RCBC Communication Consultant Academic Advice

Advice for Sophomores in Business

By Communication Consultant Duy Nguyen (Accounting and BIS, ’22)

Major declaration is comingAs we move onto the Spring semester of 2021, sophomores in the College of Business have already successfully concluded the transition to the next chapter at college. Despite no longer having to learn about the resources available at Lehigh, sophomores now face a myriad of new challenges that are unique to sophomores. Navigating such challenges alongside the usual coursework, this year’s sophomores are also coping with unprecedented circumstances of studying in the middle of a pandemic. As an effort to provide support for sophomores, this article will delve into various suggestions specifically pertaining to the second year, curated by the staff at RCBC.

Arguably, the most difficult decision for sophomores, especially at this point in the semester, is to select a major. While some students might have already picked a major before coming to Lehigh, the vast majority of students are still at a crossroads and struggling with weighing the pros and cons of each option. Our first advice is to take advantage of what you learned in your introductory courses. Lehigh’s curriculum has been designed with an aim to provide students with preliminary exposure to every business major available. Therefore, it would be in your best interest to include courses from each field of study in your schedule. Doing so is the best way to understand the focus and requirements of all majors.

These introductory classes will provide you with an invaluable opportunity to establish relationships with your professors. Attending office hours with your professor will give you the opportunity to have an in-depth discussion regarding career paths and the major selection process. Not only will they bolster your performance in the course, but you will also learn the details of the major’s numerous specialized tracks and how they align with your interests. Oftentimes, professors have vast experience in industry and from their academic career and can provide valuable advice.

Outside of the classroom, it is highly beneficial for sophomores to attend the various events organized by the College of Business, business clubs, and the Career Center. The most important events would be major orientations, where representatives and professors from each department provide an in-depth overview of course requirements and career opportunities offered by each major. These sessions are also the perfect opportunity to ask questions of both professors and upperclassmen; oftentimes, they can offer unique perspectives, personal insights, and advice for their major. Additionally, networking and career events can be incredibly beneficial, giving students the chance to meet Lehigh alumni, thereby gaining an understanding of a major’s career prospects.

At RCBC, our Communication Consultants represent a variety of majors and have taken a considerable range of classes. In other words, we have had firsthand experience of what is expected of students in the introductory major courses, and thus would be able to help you with your assignments from those classes (MKT 111, MGT 043/143). We can also share our experiences with selecting a major and getting involved outside the classroom.

Get information and resources about our center at The Philip Rauch Center for Business Communication.

RCBC Communication Consultant Academic Advice, Communication Tips, Most Common Writing Errors

Most Common Writing Errors: Pronoun Use

By Communication Consultant Carolyn Reagan (Undeclared, ’23)

Most Common Writing ErrorsWhen it comes to writing, there are a number of mistakes that are prevalent and greatly undermine effectiveness, clarity, and cohesiveness. This piece is part of our ongoing series about common writing errors.

One way to ensure your readers understand your ideas is to prioritize clarity in your pronoun use. We use pronouns to refer to a recently-mentioned noun (a person, place, thing, or concept). Pronouns help limit repetition in writing. They are an important component of speech in both English and other romance languages. Some common pronouns are “I,” “her,” “you,” “we,” “they,” and “him.” 

For instance: “Melinda and I are working together on a marketing project. She is responsible for designing the Powerpoint.”

In the case of this simple sentence, it is clear that the pronoun “she” is referring to Melinda. The use of “she” also helps prevent the unnecessary repetition of Melinda’s name. Most frequently, pronouns referring to a particular person or group of people are used in a very similar capacity. However, not all pronoun usage is as straightforward. The pronouns “this,” “it,” “that,” or “they” are susceptible to being used in an erroneous manner. If they are used incorrectly or not clarified, they can become incredibly confusing. 

For example: “Wordsworth greatly revered the natural world, writing about the way that the sublime and individualism manifest themselves in daffodils, clouds, and landscapes. This made him one of the most important poets of the Romantic era.”

As a general rule, the pronoun “this” should almost always be followed by a noun that clarifies what you are referring to  (i.e.: This “case,” “decision,” or “approach”). The above sentence is confusing in large part because of the pronoun “this.” It is near impossible to understand what “this” refers to; is it describing Wordsworth reverence of the natural world, his choice to write about the sublime and individualism, or his actual writing? The subject could easily be clarified by instead writing “This focus…” A similar shortcoming is present in the following example. 

For example: “When Camus writes about Meursault’s rejection of the Chaplain’s request, it means that he does not believe in religion.”

The above sentence has two examples of ambiguous pronoun usage. It is unclear what the word “it” is referring to in the antecedent of the sentence. Additionally, the word “he” could potentially be referring to Albert Camus, the author, or Meursault, the book’s main character. Though the sample sentence presents an intriguing point, its confusing pronouns undercut its comprehensibility. Complex sentences (like the sample) that have a combination of both independent and dependent clauses can add important variety to an essay, but can simultaneously present grammatical difficulties.

When it comes to pronouns, the easiest rule to follow is this: A pronoun logically refers to the most recent noun that matches in number and gender. 

In general, the best way to avoid unclear pronoun usage is by thoroughly reviewing and rereading your work prior to submitting it for a grade. Also, consider asking a friend or peer to double check your work. Of course, the RCBC Communication Consultants can look over your writing with you to help identify any issues with pronouns. Clear pronoun use will ensure your readers can fully understand your thoughts and ideas while writing.

Get information and resources about our center at The Philip Rauch Center for Business Communication.

RCBC Communication Consultant Academic Advice

Interview with Professor Saif Mir

By Communication Consultant Xinyi Cui (Accounting and BIS, ’22)

Saif Mir

Professor Mir is a Supply Chain Management professor for SCM 186 and 345, which help business students learn basic principles of supply chain in the real world. Prior to joining the academic world, he worked as a merchant mariner on oil tankers and he loves to share his experiences with the students.

Professor Mir believes communication should be relatable, efficient, and effective at sharing information.

To better explain his opinion of communication, Professor Mir used the group projects from SCM 186 as an example. He wants students to pay attention to details like the fonts for their slides, which can ensure that all slides are consistent and visually appealing to their audience. He advises that, before starting their work, all the teammates need to figure out the structure and layout of the presentation, which will largely decrease the burden on the person who clears up the final version. Another tip of having better reports and slides for his course is to check for effective messages. The best way of attracting the audience is to help them learn something new–a new idea or opinion–about the assigned topic for your work. Think about what your audience needs to know and make sure to deliver the message effectively.

When talking about the importance of communication in real life, Professor Mir mentioned the bullwhip effect. His professional area, supply chain management, involves different types of businesses from suppliers. Effective communication between these stakeholders becomes key. For example, if a single seller decided to make big discounts on a product, aiming to motivate demand, very soon all the products would sell out. Without effective communication, the producer would think that they had a larger demand and therefore would increase their production. When the seller stopped giving discounts, the products would be stuck in the warehouse. You can tell how crucial business communication is for controlling production.

Furthermore, for those students who are going to graduate soon, Professor Mir provided some valuable suggestions for career communication! In the first place, do mock interviews and utilize all the resources the campus provides because Professor Mir shared that he did not realize he needed to make better eye contact until getting feedback after a practice interview. Once you are hired, Professor Mir recommends that, before starting your work, you should take some time to understand the differences between different formats, from reports to presentations.

Professor Mir’s wide-ranging experience illustrates how valuable communication skills are in college and beyond. Work on developing your communication skills. If you want advice or feedback, try meeting with one of our Communication Consultants. We are peer tutors who will help you become an adept communicator.

Get information and resources about our center at The Philip Rauch Center for Business Communication.

Mir, Saif. An Interview with Professor Mir from RCBC. 21 July 2020.

RCBC Communication Consultant Academic Advice

Advice for First Year Students

By Communication Consultants Lili Tang (Accounting and BIS, ’22) and Duy Nguyen (Accounting and BIS, ’22)

Advice for First-Year Students

As a first year student, you have a lot of things to familiarize yourself with. At midterm, you might find yourself feeling overwhelmed with your coursework and transitioning to college life. Thus it is incredibly important that one learns where to find help in order to avoid such anxiety. Excellent resources are available at Lehigh, including professors,  advisors, academic support centers, and much more. 

Though it is easy to be intimidated, freshmen should be aware of the importance of the opportunities and knowledge offered by their professors. Office hours are one notable example in which students benefit from one-on-one interactions with their professors. The personalized help and feedback you receive will be more applicable to your own situation than the broad details presented during class. Additionally, students would be enabled to establish valuable relationships with their professors during such meetings. Those professors might become your major advisors, or simply your mentors from whom you could obtain professional advice and earnest letters of recommendation in the future. 

Moreover, the academic advising team plays a vital role throughout your academic life. When you are worried about your first-year course schedule, degree requirements, etc., you can simply schedule an appointment in the beginning of the semester. During the appointment, your advisor will address concerns, provide suggestions and recommendations for you. For instance, if you are not sure about your future major(s) – a common situation, your advisor can introduce you to introductory major courses, or provide you with tips to learn more from the specific major department. If you have decided your major(s) already but are uncertain about your academic plan, your advisor will create a sample four-year course plan for you, including courses you have taken so far, and courses you should or are suggested to take in future semesters. Keep in mind that you are always free to reach out to your advisor for plan revisions later on. And you surely will be more confident and relieved after the fifteen-minute conversation.

Another incredibly useful resource at Lehigh is centers offering academic support. Freshmen are highly encouraged to seek assistance from these sources for help with their schoolwork. Tutors of various subjects can be reached at the Center for Academic Success. Business students can work on their writing, presentations, and communications-related assignments with assistance from the RCBC, where we specialize in helping you succeed in your business classes. 

As you first step into Lehigh and start to experience your freshman year, you might not have a clear idea about your future career path. With various tools regarding career advice and training, the Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD) will be able to assist you with resumes, cover letters, mock interviews, etc. The earlier you get exposure to these experiences, the more prepared you will be for meaningful career development. In addition, be sure to spend time with resources like Handshake and LinkedIn so that you can prepare for your job search. As you go through some posted job descriptions and responsibilities, you could start to develop related skills and strengthen your networks early. 

College is not the final stop; rather, it is merely a beginning. Adjusting to this new environment and overcoming unknown challenges are surely not easy. However, remember that you are not alone. Taking advantage of these useful tools and resources while learning to step outside of your comfort zone, you will not believe how much you have grown in four years as you walk out of campus with strong confidence.

Get information and resources about our center at The Philip Rauch Center for Business Communication.