Canada College Communications Essay

BCOM AssignmentIntroduction to Business Communication and Professionalism
Portfolio
Objectives
Demonstrate your learning during the semester and provide a portfolio of written work. Show
what you learned in Business Communication, create a set of writing samples that can be used if
requested for job applications, analyze your own communication, and set goals for future
professional communication.
Overview
A portfolio would be commonly brought to an interview that focuses on communication and
writing skills. In that type of professional portfolio, traditional elements include a hook, a bio
statement, and samples of work.
Your assignment. Complete a personalized, semester-long portfolio project intended to integrate
the material covered in class. Unlike a portfolio brought to a job, you will also demonstrate your
analysis of your communication skills. Both good and bad communication have a lot to analyze.
Your analysis or “critical approach” should focus on the “why” and the “how” (Hoger, 1998, p.
64-65). The portfolio should reflect your self-assessment of your writing and presentation skills,
and your communication plans for the future.
Each portfolio will be individualized to each student. Aim to consider how you can demonstrate
expertise on your field (e.g., marketing, accounting, finance, etc.) in what you write and the goals
you set for yourself.
Contents. Use activities, writing, and exercises from the class. You should revise drafts from
earlier in the semester for the final portfolio.
Tell your story of your growth as a communicator with the portfolio. The format is a written
document and should demonstrate excellence in business communication. Think of presenting a
report on your work in this class during the semester to a supervisor or another professor. You
will prove what you have learned and talk about how you have improved or plan to improve.
Peer review will take place for several of the written documents. Use the peer review feedback as
you revise for a final draft. Also, it is recommended you also take your documents to the Writing
Center or Business Communication Center for feedback and run them through Grammarly
(however, you are still responsible for proofreading the contents on your own as well).
Formatting. This assignment will be assessed on your document layout as well. Think carefully
about how you can make the portfolio a cohesive document with a logical, visual flow. How will
you gain the reader’s attention (hint: an engaging/professional cover page)? How will you make
it clear to the reader what the layout of the document is (hint: table of contents)? How will you
help a reader identify different sections and where they are (hint: headings and page numbers)?
**If you need help with formatting, I have included some links to tutorials in this document.
Submission. Upload the final .PDF or Word Document to eLearning as one compiled document.
Do not submit as separate attachments or a series of unconnected documents (as we learn in
BCOM, consider how you can make reading the document easy for the reader). The total length
is up to you as long as you include all categories described below. Tell your story and integrate
the topics covered in the course.
BCOM Assignment
Introduction to Business Communication and Professionalism
Portfolio
Portfolio Major Sections
REMEMBER: Complete each item, try to get feedback on its editing from others, and include it
in the portfolio. Each item should show a significant time investment and attention to detail. All
aspects should be polished, with careful, thoughtful editing.
1. Title Page
2. Table of Contents
3. A short self-analysis of your business communication skills and an introduction (could be a
version of your LinkedIn “About Me”)
4. Writing Section. The documents in this section should be error-free and polished. If a
document was peer-reviewed, it should be revised from your initial submission for peer
review. Elements in the writing section:
a. 1/2 to 2/3 of a page (single-spaced) reflection about your writing skills. This essay
introduces the writing section.
b. Report (Gary recommendation)
c. Email
d. Comets to the Core essay
e. At least 2 other documents that you have written this semester that could prove your
competence as a communicator. Please do not submit a document from a job or
internship if you are under a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).
i. Provide a short introductory paragraph of background as to how each document
reflects your communication competence.
ii. How many documents should you include? A high-quality portfolio would show a
variety of 5+ documents.
iii. This could include texts or emails exchanged with a supervisor or coworker,
communication with classmates, or a cover letter sent for an internship. You could
include creative work here such as website design, a blog or social media post, a
newspaper column, etc. Please do not include papers from other classes.
iv. If you feel uncomfortable sharing documents here are two alternatives to this section:
1. Vaguely discuss the communication you do at work (so as to not violate the
NDA) and focus on the communication skills you use. I care about the
communication, not the subject matter in the professional exchange. You do not
have to have a specific example/document or talk about a work project explicitly
but, for instance, how you exhibit professionalism via texting or email. You could
talk about mistakes you’ve learned from, etc.
2. Find examples of business communication and analyze them. You could look at
corporate marketing, annual reports, etc. Include examples (portions of them if
they are long) and explain the quality of each document.
5. Oral & Visual Communication Section. This section showcases your development as a
speaker (interpersonally, publicly, etc.)
a. 1/2 to 2/3 of a page (single-spaced) reflection of your speaking skills. This introduces the
oral communication section.
b. LinkedIn Screenshots: Portions of your portfolio with an explanation of why they are
effective. You can also include what you intend to improve after the course.
BCOM Assignment
Introduction to Business Communication and Professionalism
Portfolio
c. Presentation Reflection: You have already completed reflection tables for this class based
on your presentation. In this reflection section, provide a short analysis of your
performance and that of the group with a primary focus on lessons learned and future
goals in presentations (can mention inspiration from other groups that presented).
d. Slides (individually prepared – not your group slides)
e. At least 2 other documents or reflections that demonstrate your speaking skills. For
example, this could include a discussion of a presentation in another class this semester.
You could talk about an interview you had for a job or internship. You could talk about
your ability to video conference or do presentations online.
6. Additional Development Section: This section incorporates other elements of development
beyond writing and speaking.
a. 1/2 to 2/3 of a page (single-spaced) reflection of your skill development based on the
topics in this section.
b. Feedback and Criticism: Often, it is difficult to critique others. But that is something you
have been asked to do throughout your peer reviews and presentation feedback. What
have you learned from giving and receiving feedback? How do these experiences (and
other experiences of feedback beyond this class) impact how you will give and receive
feedback/critique in the future? If you’d like, you could display this analysis in a SWOT
format.
c. Lab Reflection: Review the major lessons learned in the lab. What was most valuable?
What was least valuable? You can format this as a review.
7. A short conclusion with communication goals specific to your field and future goals.
8. An appendix
a. Optional
b. Could include other things you want to show off from this semester
In addition to featuring work and reflections from this semester, consider how this portfolio will
showcase your skills in document design? How can you make the portfolio (1) easy to read, (2)
visually interesting, and (3) feel like a cohesive document?
Resources to help with formatting in Word:
Images:
• Inserting images: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/word-2016-essentialtraining/illustrating-with-pictures-and-shapes?u=70198226
• Positioning and sizing images: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/word-2016-essentialtraining/positioning-rotating-and-sizing-pictures?u=70198226
• Wrapping text around your images: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/word-2016-essentialtraining/wrapping-text-around-graphics?u=70198226
Headers, footers, and page numbers: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/word-2016-essentialtraining/using-headers-footers-and-page-numbering?u=70198226
Table of Contents: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/word-quick-tips/create-a-table-ofcontents-in-word?u=70198226
BCOM Assignment
Introduction to Business Communication and Professionalism
Portfolio
Grading Model
Instructors grade a portfolio holistically. I use the rubrics for individual assignments like the
resume rubric in my overall analysis, but I do not assign points for sub-sections that add up to a
total score based on the detailed assignment rubrics. Instead, those rubrics are used broadly, and I
look for how the evidence supports the claims made in the introduction sections of the portfolio.
The goal is to grade your mastery and to do so as anonymously as possible when looking at each
portfolio.
References
Hoger, E. (1998). A portfolio assignment for analyzing business communications. Business
Communication Quarterly, 61(3), p. 64-66.doi: doi.org/10.1177/108056999806100307
See below for the portfolio rubric.
ORAL COMM
(20%)
WRITING SECTION
(40%)
INTRODUCTION, CONCLUSION, &
ADD.ITIONAL DEVELOPMENT (20%)
BCOM Assignment
Introduction to Business Communication and Professionalism
Portfolio
Incomplete (F)
Poor (D)
Fair (C)
Good (B)
Excellent (A)
Your supervisor would
consider the poor quality of
work, missing sections, lack
of analysis and/or your
sloppiness as a sign that
you may need to be
replaced. This section
shows a misunderstanding
of communication basics
and conventions.
Management would look
for someone else to do this
job.
Your supervisor would be
troubled by the poor quality of
work. You do not demonstrate
personal reflection and/or an
understanding of business
communication. Your sections
have significant errors, stylistic
issues, and content choice issues.
The section must be rewritten
before being sent or distributed
within or outside of your
department. Management may
feel time has been wasted on the
part of you or your supervisor.
Your supervisor would ask you to
revise and edit before allowing
people outside of your
department to see the document.
The sections are either
incomplete, lack in-depth
reflection, or display of just the
minimum of communication
knowledge. There are many
errors, stylistic issues, and content
choice issues. Management would
be dissatisfied and have to spend
some time suggesting edits and
revisions.
Your supervisor would send this
document with minor editing.
You had very few errors and
showed significant consideration
of professional communication.
Your work would “get the job
done” as it meets the
expectations of professional
writing. Documents meet all
criteria, and with few exceptions,
exceed expectations.
Management would be satisfied
and have to spend minimal time
suggesting any edits.
Your supervisor would send this
document or approve the work
without any changes. Exceeds
criteria, provides deep insight,
and gives the reader a holistic
understanding of their
strengths, weaknesses, and
ability to communicate. No
easily noticeable errors and
significant consideration of
audience. Management would
be impressed and remember
your work when a promotion is
discussed.
Incomplete (F)
Poor (D)
Fair (C)
Good (B)
Excellent (A)
Your supervisor would
consider the poor quality of
work, missing sections
and/or your sloppiness as a
sign that you may need to
be replaced. This section
shows a misunderstanding
of communication basics
and conventions.
Management would look
for someone else to do this
job.
Your supervisor would be
troubled by the poor quality of
work. Revision and editing are
essential. Parts of this section
show no improvement. You do
not demonstrate an
understanding of professional
writing. There are significant
errors, stylistic issues, and content
choice issues. The section must be
rewritten before being sent or
distributed within or outside of
your department. Management
may feel time has been wasted on
the part of you or your supervisor.
Your supervisor would ask you to
revise and edit before allowing
people outside of your department
to see the document. The
documents demonstrate little
improvement and meet minimum
expectations of professional
writing. There are many errors,
stylistic issues, and content choice
issues. Management would be
dissatisfied and have to spend
some time suggesting edits and
revisions on some of the
documents.
Your supervisor would send this
document with minor editing.
You had very few errors and
showed significant
consideration of audience. Your
work would “get the job done”
as it meets the expectations of
professional writing.
Documents demonstrate
improvement and meet
expectations of professional
writing. Management would be
satisfied and have to spend
minimal time suggesting any
edits.
Your supervisor would send this
document or approve the work
without any changes. Exceeds
expectations of professional
writing. No easily noticeable
errors and significant
consideration of audience.
Documents demonstrate clear
improvement. Management
would be impressed and
remember your work when a
promotion is discussed.
Incomplete (F)
Poor (D)
Fair (C)
Good (B)
Excellent (A)
Your supervisor would
consider the poor quality of
work, missing sections
and/or your sloppiness as a
sign that you may need to
Your supervisor would be
troubled by the poor quality of
work. You do not demonstrate an
understanding of professional and
public speaking. Your reflections
Your supervisor would ask you to
revise and edit before allowing
people outside of your department
to see the document. The
documents are either incomplete,
Your supervisor would send this
document with minor editing.
You had very few errors and
showed significant
consideration of professional
Your supervisor would send this
document or approve the work
without any changes. Exceeds
criteria and demonstrates wellthought-out reflection/analysis
BCOM Assignment
Introduction to Business Communication and Professionalism
DESIGN & FORMAT
(10%)
COHESION
(10%)
be replaced. This section
shows a misunderstanding
of speaking basics and
conventions. Management
would look for someone
else to do this job.
have significant errors, stylistic
issues, and content choice issues.
The section must be rewritten
before being sent or distributed
within or outside of your
department. Management may
feel time has been wasted on the
part of you or your supervisor.
Portfolio
lack in-depth reflection, or display
of just the minimum of oral
communication knowledge. There
are many errors, stylistic issues,
and content choice issues.
Management would be dissatisfied
and have to spend some time
suggesting edits and revisions.
and public speaking. Your work
would “get the job done” as it
meets the expectations of
professional writing.
Documents meet all criteria,
and with few exceptions, exceed
expectations. Management
would be satisfied and have to
spend minimal time suggesting
any edits.
of professional and public
speaking. No easily noticeable
errors and significant
consideration of audience.
Management would be
impressed and remember your
work when a promotion is
discussed.
Incoherent (F)
Inconsistent (D)
Logical (C)
Congruous (B)
Harmonious (A)
Submission was uploaded as a
series of documents, and
virtually no effort was made to
ensure consistency between
sections. Missing materials.
Direct contradictions can be
quickly and easily identified.
Little effort put toward
presenting various analyses as a
single unified submission.
Missing materials or difficult to
find materials.
Various submissions were
uploaded as a single uniform
document with limited
contradictions, errors, or
unexplained decisions. All basic
materials included.
Virtually no contradict-ions exist
within the submission, and
some level of explanation for
decisions that may appear
unrelated or at-odds. All
materials included and
effectively introduced.
Analysis and communication
decisions made clearly based on
career aspirations. All materials
included. Portfolio goes “above
and beyond” on some sections
such as including evidence of
communication ability.
Unreadable (F)
Unclear (D)
Readable (C)
Distinct (B)
Superb (A)
Significant portions of the
assignment were illegible
because of format, design,
and/or use of a prohibited file
format (.pages, .numbers, etc.)
Although the submission was
legible, it was confusing and/or
difficult to read because of font
size, use of color, or overall
organization.
Design was simple, and in no
way inhibited the reader from
understanding any portion of
the submission. Organization
issues were minor.
Submission was not only legible
and well-organized, but it was
also structured in a way that
placed the reader’s experience
as a priority.
Design was consistent
throughout the submission, and
expressed the author’s
personality and message in a
professional and creative way.