Faculty of Business Administration & Communication

Arts

COURSE OUTLINE
Communication Skills
UC1101

September, 2022
SECTION 1: COURSE TITLE AND DETAILS

UC1101: COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Contact details and hours of Faculty:

Instructor: RUTH BAZING
Email: [email protected]

Faculty Assistant: MORKPORKPOR AKU KLU

Email: [email protected]

Lecture Timings: Monday, 12.30pm to 3.30pm

Faculty Advisory Hours*: Tuesdays, 3pm -5pm
Faculty Office Location: Faculty Office

*Faculty will be available to assist students. Make an appointment via email to meet with faculty for any questions or
assistance pertaining to the course.

SECTION 2: COURSE INTRODUCTION

This course will prepare the next generation of undergraduates to effectively communicate by helping
them acquire the necessary writing, speaking and critical thinking skills to succeed in their various
careers. Students would work independently and collaboratively to improve these skills while gaining
deeper understanding of audiences and the context that inform effective communication. Student-
driven lessons will include: class discussions, presentations, debates, reading banquets, writing
workshops among other student-centred activities that will set a stage to develop the skills promised.
SECTION 3: COURSE OBJECTIVES

The goal of this course is to help students:

• learn the critical skills required in the real world setting such as listening, writing and speaking.

SECTION 4: LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course, students should be able to:
● Explain the significance of communication in effective negotiation and in general engagement
with the professional world.
● Communicate across a variety of contexts and to a wide range of audiences by appropriately
adapting communication styles.
● Write and cite existing literature using appropriate citation protocols and understand the
professional consequences of plagiarising and cheating.
● Work effectively in teams taking into consideration diversity in background, opinions,
experiences, and perspectives.
● Engage in constructive and critical dialogue with respect and professionalism.

SECTION 5: COURSE CONTENT

● Introduction: types and forms of communication; perception and communication
● Listening: process and importance of listening; barriers to listening
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 ● Non-verbal communication: non-verbal cues; body language; vocalic
● Verbal communication: public speaking; informative and persuasive strategies; public speaking
anxiety; preparing a speech; speech delivery.
● Reading: reading strategies; intensive and extensive reading; proofreading; library skills
● Writing: note taking and note making; writing pitfalls; professional emails, resume, cover
letter, the research paper; reports

SECTION 6: MODE OF COURSE DELIVERY

● Lecture sessions
● Video Tutorials
● Hands on and practical sessions of writing, speaking and interacting with one another.

SECTION 7: LEARNING RESOURCES

Primary Textbook:

– *Communication in the Real World: An Introduction to Communication Studies.

University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing Edition, (2016 edition)

Reference Texts

Cambridge BEC Preliminary: Self-study Edition – Practice Tests. New Delhi: Cambridge University Press, 2008 or
latest edition.
Devaki, R & Shreesh, C. (2009). Technical English. New Delhi: Macmillan. – Ibbotson, M. (2009).
Cambridge English for Engineering. New Delhi: Cambridge University Press.
Norman, W. (2008). Business Benchmark: Pre-Intermediate to Intermediate – Preliminary—Personal Study Book.
New Delhi: Cambridge University Press. – Norman, W. (2008). Business Benchmark: Pre-Intermediate to
Intermediate – BEC Preliminary. New Delhi: Cambridge University Press.
Rutherford, Andrea J. (2006). Basic Communication Skills for Technology. New Delhi: Pearson Education.
Smith-Worthington, J. (2007). Technical Writing for Success. New Delhi: Cengage Learning.

SECTION 8: ASSESSMENT BREAKDOWN

Assessment Type Score Weight

Attendance 5 5%

Continuous Assessments 10 35%

- Practical Exercises/Assignments - 10
Class tests/Quizzes 15
- Mid-Semester Project

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 Final Evaluations/Exam 60 60%

SECTION 9: ASSESSMENT DETAILS

Attendance: Attendance starts exactly 10 minutes after class start time. Students will receive,
+1 attendance grade for each class where they enter on time or within 10 minutes after class start time
-1 attendance grade for each class where a student doesn’t attend or misses class without prior consent from the lecturer
[10 minutes after start time, students cannot enter class]

Class Participation:
- Points will be allotted to students based on
o Active participation and engagement in the classroom (noticeable to lecturer and classmates)
o Frequency and quality are the basis for assessing in-class participation, with quality weighted more heavily
than frequency.
o Valued behaviours include raising important and relevant points, attempting to answer unpopular
questions, and generally demonstrating a command of assigned reading materials and current business news
o Behaviours to avoid include reiterating obvious points, making irrelevant remarks, distracting the class,
and failing to participate when asked.

Continuous Assessments:
Continuous assessments would be a combination of the following:
Assignments/ Homework
▪ Students will complete and submit individual assignments. Individual assignments would be completed
and submitted independently (on their own, strictly without assistance or aid from others)
▪ Assignments may be given before, during or after class, and may be administered in-person or online.

All above continuous assessments seek to get students updated at all times and promote a sense of
‘everyday reading’. Students who miss the in-class assignments or quizzes due to absence or late entry,
will not be provided an alternative opportunity to complete the assignment.

Final Exam
The final exams will be a sit-down exam. This examination seeks to test students’ knowledge and understanding
of interpersonal and organisational communication as undertaken throughout the semester.

Grading Scale
Academic City uses letter grades and numerical weightings corresponding to the letter grades. The numerical
weightings reflect the quality of performance. Total raw scores (combination of continuous assessment and
end-of-semester examination) are converted according to the following scheme:

Raw Score Grade Credit Value Interpretation

80-100 A - 4.0 Excellent

75-79 B+ - 3.5 Very Good

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 70-74 B - 3.0 Good

65-69 C+ - 2.5 Average

60-64 C - 2.0 Fair

55-59 D+ - 1.5 Barely Satisfactory

50-54 D - 1.0 Weak Pass

Below 50 E-0 Fail

SECTION 10: RULES, GUIDELINES AND EXPECTATIONS

Decorum & Respect:
- Class decorum must be maintained at all times during class
▪ Respect the classroom, your peers and your faculty
▪ Students must be polite, respectful and professional in how they conduct themselves in class, treat their
peers, and provide responses to faculty and peers
▪ Students must maintain respect for the views and ideas of others (both faculty and students). Counter
arguments are always welcome however using respectful choice of words/tone and without discrediting an
opposing view
▪ “Respect the speaker” rule – when anyone is speaking (be it faculty or student) others must respect the
speaker by maintaining silence/decorum and listening to the speaker. Any responses should be after the
speaker finishes without interrupting the speaker

Assignment Submissions and Grading:

- Students must submit all assignments within the stipulated time by the faculty.
- If assignments are submitted after submission deadlines an automatic 5% grade point deduction will be
applied, unless the delay was previously approved by faculty due to legitimate reasons - When an assignment
is submitted, faculty will provide a specific time frame by when the graded assignment will be returned to
students, and all such return timeframes will be honoured by faculty

Use of Electronics: Switch off all electronics, except laptops during class. Faculty prohibits usage of such
devices during class!

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 SECTION 11: OUTLINE OF TOPICS TO BE COVERED:

Week/Dates Lecture Topics Seminar/Tutorial Readings Due Assignment Due

Activity (Mandatory (All assignments
prior to class) count towards
course grades)
Week 1 Introduction Lecture and Reading
Course overview: Discussion * PT (Chap. 1.
*Forms/Types of Pg. 1-15 &
communication. Chap 2)
*Role of perception in
communication

Labs Interpersonal Break the ice and Chat-fest

Communication get comfortable Students give short
communicating in responses to
class. questions.

Week 2 Listening in communication Listening and non Think-pair and Students write a
verbal share summary from a
*Barriers to effective listening
communication short audio speech
Reading
*Non-verbal games.
communication * PT (Chap. 5.
Pg. 230-254 &
Chap 4. Pg. 178-
200)

Weekly Writing Formal Emails Tutorials Students write a

formal email

Week 3 Verbal communication; Lecture & Discussions Mini persuasive

persuasive and informative group presentations
Reading
strategies
Use persuasive and * PT (Chap. 11)
informative strategies in
class engagements.

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 Week 4 Preparing a speech: Discussion & Students do an
Reading
audience analysis, speech audience analysis
Group activity
delivery types and public * PT (Chap. 9 in a group.
speaking anxiety and 10)

Labs Use public speaking strategies Group activity Individual

to make a presentation. presentations

Weekly Students will

Writing Students draft a resume Individual activity compose
Resume
individual
resumes.

Week 5 Reading strategies, Lecture https://www.utc.edu

*Scanning and skimming /enrollment-
Group activity & management-and-
*Intensive and extensive
discussion student-
reading
affairs/center-for-
academic-support-
and-advisement/tips-
for-academic-
success/skimming

Labs Cover Letter Group activity Draft a cover

letter

Week 6 Library skills Group Activity Student groups

locate listed
books in the
school library.

Week 7 Writing pitfalls; Group activity & Students draft a

paragraphs, punctuations, Discussion thesis statement
grammar etc

Weekly Writing Note Taking Group activity Students take note

from an article

Weeks 8 & 9 MID SEMESTER EXAMINATION & Break

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Week 10 The research paper and APA Tutorials/ Group To be communicated
citation Activity

Labs Selecting a topic for a Group activity Students share

research paper their ideas for
the research
paper

Week 11 Proofreading and Editing Group activity To be communicated

Week 12 Spill Over Discussion

Week 13 Review class

Week 14 Reading Week

Week 15 END OF SEMESTER EXAMINATIONS

SECTION 12: ACADEMIC DISHONESTY AND PLAGIARISM

Academic City expects and requires all students to engage in all academic affairs with complete honesty and
integrity, which would create an atmosphere of trust and openness within our campus community that
would further allow our students to thrive and succeed through a collaborative spirit.
Academic dishonesty is a serious violation that would mandate disciplinary action, which would be determined
by the Head of Department or Academic City Judiciary Committee depending on it being a first, second or third
offence for the student, and could lead to failure in the course/semester or even suspension/dismissal from
the program.

A student shall be guilty of academic dishonesty if he or she:

- Uses, gives or possesses unauthorised aid during assessments in any and all forms including course
materials, textbooks, technology support, through other students, and so on.
- Obtains assistance from another in carrying out any academic work or vice versa when collaboration is not
permitted
- Presents false data or information, or fabricates any material in support of a research work or other
academic work
- Engages in plagiarism (i.e., taking someone else’s work or ideas to pass them off as their own). In cases of
external references, students should specifically indicate clearly sources of such references.

SECTION 13: APPLICATION OF CORE GOALS

1. ENTREPRENEURIAL THINKING
An Academic City student does not wait for change, but desires and seeks change by continuously
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introspecting the status quo.
Key characteristics: Initiating ideas | Thinking outside the box | Identifying problems | Differentiating
symptoms vs. root-cause | Studying stakeholders

FACULTY IMPLEMENTATION PLAN: This course evokes the entrepreneurial ability of the student. The practical
nature of it prepares students to understand the self and how communication works. The student’s ability to
understand the complex nature of communication and how to use it to their advantage helps here.

2. CRITICAL REASONING
An Academic City student logically gathers information and analyses arguments, as a guide to effective
reasoning and action
Key characteristics: Questioning ideas | Diagnosing situations | Assessing evidence | Conceptualising baseline
| Reasoning leading to conclusion

FACULTY IMPLEMENTATION PLAN: Exercises writing and speaking stimulates the critical thinking of students.
The student’s ability to research, gather, write and edit relevant content also helps here.

3. CONSTRUCTIVE COMMUNICATION
An Academic City student presents ideas effectively and seeks clarification constructively
Key characteristics: Considering the context | Reading between the lines | Delivering effectively |
Communicating with impact | Creating transparency

FACULTY IMPLEMENTATION PLAN: Communication is key in our daily lives. Thus, this course prepares the
student to be well equipped in language usage as well as the conventions of language, writing and
presentation.

4. ETHICAL REASONING AND CONDUCT

An Academic City student can reason through a moral dilemma to create an ethically viable action
Key characteristics: Reflecting on an action’s morality | Being accountable | Taking responsibility of others |
Leading to a morally correct action

FACULTY IMPLEMENTATION PLAN: Accuracy, balance and fairness are key in the real world. These drive the
work. The course thus emphasises ethical reasoning and application in all aspects of the course.

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