Module 1: Effective Communication

Communication is the verbal/non-verbal method in which we are able

to relay information through gestures, words, and emotions.
Communication is effective when the intent is conveyed clearly,
correctly, and concisely. Repetition might be required in order to avoid
miscommunication. It is also the relational process of creating and
interpreting messages that elicit a response.

Communication is a relational process not just because it takes place

between two or more persons but also because it affects the nature of
the connections between those people.

What makes an act of communication effective?

Communication is an activity; it is learned and contextual.

Describing the Nature, Elements, and Functions of Verbal and
Non-Verbal - Communication

Communication in an Interconnected World:

In today's globalized world, effective communication has become essential for
connecting individuals, societies, and cultures. It goes beyond just sharing information –
it's about forming connections, establishing common ground, and building relationships.
This communication lets us share thoughts, emotions, and ideas across geographical
boundaries and cultural contexts. Through various communication channels such as TV
interviews, podcasts, and digital apps, people from different corners of the world can
exchange information and experiences in ways that were unimaginable in the past.

Verbal and Non-Verbal Elements:

Communication involves not only the words we use (verbal elements) but also the way
we convey these words through our body language, facial expressions, tone of voice,
and appearance (non-verbal elements). These non-verbal cues are often just as
important, if not more so, than the words themselves. They can emphasize, reinforce, or
even contradict the verbal message being conveyed. For instance, folded arms and a
serious tone might signal defensiveness or disagreement, while an open posture and a
friendly tone might encourage openness and agreement.

Role of Non-Verbal Elements:

Non-verbal cues play various roles in communication. They can assert or hide one's
identity, emphasizing cultural affiliations or individual characteristics. They can also
stress or dismiss the importance of an idea, revealing one's attitude toward the topic at
hand. Furthermore, non-verbal cues can evoke emotions and feelings, creating a more
profound impact on the audience. Additionally, they can allow or control participation,
influencing the level of engagement in a conversation. Awareness of these non-verbal
elements and their cultural context is crucial, especially in a world where diverse
cultures intersect more frequently.

Word Choice and its Impact:

Verbal communication involves not just the meanings of words but also the nuances
they carry. Word choice influences how a message is perceived, with both denotative
(dictionary-defined) and connotative (contextual) meanings coming into play. Slang,
jargon, euphemisms, and doublespeak are examples of how words can shape
communication. Slang and jargon can create a sense of belonging among specific
groups, while euphemisms and doublespeak can soften or obscure harsh truths.
Cross-Cultural Communication Challenges:
In multicultural contexts, even when using a shared language like English,
misunderstandings can arise due to cultural variations in word meanings. The example
scenario demonstrates how simple terms like "torch" (meaning flashlight in British
English) can be understood differently in other English-speaking cultures. Similarly,
"boot" (referring to the trunk of a car) and "dinner" (meaning lunch in some contexts)
highlight the potential for miscommunication based on cultural differences.

Analyzing the Principles, Process, and Ethics of Effective

Communication

Audience, Context, and Purpose is what shapes the way conversations begin,
continue, and end. How we communicate depends on who we are talking to, what we
are discussing, and where and when the conversation occurs.

A speech is an example of verbal communication that is delivered to a specific

audience in a given context for a clear purpose. These factors guide the development
and effectiveness of the speech. In preparing for any verbal communication, one must
be mindful of:

● Audience - a group of people whose backgrounds, concerns, and interests may

shape the way a message is received

● Context - conditions that shape the contents of the message, such as a

significant period or the sender’s background and experience

● Purpose - a concrete set of objectives or reasons for addressing a specific

audience in a given context

Purposive Communication
It is essentially communication that is deliberate and done for a purpose, which provides
the basis for what is communicated (content) and how it is communicated (form)
Communication Principles and Process

A person who senses any message comes from a specific context and has a
specific purpose. This person or sender communicates this message to a particular
audience. As it is directed to a particular audience, the sender expects some concrete
outcome or action as a result. If the context and purpose are intentional or planned in
advance for a specific audience, then much careful thought and effort must go to how
the message is delivered to achieve the desired outcome.

Ethical use of language helps you be consistently mindful when preparing for such a
deliberate form of communication. Practicing ethics in communication is anticipating
and weighing the effects of one’s message on an audience.

Register refers to the style and degrees of formality that we use depending on our
communication context.

Varieties and Registers of Spoken and Written English

World Englishes may be understood in different ways. For example, it is a term used to
refer to the various approaches to describing and analyzing language. It is also a
concept that refers to the different ways by which users from around the world
communicate in English.

While American and British English have long been used to set the norms of
what is perceived to be “correct,” “good,” or “proper” English, varieties around the world
are just as legitimate. Hence, using English appropriately is more than just learning and
mastering grammar and pronunciation. In using English effectively, you must be mindful
of your context and purpose as a language user and your target audience.

Messages

● Are at the very core of communication

● USes symbols that may be verbal or non-vernal
Varieties of English

Language is an important factor in effective communication. Over time, languages

change, and new communication styles are made.

World Englishes

Each variety of English has its own words and its own grammar, and what’s “proper: in
one English might not be in another, and vice versa.

One country may have a different English from another because te language needs of
the culture using it are different because the members of the culture find certain
pronunciations more comfortable.

Our task as communicators is to unlearn the unhealthy and unproductive stereotypes

and reactions that we’ve been exposed to (and that we’ve possibly absorbed) for much
of our lives.

A good place to start is the assumption that anything “less” than the grammar and
pronunciation of American English or British English equals ineffective communication.

Elaboration
A Developed language must answer to the needs of a variety of communities.

Language Register

Refers to the way languages are received through style of speech

Formality
Variations of linguistics style or tone in relation to conventions regarding
appropriateness to the social context of use.

Social Context of Use

● Situation
● Setting
● Communicative genre
● Audience size
● Communicative relationships

Language register

Language may be registered as formal, informal, or neutral

Determines the vocabulary and structure of the language

Informal
● It is also called the casual or intimate register.
● Is conversation appropriate when communicating with friends and other people
one knows very well.
● Words are general rather than technical and typically include more slang.

Formal
● Typically impersonal in tone, messages are delivered in such a way that does not
involve personal feelings.
● Follows a prescriptive format
● Some forms of communication always use formal register

Neutral
● Generally used with non-emotional topics and information.
The Personal Reflective Essay
What is a personal reflection essay?

Presents your insights on a particular aspect of life as you've observed and experienced
it

Through vivid description and specific significant narrative events, you invite your
audience to enter your mind and share your views with them.

Your reflection allows you to recall past events and determine the significance of these
events to ou in the “here” and “now”

Things to consider

● Why do I consider this instance important?

● How did I feel while it was happening?
● Why did I react that way
● What lessons did I gain?

Deliverables for your Midterm Essay

● Primary Requirement
○ The Personal Reflection Essay

● Secondary Requirements
○ Personal Timeline
○ Peer Feedback
○ Brief Summary
○ Multimodel Output and Supplementary Essay

Instructions for your midterm essay

You are tasked with writing a personal reflection essay.

The focus of your essay may be one incident or a series of related incidents from your
timeline that you would like to narrate.
Module 3: Evaluating Messages

Evaluate: To be able to asses or give a numerical value to a certain degree.

Evaluate Messages: to reread or gather context through analysis of a message.

Advertisement
Audience and context: usually aimed at a specific demographic, or part of the population:
logically the brand's target market product or service.

The messages that advertisements carry are conveyed through two levels/layers of meaning:
literal and subliminal.

Literal Message: Meaning based on what is conveyed explicitly

Subliminal Message: Underlying meaning implicity expressed that may only be understood by
those aware of specific issues or concepts associated with what is implied.

Editorial Cartoons

Purpose: express the opinions of (or raise questions from) the artist, who is typically responding
to an issue present in the Context of the cartoon’s publication

Audience: those who are assumed to be reading the editorials where the cartoons are found
are presumed to be reasonably familiar with the issues discussed.

Exaggeration:

Cartoonists exaggerate the physical characteristics of people or things in order to make a point

When you study a cartoon, look for any characteristics that seem overdone or overblown

Consider what point the cartoonist was trying to make through exaggeration

Labeling:

Cartoonists often label people or things to make it clear exactly what they stand for

Look for ay labels that appear in a cartoon, and ask yourself why the cartoonist chose to label
that particular person or object

Does the label make the meaning of the object more clear
Analogy:

An analogy is a comparison between two online things that share some characteristics

By comparing a complex issue or situation with a more familiar one, cartoonists can help their
readers see it in a different light

Once you understand the main analogy, consider if this comparison makes the cartoonists, point
more or less clear to you

Deliverables for your Final Essay

Primary requirements
● The Proposal Essay
● Multimodal Presentation

Secondary Requirements
● Informative essay portion outline
● Annotated bibliography
● Accomplished worksheets/peer assessment forms for Modules 4 & 5
● Consultations

Instructions for your Final Essay

You are tasked with writing a proposal essay

The essay mist argue for the existence of the issue or problem, and the best solution to address
the issue or problem based on necessity, beneficiality, and feasibility.

FORMAT

MLA
● Times New Roman, 12 point
● Double-spaced
● At least 1000 words, maximum of 5 pages

Features of an Informative Essay

Purpose: to instruct/inform readers about a topic that may or may not be known to them

For the purposes of our course, however, we narrow this down to a problem we can propose a
solution to.
Features of an Informative Essay

● PROVIDES CONCRETE AND PURPOSEFUL INFORMATION

● pRESENTS A TOPIC IN A CLEAR AND FOCUSED MANNER
● USES FACTS ABOUT REAL PEOPLE AND EVENTS AND EVIDENCE IN ORDER TO
SUPPORT THE INFORMATION
● USES DIFFERENT RHETORICAL PATTERNS AND DEFINES COMPLEX TERMS
AND IDEAS
● REQUIRES RESEARCH AND VERIFICATION OF SOURCES

Expository Writing

Investigate an idea, evaluate evidence, expound on the idea, and set forth an argument
concerning that idea in a clear and concise manner

Instructions for your Annotated Bibliography

You are tasked with writing a descriptive annotated bibliography

● Annotate 5 sources relevant to your chosen topic, with each annotation consisting of two
paragraphs
○ 1st paragraph: Summarizes the source youve chosen
○ 2nd paragraph: States how you intend to use this source in your essay

● Your 5 sources must be

○ Reliable
○ Relevant
○ Recent

Relevant

The sources selected must be clearly related to your chosen topic

● IS the information found related to and useful for your topic and essay?
● Is the source the appropriate type for your needs?
● IS the information too broad or too specific

Reliable

The sources selected have been produced by reputable and credible authors that provide
accurate information

● Who is the author?

● What are the credentials or background of the author?
 ● Who is the publisher or sponsor?

Recent

AS much as possible, the sources selecred must have been published within the last 5
years

● If you use a source that’s older than 5 years, ensure that your justification for its use is
included in the second paragraph of your annotated bibliography

Purposive Essay

Deliverables for your Final Essay

Primary Requirements
● The proposal essay
● Multimodal Presentation

Secondary Requirements
● Informative essay portion outline
● Annotated Bibliography
● Worksheets from Module 4 & 5

A Clearly-Defined Problem

Any Written Proposal must establish that outset that there is a problem - and that it’s
serious enough to require a solution

● Some Problems are self-evident and will be considered by most as such

● However, others are more controversial some people see them as problems while others
do not

In the opening segment of your proposal essay you will define and elaborate the problem

This is where the contents of your informative essay portion outline should be found

Recommended Solution

Once you have defined the problem, you need to describe the solution you are suggesting and
to explain it in enough detail for readers to understand
A convincing argument

In order to be convincing, the arguments in favor of your proposed solution must be able to
prove its necessity, benefit, and feasibility.

Necessity

An effective solution must actually address the problem

This requires identifying not only the effects of the problem that need to be stemmed, but also
the root cases that need to be dealt with.

Feasibility

Understanding the problem doesn't just mean understanding its effects, it also means
understanding key players and the context surrounding it

Without knowledge of this, you wont know how to make your solution feasible

Beneficial

The benefits of your solution must not be outweighed by the cost.

Video: Ted talk

A few years ago speaker tries to find cost effective fashion

Clothes sorting through thrift stores only represent a small amount of garment waist
Only 15% of garments are donated or recycled
85% of clothes end up in land fills

Sufficient Details
Sufficient Details

Provide details for the questions your readers might have about your topic. Remember that they
did not do as much research as you did.

Such information include:

- Details about the problem
- Details about its history and effects
- Definitions of acronyms or jargon
- Specifics of the solution

A Call to Action

The goal of a proposal essay is to persuade readers to accept your proposed solution, which
may involve asking them to take action

● Depending on the nature of the proposed solution, such actions may be done on the
individual level or may involve appealing to those with the power/authority to enact
change

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Appropriate Tone and Language

A formal register, and a tone that does not suggest an inappropriate motive like anger,
self-rigteousness, derision, will help you connect to your readers in a way that does not
undermine your argumentation.