COM101 - Communicating Across Contexts

Assignment Brief

Subject Description 
This course introduces students to the core concepts of communication. Students will cultivate an awareness of these concepts by analyzing how they are used in a variety of texts and contexts, and they will apply these concepts strategically in their own writing. Through a variety of writing tasks centred on these core concepts of communication, students will develop the transferrable reading and writing skills essential for success in their post-secondary studies, workplaces, and communities.

Learning Outcomes: COM101 - Communicating Across Contexts 
Upon successful completion of this subject the student will be able to:

By the end of this course, students will be able to

• Summarize a variety of texts to demonstrate comprehension.
• Compose written texts using communication strategies suitable for the intended purpose and audience.
• Analyze a variety of texts to determine the credibility of those sources.
• Create informed arguments in response to a variety of texts.
• Revise writing for clarity, coherence, and grammatical correctness.

Sample Answer

Understanding and Applying Core Communication Concepts Across Contexts

Introduction

Communication is a key part of our everyday lives. Whether we are writing an essay, sending an email, or giving a presentation, we are constantly using communication to express ideas. This essay will explore the core communication skills taught in COM101, including summarising texts, analysing information, writing clearly for different audiences, and building strong arguments. These skills are useful not only in school but also in work and life.

Summarising Texts to Show Understanding

One of the first skills learned in COM101 is how to summarise a text. A good summary gives the main points of an article or passage in fewer words. It does not include every small detail but shows the reader you understand the text’s purpose and message.

For example, if a student reads a news article about climate change, the summary should mention the cause (greenhouse gases), the effect (rising temperatures), and the solution (reducing carbon emissions). This shows the student can identify the most important ideas.

Being able to summarise well helps students avoid plagiarism and shows teachers they truly understand what they read.

Writing for a Specific Audience and Purpose

Communication changes depending on who we are writing for. In COM101, students learn to use different tones and formats. A job application email sounds different from a social media post.

For instance, when writing to a teacher, the tone should be formal and polite. But when texting a friend, it can be casual and short. Learning this helps students become better communicators in real life, where audience and purpose matter.

Analysing Texts for Credibility

In today’s world, people see information everywhere, social media, blogs, videos, news sites. Not all of it is true. COM101 teaches students to check if a source is trustworthy.

To analyse a text, students look at the author’s background, the publication, and whether the facts are backed up by evidence. This is useful when writing research essays. If a source is biased or false, it can make an argument weak.

For example, an article written by a scientist with years of experience is usually more reliable than a post by a random blogger.

Creating Arguments and Backing Them Up

Another important skill is building a strong argument. This means giving an opinion and using reasons and facts to support it. In COM101, students learn how to structure arguments with a clear beginning, middle, and end.

For example, a student might argue that social media harms mental health. To support this, they could use statistics, expert opinions, and real-life examples.

This skill is useful in debates, essays, and even when making decisions in daily life. A good argument is not just about shouting louder, it`s about having strong points.

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