Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

Professional communicators need high level, client-focused communication skills combined with an understanding of how to plan communication activities, align communication activities with organisational goals, understand the intended audience, and critically evaluate the success of their work. This unit hones your skills in professional communication and integrates the important skills of writing and presenting under a strategic planning framework. It includes a focus on organisational structure, leadership, teamwork, and audience analysis. Through practical experience in a real-world project you will develop the ability to plan and produce a formal document and client presentation that fulfil organisational goals and meet audience needs.

Aims

This unit aims to provide you with:
1. An understanding of the dynamics involved in workplace communication - including team environments and leadership.
2. Experience in planning, producing, and evaluating communication materials and channels to fit within organisational goals and client needs.
3. A critical understanding of the role of professional communication skills - including audience sensitivity, rhetorical appropriateness, and generic conventions.

Objectives

On completion of this unit you should be able to:
1. Research, analyse, plan, collaborate on, and manage the communication components of workplace projects, including reviewing and reporting to clients.
2. Apply high-level written and presentational skills in producing a professional, client-focused document.
3. Critically evaluate communication projects and associated materials, from both the organisation's perspective and the audience's perspective.
4. Use relevant communication technologies to develop and distribute communication materials.

Content

The unit addresses content such as:
- Professional communication contexts and practices in organisations
- Client-focused communication strategies
- Culture, leadership and teamwork in organisations
- Evaluating communication resources
- Project management, reporting and formal documentation
- Communication planning and organisational goals
- Audience analysis and research
- Writing and document design skills in extended projects
- Client briefs, project proposals, progress reports and pitches

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This unit is taught through lectures, workshops, a series of student presentations, and individual meetings with your project supervisor. Lectures will include guest presentations by industry professionals.

Assessment

LATE ASSIGNMENTS
An assignment submitted after the due date without an approved extension will not be marked. If you are unable to complete your assignment on time, you should submit on time whatever work you have done.

Faculty Assessment Information
To access the Creative Industries Faculty Assessment Information see the Blackboard site for this unit.FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
Project Progress Reports. You will receive formative feedback in response to your progress reports on the planning and development of your chosen professional communication project (see item 2). Feedback will be presented in class and during individual meetings with your project supervisor. Weight 0%

Assessment name: Presentation
Description: (Summative and Formative) Communication Practice Analysis: Class Presentation and Support Materials (PowerPoint). Work in groups to analyse the structure and communication practices of an organisation (for example, an organisation's printed/written materials, an event, a website, or media materials). Consider the success of the communication practice in terms of the organisation's goals and the audience's needs, and in the light of relevant literature. Group (10%) and individual (20%)
Relates to objectives: 1 & 3
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group with Individual Component
Due date: Mid semester

Assessment name: Presentation
Description: (Summative) Project Presentation and Review: Professional presentation to the class as client, with PowerPoint and critical reflection of the process involved in developing the materials.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Late semester

Assessment name: Project
Description: (Summative) Applied Professional Communication Project: Formal Proposal or Report. A professional communication project of your choice, approved by the Unit Coordinator. The project should include analysis of the communication needs/problem, development of a project plan that responds to problems or opportunities and aligns with organisational objectives, development of communication materials (if appropriate), and plans for evaluation.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End Semester

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Recommended Text
Lehman, C.M., DuFrene, D.D., Cameron-Dow, J., Barrett, M. & Murphy, W.L. (2012). BCOM. Melbourne: Cengage.

A set of required readings will be available on the Course Materials Database.

Recommended References
Coley, S.M., & Scheinberg, C.A. (2008). Proposal writing: Effective grantsmanship. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Eunson, B. (2008/2011). Communicating in the C21 (2nd/3rd ed). Milton: Wiley.
Hamilton, C. (2008). Communicating for results: A guide for business and the professions. (8th ed.) Belmont, CA :
Thomson/Wadsworth
Locker, K., & Keinzler, D. (2010) Business and administrative communication (9th ed). New York: McGraw Hill Irwin.
Miller, K. (2003). Organizational communication: Approaches and processes. (3rd ed.).Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson.
Weissmann, J. (2009). Presenting to win: The art of telling your story. (updated ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Weissman, J. (2009). The power presenter: Technique, style, and strategy from America's top speaking coach. New York: Wiley. (QUT ebook-search via library catalogue).
Whalen, D. Joel. (2007). The professional communication toolkit. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

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Risk assessment statement

Optional visits to cultural and business organisations may be arranged at times to suit students. There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit. No responsibility will be taken for absence in other QUT course units as a result of this program.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 21-Sep-2012