The

Communication and Argumentation Designation

BACKGROUND and PURPOSE

Without question, students in higher education are in need of critical exposure to and engagement with oral
and written communication skills. Indeed, a The Association of American Colleges and Universities (2013)
reports a demonstrated capacity to think critically and communicate clearly, and solve complex problems is
more important than (a candidates) undergraduate major. Here in Utah, the Deseret News has reported
While technical skills remain in high demand, soft skills are what most employers say are missing among
Utahs new workers. Nearly 90 percent of employers said recent graduates lack necessary oral and written
communication skills (Deseret News, 2014).

In addition to workforce needs, the ability to effectively use language in contextto communicateis
essential for students to reach their academic goals and their lifelong personal priorities. The development of
such abilities requires rigorous and extended exposure to language and communication; preferably in
contexts/situations that are meaningful to students courses of study, professional, or personal pursuits.

The English (EN) composition core requirementEnglish 1010: Intro to Writing and English 2010: Intermediate
Writing/English 2100: Technical Writingprovides a foundation for all SLCC students in the critical and
contextual study of textual and visual language. The CA designation will provide students with much needed
reinforcement and development of these essential learning outcomes and will integrate broader exposure to a
variety of communication experiences.

PROPOSAL
With the needs of our students and our larger community in mind, we recommend the General Education
program at SLCC adopt the Communication and Argumentation Designation.

(CA) Communication and Argumentation
Communication (CA) courses focus on principles and skills in written, verbal, nonverbal, visual and multi-modal
forms of communication. CA courses recognize each student is a valued part of the human family with
obligations and responsibilities toward cultivate understanding, awareness, and empathy for multiple
perspectives and experiences. Combining theory and praxis, CA courses engage students in the practice of
critical thinking and analysis, persuasion, and other communication processes that enrich human relationships.
CA courses ask students to navigate communicative situations to create shared meaning and foster
understanding through various methods.
Student Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate understanding and the practical application of theory relevant to Communication and
Argumentation.
Students will analyze and reflect on the impact and effectiveness of the application of theories.
Critically listen to and view public and interpersonal communication.
Identify communication behaviors that strengthen relationships
Analyze and adapt messages to varied audiences.
Communicate in teams, problem solve and make decisions effectively.
Recognize and use rhetorical strategies.
Employ effective persuasive strategies
Use conflict resolution skills to maintain and repair relationships.

Build communication skills in writing, speaking, and multimedia.

ALIGNMENT WITH REFORM PRINCIPLES
CA Alignment with GE Reform Guiding Principle 1

Provide best possible educational solution for students to prepare them for their next steps in life (transfer or
career pursuits) and for lifelong learning.

As noted in the Background and Purpose, the Communication and Argumentation designation specifically
addresses a perceived weakness in the SLCC student educational experience. Further, this designation
responds to two objectives in the SLCC Strategic Plan: 1) Align with and Respond to Workforce Needs and 2)
Improve Transfer Preparation and Pathways.

In a 2010 Hart Research Associates survey of employers who were asked what colleges should place more
emphasis on, 89 percent identified the ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing as the highest
of any skill listed. Courses with CA designations engage students with contextually effective communication
practices.

Additionally, research from the SLCC Writing Across the College program indicates that faculty in all disciplines
are concerned regarding the abilities of their students to communicate effectively in specific academic
contexts. The CA designation includes, and encourages the development of, general education courses that
respond to the contextualized nature of communication. These courses will improve students critical abilities
to recognize and enact communication in the pathways of their choice.

The curricular manifestations of these two college objectives are found in the SLCC Learning Outcomes,
Students communicate effectively, Students think critically and creatively, Students develop the
knowledge and skills to work with others in a professional and constructive manner, and Students develop
computer and information literacy. The CA designation addresses all four of these learning outcomes.


CA Alignment with GE Reform Guiding Principle 2
Gen Ed categories should be intuitive and rational and not cause an undue burden for students

The overwhelming call for improved oral and written communication skills from all sectors points to the
intuitive nature of the Communication and Argumentation designation. One would be hard pressed to suggest
that additional exposure to the study of communication is extraneous to the general educational goals of
students at SLCC. Concern about the preparedness of students to engage with the communicative norms in
different disciplines while in college, and then by employers upon graduation, demonstrate that a CA
designation is a natural inclusion into the general education requirements.

Courses within the CA designation provide one of two approaches (or a combination thereof) to the
contextualized study of communication: 1) exposure and engagement with to broad practices of written,
verbal, non-verbal, visual, and multi-modal communication for students who have not determined a major,
meta-major, or disciplinary pathway of study, or 2) exposure to engagement with to contextualized practices
of written, verbal, non-verbal, visual, and multi-modal communication for students who are pursuing a specific
academic or work pathway. In either case, the CA designated course will contribute to the academic,
professional and/or personal goals of the student.



CA Aligned with GE Reform Guiding Principle 3
Provide a format that ensures maximum integration of learning across required designations.
The Communication and Argumentation designation assumes that students will be actively engaged in the
practice of effective communication, not merely the study of it. As such, CA courses will require the inclusion
of practices that have been shown to increase engagement and retention. For example, all CA courses will
involve project-based learning and collaborative assignments and projects; these high impact practices
necessarily engage students in the praxis of communication and argumentation theories that students will be
exposed to. As general education courses, CA designated courses will also include meaningful e-portfolio
projects and reflection assignments. They may also include service-learning, capstone projects, or experiential
learning.


CA Aligned with GE Reform Guiding Principle 4
Have minimal impact of on department/division enrollment and budgets.

One of the most compelling features of the Communication and Argumentation designation is its flexibility and
adaptability to a variety of disciplinary contexts. As noted in the response to Guiding Principle 2, the CA
designation can be applied to courses that actively engage students in a broad engagement with language use
across contexts, or to more localized and disciplinary application of communication theory and practice.
Because of this, departments can advise students to enroll in an offered CA course that is broad in nature (e.g.
Elements of Effective Communication, Intercultural Communication) or one that is more disciplinarily focused
(e.g. the current Business Communication course or the Human Relations and Collaboration in the Performing
Arts). Further, as the College continues to improve pathways of completion for students (e.g. meta-majors),
departments may desire to develop CA courses that engage students in similarly localized communicative
contexts (e.g. a potential Communication for Social Services course or Communication and Pursuit of Scientific
Research course). In any of these cases, students taking CA courses will be preparing themselves with critical
participation in the vital role of skilled communication.

Potential CA Courses
The following is a short list of classes that seem suited to the CA designation including some classes currently
included in the ID and IN categories.

BUS 1040 Ethics at Work (CA) 3;
BUS 2200 Business Communications (CA) 3;
COMM 1010 Elements of Effective Communication (CA) 3;
COMM 1020 Principles of Public Speaking (CA) 3;
COMM 1270 Analysis of Argument (CA) 3;
COMM 2110 Interpersonal Communication (CA) 3;
COMM 2120 Team Problem-solving and Leadership (CA) 3
COMM 2150 Intercultural Communication (CA, DV) 3;
CTEL 1020 Career Speech Skills (CA) 3;
CTEL 1010 Leadership and Teambuilding (CA) 3
ENGL 1030 Writing in Professions (CA) 3
ENGL 1820 Publication Studies (CA) 3
ENGL 2030 Language in U.S. Society (CA) 3

ENGL 2710 Introduction to Folklore (CA)

FA 1025 Human Relations and Collaboration in the Performing Arts (CA) 3
MTKG 1960 Professionalism in Business (CA) 3;