PAPER DESCRIPTOR

Te Kura Whakapāho

School of Communication Studies

PAPER TITLE: Applied Communication

PAPER CODE: COMM501

POINTS: 15

LEVEL: 5

PREREQUISITE/S: None

COREQUISTES/S: None

STUDENT LEARNING HOURS:

The learning hours are a guide to the total time needed for a student to complete the paper:
Lecture hours: 36
Student directed learning hours: 114

TOTAL LEARNING HOURS: 150

PRESCRIPTOR:
Skills and capabilities based on theoretical knowledge in the areas of written, oral, interpersonal and
group communication. The content of the course is at all stages made relevant to the students’
needs both for their course of study and their role in the workplace.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
On successful completion of this paper students will be able to:

1. Discuss and apply the theories of communication to relevant situations.

2. Discuss the influence of culture and historical events such as the Treaty of Waitangi on
communication in the New Zealand context.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of group processes and participate in a group assessment.
4. Present a persuasive argument orally for an audience using appropriate visual aids.
5. Write clearly using suitable content in prescribed formats.
6. Research and write a short analytical academic report.

CONTENT:

• Models of communication
• Theory and characteristics of culture
• Intercultural communication
• Treaty of Waitangi
• Library research skills
• Paragraph structure
• Essay writing
• Report writing
• Group roles and norms
• Leadership
• Stages of team development
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Approved by BOS: 21/04/20 Valid From: 28/04/20 Page 1 of 2

 • Conflict management
• Oral presentation skills
• Argument process
• Visual aids

LEARNING AND TEACHING STRATEGIES:

This paper will be offered as a combination of lectures, structured tutorials, student independent
group work and personal study.

Students will be expected to read and research widely on the topics identified in this descriptor and
to use this material in meeting the learning outcomes.

ASSESSMENT PLAN:
PAPER DESCRIPTOR
Learning
Assessment Event E-submissioni Weighting %
Outcomes
Assignment 1: Individual Argument (oral and Available 40% 4, 5
written)
Assignment 2: Group Report and Individual Available 60% 1,2,3,5,6
reflective evaluation
Grade Map Grade Map 1:
A+ A A- Pass with Distinction
B+ B B- Pass with Merit
C+ C C- Pass
D Fail
Overall requirement/s to pass the paper:

To pass the paper, the student needs to submit all assessments and achieve a minimum overall
grade of C-.

Readings:

Prescribed text:

There is no prescribed text; the Applied Communication Handbook contains all the essential
readings.

i
As per AUT protocol, e-submission should be provided for all assessments except where a BOS has approved
otherwise.

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Approved by BOS: 03/12/2009 Valid From: 01/01/2017 Page 2 of 2