21 2021

MODULE NAME: MODULE CODE:

APPLIED COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUES APCT5121/d/w

ASSESSMENT TYPE: ASSIGNMENT 1 (PAPER ONLY)

TOTAL MARK ALLOCATION: 100 MARKS

TOTAL HOURS: APPROXIMATELY 10 HOURS

By submitting this assignment, you acknowledge that you have read and understood all the rules
as per the terms in the registration contract, in particular the assignment and assessment rules in
The IIE Assessment Strategy and Policy (IIE009), the intellectual integrity and plagiarism rules in
the Intellectual Integrity Policy (IIE023), as well as any rules and regulations published on the
student portal.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. No material may be copied from original sources, even if referenced correctly, unless it is a
direct quote indicated with quotation marks. No more than 10% of the assignment may
consist of direct quotes.
2. Any assignment with a similarity index of more than 25% will be scrutinised for
plagiarism. Please ensure you attach an originality report to your assignment if required.
3. Make a copy of your assignment before handing it in.
4. Assignments must be typed unless otherwise specified.
5. All work must be adequately and correctly referenced.
6. Begin each section on a new page.
7. Follow all instructions on the assignment cover sheet.
8. This is an individual assignment.

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Referencing Rubric

Providing evidence based on valid and referenced academic sources Markers are required to provide feedback to students by indicating
is a fundamental educational principle and the cornerstone of high- (circling/underlining) the information that best describes the
quality academic work. Hence, The IIE considers it essential to student’s work.
develop the referencing skills of our students in our commitment to
achieve high academic standards. Part of achieving these high Minor technical referencing errors: 5% deduction from the
standards is referencing in a way that is consistent, technically overall percentage – the student’s work contains five or more
correct and congruent. This is not plagiarism, which is handled errors listed in the minor errors column in the table below.
differently.
Major technical referencing errors: 10% deduction from the
Poor quality formatting in your referencing will result in a penalty of overall percentage – the student’s work contains five or more
a maximum of ten percent being deducted from the percentage errors listed in the major errors column in the table below.
awarded, according to the following guidelines. Please note,
however, that evidence of plagiarism in the form of copied or If both minor and major errors are indicated, then 10% only (and
uncited work (not referenced), absent reference lists, or not 5% or 15%) is deducted from the overall percentage. The
exceptionally poor referencing, may result in action being taken in examples provided below are not exhaustive but are provided to
accordance with The IIE’s Intellectual Integrity Policy (0023). illustrate the error.

Required: Minor errors in technical correctness of Major errors in technical correctness of referencing
Technically correct referencing referencing style style
style Deduct 5% from percentage awarded Deduct 10% from percentage awarded
Consistency Minor inconsistencies. Major inconsistencies.
• The referencing style is generally • Poor and inconsistent referencing style used in-
• The same referencing format consistent, but there are one or two text and/or in the bibliography/ reference list.
has been used for all in-text changes in the format of in-text • Multiple formats for the same type of referencing
references and in the referencing and/or in the bibliography. have been used.
bibliography/reference list. • For example, page numbers for direct • For example, the format for direct quotes (in-text)
quotes (in-text) have been provided for and/or book chapters (bibliography/ reference
one source, but not in another instance. list) is different across multiple instances.
Two book chapters (bibliography) have
been referenced in the bibliography in
two different formats.
Technical correctness Generally, technically correct with some Technically incorrect.
minor errors. • The referencing format is incorrect.
Referencing format is technically • The correct referencing format has been • Concepts and ideas are typically referenced, but a
correct throughout the consistently used, but there are one or reference is missing from small sections of the
submission. two errors. work.
• Concepts and ideas are typically • Position of the references: references are only
Position of the reference: a referenced, but a reference is missing given at the beginning or end of large sections of
reference is directly associated from one small section of the work. work.
with every concept or idea. • Position of the references: references • For example, incorrect author information is
are only given at the beginning or end of provided, no year of publication is provided,
For example, quotation marks, every paragraph. quotation marks and/or page numbers for direct
page numbers, years, etc. are • For example, the student has incorrectly quotes missing, page numbers are provided for
applied correctly, sources in presented direct quotes (in-text) and/or paraphrased material, the incorrect punctuation is
the bibliography/reference list book chapters (bibliography/reference used (in-text); the bibliography/reference list is
are correctly presented. list). not in alphabetical order, the incorrect format for
a book chapter/journal article is used, information
is missing e.g. no place of publication had been
provided (bibliography); repeated sources on the
reference list.
Congruence between in-text Generally, congruence between the in- A lack of congruence between the in-text
referencing and bibliography/ text referencing and the bibliography/ referencing and the bibliography.
reference list reference list with one or two errors. • No relationship/several incongruencies between
• There is largely a match between the the in-text referencing and the
• All sources are accurately sources presented in-text and the bibliography/reference list.
reflected and are all accurately bibliography. • For example, sources are included in-text, but not
included in the bibliography/ • For example, a source appears in the in the bibliography and vice versa, a link, rather
reference list. text, but not in the bibliography/ than the actual reference is provided in the
reference list or vice versa. bibliography.
In summary: the recording of In summary, at least 80% of the sources In summary, at least 60% of the sources are
references is accurate and are correctly reflected and included in a incorrectly reflected and/or not included in
complete. reference list. reference list.

Overall Feedback about the consistency, technical correctness and congruence between in-text referencing and bibliography:
....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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Assignment Instructions __
Please note:

• This assignment comprises four questions – all of which relate to the scenario of searching
and applying for a South African job vacancy of your choice. Remember to write your
answers in an appropriate style and tone in order to maintain the level of professionalism
that this communication warrants.

• Referencing is required throughout. Please make sure you pay careful attention to
referencing all sources you have used to help support your answers, both in-text within
each question response and in one complete reference list at the end of your assignment.
The negative marking criteria detailed in the technical referencing rubric will apply.

• Your lecturer/tutor will use the marking rubrics (Appendix A) at the end of this paper to
evaluate the quality of each of your responses. As such, you should ensure that you are
satisfied that all required components are present and are of a high standard before
finalising your responses.

• NB – Your lecturer/tutor will not mark beyond the maximum word count indicated for
Q.2 – Q.4. If you exceed these specified limits, you could lose marks for key points if these
fall within the words not marked.

[ASSIGNMENT QUESTIONS FOLLOW OVER THE PAGE]

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Question 1 (Marks: 5)
Search for any current job vacancies in South Africa that appeal to you based on your intended
career goals and area of study. You can examine local newspapers, or one of the many national
online job portals such as:

• https://www.pnet.co.za/
• https://www.careers24.com/
• https://www.careerjunction.co.za/
• https://www.bizcommunity.com/JobIndustries/196/11/ct-10.html

From your search, select one job advertisement on which to base your responses to the
subsequent questions in this assignment. To ensure you can address each of these questions
sufficiently, your choice of job advertisement must be guided by the following principles:

• Your selected job advertisement must be sourced from a credible newspaper or job portal
(NOT Gumtree, OLX, Facebook, etc.);
• Your selected job advertisement must align to your current area/field/industry of study –
i.e., one of the qualification requirements for the position must be your current
qualification (or similar);
• Your selected job vacancy must provide detailed information of the key areas of
responsibility and required skills;
• Your selected job vacancy must specify that communication skills (or similar) are
required/advantageous.

NB – Save and attach a copy of your selected job advertisement to your completed assignment
response. Make sure you reference the job advertisement accurately using the Harvard method.
You will be awarded a maximum of five marks for the suitability and credibility of your selected
job advertisement, based on the relevant rubric criteria in Appendix A.

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Question 2 (Marks: 15)

Many South African job advertisements today include the following requirement (or similar) for
prospective candidates:

• Good interpersonal skills and the ability to work and connect with diverse cultures and
contexts.

Write a response (150 – 300 words) in which you explain the connotations of this requirement,
using the business context of your selected job advertisement as an example. Make sure you
accurately reference all sources used within your response.

Question 3 (Marks: 30)

Write a professional email (300 – 500 words) in which you apply for the position in your selected
job advertisement.

Your email needs to function as an effective cover letter for your application, so make sure you:

• Follow the structure, format and etiquette requirements of a professional email.

• Include brief but cohesive information on your educational background, employment
history and professional skills. Make sure this information is tailored to the requirements of
your selected job advertisement.
• Include a clear action statement that refers directly to your attached CV. (Do not actually
attach/submit your CV; just write the email as if you were doing this, like you would for a
real-world job application).
• Explain clearly why you are interested in the advertised position and why you believe you
are the best candidate for it.

NB – Feel free to invent or expand on any details about yourself as needed to make the email
message believable, using the details and contexts of your selected job advertisement as a guide.
Make sure you accurately reference all sources used within the email.

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Question 4 (Marks: 50)

Your job application for your chosen advertisement was successful, and you have been selected
for a job interview. You have been told that a panel of three people will interview you. These
people are the organisation’s human resources (HR) manager, the manager of the specific
department in which you would be working, and a colleague from another department.

Write the interview script (750 – 1000 words) of the job interview that would take place for this
scenario.

NB – Your interview script must:

• be structured according to the table template provided below. Copy and complete the
provided table as your response to Q.4 in your assignment submission;
• clearly progress through the specific phases of a job interview, in order;
• include at least three open questions from the interview panel, and your relevant
responses to them;
• include at least three closed questions from the interview panel, and your relevant
responses to them;
• include at least three follow-up questions from the interview panel, and your relevant
responses to them;
• use specific details from your selected job advertisement, your email from Q.3, as well as
the relevant theory from the textbook/Learn as context for the questions and your
responses. Make sure you accurately reference all sources used within the interview script;
• be written using an appropriate language, tone and style.

Interview Script Template

HR Manager Welcome Mr/Ms (fill in your surname), we are so happy to meet you and to
have the opportunity to speak more with you today. We were all very
impressed by your CV and letter of application.
(Your full name) Thank you, I am really glad to be here. Please call me (x).
HR Manager Great. No problem, (x). Let me begin by introducing you to the interview
panel …

[TOTAL MARKS: 100]

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APPENDIX A – APCT5121/d/w Assignment Marking Rubrics

Markers – Please note that the rubrics below must be used to evaluate the students’ responses to the relevant assignment questions. Please clearly
indicate the specific mark you allocate for each criterion below to show how you reached the question total. Also, please provide constructive
feedback to ensure students and moderators can follow your marking logic based on the rubric criteria. In addition, there is a separate memorandum
that provides additional marking guidance – please ensure you get this from your relevant campus administrator.

Q.1 Mark criteria Does not meet required standard
Suitability and • Selected job advertisement is not
credibility of attached or has not been sourced from a
selected job credible newspaper or job portal, or the
advertisement evidence of credibility is insufficient or
misguided.
[5 Marks]
• Selected job advertisement does not align
directly with student’s qualification/field
of study, or this alignment is too indirect
to be impactful.
• Selected job advertisement does not
specify the key areas of responsibility and
required skills – including communication
skills – for the position, or this is too
unclear/vague to be of value.
0 – 2 Marks
Meets the required standard
• Selected job advertisement has been
sourced from a credible newspaper or job
portal, and this is evident from the attached
advertisement and/or its reference.
• Selected job advertisement mostly aligns
with student’s qualification/field of study,
but a more suitable job vacancy could likely
have been found.
• Selected job advertisement specifies some
key areas of responsibility and required
skills – including communication skills – for
the position, but a more detailed job
vacancy could likely have been found.
3 – 4 Marks
Exceeds the required standard
• Selected job advertisement has been
sourced from a highly credible and industry-
relevant newspaper or job portal, and this is
clearly evident from the attached
advertisement and/or its reference.
• Selected job advertisement clearly and
intuitively aligns with student’s
qualification/field of study.
• Selected job advertisement clearly specifies
key areas of responsibility and required
skills – including communication skills – for
the position, in a detailed and useful
manner for the assignment question
requirements.
5 Marks

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Q.2 Mark criteria Does not meet required standard
Comprehension • The student’s answer is off topic and
and application of does not refer to the connotations of
the connotative the given job requirement – or does so
meanings of the largely inaccurately or irrelevantly.
given job
• Little to no attempt has been made to
requirement
apply the connotative meanings of the
given job requirement to the context of
[10 Marks]
the student’s selected job
advertisement, or this application is
largely inaccurate, irrelevant or
incohesive.
0 – 4 Marks
Effective use of • The student’s answer is taken verbatim
own words, from the textbook/Learn content/other
spelling and source(s) and demonstrates little to no
grammar capacity for original thought.
Meets the required standard
• The student’s answer refers to some of
the connotations of the given job
requirement, but some gaps in
understanding are evident and their
answer lacks logic/insight.
• The student’s answer attempts to apply
the connotative meanings of the given job
requirement to the context of their
selected job advertisement, but some
gaps in understanding are evident and
their answer lacks logic/insight.
5 – 7 Marks
• The student’s answer demonstrates some
original thought, but this could be
developed further to address all aspects
of the question.
Exceeds the required standard
• The student’s answer accurately, insightfully
and logically refers to all (or most) of the
connotations of the given job requirement.
• The student’s answer accurately, insightfully
and logically applies the connotative
meanings of the given job requirement to the
context of their selected job advertisement,
demonstrating clear understanding of why
this requirement appears for many South
African job vacancies.
8 – 10 Marks
• The student’s answer is clearly their own
thoughts and demonstrates their capacity for
accurately synthesising the prescribed
material.

• Multiple spelling and grammar errors • Minimal spelling and/or grammar errors
[5 Marks] • No spelling or grammar errors throughout.
throughout. throughout.

0 – 2 Marks 3 – 4 Marks 5 Marks

Q.2 Total / 15

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Q.3 Mark Criteria Does not meet required standard
Email message • The email does not include details of the
student’s educational background,
[15 Marks] employment history and professional
skills directed to the requirements of their
selected job advertisement – or does so
largely irrelevantly, inaccurately or
incoherently.
• The email does not include an action
statement referring to the student’s
attached CV, or does so incoherently.
• The email does not explain why the
student is interested in the advertised
position, and why they believe they are
the best candidate for it – or does so
largely irrelevantly, inaccurately or
incoherently.
• Overall, the email does not fulfil the
requirements of a job application cover
letter and therefore would be of little
interest to prospective employers.
0 – 6 Marks
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Meets the required standard
• The email includes somewhat relevant details
of the student’s educational background,
employment history and professional skills
directed to the requirements of their selected
job advertisement, but some gaps in
understanding are evident and their answer
lacks logic/insight.
• The email includes an action statement
referring to the student’s attached CV, but this
could have been written more concisely.
• There is an attempt to explain why the student
is interested in the advertised position, and
why they believe they are the best candidate
for it, but some gaps in understanding are
evident and their answer lacks logic/insight.
• Overall, the email fulfils the requirements of a
job application cover letter in a passable
manner, and therefore would be of some
interest to prospective employers.
7 – 11 Marks
2021
Exceeds the required standard
• The email accurately, insightfully and
logically includes highly relevant details
of the student’s educational
background, employment history and
professional skills directed to the
requirements of their selected job
advertisement.
• The email includes a clear and concise
action statement referring to the
student’s attached CV.
• The email accurately, insightfully and
logically explains why the student is
interested in the advertised position,
and why they believe they are the best
candidate for it.
• Overall, the email intuitively fulfils the
requirements of a job application cover
letter, and therefore would be of great
interest to prospective employers.
12 – 15 Marks
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Q.3 Mark Criteria Does not meet required standard
Email structure, • The email does not comply with the
format and format and structure of a professional
etiquette email – or does so largely irrelevantly,
incorrectly or incoherently.
[10 Marks]
• There is little to no attempt to apply
conventions of email etiquette. It is clear
that the student does not understand or
appreciate the strategic value of email
etiquette to ensure the email message is
shared with its intended audience
effectively.
0 – 4 Marks
Email language, • Multiple language, spelling and grammar
spelling and errors throughout that detract greatly
grammar from readability.
Meets the required standard
• The student’s answer attempts to comply with
the format and structure of a professional
email, but a few elements are missing,
incomplete or incorrect.
• There is some attempt to apply the
conventions of email etiquette. It is clear that
the student does understand and appreciate
the strategic value of email etiquette, but
lacks the necessary knowledge/skills to ensure
the email message is shared with its intended
audience effectively.
5 – 7 Marks
• Minimal language, spelling and/or grammar
errors throughout that do not detract too
greatly from the readability of the email.
Exceeds the required standard
• The student’s answer accurately and
intuitively complies with the format and
structure of a professional email.
• All (or most) conventions of email
etiquette have been applied accurately.
It is clear that the student does
understand and appreciate the strategic
value of email etiquette and has used
this insightfully to ensure the email
message is shared with its intended
audience effectively.
8 – 10 Marks
• No language, spelling or grammar errors
throughout.

0 – 2 Marks 3 – 4 Marks 5 Marks

[5 Marks]
Q.3 Total / 30

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Q.4 Mark Criteria Does not meet required standard
Open, closed and • The interview script does not include three
follow-up open, three closed and three follow-up
questions and questions – or does so largely irrelevantly,
responses inaccurately or incoherently.
• The interview script does not include
[15 Marks]
student responses to the three open,
three closed and three follow-up
questions – or does so largely irrelevantly,
inaccurately or incoherently.
• Overall, it is clear that the student does
not understand or appreciate the strategic
importance of the three question types
and their associated responses in ensuring
the interview achieves its communication
aims for all participants.
0 – 6 Marks
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Meets the required standard
• The interview script includes three open,
three closed and three follow-up questions,
but some gaps in understanding or application
are evident and the questions lack
logic/insight.
• The interview script includes student
responses to the three open, three closed and
three follow-up questions, but some gaps in
understanding or application are evident and
the responses lack logic/insight.
• Overall, the student demonstrates a passable
understanding and appreciation of the
strategic importance of the three question
types and their associated responses, but they
lack the necessary skills/finesse to use these
to ensure that the interview fully achieves its
communication aims for all participants.
7 – 11 Marks
2021
Exceeds the required standard
• The interview script accurately,
insightfully and logically includes three
open, three closed and three follow-up
questions.
• The interview script includes accurate,
logical and insightful student responses
to the three open, three closed and
three follow-up questions.
• Overall, it is clear that the student
largely understands and appreciates the
strategic importance of the three
question types and their associated
responses and has used this to ensure
the interview fully and intuitively
achieves its communication aims for all
participants.
12 – 15 Marks
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Q.4 Mark Criteria Does not meet required standard
Progression of • The interview script does not reflect a
job interview progression through the four phases of a
phases job interview, in order – or does so largely
inaccurately or incoherently.
[15 Marks]
• Overall, it is clear that the student does
not understand or appreciate the strategic
importance of the phases of a job
interview in ensuring that the interview
achieves its communication aims for all
participants.
0 – 6 Marks
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Meets the required standard
• The interview script reflects a progression
through the four phases of a job interview, in
order, but some gaps in understanding or
application are evident and the interview
lacks logic/insight.
• Overall, the student demonstrates a passable
understanding and appreciation of the
strategic importance of the phases of a job
interview, but they lack the necessary
skills/finesse to use these to ensure that the
interview fully achieves its communication
aims for all participants.
7 – 11 Marks
2021
Exceeds the required standard
• The interview script accurately,
insightfully and logically reflects a
progression through the four phases of a
job interview, in order.
• Overall, it is clear that the student largely
understands and appreciates the strategic
importance of the phases of a job
interview and has used this to ensure the
interview fully and intuitively achieves its
communication aims for all participants.
12 – 15 Marks
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Q.4 Mark Criteria Does not meet required standard Meets the required standard Exceeds the required standard
Relevance and • Few to none of the elements of the • Some elements of the interview script are • Most to all elements of the interview script
engagement of interview script are relevant to the relevant to the student’s selected job are relevant to the student’s selected job
interview script student’s selected job advertisement advertisement and the given interview advertisement and the given interview
to selected job and/or the given interview scenario. scenario. scenario.
advertisement
• Overall, it is clear that the student has not • Overall, it is clear that the student has • Overall, it is clear that the student has
and given
engaged in much detail with the specific engaged in some detail with the specific insightfully and intuitively engaged with the
scenario
requirements and contexts of their requirements and contexts of their selected specific requirements and contexts of their
selected job advertisement or the given job advertisement and the given interview selected job advertisement and the given
[10 Marks]
interview scenario, and so has not scenario, and so has demonstrated a interview scenario, and so has
demonstrated sufficient ability to apply passable ability to apply theory to practice. demonstrated a clear and logical ability to
theory to practice. apply theory to practice.
0 – 4 Marks 5 – 7 Marks 8 – 10 Marks
Interview script • The interview script has not been • The interview script uses the given table • The interview script clear and intuitively
format, language, presented in the given table format, or format but could have been presented in a uses the given table format to present the
spelling and this presentation is haphazard and/or neater or clearer manner. interview in a highly readable and engaging
grammar difficult to follow. manner.
• Minimal language, spelling and/or grammar
• Multiple language, spelling and grammar errors throughout that do not detract too • Very few to no language, spelling or
[10 Marks]
errors throughout that detract greatly greatly from the readability of the email. grammar errors throughout.
from readability.
0 – 4 Marks 5 – 7 Marks 8 – 10 Marks
Q.4 Total / 50

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Referencing (Subtract 0%, 5% or 10%. Please refer to referencing rubric.)

Constructive Feedback:

FINAL MARK – APCT5121/d/w Assignment / 100

END OF ASSIGNMENT

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