Course : Elementary Communication Skills (Autonomous Engineering GTU)

Unit - 1          Fundamentals of Communication            
Learning Outcomes    (Student Learning Outcomes)   
•    Identify the need for good communication skills
•    Develop the understanding of the principles of effective communication
•    Demonstrate the understanding of barriers that creep into communication process and exhibit the capacity to overcome them.
•    Relate the components of communication in their life
Topics and Sub-topics
1.    Concept and Process of Communication   
2.    Purposes of Communication   
3.    Barriers to Communication
4.    Strategies to overcome barriers to communication
5.    Get acquainted with the following:
               *    Classification of communication (on the basis of types, flow and means/manners)
               *    Networks of communication 

     Unit - 2         Fundamentals of Non-Verbal Communication
Learning Outcomes   (Student Learning Outcomes)   
•    Describe various components of non-verbal communication
•    Explain the meaning of non-verbal communication
•    Relate and apply the things learnt during communication
Topics and Sub-topics   
1.    Concept and Importance
2.    Basics of Non-Verbal Communication
               *   Personal Appearance
               *    Kinesics
               *    Proxemics
               *    Chronemics
               *    Paralinguistics
3.    Get acquainted with the following:
               *    Use of Visual Aids like tables, figures, charts, graphs (what, why, when and how)
               *    Gestures and the meanings they convey
               *    Postures and the meanings they convey

     Unit - 3         Fundamentals of Public Speaking
Learning Outcomes    (Student Learning Outcomes)   
•    Give a clear, organized and accurate speeches related to their field
•    Clearly state questions, concerns, and ideas so that listener can understand the intent
•    Discuss among various size groups of students so as to be able to contribute without over powering others

Topics and Sub-topics   
1.    Concept and Importance
2.    Features of a Good Speech
3.    Various Structures of Speeches (chronological, causal, spatial etc)
4.    Methods of Delivering Speeches – their pros and cons
5.    Different types of speeches
               *    Welcome / Introductory
               *    Vote of thanks
               *    Farewell speeches etc

    Unit - 4            Fundamentals of Listening Skills
Learning Outcomes   (Student Learning Outcomes)   
•    listen effectively in a variety of situations for a variety of purposes
•    Practise the behaviours of effective, active listeners
•    Assess strengths in listening and set goals for future growth
•    Compose notes on listening lectures / notes
Topics and Sub-topics   
1.    Concept, Significance and Process
2.    Reasons for Poor Listening
3.    Characteristics of a good listener
4.    Strategies to overcome barriers
5.    Note Taking
               *    Concept and Importance
               * Features of Good Notes
               *    Methods of Preparing Good Notes
6.     Get acquainted with:
               *    Content listening
               *    Empathetic Listening
               *    Critical Listening
               *    Analytical Listening
               *    Superficial Listening
               *    Intensive Listening
               *    Extensive Listening

    Unit - 5        Fundamentals of Reading Skills
Learning Outcomes    (Student Learning Outcomes)   
•    Define meaning and purpose of reading
•    Recognize the reasons for poor reading
•    Apply the strategies to develop necessary reading skills
•    Develop notes on the basis of reading
Topics and Sub-topics   
1.    Concept and Importance of Reading
2.    Purposes of Reading
3.    Reasons for Poor Reading Skills
4.    Strategies to Develop Reading Skills
5.    Methods of Reading
6.    Non-verbal Signals in Reading
7.    Get acquainted with the following:
               *    Scanning
               *    Skimming
               *    Critical Reading
               *    Intensive Reading
               *    Extensive Reading
   Unit - 6         Fundamentals of Writing Skills
Learning Outcomes    (Student Learning Outcomes)   
•    Demonstrate the capacity to use various writing forms
•    Demonstrate improvements in written expression of thought by utilizing various techniques
•    Demonstrate the capacity to effectively integrate multiple sources
Topics and Sub-topics   
1.    Concept and Importance
2.    Pros and Cons of Written Communication
3.    Do’s and Don’ts of Written Communication
4.    Paragraph Writing
               *    Structure of a paragraph
               *    Techniques of Paragraph development
5.    Note Making
               *    Concept and Importance
               *    Features of Good Notes
               *    Methods of Preparing Good Notes
6.    Précis Writing 
               *    Concept and Importance
               *    Steps of writing a précis