Human beings, like all animals, communicate. Communication is part and parcel of life, and sometimes it seems to occur so naturally that we tend to take it for granted. Many things go wrong, however, when we assume we have communicated, yet we have not. This book provides a broad introduction to communication while focusing on the particular communication skills that are required of a university or college student.
Table of Contents
- I. INTRODUCTION
- What is Communication?
- PURPOSE OF COMMUNICATION
- Verbal and Nonverbal Communication
- VERBAL COMMUNICATION
- Verbal vs. oral communication
- NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION
- Categories
- Static Features
- Dynamic Features
- Classification of non –verbal communication.
- Proxemics
- Chronemics
- Kinesics
- Posture
- A gesture
- Haptics
- Functions of nonverbal communication
- The relation between verbal and nonverbal communication
- Interaction of verbal and nonverbal communication
- Repeating
- Conflicting
- Complementing
- Substituting
- Regulating
- Accenting/Moderating
- Dance and nonverbal communication
- Levels of communication
- Intrapersonal communication
- Interpersonal communication
- Communication Approaches in an Organization
- Top-down approach
- ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION
- History of Organizational Communication
- Assumptions underlying early organizational communication
- Communications networks
- Direction of communication
- CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION
- Global rise of cross-cultural communication studies
- Incorporating cross-cultural communications into University programs
- PUBLIC COMMUNICATION AND MASS COMMUNICATION
- Models of Communication
- Linear model (SMCR)
- The interactional model
- Transactional Model
- BARRIERS TO EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
- Linguistic Barriers
- Non – Linguistic Barriers
- X. STUDY SKILLS
- Why study?
- GENERAL STUDYING TECHNIQUES
- (a) Groundwork research
- (b) Cultivate the right attitude
- (c) Keep a balance
- (d) Take a business-like approach
- (e) Keep ahead
- EFFECTIVE TIME MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
- Systematic Study
- ATTRIBUTES OF A GOOD STUDENT
- Library Research
- Collections in a library
- Classification of Library Materials
- (a) Library of Congress Classification Scheme
- (b) The Dewey Classification Scheme (DDC)
- Catalogues
- Forms of Catalogues
- Types of catalogues
- The Parts of a Catalogue
- 2. Tutorials
- Functions of Tutorials
- Tackling the Tutorial Topic
- The Tutorial Session
- 3. Lectures
- 4. Note Making
- III. TYPES OF WRITING
- 1.1. Introduction
- 1.2. Types of Writing
- 1.2.1. Argumentative Writing
- 1.2.2. Descriptive Writing
- 1.2.3. Expository Writing
- 1.2.4. Narrative Writing
- Writing is a process that involves several steps
- Planning
- Shaping
- Drafting
- Revising
- Editing
- Proofreading
- IV. REPORT WRITING
- Advantages
- Informative Vs. Interpretive Reports
- Importance of Reports
- Characteristics of a Good Report
- 1. Precision
- 2. Accuracy of Facts
- 3. Relevance
- 4. Clarity
- 5. Brevity
- 6. Objectivity of Recommendations
- 7. Simple and Unambiguous Language
- 8. Reader - Orientation
- 9. Grammatical Accuracy
- TYPES OF BUSINESS REPORTS
- ORGANISATION OF A REPORT
- LETTER FORM
- The Body
- 2. MEMORANDUM FORM
- LETTER - TEXT FORM
- V. SUMMARY WRITING
- QUALITIES OF A GOOD SUMMARY
- THINGS TO NOTE CAREFULLY
- TYPES OF SUMMARIES
- PROCESS OF MAKING A SUMMARY
- VI. RESEARCH PAPER
- What is Research?
- The Research Paper
- Planning Your Research Paper
- 1) Choosing Your Topic
- 2) Making a Rough Outline
- 3) Collecting Material
- 4) Limiting Scope
- (5) Deciding on Methodology
- The Research Proposal
- Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Statement of the Problem
- 3. Literature Review
- 4. Justification of the Study
- 5. Theoretical Framework/Definition of Terms
- 6) Hypothesis(es)
- 7) Statement of Objectives
- 8. Scope and Limitations
- 9. Methodology
- 10. Summary of Chapters
- 11. Time Schedule
- 12. Budget
- 13. References
- VII. DOCUMENTATION
- Plagiarism
- Using Sources
- Quotation
- (2) For electronic source:
- In-text Citations
- Model Works Cited Page (MLA format)
- Summary
- VIII. ORTHOGRAPHIC CONVENTIONS
- Punctuation in Writing
- The Full Stop or Period (.)
- The Comma (,)
- The Semi Colon (;)
- The Colon (:)
- The Colon and Dash (:-)
- The Question Mark (?)
- The Exclamation Mark (!)
- The Dash (-)
- Brackets ( )
- Slash (/)
- Quotation Marks (‘’)
- The Hyphen (-)
- The Apostrophe (‘ )
- Capitalization
- Numerals
- Percentages and Amounts of Money
- Punctuation in Writing
- II. READING SKILLS
- Introduction
- READING
- Academic
- Purpose and Meaning of Reading
- Foundations of Reading
- Importance of Reading
- Reading More Efficiently
- Study Reading (Ways of Reading)
- The SQ3R Study Method
- The Advantages of the SQ3R Method
- Levels of Reading
- 1. Elementary Reading
- 2. Inspectoral Reading
- Systematic Skimming or Pre-reading
- 3) Analytical Reading
- Rules of Reading a Book Analytically
- Syntopical Reading
- Essence of Active Reading
- IX. ORAL SKILLS
- Objective of the Section
- 1.1 Oral Skills Defined
- 1.2 Planning A Speech
- 1.2.1 Select the Topic and Purpose
- 1.2.2 Analyze the Audience
- 1.2.3 Research on the Topic
- 1.2.4 Select the Method of Delivering a Public Speech
- a) Reading from a Manuscript
- b) Memorized speech
- c) Impromptu Speech
- d) Extemporaneous Speech
- 1.2.5 Structuring the Presentation
- (i) Introduction
- (ii) The discussion
- (iii) Conclusion
- 1.2.6 Organizing the Speech Materials
- 1.2.7 Wording the Speech
- PLANNING A SPEECH (Objectives)
- 1.2.8 Preparation of facilities for an oral presentation
- 1.2.8.1 Kinds of visual aids
- (a) Diagrams
- (b) Illustrations
- (c) Audial-visual aids
- (d) Three dimensional items
- 1.2.8.1 Kinds of visual aids
- 1.2.9 Rehearse the speech
- 1.3 Summary
- 2.0 EFFECTIVE PRESENTATION OF A SPEECH (Objectives)
- PRESENTING A PUBLIC SPEECH
- 2.1 CHARACTERISTICS OF EFFECTIVE DELIVERY OF A PUBLIC SPEECH
- 2.1.1 Effective Delivery is Natural
- 2.1.2 Usage of Appropriate Language/Words
- 2.1.3 Body Movement
- (1) Eye contact
- (2) Facial expressions
- (3) Gestures
- (4) Posture and body movement
- 2.1.4 Appearance
- 2.1.5 Voice
- 2.2 Summary
- 2.3 Self Assessment Questions
- 2.4 Activity
Objective & Thematic Focus
This book provides a broad introduction to communication skills, specifically focusing on the particular communication skills required for university and college students. It aims to equip students with a wide range of abilities essential for academic and professional success.
- Understanding various communication forms (verbal, non-verbal, intrapersonal, interpersonal, organizational, cross-cultural, public, mass).
- Developing effective study techniques, including reading comprehension and note-making.
- Mastering different writing styles (argumentative, descriptive, expository, narrative) and the writing process.
- Learning to structure and write comprehensive reports and summaries.
- Acquiring proficiency in academic documentation and avoiding plagiarism.
- Enhancing oral presentation and public speaking skills for diverse audiences.
Excerpt from the Book
NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION
Non-verbal communication as: ". . . the exchange of messages primarily through non-linguistic means, including: kinesics (body language), facial expressions and eye contact, tactile communication, space and territory, environment, paralanguage (vocal but non-linguistic cues), and the use of silence and time." Verbal communication is organized by language; non-verbal communication is not. Nonverbal communications (NVC) is usually understood as the process of communication through sending and receiving wordless messages. i.e, language is not one source of communication, there are other means also. NVC can be communicated through gestures and touch (Haptic communication), by body language or posture, by facial expression and eye contact. NVC can be communicated through object communication such as clothing, hairstyles or even architecture, symbols and infographics. Speech contains nonverbal elements known as paralanguage, including voice quality, emotion and speaking style, as well as prosodic features such as rhythm, intonation and stress. Dance is also regarded as a nonverbal communication. Likewise, written texts have nonverbal elements such as handwriting style, spatial arrangement of words, or the use of emoticons.
Communication is the transfer of information from one person to another. Most of us spend about 75 percent of our waking hours communicating our knowledge, thoughts, and ideas to others. However, most of us fail to realize that a great deal of our communication is of a non-verbal form as opposed to the oral and written forms. Non-verbal communication includes facial expressions, eye contact, tone of voice, body posture and motions, and positioning within groups. It may also include the way we wear our clothes or the silence we keep.
Categories and Features of Non-verbal communication
Categories:
Physical: This is the personal type of communication. It includes facial expressions, tone of voice, sense of touch, sense of smell, and body motions.
Aesthetic: This is the type of communication that takes place through creative expressions: playing instrumental music, dancing, painting and sculpturing.
Signs: This is the mechanical type of communication, which includes the use of signal flags, the 21-gun salute, horns, and sirens.
Symbolic: This is the type of communication that makes use of religious, status, or ego-building symbols.
Summary of Chapters
I. Introduction: This chapter defines communication, its purposes, and categorizes it into verbal and non-verbal forms, exploring various types, levels, and approaches within organizational and cross-cultural contexts, along with communication models and barriers.
X. Study Skills: This chapter focuses on enhancing academic performance by outlining general study techniques, time management strategies, systematic study methods, and essential library research skills, including classification systems and catalogues.
III. Types of Writing: This chapter introduces different writing styles—argumentative, descriptive, expository, and narrative—and guides the reader through the comprehensive writing process, from planning and drafting to revising, editing, and proofreading.
IV. Report Writing: This chapter details the characteristics, importance, and various types of business reports, discussing their organization and different formats such as letter, memorandum, and letter-text combination forms.
V. Summary Writing: This chapter defines summaries, outlines the qualities of an effective summary, and provides a systematic process for producing concise and accurate condensations of longer texts.
VI. Research Paper: This chapter elucidates the nature of academic research, guiding students through the process of planning a research paper, from topic selection and material collection to developing a complete research proposal.
VII. Documentation: This chapter emphasizes the importance of proper source acknowledgment, explains how to avoid plagiarism, and details various documentation styles for in-text citations and references, such as MLA and APA formats.
VIII. Orthographic Conventions: This chapter provides a comprehensive guide to punctuation rules, including the correct use of full stops, commas, semicolons, colons, dashes, question marks, exclamation marks, brackets, slashes, quotation marks, hyphens, and apostrophes, as well as capitalization rules.
II. Reading Skills: This chapter addresses effective reading strategies, including methods to improve reading speed, comprehension, and critical analysis, introducing concepts like recognition span, types of reading, and the SQ3R study method.
IX. Oral Skills: This chapter is dedicated to public speaking, covering the planning process from topic selection and audience analysis to delivery methods (manuscript, memorized, impromptu, extemporaneous) and structuring a compelling presentation.
Keywords
Communication Skills, Verbal Communication, Non-verbal Communication, Study Skills, Research Paper, Report Writing, Summary Writing, Documentation, Public Speaking, Academic Writing, Reading Skills, Punctuation, Plagiarism, Oral Presentation, Time Management.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main topic of this work?
This work primarily focuses on communication skills, offering a broad introduction to various forms and methods of communication, tailored for university and college students.
What are the central thematic areas covered?
The central thematic areas include different forms of communication (verbal, non-verbal, intrapersonal, interpersonal, organizational, cross-cultural, public, mass), study and reading skills, various writing types and processes, report and summary writing, academic documentation and plagiarism, orthographic conventions, and effective oral presentation and public speaking.
What is the primary objective or research question of this work?
The primary objective is to provide students with essential communication skills required in academic and professional settings, guiding them through effective verbal, non-verbal, written, and oral communication practices.
Which scientific method is used?
While the book itself is a pedagogical guide rather than a research paper, it implicitly advocates for structured, systematic approaches in its sections on research paper writing and systematic study, emphasizing planned inquiry and objective presentation of facts.
What is covered in the main body?
The main body covers detailed explanations of communication types, practical study skills, different writing styles and stages, comprehensive report and summary writing guidelines, principles of academic documentation and citation, rules for punctuation and capitalization, and strategies for planning and delivering effective public speeches.
What keywords characterize this work?
The key terms characterizing this work are: Communication Skills, Verbal Communication, Non-verbal Communication, Study Skills, Research Paper, Report Writing, Summary Writing, Documentation, Public Speaking, Academic Writing, Reading Skills, Punctuation, Plagiarism, Oral Presentation, Time Management.
What are the four main types of writing discussed in the book?
The four main conventional types of writing discussed are Argumentative Writing, Descriptive Writing, Expository Writing, and Narrative Writing, each suited for different communication circumstances.
How does the SQ3R method contribute to effective reading?
The SQ3R (Survey, Question, Read, Recall, Review) method is a systematic strategy for study reading that enhances attentiveness, concentration, and comprehension by breaking down the reading process into multiple, manageable stages, fostering better memory and understanding.
What is the significance of the Johari Window in understanding self-concept?
The Johari Window is presented as a framework for defining one's self-concept, helping individuals understand themselves better and recognize how others perceive them, which in turn influences interpersonal communication and personal development.
What are the main categories of non-verbal communication and their characteristics?
The main categories of non-verbal communication include Physical (facial expressions, tone of voice, body motions), Aesthetic (creative expressions like music, dance), Signs (mechanical signals like flags, horns), and Symbolic (religious, status, or ego-building symbols).
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- Brighton Amuni (Autor:in), 2019, Communication Skills, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1613018
