NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

FACULTY OF COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

LANGUAGE COMPETENCE CENTRE
COURSE CODE AND NAME: ILI1105 Communication Skills
COURSE SYNOPSIS
This course aims to equip science and engineering-oriented students with skills necessary for
writing, editing, gathering, organising, and presenting information effectively according to
audience and purpose. Topics to be covered include technical documentation, oral and written
technical reports, designing principles of technical and professional communication, policy
making and leadership skills, teamwork, conflict management styles, public speaking skills,
participation in group meetings, interview types and skills, critical thinking and audience
analysis, study skills.

RATIONALE

Communication Skills addresses attitude, knowledge, and skills to enhance the value of the
science and engineering programmes. The interfacing skills attained facilitate team building,
setting the right tone for the work climate and securing support from all the stakeholders.
Therefore, Communication Skills (ILI1105) lays the groundwork for the effective and
efficient career enhancement in five major ways:

a) Creates a conducive learning and work climate.

b) Sets tone for promoting healthy professional relationships.
c) Provides appropriate guidelines for work and the equitable distribution of resources.
d) Facilitates the acquisition of professional attitudes and skills in the designing and the
evaluating policies globally.
e) Advances explanatory theories for policy shifts and leadership roles in the production
governance systems.
OBJECTIVES
At the end of the course, the students should be able to:
a) Communicate technical material orally and in print effectively and share it with a
variety of audiences.
b) Present technical material in writing and orally with confidence and poise.
c) Use leadership styles to prevent and resolve conflicts.
d) Craft policies that add value to engineering activities institutionally and nationally.

OUTCOMES

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 1. Demonstration of technical communication material in print.
2. Demonstrate that you can present technical material orally with confidence and poise.
3. Demonstration of the use of technical material using audio-visual materials.
4. Demonstration of technical material using relevant communication skills to a variety
of audiences, from members of the building and engineering trades and medical fields
to government representatives and the public.
5. Demonstration of capacity and ability to work with teams.
INSTRUCTION METHODS
The instruction methods are to be situational and shall include conventional lectures,
presentations, team-based learning, case studies, research, analyses, and discussion.
ASSESSMENT
Continuous assessment (30%)
Final written examinations (70%)
Continuous assessments
a) Test and quizzes at the end of some/each topic (s).
b) Practical reports, assignments, and presentations.
Final examination
Written paper(s) essays and/or multiple-choice papers.
Course Outline
1. Introduction & Lecture Structures
i. Time management
ii. Autonomous learning
iii. Note-taking techniques
iv. Active, critical listening
v. E-learning platforms (introduction to self-study & online peer support)
2. Introduction to Information Literacy
i. What is Information Literacy?
ii. Sources of Information.
iii. Navigating the Internet, NUST website and Library portal.
iv. Navigating Library Catalogues
v. Developing a Search Strategy
vi. E-resources & using online search engines.
vii. Citation and Referencing
viii. Defining plagiarism.
ix. Using references as support.
x. The concept of citation and referencing.
xi. Examples of referencing systems.
xii. Electronic referencing tools.
3. Technical Communication: The Concept
i. Definition of communication.

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 ii. Models of communication.
iii. Barriers to communication.
iv. Application principles.
4. Technical Documentation (Writing)
i. Internal communication: Writing emails and memos.
ii. External communication: Writing formal letters.
iii. Using Visuals to Convey Information.
iv. Process Documentation: Reports.
v. Writing Proposals.
5. Oral Communication
i. The elements of public speaking.
ii. Audience analysis.
iii. Preparing and delivering a presentation.
iv. Effective public speaking.
6. Conflict Prevention and Management
i. Leading theories: Kurt Lewis’ freezing and unfreezing model.
ii. Multiple streams model.
iii. Kingdon’s three process stream.
7. Designing Policy and Leadership Styles
i. Leading theories: Top-bottom approach.
ii. Bottom-top approach.
iii. Implementation processes.
8. PowerPoint Presentations
i. Rational for PowerPoint presentations
ii. Design and Presentation (Practicals)
9. Job Interviews
i. Writing resumes.
ii. Cover letters.
iii. Interview types and skills.
10. Examination Techniques
i. Revision and exam preparation techniques.

Relevant Reading

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Bailey, Stephen. 2003. Academic writing: a practical guide for students. London: Routledge.
Berko, R.M., Wolvin, A.D. and Wolvin, D.R. 1998. Communicating: A social and career
focus. 7th ed. New York: Mifflin Company.
Burgoon, M., Hansaker, F.G. and Dawson, E.J. 1994. Human Communication. California:
Sage Publications.
Bovee, C.L. and Thill, J.V. 1997. Business Communication Today. New Jersey: Prentice
Hall.
Carey, J.W. 1992. Communication as Culture: Essays on Media and Society. Boston: Unwin.
Clanchy, J. and Ballard, B. 1983. How to write essays: a practical guide for students. London:
Longman.
Corner, J. and Hawton, J. (Eds.). 1985. Communication studies: an introductory reader. New
York: Edward Arnold Publishers.
Devito, J. Essentials of Human Communication. 1995. New York: Harper Collins Publishers.
Dimbleby, R. and Burton. 1992. More than Words: an introduction to communication.
London: Edward Arnold Publishers.
Diwan, P. 1997. Business Communication. New Delhi: Excell Books.
Du Plooy, M.G. 1991. 500 Communication Concepts. Cape Town: Juta.
Fielding, M. 1997. Effective Communication in Organisations: preparing messages that
communicate. 2nd ed. Cape Town: Juta.
Fiske, J. 1992. Introduction to communication studies. London: Routledge.
Grix, Jonathan and Watkins, Gerald. 2010. Information Skills. Basingstoke: Palgrave
MacMillan.
Gupta, C. B. Business communication and organization management. New Delhi: Sultan
Chand and Sons.
Machakanja, I. C. and Muzamhindo, J. 1999. How to study: Communication skills for
university students. Harare: Africa University Press.
Kaul, A. 1999. Business Communication. New Delhi: Prentice Hall.
Lee-Davis, L. 2007. Developing Work and Study Skills. London: Thomson.
Levin, Peter. 2007. Skilful Time Management. Maidenhead: Open University Press.
Lesikar, R.V. and Pettit, J.D. 1999. Business communication: theory and application. 6th ed.
New Delhi: Irwin.
Mersham, G. and Skinner, C. 2000. Business and Organisational Communication.
Johannesburg: Heinemann.
Payne, J. 2001. Effective Communication for Personal and Career Contexts. Clark
Publishing.

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Peel, M. 1990. Improving your communication skills. London: Kogan Page.
Richmond, V.P. and McCroskey, J.C. 1998. Communication, apprehension, avoidance and
effectiveness. 5th ed. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
Taylor, S. 1998. Communication for business. 3rd ed. Essex: Pearson Educational.
Verderber, R.F. and Verderber, K.S. 2008. Communicate! London: Thomson Wadsworth.