THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF LESOTHO

COURSE OUTLINE
Course Title Communication and Academic Literacy for Stats CS/IS
Course Code ELG 1309 No. of Credits 3
Department English Faculty Humanities
Pre-requisites None Co-requisites None
Course Code Course Code
Course Coordinator(s) Dr Hala-hala
Email [email protected] Telephone No. 22340601 Ext. 3947
Other Course Ms. M. Letsie, Dr B. Muringani and Mrs L. Tjabaka
Teachers(s) Tutor(s)
Learning Hours Total: 106 Learning Hours
Student Quota No limit
Course Type Core Course
Offer in Academic Year 1st Semester

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is designed to help students to bridge the gap between High School and University by
equipping them with academic literacy skills needed in their course. The course provides an opportunity
for students in the Faculty of Science and Technology with their academic and communication proficiency
in areas such as aural and oral skills (e.g. listening, note-taking/making) reading skills (e.g. reading
techniques, analytical reading, paraphrasing) and technical writing (e.g. technical texts & reports, style, in-
text citation, use of graphs and tables)

COURSE COMPETENCIES
At the end of the course you should be able to demonstrate competency in:

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 i) Basic aural, oral and writing and reading skills needed in studying at a tertiary intuition.
ii) Technical writing, including writing of technical reports.
iii) In information retrieval skills needed for their learning
iv) Developing critical thinking and reasoning.
v) Generating innovative and competitive proposals in research and professional activities.
vi) Gathering and interpret relevant data (normally within your study area) to issue judgments that
including reflection on important issues of social, scientific or ethical.
vii) Communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialized and non-
specialized audiences.
viii) Developing the necessary learning skills in order to undertake further training with a high
degree of autonomy.
ix) Using the acquired knowledge in order to solve problems related to any professional activity in
the field of statistics and CS/IS.
x) Utilizing new technologies in order to capture and organize information in English and other
languages, and apply it to problem-solving in any professional or research activity.
xi) Working in an autonomous and responsible way in a professional manner or research
environment in English or other languages, in order to accomplish the previously set objectives.

GUIDELINES ON GRADING AND STANDARDS OF ASSESSMENT

General Course Grade Descriptors

Your continuous assessment will be largely based on your presentations in class, individual and group
work. You will also be given tests as part of the continuous assessment. The will be a final written
examination at the end of the semester.

A (80+) Demonstrate evidence of original thought, strong analytical and critical

abilities as well as a thorough grasp of the topic from background reading and
analysis; should demonstrate excellent organizational, rhetorical and
presentational skills.

B (70 – 79) Demonstrate evidence of critical and analytical thinking but not necessarily
original in their thinking; show adequate grasp of the topic from background
reading and analysis; should demonstrate strong organizational, rhetorical and
presentational skills.

C (60 – 69) Demonstrate evidence of a reasonable grasp of their subject but most of their
information is derivative, with rather little evidence of critical thinking;

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 should demonstrate fair organizational, rhetorical and presentational skills.

D (50 – 59) Demonstrate evidence of being able to assemble the bare minimum of
information, poorly digested and not very well organized in presentation.
There is no evidence of critical thinking.

F (40 – 49) Demonstrate evidence of poor knowledge and understanding of the subject, a
lack of coherence and organization, and answers are largely irrelevant. Work
fails to reach degree level.

Non-graded Inadequate attendance. However, the student has demonstrated evidence of a

reasonable grasp of their subject and has achieved all major objectives of the
course.

COURSE CONTENT

1. Introduction to ELG 1313, Communication

2. Listening and note taking skills
3. Scientific writing- report writing
4. Academic writing (essays, style, in-text citation, quoting and referencing)
5. Library tour and information
6. Reading skills (reading techniques, analytical reading, interpretation of charts, graphs, tables.
Drawing inferences from information provided via charts, graphs and tables)
7. Presentation skills

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

Course Learning Outcomes Aligned Programme

Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

i. Use listening skill to acquire information.

1, 4, 5
ii. Take meaningful and comprehensive notes.
iii. Read statistics articles, books and other texts and retain the information 3, 8

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 obtained from those texts.
1 – 11
iv. Interpret charts, graphs and tables and make inferences from the data
presented via charts, graphs and tables.
1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7
v. Use the library for academic advancement.
vi. Use terminology and vocabulary used in statistics and related disciplines
2, 4, 5,
in the way that shows comprehensive knowledge of statistics discourse.
vii. Write clear and concise statistics texts following appropriate academic 1-11
2, 4
conventions.
viii. Present information in various ways, including in the form of charts, 1 – 11
graphs and tables.
ix. Quote and cite different sources such as textbooks, journals, electronic
1, 2, 3, 7, 8-11
sources, tables, charts and graphs and accurately list references at the
end of their formal written work. 1, 2, 4, 5,

1 – 11

COURSE TEACHING AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES

Course Teaching and Learning Activities Aligned Course

Learning Outcomes
Interactive Lecturing
In the lectures, the grammatical theories content and key concepts in Communication and Literacy.

In-Class Activities
In-class activities, such as transcription exercises, problem-solving activities and discussions will be given
to you for clarification of the theoretical concepts introduced in the interactive lectures.
1. Interactive class discussion 1 - 10

2. Presentations and critical reading 1 - 10

3. Lectures 1 - 10

4. Examination 1 - 10

5. In class brainstorming sessions 1 - 10

6. Online discussion and forum 1 – 10

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 COURSE ASSESSMENT METHODS

Assessment Method Description Weigh Aligned Course

t Learning Outcomes

In-class Test ONE or TWO in-class test will be

designed to help you revise and learn the 20% 1-7
concepts covered in the course. Your
performance in the test will be assessed
individually.

Individual Presentation You will present and lead a discussion of

a topic assigned to you. Your
presentation should focus on the main
tenets of the topic and an evaluation of its 20% 1-7
relevance to the understanding of the
course. You should distribute a brief
hand-out of your presentation before you
begin.
Attendance and
participation in class and In addition to attendance and general
in online forum participation in class discussions, this
includes completing written homework 10% 1-7
exercises and the assigned readings of the
topic prior to coming to class.

Exam You will write examinations at the end of

the semester.
50% 1-7

MEANS/PROCESSES FOR STUDENT FEEBACK ON COURSE

ESSENTIAL READING: JOURNAL, TEXTBOOK, WEBSITE ADDRESSES

Referencing
At 4th year level you are expected to have acquired referencing skill and that you are, as expected able to
reference sources accurately. Please inquire about the referencing guidelines (the APA Manual which is
preferred can be made available to you but you are free to use the Harvard style as long as you are

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consistent)

Recommended Reading:

Bhatia, V.K. (1993). Analysing genre: Language use in Professional Settings. London: Longman

Cottrell, S. (2003).The Study Skills Handbook. 2nd edition. London: Macmillan

Mhundwa, P.H., Magogwe, J.M. and Kalane, M.S. (2008).Developing Communication and Study
Skills. Gaborone: Collegium (Pvt) Ltd

Bovee, C.L. & Thill, J.V. (2008). Communication Today.10th edition. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice
Hall

MEANS/PROCESSES FOR STUDENT FEEDBACK ON CAMPUS

 While understanding that marking essays is highly subjective, I have developed criteria for marking
essays as an attempt to reduce bias (see annexure)
 Feedback will be provided in class so that all students can benefit from the general feedback.
 Feedback will be provided as soon as marking has been completed.

It is my understanding that more often than not students require feedback as soon as marking has been
completed. It is important for you to understand that group work assignment and objective tests are quicker
to mark compared to individual essays and short answer forms of assessment.

COURSE POLICY (Including plagiarism, academic honesty, attendance etc.

ADDITIONAL COURSE INFORMATION

Mode of instruction

A mixture of face-to-face sessions and on-line material and interaction will be used in this course. No
textbook is prescribed for the course, but students will benefit from having technology in the form of
tablets or laptops to access on-line materials. The acquisition of these materials (especially the tablets) at

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affordable rates is currently being enabled and all attempts will be made to ensure that no one is
disadvantaged by the use of the on-line mode.

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