MIDLANDS STATE UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF ARTS

COMMUNICATION SKILLS CENTRE

Basics of Communication Skills
CODE: CS101

Supplementary/ Special Examination

January 2016

DURATION: 3 HOURS

•
Instructions

• Answer all questions.

• Candidates will be penalised for repeating material used in answering other questions.
• Marks will be awarded for clear, grammatically correct and well constructed sentences.
QUESTION 1

1.1 Give four factors that you consider when choosing sources to use in an academic piece of
work. (4)

1.2 Why is referencing important in academic writing? (2)

1.3 Give any two referencing systems that use footnotes and endnotes. (2)

1.4 Name any two name-date/author-date referencing models (2)

1.5 Using examples, explain the following;

1.5.1 ellipses

1.5.2. indention (4)

1.6 Which referencing convention is recommended in your department? (1)

1.7 Using the models cited in 1.6 above, compile a coherent end-text of the following

1.7.1 A newspaper article entitled "Soccer Fever" which appeared in The Herald of 14 June 2015
on page 10 written by Mischeck Moyo. (3)

1.7.2 An article by Susan Richards titled "The AIDS Pandemic" appeared in a book edited by
Douglas Killam called The Deadliest Killer Diseases published in the British Capital by
Heinemann. (3)

1.7.3 Piemonte Arnold Lee wrote an article titled "Ebola virus" which appeared in a book
edited by William Angel and Timothy Lorenzo. The brown book is called Deadly
diseases in the world: Third edition published in 2004 by Chicago University Press in
Chicago. (3)

1.7.4 A report written in 2013 by Dr. R. S. Kublin titled 'The impact of heavy rains on
Agriculture' The report was published in Zimbabwe, Harare, by the Ministry of Lands
and Agriculture. (3)

1.7.5 An article written by L F Scinto in a journal called Mind, Culture and Activity Volume
13, Issue Number 10 pages 117-130. The title is 'A culture of reading'. (3)

TOTAL [30 Marks]

 QUESTION 2

You are employed by a reputable organisation in the country. Employees of that organisation
staged a one-day sit in and management has asked you to carry out an investigation into
the matter and present a report by the end of week. In writing the report you are to use
your imagination to make this report realistic. [20 Marks]

QUESTION 3

Explain, using appropriate examples, the following in essay writing

3.1 Topic
3.2 Introduction
411 3.3 Topic sentence
3.4 Supporting sentences
3.5 Paragraph [20 Marks]

TOTAL MARKS [70 MARKS]

END OF PAPER