Course Syllabus
Contact Information
Course Details
Course Description
Strategic Communication challenges students to master their writing, listening, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills to lead in various business environments. Emphasis is placed on credibility management, audience analysis, research, revision, and rehearsal to equip students for professional success.
Course Objectives
L1: Apply Strategic Communication Principles: Students will apply strategic communication principles by considering purpose, audience, context, and medium when crafting business messages. They will also analyze how audiences and stakeholders influence content, form, format, and design communication decisions.
L2: Develop Proficiency in Persuasive Communication: Students will learn to craft persuasive, research-based business communications, including reports, presentations, and correspondence, focusing on accuracy, appropriateness, ethics, timeliness, persuasiveness, and professionalism.
L3: Enhance Oral Communication, Feedback, and Listening Skills: Students will demonstrate effective oral communication and listening skills across various business contexts, including public speaking, meetings, and interpersonal interactions.
L4: Cultivate Self-reflection to Maximize Influence: Students will demonstrate self-awareness by critically assessing their communication practices, identifying behaviors that may undermine productivity, influence, and professional relationships, and developing strategies for improvement.
Course Materials
Required Textbooks and Program
- O’Rourke, J. (2023). Management Communication (7th ed.). Routledge.
- Harvard Business Review (2011). Harvard Business Review Guide to Better Business Writing (2nd ed.).
Harvard Business Review Press.
Other Required Materials
- Laptop, tablet, or desktop computer with word processing functions.
- Reliable Internet Access
- AI Tool (Limited Use)
Grades
Breakdown
| Activity | Description | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly Journal | 7 @ 20 points each | 140 |
| Communication Strategy Assignments | 2 @ 75 points each | 150 |
| Case Study Debate and Argument Brief | Final Project | 100 |
| In-Class Participation | 7 sessions @ 30 points each | 210 |
| Total | 600 |
Scale
| Percentage | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 90–100% | A |
| 80–89% | B |
| 70–79% | C |
| 60–69% | D |
| Below 60% | F |
Course Components
Weekly Journal
After completing the weekly reading and media, please write a reflection synthesizing the most valuable insights, identify and discuss charismatic leadership tactics you noticed in the media, and make personal applications considering how you can use the combined information to improve your influence and communication climates.
Communication Strategy Assignments
The communication strategy assignments allow you to customize your communication strategy to achieve your goals and meet your audience's needs and wants. Please see Communication Strategy One and Communication Strategy Two for assignment details.
Strategy Debate
This project will sharpen your strategic communication skills. You and your colleagues will work in teams as advocates for change, defenders of the status quo, or debate mediators to showcase your strategic writing and presentation skills and your ability to manage challenging question-and-answer sessions. Please see the Strategy Debate assignment for details.
In-Class Participation
Course Policies
Feedback
I will try to grade all work approximately one week from the due date. For grades of A.W., W, and I refer to the university catalog for information and how they might affect eligibility for financial aid, etc. *Even if mathematically you can pass the course without completing the presentation assignments, I will not pass any student who does not complete each speech assignment.
Late Policy
All assignments, written and oral, are due on specified dates. Please discuss any extension requests before the assignment is due. Unexcused late submissions will receive a 15% grade reduction. Please complete the assignment or exam within seven calendar days of the scheduled date or you will receive no points for the assignment.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the most common form of academic misconduct at OU. There is basically no college-level assignment that can be satisfactorily completed by copying. OU's basic assumption about writing is that all written assignments show the student's own understanding in the student's own words. That means all writing assignments, in class or out, are assumed to be composed entirely of words generated (not simply found) by the student, except where words written by someone else are specifically marked as such with proper citation or when asked to experiment with generative AI. Including other people's words in your paper is helpful when you do it honestly and correctly. When you don't, it's plagiarism.
For more information about plagiarism, watch this video and then take this short course offered by University Libraries.
University Academic Policies and Student Support
Access the University Academic Policies Document.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|