Course Break up for Communication Skills II

Course Description:
This course will primarily reinforce the concepts already imparted to the students in the earlier course.
However, this second course in communication skills is more geared towards office correspondence
and equipping students with oral as well as written business skills. Further practice will be given to
presentation skills and students will be taught how to tackle interviews and prepare themselves well for
their job hunts.
Course Objectives:
1. To enhance student ability to write business letters, applications, e-mails and memos as part of
office correspondence.
2. To practice the art of giving effective presentation.
3. To acquaint students with techniques to enhance their vocabulary and word power.
4. To remove grammatical and linguistic errors from student writing.
5. To introduce students to phonetic symbols and improve pronunciation.
6. To teach students to successfully deal with interview situations.
7. To teach students research methodology and report writing.

Methodology:
The following methodology will be used to attain the overall course objectives.
1. Group Discussions
2. Case Studies
3. Presentations
4. A/V aids
5. Audio / Video clips
6. Pair work
7. Handouts
8. Home assignments
9. Quizzes
Note: Throughout the course the teacher will stress upon the importance of extracurricular reading of
books and magazines. Students will be encouraged to watch TV channels functioning in English, listen
to live speakers on the internet and to speak English outside the classroom.
Evaluation Criterion:
Attendance: 10 Marks
Presentations: 30 Marks
Sessional Marks: 30 Marks
Report assignment: 20 Marks
Viva Voice: 10 Marks
Reference Books:
1. Effective Business Communication by Murphy, Hildebrandt and Thomas. (7th Edition)
2. Basic Communication Skills for Technology by A.J. Rutherford. (2nd Edition)
3. Basic Business Communications by Lasiker. (8th Edition)
4. A practical English Grammar by Thomson and Martinet.
5. English for Undergraduates by Howe and Kirkpatrick

Course Instructor: Mrs. Sadia Khan

 Course Contents:

Week Main Topics Lecture Contents

A. An overview of Communication Skills I
1 Introduction
B. Discuss course outline of Communication Skills II
Written Organized Writing
Communication i. Communicative paragraphs
Organized Writing
Written
2 ii. Coherence and cohesive devices
Communication
iii. Strength of unity in writing
A. The importance of clarity in writing
B. The elements of clear writing:
i. Directness
ii. Brevity
Correctness of iii. Pitfall to avoid
3
Language a. Hackneyed phrases
b. Redundancies
c. Slang
d. Passive voice
e. e – language
Correctness of C. Sentence length
4.
Language D. Specific words and concrete words
A. Memorandums
i. Types of memos:
a. Status
Business
5. b. Negative
Correspondence
c. Personal
ii. Analysis of samples
B. Minute of a meetings
C. e-mails
Business i. When and how to write an e-mail
6.
Correspondence ii. Etiquettes of e-mailing
D. Applications and follow-up letters
E. Business Letters
i. Format
ii. Elements of a business letter
iii. Language
Business
7. a. How to write
Correspondence
b. Language to avoid
F. Analysis of sample letter
G. Practice exercises on different types of office correspondence.
H. Resume and cover letter writing
Handling an interview
i. Investigating the company
8. Interview Skills ii. Making a good appearance
iii. Anticipating questions and preparing answers
iv. Putting oneself at ease – increasing confidence level
Assessment No lecture of communication skills shall take place during the mid term
9.
Week exam week of the university

Course Instructor: Mrs. Sadia Khan

 Successful preparation of an interview.
i. Knowing one’s submitted resume` well
ii. Knowing the company applied to
10. Interview Skills
iii. Knowing the requirements of the available positions
iv. Knowing the importance of non verbal appearance
Knowing the importance of rehearsals.
a. Daily Reports
b. Research Methodology
11. Written Reports
c. Type of reports
d. Formal and informal reports
e. Executive Summary
f. Scope
g. Purpose
12. Written Reports
h. Introduction
i. Writing the main part
j. Conclusion
k. Bibliography
l. APA and MLA styles
13. Written Reports m. Plagiarism
i. What is plagiarism?
ii. How it can be avoided
14. Presentations Presentations
15. Seminar Lectures by Key not speakers

Course Instructor: Mrs. Sadia Khan