Summer 2021 — COMM 205: BUSINESS COMMUNICATION SYLLABUS
COURSE OUTLINE
JOHN MOLSON SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
COMM 205: BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
Winter 2023
GENERAL INFORMATION
Course Instructor:
Class Day(s), Time Slot and Location:
Office Hours:
Email:
R. Soroka, MBA, JD
Tuesdays, 14:45-17:30, MB S1.430
By appointment
Robert.soroka@concordia.ca
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course focuses on the principles and techniques of clear, concise, and effective, written and oral
communication, especially as they apply to business. The formal, grammatical, and stylistic elements
of written and oral business communication are emphasized. In addition, students are instructed in
and experience the use of audiovisual means of communication. Students who have received credit
for COMM 212 may not take this course for credit (2022 – 2023 Undergraduate Calendar).
COURSE OBJECTIVES
1.
2.
3.
4.
Explain key communication theories, business trends, and cultural dimensions that shape
ethical business communication in globalized and digital business environments.
Use business communication strategies, processes, tools and knowledge of communication
theories, business trends, and cultural dimensions to analyze, evaluate, compose, and deliver
business communication messages.
Demonstrate an ability to work collaboratively and independently in diverse business settings.
Use research, analytical, and critical thinking skills to develop effective written, verbal, and
non-verbal communication messages.
KEY SKILLS:
• Communicating with two important internal and external stakeholders: Executives and
Customers
• Teamwork
• Oral presentations / Selling / Pitching
• Intercultural communications
• Basics of Interviewing / Employment Communication
COURSE MATERIAL
Meyer, C. (2020). Communicating for Results: A Canadian Student's Guide (5th Edition). Oxford
University Press.
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Summer 2021 — COMM 205: BUSINESS COMMUNICATION SYLLABUS
The e-text is available at Concordia Book Stop, https://www.bkstr.com/concordiastore
COURSE DELIVERY
1. Classes consist of weekly lectures and hands on workshops. Students are expected to participate
in class in informed and respectful ways and engage in a semester-long business communications
group project.
2. Course content and information is posted in Moodle, and students can access them through the
MyConcordia portal. Students are expected to check Moodle regularly.
3. Slides used for this course complement class material and lectures and are not a comprehensive
summary of the textbook. Students are expected to complete the weekly assigned readings
before class.
COURSE SCHEDULE
Class
1
Jan. 10
2
Jan. 17
3
Jan. 24
Key Topics
Course Overview
Readings
Course Outline
Issues and Trends in Professional Communication
Communicating in the Current Workplace
Teamwork
Ethical Communication
Chapter 1
Getting the Message Across
The Communication Process
Non-Verbal Communication
Cross-Cultural Communication
Chapter 2
Getting Started: Planning, Writing and Revising
Business Messages
Steps in the Writing Process
Collaborative Writing
Chapter 3
Business Style: Word Choice, Conciseness and Tone Chapter 4
Business Style: Sentences and Paragraphs
Chapter 5
Memorandums, E-mail, and Routine Messages
Chapter 6
TEAM FORMATION
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Summer 2021 — COMM 205: BUSINESS COMMUNICATION SYLLABUS
4
Jan. 31
Routine and Goodwill Messages
Goodwill Messages
Letter Formats
Chapter 7
Informal Reports
Introduction to Report Writing
Chapter 11
Proposals and Formal Reports
Elements of Formal Proposals
Researching and Collecting Data
Elements of Formal Reports
Works Cited/References
Chapter 12
Delivering Unfavourable News
Indirect Writing Plan for Bad News Messages
Types of Bad News Messages
TEAM WRITTEN MEMO REPORT DUE
Chapter 8
6
Feb. 14
Persuasive Messages
Writing Persuasively
Sales Messages
Persuasion through social media
Chapter 9
7
Feb. 21
Oral Communication
Oral Presentations
Meetings
TEAM WRITTEN PROPOSAL DUE
Chapter 13
8
Mar. 7
Communicating for Employment
Analyzing Your Career Goals and Qualifications
Writing Persuasive Resumes
Preparing a Persuasive Cover Letter
Jobs Interviews
Chapter 10
9
Mar. 14
Social Media and Mobile Communications
Types of Social Media
The Risks and Challenges of Social Media
Mobile Communications
Chapter 14
5
Feb. 7
10
Mar. 21
PRESENTATIONS
11
Mar. 28
12
Apr. 4
13
Apr. 11
PRESENTATIONS
PRESENTATIONS
Review for Final Exam
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Summer 2021 — COMM 205: BUSINESS COMMUNICATION SYLLABUS
GRADE DISTRIBUTION
Assignment
Individual assignment designed by instructor
Weight Due Date
15% As assigned by instructor
Team written assignment:
1. Two-page informational industry memo
report
2. Five-page formal written proposal (plus front
and end matter) to external stakeholders
30% Class # 5 & 7
Team presentation project (*individually graded)
15% Class #10, 11, 12
Class participation
10% Semester Long
Comprehensive final exam
(Common for all sections)
30% End of Semester
10%
20%
COURSE ASSESSMENTS
1. INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT (15%)
The instructor determines one or more individual assignments; sets their guidelines, due dates, and
grading rubrics; and posts them on Moodle by the beginning of the second week of the semester.
2. GROUP PROJECT – GROUP WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT (30%) AND GROUP PRESENTATION (15%)
In a semester long project, in groups of five or six, students will gather, select, evaluate, document,
and integrate information from various sources to develop effective written and verbal business
messages. Students will choose an existing local or global business or organization and report on the
effectiveness of its external communication channels, such as website, social media, annual report,
pamphlets, billboard signs, etc., in getting the business’s message across.
In this endeavor, students will work collaboratively to choose an existing local or global business or
organization; research its industry; write a proposal that describes a business/industry problem or
opportunity; and deliver a presentation on how the external communication channels of the business
should address this problem or opportunity. The trends that you choose to address in your project,
may include, but are not limited to, the following topics:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Sustainability
Ethical communications
Workplace diversity/ globalization
Communications in highly competitive markets
Digital communications or how technology is shaping industries and communication
Stakeholders’ engagement in dynamic business environments.
Students may focus their projects on local businesses, university and not for profit organizations, or
student led societies or businesses. Following is an example of a project done in the past (you cannot
use the below example for your project):
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Summer 2021 — COMM 205: BUSINESS COMMUNICATION SYLLABUS
Walt Disney: An American multinational multimedia and entertainment business. The students’
industry analysis report demonstrated that in the entertainment industry the number of women
directors are significantly less than men directors; hence, the formal unsolicited proposal to the business
focused on how encouraging women directors would help Walt Disney achieve its business goals and the
need for Disney to address this issue. Students delivered their final presentation on how Walt Disney
can use its external communication channels to encourage women to become movie directors.
GROUP WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS (30%):
INDUSTRY ANALYSIS MEMO (10%) AND FORMAL UNSOLICITED PROPOSAL TO EXTERNAL
STAKEHOLDERS (20%)
1. TWO-PAGE INDUSTRY ANALYSIS MEMO REPORT (10%)
A short informational report is a common communication tool in any workplace. The audience of an
informational report is usually neutral towards the topic; hence, informational reports follow the
direct writing approach.
Task
Drawing on at least four secondary research sources, define and research the industry within
which the business or organization you chose for your formal proposal and group presentation
operates. Compose a two-page memo report to your instructor on one or two trends,
challenges, opportunities, and/or risks that shape this industry, and cite your sources
using APA documentation style. This industry research will provide you with a wealth of
information that you can draw on to identify challenges, risks, and/or opportunities to focus on
in your formal proposals and group presentations.
Because this assignment feeds into the formal proposal and team presentation assignments, you
may want to agree with your team members on the business that you will be focusing on for
your team presentation before starting to work on this assignment.
Content
Since your task is to write a two-page memo, you will need to decide on what you want the memo to
focus on (a two-page memo is too short to include everything about the industry); for example, the
memo may focus on competition within the industry, or on a specific trend within the industry, like a
sustainability trend for instance. Following are some questions that you may choose to answer in
your report:
• What are the trends within this industry? If so, you may choose a trend to focus on in the report.
• Is it a highly competitive industry? If so, you may choose to focus your report on the fiercest
competition.
• What are the challenges that the industry needs to overcome? You may choose to focus on a
particular challenge facing the industry.
• What are the opportunities that the industry can capitalize on? You may choose to focus on a
particular opportunity.
• What are the risks that the industry needs to mitigate? You may choose to focus on a particular risk.
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Summer 2021 — COMM 205: BUSINESS COMMUNICATION SYLLABUS
• What are the standards of communications within this industry? You may focus your report on
communication within the industry.
• Who are the major stakeholders in this industry? You may focus your memo on the most influential
stakeholders in the industry.
• Is it a growing, shrinking, or stable industry? You may focus your memo on the state of the
industry.
Document Design
•
•
•
Times New Roman typeface with 11 – 12 – point type for body text
For spacing, use single space between lines and double space between paragraphs.
Follow the conventional memo format – see memo format in figure 11.3, pg. 411 in class
textbook, Communicating for Results, fifth edition
Below are some points to remember:
➢ Put your initials next to your name in the guided headings – memos are not usually signed.
➢ Use guided headings (Date, to, from, and subject).
➢ Guide the reader through your document by using headings and bulleted lists where
appropriate.
Style and Mechanics
Business writing revolves around getting work done and enhancing the image and credibility of both
the writer and his or her organization. Accordingly, do not use jargon; if you absolutely need to use
jargon, please explain it. Since the report is directed to your instructor (equivalent to a manager in a
business situation), the report should adopt a formal upward tone and use active voice, unless passive
voice is needed for strategic reasons. Students are expected to revise their grammar and word choice
for accuracy and appropriateness.
Organization
Use the direct writing plan – see pg. 212 in class textbook, Communicating for Results, fifth
edition; the introduction of the memo needs to forecast the topic for your audience — it is the road
map for your document, the body should include your research findings, and the conclusion should
have the main points that you want to leave the reader with.
Research
• All claims need to be substantiated – drawing on secondary research
• All sources are to be cited using APA documentation system (a two-part documentation system)
• Sources need to be credible
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Summer 2021 — COMM 205: BUSINESS COMMUNICATION SYLLABUS
Rubric
COMM 205 graders will use a standard rubric to ensure effective learning and feedback. Each
category in the rubric is given a mark out of ten, which corresponds to Concordia University’s
official grading scheme, with the total report mark being out of 50. The grade is then scaled out of
100. See Written Communication Feedback rubric in Appendix 1.
2. FIVE-PAGE FORMAL UNSOLICITED PROPOSAL TO EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS (20%)
An unsolicited proposal is a tool to win new projects and business. It defines a problem and
outlines what will be done, by whom, over what time frame, and at what cost. For this assignment,
students will develop proposals to get hired (hypothetically) to deliver presentations on the external
communications of existing businesses or organizations of their choices. Because this assignment
feeds into the team presentation assignment, students may agree with their team members on the
business or organization that they wish to write the proposal for.
Your formal proposals will include front and end matter. To complete this assignment, consult pg.
433 – 442 in your class textbook, Communicating for Results, fifth edition.
Task
Your task is to write a five-page unsolicited proposal — plus front and end matter — to persuade
your chosen business or organization to hire you as a communication consultant. In this proposal you
will demonstrate to your potential client the benefits of hiring you to come up with recommendations
on the business’s external communications. To accomplish this task, your unsolicited proposal needs
to identify a problem, an opportunity, or a risk; show its importance to the business; and
demonstrate your ability to address the problem through external communications in an end of
semester group presentation. To complete this assignment students may draw on information from
their industry analysis memo reports.
Content
1. Background of your chosen business
2. The environment and industry in which the business or organization operates
3. The problem/opportunity that you will address in the final presentation
4. The scope of your work — what your work will cover; for example, if your chosen business
is Air Canada the scope of your work could be limited to all the external communications of
Air Canada Rouge, or the social media communications of Air Canada Rouge.
5. The methods that you will deploy to analyze and evaluate the external communication
channels of your client’s business, including criteria for evaluation (evaluation criteria may
include the AIDA model, or any other criteria relevant to the business and its industry).
6. The time frame over which you will complete your project (from the start of the project until
you come up with recommendations on the external communications of your client —
implementation time is not required unless requested by your instructor)
7. The cost of hiring you which will include any costs that you incur to conduct your work as
well as your fees (the cost that the business will incur to implement the recommendations is
not required unless requested by your instructor)
8. The credentials that qualify you to perform the task.
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Summer 2021 — COMM 205: BUSINESS COMMUNICATION SYLLABUS
* To demonstrate your credibility, you will need to document at least four secondary sources using
APA documentation style and ALL claims need to be substantiated.
Content Tips:
➢ Since this is an unsolicited proposal, the focus of the document is to show that your client is
facing a real problem that needs to be addressed, that you understand the industry and the
business, and that you are capable of developing sound recommendations if hired.
➢ All content needs to be relevant to the problem you have identified; in other words, all the
proposal parts (including the industry analysis and background of business sections) have to
feed into the problem identified in the proposal.
Organization
• Each part of the proposal should be performing its function; for example, the introduction needs
to introduce purpose, need, scope, and forecast document
• Paragraphs need topic sentences
• Paragraphs should include transition sentences and words
• The order in which information is introduced needs to support argument/content
Document Design
The design of your proposal needs to show professionalism by including front and end matter.
Front and end matter include:
• Cover page
• Title page
• Letter of transmittal
• Executive Summary
• Table of Contents and list of Illustrations
• References
• Appendices
*For more details on Elements of Formal Proposals, consult pg. 438 of the textbook.
Other Design Elements
•
•
•
•
Times New Roman Typeface with 11 – 12point type for body text.
Singles space between lines
Double space between paragraphs
No need to indent paragraphs
Design Tips:
•
•
Design elements that enhance readability include headings, footnotes, and appropriate
formatting of specific elements of the proposal
Incorporate figures and images to support and clarify argument
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Summer 2021 — COMM 205: BUSINESS COMMUNICATION SYLLABUS
•
Use meaningful titles and headings: talking or combination headings are appropriate for
direct writing strategies.
• Ensure design consistency
• Use parallelism were appropriate
• Use bulleted lists were appropriate
Style and Mechanics
Since the proposal addresses the client, a formal, unbiased, and jargon free tone that draws on facts
and research will convey your professionalism and establish your credibility. Students are expected
to revise their grammar and word choice for accuracy and appropriateness.
Research
•
•
•
All claims need to be substantiated
All sources are to be cited using APA documentation system (a two-part documentation
system)
Sources need to be credible
Rubric
COMM 205 graders will use a standard rubric to ensure effective learning and feedback. Each
category in the rubric is given a mark out of ten, which corresponds to Concordia University’s
official grading scheme, with the total report mark being out of 30. The grade is then scaled out of
100. See Written Communication Feedback rubric in Appendix 1.
3. TEAM PRESENTATION PROJECT (15%)
In groups of five or six, students will deliver 20 minutes presentations on the external
communications of existing businesses or organizations of their choices, followed by 5-10 minutes Q
& A sessions.
Task
You will be communication consultants presenting the findings of your analysis and
recommendations to your chosen business or organization. Each group will analyze and evaluate the
external communications of a business of their choice and report on how the business uses its
external communications to get its messages across. In the presentation students will make
recommendations on the external communications of the business to help the business mitigate
risks, capitalize on opportunities, and/or overcome challenges that were outlined in the Formal
Proposals. To complete this assignment, students will draw on information from their industry
analysis memo report and proposal assignments.
Content
To effectively analyze the external communications of your chosen business, you will need to
identify the business’s vision, mission, goals, and stakeholders; research the industry within which
the business operates (done as part of Industry Analysis Memo); and determine the business’s main
messages to each of its stakeholders — the messages that capitalize on opportunities, mitigate risks,
and/or overcome challenges. The industry research will help you understand the challenges this
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Summer 2021 — COMM 205: BUSINESS COMMUNICATION SYLLABUS
business faces, the opportunities it can capitalize on, the risks it needs to mitigate, and the trends that
shape it.
Components of the Presentation:
• Purpose of presentation
• Scope of work
• Methods that you used to analyze the external communication channels of your client
• Background of your chosen business
• The environment in which the business operates (industry research)
• Problem/challenge/opportunity that the presentation addresses
• The analysis of the external communication channel/s of the business
• Recommendations on the business’s external communication channels
The recommendations that the team develops need to address a clear opportunity, challenge, risk,
and/or trend; for example, if your client’s challenge is that the business is operating in a highly
competitive industry in which it needs to stand out, then your task will be to develop
recommendations on the external communication channels of the business to ensure that the
business stands out through its external communications. Your evaluation of the external
communication channels of your client’s business may, however, reveal that all the client’s
communication channels are doing a great job in communicating the differentiating point of your
client’s business, and in this case your task would be to demonstrate how these external
communication channels are doing a good job
External communication channels include, but are not limited to, the following:
•
Annual reports
•
Websites
•
Brochures
•
Billboards
•
TV and radio advertisement
•
Signage
•
Social media
•
Receipts
•
Any form of communication it uses to communicate with stakeholders from outside the organization.
Style and Mechanics
Since the presentation addresses the client, a formal, unbiased, and jargon free tone that draws on
facts and research will convey your professionalism and establish your credibility. Students are
expected revise their grammar and word choice for accuracy and appropriateness.
Design
Use your knowledge from COMM 205 to create attractive presentation visuals and develop a sound
argument that help make your point, engage your audience, and get buy in for your
recommendations. Visuals may include PowerPoint slides, Prezi, or other forms of visuals approved
by your instructor.
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Summer 2021 — COMM 205: BUSINESS COMMUNICATION SYLLABUS
Rubric
COMM 205 graders will use a standard rubric to ensure effective learning and feedback. Each
category in the rubric is given a mark out of 5 with the total presentation mark being out of 25. The
grade is then scaled out of 100. See Presentation Feedback rubric in Appendix 2.
Due Date and Attendance
A copy of your group’s presentation visuals is due 24 hours before the day of the presentation. The
rules for late assignments are detailed on page 11 (this page) of the course outline. The instructor
will determine the sequence of presentation for the teams during Sessions 10, 11, and 12 and advise
the class by Session 8.
Students are expected to attend all presentations and actively participate in the Q&A sessions. 1% of
the total course grade will be deducted for every presentation missed without a valid reason.
Peer Evaluations
A Peer Evaluation Form is due at the beginning of Session 13. Each student assesses the contribution
of all team members to the presentation. At the discretion of the instructor an individual’s grade for
the team project may be adjusted based upon the Peer Evaluations and associated evidence submitted
— students are encouraged to maintain paper trails (emails, messages, etc.….) to support their
evaluation. A 2% of the total course grade will be deducted for every peer evaluation that is not
completed on time.
4. CLASS PARTICIPATION (10%)
Students are expected to prepare for class by reading assigned textbook material and being ready to
discuss the material and work on class activities. Class participation will include specific activities
that will be assessed by virtue of (i) effort and (ii) acumen. As members of this class, students are
expected to be responsible for their actions and interactions.
5. COMPREHENSIVE FINAL EXAM (30%)
At the end of the semester, students will write a comprehensive exam common for all sections. The
exam may include multiple choice questions, short report style questions, and case studies. Paper
dictionaries and thesauruses are permitted in the final exam.
NOTE ON DUE DATES
All written assignments are due within the first 10 minutes of class, and late assignments (without a
valid excuse) will be penalized 10% per day up to a maximum of three days, after which the
assignment’s grade is zero
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Summer 2021 — COMM 205: BUSINESS COMMUNICATION SYLLABUS
NOTE ON ASSIGNMENT ORIGINALITY CHECK
Urkund / Ouriginal
For some of your assignments, your professor may use the software Urkund / Ouriginal. It uses text
matching technology as a method to uphold the University’s high academic integrity standards to
detect any potential plagiarism. Urkund / Ouriginal is integrated into Moodle. For the assignments set
up to use Urkund / Ouriginal, the software will review your paper when you upload it to Moodle. To
learn more about Urkund’s privacy policy please review Privacy Policy.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
The Code of Conduct (Academic) at Concordia University states that the "integrity of University
academic life and of the degrees, diplomas and certificates the University confers is dependent upon
the honesty and soundness of the instructor-student learning relationship and, in particular, that of
the evaluation process. As such, all students are expected to be honest in all of their academic
endeavours and relationships with the University." (Undergraduate Calendar, section 17.10.1)
All students enrolled at Concordia are expected to familiarize themselves with the contents of this Code. You
are strongly encouraged to visit https://www.concordia.ca/students/academic-integrity.htmlwhich provides
useful information about proper academic conduct. Make sure to take the Academic Integrity Test if you have
not done it already.
ACADEMIC RESEARCH
Academic research implies seeking out the most authoritative information on a given subject. In
order to assist you in this process, Concordia University Libraries offer a comprehensive business
research collection, which goes well beyond what you can find through Google or Wikipedia. The
successful student will quickly learn to get the most from the resources available through
Concordia University Libraries, including full‐text article databases as well as databases containing
market reports and statistics, all available electronically on or off campus.
To get the most from the Library for your class, use the Business Research Portal:
https://www.concordia.ca/library/guides/business.html.
For research assistance (phone, chat, email or in-person), please visit:
http://library.concordia.ca/help/questions.
Writing Assistance Program
http://www.concordia.ca/students/success/learning-support/writing-assistance.html.
APA Citation Guide
https://library.concordia.ca/help/citing/apa.php
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Summer 2021 — COMM 205: BUSINESS COMMUNICATION SYLLABUS
GRADING SYSTEM
Concordia University follows a letter grade reporting system. At the end of the term, your instructor
will assign you an overall numerical course grade based on your performance in the course, and then
convert it to the corresponding letter grade. Following is a table that shows the numerical equivalents
for the letter grades that will be reported at the end of the term.
Outstanding
Numerical
Grade
90-100%
85-89%
80-84%
Letter
Grade
A+
A
A-
Very Good
Numerical
Grade
77-79%
73-76%
70-72%
Letter
Grade
B+
B
B-
Satisfactory
Numerical Letter
Grade
Grade
67-69%
C+
63-66%
C
60-62%
C-
13
Marginal Pass
Numerical Letter
Grade
Grade
57-59%
D+
53-56%
D
50-52%
D-
Failure
Numerical Letter
Grade
Grade
<50%
FNS
Summer 2021 — COMM 205: BUSINESS COMMUNICATION SYLLABUS
Appendix 1: Written Communication Feedback Rubric
Document
Design
Outstanding
(8-10)
Very Good
(7-7.9)
Satisfactory
(6-6.9)
Marginal Pass
(5 – 5.9)
Does not achieve learning
outcomes < 5
Outstanding use of design elements to
enhance document’s readability, support
argument, and promote writer’s
credibility
Very good use of design elements to
enhance document’s readability, support
argument, and promote writer’s credibility;
minimal errors that do not affect users’
experiences; a maximum of one error that
does not affect users’ experiences
Satisfactory use of design elements to
enhance document’s readability, support
argument, and promote writer’s
credibility; few errors in document design;
a maximum of two errors
Some use of design elements to enhance
document’s readability, support argument,
and promote writer’s credibility; clear
errors in document design; from three to
five errors
Minimal use of design elements to
enhance document’s readability, support
argument, and promote writer’s
credibility; more than five errors
Uses appropriate format but with few
errors; a maximum of three errors
Uses appropriate format but with major
errors; from four to five errors
Consistent design with a few flaws; a
maximum of three errors
Inconsistent design that reflects poorly on Inconsistent design that reflects poorly on
document coherence; from four to five errors document coherence; more than five errors
Exceptionally follows appropriate
format
Content
Outstanding design consistency that
clearly enhances document coherence
Correctly follows appropriate format with
minimal errors that do not affect the
document; a maximum of two errors that
do not affect document
A maximum of one design error that
does not affect the document’s
readability and coherence
Consistent use of design elements;
a maximum of two errors
Content is exceptionally adapted to meet
audiences’ needs by using an appropriate
reader’s view attitude: “You View”
Clear purpose and exceptionally
articulated argument
Content is well adapted to meet audiences’ Attempts to adapt content to audience, but
needs by using an appropriate reader’s view misses some opportunities to address
attitude: “You View”
audiences’ needs and to adopt “You
View”
Clear purpose and wellarticulated argument
Purpose needs more clarity
Uses compelling, appropriate, and
relevant content
Content is relevant to subject and purpose;
missing minor parts
Some content is not relevant to subject
and/or purpose
Demonstrates an exceptional ability to
analyze and synthesize information
Demonstrates a good ability to analyze
and synthesize information
Demonstrates satisfactory ability to
analyze and synthesize information
All claims are supported by exceptionally
relevant and credible evidence; missing a
maximum of one supporting evidence
OrganizationOutstanding use of organization
strategies to achieve purpose and support
argument
Outstanding use of transitions to link
sentences and ideas; a maximum of one
ineffective or missing transition
Claims are mostly well supported with
relevant and credible evidence; missing a
maximum of two supporting evidence
Some claims are supported with relevant
and credible evidence; missing from three
to five supporting evidence
Very good use of organization strategies to
achieve purpose and support argument
Mostly uses appropriate organization
strategies to achieve purpose and support
argument
Very good use of transitions to link
sentences and ideas; a maximum of two
missing or ineffective transitions
Outstanding use of topic
sentences
Very good use of topic sentences; a
maximum of one missing or ineffective
topic sentence.
Outstanding use of introduction, body,
and conclusion to achieve purpose and
meet audiences’ needs.
Very good use of introduction, body, and
conclusion to achieve purpose and meet
audiences’ needs
Very good ability to organize to persuade.
Exceptional ability to organize to
Argument is well supported with the
persuade. Argument is exceptionally
supported with the order and grouping of order and grouping of content
content.
Clearly misses opportunities to adapt
content to audience;
mostly does not use “You View”
Does not use appropriate format (memo,
formal report, informal report, etc.….) and/or
has more than five errors
Does not attempt to adapt to audience
and use “You View”
Purpose is irrelevant to task
Unclear purpose
Content is mostly irrelevant to subject
and/ or purpose
Demonstrates minimal ability to analyze
and synthesize information
Claims are mostly not supported with
relevant and credible evidence; missing
from six to seven supporting evidence
Major errors in using appropriate
organization strategies to achieve purpose
and support argument
Content is irrelevant to subject and/ or
purpose
Does not demonstrate ability to analyze
and synthesize information
Claims are not supported with relevant
and credible evidence; missing more
than seven supporting evidence
Does not use appropriate organization
strategies to achieve purpose and support
argument (like using indirect writing
approach when the direct writing approach
is most effective)
Misses opportunities to link ideas and
sentences; missing from four to six effective
transitions
Mostly misses opportunities to link
ideas and sentences; missing more than
Many paragraphs do not have effective
six effective transitions
topic sentences; missing from three to
Most paragraphs have effective topic
five
effective
topic
sentences
sentences; a maximum of two missing or
Paragraphs do not have effective topic
ineffective topic sentences
sentences; missing more than five
The introduction, body, and conclusion do effective topic sentences
Satisfactory use of introduction, body, and not support purpose and meet audiences’
conclusion to achieve purpose and meet
needs; missing introduction or conclusion. Unclear structure; missing introduction and
audiences’ needs
conclusion and/or has an undefined body.
Misses opportunities to organize to
Satisfactory ability to organize to persuade. persuade. Order or grouping of content is
Unacceptable ability to organize to
Misses opportunities to support argument not clear
persuade. Order and grouping of content
through ordering and grouping of content
are not clear
Satisfactory use of transitions to link
ideas and sentences. Few missing
transitions; a maximum of three missing
effective transitions
Style and
Mechanics
Outstanding ability to communicate
precisely and concisely; a maximum
of one error
Some ability to communicate precisely and Does not demonstrate ability to
concisely; from four to five errors
communicate precisely and concisely;
more than five errors
Frequent use of biased language; from four to
Consistent use of bias-free language;
Mostly uses bias-free language; from two to five errors
Exceptional use of bias-free
Frequent use of biased language; more than
a maximum of one error
language
three errors
five errors.
Very good use of appropriate tone (formal,
Minimalistic use of appropriate tone
Satisfactory use of appropriate tone
Exceptional use of appropriate tone
(formal, informal, upward, etc.….); from Inappropriate tone (formal, informal,
informal, upward, etc.….); a maximum of
(formal, informal, upward, etc.….); a
(formal, informal, upward, etc.….);
four to five errors
two errors.
upward, etc.….); more than five
maximum of one error
from two to three errors
errors
Consistent use of active voice
Frequent use of passive voice (passive
Exceptional, consistent use of active voice (uses passive voice strategically); a maximum Inconsistent use of active voice (passive
voice is not used strategically); from
Frequent use of passive voice (passive
four to five errors.
voice is not used strategically); from two
(uses passive voice strategically)
of one error
voice is not used strategically); more
than five errors
to three errors
Exemplary use of punctuation
Very good use of punctuation and
Frequent punctuation and/or grammar
Few punctuation and/or grammar
and grammar; a maximum of one
grammar; a maximum of two errors.
errors; from four to five errors
Frequent punctuation and/or grammar
errors; a maximum of three errors
error
errors; more than five errors
Frequent typographical errors; from three to
Minimal typographical errors; a maximum of
Free of typographical errors
Frequent typographical errors; more than five
Occasional typographical errors; two to three five errors
one error
errors
errors
Research
Outstanding ability to draw on information Very good ability to draw on information
from various sources (five or more sources from various sources (at least four sources
are cited)
are cited)
Satisfactory ability to draw on
information from some sources (at least
three sources are cited)
Minimal ability to draw on information
from a few sources (one or two sources
are cited)
Unacceptable ability to draw on
information from literature. No sources
are cited.
Exemplary documentation of sources;
accurate use of APA documentation
style. Two-part documentation system
with in- text citations and entries in
references
Some major errors in APA
documentation. Two-part documentation
system with errors in in-text citations
and/or entries in references
Significant errors in APA documentation.
Does not follow the two-part
documentation system
No citations provided
Very good ability to communicate precisely
and concisely; a maximum of two errors
Minor errors in APA documentation.
Two-part documentation system with
minor errors in in-text citations and/or
entries in references
Satisfactory ability to communicate
precisely and concisely; from two to
three errors
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Appendix 2: Presentation Feedback Rubric
Presenters are evaluated on a scale from 1 to 5; a score of 1 indicates minimal achievement and a
score of 5 indicates an outstanding achievement.
Criteria
Organization
• Introduction grabs attention, introduces
purpose, and provides outline for presentation.
• Conclusion emphasizes main points, takehome messages, and reconnects to
opening/purpose.
• Body provides relevant details and
evidence
• Transitions, previews, and reviews
Score
Comments
Content
• Clear purpose
• Claims supported by evidence
• Word choice appropriate for audience and
topic
• Accurate information that is relevant for
purpose/message
• Addresses audiences at an appropriate level
• Jargon free
Delivery
• Audible voices
• Understandable and appropriate pace of speech
• Within the time limit
• Minimal use of filler words
Visual Aids
• Provide signposting
• Effective in making the point
• Consistent design
• Not distracting
• Graphs and images are clear, understandable,
and have titles and clear purposes
• Appropriate citation of content that is not
generated by presenters
• Legible text
• Appropriate choices of background and
text colours
Overall Impact
• Professional
• Achieves purpose
• Engaging
• Good logical flow
• Clear group coherence
Total Score (max. possible total score is 25)
15