SAMPLE ANSWER FOR MODULE 3 (SPEAKING and WRITING) CAPE COMMUN ICATION STUDIES

SCENARIO: A group of farmers from a rural village in your country has invited you to give the Opening
Address at their workshop titled “The Effects of Harmful Chemicals.”

In an essay, discuss how you will develop your presentation looking specifically at:

I) The communication challenges that you most likely will encounter as you address the
members of this rural farming community
II) The language variety, register and vocabulary that you will take into consideration
III) Such factors as your organizational strategies, visual/audio visual aids and any other
resources that you may use in your presentation.

o Main challenges can be in the form of some farmers being unwilling to make a
paradigm shift as they prefer to stay doing and using the same old chemicals. Another
way this can be said is that among the farmers have an unwillingness to
embrace/adopt change
o There is a likelihood that some farmers may harbour mistrust for outsiders coming
into their village
o Lack of interest /an air of complacency which can lead to boredom with your
presentation
o The challenge of how do you get the message of the need for change from harmful
chemicals that they have been using for so long to newer and safer/more effective
chemicals/ even eco-friendly chemicals
o The challenge of not coming across to the farmers as either too educated and complex
or on the other hand making your message too simplistic/ finding the right balance is
the key
o The register can be moved between casual and formal
o The content of your presentation must be relevant and clearly defined
o Presentation must not be too long as to bore and confused
o Find out before hand if there were other issues dealing with harmful effects of the
chemicals
o Try to fit in with the audience, pay attention to dress code do not over dress etc ...be
as natural as possible
o When speaking make eye contact with the audience
o Provide a question answer session so as to give the farmers time to have their say
o Ask them to work with you – sensitive to their needs and concerns
o Remember that your visual aids are just that aids –do not make them your focus!
o Your presentation must have a clear introduction, body and
Conclusion