THE COMMUNICATION STUDIES SYLLABUS

The syllabus has three modules.

MODULE 1: GATHERING AND PROCESSING INFORMATION

SOME TOPICS
1. Speech vs. writing
2. Types of speech and writing – expository, literary, argumentative
3. Hearing vs. listening
4. Reading vs. listening
5. Sources of information
6. Evaluating sources of information
7. Reliability and validity

MODULE 2: LANGUAGE AND COMMUNITY

SOME TOPICS
1. The nature of language
2. “Language” vs. “a language”
3. The characteristics of language
4. The purposes of language
5. Concepts: variation, dialect, standard, Creole register,
6. The social, political, ethical and psychological roles of language in human
societies
7. The role of language in Caribbean identity
8. Features of Jamaican Creole which make it different from Standard Jamaican
English
9. Challenges faced by the Creole or Creole-influenced vernacular speaker in
learning English
10. The range of languages (including Creoles) used in the Caribbean
11. Attitudes to the languages used in the Caribbean region
12. The effects of these attitudes on integration, marginalization and alienation
13. The influence of history on the language situation of the Caribbean region
14. Differences in language used in different settings (register, dialect, etc.)
15. Technological advances that have impacted on communication
16. The significance of communication technologies in cultural interaction

MODULE 3: SPEAKING AND WRITING

SOME TOPICS
1. The communication process
2. Contexts for communication
3. Evaluation of written and spoken communication
4. Verbal vs. non-verbal communication
5. Oral vs. written communication
6. Facilitators and barriers in communication
 THE INTERNAL ASSESSMENT
The internal assessment takes the form of a portfolio of original work.. It is based on a
theme that you will select and which your teacher will approve. It should be organized
in the following four parts:

THE INTRODUCTION
The portfolio should have an introduction that:
1. identifies the theme selected
2. shows how it relates to your academic interest
3. shows how it relates to your work-related interest
4. shows how it relates to your personal interest

THE EXPOSITORY SECTION

Though this is a part of the assessment, this section is not represented in the portfolio
because it is examined orally.
1. Choose an expository topic based on your theme. The topic should be current.
2. Conduct research based on this topic.
3. Prepare an oral presentation of no more than seven minutes.
4. The oral presentation should include:
a. an explanation of the topic. (1 mark)
b. reasons for your personal interest in the topic. (1 mark)
c. a discussion of the issues raised and challenges experienced on your
findings as you explored the topic. (2 marks)
d. an evaluation of the effect of source, context and medium or channel on
the reliability and validity of information gathered (4 marks)
e. a conclusion
5. In addition to being graded for the five elements (a-e) mentioned above, you will
be graded for:
a. using a clear, audible voice (2 marks)
b. making eye contact (2 marks)
c. using appropriate body language (2 marks)
6. You will also be given marks for how well you use the English language and for
the quality of your expression (6 marks)
7. You may bring a cue card with headings related to your presentation.
8. You are not allowed to enter the examination room with a written script.

THE REFLECTIVE SECTION

In this section of the portfolio you will present ONE piece of original work.
1. The piece should NOT exceed 800 words.
2. The pieces should cover ONE literary genre (drama, prose, poetry)
3. This section should include a rationale for the selection. The rationale should
give details of:
a. the inspiration for the piece,
b. the intended audience/s for the piece, giving reasons,
c. the situation/s in which the piece is most suitable, giving reasons,
 d. the purpose/s for the piece.

4. THE PIECE CREATED FOR INCLUSION IN THIS SECTION OF THE

PORTFOLIO MUST BE RELATED TO THE THEME OF THE
PORTFOLIO.

THE ANALYTICAL SECTION

1. Your piece must allow you to analyse TWO of the following:
a. registers
b. dialectal variations
c. attitudes to language
d. communicative behaviours
2. The analysis of the TWO aspects mentioned above should not exceed three
hundred and fifty (350) words.

If the candidate exceeds the word limit of any of the pieces, ten percent (10%) of the
grade for that piece/those pieces will be deducted.

In addition to the portfolio, Communication Studies assessment is based on two written

papers:

 Paper 01 (1 hour and 30 minutes) has 45 compulsory multiple-choice questions

– 30% of total assessment

 Paper 02 (2 hours and 30 minutes.) has three (3) compulsory essay-type

questions, one from each module – 50% of total assessment