Communication 1 Tutorial Letter 31 August to 4 September 2020

This week, we begin our academic activities for Communication 1 through online remote
teaching and learning. This is a challenging and uncertain time for all of us, and we will
do our best to make it as enjoyable and productive as possible.

We are aware of the many challenges some of us may be facing. Amongst others, data
and access to devices can indeed be an obstacle to online learning. To minimise these
challenges, we propose a way of working that will consume as little data as possible
until everyone is back on campus. We shall begin the semester using asynchronous
teaching and learning through your TLZ Moodle Communication 1 Classroom. That
means that you can access your TLZ classroom in your own time when you have data
and connectivity. Also, remember TLZ Moodle is zero rated so it doesn’t use data.

In order to adhere to the COVID 19 Social Distancing Protocols we shall be teaching

online for the duration of the semester.

Over and above your academic success, we are also concerned about your well-being
and invite you to share any concerns you may have along the way. The key to a
successful outcome for this module is keeping the communication channels open and
accessible. Time management on your part will be essential to your success in this
module, and to your overall academic performance. 

 This is the first of a series of weekly tutorial letters that will be posted on the TLZ
classroom every Friday to prepare you for the week ahead. Tutorial letters are an
integral part of the remote teaching and learning strategy, and it is your responsibility
to access and carefully read these letters on a weekly basis. These tutorial letters
outline the objectives set for the week, as well as the scope of work that is required
of you. As soon as you receive a new tutorial letter, it is a good habit to skim through
it to get a sense of the work for the week. Then proceed to carefully read the tutorial
letter, make a note of the objectives, and of the work/ task required of you, and plan
your week accordingly.  

We hope you find this way of working manageable. We have been in touch with your
Class Reps and will be setting up Whatsapp Groups to facilitate with the teaching and
learning.

Objective/s for the week

By now you should be familiar with the TLZ Communication classroom and have read
and understood the Study Guide and Weekly Schedule.
Scope of work for the week ahead: 31 August – 4 September

We have decided to introduce you to your Writing Assignment at the beginning of the
course so that you can be thinking of your topic and planning your essay.

1. Please read the Self-Reflective Essay Assignment Question posted in the

Section called Self-Reflective Essay. Read the Guidelines carefully including
the marking rubric.

2. This can be a most enjoyable writing and reflective experience for you. The key
is choosing the right artefact (which is a tangible object – something you can
touch and see) which reminds you of a learning experience which you have had
or are currently experiencing.

3. Read the two example essays (“A photograph” and “Shoes”) posted in this
section, written by students last semester who have given their permission for
us to share their essays with you.

4. Choose an artefact on which to write your Self-Reflective Essay and let your
lecturer know your choice of topic by Tuesday 8 September.

5. You could start reading ahead and read the notes on How to Structure your
Self-Reflective Essay, How to Brainstorm your writing and Example of a
Mind Map

6. You will notice on your Weekly Schedule that there are two weeks later in the
semester from 19 to 30 October to work on your essay. The Essay Assignment
is due on Friday 30 October.

7. To prepare yourself for writing your essay, please read the information on
writing coherent, unified paragraphs in the section entitled Paragraph Writing
in the Workbook on pages 27 and 29. The Workbook is in the section in this
TLZ classroom entitled Workbook.

8. Practise what you have just learnt, by answering the Application Exercises 1 to
3 on pages 30 – 31 in the Workbook.

9. Remember the most important point that for every new idea we have, we need
to write a new paragraph.
 10. The answers to these exercises will be posted on Friday 4 September in the
Workbook section of this TLZ classroom.

Learning outcome/s met by this week’s activity/ies:

Demonstrate competencies in writing coherent paragraphs.

Preparation for Essay Writing.