THE COPPERBELT UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF MATHEMATICS AND NATURAL SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS & SCIENCE EDUCATION
LA111 / PE121 COMMUNICATION SKILLS
COURSE OUTLINE

INSTRUCTOR: A. SIMPANDE

Email: consultalex01@gmail.com
Class Blog: https://alexsimpande.wixsite.com/comm
Class Website: https://sites.google.com/view/cbu-communicationskills/course-outline

Course Description

This introductory course aims to explore and equip students with effective communication
skills for academic and occupational purposes. The course is designed for science and
engineering students and examines the nature of communication in these two contexts.
Particular attention is given to writing and presentation skills. Examples used refer directly to
the science process skills of observing, classifying, inferring, predicting, experimenting and
communicating to cultivate a sense of scientific inquiry in the context of academic and
professional English.

Course Objectives
 To equip students with the communication skills necessary to perform their academic
tasks at the university.
 To develop competence in communication tasks required in modern industry.
 To make students active participants in their communities by being effective
communicators

Learning outcomes
By the end of this course, students should be able to:

 define the communication process and related concepts

 identify communication barriers during communication
 explain the nature and importance of non-verbal communication
 make notes from written sources and take notes from spoken sources
 develop reading skills for different types of materials
 write for different audiences, purposes, and contexts
 use appropriate essay writing patterns and paragraphs
 organise essays and presentations using a variety of patterns
 Use accepted citation and referencing conventions
 use, interpret and incorporate visual forms in communication
 make oral presentations using different forms of rhetoric

Requirements and Classroom Conduct

You are expected to:

 have a functional and active email address. This is mandatory.

 read assigned texts before class. Required readings will be announced in class.
 attend class on time and meet attendance requirements
 submit assignments on time
 communicate any absence from class through appropriate channels
 mute your mobile phones during class.
 respect others and their right to participate fully in class.
Methods of Instruction
In Class: Oral presentations, Lecture, PowerPoint slides, guided practice, pair/ group work,
discussion, role play/simulation, presentations.
Out of Class: Assignments (reading and writing); oral and visual presentation preparation
(Power Points, reports, public speaking practice); group work (interviews, information
gathering) and library research.

Assessment
Continuous Assessment (Tests and Assignments) = 40% Degree, 50% Diploma
Final Examination = 60% Degree, 50% Diploma

Required Readings
1. Handouts and extracts uploaded on the class website.
2. Ramage, J.D., Bean, J.C., & Johnson. (2006). The Allyn & Bacon Guide to
Writing. 4 th ed. Longman
3. Bailey, S. (2011). Academic writing: A Handbook for international students. 3rd ed.
London: Routledge. (PDF).
4. Sillars Stuart, Success in Communication. 11th ed. (2010). London: John Murray Ltd.
5. Jain, V. K., & Biyani, O. (2007). Business Communication. New Delhi: S. Chand &
Company.
6. Mills Gordon H., Walter John A. Technical Communication. 5th ed. (1986). New York:
Holt Rinehart and Winston. [University Library – limited copies].
7. Alred, G.J., Brusaw, C.T. & Oliu, W.E. (2015). The Handbook of Technical
Writing. Macmillan Higher Education.
8. Huckin T.N., Olsen L,A.. (1991). Technical Writing and Professional Communication
for Nonnative Speakers of English. New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc.
9. Last, S., Neveu, Candice & Smith, Monika. (n.d.). Technical Writing Essentials:
Introduction to Professional Communications in the Technical Fields. University of
Victoria, British Columbia. Retrieved from
https://pressbooks.bccampus.ca/technicalwriting/
10. https://open.lib.umn.edu/communication/chapter/1-3-communication-principles/
11. https://www.open.edu/openlearn/languages/english-language/how-be-critical-
reader/content-section-0

Summary of Content

Unit 1: Introduction
a. Definition of communication
b. Purpose of communication skills
c. Technical English and common core English
Unit 2: The Basic Communication Process
Unit 3: Barriers to communication
Unit 4: Nonverbal Communication
Unit 5: Types and Forms of communication
Unit 6: Patterns of Communication in organisations
Unit 7: Note making and note taking
Unit 8: The Essay and Writing Skills
Unit 9: Citations and referencing
Unit 10: Technical Writing
Unit 11: Information from graphics/visuals
Unit 12: Business Correspondence writing
Unit 13: Speaking Skills
Unit 14: Meetings and documentation
Unit 15: Interview Skills, types and questioning
Unit 16: Report Writing
Schedule of classes
Specific Learning Outcomes
TERM ONE Introduction to Communication
Week 1, 2 & 3
1. Explain the
communication process
and related concepts
2. Identify communication
barriers in
Week 4 Nonverbal Communication
1. Describe aspects of
non-verbal
communication
2. Differentiate categories
of non-verbal
communication
Week 5, 6 & 7
1. Develop critical reading
skills
2. Identify main ideas
from written and
spoken sources
3. Check and critique
information sources
4. Plan and organise
written notes/outlines
Week 8, 9 & 10
1. write for different
audiences, purposes,
and contexts
2. use appropriate essay
writing patterns and
paragraphs
3. organise essays and
presentations using a
variety of patterns
4. Use accepted citation
and referencing
conventions
End of Term one test
TERM TWO Technical Writing
Week 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
1. Produce descriptive
documents for technical
purposes
Topics
1. Definition of communication
2. Purpose of communication skills
3. Technical English and common core English
4. The Basic Communication Process
5. Barriers to communication
6. Types and Forms of communication
7. Patterns of Communication in organisations
1. Paralinguistic features
2. Proxemics
3. Kinesics
4. Oculesics
5. Haptics
6. Chronemics
7. Appearance/artefacts
Reading and note making
1. Reading skills
2. Note format, guides to writing notes
3. Thesis statements and topic sentences
4. Transitional markers
5. Paragraphing and Paraphrasing
6. Notemaking and summarising
Listening and note taking
1. Active Listening skills
2. Note taking strategies
The Essay and writing skills
1. Structure of an essay
2. The writing process
3. Audience, purpose and context
4. Types of writing patterns
5. Collecting and organising information
6. The paragraph and paragraph organisation
7. Introducing a topic and concluding a topic
8. Documenting Sources: Citations and references
9. Exercises: writing mechanics
10. Summary writing
1. Types of technical documents
2. Organising a technical description and use of diagrams
(definitions, description of objects, mechanisms,
processes)
3. Use of prepositional phrases in descriptions
4. Instructions for carrying out a technical process (use of
the imperative)
Week 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
1. Produce various
business documents in a
given context
End of Term Two Test
Business Writing
Letter layout and forms of address
Business communication principles
Writing practice:
1. Letters of complaint & adjustment
2. Employment Letter
3. Memos, Notices, and Email
4. Agenda and Minutes
5. Short Reports

TERM THREE Visuals/Graphics

Week 1, 2, 3, 4
1. Interpret information from
various visual sources
2. Present basic visuals to
increase the effect of
communication
1. Use and value of visual sources in communication
2. Interpretation of Tables and figures (describing trends,
use of adjectives)
3. Presentation of information in tables and figures
4. Other forms of visual communication

Week 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Speech writing and oral presentation skills

1. Identify modes of oral
presentations and their 1. Modes of delivering a speech
purposes 2. Short speeches: off the cuff, making introductions,
2. Make oral presentations welcome and vote of thanks)
using different forms of 3. Organisation of a long speech (the introduction, the body
rhetoric and the conclusion)
3. Execute the roles of 4. Meetings and speaking skills in meetings; procedural
interviewer, chairperson order of speaking; role of the participants in a meeting
and interviewee 5. Interviews:
o Employment and appraisal interview
o Procedure & roles during an interview
o Types of interview questions

Key assignment activities

Major reading tasks

Making notes & summaries: Long text reading comprehension
- headings, subheadings, numbering
- thesis statement, topic sentences, supporting details
Reader response: Critique a text, analysis/synthesis of an argument, Inference

Major writing tasks

Academic essay: paragraphing, citations, referencing and objectivity
Letter: in correct formatting and style – formal/informal tone
Short schematic report: in correct format – reported speech, use of tense
Descriptions: use of adjectives, the imperative, prepositional phrases & transitions

Major speaking tasks

Persuasive presentation on an issue – use of logos, pathos, ethos
Defending a position on an issue – argumentation