Principles of Professional Communication 1 100483 Autumn 2017 Learning Guide 1 Assessment 1– Tutorial Presentation Due Date The presentation will be delivered in class at a date to be organised in the first session. Aims/Objectives • To learn and practice skills of professional oral presentations • To collaborate with a small group to research and present a professional oral presentation based around a set question and sub topic • To lead the class in a discussion of the topic via a set of up to five (5) questions which allow the audience to revise their understanding (one question per presenter). Assessment Description Students will be placed in groups of four (4) or five (5) and the group will be allocated to present in a particular week. Each member must choose a sub topic from the weekly theme around which a presentation is to be based. The aim is to prepare an integrated series of individual presentations and generate and lead a brief class discussion around the general theme or question. Presentations will take place in most sessions (see timetable). All class members are expected to have read the relevant reading and/or textbook chapter and be prepared to contribute to the class discussion. As a group, you are responsible for: 1. Allocating the topics between the members of your group. You may choose from the suggested list or develop your own topic (check with your tutor first however). 2. Preparing a brief (1-2 min) introduction and brief (1 min) conclusion to the overall presentation and decide which team members should deliver these. 3. Compiling the individual PowerPoint slides into ONE slideshow. 4. Preparing a set of questions (one question per team member) to lead the class discussion at the end of the presentation. As an individual team member you are responsible for: 1. Researching and preparing your own segment of the presentation. 2. Preparing your own set of PowerPoint slides that will be integrated into the team presentation. 3. Ensuring that your part of the presentation does not exceed the time limit 4. Contributing to the preparation of the questions, introduction and conclusion The aim is to make the overall presentation coherent and informative. To this end, the group should: 1. Use their own research and references (not just lecture notes) to inform their presentation 2. Compile the individual presentations into ONE PowerPoint slideshow 3. Include a complete set of references at the end in correct APA style Assessment Requirements Each individual presentation must: • Be approx. 5-7 minutes long. Given time limitations, presentations that are too long will be stopped. • Summarise or overview the suggested question or sub topic • Use the scholarly or academic sources in addition to the textbook material. You should not merely summarise the lecture or web material but should include additional perspectives from your own background research • Be summarised in key points on PowerPoint slides • Include a class discussion question based on your sub topicPrinciples of Professional Communication 1 100483 Autumn 2017 Learning Guide 2 • Include a properly set out reference list in APA style NOTE 1: You are meant to present your own secondary research and summarise the part of the question you have chosen, NOT rehash the material given in the lecture. You do not need to cover all of the possible aspects of the topic, and should assume that the audience has a basic understanding of the topic. Use the broader topic question to structure your presentation. NOTE 2: Non-attendance any presenter without documented evidence will mean zero marks for this component for the person not attending. Due to reduced class time available, you will NOT be allowed to present this topic in another session and will have to join another group and present another topic. Pressure of other work (university or otherwise) is not considered an excuse Presentation topic areas Date General topic Question Suggested sub topics (or choose your own) Week 4 13 March Non verbal communication “The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn't said.” How does this relate to different aspects of non-verbal communication? 1. Eye behaviour 2. Greeting gestures 3. Personal space 4. Dress 5. Touch behaviour Week 5 20 March Censorship Is censorship is an effective weapon in maintaining appropriate ‘social and moral standards’ or do we merely censor what we are most afraid of? 1. Should porn be censored? 2. Swearing and ‘bad’ language 3. Censorship of music/video games 4. Censorship vs. Freedom of speech 5. Can we censor the internet? Week 6 27 March Mediated communication Do mediated communication technologies merely give us more ways to communicate or do they change the nature of the communication experience? 1. Is Google making us stupid? 2. Reading online vs. reading on a screen – is there a difference? 3. The ‘human moment’ and mediated communication 4. Text messaging and literacy 5. Online relationships Week 7 3 April Intercultural communication "Differences in culture are not merely a matter of differences in language." How is this statement reflected in different aspects of intercultural communication? 1. High and low context cultures 2. Worldview 3. Customs 4. Non verbal differences 5. Time Week 11 1 May Professional writing Professional writing is about more than deciding which words to put on the page. It is about making decisions based on the audience, the genre and the layout of the document. 1. Does language shape thought? 2. Euphemism and doublespeak 3. Non-discriminatory language or political correctness? 4. Writing for the web vs. writing for print 5. Is punctuation necessary? Week 12 8 May Visual communication How do layout and visuals impact on how a reader understands a text? 1. Semiotics/gestalt principles 2. How does colour impact perception? 3. How can we use visuals ethically? 4. Using fonts and typography 5. Using charts and graphs effectivelyPrinciples of Professional Communication 1 100483 Autumn 2017 Learning Guide 3 Week 13 13 May Mediated communication and ethics “Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do.” How does this apply to mediated communication? 1. Is privacy dead? 2. Intellectual property and copyright 3. Unethical behaviour: spamming, flaming, trolling 4. Anonymity and cyber-bullying 5. Etiquette and politeness in new media Assessment Criteria Your Oral Presentation is worth 20% and will be marked on: (learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 7, 8 & 9) • The extent to which the theme(s) and main points of the issue and topic have been identified, incorporated and summarised • Use of well chosen examples and/or additional relevant research. If you merely summarise the textbook or the lecture material, do not reference additional research or use your own examples, you will only be eligible for a Pass grade • Preparation – you and your group must be organized and prepared to present on the date nominated. You must have a prepared Introduction and Conclusion plus a set of questions. • Speech structure – i.e. clear introduction and conclusion, logical and coherent points • Presentation (speaking) style: not too fast or too slow. Use notes for reference only. Do not read. • Non-verbal communication – use of gesture, eye contact, stance • Timing – too long or too short will be penalised • Use of appropriate, clear and well-prepared audio-visual resources. PowerPoint slides should list key points, not extended textPrinciples of Professional Communication 1 100483 Autumn 2017 Learning Guide 4