International College QCD 211 Communication 2

UNIT OVERVIEW
Week 1 Document
Lecturer: Lesley Chiu Tutors: Sheila Ford; Helen Manchon; Loretta Smith; Jacqui Sosnowski; Merrill White; Stacey Winch

Lecture Times: Tutorial Times: Look on QV at the end of week one for your tutorial allocation. Please attend the session to which you have been allocated. Consultation Times: Go to Contact Us on the QCD211 Blackboard site

Semester 1, 2014 QUT CRICOS Provider No 00213J

CONTACT DETAILS
Coordinator: Lesley Chiu Phone: 07 3138 3972 Fax: 07 3138 5910 Email: l.chiu@qut.edu.au

RATIONALE
Knowledge and understanding of academic genres are essential for success, particularly in a higher education context. As international students, you will encounter new genres in the Australian higher education context. Not only will you need to become competent users of these genres to succeed in your postgraduate degrees, you may also need to adapt to different learning and teaching styles.

AIMS
This unit aims to explore different academic genres through the content of communication theory to enhance international students competency in the use of these genres. It will provide opportunities for you to gain knowledge and understanding of common academic genres in an Australian university context to enhance your competency in terms of your use of these genres.

OBJECTIVES
At the successful completion of this unit you should be able to:

1. identify and explain introductory communication theory and apply it to a number of academic genres. (*UCGC 1, UCGC 2, UCGC 3, UCGC 6) 2. produce a range of written and spoken academic genres, using appropriate conventions and technically correct expression. (*UCGC 1, UCGC2, UCGC 5, UCGC 6) 3. select appropriate critical and analytical thinking strategies to evaluate given scenarios and provide solutions through the effective use of primary and secondary research. (*UCGC2, UCGC 4, UCGC 5, UCGC 6) 4. work productively and co-operatively as a team member. (*UCGC1, UCGC 5, UCGC 6) *UCGC: University Certificate Graduate Capabilities. See Appendix A

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1.0 Weekly Schedule

Week 1 2 Topic Communication genre theory Survey Questionnaire genre Consider and choose a report topic. Draft questions. Confirm report topic by Monday 9am. Conduct secondary research for report. Compose Questionnaire & Report Plan. Submit Questionnaire & Report Plan: Friday (KG Assignment Minder and Blackboard turnitin) Conduct secondary research for report Revise and administer Questionnaire. Analyse data and collate tally sheet Complete data analysis & tally sheet Write draft report Finalise report. Begin meeting regularly with discussion group Prepare group discussions. Practise case study Submit Report: Thursday (Assignment Minder, KG AND Blackboard turnitin) Choose Case Study question. Begin research. Present Group discussions and/or take observation notes. Present Group discussions and/or take observation notes. Research & prepare Reference page Submit Observation documents: Friday (Assignment Minder KG). Present practise case study in tutorial Present first draft of Reference page in tutorial. Practise writing case studies. Final Reference page signing. Prepare and practise for exam. Upload Reference page to Blackboard turnitin Take only the signed Reference page to the exam. Task

Report genre

Correspondence genres

5 6

Interpersonal communication Group dynamics

Oral genres

Ethics

Case study genre

10

Persuasion

11

Negotiation

12

Intercultural communication

13

Revision

End semester exam

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2.0 Assessment Tasks

2.1 REPORT PROJECT
ASSESSMENT ITEM A. Questionnaire & Report Plan(FA) B. Written Report (SA) C. Group Discussion (SA) WEIGHTING: DUE DATE: 60% A. Friday Week 4 B. Thursday, Week 9 C. Tutorials of weeks 10 & 11 (to be scheduled) and Friday week 11 LENGTH: A. 10 questions + 200 word paragraph B. 1 200 words C. 10 minutes + 250-300 word paragraph DESCRIPTION: Analysis of primary and secondary research to produce a written Report and a Group Discussion of that Report.

2.2 END OF SEMESTER EXAMINATION

ASSESSMENT ITEM A. Reference Page (FA) B. Case Study Essay (SA) WEIGHTING: DUE DATE: 40% A. Tutorial of week 12 B. Examination week DURATION: DESCRIPTION: 2 hours 1000 1200 word Case study Essay (limited open-book)

Summative Assessment (SA) Summative assessment is included in the calculation of your grade. Formative Assessment (FA) Formative assessment is used to provide feedback to you to assist with your progress. Use the feedback to inform the preparation of your summative tasks. N.B. You will be required to submit Parts A & B of the Report task and the Case Study Reference Page to the Blackboard content matching detection tool, turnitin, to assist in verifying the originality of your work.

Assessment submitted after the due date without an approved extension will not be marked and will receive a grade of 1- . If special circumstances prevent you from meeting the assessment due date, you can apply for an extension. If you dont have an approved extension you should submit the work you have completed by the due date and it will be marked against the assessment criteria.

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3.0 Assessment Weightings

Task 1. Report Project Description A. Questionnaire + Paragraph (FA) B. Report (SA) C. Group Discussion + Paragraph (SA) A. Reference page (FA) B. Case Study Essay (SA) Weighting 30% + 30% 60% 40%

2. End semester exam

4.0 Assessment Task Details

NOTE: You will be required use the content matching software, Blackboard turnitin, for nominated assessment tasks and supply reports generated by such software. 4.1 Report Project The Report Project will require you to assume the role of a market researcher who has been authorised by an organisation to investigate an issue of concern. A topic list and detailed task and criteria sheets are available on the QCD211 Blackboard site for your consideration. Copies of all task sheets will be distributed in the relevant classes. You be given the opportunity to register your preferred Report Project topic on the Blackboard site in week 2, before Monday, week 3. After this date, topics will be allocated by the lecturer. A. Questionnaire & Report Plan (FA) Length: 10 questions of various prescribed types and an academic paragraph Weighting: n/a Due Date: Friday week 4 (Assignment Minder, KG and Blackboard turnitin) Task (Individual) i) In response to your selected Report topic, produce a word-processed, paper-based questionnaire of ten (only) questions, for distribution to twenty (only) subjects. A template is provided on Blackboard to assist you in constructing the questionnaire. ii) Write an academic paragraph of 200 words, including at least one secondary reference plus one entry for an annotated bibliography, in which you outline the plan for your Report. Though this is a formative task, your response to feedback given by your tutor WILL contribute to your final result. After they have been marked, you must include this same Questionnaire and Report Plan and associated Criteria Sheet with the Report (Part B) iii) Improve your questionnaire using the given feedback. Make 20 copies of the improved questionnaire (N.B. Every questionnaire must meet QUTs ethical standards by including a Survey Cover Sheet).

N.B. You may only distribute questionnaires to QUTIC students and their participation must be voluntary and anonymous. You must survey a diverse range of subjects (NOT only other Uni. Cert. & Pathways students).The administration of this questionnaire must be authentic. The resultant data will be presented in tables and/or graphs for analysis and discussion in a Report. Use the feedback from your Report Plan to inform your Report.

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B. Report Length: 1 200 words Weight: 30% Due Date: Thursday, week 9 (Assignment Minder, KG and Blackboard turnitin ) Task (Individual) Collate and analyse the primary data collected from your 20 questionnaires and conduct further secondary research to write a 1 200 word Report for your client. Explain why the issue is important to the client and what concerns, problems and/or weaknesses are currently known (Introduction). Present and analyse your research findings and draw conclusions about the concerns and issues which seem apparent for the target population in general. Explain the significance of these findings for the client (Discussion and Conclusions). Based on these conclusions, recommend actions the client can take to address the concerns and issues. Consider such things as; who, what, when, where, how and at what cost (Recommendations). Discuss the short and long-term benefits to the client and the clients organisation from acting on these recommendations (Benefits) and how the success of the recommendations will be evaluated (Evaluation). Incorporate relevant secondary support throughout the report. Note: Do not base your report on fabricated data. C. Group Discussions Length: i) 10 min leading discussion ii) academic paragraph and supporting documents Weight: 30% Due Date: i) scheduled in tutorials of weeks 10-11, ii) Friday week 11 Task (Group) You will be allocated to a group of three to five students. In your scheduled week (see Blackboard), assume the role of market researcher to lead a 10 minute discussion to clarify your reports recommendations with a group of clients/stakeholders. When not the discussion leader, actively participate in the discussions of each, other group member as a relevant client or stakeholder. You must attend all of your tutorial classs group discussions in weeks 10 and 11 and take observation notes of the other groups discussions. You will use these notes to construct a 250 word academic paragraph which analyses a range of interpersonal skills practised in those group discussions. Include at least one reference to interpersonal communication theory to support your analysis. You will also complete and submit a group evaluation form in relation to your own group collaboration for this assessment item. All documentation must be submitted to Assignment Minder by Friday, week 10 You must collaborate productively with all members of your discussion group in the preparation and delivery of your groups discussions.

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4.2 End Semester Examination: Case Study Essay A. Reference page (FA) Length: one A4 page (may be double-sided) Weighting: n/a Due date: week 12 Task (Individual) In week 10 you will be given a number of case studies from which you will select one to prepare an essay response. As part of your exam preparation, conduct secondary research to produce a Reference page of ten useful, single-sentence quotations and a Reference list. Readings provided on the QCD211 Blackboard site may be used as the major secondary source, but at least four quotations must be sourced from external texts. Present the first draft of the Reference page week 12 tutorial for your tutors feedback. Submit a final Reference page at the week 13 tutorial for your tutors signed approval. Upload an electronic version to Blackboard turnitin by Friday week 13. B. Case Study Essay (SA) Duration: 2 hours Weighting: 40% Due Date: Examination week Task (Individual) Take your unaltered, signed Reference page to the scheduled End semester examination to be sighted by an invigilator. No unauthorised Reference pages or other notes, texts or resources will be permitted at the exam. Under exam conditions, write a correctly structured academic essay of 1000-1200 words in which you apply your analytical problem solving skills and relevant communication theory to your selected case study. Support your response by appropriately incorporating quotations from your Reference page, as either direct quotations OR paraphrase. Cite your references correctly using the QUT APA referencing system.

5.0 Academic Integrity

For policy on academic integrity, refer to 'Progression and Assessment' in the University Certificate Course Guide.

6.0 Review of Grades or Academic Rulings

For rules on how to apply for a review of grade, refer to 'Progression and Assessment' in the Certificate Course Guide.

7.0 Exam Timetable

The exam timetable will be displayed on the University Certificate and QCD211 Blackboard sites by Week 10.

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8.0 Resource Materials

8.1 Readings available on the Course materials database (CMD) QCD211 Blackboard site 8.2 Lecture and tutorial notes and other support materials available on the QCD211 Blackboard site. 8.3 QUT CiteWrite (available on QUT Library Website)

9.0 Consultation
Your lecturer and tutor will each schedule one hour per week when they will be available to meet you, without appointment, to discuss any issues related to QCD211. Consultations are not intended to replace missed lectures and tutorials. Bring prepared questions and printed or handwritten notes to these consultations if you are experiencing problems or seeking constructive feedback about your work. It is not possible for teaching staff to read complete drafts but you may ask specific questions about your preparations. QCD211 staff will NOT edit or comment on electronic documents via email, laptops or any other portable device. Within reason, you may email your tutor or lecturer with questions, but the response will depend on the time, day and complexity of your query. For a guaranteed, timely response, you should attend a scheduled consultation. Time management is an important skill, so do not leave assignment or examination questions until the last consultation, as staff will not have enough time for every student. It will be your own responsibility to fulfil task requirements by checking your work against lecture notes, task sheets, criteria sheets and any models, in order to meet deadlines.

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Appendix A QUT International College University Certificate in Tertiary Preparation program Graduate Capabilities
The University Certificate in Tertiary Preparation course aims to contribute to the development of graduates who are able to demonstrate:

UCGC 1: Effective communication in a variety of contexts and modes including: Effective written and oral communication for undergraduate/postgraduate study in a cross-cultural context including the ability to:
Speak in academic settings Organize and deliver an oral presentation Write in an appropriate academic style Research and write formal essays that are relevant, appropriately organized and expressed using current technologies Attain an acceptable level of listening and reading comprehension in academic contexts, including the ability to take notes from academic readings and lectures

UCGC 2: Knowledge pertinent to a range of subject areas encompassing: Coherent theoretical and practical knowledge in appropriate subject areas at the level of entry to the degree

UCGC 3: Skills appropriate to a range of subject areas at the level of entry to the degree including: Information literacies Academic literacies

UCGC 4: Developing critical, creative, reflective and analytical thinking and effective problem solving for academic and real world contexts including: Ability to research, interpret and question The capacity to exhibit creative and analytical ways of thinking Ability to identify, define and solve problems in appropriate subject areas

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UCGC 5: The ability to work independently and collaboratively including: Managing time and prioritising activities to achieve goals Searching and critically evaluating information from a variety of sources using effective strategies and appropriate technologies Developing the capacity for self-assessment of learning needs and achievements for life-long learning Being a cooperative and productive team member The ability to manage change productively Developing the ability to take the initiative Developing the ability to resolve conflict

UCGC 6: Social and ethical responsibility encompassing: Participating actively in intellectual, social and cultural activities Developing awareness of indigenous, international and gender perspectives Developing commitment to international student responsibilities

Valuing academic honesty and accountability

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