Module 1 – Case
BUSINESS AND INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
Case Assignment
Business and Intercultural Communication
The principle activity of this Case is to complete two
interactive tutorials, and prepare short essays (one or two pages each)
summarizing their key points.
Essay 1: Complete the
Pearson interactive tutorial, “Introduction to Business Communication.” This is
referenced on the Background page as Pearson 2015a. Write a short essay summarizing the key
features of business communication, as opposed to ordinary, everyday
communication. Feel free to use short
lists. Be sure to include a reference to
the tutorial (you may copy the reference from the Background page to the
bibliography of your own paper).
Additionally, be sure to include a citation in the body of your paper,
showing your readers where you used the tutorial. For information about references and
citations, please refer to the Writing Style Guide, found under the “My
Resources” tab on the TLC Portal.
Essay 2: Identical to
Essay 1 above, but summarizing the contents of the Pearson interactive tutorial
“Intercultural Communication.” This is
listed on the Background page as Pearson 2015b.
Assignment Expectations
APA Points:
According to the Publication Manual of the American
Psychological Association, there are three reasons why we need to use proper
citations and references.
They are:
“To ensure the accuracy of scientific knowledge” (p.11). –
How do we know if what you are reading is really the truth? We can look at the citation and the reference
and do further research to make sure what you are reading and what you are
basing your research on is correct.
“To protect the rights and welfare of research participants”
(p.11). – People deserve to get credit for their work. When you earn a degree and go on to do
research, you will want credit for the work you have published.
“To protect intellectual property rights” (p.11). – When we
refer to inventions, we should give credit to the person who invented the item,
trademarked the item, or developed a design. This protects their work.
A reference system also allows the reader to use the in-text
citation and reference page to find out how to do further research when they
find a topic of interest. It can save a lot of time.
As educated students, we should know the APA Style rules and
work to perfect them.
Below are three common mistakes that cost Trident
Students. Reviewing these examples
should help you improve your grade and also make future assignments easier.
APA Point 1: Where
does the period go?
The use of a period.
The period indicates the end of a sentence. However, if we put the
period before the in-text citation, we are actually beginning the next sentence
with the citation. Therefore, the period goes after the citation.
Another misuse of the period is putting it before the
citation and another after the citation.
This is not correct. The period goes after the in-text citation.
Example:
Intercultural Communication is quite important in how we deal with
individuals from different Countries and even from different neighborhoods of
our cities (Pearson, 2015b). – Notice where the period is.
APA Point 2: Do we
need to use Quotation Marks?
When using information word for word from someone else’s
work, quotation marks are necessary. This example illustrates the use of quoted
material at the end of the sentence, followed by a citation and reference. The reference will also include the page
numbers.
Example: When we are writing a Negative Letter, there are
numerous authors who recommend starting the letters with a buffer. Remember, “Openings for negative messages are
often called Buffer Beginnings because they are designed to buffer the negative
message that will follow” (Bowman, 2002, p. 1).
APA Point 3:
Arranging entries on a reference list.
Once again as we dive into our Publication Manual of the
American Psychological Association, we get guidance on how to arrange our
references on the reference page.
“Arrange entries in alphabetical order by the surname of the first author
followed by initials of the author’s given name” (p. 181).
One may ask why. When
there are two or three references, it does not make a great amount of
difference. But with numerous references, it is much easier if we arrange the
references by the author’s last name.
Remember, one of the purposes of a reference page is to help readers
find additional information. If there
are 10 or more references listed in random order, it is difficult to find the
appropriate reference. So let’s use the alphabetical ordering.
Go to any of the “Background Pages” in our Modules to see an
example of a reference page.
Well-organized, well-written essays covering all the topics
outlined in the assignment.
No errors in spelling, grammar, or syntax, and an
appropriate scholarly style. Refer to
the Writing Style Guide.
All sources cited and referenced in accordance with a
standard citation style. APA is
preferred, but not required. Refer to
the Writing Style Guide.
Module 1 – SLP
BUSINESS AND INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
Initiating the job search
In the SLPs for this course, you will assume the role of a
currently employed professional wanting to change careers. Each of the SLPs
will focus on different phases of the job search. In each SLP, you will apply
the business communication principles covered in the module.
Search for companies you are interested in working for, or
jobs you are keen on. You may begin your search at an employment website (such
as Monster.com, usajobs.gov, etc.) and find a job opening that interests you.
Save the existing job advertisement for a position you are interested in.
You will be completing the subsequent SLPs using this job
opening you identified.
Write a generic email, using principles from routine and
goodwill emails, to inquire about your desired position. You may ask questions
related to application procedures, deadlines, references, or any other detail.
The objective of this email is to build rapport with the company and notify
them of your interest, and the possibility you may be submitting an application
later on. Include the actual job advertisement in your submission. This could
be a pdf document, or a link to the advertisement.
Following the email, write an essay explaining the
principles and good practices you followed while creating it.
Submit your assignment by the module’s due date.
SLP Assignment Expectations
Your email should be professionally formatted and
effectively deliver the message, using concepts covered in the module. Please
use proper English. Sentences must be properly constructed and free of
grammatical and typographical errors. No citations are needed in the email.
In your summary, you are expected to discuss your strategies
and approach, using the concepts covered in the module. Your discussion should
be analytical and sufficiently rigorous to demonstrate synthesis of the
concepts. Formal citations are required, along with a formal bibliography. The
summary is to be prepared as an academic essay. Content should be clearly
presented with a logical flow.
SLP General Expectations
For the SLPs, students are expected to play a role as
themselves in the job market. You are to identify a job that interests you in
Module 1. The SLPs will take you through the job search and application
process, presenting you in different scenarios requiring you to demonstrate
your ability to communicate effectively and professionally.
Formal citations and a bibliography are required unless
otherwise stated.
Submit your assignments by the module’s due date.
