EDI 3410 Communication in Action: Dialogue and Discourse
EDI 3410 Communication in Action: Dialogue and Discourse
Effective communication skills become ever more important as we enter the world of digital business. The workplace is more diverse, having to function in multi-cultural, multinational cross-functional teams. Not only are effective communication skills a requirement for the job but we must be influential in on communication and persuasively present new ideas to colleagues, subordinates, and superiors to inform, motivate, and prepare them for innovation and change.
Students will acquire advanced knowledge about:
- Public speaking: rhetoric, argumentation, critical thinking, debate
- Interpersonal communication: dialogue, listening
- Critical thinking
- Ethical communication
- Interpersonal communication theory
- Identify manipulative communication techniques
- Communicating in teams
- Appropriate communication and choice of medium
Upon completion of this course, students should be able to master the following communication practices:
- Deliver influential pitches and presentations
- Deliver effective arguments
- Handle criticism and balanced dialogue when being challenged
- Critique arguments logically and constructively
- Give quality constructive feedback
- Handle manipulative communication techniques
- Communicating in teams
- Build networks and relationship
- Apply theoretical knowledge to practical communication challenges
In this course, students will learn to develop their own unique style of professional commination, with an emphasis on critical thinking, barriers to effective communication and presentation skills. Students will also understand the ethical implications of different communication styles and exercise balanced judgement in challenging communication situations.
Plenary sessions consisting of lectures and interactive workshops in small groups.
- Critical thinking: argumentation analysis
- Critical thinking: assumptions and fallacies
- Rhetoric
- Ethos, logos, pathos, using examples from student manuscripts and popular speeches
- Speech analysis
- Storytelling
- Dialogue as ethical communication. Introduction to the Mutual Learning Model.
- Challenging dialogues - case study
- Small groups. Ethos. Speeches, followed by individual feedback on body and voice.
- Students turn in drafts of their manuscripts. In class peer feedback.
- Exercises - dialogue for constructive feedback
- Dialogue - tools for practicing the Mutual Learning Model
- Visual Aids
- Logos for the persuasive speech: argumentation, critical thinking, case study
- Speech delivery with individual feedback
- Draft of manuscript - feedback
- Mock exam - exam preparation
Students must participate in both lectures and workshops.
During the course of the semester, students will develop a presentation focusing on a controversial proposal for change or action that lies close to their hearts and in which they strongly believe. Students will focus on the development of a written manuscript and at the same time work on developing their delivery skills so that they, without the aid of this manuscript - but using PowerPoint or other suitable visual aids - can make a credible, persuasive presentation of their proposal. Students will hone their rhetorical and argumentation skills so that they can not only incorporate critical and logical thinking into their presentations, but also listen to critical responses from their audience and constructively discuss/defend their proposal after it has been delivered. Furthermore, students will be responsible for critiquing their peer's proposals in the discussion following each presentation. Finally, they will deliver a written reflection concerning the work they have done on this presentation during the course of the semester.
In order to successfully complete these goals, the students must become familiar with the theory presented in lectures as well as become proficient at applying the theory in the workshops, where formative feedback will be given throughout the semester.
Class participation:
Classes are designed to be interactive - small group activities, student-led discussions, and peer feedback exercises. Attendance and participation in class are expected.
Students are expected to work on the following throughout the semester:
- Preparation of speeches
- Preparation of individual case
- Preparation and participation in mock exam
- Outline of persuasive speech
- Draft of speech manuscript
- Final draft of speech manuscript
- Video Selfie of speech
- Written reflection
The course ELE 3904 Communication in Action: Dialogue and Discourse was lectured for the last time in spring 2023. Students who need a re-sit exam can do so in this course; EDI 3410 Communication in Action: Dialogue and Discourse.
Students who are doing this must:
- Notify the course responsible at the start of the semester,
- Will follow the current semester's exam schedule.
- Must retake all components of the exam, including a distinct speech topic.
Higher Education Entrance Qualification
Disclaimer
Deviations in teaching and exams may occur if external conditions or unforeseen events call for this.
No specific prerequisites are required.
| Mandatory coursework | Courseworks given | Courseworks required | Comment coursework |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mandatory | 1 | 1 | Draft of speech manuscript. The draft manuscript shall be ready to class 6, and must be handed in on Itslearning within class 7. |
| Assessments |
|---|
Exam category: Submission Form of assessment: Written submission Weight: 35 Grouping: Individual Duration: 1 Semester(s) Comment: Quality of the Final Manuscript: Final Manuscript; and obligatory outline and draft submitted during the semester. And, the quality of the final Written Reflection. Based on course concepts. Exam code: EDI 34101 Grading scale: ECTS Resit: Examination every semester |
Exam category: Activity Form of assessment: Presentation and discussion Weight: 65 Grouping: Individual Duration: 8 Hour(s) Comment: Based on course concepts. Quality of the Presentation; Quality of the Presenter’s Dialogue with the Opponent following the Presentation, based on course concepts; and Quality of the Critique of a peer's Presentation. On a designated day before the final delivery of the presentations, each “Presenters” will send their manuscript to their assigned “Opponent". The presentation and discussion for each student will be administered in two, 3-4-hour sessions. Exam code: EDI 34102 Grading scale: ECTS Resit: Examination every semester |
All exams must be passed to get a grade in this course.
| Activity | Duration | Comment |
|---|---|---|
Teaching | 26 Hour(s) | Participation in lectures |
Seminar groups | 10 Hour(s) | Participation in workshops |
Prepare for teaching | 68 Hour(s) | Preparatory reading for lectures (54) and workshops (14) |
Prepare for teaching | 80 Hour(s) | Preparation of speech manuscript, delivery, critique, and defense |
Submission(s) | 10 Hour(s) | Written reflection |
Submission(s) | 3 Hour(s) | Final delivery, dialogue: 30 minutes in a 3-hour session with peers |
Feedback activities and counselling | 3 Hour(s) | Final critique: 15 minutes in a 3-hour session with peers |
A course of 1 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 26-30 hours. Therefore a course of 7,5 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of at least 200 hours.