Workplace Communications for Selected Programs

Communications 1111 has been developed to meet the communications requirements of a number of programs.

General skills:

The student will be able to:

1. Write in standard English
2. Demonstrate communicative competence, i.e. appropriate communication behaviour in specific communication contexts.

Specific skills:

• The Communications instructor will choose from the following list those skills and tasks appropriate to the business and technologies fields.

Written skills:

The student will be able to:

1. Write appropriately for single and multiple readers
2. Distinguish objective from subjective statements
3. Distinguish internal from external written communication situations
4. Use correct language fundamentals in all written assignments
5. Write effective sentences
6. Write well-developed paragraphs
7. Demonstrate unity, coherence, and emphasis
8. Prepare written reports using language conventions consistent with appropriate field-related standards and practices
9. Compose a set of procedures related to a business or technology subject.

Written tasks:

Students will be able to successfully complete a variety of tasks which the Communications instructor selects from the following:

1. Extract and summarize the main points from field-related articles
2. Develop an effective application letter and resume
3. Compose an informative report on a workplace-related topic
4. Write effective correspondence in a variety of relevant situations consistent with field-related standards and practices
5. Demonstrate the ability to develop and compose an agenda
6. Demonstrate the ability to record and compose accurate minutes of a meeting
7. Compose an informative brochure
8. Compose a newsletter for a field-related organization
9. Compose a press release on a field-related event or issue
10. Compose a set of procedures related to a business or technology subject
11. Demonstrate the ability to research using primary and secondary sources
12. Demonstrate the ability to select and analyze researched information and then to present it following the documentation conventions appropriate to the field, avoiding plagiarism.

Oral:

The student should also be able to:

1. Prepare for an employment interview
2. Plan, prepare, and deliver oral presentations
3. Participate in informal and formal business meetings
4. Document business meetings.

Other:

1. Collaborate effectively with other students
2. Interact appropriately with the readers of their written work, job interviewers, and participants at meetings
3. Understand basic communication theory as it relates to the student’s chosen field.