THE COMMUNICATION STUDIES INTERNAL ASSESMENT (IA)

The SBA/IA consists of four sections:

• The general introduction (12 marks)

• The expository section (16 marks)

• The reflective section (14 marks)

• The analytical section (18 marks)

( Total - 60 marks)

The general introduction:

In this section the student must:

• State/identify theme that she has chosen as an area that she is interested in studying however
this is subject to the approval of the teacher.

• The student is then expected to write the General introduction which includes -
an introductory paragraph that sets this theme within a specific context. This paragraph can
give information about the background of theme or it can define the concept embodied in
said theme or any other suitable/approved way of writing an introduction

The second idea is to provide a rationale/reason/purpose for your choice of theme / area of study.
This rationale/reason should/can be related to your career goals, personal interest/experience.
This includes – motivations / inspiration, relation to personal or academic interests)

The third idea focuses on how theme will be reflected in the three different sections of portfolio.
This should show what will be done in the three sections based on the theme

The word limit for this section is ……… 200 WORDS

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THE SPEECH will be 7-10 MINUTES LONG. This is NOT included in the portfolio but is
presented orally.

THE REFLECTIVE SECTION

This section requires a submission of one (1) original piece (student’s own product) that must
reflect the theme of portfolio. NO MORE THAN 800 WORDS.

Candidate should also write a preface to the piece. This should be NO MORE THAN 200
WORDS.

This piece may be a short story, dramatic piece or any other genre that lends itself to
incorporating all four OR at least two aspects needed for the analytical section

Avoid clichéd predictable compositions.

Observe technicality of form that you have chosen (short stories must make use of the narrative
elements and dramatic pieces must observe the dramatic conventions)

Please note that this piece is to be specifically written to be used as the piece for the language
analysis in section three and that there are special guidelines that must be followed. The piece
must show registers, dialectal variations, attitudes to language and communicative behaviours.
Your teacher will assist you in this.

The preface

The piece must be accompanied by a preface. This preface should:

Identify piece

Explain the formal considerations that have guided the creation of the piece (the careful
thoughts and planning in packaging the piece to reach the audience for whom it is intended.

Comment on the actual process of composing the piece. Say how the piece was actually
made. Refer to writing, re-writing, editing and changes made. What is your inspiration? What are
some of the special challenges you encountered while composing the piece

• Refer to any special feature of piece that is worth mentioning (especially if they affect
the creation in any major way)

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 • Identify the audience: specify the audience for whom piece is intended and say why
choice of medium is appropriate. Say why it is suited to the age, gender and background
(educational, cultural, socio- economical, socio –linguistic etc.)

• What is the purpose of the communication/ The purpose for writing the piece.

• The situation / context in which this will be presented. Identify what features of the piece
is appropriate for context and the channels that will be used to get the message across.
Will audio visual aids be used?

Indicate the technical features of the composition and justify your choice of language variations,
language strategies, graphics font size etc.

THE LANGUAGE ANALYSIS (350 WDS.)

A critical analysis of the reflective piece of communication commenting specifically on any

This piece must be thematically relevant and must contain the various linguistic requirements.

Analysis must be done in continuous prose.

Must have introduction (must say what the piece is about and communicate a sense of what the
analysis intends to accomplish

The student must observe all the technicalities of writing continuous prose while analyzing the
different features.

1) Language registers;

Comment on all types found (including the narrator’s and characters). Give examples to support
claims and possible reasons (based on context of the piece) for the linguistic feature

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2) Dialectal variation

Again focus on characters’ and or narrators’ choice and give examples and possible reasons

3) Attitudes to language

What is the basis for each attitude portrayed?

4) Communicative behaviours

Usually non verbal including the use of the voice, objects, time actions and dress among others.

What do these “say” in each situation – provide examples and explanation.

Conclusion

This provides an evaluation of how effective the different linguistic features were presented and
dealt with by the writer.

You may include a bibliography and an appendix however these are optional as the student does
not gain marks for including them NOR does she lose marks for not including them.

THE MARK SCHEME

The general introduction

Theme and purpose of portfolio 2 marks

How the theme is treated in the exposition and reflective sections 4 marks

How the theme relates to candidate’s academic interests 2 marks

How the theme is related to candidate’s work related interests 2 marks

How the theme relates to the candidate’s personal interest 2 marks

(Total – 12 marks)
The exposition

Discussion of issues and challenges 5 marks

Evaluation of the effect of source, context and medium/channel on the reliability 4 marks
and validity of information gathered

Organization 3 marks

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Delivery (audibility, fluency, eye contact body movement and paralinguistic 4 marks
features and other communicative behavoiurs

(Total – 16 marks)
The reflective

The preface 4 marks

The actual sample 10 marks

(Total – 14 marks)
The analysis

Content 8 marks

Expression 5 marks

Organization 5 marks

(Total - 18 marks)