Extra Credit Opportunities
Extra credit in this course rewards exceptional effort, consistency, and self-directed learning. These opportunities are designed for students who want to go above and beyond the regular coursework to deepen their business English skills.
Two Extra Credit Options
Option 1: Perfect Attendance (2 points)
Automatic extra credit for exceptional consistency
- Attend all 32 class meetings (starting Week 2)
- You can still miss up to 2 classes without losing regular points
- If you attend every single class from Week 2 onward = 2 extra credit points
- No additional work required - just show up consistently!
Option 2: Custom Assignment (3 points)
Design your own learning experience
Create and complete a business English assignment that demonstrates initiative and connects course concepts to your interests or career goals.
Custom Assignment Guidelines
Requirements
Your custom assignment must:
- Equal scope: Approximately the same amount of work as a regular 3-point course assignment
- Connect to course content: Reference specific units, vocabulary, or concepts from class
- Include clear deliverables: Specific, measurable outcomes you will produce
- Be self-guided: Minimal professor supervision required
- Include self-assessment: Create your own rubric for evaluation
Timeline
- Week 1-9: Brainstorm and develop your idea
- Week 10 deadline: Submit proposal for approval
- Week 11-15: Complete your assignment
- Week 15 deadline: Submit completed work
- Weeks 16-17: No extra credit (focus on final project)
Proposal Requirements
Submit a 1-page proposal including:
- Assignment description: What you will create/accomplish
- Course connections: How it relates to specific course content
- Deliverables: Exactly what you will submit
- Timeline: How you will complete it by Week 15
- Self-assessment rubric: How you will evaluate your own work
Custom Assignment Ideas
Business Communication Projects
- Business English Glossary: Create a comprehensive glossary of 75-100 business terms with definitions, example sentences, and cultural usage notes
- Cross-Cultural Communication Guide: Develop a practical guide for US-Mexico business interactions with real scenarios and language examples
- Industry-Specific Vocabulary Guide: Research and document specialized terminology for a specific business sector (finance, technology, manufacturing, etc.)
Professional Development Projects
- Business Presentation Portfolio: Create and record 3-5 mini-presentations on different business topics with self-reflection on improvement
- Mock Interview Series: Conduct and analyze business English job interviews for different professional scenarios
- Business Writing Portfolio: Develop templates and examples for various business documents not covered in class
Research and Analysis Projects
- Business Case Study: Analyze a contemporary business communication challenge and propose solutions using course concepts
- Comparative Business Practices: Research and compare business communication norms between Mexico and another country
- Business English Trend Analysis: Investigate how business English is evolving in the digital age with recommendations for professionals
Creative Application Projects
- Business Simulation: Design a business scenario simulation with roles, dialogue, and language learning objectives
- Training Materials: Create business English learning materials for a specific audience (new employees, international partners, etc.)
- Digital Business Communication Audit: Evaluate a company’s digital communications and provide improvement recommendations
Media and Technology Projects
- Business Podcast Series: Create 3-4 episodes on business English topics with transcripts and learning materials
- Video Tutorial Series: Develop instructional videos on specific business communication skills
- Business English App Evaluation: Test and compare business English learning apps with detailed analysis and recommendations
Evaluation Criteria
Your custom assignment will be evaluated on:
Content Quality (1 point)
- Demonstrates clear understanding of business English concepts
- Shows depth of research and analysis
- Connects meaningfully to course material
Professional Presentation (1 point)
- Well-organized and clearly structured
- Professional formatting and presentation
- Error-free grammar and spelling
Initiative and Creativity (1 point)
- Shows original thinking and personal initiative
- Goes beyond minimum requirements
- Demonstrates practical application of learning
Getting Started
Step 1: Reflect on Your Goals
- What aspects of business English interest you most?
- How does business English connect to your career plans?
- What skills do you want to develop further?
Step 2: Review Course Content
- Look at all 5 units and weekly topics
- Identify areas you want to explore deeper
- Consider how you can apply concepts to real situations
Step 3: Choose Your Format
- What type of project matches your strengths?
- What format will best demonstrate your learning?
- What can you realistically complete by Week 15?
Step 4: Develop Your Proposal
- Write a clear, specific description
- Create a realistic timeline
- Design your self-assessment rubric
Step 5: Complete Your Assignment
- Produce quality deliverables with a professional presentation
- Assess your work for creativity, quality and professionalism
- Submit your deliverables and your self assessment
Important Reminders
- Maximum 5 extra credit points total (5 points is equivalent to 5% of your final grade for the class)
- Approval required by Week 10 - no exceptions
- No extensions - must be completed by Week 15
- Quality over quantity - focus on doing excellent work rather than just meeting requirements
- This is optional - only pursue if you have time and genuine interest
Questions?
Contact Professor Brandt via Teams or email if you need help:
- Brainstorming assignment ideas
- Developing your proposal
- Understanding the requirements
- Timeline planning
📥 Download Extra Credit Information
Find this file on our repo and download it!
🤖 AI Study Prompts
Copy the downloaded extra credit information and try these prompts:
- “Help me brainstorm a custom assignment idea that matches my career interests in [field]”
- “Create a timeline for completing my extra credit project by Week 15”
- “Help me develop a self-assessment rubric for my proposed assignment”
- “What are the most important elements to include in my extra credit proposal?”
Next: Review the Bibliography for course resources and recommended readings.