CMN 279I: Introduction to

Professional Communication
Summative Assessment #2 Briefing
Fall 2022
 Toronto is in the Dish With One Spoon Territory.
The Dish With One Spoon is a treaty between the Anishinaabe, Mississaugas and
Haudenosaunee that bound them to share the territory and protect the land. Subsequent
Indigenous Nations and peoples, Europeans and all newcomers have been invited into
this treaty in the spirit of peace, friendship and respect.

Image credit: Ruby Bruce via Whose Land (whose.land)

Review of Learning Goals

1. To develop sensitivity to language and tone

while learning to organize and convey ideas
and information textually, visually, and orally;
2. To analyze audience, situation, and medium
to create messages that respond
strategically to practical challenges and
situations; and
3. To communicate ethically and effectively in
various contexts, genres, and discourse
communities.
 Sep Oct Nov Dec
W1 W2 W3 W4 W5 RW W6 W7 W8 W9 W10 W11 W12 EP-W1 EP-W3 EP-W3

ELM #1

ELM #2

SA #1 ELM #3

ELM #4

ELM #5 SA #3

SA #2
ELM #6
SA #4

Figure: Visualization of formative and summative assessment schedule and due

dates by week. Consult your course syllabus for specific calendar dates.
Formative Assessments
A formative assessment is used to monitor student
learning and provide ongoing feedback. These are
generally low stakes assessments, often included as
part of a scaffolded learning process.

Formative assessments both help students identify

their own strengths and weaknesses as well as help
instructors recognize where students are struggling so
that any problems can be addressed.

- Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching,

Toronto Metropolitan University

This term, students will complete six experiential

learning modules (ELMs) as formative assessments.

Consult your syllabus for start and end/due dates.

Summative Assessments
A summative assessment evaluates student learning against a
standard or benchmark at the end of an instructional unit.

Summative assessments are generally high stakes, and encompass

assessments such as midterm exams, final projects, presentations, or
research papers.

- Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, TMU

This term, students will complete four summative assessments:

- A synthesis and reflection report (on ELMs #1 & #2)

- An internal business memo (based on ELM #4)
- A recorded oral presentation (based on ELM #6)
- A cumulative term test (during the final exam period)

Consult your syllabus for due dates and weightings.

 Summative
Assessment #2
Terms & Concepts to Review

● Communicative intelligence ● Clarity

● Scope ● Concision
● Coherence
● Audience
● Summary/summarizing
● Purpose ○ See also “paraphrase/paraphrasing”
● Tone ● Podcast (as a resource)
● Routine email ● Cliché
● Wordiness
● Informative message
● Writing (as a process)
● Primary purpose ● Revision/revising
● Secondary purpose ● Sentence variation
● Email memo ○ See also “parallel structure”
■ Strategy ● Parts of speech
■ Subject line ● Report writing
○ Strategy
■ Structure ○ Structure
○ Analysis & recommendations
New Terms & Concepts

● Professional ethics ● Equity

● Negative news ● Diversity
○ Primary & secondary purposes ● Inclusion
○ Effective delivery strategies ● Systemic barrier (and disability)
○ Anticipating and managing impact ● Intercultural communication
● Emotional empathy ● Accessibility
● Cognitive empathy ○ Accommodation
● Interpretation and analysis ○ Universal Design
○ Limitations of descriptive writing ● Assistive technology/device
○ Use of explanatory writing (also called ● Caption/captioning
informative or expository writing) ● Header & footer
● Accessible document
Assignment Information

● Goal is to expand on your Task 14 memo to include research

and discussion of equity, diversity, and inclusion practices (Q1)
● Don’t forget about the reflection component! (Q2)
● See assignment sheet for formatting instructions
● External research required (minimum of two reliable resources
reviewed, integrated, and cited - see next slides)
● Parenthetical (in-text) citations plus References list
● Use APA format for referencing (7th edition)
● Paraphrase more often than you quote
● Individual assignment — no group work
● Grading criteria: precision, clarity, depth, coherence,
organization, and mechanics. Word counts count!

Need help with research and citations? Consult our library guide. Image credit: TMULA
Memo Structure
TO:

01 Headings
FROM:
SUBJECT:
DATE:

● Address your readers with a proper salutation

02 Opening
●
(e.g., Dear___, Hello___, etc.)
Use a direct opening to convey your key message

● Explain the purpose (the what and why)

03 Body ● Clearly explain how to write an accessible
document. You can use point form or lists.

Reiterate any key instructions

04
●
Closing ● Close positively with appreciation

Graphic prepared by Dr. Kevin Leung

Sample Hello everyone,

Memo To ensure a safe return to work, you will be asked to submit a self check-in using a new
software called Envoy. Envoy makes it easy for employees to upload vaccination proof,
book a desk, and submit self-screening results daily before entry into our office building.
Envoy has been automatically loaded into our employee app, so no further registration or
(prepared by
software installation is required.
Dr. Kevin Leung)
Please follow these instructions to submit your self check-in on Envoy:

1. Click on the following link in our employee app: https://app.envoy.com/check-in.

2. Book a desk and include your scheduled work time.
3. Check the boxes that apply to your current health status.
4. Click the “Submit” button.

This procedure will take effect starting tomorrow, November 2nd, at which time only
checked-in employees will be admitted into our office area.

Thank you for your cooperation in maintaining a safe work environment.

Rebecca Higgins
 Image credits: TMULA

A method for evaluating

potential research sources:
Student Resources
(see D2L for more)
Everything You Need to Succeed at TMU

If you are looking for academic support, engagement opportunities with other students or
resources to maintain your mental and emotional well-being, we are here for you.

Visit torontomu.ca/ru4u for the full catalogue of services.

 Studying and learning
online brings both new
challenges and
opportunities. We can
help you be successful.
Learning Support continues
to offer math, writing, study,
torontomu.ca/sls and English language
support onsite and virtually.
Book your appointment today
and find our library of online
resources.
 @procom_tmu
torontomu.ca/procom
Good luck with the assignment!

This week: Start ELM #5

Next week: Complete ELM #5