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COS115X COMMUNICATION SKILLS

ASSIGNMENT 1 August 2024
YEAR: 2024
SEMESTER: 2
ASSESSMENT ASSIGNMENT 1
DATE OF ASSESSMENT: AUGUST 2024

SUBJECT NAME: Communication Skills

SUBJECT CODE: COS115X
QUALIFICATION(S): Diploma in Electrical Engineering (DPEE20)
EXAMINER(S): Mr TA Okhai and Ms V.L. Maluleke
MODERATOR(S): Mr PM Sekatane and Dr M Dieperink
TOTAL MARKS: 50 TOTAL NUMBER OF PAGES INCLUDING COVER PAGE: 5
FULL MARKS: 50 TOTAL NUMBER OF ANNEXURES: 0
PAPER DUE DATE: 13 SEPTEMBER 2024
DESCRIPTION:

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
NONE
NON-PROGRAMMABLE POCKET CALCULATOR
SCIENTIFIC CALCULATOR
COMPUTER ANSWER SHEET
GRAPH PAPER
DRAWING INSTRUMENTS
OPEN BOOK
OTHER: INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES: ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS IN FULL.

Question % Question Mark Question Mark

Type
RECALL 50 1 25
APPLICATION 40 2 25
INSIGHT 10

TOTAL 100
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INTRODUCTION
The engineering field has developed to the point where it now encompasses a wide
range of aspects of our lives, including how we communicate, how we live, and what we
eat. There are engineers and technologists working in every sector of modern society
that you can think of, including communications, transportation, education, businesses
and entertainment, and more.

THE ASSIGNMENT

In groups of 5 students (or s instructed by your lecturer), do the following:

1. Write an assignment on how engineering and technology are shaping different

aspects of our daily lives both now and in the future (50%). In your discussion,
provide deep insight into the uses and various application areas of engineering and
technology in the modern world The assignment should be between 750 to 1500
words. This is a group activity, and all group members must be involved. The
assignment must be printed out and submitted to the lecturer by the due date of 13
September 2024. Use the above cover page and include all your group participants'
names and student numbers.
2. Also prepare a PowerPoint presentation with pictures to support the points (25%).
The presentation will be presented in class by each group and should not exceed 10
to 12 minutes. All the group members must participate in both the assignment as well
as the PowerPoint presentation. Your PowerPoint should be emailed to your lecturer
by September 27, 2024 (the lecturer’s email will be provided in class or on
MyTUTor).

GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSION

1. Please write you assignment in this document. There is a space provided where it
says, “Start writing your assignment here” Please type your answers there.
2. Write the names and student numbers of all members of your group in the table
on page 4 of this document. Do not write anything in the “Marks” column.
3. Your assignment must be submitted on or before the 13th of September 2024.
4. Do not delete the front page, the plagiarism note, the assignment instructions and
guidelines, or any other part of this document. They must remain in your
assignment when you submit.
5. Adhere to the stipulated word limit of 750-to-1500-word count.

6. Your submission will be marked according to the following assessment rubric.

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Criteria Very poor (0) Poor (2) Satisfactory (6) Very good (10)

Student adhered No submission, Student only Student adhered to Student adhered

to all the brief in or student did adhered to some most of the brief in to all the brief in
completing this not address any of the brief in completing this completing this
assignment element of the completing this assignment. Word assignment
(words limit 750 brief. assignment. Or, count is within the
to 1000, due date) Word count was limit.
outside the limit

Title and No submission, Student did not Student used an Student

introduction. or student failed choose a interesting title and demonstrated an
to demonstrate suitable and showed sufficient excellent
any knowledge catchy title, and understanding of understanding of
of the subject the intro failed the subject through the subject by
to demonstrate the introduction using a catchy
sufficient title and
understanding of interesting
the subject, introduction

The main body No submission, Student answers Student used Student made the
and the use of or student failed were not sufficient examples assignment come
real-world to use any sufficiently in the real world to to life by using
examples. examples in the supported by support their main many interesting
submission. applicable points. examples and
examples in the real-world
real world. applications.

Content quality, No submission Student showed Student showed Student showed

creativity, and or student failed only a basic sufficient an excellent
depth of to demonstrate grasp of how understanding of understanding of
understanding of any knowledge engineering and how engineering how engineering
the impact of of the subject technology tools and technology and technology
engineering and are impacting tools are impacting tools are shaping
technology on our the different the different different aspects
daily lives both aspects of our aspects of our daily of our daily lives
now and in the daily lives both lives both now and both now and in
future. now and in the in the future, the future,
future. including the Sources were
benefits, cited, and list of
shortcomings, and references was
risks/fears. included.

Summary or No submission, Poorly crafter The content was Excellent

Conclusion or, the conclusion sufficiently conclusion which
conclusion was which fails to summarized to captures the
absent. highlight the highlight the main essence of the
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main points points. main points

clearly and
succinctly

Total: 50 marks

7. The assignment must be your own words. Any incident of plagiarism (copying
Note:
8. people’s work and presenting them as your own) will be investigated and dealt
other
9. according to TUT rules and guidelines on plagiarism. Using artificial intelligence
with
10.ChartGPT or any other AI tool to write the assignment is unacceptable. The
like
11. reserves the right to use available tools to check whether or not the
lecturer
assignment was AI generated.

WRITE THE NAMES OF EVERY APPROVED MEMBER OF YOUR GROUP

HERE

SURNAME, and FIRST NAME(S) STUDENT NUMBER MARKS

(50%)
1
2
3
4
5

Start writing your assignment here:

GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR POWERPOINT PRESENTATION

You will be required to present your PowerPoint in person in class. Make sure you
familiarise yourself with the presentation tools and the use of the smartboard in the
classroom.

Remember that good presentations should appear natural, and unscripted and make use
of good body language. It should also have a captivating introduction and conclusion.

Consider the following aspects when preparing to give your presentation:

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1. Topic: Make your topic interesting, limit your focus to what students can learn
from you in 10 to 15 minutes?), and use real-life examples
2. Introduction: Get students’ attention, provide context for the material (why is
your topic important?), and give a brief overview of your major points.
3. Body: Use key words and phrases and include transition words and strategies to
present your material in a clear and organized way, and where necessary get the
audience involved.
4. Conclusion: Summarize your key points (what is the main take-home
message?).
5. Manner: Convey enthusiasm, make eye contact, use positive body language,
and focus on the audience.

The presentations in class will commence on Tuesday Wednesday the 2nd of October,
2024, and the groups will be scheduled to present as instructed by the lecturer.
Each group will be assigned a specific date for their presentation. Failure to
present on the agreed date and time will result in a 0% being assigned to the
group. If any group member is not present, he/she will receive 0% for this
assessment, unless a doctor’s note is submitted to the lecturer within three days after
the presentation.

POWERPOINT ASSESSMENT RUBRIC

Your PowerPoint presentation will be assessed using the following criteria:

Presentation assessment criteria Lecturer’s Mark scored
comment
1. Achievement of objective of
presentation, including adherence to /6
time limit
2. Preparedness and group participation /8

3. Quality and creativity of the content

of the PowerPoint presentation /12
4 Ability to use technology well to drive
the point – smart screen, PowerPoint /6
projector and others.
5. Confidence and professionalism (dress
and conduct during presentation)
/4
6 Connection with the audience (eye
contact, grab and hold attention) /4
7. Good introduction and conclusion
/10
TOTAL SCORED
/50
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Group plagiarism declaration:

We declare that this assignment is our own work. We have not allowed, and will not
allow someone else to copy our assignment with the intention of passing it off as their
own work. We also acknowledge that copying someone else’s assignment (or part of it)
is wrong and declare that this assignment is the work of our group members only.