Course Syllabus

Course Title: Executive Communication Term and Year: Fall 1 2025

Course and Section Number: BA 5223 Time and Place: Hybrid

Seated Date in Detroit September 7th, 2025
Room 133

Number of Credit Hours: 3

Instructor: John Curtis Office Location/Hours:

M, T and W 4-5 pm. EST

Office Phone: 260 66504707 Email:curtisj@[Link]

Course Description: This course covers the fundamentals of executive business communication in
multiple modalities. It will focus on the needs of a business audience (e.g. concision, document
design, and the creation and delivery of professional presentation).

Prerequisites: None

Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Determine communication methods that increase influence and productivity within an

organization.
2. Evaluate the impact of ethical business communication.
3. Create executive-level reports, proposals, presentations, and documents.
4. Assess the communication traits of a successful business professional.

Required Text: This course utilizes OER (Open Educational Resources) materials at no cost to
learners. All required reading is available in the online course room.

Other Materials: Certificate: Communicate Effectively at Work. Google: Applied Digital Skills.
Industry recognized certification.

Course Requirements: Learners are expected engage with all learning materials, participate in
activities, and submit all assessments.

Attendance/Participation: All students are expected to log in to their courses regularly throughout
the week to receive instruction, materials, and updates from the instructor. It is your responsibility to
check in and submit your assignments, complete your discussion board postings, and finish quizzes
and exams by the due dates.
If you do not participate in the course, you will be counted absent. Simply logging in is not enough;
you must submit/complete an assignment, post to a discussion board, or other similar assignment
tasks to avoid being counted absent. Instructors are required to submit attendance the Monday
following each week of class.
This attendance is reported to the Financial Aid Department and may result in the loss of any
financial aid refund you are expecting if you have not been participating in your courses. In addition,
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you will be administratively dropped from the course if you are reported absent a total of
three weeks.

Grading/Evaluation:

Grade Distribution: The course grade will be based on the following assignment types:

Discussion Forums (8 @ 25 points each) 200 points

Assignments (5 @ 50 points each) 250 points
Assignments (2 @ 75 points each) 150 points
Week 6 Formal Report (1 @ 175 points) 175 points
Week 7 Presentation (1 @ 175 points) 175 points
Final Case Study Analysis (1 @100 points) 100 points
Total 1,050 points

Trine Graduate Grading Scale:

Grade Percentage Quality Points Meaning of

Grade
A 93-100 4.0 Excellent
B+ 86-92 3.5 Very Good
B 81-85 3.0 Good
C+ 75-80 2.5 Above Average
C 70-74 2.0 Average (lowest
passing grade)
F 00-69 0.0 Failure
I Incomplete Not figured into GPA

IP In Progress (grade Not figured into GPA

deferred)

W Withdrawal Withdrawal before

completion of 80% of
semester
WP Withdrawal Withdrawal after
completion of 80% of
semester issued only
under special
circumstances and
with approval of the
department
chair/director

Other Policies:
1. Late Assignment Policy: No late assignments will be accepted. Exceptions may be made at
the instructor’s discretion based on a documented excuse submitted prior to the assignment
deadline.
2. All written assignments must follow APA 7th edition guidelines.

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Academic Misconduct:
The University prohibits all forms of academic misconduct. Academic misconduct refers to
dishonesty in examinations (cheating), presenting the ideas or the writing of someone else
as one’s own (plagiarism) or knowingly furnishing false information to the University by
forgery, alteration, or misuse of University documents, records, or identification. Academic
dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, the following examples: permitting another student
to plagiarize or cheat from one’s own work, submitting an academic exercise (written work,
printing, design, computer program) that has been prepared totally or in part by another,
acquiring improper knowledge of the contents of an exam, using unauthorized material
during an exam, submitting the same paper in two different courses without knowledge and
consent of professors, or submitting a forged grade change slip or computer tampering. The
faculty member has the authority to grant a failing grade in cases of academic misconduct as
well as referring the case to Student Life.

Plagiarism:
You are expected to submit your own work and to identify any portion of work that has been
borrowed from others in any form. An ignorant act of plagiarism on final versions and minor
projects, such as attributing or citing inadequately, will be considered a failure to master an
essential course skill and will result in an F for that assignment. A deliberate act of plagiarism,
such as having someone else do your work, or submitting someone else’s work as your own
(e.g., from the Internet, fraternity file, etc., including homework and in-class exercises), will at
least result in an F for that assignment and could result in an F for the course.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Guidelines for this Course: (Faculty: Pick one below.)

AI is prohibited: This course prohibits the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and
software. All submitted work must be the student’s original work. Students cannot
have anyone else or any AI program contribute to their assignments. Students cannot
use AI tools to write content, create arguments, develop ideas, or edit their work.

If AI use is suspected without proper attribution in submitted work, the faculty member
will communicate with the student. The goal of this communication will be to identify
the student's intentions, provide guidance on adhering to the policy, and support the
student's learning and improvement. This approach ensures fairness and protects
both the student and faculty member from potential misunderstandings or unjust
accusations. If a student uses AI in an unauthorized manner, the behavior may be
considered academic misconduct.

Electronic Devices:
Use of electronic devices including smart watches and cell phones is prohibited during
exams or quizzes unless directly allowed by the instructor.

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Course Mapping:

Week One:
Learning Activities and Materials Assessments
Read: Discussion Forum:
1. Avoiding Plagiarism in Writing a 1. Introduction
Research Paper (LO 1) (LO 2) (9 2. Discussion Forum 1: For the
Pages) week 1 discussion forum read the
2. The Impact of Social Media Usage on article: Avoiding Plagiarism in
Work Efficiency (LO 1) (13 pages) Writing a Research Paper. Your
3. Service Learning as a High Impact initial post should highlight the
Practice (LO 1) (LO 2) (9 pages) main aspects of the article. After
4. Work from Home during the Pandemic: summarizing the article provide
The Impact of Organizational Factors on your own thoughts or experience
the on plagiarism. Conduct research
Productivity of Employees in the IT on the use of plagiarism and how
Industry it negatively impacts education.
(LO 2) (13 Pages) Provide at least one outside
Watch: source to
1. How AI could save (not destroy) your initial discussion. (LO 2)
education Assessments:
(LO 1) (LO 2) (15:37 minutes) 1. Assignment 1: Write a paper on
2. Why is Plagiarism Wrong? (LO 2) (1:49 the impact that technology has on
minutes) communication in a business
setting.
(LO1) (LO2)
Week Two:
Learning Activities and Materials Assessments
Read: Discussion Forum:
1. Module 1: Communicating in Business 1. Discussion Forum 2: Read the
(LO 1) statements in the form and rate
(LO 2) (LO 3) (LO 4) (14 Pages) your perception of your
Module 2: Writing in Business (LO 1) (LO 3) communication skills. (LO 4)
(21 Pages) Assessments:
1. Assignment 2: Watch the example
Watch: business letter video and provide an
1. Integrating Ethics: Ethical Decision- analysis. (LO 1) (LO 3) (LO 4)
Making
(LO 2) (3:58 minutes)
2. Know Your Audience and Purpose:
Professional Writing (LO 1) (LO 3) (LO
4)
(1:57 minutes)
How to Write a Business Letter (LO 1) (LO 3)
(LO 4) (13:19 minutes)
Week Three:
Learning Activities and Materials Assessments
Read: Discussion Forum:
1. Module 3: Written Communication (LO1) 1. Discussion Forum 3: Discuss the
(LO3) (LO 4) (19 pages) shift from traditional to modern
communication methods. (LO 1)
Watch: (LO4)

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1. Business Emails (LO 1) (LO 3) (LO 4) Assessments:

(9:37 minutes) 1. Assignment 3 (Panopto): Provide
2. 8 Tips on how to write a professional a company update in a 1-2
email minute video. (LO 1) (LO 2) (LO
(LO 1) (LO 3) (LO 4) (4:27 minutes) 3) (LO 4)
The Importance of Writing in Business (LO1) Assignment 4: You are the regional
(LO 4) (4:29 minutes) manager at a clothing store. Write an
email to employees discussing a new
company policy. (LO 1) (LO 3) (LO 4)
Week Four:
Learning Activities and Materials Assessments
Read: Discussion Forum:
1. Module 4: Research (LO 1) (LO 2) (LO 3) 1. Discussion Forum 4: Explain
(LO 4) (24 pages) secondary research and how it is
used to provide support to the
Watch: report.
1. Why Research Matters (LO 1) (LO 3) (LO 2) (LO 3)
(2:01 minutes)
2. Developing a Research Question (LO 1) Assessments:
(LO 1. Assignment 5 – Written Assignment:
2) (LO 3) (LO 4) (4:33 minutes) Conduct research and write a Business
3. What are Databases and Why You Letter addressed to the general manager
Need Them (LO 1) (LO 3) (2:34 and team leads at your store. In your
minutes) letter, recommend one charitable
7 Pillars of Information Literacy (LO 1) (LO 2) organization you wish to partner or
(LO 3) (LO 4) (5:51 minutes) volunteer with that you found via a web
search. (LO 1) (LO 2) (LO 3) (LO 4)
Week Five:
Learning Activities and Materials Assessments
Read: Discussion Forum:
1. Module 5: Visual Media (LO 1) (LO 4) 1. Discussion Forum 5: Create an
(25 pages) infographic or image representing
2. Module 6: Reports (LO 1) (LO 3) (17 a brand or company. (LO 1) (LO
pages) 3) (LO 4)
Technical Writing Essentials: 7.2 Proposals (LO Assessments:
1) (LO 3) (LO 4) (9 pages) 1. Assignment 6: Create a visual
essay to explore how a topic or
Watch: idea is communicated through
1. Persuasive Presentation: How to make images. (LO 1) (LO 3) (LO 4)
graphs more powerful (LO 1) (LO 3) (LO Assignment 8: Report Proposal (LO 1)
4) (LO 3) (LO 4)
(1:49 minutes)
Nancy Duart: How to tell a story (LO 1) (LO 3)
(LO 4) (3:01 minutes)
Week Six:
Learning Activities and Materials Assessments
Read: Discussion Forum:
1. Organizational Communication Chapter 1. Discussion Forum 6: Choose one
1: An Introduction (LO 1) (LO 2) (LO 4) of the videos from this week’s
(14 pages) learning materials. Analyze the
2. Organizational Communication Chapter video and discuss how the
2: information can be utilized to
The Critical Approach (LO 1) communicate efficiently and
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(2 pages) effectively in the workplace. (LO

3. Organizational Communication Chapter 1)
5: Organizations as Communication (LO 2) (LO 4)
Systems
(LO 1) (LO 4) (9 pages) Assessments:
1. Final Report: Create a formal
Watch: business report utilizing the
1. What makes us feel good about our proposal you submitted in week
work? 5. (LO 1) (LO
(LO 1) (LO 4) (20:26 minutes) 2) (LO 3) (LO 4)
2. Creating Ethical Cultures in Business:
Brooke Deterline (LO 1) (LO 2) (LO 4)
(8:23 minutes)
How to get your ideas to spread (LO 3) (LO 4)
(16:47 minutes)
Week Seven:
Learning Activities and Materials Assessments
Read: Discussion Forum:
1. Module 7: Public Speaking (LO 1) (LO 2) 1. Discussion Forum 7: Discuss the
(LO importance of public speaking in
3) (LO 4) (17 pages) a business setting. (LO 1) (LO 2)
(LO 3) (LO 4)
Watch:
1. Steve Jobs unveils the iPhone (LO 1) (LO Assessments:
4) (5:01 minutes) 1. Presentation: Using Panopto, create a
2. How to speak so that people want to presentation utilizing your formal
listen business report. (LO 1) (LO 2) (LO 3)
(LO 1) (LO 2) (LO 3) (LO 4) (9:58 minutes) (LO 4)

Week Eight:
Learning Activities and Materials Assessments
Read: Discussion Forum:
1. Module 4: Research (LO 1) (LO 2) (LO 1. Discussion Forum 8: Course Wrap-
3) (LO 4) (24 pages) Up. (LO 1) (LO 2) (LO 3) (LO 4)
2. Module 6: Business Ethics and
Corporate Social Responsibility (LO1) Assessments:
(LO2) (LO3) (LO4) (18 Pages) 1. Final Case Study Analysis (LO
3. Module 14: Organizational Structure and 1) (LO 2) (LO 3) (LO 4)
Change (LO1) (LO2) (LO3) (LO4) (10
Pages)

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References

Ariely, D. (2013, April 10). What makes us feel good about our work? [Video]. YouTube.

[Link]

Blewitt, J.M., Parsons, A., & Shane, J.M.Y. (2018). Service learning as a high-impact practice:

Integrating business communication skills to benefit others. Journal of Education for

Business, 93(8), 412-419. [Link]

Coxhead, B. (2016, December 9). SCONUL 7 Pillars of Information Literacy [Video]. YouTube.

[Link]

Deterline, B. (2012, September 11). Creating ethical cultures in business. [Video]. YouTube.

[Link]

Duarte, N. (2013, March 21). How to Tell a Story [Video]. YouTube.

[Link]

eHowEducation. (2015, May 21). Why is Plagiarism Wrong? [Video]. YouTube.

[Link]

Freedom Learning Group. (n.d.). Business Communication Skills for Managers. Lumen Learning.

Retrieved July 7, 2023, from [Link]

businesscommunicationmgrs/chapter/why-it-matters-communicating-in-business/

Godin, Seth. (2007, May 17). How to get your ideas to spread. [Video]. YouTube.

[Link]

Integrating Ethics: From Thought to Action. (2015, July 31). Integrating Ethics: Ethical Decision-

Making [Video]. YouTube. [Link]

Jobs, S. (2017, January 9). Steve Jobs unveils the iPhone. [Video]. YouTube.

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[Link]

Jong, Din, Chen Shih-Chih, Ruangkanjanases Athapol, Chang Yun-Hsuan. (2021). The Impact

of Social Media Usage on Work Efficiency: The Perspectives of Media Synchronicity and

Gratifications. Frontiers in Psychology, 12.

[Link]

Khan, S. (2023, May 31). How AI could save (not destroy) education [Video]. YouTube.

[Link]

Kwan, L. (2015, March 27). Business Emails [Video]. YouTube.

[Link]

Last, S. (2019, January 1). Technical Writing Essentials. University of Victoria. Retrieved July 7,

2023, from [Link]

Majid Wajdi, I Made Sumartana, & Ni Putu Dyah Hudiananingsih. (2018). Avoiding Plagiarism in

Writing a Research Paper. Soshum: Jurnal Sosial Dan Humaniora, 8(1), 94–102.

Microsoft Research. (2011, September 23). Why Research Matters [Video]. YouTube.

[Link]

Patanjali, S., & Bhatta, N. M. K. (2022). Work from Home During the Pandemic: The Impact

of Organizational Factors on the Productivity of Employees in the IT

Industry. Vision, 0(0). [Link]

Saylor Academy. (2013, Jan 23). Know Your Audience and Purpose: Professional Writing

[Video]. YouTube. [Link]

Steely Library NKU. (2014, July 28). Developing a Research Question [Video]. YouTube.

[Link]

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Temple, P. (2011, April 3). Persuasive Presentation: How to Make Graphs More Powerful

[Video]. YouTube. [Link]

Treasure, J. (2014, June 27). How to speak so that people want to listen. [Video]. YouTube.

[Link]

Tucker, C. (2012, Oct. 11). How to Write a Business Letter [Video]. YouTube.

[Link]

UIW WLC. (2014, August 12). The Importance of Writing in Business [Video]. YouTube.

[Link]

UpWritePress. (2009, March 9). The Key Forms of Business Writing: Basic Memo [Video].

YouTube. [Link]

Yavapai College Library. (2011, September 29). What Are Databases and Why You Need

Them [Video]. YouTube. [Link]

Zink, J. (n.d.). Organizational Communication. Granite State College. Retrieved July 7, 2023

from [Link]

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