Course Catalogue

Module Code and Title:       COM301         Advanced Communication Skills

Programme:                          BCA

Credit Value:                         12

Module Tutor:                       Rob Marjerison

General Objective: Generally taught in the final year, this module aims to provide students with exposure and practice with more advanced uses of language for a wide range of personal and professional purposes, including debate, public speaking, negotiation, and construction of well-reasoned arguments. The module is intended to build on the knowledge and skills developed by students in ACS101 as well as their own discipline-specific modules and two years of college experience. Whereas the ACS101 module would have supported students in developing competencies necessary for excelling at college-level work in academic settings, the Advanced Communication Skills module builds on the academically-focused skills previously acquired to engage students in developing new competencies relevant for broader communications.

Learning Outcomes – On completion of the module, learners will be able to:

  1. Construct and communicate well-reasoned arguments.
  2. Comfortably give a rehearsed speech in front of an audience, using minimal cues/notes, appropriate body language, eye contact, enunciation, tone and volume, where the purpose is to engage or convince a particular target audience.
  3. Demonstrate building rapport and managing conflict through appropriate communication.
  4. Engage in debates using thoughtful logic and clear speech.
  5. Apply various styles of negotiations.
  6. Give feedback constructively.
  7. Demonstrate sensitivity to the effects of different cultural contexts on communications.
  8. Exhibit information literacy regarding the media by evaluating information from news sources and analysing it critically.

Learning and Teaching Approach:

Approach

Hours per week

Total credit hours

Introduction and modelling of topics in the subject matter

1

15

In-class practice and debrief/reflection time

2

30

Student demonstrations and assessment thereof

1

15

Independent study

4

60

Total

120

 

Assessment Approach:

A. Group role plays: 20%

In-class demonstrations (4x per student) in pairs or groups on interpersonal interactions and negotiation. Each role-play demonstration per student (worth 5%) should encompass approximately 3-5 min. Students are marked on clarity of the connection of the demonstrations to the conflict management and negotiation topics (i.e., accurate demonstration of the key concepts under these topics).

B. Public speaking exercise: 15%

Speech on student-selected topic of 10 min duration. Students are marked on content, including construction of well-researched presentation slides (5/15), proficiency in oral delivery (5/15), and non-verbal demeanour (5/15).

C. Group debate: 15%

3-on-3 group debate on contemporary issues, 30 min duration. Students are marked on quality of the background research (5/15), argument construction (5/15), and delivery (5/15).

D. Reading quizzes: 20%

Short written individual quizzes of 30 min. duration each (worth 5% each), covering approximately 3 weeks of subject matter.

E. Reflection diary: 10%

Description and reflection on at least 10 personal communication experiences throughout the semester. ~2,500 words total. The entries are marked on completion and originality (50%), and quality of the reflections on the descriptions (50%) based on the concepts presented in the subject matter (e.g. referring to specific concepts in connection with their own experiences).

 

Areas of assignments

Quantity

Weighting

A.    Group role plays

1 per group of 4 students

20%

B.    Public speaking exercise

1 speech, 10 min.

15%

C.   Group debate

1 debate, 3-on-3, 30 min.

15%

D.   Reading quizzes

4

20%

E.    Reflection diary

Diary with min. 10 entries

10%

Total Continuous Assessment (CA)

 

80%

Semester-end Examination (SE)

 

20%

           

Prerequisites: ACS101

Subject Matter:

  1. Essential concepts in communication
    • The communication process (Source, Message, Encoding, Channel, Decoding, Receiver, Feedback, Context)
      • Effects of different types of input (visual, auditory, kinaesthetic)
      • Effects of different types of filters (Values, Beliefs, Past Experiences, Prejudices, Feelings, Environment)
    • Cross-cultural communications (culturally-sensitive communications, cultural lens, communications in egalitarian vs. hierarchical cultures)
    • Giving constructive feedback; cross-cultural aspects thereof
    • Elements of Communication
      • Non-verbal (Tone of Voice, Body Language)
      • Verbal
    • Communication representational systems
      • Types of representational systems (visual, auditory, kinaesthetic)
      • Phrases for use in response to each representational system
    • Tools for advanced communication
      • Reframing
      • Linguistic tools
  1. Building rapport and using appropriate communication for managing conflicts; cross-cultural aspects thereof
  • Steps for building rapport (matching a person’s sensory modality, physiology, voice, breathing, the way he/she deals with information, common experiences)
  • Communication skills in conflict management
  1. Negotiation
  • Approaches to negotiation
  • Negotiating with problem people
  • Cognitive and communication bias in negotiation
  • Negotiation leverage and use of power
  • Negotiation strategies and tactics
  • Specific types of negotiation (concepts, features, benefits and drawback, uses): Distributive Bargaining; Integrative Bargaining
  1. Debate
  • Researching topics
  • Types of argument
  • Format of debates and procedures
  • Basic skills (speaking, arguing, listening, synthesizing, arranging)
  • Manner (style and structure)
  • Framing and language
  1. Critical analysis of a topic
  • Students select a topic from a news feature on any recent event (local, national, regional, or global).
  • The topic must be researched further to gain a well-rounded understanding by examining other news sources that report on the same topic, as well as any other key expository articles on the topic. An annotated bibliography should be prepared for the topic.
  • Presentation slides are made in preparation for the presentation to an audience.
  • A public presentation is made as the culmination of the “Public speaking” unit.
  1. Public speaking
  • Importance of public speaking
  • Strategies for becoming a better public speaker
    • Planning (use of specific tools such as Rhetorical Triangle, Monroe’s Motivated Sequence, 7 Cs of Communication)
    • Engaging with the audience
    • Body language
    • Strategies for positive thinking and coping with nerves
  • Strategies for rehearsal and practice

Reading List

  1. Essential Reading:
    • Harvey-Smith, N. (2011). The Practical Guide to Debating. New York: International Debate Education Association. Retrieved from: http://debate.uvm.edu/dcpdf/Neill_Harvey_Smith_Practical_Guide_to_Debating_Worlds_Style_2011.pdf
    • Lewicki, R.J., and Hiam, A. (2006). Mastering Business Negotiation: A Working Guide to Making Deals and Resolving Conflict. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
    • MindTools (n.d.) Better Public Speaking: Becoming a Confident, Compelling Speaker. Retrieved from http://www.mindtools.com/CommSkll/PublicSpeaking.htm
    • MTD Training. (2010). Advanced Communication Skills. MTD Training and Ventus Publishing ApS.
  2. Additional Reading:
    • Grenney, J., Switzler, A., Patterson, K., and McMillan, R. (2011). Crucial Conversations 2nd McGraw Hill Education.
    • Kumar, E.S. (2010). Communication Skills and Soft Skills: An Integrated Approach. Pearson India.
    • Lewicki, R.J., Barry, B., Saunders, D. (2005). Negotiation 5th McGraw Hill Education.
    • Lyon, L.S. (2011). Elements of Debating. Nabu Press.

Date: May 30, 2015