COMMUNICATION STUDIES MODULE ONE: GATHERING AND PROCESSING INFORMATION GENERAL TOPICS • RESEARCH • NOTETAKING • SUMMARY MODULE ONE: GATHERING AND PROCESSING INFORMATION SPECIFIC TOPICS WITHIN THE GENERAL TOPICS Methods of data collection or data collection methods Strengths and weaknesses of each method Contexts for choosing each method or tool or instrument Definition of terms; Primary and Secondary Sources, reliability, validity, authority, fact, opinion, bias, data collection method vs data collection instrument, data vs information How and why there is a need for verification or authenticity What makes a piece or person authentic Writer’s main point or purpose Strategies and language techniques employed/used by the writer Types of writing: expository, descriptive, argumentative, narrative Study and summary skills Commenting on the reliability of information and evaluation of sources making mention to dates, writer’s qualification/experience, where the information was first published etc. NB: BEGIN PREPARING FOR YOUR PORTFOLIO AT THIS POINT!!!! CHOOSE YOUR TOPIC MODULE 2: LANGUAGE AND COMMUNITY GENERAL TOPICS • LANGUAGE • CREOLE; DIALECT • REGISTERS • TECHNOLOGY MODULE 2: LANGUAGE AND COMMUNITY SPECIFIC TOPICS WITHIN THE GENERAL TOPICS Define and Differentiate between a language and language Describe the characteristics of language Purpose of language Functions or roles of language in society re Identity marker, political role, social, ethical and psychological Define dialect Concept of Creole history in the West Indian context (influence of colonisers) Characteristics or features of Creole languages Differences between Creole and Standard English Challenges faced by Creole speakers to learn Std English Points on the Creole Continuum ( Define and explain Acrolect, Mesolect and Basilect) Registers re what are the factors responsible for a person’s choice of register, dialect? Attitudes to language and impact of these attitudes eg for regional integration, create sense of marginalization and alienation Technological advances and its impact on communication re computer, internet, cell phones, communication gadgets MODULE 3: SPEAKING AND WRITING GENERAL TOPICS • COMMUNICATION • COMMUNICATION CONTEXTS • TYPES OF WRITING • SPEECH • COMMUNICATION AIDS MODULE 3: SPEAKING AND WRITING SPECIFIC TOPICS FROM THE GENERAL TOPICS Define and describe the process of communication Contexts of communication (intrapersonal, interpersonal, small group, mass communication etc) Forms of communication (verbal, non-verbal) Types of writing and speaking (narrative, descriptive, expository, persuasive, argumentative
Audio Visuals Elements of speech
On completing your syllabus you should be able to give detailed information on the following: • Contexts of communication • Register • Dialect • Creole Continuum • Standard languages • Interactive settings • Lexicon • Characteristics of language • Features of Creole (any territory) • Languages of the Caribbean today • Dialectal Variations • Attitudes to language re Creoles and Standard • How these influence language in an interactive setting: audience, message, purpose, occasion, gender and age • Data and information, investigation and research • Features of Verbal and non-verbal communication • Facilitators and barriers to communication • Speech and speech delivery • Correlation between author/ speaker, context , text and reliability and validity of sources • Suitability of data collection methods • Choosing your medium and channel • Technology and its impact (positive/negative) on communication