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Why do I need a communicationscourse?Lecture 1

University of Alberta

ALES 204

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Lecture Outline

1.Introduction

2.Why do you need a communications course?

3.All about ALES 204

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Who am I?

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2. Why do you need a communications course?

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Top 5 qualities sought by employers

(Source: 2006 survey by US National Association of Colleges and Employers) 6

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Top criteria for selecting employees

(Source: Graduate Outlook 2007, Graduate Careers Australia)

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What are good communication skills according to employers?

Listening effectively

Communicating accurately and concisely

Effective oral communication

Communicating pleasantly and professionally

Effective written communication

Asking good questions

Communicating appropriately and professionally using social media

(Source: Crawford et al. 2011)

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Most important abilities students are NOT learning

“[We need] more practice with public speaking”

- Student

(Source: Crawford et al. 2011)

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Most important abilities students are NOT learning

“ Writing and communication skills of students in my senior course are often lower than I would expect”

- Faculty

(Source: Crawford et al. 2011)

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Most important abilities students are NOT learning

“ Communication skills are lacking more in today’s graduates”

- Faculty

(Source: Crawford et al. 2011)

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Most important abilities students are NOT learning

“There is a need to communicate findings to people who do not know anything about what you’re doing.”

- Employer

(Source: Crawford et al. 2011)

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What does this mean for you?

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Agricultural Inspector

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Agricultural Inspector

1.Reading text

2.Writing

3.Oral communication

(Source: Human Resources and Skills Development Canada)

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Forestry Professional

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Forestry Professional

1.Document Use

2.Oral Communication

3.Critical Thinking

(Source: Human Resources and Skills Development Canada)

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Veterinarian

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Veterinarian

1.Numeracy

2.Oral Communication

3.Critical Thinking

(Source: Human Resources and Skills Development Canada)

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3. About ALES 204

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Where we are going

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Define communication and understand a model of communicationDescribe the role that culture, hierarchy, perception, language, non-verbal behaviour, and generation play in communication

Informative Persuasive

Rhetorical Purpose

InterpersonalSmall GroupsPublicMass Communication

Context

Oral Written Visual Online

Channel

Analyze a communicative situationPlan an approach

Identify strengths and weakness of your approach

Course Map

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Course calendar

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Calendar

You can add the calendar to your Google calendar

Calendar e-mail address is: ualberta.ca_a29f62e8hblli17lgqpcljj15k@group.calendar.google.com

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Lectures

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Lectures

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Labs

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Labs

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Lab instructors

Monday - Pamela Bentley

Tuesday - Erin Dul

Wednesday - Nancy Bray

Thursday - Bibaswan Ghoshal

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Readings

Communications Works (11th edition) by Gamble & Gamble

Other readings available on eClass

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eClass

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Grade Breakdown

Assignment #1 - E-mail cover letter and résumé

20%

Assignment #2 - Informative Writing 20%

Assignment #3 - Persuasive Speech 20%

Mid-term test 10%

Final test 15%

Lab Participation 10%

Lecture Participation 5%

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Assignment #1 - 20%

Write an e-mail cover letter to an employer

Write a professional résumé to go with e-mail

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Assignment #2 - 20%

Write a fact sheet

An 8.5x11 document to explain a technical matter to a non-expert

Design your document for readability

Include a visual element

Must complete a due process worksheet, peer feedback

Write a business letter offering your fact sheet to a professional

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Assignment #3 - 20 %

5-minute persuasive speech

Persuade someone to change their opinion or to act on something

Presentation aids

Must complete a due process worksheet, peer feedback

Write a business e-mail to your boss outlining your oral communication experience and training needs

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Mid-term Test - 10%

30 multiple choice questions

Will cover material in the lectures, the labs, and in the readings

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Final Test - 15%

Long answer questions

Will cover material in the lectures, the labs, and in the readings

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Participation - 5% and 10%

Lectures - 5% Labs - 10%

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Participation

What to do! What not to do!

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Important Due Dates

Assignment #1 - Cover letter and résumé

Sunday, January 27

Assignment #2 - Informative Writing Sunday, March 3

Assignment #3 - Persuasive Speech Begin March 18 in labs

Mid-term test Wednesday, February 27 at 11 am

Final test Friday, April 12 at 11 am

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Important Course Policies

Late arrival to lecture - liberty seats!

Plagiarism

Late assignments = minus 10% per day, zero after 3 days

Make-up tests = must sign statutory declaration of illness

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For next class

Read Course Guidebook (eClass)

Read Chapter 1 in textbook

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Why this image?Can you figure out what this image has to do with communication?

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Photo Credits

Slide 1 - The Tower of Babel by Peter Bruegel the Elder. From Wikicommons Slide 2 - South Park figure from http://www.sp-studio.de/ Slide 3 - Conversation by Ame Otako from flickr Slide 6 - Ag Inspector by agriculturede from flickr Slide 7 - Ag Inspector by CIMMYT from flickr Slide 8 - Forester by WI Dept of Natural Resources from flickr Slide 9 - Forestry by the poss from flickr Slide 10 - Vet by Army Medicine from flickr Slide 11 - Vet by scott* from flickr Slide 18 - Lecture by uniinnsbruck from flickr Slide 19 - Lecture hall by sholeh!! from flickr Slide 20 - Classroom by Lynn Dombrowski from flickr Slide 21 - Students studying from UBC Library from flickr Slide 27 - Student studying in grass from UBC Library from flickr Slide 28 - The Tower of Babel by Peter Bruegel the Elder. From Wikicommons