CHINHOYI UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

INSTITUTE OF LIFELONG LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT STUDIES

CENTRE FOR LANGUAGE & COMMUNICATION STUDIES

COURSE TITLE: COMMUNICATION SKILLS (Code: CUACE101)

1.0 Preamble

This course is designed to expose students to the fundamentals of academic and professional
communication in order to develop professionals who can effectively apply communication theories and
best practices to meet their academic and corporate communication needs. It also initiates students to
critical thinking and information literacy skills in a bid to foster in them higher order analytical and critical
thinking skills that promote academic and professional success.

2.0 Aims

The course aims to equip students with communication and critical thinking skills suitable for their
academic and professional purposes. It is further meant to develop in students skills necessary for effective
communication in discipline specific domains, business and life in general.

3.0 Course Objectives

By the end of the course students should be able to:

(a) Communicate effectively both verbally and non-verbally

(b) Advance sound, valid and cogent arguments in their essays and academic presentations
(c) Demonstrate understanding of the generic fundamentals of communication
(d) Use various computer-mediated communication platforms in their academic and professional work
(e) Relate to the interpersonal and organizational dynamics that affect effective communication in
organizations.
(f) Think independently and critically in their various fields of study

4.0 Course Duration

The contact time is 48 hours lectures and 12 tutorial hours spread over 15 weeks .

5.0 Methodology

The course will be taught mainly through lectures, tutorials, group discussions, simulations and
student presentations.

6.0 Course Design

Section A of the course will be done by all students. Section B will be done by the students from the
Schools of Agricultural Science and Technology, Wildlife, Ecology and Conservation, School of Art and

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 Design, Natural Science and Mathematics and Engineering Science and Technology. Section C will
accommodate students from the Schools of Entrepreneurship and Business Sciences and Management and
Hospitality and Tourism.

Section A - Generic Communication and Critical Thinking Issues

Section B - Academic and Professional Communication for Scientists and Engineers

Section C - Business Communication

7.0 Content

Section A

7.1 Introduction to Communication (4 lecture hrs and 2 tutorial hrs)

(a) Communication defined

(b) The process of communication
(c) A critique of communication models
(d) Exploring communication barriers

7.2 Information Literacy Skills (4 lecture hours and 2 tutorial hrs)

(a) Information Literacy
(b) Evaluating information sources
(c) Citation and referencing
(d) Teaching/Learning approaches

7.3 Critical Thinking Skills (6 lecture hrs and 2 tutorial hours)

(a) The nature of Critical Thinking

(b) Models of critical thinking

(c) Argument, assumption, proposition, premise and conclusion

(d) Academic argumentation skills: inductive reasoning and deductive reasoning

(e) Validity, Soundness, Strength and Cogency
(f) Fallacies
(g) Plagiarism, referencing and textual cohesion

7.4 Non-verbal communication and Impression management (5 lecture hrs 2 tutorial hrs)

(a) Introduction to non-verbal communication

(b) Examining the interface between Verbal and non-verbal communication
(c) An analysis of the categories of non-verbal communication(kinesics, proxemics, chronemics,
paravocalics, olfatics etc)
(d) Exploring non-verbal communication barriers.

7.5 Communication in Organisations (5 lecture hrs and 1 tutorial hr)

(a) Formal communication networks in organizations (application and challenges)

(b) Informal communication networks (relevancy and challenges)

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 (c) A critique of Computer- mediated communication (videoconferencing, intranet, e-mail,
skype, groupware, Facebook, WhatsApp etc)

7.6 Conflict Management and resolution strategies (5 lecture hrs and 1 tutorial hr)

(a) Approaches to organizational conflict

(b) An analysis of the causes of conflict
(c) Exploring conflict handling strategies
(d) Evaluating principles of negotiation

7.7 Business Writing (5 lecture hrs and 2 tutorial hrs)

Production of sound, cohesive and cogent documents:

(a) Memos
(b) Reports
(c) Proposals
(d) Press releases
(e) Circulars, etc
(f) Plain English in corporate communication
7.8 Public Speaking and Presentation skills (4 lecture hrs and 1 tutorial hr)
(a) Effective public presentation skills
(b) Approaches to Audience analysis
(c) Analysis of effective argumentation skills
(d) Interview skills (an evaluation of methods and approaches)

Section B

8.1 Technical Communication (Time allocated: 5 lecture hrs and 2 tutorial hrs)
(a) Presenting technical information
(b) Tables, graphs, charts, visuals and pictorials (evaluating effectiveness and context of use)
(c) Technical reports and proposals
(d) Critiquing technical communication challenges
8.2 Development Communication (5 lecture hrs and 1 hr tutorial)
(a) Concepts and approaches
(b) An analysis of the various media in rural development communication
(c) Exploring factors influencing communication reception

Section C

9.1 Persuasive Communication (3 lecture hrs and 1hr tutorial)

(a) Identifying and critiquing strategies for effective persuasive communication

(b) Evaluating persuasive communication appeals ( pathos, logos, ethos)
(c) Applying persuasive communication principles in advertising

9.2 Communication and leadership (4 lecture hrs and 1hr tutorial)

(a) Leadership principles

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 (b) Situating communication in leadership
(c) Evaluating synergy between communication and leadership

9.3 Communication for organizational success (3 lecture hrs and 1 hr tutorial)

(a) Communication function in management

(b) Strategic communication for organizational success
(c) Managing the communication function in organizations

9.4 Topics covered under student self-directed learning

Section A
(a) A critique of any two communication models not covered in the lecture
(b) Testing arguments for strength, cogency, validity and soundness
(c) Referencing using school specific house styles
(d) An analysis of three nonverbal communication categories

Section B
(a) critiquing technical communication challenges
(b) examining factors influencing communication reception

Section C
(a) synergy between communication and leadership
(b) applying persuasive communication principles in advertising
(c) communication and customer care

10.0 Assessment

Examinations : 70%

Students will write a 3 hour paper and will answer THREE questions, ONE from EITHER
Section B or C.

Coursework : 30%

Coursework will include in-class tests, individual assignments and group presentations and simulations.

Student self directed learning will be assessed through tutorial presentations and individual assignments.

NB Total number of credits allocated to this course is 12

11.0 Recommended Reading List

Abidi S.A.H (1991) Communication Information and Development. Nairobi: Kenya Masaki Publishers.

Bean, J.C. (2011) Engaging Ideas: The professor’s guide to integrating writing, critical thinking and active learning in the
classroom. Jossey-Bass, London.

Bovee C. and Thill J. V. (1997) Business Communication Today 5th ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

Burns, T and Sinfield, S (2012) Essential Study Skills: The Complete Guide to Success at University. 3rd Ed. Sage, London.

Chaffee, J (2014) Thinking Critically. 11th ed. Cengage Learning, New York.

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DiSouza, J.R and Leggie N.J. (2000) Business and Professional Communication 2nd ed. Kenywyn: Juta +Co.

Hatch, L.G (2003) Arguing in Communities: Reading and Writing Arguments in Context 3rd Boston: McGraw-Hill.

Fielding, M. (1997) Effective Communication in Organisations 3rd ed. Kenywyn: Juta +Co

Jandt, F.E. (2004) An Introduction to Intercultural Communication: Identities in a Global Community 4 th ed. London: Sage
Publications.

Lucas, S.E. (2004) The Art of Public Speaking 8th ed. McGraw Hill

McQuail, A and Windahl, S. (1993) Communication Models for the study of Communication. London: Longman.

Paul, R. and Elder, L. (2011) Critical Thinking: Tools for taking Charge of your Learning and your life. Pearson, London.

Pearson, J et al (2008) Human Communication 3rd ed. McGraw –Hill, Boston

Philip, C. K. (2008) Successful Writing at Work. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston.

Shields, M. (2010) Essay Writing: A Student’s Guide. Sage, London

Zarefsky, D. (2005) Public Speaking Strategies for Success 4th ed. Pearson, New York.

Wright, J. (2002) Communication for Science. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Zimmerman D. E and Clark D.G (1987) Guide to Technical and Scientific Communication. Random House Inc.

Specialised web based Encyclopedias on Communication related areas