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. Halomoan Achmadi Ringoringo
2. Prita Hapsari
3. Dian Nastiti
4. Uswatun Hasanah
5. Ledi Trialdi
6. Miranti Kartika Dewi
7. Muthia Pramesti
8. Nurul Husnah
9. Arga Hananto
10. Agung Nugroho
11. Sonya Oktaviana
12. Dwi Widiastri
13. Wasilah
14. Agung Nugroho

Subject Code ECFE600004

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 their
Purposes 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.
 R R
Writing
Reading Skill
Skill
Thinking Skill

Oral
Listening Comprehension Analysis
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
those 4 skills are related
and how students are Assignment :Free Essay (Opinion
expected to be after essay about Communication – 5
completing the course
paragraphs / 2 pages)
2. Communication Process
 Why is communication
Due Date: Week 2
important?
 What is effective
communication?
 CommunicationModel
(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 Listening skill overview Submission: Free Essay Week 1 Material for
Reading Skill reading skill
Lecturers may use collaborative and Thinking
Thinking Skill learning or small group skill practice is
Analytical Thinking discussion for reading and available in the
- Matching (Compare thinking skill exercise in the class. Dropbox
& contrast)
Lecturer will act as facilitator to
- Classifying
- Analysis of error facilitate the discussion in the
- Generalization class.
- Specifying
Assignment: Working in group,
students need to answer the
following question: What does it
takes to be an entrepreneur? 
after analyzing some
entrepreneurs’ biography
Week# Topic and Sub Topic LO Assignment / Activity Reading
Materials

3 Class Discussion: Thinking a,b Lecturers make sure students Marzano

Skill have applied analytical thinking
Presentation from each group. steps in answering the question Other Critical
in week 2, and give feedback on Thinking
their analysis. resources
How to find reliable
literature/sources Lecturers introduce several types
of reliable source of information
Three Steps of Writing Process
- Planning, Writing, suitable for academic essay
Revising: What to do? reference (e.g. UI library
database, public data sources,
characteristics of good on-line
Types of Essay: Compare and information sources)
Contrast Essay, Opinion and
Argument Assignment:Students are
required to develop an idea
based on two or more sources of
information and apply thinking
skill to develop their own idea for
Draft Mid Term essay topic.

Feedback on Free Essay

Assignment:

- Idea and outline for Draft Mid

Term Essay (must also provide
at least two or more sources
of information)

4 Three Steps of Writing Process b Submission: Bovee

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

Week# Topic and Sub Topic LO Assignment / Activity Reading
Materials

5 Data commentary b Lecturer provide Swales

(Hedging/weaken statement) example(s)/illustration of data
commentary writing
i. Reducing likelihood styles/techniques (from
ii. Softening subtopic)
generalization
iii. Using weaker verbs
iv. Combining hedging Submission:Draft Mid Term Essay
methods (with temporary reference list)

Active lecturing

Assignment: Writing Data

Commentary

Due Date: Week 6

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

Plagiarism and some issues (session 6) on Final
with ethic in Academic writing Assignment
(how to use proper citation Feedback on Draft Mid Term
and quotation and Essay (session 7)
Swales
bibliography)
Active lecturing

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 4- 5 pages length (exclude bibliography and
attachment). 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.
Week# Topic and Sub Topic LO Assignment / Activity Reading
Materials

8 Communication in 21st b,c Active lecturing Swales

Century: Contemporary
business communication In-class exercise: writing a note
practices (notetaking exercise)

Feedback on Data Commentary

(if possible – via dropbox / scele)
By Guest Lecturer
Assignment:

Note Taking

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

(conceptual) Lecture presentation
 Applying three steps
in Presentation. Feedback on Data Commentary
 Non Verbal Aspects (if possible – via dropbox /
(gesture, eye contact, scele)
facial expression)
Students are asked to discuss Active lecturing
the topic for their final project
Small Group Discussion to
in a group: A Collaborative
prepare the collaborative
Special Report/ Campaign /
project. Students are asked to
Business Proposal
make timeline for their project
and brainstorm about the topic
for their group special report.

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)
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)
 Week# Topic and Sub Topic LO Assignment / Activity Reading
Materials

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

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

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
 and Learning Mid Term Essay 35% 50% V V
Activities Presentation (mid-term 20% 50%
% = Assessed for essay presentation)
AoL Final Project – Group 30% V V V

Student Study
Effort
Note Expected
Taking Class Contacts: (3(1)
Unsatisfactory credits) Satisfactory (2) 35 hours
Exemplary (3)
Lectures 15 hours
1 The application Neither Cornell's nor Mind-Mapping Note is properly written using either Note is perfectly written using either
. of note taking
Group work
method is used or the method is not Cornell's or Mind-Mapping method
5 hours
Cornell's or Mind-Mapping method
method usedPresentation
properly 15 hours
Other student study effort: 70 hours
2 Quality of note NotePreparation
is missing too many key points Note is written less efficiently and effectively: Note is written (almost) efficiently and
for project/assignment/tests
missing some key points or including too many
. content effectively
details
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.

Grading Rubrics
 Data
Unsatisfactory (1) Satisfactory (2) Exemplary (3)
Commentary
Trait 1. Element Elements of table/figure and data Almost all elements of table/figure and data All elements of table/figure and data
completeness commentary are mostly incomplete commentary are complete (3-5 elements) commentary are complete (6 elements)
(<3 elements)

Trait 2. Quality of Most HS are false or just All the HS are correct, but the last HS does not All the HS are correct and well-organized
highlighting restating the numbers. significantly lead to important/interesting with the last HS leads to important/
statements discussion interesting discussion.

Trait 3. Quality of There is no discussion, or the The discussion/argument is related to the last The discussion/argument is related to
discussion resulting argument is not related HS, but toospeculative. the last HS and also correct.
to the last HS.

Computer Lab Unsatisfactory (1) Satisfactory (2) Exemplary (3)

Trait 1. Work 0% work completeness/ submission work completeness/submission is >50% but 100% work completeness/
completeness/ <100% submission
submission
Trait 2. Quality of work All works are not effectively executed Almost all works are executed effectively All works are executed effective

Mid-Term Essay Unsatisfactory (1) Satisfactory (2) Exemplary (3)

1 Focus/main ide Essay has no clear and specific main Essay has a clear main idea, but not specific Essay has a clear and specific ma
. idea (or has too many idea). enough. idea (or thesis).

2 Organization of idea Idea is not presented in logical Idea is generally presented in logical Idea is presented in logical seque
. sequence. sequence with effective transition. with effective transition.

3 Quality of paragraph Most or all paragraphs are not well Most paragraphs are well developed, and All paragraphs are well develope
. developed, and/or they lack unity and mostly have unity and coherence. and they have unity and coheren
coherence.
4 Sentence structure Most sentences are not structured well. In general, sentences are well structured Almost all sentences are well
. (effective). structured (effective).
5 Language, spelling, Essay contains numerous errors in Essay contains some errors but not Essay is almost clear from langua
. and grammar language, spelling, and grammar. distracting. spelling, and grammar error.

6 Quality of argument Argument is not logic and/or not adequately supported Argument is developed logically, while Argument is developed logically and mostly
with appropriate and relevant examples, data/details, appropriate and relevant support is just supported with appropriate and relevant exam
. and references. data/details, and references
adequate.

7 Compliance with the Essay is not academically written and/or not Essay is mostly academically written and utilizing Essay is academically written and
using appropriate referencing system. appropriate referencing system, but some referencing
. academic writing rules mistakes prevail.
utilizing appropriate referencing
system.

5. Individual
Presentation Unsatisfactory (1) Satisfactory (2) Exemplary (3)

Trait 1 Introduction No topic or key points is introduced or Topic, key points and purpose of the Topic, key points and purpose of t
. the introduction is irrelevant to the presentation is introduced with clarity. presentation is introduced in a cle
presentation. and interesting way which captur
the audience’s attention.
Trait 2 Content The student has little or no The student has an adequate knowledge of The student has a thorough
. understanding of the content and the content and demonstrates originality knowledge of the content and
demonstrate little or no originality in (at times) in the presentation consistently demonstrates origina
the presentation. in the presentation.
Trait 3 Organization of The student presents information and The student presents information and ideas The student presents information
. presentation ideas in a poorly developed logical in a reasonable level of logical sequence ideas in a logical and interesting
sequence which audience finds difficult which audience can follow. sequence which audience can eas
to follow. follow.
Trait 4 Visual aids The visual aids are poorly designed, or The visual aids are well designed, and they The visual aids are well designed
. they are largely unrelated to the effectively support the presentation at confidently used, and they effecti
presentation times support the entire presentation
Trait 5 Voice The student mumbles, incorrectly The student has a clear voice, uses mostly The student has a clear voice, use
. pronounce terms, is not expressive. precise pronunciation and is expressive at precise pronunciation, and expre
times. throughout the presentation.
Trait 6 Pace Delivery is too fast or too lengthy and Delivery is slightly fast or slow and there Presentation at a good pace with
. there are inappropriate pauses that are occasional inappropriate pauses during any inappropriate pauses during t
distract the audience’s understanding. the presentation. presentation.
Trait 7 Audience The student has demonstrated only one The student has demonstrated two of the The student has demonstrated al
. engagement or none of the following attributes: following attributes: encourage interaction the following attributes: encourag
encourage interaction (telling stories, (telling stories, etc.); appropriate eye interaction (telling stories, etc.);
etc.); appropriate eye contact; poise contact; poise and body language. appropriate eye contact; poise an
and body language. body language.
Group Project Unsatisfactory (1) Satisfactory (2) Exemplary (3)

1 Media chosen The media used to deliver the message might not The media used to deliver the message might The media used to deliver the messag
. for delivering effectively reach the expected audience effectively reach the expected audience would effectively reach the expected
project output audience

2 Design of Project output design is not suited to the expected Project output is well designed (mostly suited to Project output is well designed (suite
. project output audience the expected audience) but less organized the expected audience) and well
organized

3 Goal of the The output project and presentation show that the The output project and presentation show that The output project and presentation
. project intended goal is less significant and/or not realistic the intended goal is fairly significant and realistic that the intended goal is significant an
realistic

4 Presentation The visual aids are poorly designed or they are The visual aids are well designed and they The visual aids are well designed and
. visualization largely unrelated to the presentation effectively support the presentation at times confidently used, and they effectively
support the entire presentation

5 Presentation The delivery of presentation is ineffective The delivery of presentation is effective but less The delivery of presentation is well
. delivery interesting or less organized organized, effective and interesting