CMS1009 Communication in Academic and Professional Contexts

Contents

• Staffing
• Rationale
• Synopsis
• Objectives
• Topics
• Texts
• Reference materials
• Student workload
• Assessment details
• Production date
• PDF version

STAFFING

RATIONALE

This course offers instruction in fundamental aspects of academic and professional communication. First-year students have a need to comprehend the complex processes involved in research and writing in an academic context. Students should be able to apply theoretical understandings of audience analysis, interpersonal communication, and research methodologies to the completion of written and oral assignments. At the same time, these skills can be applied and transferred to professional contexts and will allow the communication of ideas to different audiences in different fields.

SYNOPSIS

This course requires students to demonstrate their understanding of academic protocols in researching and delivering written and oral assignment tasks. Critical thinking will be encouraged through assignments which require evaluation of sources and scrutiny of authorial credibility and textual quality. Academic writing by professionals in the field of communication studies will be analysed. Assessment items will test the processes involved in academic communication, including the application of referencing systems, source critiques and the use of appropriate style and tone for different audiences and tasks. The course will require the development of thesis statements, the use of evidence and the construction of arguments in both written and oral assessment items. It develops skills in oral communication through the preparation and delivery of a 'belief and doubt' presentation, which will encourage students to think both critically and empathetically about different points of view. Written communication skills will come from the preparation of both a preliminary and a large-scale essay and a report.

OBJECTIVES

On completion of this course students will be able to:

1.

Demonstrate academic and professional literacy skills by engaging in research using both print and electronic sources (annotated bibliography, oral presentation, written essay and report).

2.

Critically evaluate and annotate sources of evidence (literature review and annotated bibliography).

3.

Demonstrate academic and professional literacy skills by applying and synthesising researched sources for different assessment tasks, using the appropriate referencing format (annotated bibliography, literature review and written essay).

4.

Develop a thesis statement based on credible evidence (written essay).

5.

Demonstrate oral communication skills by delivering a 'belief and doubt' oral presentation (oral presentation).

6.

Use audience analysis to shape the content and style of oral presentations and written tasks (oral presentation, written essay and report).

7.

Demonstrate competence in written expression, including grammar, spelling and punctuation (written essay and report).

8.

Demonstrate written communication skills by researching, writing and submitting a persuasive essay and report (written essay and report).

TOPICS

TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials are available for purchase from USQ BOOKSHOP (unless otherwise stated). Orders may be placed via secure internet, free fax 1800642453, phone 07 46312742 (within Australia), or mail. Overseas students should fax +61 7 46311743, or phone +61 7 46312742. For costs, further details, and internet ordering, use the 'Textbook Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au click 'Semester', then enter your 'Course Code' (no spaces).

Mohan, T, McGregor, H, Saunders, S & Archee, R 2008, Communicating as professionals, 2nd edn, Cengage Learning, South Melbourne.

REFERENCE MATERIALS

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.

Baker, E, Barrett, M & Roberts, L 2002, Working communication, John Wiley & Sons Aust Ltd, Milton, Qld.

DeVito, J 2005, Messages: building interpersonal communication skills, 6th edn, Allyn and Bacon, Boston, MA.

Eunson, B 2005, Communicating in the 21st century, John Wiley & Sons Aust Ltd, Milton, Qld.

Galvin, M, Prescott, D & Huseman, R 1992, Business communication: strategies and skills, 4th edn, Rinehart & Winston, Marrickville, NSW.

Ober, S 2004, Fundamentals of contemporary business communication, Houghton Mifflin, Boston.

Putnis, P & Petelin, R 1999, Professional communication: prinicples and applications, 2nd edn, Prentice Hall, Sydney.

Tubbs, S & Moss, S 2000, Human communication, 8th edn, McGraw-Hill, Boston.

Tyler, S, Kossen, C & Ryan, C 2005, Communication: a foundation course, 2nd edn, Pearson Education, French's Forest.

Waller, BN 2001, Critical thinking: consider the verdict, 4th edn, Prentice-Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ.

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS

ASSESSMENT DETAILS

NOTES

1.

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY WITH SHORT RESPONSE ESSAY JUSTIFYING EFFECTIVENESS OF SOURCES IN SUPPORTING THESIS STATEMENT, 400 WORDS

2.

BELIEF AND DOUBT, WITH COMPULSORY POWERPOINT PRESENTATION - 10 MINUTES

This version produced 11 Dec 2009.