Description

This course introduces a rhetorical approach to the techniques and types of communication in professional contexts, including correspondence and reports. Designed to strengthen skills in effective business and professional communication in oral and written modes across multiple media. Prepares students to write professionally for audiences within and outside a corporation or nonprofit enterprise.

Rationale

Business and professional communication enable functional workplaces. Effective communication practices enable effective and efficient function of workplaces. This course focuses attention on researching and developing business and professional communication practices that focus on audience, message, and purpose along with media (print, online, video) and modality (spoken, written, combination). Students who succeed in this class will be better workplace communicators, capable of managing communication tools and techniques to help ensure effective workplace function.

Course Format

This course is taught entirely online and asynchronously. If you’ve not encountered the term “asynchronous” as it relates to online learning, it means that you complete the course at your pace (within certain parameters, like semester length and specific due dates). Optional office hour sessions will be held on Thursday evenings via Zoom, which you are encouraged but not required to attend.

Objectives & Outcomes

• Understand how the origins of business, professional & technical communication instruction inform current research & practice
• Recognize & identify disciplinary boundaries
• Engage in effective workplace communication, applied in real-world scenarios
• Respond effectively to a job announcement with appropriate application materials
• Compose effective and persuasive written, visual, and oral texts for diverse audiences
• Use technology to effectively present your messages
• Conduct research using a broad range of sources
• Communicate ethically
• Practice writing a variety of workplace genres including resumes, letters, emails, memos, proposals, and reports
• Collaborate effectively with peers

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