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ESL Level Four

Advanced (216 hours)

Course Objective:

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be familiar and comfortable with English grammar. The student should be able to make dialogs, questions and answers, sentences, and polite requests in English for high intermediate level.
This course also contains aspects of English reading and vocabulary; writing; listening and speaking.

Course Outline

Unit 1

Part I: Listening & Speaking: For news resisters, No news is good news
Theme: media
• Listen for main ideas/ details
• Provide evidence to support answers
• Express and defend opinions
• Interview a news specialist
• Passive voice

Part II: Reading & Writing: Untruth and Consequences
Theme: media
• Interpret quotations
• Identify author’s viewpoint
• Write a letter to a newspaper editor
• Edit topic sentences
• Write a paragraph presenting and supporting an opinion

Unit followed by Test 1

Unit 2

Part I: Listening & Speaking: The Achilles Heel
Theme: Overcoming Obstacles
• Make predictions
• Construct and perform a dialogue
• Practice using synonyms, parallelism, and prepositional phrases to enrich a narrative
• Plan and give a three-minute speech
• Gerunds and infinitives

Part II: Reading & Writing: Dreams Never Die
Theme: Overcoming Obstacles
• Identify chronology in a text
• Support answers with information from the text
• Write a three-part paragraph with a topic sentence, supporting sentences, and a concluding sentence
• Compose supporting sentences using transitional expressions

Unit followed by Test 2

Unit 3

Part I: Listening & Speaking: Early to Bed, Early to Rise
Theme: medicine
• Make contrastive statements using appropriate intonation
• Interrupt politely to clarify or confirm information
• Conduct a survey and report results
• Present unreal conditionals

Part II: Reading & Writing: Dying for Their Beliefs
Theme: medicine
• Develop a classroom survey
• Develop an opinion in outline form
• Support an opinion with evidence
• Develop a classroom survey

Unit followed by Test 3

Unit 4

Part I: Listening & Speaking: The Eye of the storm
Theme: natural disasters
• Share personal experiences and fears
• Construct and perform a dialogue
• Express surprise, shock, and interest in news
• Present an emergency weather report
• Conduct an interview
• Present a movie review
• Adjective clauses

Part II: Reading & Writing: When Disaster Strikes
Theme: natural disasters
• Scan for supporting details
• Draw parallels between two different stories
• Write a descriptive paragraph about a personal experience
• Use adjectives to compose descriptive sentences
• Write a descriptive essay

Unit followed by Test 4

Unit 5

Part I: Listening & Speaking: You Will Be This Land
Theme: conservation
• Express opinions
• Interview a classmate
• Ask for and give examples
• Role-play a meeting
• Advisability in the past- past modals

Part II: Reading & Writing: 21st Century Living
Theme: conservation
• Write cause and effect sentences
• Use subordinating conjunctions and transitions to express cause and effect
• Write a cause-and-effect essay

Unit followed by Test 5

Unit 6

Part I: Listening & Speaking: It’s Better to Give Than to Receive
Theme: philanthropy
• Express and support opinions with examples
• Construct and perform a dialogue
• Ask for clarification using tag questions
• Use gambits that indicate priorities
• Tag questions

Part II: Reading & Writing: Give and Learn
Theme: philanthropy
• Identify motivations of characters
• Paraphrase main ideas
• Identify contrasting arguments in the text
• Use commas, semicolons, colons, and dashes
• Express an opinion in a letter

Unit followed by Test 6

Unit 7

Part I: Listening & Speaking: Emotional Intelligence
Theme: education
• Support opinions with examples
• Recount an emotional experience
• Restate quotations
• Perform a role play
• Direct and indirect speech

Part II: Reading & Writing: Homing in on Education
Theme: education
• Read a bar graph
• Paraphrase main ideas in a reading
• Write an opinion essay
• Write opinion statements that make concessions to other points of views
• Write sentences using dependent clauses

Unit followed by Test 7

Unit 8

Part I: Listening & Speaking: Goodbye to the Sit-Down Meal
Theme: food
• Share ideas on food trends
• Use tone of voice to indicate attitude in a role play
• Explain how to use a tool
• Report research on food trends
• Phrasal verbs

Part II: Reading & Writing: Eat to Live or Live to Eat?
Theme: food
• Write a narrative
• Evaluate a classmate’s narrative using a rubric
• Practice parallel structures and sentence variation
• Organize information in a narrative
• Write interview questions

Unit followed by Test 8

Unit 9

Part I: Listening & Speaking: Finding a Niche: The Lives of young immigrants
Theme: immigration
• Practice gambits to hesitate in response to a question
• Ask and answer questions about a chart
• Compare interview results
• Present and past-contrasting verb tenses

Part II: Reading & Writing: The Grass Is Always Greener
Theme: immigration
• Read a time line
• Support answers with information from the text
• Write a compare and contrast essay
• Use transitional expressions and subordinating conjunctions to combine sentences
• Past perfect
• Time words

Unit followed by Test 9

Unit 10

Part I: Listening & Speaking: Technology: A Blessing or a Curse?
Theme: technology
• Discuss possible future outcomes
• Practice gambits to express frustration
• Role-play a conflict between neighbors
• Future perfect and future progressive

Part II: Reading & Writing: Take It or Leave It
Theme: technology
• Recognize organization of a text
• Take notes in outline form
• Develop an essay from an outline
• Write interview questions
• Time clauses

Unit followed by Test 10

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ESL Level Five

Advanced (216 hours)

Course Objective:

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be familiar and comfortable with English grammar. The student should be able to make dialogs, questions and answers, sentences, and polite requests in English for high intermediate level.
This course also contains aspects of English reading and vocabulary; writing; listening and speaking.

Course Outline

Unit 1

Part I: Listening & Speaking: For news resisters, No news is good news
Theme: media
• Listen for main ideas/ details
• Provide evidence to support answers
• Express and defend opinions
• Interview a news specialist
• Passive voice

Part II: Reading & Writing: Untruth and Consequences
Theme: media
• Interpret quotations
• Identify author’s viewpoint
• Write a letter to a newspaper editor
• Edit topic sentences
• Write a paragraph presenting and supporting an opinion

Unit followed by Test 1

Unit 2

Part I: Listening & Speaking: The Achilles Heel
Theme: Overcoming Obstacles
• Make predictions
• Construct and perform a dialogue
• Practice using synonyms, parallelism, and prepositional phrases to enrich a narrative
• Plan and give a three-minute speech
• Gerunds and infinitives

Part II: Reading & Writing: Dreams Never Die
Theme: Overcoming Obstacles
• Identify chronology in a text
• Support answers with information from the text
• Write a three-part paragraph with a topic sentence, supporting sentences, and a concluding sentence
• Compose supporting sentences using transitional expressions

Unit followed by Test 2

Unit 3

Part I: Listening & Speaking: Early to Bed, Early to Rise
Theme: medicine
• Make contrastive statements using appropriate intonation
• Interrupt politely to clarify or confirm information
• Conduct a survey and report results
• Present unreal conditionals

Part II: Reading & Writing: Dying for Their Beliefs
Theme: medicine
• Develop a classroom survey
• Develop an opinion in outline form
• Support an opinion with evidence
• Develop a classroom survey

Unit followed by Test 3

Unit 4

Part I: Listening & Speaking: The Eye of the storm
Theme: natural disasters
• Share personal experiences and fears
• Construct and perform a dialogue
• Express surprise, shock, and interest in news
• Present an emergency weather report
• Conduct an interview
• Present a movie review
• Adjective clauses

Part II: Reading & Writing: When Disaster Strikes
Theme: natural disasters
• Scan for supporting details
• Draw parallels between two different stories
• Write a descriptive paragraph about a personal experience
• Use adjectives to compose descriptive sentences
• Write a descriptive essay

Unit followed by Test 4

Unit 5

Part I: Listening & Speaking: You Will Be This Land
Theme: conservation
• Express opinions
• Interview a classmate
• Ask for and give examples
• Role-play a meeting
• Advisability in the past- past modals

Part II: Reading & Writing: 21st Century Living
Theme: conservation
• Write cause and effect sentences
• Use subordinating conjunctions and transitions to express cause and effect
• Write a cause-and-effect essay

Unit followed by Test 5

Unit 6

Part I: Listening & Speaking: It’s Better to Give Than to Receive
Theme: philanthropy
• Express and support opinions with examples
• Construct and perform a dialogue
• Ask for clarification using tag questions
• Use gambits that indicate priorities
• Tag questions

Part II: Reading & Writing: Give and Learn
Theme: philanthropy
• Identify motivations of characters
• Paraphrase main ideas
• Identify contrasting arguments in the text
• Use commas, semicolons, colons, and dashes
• Express an opinion in a letter

Unit followed by Test 6

Unit 7

Part I: Listening & Speaking: Emotional Intelligence
Theme: education
• Support opinions with examples
• Recount an emotional experience
• Restate quotations
• Perform a role play
• Direct and indirect speech

Part II: Reading & Writing: Homing in on Education
Theme: education
• Read a bar graph
• Paraphrase main ideas in a reading
• Write an opinion essay
• Write opinion statements that make concessions to other points of views
• Write sentences using dependent clauses

Unit followed by Test 7

Unit 8

Part I: Listening & Speaking: Goodbye to the Sit-Down Meal
Theme: food
• Share ideas on food trends
• Use tone of voice to indicate attitude in a role play
• Explain how to use a tool
• Report research on food trends
• Phrasal verbs

Part II: Reading & Writing: Eat to Live or Live to Eat?
Theme: food
• Write a narrative
• Evaluate a classmate’s narrative using a rubric
• Practice parallel structures and sentence variation
• Organize information in a narrative
• Write interview questions

Unit followed by Test 8

Unit 9

Part I: Listening & Speaking: Finding a Niche: The Lives of young immigrants
Theme: immigration
• Practice gambits to hesitate in response to a question
• Ask and answer questions about a chart
• Compare interview results
• Present and past-contrasting verb tenses

Part II: Reading & Writing: The Grass Is Always Greener
Theme: immigration
• Read a time line
• Support answers with information from the text
• Write a compare and contrast essay
• Use transitional expressions and subordinating conjunctions to combine sentences
• Past perfect
• Time words

Unit followed by Test 9

Unit 10

Part I: Listening & Speaking: Technology: A Blessing or a Curse?
Theme: technology
• Discuss possible future outcomes
• Practice gambits to express frustration
• Role-play a conflict between neighbors
• Future perfect and future progressive

Part II: Reading & Writing: Take It or Leave It
Theme: technology
• Recognize organization of a text
• Take notes in outline form
• Develop an essay from an outline
• Write interview questions
• Time clauses

Unit followed by Test 10

 

 

 

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INTENSIVE TOEFL PROGRAM

(216 hours)

Course Objectives:

Upon completion of the course, students will be prepared for the TOEFL iBT test. In addition, students will improve their language skills in a comprehensive manner, including listening, grammar, reading, speaking, vocabulary and writing.

Course Outline:

1. Introduction

• Questions and Answers about the Internet - Based TOEFL Test
• TOEFL iBT Highlights
• What It Is like to Take the Internet - Based TOEFL Test
• TOEFL Sections, scoring
• Guide to Testing on Computer

2. Chapter 1, Lesson Set 1, Theme: History

• Lesson 1 – reading: introduction to the reading passage
o The body paragraphs of a reading passages
o The conclusion of a reading passage
o Rhetorical function
o Skimming
o Note-taking
o Summarizing
o Question types: (Identifying the main idea, Summarizing the most important points, Understanding rhetorical function)

• Lesson 1 – writing: the descriptive essay
o Brainstorming
o Outlining
o Writing the introduction to a descriptive essay
o Writing the body paragraphs
o Descriptive essay practice

• Lesson 1 – listening: taking notes
o Taking notes
o Outlining
o Question types: (Understanding rhetorical function, Understanding an idiomatic expression in context)

• Lesson 1 – speaking: content and function words
o Task 1 – describing something from your own experience
o Task 6 – summarizing a lecture

• Chapter 1 Audio transcripts
o Lesson 1 – listening, note-taking practice
o Lesson 1 – speaking, task 1
o Lesson 1 – speaking, task 6 lecture
o Lesson 1 – speaking, task 6 prompt
o Lesson 1 – speaking, task 6 sample response

3. Chapter 2, Lesson Set 2, Theme: Science

• Lesson 2 – reading: details and transitions
o Who, what, when, where, why, how
o Detail practice
o Transitions
o Skimming practice
o Outlining
o Identifying examples
o Question types: (Understanding details, Understanding details as they relate to the main idea – multiple choice, Understanding details as they relate to the main idea – schematic table)
o Distracters

• Lesson 2 – writing: Responding to a reading passage and lecture
o Writing an essay in response to a reading passage and lecture
o Planning a definition essay
o Note-taking
o Summarizing
o Paraphrasing
o Writing the body of a definition essay
o The conclusion
o Essay practice

• Lesson 2 – listening: implication and inference, context and tone
o Implication and inference
o Context and tone
o Rhetorical and interrogative questions
o Outlining
o Question types: (Drawing an inference, Understanding a speaker’s implication)

• Lesson 2 – speaking: paraphrasing and expressing an option
o Paraphrasing
o Task 2 – expressing and supporting an option based on personal experience
o Task 5 – summarizing a conversation and expressing an option

• Chapter 2 Audio transcripts
o Lesson 2 – writing, essay practice
Lesson 2 – reading, note-taking practice
Lesson 2 – writing, essay prompt
Lesson 2 – listening, practice 2, 3a, 3b, 4, 5a, 5b, 5c
Lesson 2 – listening, outlining practice
Lesson 2 – speaking, task 2, sample response
Lesson 2 – speaking, task 5, prompt, sample response

4. Chapter 3, Lesson Set 3, Theme: Education

• Lesson 3 – reading: Transitions, coherence, and cohesive devices
Transitions and coherence
Cohesive devices
Question types: (Inferring word meaning from context, Defining a key term, Locating a referent, Understanding coherence)

• Lesson 3 – writing: the persuasive essay
Recognizing persuasive essay prompts
Generating ideas for a persuasive essay
Choosing a point of view
Outlining a persuasive essay
Writing the introduction to a persuasive essay
Writing thesis statements and topic sentences for a persuasive essay
Writing topic sentences
The body of a persuasive essay
Persuasive essay practice

• Lesson 3 – listening: turns
Turns
Outlining
Question types: (Identifying the main idea, Summarizing the most important points, Understanding details)

• Lesson 3 – speaking: informal vs. formal
Gliding
Synthesizing and summarizing information
More practice synthesizing and summarizing information

• Chapter 3 Audio transcripts
Lesson 3 – listening, outlining practice
Lesson 3 – informal vs. formal practice
Lesson 3 – speaking, task 3, narrator, discussion, prompt, sample response
Lesson 3 – speaking, synthesizing and summarizing narrator, conversation, prompt, sample response

5. Chapter 4, Lesson Set 4, Theme: Business and Economics

• Lesson 4 – reading: more about transitions
Summarizing two sources
Compare and contrast
Question types: (Drawing an inference, Inferring the author’s option or attitude, paraphrasing)

• Lesson 4 – writing: compare and contrast essays
Recognizing compare/contrast essay prompts
Creating a thesis statement for a compare/contrast essay
Writing topic sentences
Structuring a compare/contrast essay
Block format
Point-by-point format
Writing the conclusion of a compare/contrast essay
What is the function of a conclusion
Compare/contrast essay practice
Writing an essay in response to a reading passage and lecture
Note-taking
Summarizing
Paraphrasing
Essay practice

• Lesson 4 – listening: note-taking practice
Note-taking
Outlining
Question types: (Drawing an inference, Understanding a speaker’s implication)

• Lesson 4 – speaking: note-taking from conversations
Note-taking
Speaking and pronunciation: Understand words and syllables
Task 4 – synthesizing and summarizing information
More practice synthesizing and summarizing information

• Chapter 4 Audio transcripts
Lesson 4 – reading, summarizing two sources practice
Lesson 4 – writing, essay practice
Lesson 4 – writing, essay prompt
Lesson 4 – listening, note-taking practice
Lesson 4 – listening, conversation
Lesson 4 – task 4 narrator, lecture, prompt, sample response
Lesson 4 – speaking, more practice narrator, lecture, prompt, and sample response

6. Chapter 5, Lesson Set 5, Theme: Social Science

• Lesson 5 – reading: the main idea, and transitions and rhetorical function revisited
Reading for main idea
Transitions revisited
Rhetorical function revisited
Question types: (Revisited – Identifying the main idea, Revisited – Summarizing the most important points, Revisited – Understanding rhetorical function)

• Lesson 5 – writing: another look at persuasive essays
Recognizing persuasive essay prompts
Planning a persuasive essay
More planning strategies
Introducing a persuasive essay
Writing the thesis of a persuasive essay
Writing the body paragraphs of a persuasive essay

• Lesson 5 – listening: note-taking and key words
Note-taking and key words
Outlining
Question types: (Revisited – Understanding rhetorical function, Revisited – Understanding an idiomatic expression in context)

• Lesson 5 – speaking: defining and describing
Defining, describing, and exemplifying
Task 1 revisited – describing something from your own experience
Task 6 revisited – summarizing a lecture

• Chapter 5 Audio transcripts
Lesson 5 – listening, note-taking and key words practice
Lesson 5 – listening, outlining practice
Lesson 5 – speaking, practice sample one, two
Lesson 5 – speaking, task 1, prompt 1, sample response 1, task 1 prompt 2, task 1 sample response 2, task 6 lecture 1, task 6 prompt 1, task 6 sample response 1, task 6 lecture 2, task 6 prompt 2, task 6 sample response 2

7. Chapter 6, Lesson Set 6, Theme: Arts and Literature

• Lesson 6 – reading: the importance of details
The importance of details
Skimming
Note-taking
Paraphrasing
Summarizing two sources in writing
Question types: (Revisited – Understanding details, Revisited – Understanding details as they relate to the main idea – multiple choice, Understanding details as they related to the main idea – schematic table)

• Lesson 6 – writing: more practice with descriptive essays
Recognizing descriptive essay prompts
Writing a descriptive essay
Writing conclusion
Clarity and transitions
Descriptive essay practice

• Lesson 6 – listening: details
Listening for details
Note-taking
Outlining
Question types: (Revisited – Drawing an inference, Revisited – Understanding a speaker’s implication)

• Lesson 6 – speaking: expressing an option
Expressing an option
Content of your response
Task 2 revisited – expressing and supporting an option based on personal experience
Task 5 revisited – summarizing a conversation and expressing an option

• Chapter 6 Audio transcripts
Lesson 6 – reading, note-taking practice
Lesson 6 – listening, listening for details practice
Lesson 6 – listening, note-taking practice
Lesson 6 – speaking, task 2 sample option, task 2 prompt, task 2 sample response, task 5 conversation 1, task 5 prompt 1, task 5 sample response 1, task 5 conversation 2, task 5 prompt 2, task 5 sample response 2)

8. Chapter 7, Lesson Set 7, Theme: Technology

• Lesson 7 – reading: context clues, antonyms, and cohesive devices
Context clues
Antonyms
The importance of examples
Cohesive devices
Question types: (Revisited – Inferring word meaning from context, Revisited – Defining a key term, Revisited – Locating a referent, Revisited – Understanding coherence)

• Lesson 7 – writing: more practice with compare and contrast essays
Recognizing compare/contrast essay prompts
Planning a compare/contrast essay
Generating ideas for a compare/contrast essay
Outlining the compare/contrast essay
Introducing the compare/contrast essay
Topic sentences
Transition signals
Compare/contrast essay practice

• Lesson 7 – listening: note-taking, main idea, and combined skills
Note-taking
Outlining
Main idea
Combined skills
Question types: (Revisited – Identifying the main idea, Revisited – Summarizing the most important points, Revisited – Understanding details)

• Lesson 7 – speaking: announcements and notices
Identifying the main points from an announcement or notice
Expressing and supporting an opinion in speech
Identifying differences in register
Summarizing
Being understood
Accentuating important points in speech
Task 3 revisited – synthesizing and summarizing information

• Chapter 7 Audio transcripts
Lesson 7 – listening, note-taking practice
Lesson 7 – listening, main idea practice
Lesson 7 – listening, combined skills practice
Lesson 7 – speaking, task 3 narrator, task 3 conversation 1, task 1 prompt 1, task 3 sample response 1, task 3 narrator 2, task 3 conversation 2, task 3 prompt 2, task 3 sample response 2

9. Chapter 8, Lesson Set 8, Theme: Sports and Entertainment

• Lesson 8 – reading: synonyms, inference, and cause and effect
Synonyms
Reading for inferences and paraphrasing
Cause and effect
Question types: (Revisited – Drawing an inference, Revisited – Inferring the author’s option or attitude, Revisited – paraphrasing)

• Lesson 8 – writing: more practice with the response essay
Writing an essay in response to a reading passage and lecture
Note-taking
Summarizing
Summarizing conclusions
Essay practice

• Lesson 8 – listening: taking notes on a conversation
Taking note on a conversation
Question types: (Revisited – Drawing an inference, Revisited – Understanding a speaker’s implication, Revisited – Understanding details)

• Lesson 8 – speaking: paraphrasing and summarizing
Paraphrasing
Summarizing
Task 4 revisited – synthesizing and summarizing information

• Chapter 8 Audio transcripts
Lesson 8 – listening, note-taking practice
Lesson 8 – writing, essay practice
Lesson 8 – writing, essay prompt
Lesson 8 – listening, taking notes on a conversation practice
Lesson 8 – listening, question type 3
Lesson 8 – speaking, task 4 lecture 1, task 4 prompt 1, task 4 sample response 1, task 4 narrator, task 4 lecture 2, task 4 prompt 2, task sample response 2

 

 

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Premium Business English Program

(216 hours)

Course Objectives

Learning and improving the ability of writing, communication, grammar, and vocabulary in business English.

Course Outline


Part One: Introduction to Business Communication for Managers


Module 1: Business Communication for Managers

• The Importance of Communication Skills (Visual Skills, Written Skills, Spoken Skills, Listening Skills, Reading Skills)

• Communication in Business(Communication and Obtaining a Job, Communication on the Job, Communication Related to Promotions)

• Communication and Management

• Communication and Ethics (Business Ethics, Ethics and Technology, Electronic Plagiarism)

• Cross-Cultural Communication (Cultural Awareness)

• Communication Apprehension

• Advanced Communication

Module 2: Information and Persuasion

• Presenting Information Effectively (Directness, Conciseness, Organization, Clarity, Redundancy, Multisensory Massages)

• The persuasive Process (Changing Existing Attitudes and Behavior, Adopting New Attitudes and Behavior, Changing and Adopting Attitudes and Behavior)

Module 3: Advanced Visual Support for Managers

• Principles of Graphic Excellence

• Types of Visuals (Tables, Graphs, Charts Drawings, and Diagrams, Maps, photographs, Text)

• When to Use Visual Support

• Media Selection, Preparation, and Usage (Paper, Blackboards, Flip Charts, Overhead Transparencies, 35-mm Slides, Computerized Visuals, Videotape)

• Planning and Execution

• Some Additional Hints (Color, Simplicity, Professionalism, The Environment, Business Graphics Checklist)


o Review Test for Part One



Part Two: Written Communication: Brief Messages


Module 4: A Strategic Process for Effective Managerial Writing

• The Overall Writing Sequence (Define Your Problem, Determine and Analyze Your Audience, Do Your Research, Consider Your Layout, Format, and Elements, Draft Your Project, Revise, Edit, and Proof, Produce the Finished Package)

• Specific Writing Features (Organization, Appropriate Tone, Readability, Getting Writing Started)

• Getting Writing Started

• Electronic Writing Processes (Writing Using a Computer, Desktop Publishing, Multimedia Presentations, Collaborative Writing, International Communication)

Module 5: Writing Direct Messages

• Message Formats

• The Direct Approach

• Delivering Positive Information

• Delivering Neutral Information

• Delivering Negative Information

• Additional Direct Information Messages (Routine Messages, Directives)

Module 6: Writing Indirect Messages

• Negative Messages (The Delaying Opening, The Reasons, The Bad News, The Positive Ending)

• Persuasive Messages (Attention Step, Interest Step, Desire Step, Conviction Step, Action Step, Ways to Stimulate Action, Hard Sell Versus Soft Sell, Hints Writing Persuasive Messages)

Module 7: Writing Situational Messages

• Situational Writing That Combines Formulas (The Positive/Negative Combination, The Positive/Persuasive Combination, The Persuasive/Negative Combination, The Positive/Persuasive/Negative Combination)

• Nonformula Situational Writing (Goodwill Messages, The Recommendation and Reference Letters, Collection Letters, Negative-Only Messages, Complaints and Responses to Complaints, Disciplinary Reprimands, Overt Request for Action, Two Examples of Nonformula Situational Writing)

• Writing Memoranda


o Review Test for Part Two
o Mid-Term Exam


Part Three: Written Communication: Expanded Messages


Module 8: The Planning and Writing of Persuasive Proposals

• Two Major Purposes of Proposals

• Classification of Proposals (Internal Versus External, Solicited Versus Unsolicited, Forms of Proposals)

• The Proposal-Planning Process(Screening: The Bid/No Bid Decision, Creating a Capture Plan, Formulating a Solution and Strategies, Budgeting and Scheduling the Proposal Effort)

• The Proposal-Writing Process (The Writing Process, Additional Types of Proposals, Proposal Formats)

• Finishing Touches (Packaging, Evaluating the Proposal, Delivering the Proposal, Thesis Proposals)

• Appendix: Sample RFPs and Proposals

Module 9: Report Writing: From Formal Documents to Short Summaries

• Understand the Nature of a Report (What Is a Report, What Initial Questions Should You Ask)

• Organizing Your Ideas (Develop Your Purpose, Organize Your Scope, Categorize Your Initial Ideas, Put Ideas in Sequential Order, Create an Outline, Use Headings and Subheadings, Conduct Your Data Search)

• Report Format (The Informal Report, The Semiformal Report, The Formal Report, Other Report Formats: Design Report, Progress Report, The Consultant’s Project Report, Feasibility Report, Recommendation Report)

• Writing the Report

Module 10: Writing Instructions, Documentation, Policies, and Procedures

• Writing Instructions (Determining a Need for Written Instructions, Guidelines for Written Instructions: 1. Avoid Ambiguity, 2. Be Understandable, 3.Be Complete, 4. Be Consistent, 5. Be Efficient)

• Documentation

• The Nature of Mission Statements, Policies, and Procedures (Mission Statements, Policies, Procedures)

• Writing Policies and Procedures Statements


o Review Test for Part Three



Part Four: Oral Communication


Module 11: The Business Presentation

• Types of Presentation

• Six Propositions About Presentations

• Types of Delivery (The Manuscript Delivery, The Memorized Presentation, The Impromptu Presentation, Extemporaneous Speaking)

• The Seven-Step Process of Preparing and Delivering Extemporaneous Presentations (1. Plan and Organize the Presentation, 2. Compose the Content of Your Presentation Word for Word, 3. Construct Your Presentation Outline, 4. Memorize the Beginning and the End of the Presentation, 5. Practice Your Presentation, 6. Deliver Your Presentation, 7. Evaluate Your Presentation)

• Special Considerations for Team Presentations

Module 12: Meeting Management

• Reasons for Meeting (To Accept Reports from Participants, To Reach a Group Judgment or Decision, To Analyze or Solve a Problem, To Gain Buy-In for an Idea, Program, or Decision, To Achieve a Training Objective, To Reconcile Conflicting Views, To Communicate Essential Information to a Group, To Relieve Tension or Insecurity by Providing Information and Management’s Viewpoint, To Ensure That Everyone Has the Same Understanding of Information, To Obtain Quick Reactions, To Reactivate a Stalled Project, To Demonstrate a Product or System, To Generate New Ideas or Concepts)

• Common Complaints About Meetings ( Complaints About Planning, Complaints About Leadership, Complaints About Participation, Complaints About the Meeting’s Outcomes)

• Planning Meetings(What Is the Objective of This Meeting, Who Should Attend This Meeting, When and Where Will the Meeting Be Held, What Materials, Equipment, Refreshments, and Room Layout Will Be Required for the Meeting, What Should the Agenda Include)

• Leading Meetings (Starting On Time, Opening Remarks, Getting to Business, Participation, Agenda, Closing)

• Effective Meeting Outcomes (1. Visual Display, 2.Meeting Action Plan)

Module 13: Crisis Management

• Morgan Stanley’s Plan

• Defining a Corporate Crisis (Examples of Crisis Situations, Basic Crisis Thesis)

• Intel’s Big Crisis (Intel’s Hidden Crisis, Intel’s Pre-Crisis, Intel’s Full Crisis, Intel’s Post-Crisis, Intel’s Management Mindsets)

• Four Stages of A Crisis (The Hidden Crisis, The Pre-Crisis, The Crisis, The Post-Crisis)

• The Crisis-Management Process (Determine the Crisis Potential, Develop Appropriate Crisis Teams and Centers, Write a Crisis-Management Plan, Develop a Communication Strategy, Practice and Revise the Crisis Management Plan)

Module 14: Media Management

• Inviting Media Response: The Press Release (Rules to Follow in Preparing Press Release, A Critique of a Press Release, Use the Internet to Your Advantage, Video Press Release)

• Applying Your Organization’s Communication Strategy When a Crisis Hits (Your Relationship with the Media)

• Make the Best Use of the Press Conference (Determine Whether a Press Conference Is Necessary, Pick the Right Location, Choose the Right Time, Be Prepared, Some Final Thoughts)

• Media Interviews (Preview the Circumstances, Prepare for the Interview, Practice, Performance Techniques to Use, Post-Interview Evaluation Questions)


o Review Test for Part Four



Part Five: Reporting Case Analyses


Module 15: Analyzing a Case and Writing a Case Report

• Understanding the Classroom Case Method of Learning (What Is the Case Method, Different Types of Cases, Overcoming the Difficulties of the Case Method)

• Reading a Case Properly (Previewing, Skimming, Reading, Reviewing)

• Case Analysis Approaches (General Analytical Approaches)

• Applying the Six-Step Case Analysis Process (Consider the Relevant Information, Define the Case Problem and Write a Problem Statement, Analyze the Facts and Underlying Assumptions, List Possible Alternative Solutions, Select a Solution and Prepare to Define It, Decide How to Carry Out the Solution)

• The Written Report (The Suspense Format, The News-First Format, The Strategic-Issues Format, Exhibits and Typing)

• Some Do’s and Don’ts for Case Preparation

• Appendix: Sample Case Analysis

Module 16: Discussing and Presenting a Case Study

• Preparation Steps for the Oral Case Presentation (What Type of Discussion Strategy Should You Adopt, How Visible Do You Desire to Be, What Role Do You Want to Play, Who Is Your Competition, How Well Do You Listen, What Is the Instructor’s Style, How Will You Handle the Instructor’s Questions, How Will You Ask Questions, How Should You Prepare Your Discussion Notes, Should You Join a Study Group)

• Presentation of the Oral Case Analysis (Class Discussions, Group Presentation, The Individual Case Presentation)

• Reviewing the Oral Case Analysis


o Review Test for Part five
o Final Exam



 

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