Units
Professional Communication 1
Unit code: QCD120
Contact hours: 4 per week
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
This unit focuses on the macro-skills of listening, reading, writing and speaking; establishes techniques for extending vocabulary; uses spoken and written texts of an academic nature to summarise, analyse, make inferences and recognise key concepts; incorporates strategies for effective group participation in a cross-cultural context; helps students learn techniques for writing successfully in genres appropriate to their field of study.
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2013 13TP1 | Yes |
| 2013 13TP2 | Yes |
| 2013 13TP3 | Yes |
Sample subject outline - 13 Week Teaching Period - 1 2013
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
A high level of English communication skills is essential for success in an Australian higher education context. International students need to become competent users of the English language in the four macroskills of listening, speaking, reading and writing to succeed in their undergraduate degrees.
Aims
The aim of this unit is to provide students with the academic and English communication skills required for success in tertiary studies at the undergraduate level. It provides strategies for understanding, composing and presenting information in an academic context.
Objectives
On completion of this unit students should be able to:
- Identify, explain and apply common principles of successful reading, writing, listening and speaking in a second language (English) in an academic context.
- Select appropriate strategies for the purpose of analysing and taking effective notes from academic readings and lectures.
- Deliver an oral presentation to their peers using appropriate resources to convey your message effectively.
- Construct an academically sound expository/argumentative essay.
- Demonstrate understanding of a written text and evaluate the quality of argument/evidence by applying a critical thinking approach to written material.
Content
Weekly Topics
Week 1 - Strategies for learning vocabulary
Week 2 - Note-taking from written and oral texts
Week 3 - Oral skills for formal presentations
Week 4 - Non-verbal communication, Visual presentation
Formative evaluation of notetaking from spoken and written texts
Week 5 - Academic writing-Research Skills
Summative evaluation-Oral presentation
Week 6 - Academic writing - Essay Genre
Week 7 - Academic writing - Academic Tone
Week 8 - Academic writing- Paraphrasing, paragraph structure, cohesion.
Formative evaluation-essay outline
Week 9 - Logic in written and spoken discourse
Week 10 - Critical and analytical thinking
Week 11 - Advanced reading techniques
Summative evaluation Expository/argumentative essay
Week 12 - Non-discriminatory language
Week 13 - Course overview and exam practice
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
Teaching strategies focus on vocabulary and pre-reading to provide students with the necessary language to voice their thoughts. The size of the lecture allows for a more interactive style. The approach is generally: input by lecturer; questions for reflection on input; sharing thoughts in pairs then with the larger group. The goal is for students to make the connections between readings and lectures and to practise expressing themselves orally. Workshops and tutorials are arranged in small groups. The content comes from specific exercises set to work on outside class. In class, exercises both in written and oral form are also used. This develops students' awareness of the level of their English and their competency to respond to academic material when relying on their own resources in a limited time frame.
Late Assignment Policy
Students will be penalised for the late submission of assignments. Refer to the Diploma Course Guide for details.
Review of Grades or Academic Rulings
For rules on how to apply for a review of grade, refer to the Diploma Course Guide.
Consultation
From Week 2, each tutor will be available for two hours per week for individual consultation with students. Times will be advised in class and will also be displayed on a schedule at Reception on Level 3 and on the QCD120 Blackboard site.
Exam Timetable
The exam timetable will be displayed on the Noticeboard on Level 3 by Week 11.Assessment
Formative assessment is offered to provide feedback to you and to improve the quality of your learning.
Summative assessment is used to determine how well you have achieved the objectives of the unit and to assign grades.
This unit may require students to submit their assessment items through SafeAssign.
Please refer to the Week 1 document for this unit.Assessment name: Weekly Reading & Discussion
Description: Formative. Online reading passages followed up by multiple-choice/short answer reading comprehension questions to lay a foundation for further tutorial discussion.
Relates to objectives: 1 - 5.
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: Week 1-12
Assessment name: Mid-Semester Test
Description: Formative. Listening comprehension, reading comprehension and a note-taking task.
Relates to objectives: 1 & 2.
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 4
Assessment name: Oral Presentation
Description: Summative. Oral presentation of a course oriented topic in pairs.
Relates to objectives: 3
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: Week 6
Assessment name: Essay Outline
Description: Formative: Essay outline as per model provided. Students must submit an essay outline and use the comments from lecturers and tutors to inform the final essay.
Relates to objectives: 4 & 5.
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 8
Assessment name: Essay
Description: Summative: Expository/argumentative essay.
Relates to objectives: 4 & 5.
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 11
Assessment name: Final Exam
Description: Exam may include notetaking from a brief lecture, creating notes and answering questions and multiple choice questions based on communication theory, writing a brief essay and applying critical thinking skills to evaluating academic writing and argument.
Relates to objectives: 4 & 5
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 14
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
Please refer to the Blackboard site for resources.
Risk assessment statement
There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.
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: 14-Mar-2013
