ROCKVIEW UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF LITERATURE AND LANGUAGES
COM 111: COMMUNICATION SKILLS
COURSE OUTLINE
RATIONALE
This course is designed to equip the students in the university with the necessary knowledge and skills
in communication, which would enable them to use study skills competently as well as write academic
papers competently. It introduces the students to a variety of communication, study and presentation
skills. The course also designed to show students how important it is to listen actively, ask questions,
read, take notes, study an express themselves clearly.
AIMS
1. To explore and equip students with effective communication skills for academic and
occupational purposes.
2. Equip the students in written, verbal, non-verbal, technical communication skills and
presentation skills. Also examines the culture and dynamics of communication within the
classroom and any other settings.
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
Organize essays and presentations using a variety of patterns
Use accepted citation and referencing conventions
REQUIREMENTS
You are expected to:
Belong to a tutorial group.
Attend class on time and meet attendance requirements
Submit assignments on time.
Have a functional and active email address. This is mandatory.
Communicate any absence from class through appropriate channels
Respect others and their right to participate fully in class.
METTHOD OF TEACHING
Lecture 3 Hours
Tutorial 1 Hour
ASSESSMENT
6 assignment 20%
2 tests 20%
3 presentation 10%
Examination - 50 %
COURSE CONTENT
The Essay and Writing Skills
a. Academic Writing Skills
b. Citations and referencing systems
Communication
a. Definition of communication
b. Purpose of communication skills
c. Types of communication
d. How to be a good communicator
The Basic Communication Process
Barriers to communication
Nonverbal Communication
Types and Forms of communication
Patterns of Communication in organisations
Note making and note taking
Summary skills
Reading skills
Study skills
Time management
Career development
Presentation skills
Business Correspondence writing
Speaking Skills
Meetings and documentation
Interview Skills, types and questioning
Report Writing
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.
RECOMMENDED
1. Mills Gordon H., Walter John A. Technical Communication. 5th ed. (1986). New York:
Holt Rinehart and Winston. [University Library – limited copies].
2. Alred, G.J., Brusaw, C.T. & Oliu, W.E. (2015). The Handbook of Technical Writing.
Macmillan Higher Education.
3. Huckin T.N., Olsen L,A.. (1991). Technical Writing and Professional Communication
for Nonnative Speakers of English. New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc.
4. 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 fromhttps://pressbooks.bccampus.ca/technicalwri/
5. https://open.lib.umn.edu/communication/chapter/1-3-communication-principles/
6. https://www.open.edu/openlearn/languages/english-language/how-be-
criticalreader/content-section-0
