Course Module Guide

Academic and Business English 2.2

Information Technology
Course Code: 1911IN215A
Academic Year: 2024 -2025
Lecturer: Bukola Breczinski

Copyright 2024, Hogeschool Inholland, Haarlem.

Contents
1. Introduction (p. 2)
2. Study load (p. 2)
3. Competencies (p. 3)
4. Learning goals (p. 3)
5. Weekly schedule (p. 3)
6. Examination (p. 4)
7. Appendices (p. 5 - 8)

1. Introduction
Welcome to the module, Academic and Business English Year 2. The core aim of this
module is to help you further develop your professional communication skills in English
within an international environment.

This module is run in coordination with the Haarlem Festival project meaning that you
will have hands-on opportunities to improve your spoken and written English skills in
reference to the requirements of the project. In the workshops scheduled throughout the
module, we will work on academic grammar and writing, business correspondence,
project documentation, management summaries, and presentation skills.

During the seminars, you will be provided with the necessary information, materials, and
language instruction that will hopefully enable you to produce professional quality
written and spoken English. The sessions will be interactive with plenty of opportunities
for practice and to ask questions.

2. Study load
This consists of 7 weeks (per term) of weekly 90-minute lessons.
● Course credit – 2 EC
● Method of assessment is as follows:
○ 60%: Final Presentation (Haarlem Festival Project) (Individual & Group
Grading)

2
 ○ 40%: Management Summary (Individual Writing & Group Grading)
■ 5,5 pass mark

3. Competencies
Expresses him/herself effectively, orally and in writing, using correct, understandable
and appropriate language. Is able to communicate effectively with people in various
positions/roles. (6.4.1 and 6.4.3)

4. Learning goals
The following areas will be covered:
● Writing professional texts, using academic and business language.
● Using the editing process to improve written work.
● Applying effective presentation skills for a formal or professional environment.
● Learning useful techniques for writing short form business texts such as written
correspondences and long form business texts such as report writing.
● Implementing correct usage of academic grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation,
and punctuation.

In preparation for the final project presentation, students will practice their presentation
skills and receive feedback during the lessons. The project group is responsible for
preparing the final presentation. Writing skills will be practiced by focusing on business
correspondence and report writing techniques related to the term’s project.

For details on how the course is assessed, see Appendix I - III.

5. Weekly schedule
Please be aware that the course requires active participation. Active participation is a
crucial and valuable part of the module; therefore, it is important to keep up with the
weekly tasks and not to miss classes. Exact deadlines of assignments and
homework will be announced in class.

Week 1 ● Course introduction

3
 ● Grammar: Conditional Verbs
● Academic/Business Writing: Applying Business English Conditional Verb
Forms

Week 2 ● Grammar: Regular and Irregular Present Tense Verbs

● Academic/Business Writing: Writing FAQs (questions and answers)

Week 3 ● Grammar: Complex sentence structure

● Academic/Business Writing: Using clauses and conjunctions to write a
project documentation for the Haarlem Festivali Project.

Week 4 ● Report Writing Techniques: Outlining, crafting topic sentences, and

organizing Haarlem Festival Management Summary.

Week 5 ● Report Writing Techniques: Using transitional words and phrases. Editing
and revising Haarlem Festival Management Summary for appropriate and
professional grammar, vocabulary, punctuation, and spelling.

Week 6 ● Presenting Skills: Outlining, organizing, and scripting a professional

presentation. Introductions, Conclusions, and Transitional Language.
● Presentation Skills: Verbal and non-verbal best practices for professional
group presentations.

*Attending this workshop is part of the Final Presentation Examination Grade.

Week 7 ● Haarlem Festival Group Presentation Practice

○ Applying verbal and no-verbal presentation skills
○ Asking and answering questions
*Attending this workshop is part of the Final Presentation Examination Grade.
NB: This schedule is subject to change at the discretion of the lecturer. Keep an
eye on Moodle for more information.

6. Examination
For this module, the examination is a Final Presentation and submission of a
Management Summary tied to your Haarlem Festival Project where your individual and
group efforts will contribute to your final grade. For more information, see the
appendices below:

Appendix I

4
 FINAL PRESENTATION ASSESSMENT FORM

Group Number: Group Members:

Date:

Group Assessment Criteria

Preparation/Workshop 0-15p Score Comments

Attendance, Content,
Organization

Content is in line with the

assignment and meets all its
requirements;
the presentation is well-organized 0-3
and easy to follow;
the length is appropriate.

Effective introduction (hook, topic,

overview); clearly structured and
defined subtopics.
0-3
Smooth ending, including a review
of major points and a concluding
statement.

Points are demonstrated clearly and

0-3
effectively.

Visual aids are well-structured,

attractive, provide additional
information, and have been
effectively used.
0-3
Text has been written in correct
English; all information included is
in English.

All team members attended

workshop 6 & 7 to prepare and
practice the presentation. Team
0-3
members show a professional
attitude, and the presentation is a
coherent team effort.

5
Subtotal

Individual Assessment Criteria

Student:
Delivery and presentation skills 0-25p Score Comments

Delivery:
- speaker is enthusiastic and
demonstrates a professional
attitude; 0-5
- presents the content in a clear and
structured way;
- presents without reading notes.

Non-verbal communication:
- appropriate and effective eye
contact, gestures, and body 0-5
movements;
- effective use of visual aids.

Vocabulary and grammar:

- appropriate terminology and
register;
0-5
- appropriate and effective use of
grammatical structures;
- effective use of cohesive devices.

Fluency and coherence:

- overall fluency;
absence of vocalized pauses;
0-5
- appropriate pronunciation, word
stress, and intonation;
- pacing and volume.

Credibility:
- speaker is well-prepared and
convincing;
- speaker plays an active role in the
presentation; 0-5
- speaker is familiar with all aspects
of the presentation;
- answers questions responsively.

6
 Subtotal

Total score = 0-40 p, Pass ≥ 22p Final mark = (team score + individual score) x 2,5

Team score Individual score Total score Grade

Lecturer’s Notes:

Appendix II

MANAGEMENT SUMMARY ASSESSMENT RUBRIC

Each group member will write one or more sections of the Management Summary. The
Management Summary will be graded as a whole. The grade the group receives is the grade
each individual group member will receive. Make sure to review and edit team members’
sections as needed based on best practices addressed in the workshops.

Group Number: Group members:

Date:

Content Communication Organization Language Grammar

All content is relevant The conventions of the Text is well-organized A wide range of A wide range of
to the task; the reader task have been met and coherent. vocabulary has been grammatical forms are
is fully informed. with flexibility and used with precision. used with precision.
5 sophistication.
The project is fully and Spelling errors are Punctuation errors are
effectively described absent or minimal. absent or minimal.
and analyzed.

Content is generally The conventions of the Text is well-organized, A wide range of A wide range of
relevant to the task; the task have been met; with minor errors. vocabulary has been grammatical forms
reader is informed of all complex ideas have used with occasional have been used with
4 major points. been expressed. errors in usage. occasional errors in
application.
The project is generally Spelling errors are
described; analysis minimal. Punctuation errors are
shows engagement. minimal.

Minor omissions and/ The conventions of the Text is generally A range of Text is generally free
or irrelevances are task have generally coherent. vocabulary, with of grammatical errors;
present; the reader is been met; ideas are some less common some flexibility is
3 generally informed. both complex and lexis, has been used. displayed.

7
 straightforward.
The project is Occasional spelling Occasional
summarized and some errors present. punctuation errors
analysis is present. present.

Misinterpretations of The conventions of the Text is poorly A range of everyday Text includes
the task are present; task are not organized and lacks vocabulary has been occasional
the reader is minimally consistently met; only structure. used. grammatical errors;
2 informed. straightforward ideas only simple or basic
and expressed. Spelling errors are forms are used.
The project is broadly frequent.
summarized. Punctuation errors are
frequent.

Content is not relevant The conventions of the Text is disorganized Vocabulary is limited Frequent grammatical
to the task. task have not been and difficult to follow. and/ or misused. errors are present and
met. impeding.
1 The reader is not Language errors
informed. impede Punctuation errors are
communication. impeding.

Lecturer’s Notes: