ASSIGNMENT

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OUMH1303
ENGLISH FOR ORAL COMMUNICATION
JANUARY 2021 SEMESTER
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INSTRUCTION

1. All tasks must be delivered in English.

2. The cover sheet of your assignment must contain the following information: Course
code and name / Semester / Your full name and student number / Your email address
and mobile number.
3. For written assignment, use Times New Roman or Arial, 12-point font, with 1.5-line
spacing in A4 format. Ensure that the assignment you submit is paginated.
4. Present your responses to the tasks in a MULTIPLE files. Adhere to the following
structure:
i. Response to Task 1 – A recorded speech presentation (max 400MB)
ii. Response to Task 2 – Reflective Report/Essay

5. Submit your files ONLINE by: 14 MARCH 2021

6. Late submission without prior permission will be penalized with marks deduction.

7. This assignment accounts for 60% of the total marks for the course:

a) Speech Presentation – 40%

b) Reflective Report/Essay – 20%

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 TASK 1: INDIVIDUAL SPEECH PRESENTATION

PURPOSE
The task set for this assignment are designed to help you meet the following course
learning outcomes (CLOs):
1) Describe effective verbal and non-verbal language in expressing formal and informal
communication; and
3) Demonstrate the ability and confidence in preparing and practising effective
communication skills in any settings.
* CLO 2 will be tested in the MCQ items.

TASK
The objective of this task is to confidently deliver an Informative speech.This is an
individual task.
Choose ONE of the specific purposes (Refer to the OUMH1303 Module, pg 178) below and
prepare a speech on the topic: NATURE.
a. Explanation OR

b. Reporting

Delivering an effective speech is a skill that needs to be developed especially for those with
job tasks involving speeches like teachers, sales person, lawyers and many others. The most
important thing to do first is to research a good topic that will be of interest to your
audience.

The followings are task specifications in preparing thevideo:

a. Start by brainstorming the topic: NATURE and find one aspect to start planning your
speech text. You MUST discuss your title with your e-tutor in the forum or during the
e tutorial sessions. Find a title that you as the presenter will be comfortable to
deliver the speech. E.g.: Tsunami and the detrimental effects.
b. Plan and write your speech text – either in short notes or the complete text. Your
introduction should state your name, ID, Course, and the purpose of the speech with
the title.

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 c. You can refer to various resources or use your personal observations, experience,
and knowledge for creating the content, but make sure that the content of the
speech is appropriate to your targeted audience.
d. You will need to decide: the producer, your targeted audience, the surroundings
(background, lighting, soundproof area), and other aspects to consider even though
you are not going to mention it verbally in the presentation.
e. Plan visual aids. You are encouraged to use creativity and innovation in producing
the video by catering both brain’s visual and auditory systems, body language, facial
expressions, imagery and music, etc. You might want to use applications to further
exemplify the speech text like PowerPoint Presentation, iMovie, Funimate, Adobe
and many others. However, remember that this video is a speech presentation NOT
a video presentation.
f. Record your 8 - 12minutes speech. Marks will be deducted for speeches that are
lesser that 8 minutes or more that 13 minutes. Adhere to these:
i. Look confident and professional
ii. Make sure that you have an introduction
iii. The purpose of the speech must either be to demonstrate or to describe.
iv. The video screen must capture the top half of your body so that your hand
gestures and facial expressions are visible- at least half of the recording
duration.
v. Your speech must be engaging and interesting.
vi. You must offer an ending (conclusion) in the video.
g. Make sure the recording of your speech is authentic, clear and organised.
Remember, “you are the script writer, the speaker and maybe even, the producer!”.
Your aim is to deliver a speech that is engaging and interesting to your audience.
h. Submit your video online according to the instructions.

NOTE:
* Refer to the assignment rubrics as a guide to achieve cohesion and coherence.
* Remember to refer to Topic 8 of OUMH 1303 Module
[Total: 40 marks]

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 TASK 2: REFLECTIVE REPORT/ESSAY

The task set for this assignment are designed to help you meet the following course
learning outcomes (CLOs):
1) Describe effective verbal and non-verbal language in expressing formal and informal
communication; and
3) Demonstrate the ability and confidence in preparing and practising effective
communication skills in any settings.
* CLO 2 will be tested in the MCQ items.

TASK

IMPORTANT: This task is a continuation of your video presentation: Explanation or

Reporting Speech on the topic:NATURE.

Write a 4-5 pages reflection on the process of carrying out the speech presentation.

Your reflection essay MUST include the following FIVE criteria and each criterion should be
about 500 words:

i) Reflection on the process; the planning stage of the video, during the recording
of the video and after the video has been recorded. Reflect on the challenges and
what you did to overcome these challenges. Share your thoughts on the
language process too – vocabulary and grammar in writing and delivering the
speech.
ii) The timeline of completing the recording of the video and the preparation of
visual aids. How long did you plan and record etc? How important is creativity
and innovation in this task? Why do you say so?
iii) Reflection of the content (the topic/ issue) and rationalise how things could have
been done in a better way. Is this topic/ issue familiar with you or vice versa?
Describe well. During the process of the video, there might be some instances
where you realised your idea could have been improved in another way.
Describe this situation too.
iv) Show the video to ONE person and inquire if the speech is explanation/reporting.
If he/she believe the video is neither, ask for other suggestions that might help
improve the speech or the speaker. Share this person’s thoughts in your
reflective essay.

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 v) Your personal thoughts of completing this task (the video presentation). How do
you feel about it? Describe too, what are the advantages/disadvantages of
recording this video? If you feel the video recording is not advisable, what would
be a better alternative? Explain your rationale.

REMINDER:

i. Plagiarism is a serious offense. Avoid using or claiming other people’s writing in

this assignment.
ii. Refer to the assignment rubrics as a guide to achieve cohesion and coherence.

[Total: 20 marks]

REFLECTIVE ESSAY OUTLINE

- Must have an introduction, body and a conclusion

REFLECTIVE ESSAY

Introduction
(2-5 lines)

Body
(all the 5 criteria mentioned above)

Conclusion
(2-5 lines)

5

OUMH1303 ENGLISH FOR ORAL COMMUNICATION / JANUARY 2021
TASK 1: INDIVIDUAL SPEECH PRESENTATION
Excellent
QN CLO Criteria Weight
4 3
Task 1 3 Speech 2 Covers the topic in depth
Content with details and examples.
Knowledge of the topic is
excellent.
The purpose of the speech
is excellently achieved.
The structure of the
content is very inviting to
the viewers, and the
timing is excellently met.
3 Originality & 1.5 The ideas show great
Creativity of originality. The ideas are
ideas creative, professional and
witty.
Excellent use of visual aids
and extra creative efforts
to enhance understanding
of speech content
3 Organisation 3 Direction and duration of
and the video is well planned
ASSIGNMENT RUBRICS
Good
Includes basic knowledge
of the topic. The content is
good and inviting to the
viewers.
The purpose of the speech
is achieved.
The structure of the
content is organized, and
the timing is good.
The ideas show originality
with the use of own ideas
and creativity.
Good use of visual aids
and there are additional
creative efforts to enhance
understanding of speech
content
Direction and duration of
the video is good and
6
Fair
2 1
Includes essential
information about the
topic, but contain few
mistakes in the facts. The
content is particularly not
really inviting to the
viewer.
The purpose of the speech
is somewhat clear, and the
timing is between 8-
12minutes.
The ideas show less
creativity and very rigid.
The content is rather stiff
and not smooth.
Moderate use of visual
aids and few creative
efforts to enhance
understanding of speech
content.
A moderate direction and
duration of the video and
ATTACHMENT
Unsatisfactory
Poor Or
Max
No response
Marks
0
The content includes Lack of content 8
minor details and it has and no purpose.
several mistakes in the
facts. The content is
not inviting to the
viewer.
The purpose of the
speech is not clear, and
the timing is either too
short or too long.
The ideas show no No originality and 6
creativity and very no creativity at
boring. The content is all.
presented as “reading”
and not natural
Lacks visual aids and
poor creative efforts
Little effort has been No effort has 12
made to direct the been made to
 presentation of and captures the
the speaker audience’s attention
throughout.
The structure and details
of the video are placed in
a logical order and the way
they are presented
effectively keeps the
interest of the viewer.
Delivery is effectively
natural, fluent and
audible.
The gestures and
expressions are natural,
very relaxing and
spontaneous.
3 Overall and 1.5 The overall quality of the
Clarity of the video and the focus were
Video excellent.
The video angle and
perfect lighting excellently
captures the speaker.
The ending part of the
video is recognizable and
gives very clear and
meaningful closure to the
video.
captures the audience’s
attention throughout.
There are clear attempts
to link details in the video
but in one or two parts,
the details appear
incoherent.
Delivery is natural, fluent
and audible.
The gestures and
expressions are quite
spontaneous.
Most of the quality of the
video and the focus were
good.
The video angle and good
lighting captures the
speaker.
The ending part is
recognizable, but does not
effectively close the video.
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at times able to capture
the audience’s attention.
There are attempts to link
details in the video but the
structure and organisation
of the video lacks direction
that affected viewer’s
comprehension.
Delivery is quite natural,
fluent and audible.
The gestures and
expressions show some
sign of nervousness.
The quality of the video is
not very good but the
overall focus was
acceptable.
The video angle and
lighting somewhat
captures the speaker
asthere were more
animation instead.
There is no clear ending or
the ending part is
unexpected/ not
interesting.
video. Video is too make the video
short. interesting.
The structure and No attraction at
organization of ideas in all and/or the
the video is not content is
smooth and/or might confusing.
contain some mistakes
in the facts that
affected general
understanding of the
viewer.
Delivery is not natural/
fluent and or audible.
The quality of the The quality of the 6
video is acceptable but video and the
the overall focus was overall focus
not good or quite bad. were very poor
and not
The video angle and acceptable.
lighting poorly
captures the speaker,
too many animations.
There is no clear
ending part. The video
just ends.
 3 Use of 2 No errors in grammar, Minimal errors in Some errors in grammar, A lot of errors in Too many major 8
Language punctuation or spelling grammar, punctuation or punctuation or spelling grammar, punctuation errors and very
that distracts the viewer spelling that does not that affects viewer’s or spelling that affects poor grammar,
from the content. affect viewer’s understanding. viewer’s punctuation or
The choices of words are understanding. Some of the words used comprehension. spelling.
very appropriate and The choices of words are are not appropriate and The choices of words Language used is
suitable for the video and mostly appropriate and not suitable for the video are very poor and not not suitable for
targeted audience. suitable for the video and and targeted audience. appropriate the video the video and
targeted audience. and targeted audience. targeted
audience.

Total 10 40
*QN = Question Number

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TASK 2: REFLECTIVE REPORT/ESSAY
Unsatisfactory
Excellent Good Fair Poor Or
Max
No response
QN CLO Criteria Weight Marks
4 3 2 1 0
Task 2 Introduction 0.5 The introduction is The introduction is good. The introduction is There is no clear There is no 2
excellently written. sufficient introduction. introduction.

1 Reflections 3.5 Convincing, critical and
detailed discussion of the
activity; pre, during and
post
Demonstrates very good
understanding and insights
of the 5 criteria required.
All 5 criteria is elaborated
extensively, more than
500 words per criteria.
All personal reflections
and relevant examples are
very essential and
detailed.
Critical and detailed
discussion of the activity;
pre, during and post
Demonstrates good
understanding and
insights of the 5 criteria
required.
All 5 criteria is elaborated
well, within 400-500
words
Personal reflections and
relevant examples are
essential and detailed.
Thorough and detailed
discussion of activity; pre,
during and post
Demonstrates satisfactory
understanding and
insights of 5 criteria
required.
All 5 criteria are
elaborated, within 400-
500 words.
Some personal reflections
and relevant examples are
somewhat essential and
detailed.
Demonstrates a lack of High possibility of 14
understanding and plagiarism.
insights of the 5
criteria required. Does not
demonstrate
Less than 5 criteria are understanding
elaborated. nor insights of the
5 criteria
Too few personal required.
reflections and
examples are
unimportant or not
detailed. Word count is
much less than 400
words.

Conclusion 0.5 The conclusion is well The conclusion is The conclusion shows The conclusion is not There is no 2
connected to all the connected to all the some connections to the clearly written. conclusion.
reflections. reflections. reflections.

Language/ 0.5 Writer makes no errors in Writer makes minimal Writer makes some errors Writer makes a lot of Writing is 2
Grammar grammar or spelling that errors in grammar, in grammar, structure, or errors in grammar, generally
distracts the reader from structure and spelling that spelling that affect structure or spelling incomprehensible
the content. does not affect reader’s reader’s understanding. that affect reader’s due to grammar,
understanding. comprehension. structures and

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 spelling mistakes.
Total 5 20
*QN = Question Number

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