Computer Science, Prifysgol Cymru Aberystwyth University of Wales

CS28010 (1995-96 session)
Personal Communication Skills

Brief Description

Aims, Objectives, Syllabus, Booklist

Further Details

Number of lectures

15

Number of seminars/tutorials

0

Number of practicals

5 x 1 hour

Coordinator

Dr. Fred Long

Other staff involved

Not yet known

Pre-requisites

None

Co-requisites

CS21020 /C210

Incompatibilities

None

Assessment

Assessed coursework - 100%

Timing

This module extends over both Semester 1 and Semester 2

• select an appropriate typographical style and layout for a simple document;
• write a short technical document using clear, correct and simple English;
• avoid the commoner solecisms in written English;
• plan and deliver a short technical presentation, using appropriate visual aids;
• play an effective role in a more complex group presentation;
• plan and chair an effective meeting.

Typographical Design - 4 Lectures

Fonts: sizes, styles and families. Paragraph styles and justification. Page layouts, headers and footers. Styles for headings. The purpose of typographical design: logical and physical document structures. The need for consistency: style sheets.

How to Write Good English - 6 Lectures

The need to write clear, concise, correct and intelligible technical English. Choice of words, use of apostrophes, punctuation. Common faults of style: verbosity, excessive complication, overuse of the passive, hackneyed phrases. Differences of register.

Planning a Presentation - 4 Lectures

Styles of presentation. Matching a presentation to its audience. Structuring and planning a presentation. Use of visual aids. Delivery.

Meetings - 1 Lecture

Purpose of meetings. Conduct of meetings. Chairing a meeting.

The following may be helpful

Sir Ernest Gowers. The Complete Plain Words. HMSO, London, 3rd. edition, 1986. Revised by Sidney Greenbaum and Janet Whitcut. The author was a senior civil servant; he wrote this book in an attempt to improve the writing of his colleagues. The level is quite advanced and it presupposes a working knowledge of grammatical terminology; nevertheless, it is quite easy to read.

J. Kirkman. Good Style: Writing for Science and Technology. E and F N Spon (Chapman and Hall), 1992. Although it doesn't have the encyclopaedic coverage of Fowler or Gowers, this is probably the best single book in the field to buy. It is aimed directly at the clear and straightforward style that is most suitable for technical writing.

The Economist Style Guide. Economist Books Ltd., 1991. This book was originally produced as a source of guidance for contributors to the magazine The Economist, which is well known for the clarity and directness of its writing. Its coverage is much narrower than that of Weiner or Gowers, but it has much useful material in it.

W. Strunk Jr. and E.B. White. The Elements of Style. Macmillan, 3rd. (revised) edition, 1982. This is a short book with particularly good coverage of common failings in grammar and punctuation. It is American and so, in a few places, the usage is not what you would expect in English. The emphasis of the book is more literary than technical. Despite these features, the book is recommended; if you take notice of everything it says, you will learn to write well.

Anne Eisenberg. Effective Technical Communication. McGraw-Hill, New York, 2nd. edition, 1992. This book has a wide coverage. It includes chapters on letters, abstracts, proposal writing, technical presentations, the use of graphics , and so on. There is much that is useful in the book but it is superficial in places.

Joan van Emden and Jennifer Easteal. Report Writing. McGraw-Hill, Maidenhead, 1987. This book is a good general introduction to report writing, with emphasis on the structure and style of the report as a whole, rather than on detailed points of grammar and style. It is written specifically for students.

G. Barlow and S. Eccles. Typesetting and Composition. Chapman and Hall, 1992. A book on printing and typography suitable for computing students,worth looking at in the library but not worth buying unless you are particularly interested in the topic.

P. Race. 500 Tips for Students. Blackwell, 1992. A book full of hints on most aspects of university life. Topics covered range from revision and examination techniques, through to preparation and delivery of presentations.

E.S.C. Weiner. The Oxford Guide to English Usage. Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1983. A good up to date guide to issues of grammar, spelling and punctuation.

Version 4.1

John Hunt Departmental Advisor