EN3CPB: Communication and Persuasion in Business

Module code: EN3CPB

Module provider: English Literature; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Mrs Enza Siciliano Verruccio, email: E.SicilianoVerruccio@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

On this module, we explore the characteristics of effective communication in written and spoken forms. We look at the skills you need when passing complex information to customers and colleagues (for example, in research or business reports) and for presenting data clearly and persuasively. We introduce you to rhetorical theory as a means of analysing more critically the information that we create, curate, and consume in a variety of texts, including social media communications. By creating documents designed to inform and to persuade, you will be encouraged to reflect upon your own use of language in the workplace and beyond. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Write documents with the clarity of style best suited to informative writing (including business letters and reports)
2. Develop skills for effective communication with colleagues and costumers
3. Analyse some of the political and cultural uses of language in different media

Module content

 The set text for this module is John Seely, Oxford Guide to Effective Writing and Speaking (3rd edition, 2013). Supplementary reading will be provided via the online reading list on Blackboard.  

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

There will be two contact hours each week, combining lecture elements and workshops for discussions and group work. Learning materials will be made available on Blackboard for personal study. They will include videos, podcasts recordings, and other web resources. Lecturers will set out key issues for discussion; workshop leaders will brief students on drafting the written work that contributes to the portfolio. 

Study hours

At least 22 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Workshop preparation. 

Reassessment

Additional costs