THE UNIVERSITY OF DAR-ES-SALAAM,

COLLEGE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES

(CoICT).
DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING.

Course Name: COMMUNICATION SKILLS FOR ENGINEERS.

Course Code: CL111
Name: BULUBA SAMWEL NTUNGA
Reg. No: 2023-04-00996
Program: BSc. In computer science
Instructor’s Name:
Submission Date: 19th January 2024

QN1.Exemplify five(5) verbal signposts applied by any three (3) course instructor in
three different courses and show how the verbal facilitate note taking during the lecture
session.
verbal signposts as stipulated by (linn, 1996)are words or phrases that help the audience
follow the structure and logic of a speech or presentation. They indicate the speaker’s
main points, transitions, or shifts in topic or tone. They also help the audience to
anticipate what is coming next, and to stay focused, interested, and informed. Some
examples of verbal signposts are: Single words or short phrases, such as “firstly”,
“however”, “in conclusion”, and so on.Whole sentences or long phrases, such as “now
that we have discussed the causes, let us move on to the effects”, “this report will next
address the validity of the research”, and so on.Questions or rhetorical questions, such as
“what does this mean for us?”, “how can we solve this problem?”,Verbal signposts can
also be combined with visual cues, such as slides, gestures, or eye contact, to enhance the
clarity and impact of the speech or presentation Signposts must meet the following
criteria:  The feature must be noticeable, having some characteristic that causes it to
stand out from the surrounding text.  The feature is evident across the majority of
books.  The feature offers something to readers who notice and then reflect on it to
help them better understand their own response, their own reading experience, and their
own interpretation of the text.This verbal signposts can be divide in various groups such
as Contrasts and Contradictions, Aha Moment,Tough Questions, Words of the Wiser ,
Again and Again,Memory Moment. Generally with references to three course instructor
who are: Dr Ellen karinga, a computer architecture and organization, Dr Mmahundi, A c
programming instructor and Dr Mdoe, instructor of communication skills of an engineers.
Some of signposts that are used by these three instructors are: I would like to start
with,firstly,further more, however, therefore,moving on, the main point I want to make it
is, and so on.That's all about an overview about the verbal signposts, consider the below
evaluated examples of signposts.

I would like like to start with…,This is a phrase that you can use to introduce the first
point or idea of your speech. It helps to capture the attention of the audience and to
establish the topic or the purpose of your speech. For example, you could say “I would
like to start with a story that illustrates the importance of communication skills in today’s
world. This would make the audience curious and eager to hear more.This is one of the
signposts that indicates the starting point of the lecture session, or continuing but another
topic or sub topic introduced.This generate a real message to the student, facilitating to
them paying more attention to here what is next or what lecture is going to start with so
that they should be not left behind, For-instance in computer architecture and
organization Dr Ellen Kariga prefers using this at the beginning of the topic to facilitate
intensive listening from her students who are in her class.As demonstrated by lucas(1983)

Firstly,is a word that can be used as a signpost in a speech or a presentation. It indicates

that you are about to introduce the first point or idea of your argument or topic. It helps to
create a clear and logical structure for your speech, making it easier for your audience to
follow and understand your message. For example, you could say Firstly, I will explain
the benefits of using signposts in speeches. This would tell your audience what to expect
and how to organize the information in their minds.Based on lecture session some of
lectures tend to use verbal signpost such as firstly in order to simplify the process of note
taking and grasping attention to the students to enhance easy understanding of what could
be spoken after the word firstly.In agreements with (Coopmen & lull, 1963).tried to
explain different points to consider during public speaking where they emphasized of
directive word shift in speaking including the word firstly which signify the starting point
of something or .For-instance in c programming Dr Mmahundi do prefer using the word
firstly wen introducing new idea, he always says “enter the function first before you
declare any variable when using global variables”,

Furthermore, is one of the common signpost word used to indicates next point to be
added or additional information basing on a certain topic. This simplify the listening
process and note taking process because of awareness created to the audience by the use
of such word.for example someone could be talking about element of bad behaviors,
mentioning them as follow “among the elements of bad behaviors are, firstly, use of
abuse language, secondly, arrogance,furthermore aggression.This is how the word
furthermore can be used to enhance effective listening and nit taking. As articulated by
lucas(1983) on use of verbal signposts in presentation of a certain idea or topic on behalf
your audience. Advised much on use of familiar and common verbal signposts for the
audience to be aware of them.With reference to Dr Mdoe on of communication skills for
an engineers prefers using this in his lectures session to facilitate intensive listening and
proper note taking to student whom they attend the session.the main challenge that face
most of student in not taking when this word is used, is failing to understand that
something spoken after the word furthermore is next point or addition information on the
currently spoken idea or point.Therefore, it seems to be confusing to some extent.The
non-confusing word that can be used in the place of further more are those which are
directly and very specific such as firstly, secondly and so.
However,is used as a signpost to indicate a contrast or a contradiction between two
sentences or clauses. It can be placed at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of a
sentence, depending on the intended effect. Here are some examples of how to use
“however” as a signpost: To introduce a contrasting statement with “However,: "the
company was very excited to be invited to the competition. However it did not
attended".To join two contrasting sentences using "being happy means so exicited
however it can be annoying ".With reference from different course instructors such as Dr
Ellen Karinga who is an instructor of computer architecture and organization prefers to
use the word “however” to make contrasts of different ideals for instance ."“virtual
memory play some role as the part of main memory however it belongs to secondary
memory”. Apart from the word however some different words can be used to make
contrasts such as, but, while,which differ from, in contrasts,in different with, and so on.

Lastly is a signposts that introduces the final point or idea in a list or sequence.It can be
used in different position in a sentence, such as at the beginning in the middle or at the
end . for example in the list of names,the name of some famous players called to play for
Tanzania in AFCON 2024 in Ivory cost are: Miroshi,Samatta,Msuva,Kibu,Fei and lastly
Baka.Not only making the list of names, but also can do different function depending on
how the user tend to use.With reference to the courses instructors such as Dr mdoe
prefers to use the word “lastly” to indicate last idea or point based on a certain topic or
sub topic as articulated by linn(1996) on the use of verbal signpost in presentation and
public speaking, that, the use signposts will help the audiences to be aware and show
positive response to a speaker.

To sum up, signposts are very important part to be used in lecture or presentation, such
as, they can flag the most important part of an argument,simplify the activity of note
taking during the lecture sessions or seminar presentation, also signposts can help the
speaker or writer to organize their thought and presents in clear logical way. There are
various consequence that may happen as the result as poor or ignoring the use of verbal
signposts in presentation,lecture or writing, such as incomplete thoughts due to the lack
of connective verbal signposts which give proper logical and meaningful connection of
ideas,also audience fails to grasp the concept that you are trying to convey to
them.Therefore verbal signpost which are common known to most people or student are
adviced to be used to enhance clarity, completeness of ideas which is tougth or presented.
 REFERENCES

 Linn,D.(1996). How to translate signposts. London UK

 Lucas,S.(1983).The art of public speaking.Random house edition.

 Zinsser,W.(1976).The classic guideto writing nonfiction.United state.

 Dweck,C.(2006).The new psychology of success.United state