea

and Idea Organization for Draft
Mid Term Essay

Assignment:

Draft Mid Term Essay

Due Date: week 5

5 Data commentary b Submission: Draft Mid Term Swales

(Hedging/weaken statement) Essay

i. Reducing likelihood Active lecturing

ii. Softening
generalization Assignment: Writing Data
iii. Using weaker verbs Commentary
iv. Combining hedging
methods
Due Date: Week 6

6 Rules of Academic Essay: b Submission: Data Commentary Rector Decree

Plagiarism and some issues on Final
with ethic in Academic writing Feedback on Draft Mid Term Assignment
(how to use proper citation Essay
and quotation and
bibliography) Active lecturing Swales

Assignment: Writing Mid Term

Essay

Due Date: Mid Term Week

 7 Ethics and Etiquette in b,c Raimes
communication in business Bovee

Listening Skills
1. Empathic listening
2. Notetaking skills

Students are required to

apply Listening Skill in Lecture
7

MID TERM WEEK – Students are required to submit an Essay which was developed from their previous
free essay. The Mid Term Essay is expected to be of 1500 words length (approx..4 - 5 pages length,
excluding bibliography and attachments). Students are expected to apply all strategies that have been
learned in the class: Thinking Skill, Audience Centered Approach, Rules of Academic Essay and Data
Commentary in their Mid Exam Essay.

Computer Lab: Technical Skill in writing / presenting academic essay*:

- Words for Large Documents: Table of Content
- Mendeley (for Citation and Bibliography)
- Infographics
- Power Point and Prezi
The lab can be taken by students during the first half semester based on schedule available in the
computer lab.

8 Communication in 21st b,c Active lecturing Swales

Century
- Digital Media (Virtual
meeting, Email, instant
messaging, text messaging,
website content)
- Social Media (social network,
blogging, wikies)
In-class exercise: writing a note
(notetaking exercise)
Feedback on Data Commentary
(if possible – via dropbox / scele)
Assignment:

By Guest Lecturer Note Taking

9 Presentation Techniques 1 c,d Submission: Notes from Guest Bovee 16-17

(conceptual) Lecture presentation
 Applying three steps
in Presentation. Active lecturing
 Non Verbal Aspects
Small Group Discussion to
(gesture, eye contact,
prepare the collaborative
facial expression)
project. Students are asked to
Students are asked to discuss
make timeline for their project
the topic for their final project
and brainstorm about the topic
in a group: A Collaborative
for their group special report.
Special Report/ Campaign /
Business Proposal Assignment: Students are asked
to prepare their group
presentation
10 Group Presentation Practice c,d Group Presentation
1:
Non Presenting Group are asked
The first half of groups will to take notes and give
deliver their presentation and comment/questions/feedback
are given feedback focusing
on the CONTENT of the
presentation (Idea
Development  Analytical
Thinking Skill).

The lecturer may also give

individual feedback for each
team member’s presentation
skills (intended to prepare
students for graded individual
presentation on session 12)
11 Group Presentation Practice c,d Group Presentation
2:
Non Presenting Group are asked
The second half of groups will to take notes and give
deliver their presentation and comment/questions/feedback
are given feedback focusing
on the CONTENT of the
presentation (Idea
Development  Analytical
Thinking Skill)

The lecturer may also give

individual feedback for each
team member’s presentation
skills (intended to prepare
students for graded individual
presentation on session 12)
12 Individual Presentation 1 c,d Students are required to present
(GRADED) their Mid Exam Essay

The first half of students will Non Presenting students are

deliver their presentation and asked to give
are given feedback focusing comment/questions/feedback
on the DELIVERY of the
presentation.
This presentation will be
graded and will be part of
student’s assessment

13 Individual Presentation 2 c,d Students are required to present

(GRADED) their Mid Exam Essay
The second half of students
will deliver their presentation Non Presenting students are
and are given feedback asked to give
focusing on the DELIVERY of comment/questions/feedback
the presentation.
This presentation will be
graded and will be part of
student’s assessment
 14 GROUP FINAL PRESENTATION c,d Lecturers give final grade based
on presentation rubric for each
Students in groups are asked students
to submit their magazine /
blogs / Poster or any media
they use for their special
report/ campaign / business
proposal

FINAL EXAM WEEK

Assignment Free Essay/Draft Mid Term Essay/Data Commentary:

Instruction Summary/Essay is an individual assignment, microsoft word document, using 12 font Times
New Roman, 1. 5 spacing, medium margin, A4 letter – with maximum 2 pages for each
summary/essay.

Mid Term Essay: Same with above – with max. 1500 words or equivalent to 4-5 pages
(exclude: bibliography and appendices). Students must print word count on the paper.

Final Project:
Special report is a group final assignment which will be presented in group presentation and
printed or published in website / poster / any media which students think will effectively
deliver their message.

Assessment Specific Assessment % Intended Learning Outcomes

Method in Methods/Tasks Weighting
Alignment with A B C D
Intended Continuous Assessment 100%
Learning
Computer Lab 5% V V V
Outcomes
Data Commentary 5% V
Notes 5% V
V = Teaching
Mid Term Essay 35% 50% V V
and Learning
Presentation (mid-term 20% 50%
Activities
essay presentation,
% = Assessed for
individual)
AoL
Final Project – Group 30% V V V
(students will be graded
based on final project
output as well as the
final project
presentation)

Student Study
Effort Expected Class Contacts: (3 credits) 35 hours
Lectures 15 hours
Group work 5 hours
Presentation 15 hours
Other student study effort: 70 hours
Preparation for project/assignment/tests
Reading List and Required Readings:
References Bovee, Courtland L., and Thill, John V. “Business Communication Today, 12th Edition”,
Pearson Education, 2014 (BT)

Raimes, Ann, 2005. Keys for Writers. 4th Ed. Boston: Houghton Mufflin Company.

Supplementary Readings for Lecturers only:

Swales, John M. and Feak, Christine, B., 2004. Academic Writing for Graduate Students:
Essential Tasks and Skills, 2nd Ed. Michigan: University of Michigan Press

Marzano and Kendall, 2007, The New Taxonomy of Educational Objectives, 2 nd Edition.
California: Corwin Press.

Readings required related to the topics discussed above.


Date: ______________________ Course: ________________________
Student: ____________________________ Student Number: ________________
TRAIT Unsatisfactory
(1)
1. Introduction  No Topic or Key points is introduced or the
(individual introduction is irrelevant to the
essay present) presentation.
2. Content  The student has little or no understanding
of the content and demonstrate little or
no originality in the presentation.
3. Organization  Present information and ideas in a poorly
of developed logical sequence which
Presentation audience finds difficult to follow.
4. Visual Aids  The visual aids are poorly designed or they
are largely unrelated to the presentation
5. Voice  The students mumbles, incorrectly
(individual) pronounce terms, is not expressive.
6. Pace  Delivery is too fast or too lengthy and
(individual) there are inappropriate pauses that
distract the audience’s understanding.
7. Audience  The student has demonstrated only one or
Engagement none of the following attributes:
(individual) encourage interaction (telling stories, etc);
appropriate eye contact; poise and body
language.
Presentation Rubric
Rater: __________________________________
Rater Sign: ______________________________
Satisfactory
(2)
 Topic, Key points and purpose of the
presentation is introduced with clarity.
 The student has an adequate knowledge
of the content and demonstrated
originality (at times) in the presentation
 Present information and ideas in a
reasonable level of logical sequence
which audience can follow.
 The visual aids are well designed and
effectively support the presentation at
times
 The student has a clear voice, uses
mostly precise pronunciation and is
expressive at times.
 Delivery is slightly fast or slow and there
are occasional inappropriate pauses
during the presentation.
 The student has demonstrated two of
the following attributes: encourage
interaction (telling stories, etc);
appropriate eye contact; poise and body
language.
Exemplary Score
(3) (Max 3)
 Topic, Key points and purpose of the Notes /
presentation is introduced in a clear and Score
interesting way which captures the
audience’s attention.
 The student has a thorough knowledge of
the content and consistently
demonstrated originality in the
presentation.
 Present information and ideas in a logical
and interesting sequence which audience
can easily follow.
 The visual aids are well designed and
confidently used, which effectively
support the entire presentation
 The student has a clear voice, uses precise
pronunciation, and expressive throughout
the presentation.
 Presentation at a good pace without any
inappropriate pauses during the
presentation.
 The student has demonstrated all of the
following attributes: encourage
interaction (telling stories, etc);
appropriate eye contact; poise and body
language.
Total Score
Average Score

Date: ______________________ Course: ________________________
Student: ____________________________ Student Number: ________________
TRAIT Unsatisfactory
(1)
1. Focus/main idea Essay has no clear and specific main
idea (or has too many idea).
2. Organization of idea Idea is not presented in logical
sequence.
3. Quality of paragraph Most or all paragraphs are not well
developed, and/or they lack unity
and coherence.
4. Sentence structure Most sentences are not structured
well.
5. Language, spelling, Essay contains numerous errors in
and grammar language, spelling, and grammar.
6. Quality of argument Argument is not logic and/or not
adequately supported with
appropriate and relevant examples,
data/details, and references.
7. Compliance with the Has almost no reference or no
academic writing referencing system being used
rules
Writing Rubric
Rater: __________________________________
Rater Sign: ______________________________
Satisfactory
(2)
Essay has a clear main idea, but not
specific enough.
Idea is generally presented in logical
sequence with effective transition.
Most paragraphs are well
developed, and mostly have unity
and coherence.
In general, sentences are well
structured (effective).
Essay contains some errors but not
distracting.
Argument is developed logically,
while appropriate and relevant
support is just adequate.
Follows appropriate referencing
system for in-text citation and
bibliography, but some reference is
not properly written or placed.
Exemplary Score
(3) (Max 3)
Essay has a clear and specific main
idea (or thesis).
Idea is presented in logical
sequence with effective transition.
All paragraphs are well developed,
and they have unity and coherence.
Almost all sentences are well
structured (effective).
Essay is almost clear from language,
spelling, and grammar error.
Argument is developed logically and
mostly supported with appropriate
and relevant examples, data/details,
and references
Follows appropriate referencing
system for in-text citation and
bibliography
Total Score
Average Score