Syllabus

Course Instructor

Dr, Mike Z. Yao

Office: Y7609

E-mail: mike.yao@cityu.edu.hk

Tel (O): 2788-9742

Tel (M): 9687-7803

Course Overview

Individuals who are most likely to be promoted and succeed have something in common: they are usually good communicators. They express ideas clearly and concisely; they listen actively; and they speak and write effectively. This course is intended to be a skill development course. It is designed for individuals who want to do the following: 

  • learn and practice principles essential to good oral and written communication

  • gain useful and pragmatic strategies for communicating in a variety of professional and academic situations

  • speak, write, and listen with increased confidence and competence

  • enhance leadership skills

  • develop personal presence and greater self-trust

  • learn in a supportive environment

 More specifically, this course will offer you a chance to learn and practice the following professional communication skills:  

  • research

  • information/data management

  • new media management

  • business writing

  • academic writing

  • business presentation

  • academic presentation

  • interview
Teaching Format
This course is designed around a three hour lecture/lab meeting per week and readings. In general, a 2 hour lecture will be given each week, followed by a 1 hour lab session. The lectures will focus on theoretical issues associated with various professional communications. The lab session will give you a chance to gain hands-on experience in using these skills. There is no exam! There will be eight assignments. Your grade for this class will be determined by your course participation and eight assignments.
Textbooks

REQUIRED READINGS 

       

Strunk, William. (2000). The elements of style (4th Ed.). Boston MA: Allyn and Bacon

 

Swales, John. (2004). Academic writing for graduate students: essential tasks and skills (2nd Ed.). Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press.

 

Watson, Jane. (2002). Business writing basics (2nd Ed.). North Vancouver, BC: Self-Counsel Press. (Ebook available)

 

Note: Other required readings may also be assigned each week.

 

SUGGESTED READINGS

 

American Psychological Association. (2003). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (5th Ed.). Washington, DC: APA.

 

Bailey, Stephen. (2003). Academic writing: a practical guide for students. England: Nelson Thornes Ltd. (Ebook available)

 

Mulvaney, Mary Kay. (2005). Academic writing: genres, samples, and resources. New York, NY: Pearson Longman.

 

Stuckey, Marty. (1992). The basics of business writing. New York, NY: American Management Association (Ebook Available)
Course Grading

Course participation         20%

        Assignments                   80%

        Total                             100%
Course Policies

Attendance

 

Consistent with the general police of MACNM, you are allowed to have 3 absences. You will be asked to re-take this course if you miss class four or more times. 

Academic honesty 

All of you are expected to subscribe to the ideal of academic integrity, and are willing to bear individual responsibility for their work. Any work (written or otherwise) submitted to fulfill an academic requirement must represent a student's original work. Any act of academic dishonesty, such as plagiarism, will result minimally in receiving zero points on that assignment/exam, will also likely lead to a failing grade in the course, and will subject a person to University disciplinary action.