NUST BUSINESS SCHOOL

HU-110, MCC 112 & GMT 102: Communication Skills Course Overview and Class Conduct Guide Fall 2010
BS ECONOMICS 2K10 MON 0900-1030 & FRI 1100-1230 BS MASS COMMUNICATION 2K10 TUE 0900-1030 & WED 1100-1230

BS PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION 2K10 MON 1100-1230 & WED 1300-1430

Note: Always consult the timetable issued to you for up to date class scheduling. The above details are just for quick reference.

Tutor Information: Ms.Swaleha Naqvi Office: G1: Phone: 3254: Email: swaleha@nbs.edu.pk Consultation hours: Tuesday: 0930-1200 HRS Wednesday: 1500-1730 HRS Prerequisites: Required classes: None Expected skills: Basic English writing skills, including some familiarity with concepts of grammar and mechanics. Computer skills, including the ability to create PowerPoint presentations, communicate via e-mail, and use the Internet/Web Recommended Books: College Writing Student Book (Zemach & Rumisek) Effective Communication Skills (MTD Training Book Boon) The Handbook of Good English (Edward.D.Johnson) 1

Winning Body Language (Mark Bowden) Note: The books recommended are available as ebooks

Course Objectives: This course focuses on writing, speaking, and interpersonal communication.. At the conclusion of the course, the students should be able to: Analyze written and oral communication situations and the different kinds of audiences to make informed choices about the most effective way to design and communicate/deliver messages Conduct research that includes the use of electronic library resources and the Internet and use the results of that research to develop and produce effective written and oral reports Deliver effective presentations in planned as well impromptu contexts Provide feedback, accept feedback, and use feedback to improve communication skills Write documents that are grammatically correct and make use of the appropriate register Develop effective interpersonal communication skills

Course Synopsis This course is about enabling students to become independent and effective communicators. The course is designed to impart an understanding of the conceptual framework and specific tools necessary for communicating in complex academic and professional environments and to enable students to accomplish strategic academic and professional communication goals. This core course provides the foundation for writing, oral, and collaborative skills necessary for discipline specific courses, internships, and professional positions. Core Communication Skills and Required Assignments This course focuses on a core set of communication skills and requires assignments that support students in their learning of these skills. These communication skills and the types of assignments that teach those skills are described below. Detailed rubrics will be provided when the assignments are announced. Written Communication: Article Review, Film Analysis, Presentation Report, Literature Review, Argumentative Essay , Writing Genre Analysis. Oral Communication: Groups of approximately four to six (depending on class strength) students develop projects, complete research, schedule meetings, write papers and reports, and deliver a 20-30 minute oral 2

presentation using visual aids. These projects build on and use the skills developed in other class assignments. Time Management: Assignments are varied, integrated, and overlapping, and students must focus on multiple issues, projects, and demands. Students must, therefore, take responsibility for planning and pacing their own work as well as for developing time management skills. Evaluation/feedback/Reflection: Self editing, peer review and reflection are critical to effective communication. Opportunities will be provided to help you learn about and to practise these skills on an ongoing basis. Required Assignments

Interview Assignment OR Writing Genre Analysis (20 marks) Film Analysis OR Article Review (20 marks) Argumentative Essay OR Critical Literature Review (20 marks) Project: Group research presentation and report (40 marks)

Professional Development

Exams, quizzes, and worksheets Class participation Professional conduct Other assignments (written or oral) requiring analysis and integration of course concepts

Evaluation Quizzes (4): 20% Class Participation: 5% Assignment / Presentation: 15% Mid-Term Exam: 20% Final Exam: 40%

Attendance Policy The Communication Skills course teaches both conceptual knowledge and skills. Hence, daily attendance and active participation in the class are required. Students should view class attendance as they would work attendance and communicate to their peers and tutor in an appropriate manner. A few things to remember about attendance: Minimum attendance is 75 % failing which, in accordance with NUST policies, you will NOT be allowed take part in any exam. Punctuality is expected. You have only the first 10 minutes of the session to get yourself marked present. Anyone coming to the class later than 10 3

minutes will be allowed to attend the lecture but will not be marked present. Requests to leave the class early or in the middle of the session will not be entertained. Anyone leaving the class earlier than the designated time will lose 01 mark each time such an event occurs from the marks allocated to class participation.

Plagiarism Academic honesty is expected in the completion of all assignments, projects and quizzes etc. Plagiarism constitutes scholastic dishonesty and you are expected to educate yourself about it in order to avoid committing such an offense. Plagiarism is a form of dishonesty that occurs when a person passes off someone else's work as his or her own. This can range from failing to cite an author for ideas incorporated into a student's paper to cutting and pasting paragraphs from different websites to handing in a paper downloaded from the internet. All are plagiarism. (Rutgers Camden) There are three things you should understand about plagiarism: It is a punishable offense and students found culpable of committing an act of plagiarism will be dealt with in accordance with NUST procedures. In most cases, plagiarism involves the use of the Internet. Hence, it is as easy for the tutor to trace the source of plagiarism as it is for the student to plagiarize from the Internet. All parties to plagiarism are considered equally guilty. If you allow your work to be copied by a fellow student then you are considered as guilty as the one who has plagiarized your work. Therefore, the same penalties will apply to you when an act of plagiarism is detected and reported.

Instructions & other important information 1. Please create a group email and communicate this to me by Session/Class 2, Week 1, so that resources and announcements can be sent to you in time. This is to facilitate you initially while you become familiar with the NUST Learning Management System (LMS) which you will be expected to use. However, I will make the handouts & readings available on the NUST LMS on a weekly basis in anticipation of the system gaining wider use. Please contact IT Services NBS about Login and access. In some cases, these resources may also be placed with Mr Sarfraz at the photocopy shop and copies may be purchased as required. If this is the case, then I will let the class representatives know in advance. It is mandatory for you to have the required resources with you during the class for reference and use. 2. Please make sure both mobile phones and laptops are switched off before class begins and remain switched off until the class is over. 4

3. In-class assignments/quizzes are to be returned strictly within class hours. 4. Once assignments/quizzes have been marked, please keep these with yourself. 5. Quizzes will be unannounced and script based. 6. Requests for quiz retake or assignment substitute will not be entertained. 7. Late submission of assignments will not be accepted. 8. Once an assignment or quiz has been graded, students will be notified of the grades via email. You will be given 24 hours after the email has been sent to request a rectification/change in the record incase it is justified. After that, no request regarding a change in the result will be entertained. Students are also advised not to discuss other students quizzes/assignments or marks/grades awarded as the basis for discussion of their own grades with the faculty. 9. Groups once formed for course assignments/projects will not be changed. 10. The end of semester class participation will be evaluated in view of the following: Preparation before coming to class Willing, active and constructive participation in class discussions Respect for other peoples points of views Interest in class sessions and contributi to the flow of the lectures. Thoughtful questions, observations and insights Adherence to class conduct rules Regular attendance throughout the semester

9. Please note that I will not take students calls and messages on my cellphone or home number. Use the official email for any queries outside of working hours and I will endeavour to respond within 48 hours of receiving the email. Make the best use of oncampus consultation hours displayed outside the office.

Course Outline
Week (2 sessions per week) 1 Topics GRAMMAR: Discussion of Course Outline Introduction to Communication Skills Review of parts of speech Sentence Structure GRAMMAR: Sentence Structure Parallel Structure GRAMMAR: Modifier Placement Subject-Verb Agreement GRAMMAR: Pronoun Antecedent Reference Voice WRITING: The Writing Process Identifying Audience & Purpose WRITING: Prewriting Techniques Paragraph Writing WRITING: Essay Writing Practice: Planning and Generating ideas for an Essay Outlining an Essay WRITING: 6

2 3 4 5 6 7

Practice: Drafting an Essay Editing and Revising the Essay 9 10 MID SEMESTER EXAM WRITING: Doing a Peer Review & Proof Reading Reflecting Doing a literature review WRITING: Summary Writing Practice: Summary Writing READING: Reading Strategies Using reading Strategies LISTENING: Active Listening Strategies Using active Listening Strategies PRESENTATION SKILLS: Preparing and Delivering Preparing and Delivering PRESENTATION SKILLS: Preparing and Delivering Preparing and Delivering a Presentation a Presentation a Presentation a Presentation

11

12

13

14 15

16

PRESENTATIONS: (25 mins + 5 mins Q&A session each) Groups 1, 2, 3 Groups 4, 5, 6 7

17 18

PRESENTATIONS: * Groups 7,8,9 Groups 10,11 END SEMESTER EXAM

*Note: Presentation groups may be adjusted according to class strength

Marking Scheme for Written Assignments A marking scheme has also been appended to provide you with guidance as to the standards against which your written work will be assessed and to enable you to produce quality work with specific criteria in mind.

Criterio n

Knowledge of relevant materials and evidence of reading (25) Breadth and depth of reading and understanding of relevant arguments and issues; Perhaps some areas covered in depth and awareness of provisional nature of knowledge. Uses appropriate terminology consistently. Draws on a range of sources; Perhaps some areas covered in depth; Good knowledge of topic and use of appropriate terminology.

Presentation and structure

Argument and response to question (20)

Understanding of issues/Application (25) Depth of insight into theoretical issues and/or application to practice; Where appropriate, demonstrates an ability to apply ideas to new material or in a new context.

Referencing and conforming to instructions (10) Uses a standard referencing system correctly and consistently; Work has been submitted within time boundaries and within prescribed parameters (e.g. word length).

Grade A 70% +

(20) Clarity of argument and expression; Has defined objectives in detail and addressed them comprehensively; Analytical and clear conclusions well grounded in literature; Fluent writing style appropriate to type of assignment; Grammar and spelling accurate. Shows an ability to synthesise a wide range of material and addresses all parts of the assignment topic; Perhaps shows unique or imaginative insights.

B 60-69%

Has defined objectives and addressed them through the work; Good summary of arguments based in theory/ Literature Language fluent; Grammar and spelling accurate.

Generally accurate and well-informed answer to the question that is reasonably comprehensive; Creates an argument that shows evidence of having reflected on the topic.

Demonstrates the ability to work with theoretical material effectively and/or shows evidence of application.

Referencing is mainly accurate; Work has been submitted within time boundaries and within prescribed parameters (e.g. word length).

Uses a limited range

50-59%

of source material; Reasonable knowledge of topic and some use of appropriate terminology.

Has outlined objectives and addressed them at the end of the work; Some evidence of conclusions grounded in theory/literature; Language mainly fluent; Grammar and spelling mainly accurate.

Addresses main issues of assignment topic without necessarily covering all aspects. Develops and communicates a basic logical argument with some use of appropriate supporting examples and evidence. Shows some sign of understanding of the question set, though not necessarily sustained; Fails to support arguments with adequate evidence.

Demonstrates the ability to address theoretical material and/or shows evidence of application.

Referencing is mainly accurate; Work has been submitted within time boundaries and within prescribed parameters (e.g. word length). Some attempt at referencing; Deviates slightly from the required parameters.

D 40-49%

Shows only sparse coverage of relevant material or contains some errors and omissions; Limited knowledge of topic but some use of appropriate terminology. Overdependence on source material. Contains very little appropriate material or contains numerous errors and omissions; Lacks evidence of knowledge relevant to the topic and/or significantly misuses terminology; Is plagiarised.

Has provided generalised objectives and focused the work on the topic area; Limited evidence of conclusions supported by theory/literature; Meaning apparent but language not always fluent; Grammar and/or spelling contain errors.

Demonstrates a basic ability to address theoretical material and/or shows limited evidence of application.

Fail 39% -

No information provided regarding objectives of assignment; Unsubstantiated/invalid conclusions based on anecdote and generalisation only, or no conclusions at all; Meaning unclear and/or grammar and/or spelling contain frequent errors.

Only briefly acknowledges the question if at all; Lacks any real argument or argument is illogical and incoherent.

Demonstrates a lack of understanding of theoretical material and/or lacks application.

Referencing is absent or unsystematic; Deviates significantly from the required parameters.

10

Sources Business assessment criteria grid (devised by Margaret Price and Chris Rust, Oxford Brookes University). Redman, P. (2001) Good Essay Writing: A social sciences guide, London, Sage Publications. WIT/NALA Literacy Development Centre marking scheme originally adapted from Open University Materials.

11