Communication

Communication

An Introduction

Objectives

• Understand the two requirements of effective communication

• Describe the difference between talking and writing, and listening and reading

• Explain the elements of good written communication

Communication

• Communication is the conveying of information.

• How is communication done?

Exercise 1

• What is in the bag? Gestures only

Communication Paradigm

Talking Listening

Writing Reading

Exercise 2

• What is in the bag? Limited vocabulary a) Big

b) Small

c) Black

d) White

e) One

f) Two

g) Many

h) Round

i) Square

Four Types of Writing

As a College Student

As a Professional

As a Citizen

As a friend/family

Exercise 3

• What is in the bag? Foreign Language

Talking & Listening

• Needs a listener

• Needs to use a common language

• Contemporaneous

• Flexible

• Often informal and ungrammatical

• Needs a talker

• Needs to understand the language

• Gives feed back

– Asks questions

– Interrupts

– Body language

Writing & Reading

• Needs a reader

• Needs to use a common language

• Distant

• Inflexible

• More grammatical and formal

• Needs a writer

• Needs to understand the language

• Writer not present

• Cannot ask questions

• Uses grammar to understand content

Effective Writing

Calvin & Hobbs by

Bill Waterson

Considerations

• Purpose

• Audience

• Meaning

• Structure

• Formality

• Grammar

• Vocabulary

Purpose

• What is the goal of the communication?

• The purpose will influence all other considerations

Audience

• Who is going to read it?

• What is his or her language skills?

• What is his or her vocabulary level?

• What is the reader’s general knowledge?

• What questions will the reader ask?

Meaning

• Looks at what is being said

• Determines why it needs to be said

• Asks if what is being said is what is meant

• Drives the structure, formality, vocabulary and grammar

Structure

• How the information is put together

• The layout of the communication

– E-mail

– Research paper

– Essay

• Description

• Definition

• Process

Formality

• Formality is how casual the writing is

• This is determined by the purpose and the audience

• It is a matter of degree not yes or no.

Formal Informal

Buttock Rump Behind Caboose Ass

Vocabulary

• It is through words that ideas are expressed

• The more words one has the better able to express one’s ideas

• Fair

• Just

• Equitable

• Impartial

• Unprejudiced

• Unbiased

• Objective

• Dispassionate

Grammar

• The basic rules of language

• Used to understand vocabulary

• All languages have grammar, including computer languages

• A brigant was bending toward the wind.

• Man the dog big the bit.

Units of Thought

Sentences

Paragraphs

Essays

Sentences

• Sentences are the basic unit of thought

• Formal writing requires full sentences

Sentences

Paragraphs

Essays

Sentence Examples

• Jack went to the store.

• Although Jack went to the store yesterday, he forgot to buy eggs.

• Although Jack went to the store yesterday, he forgot to buy eggs, so he went to the store again today.

• Although Jack went to the store yesterday, he forgot to buy eggs, so he went to the store again today where he ran into Cindy, his ex-girlfriend.

Paragraphs

• Paragraph is a group of sentences around a single topic

• The single topic is called the topic sentence

• All other sentences support the topic sentence

• How many sentences are required in a paragraph? –As many as one needs!

Sentences

Paragraphs

Essays

Topic Sentence

• The main idea of a paragraph

• It is a sentence and an opinion

• All other sentences in the paragraph help prove the topic sentence – Facts

– Examples

– Details

• A shift in idea means a new paragraph.

Paragraph Example

Walt Disney World and its neighboring theme parks are undoubtedly responsible for Orlando’s earning the distinction “the world’s most popular vacation destination.” Tens of millions of people visit Central Florida every year, primarily to see the home of Mickey Mouse. People who lived in Orlando prior to the construction of Disney’s entertainment empire have watched their small town grow into a sprawling city with hundreds of hotels, shopping malls, souvenir shops, and bedroom communities.

Exploring Central Florida –Benjamin D. Brotemarkle

Essays

• A collection of paragraphs around a central idea.

• This central idea is called a thesis statement

• Each paragraph supports that idea.

• Essays are individual reflections on a topic

• How may paragraphs to an essay? As many as one needs!

Sentences

Paragraphs

Essays

Secrets to Good Communication

Clear Purpose

Clear Audience

Good Thinking

Good Organizatio

n

Good Vocabulary

Good Grammar

Summary

• Good writing involves good communication

• An essay is a collection of paragraphs about one idea

• A paragraph is a collection of sentences about one idea.

• Clear, concise thoughts equal good communication