Communications Toolkit, 5th Edition

The Communications Toolkit contains practical advice, tips and strategies to enable you to develop the communication skills you need to be successful in your studies. This resource helps you make a successful transition to tertiary studies, develop effective research skills for your discipline, approach academic writing with confidence, refine your writing skills and enhance your face-to-face communication experience. The Communications Toolkit provides information on academic integrity and referencing, taking into account the changing nature of university communication including recent text-types such as blogs, twitter, digital articles, online research questionnaires, presentation formats and Turn-it-in. Additional examples of online students’ communication work and additional coverage of the communication challenges students face when going to university via an online channel are included. Title page Imprint page Brief contents Contents Foreword About the authors Acknowledgements Before you read this book Guide to the text Guide to the online resources Part One:Transitioning to tertiary studies Chapter 1: Making the transition Your first months as a tertiarystudent Respecting diversity Mature-aged students English-language proficiency New international students Communicating with tertiary staff Challenges you might face Chapter 2: Online learning Being an online student Forms of online study Common myths and misconceptions Your tools for success in online study Part Two: Research skills Chapter 3: Identifying and evaluating appropriate resources Choosing a topic Before you start researching Search tools A word on primary research Secondary research Why evaluate a text? Relevance Reliability Additional hints for evaluating a webpage New types of text Chapter 4: Reading academic texts, both written and recorded Reading scholarly texts Viewing audio-visual scholarly texts Making notes from your reading or viewing Chapter 5: Referencing and academic integrity Getting started on referencing Why reference? How to reference Paraphrasing and quoting Academic honesty Part Three: Academic writing Chapter 6: Approaches to writing Assumptions and biases Improving your writing The writing process The discourse of your discipline Chapter 7: Reflective writing Thinking at university What is reflective thinking? How can you learn to write reflectively? Reflection for first-year students Over to you ... applying what you have learned Final words from a student Chapter 8: Report writing What is a report? Analytical report types Compiling the report Researching the report Writing the report Chapter 9: Academic essay writing The academic essay Early research Developing your argument Writing your essay Editing and proofreading your essay Chapter 10: Some other tertiary genres Introduction to tertiary genres The summary The annotated bibliography The case study Other common genres Social media Part Four: Refining your writing Chapter 11: Two principles of good academic writing Principles of successful academic writing Principle 1: The KISS principle – keep it simple, students! Principle 2: Make it formal, where appropriate Chapter 12: Grammar, punctuation and spelling The writing process Why worry about grammar? Grammar Punctuation Spelling Common difficulties for students for whom English is an additional language Part Five: Face-to-face communication Chapter 13: Interpersonal skills Active listening Feedback Small talk Working with people with a disability Negotiation Successful meetings Chapter 14: Intercultural communication Key concepts The tertiary environment Inclusive communication A final word on respect Chapter 15: Teamwork Teams and groups Research into teamwork Friendship teams and organised teams Benefits of working in teams Conflicts in teams Team roles Successful teams Working in teams Chapter 16: Presentations Presenting in tertiary environments Content Structure Present with confidence Audience interaction Non-verbal language Presentation aids Team presentations Chapter 17: How far you’ve come! Where to from here? Reflective and critical thinking Time management Engagement Confidence Two final notes from us And final words from three students Index The Communications Toolkit Contains Practical Advice, Tips And Strategies To Enable Learners To Develop The Communication Skills Needed To Be Successful Students. The Text Helps Students Make A Successful Transition To Tertiary Studies, Develop Effective Research Skills For Their Discipline, Approach Academic Writing With Confidence, Refine Their Writing Skills, And Enhance Their Face-to-face Communication Experience. This Fifth Edition Includes More Information Than Ever On Academic Integrity And Referencing, While Taking Into Account The Changing Nature Of University Communication Including New Information On Recent Text-types Such As Blogs, Twitter, Digital Articles, Online Research Questionnaires, Presentation Formats And Turn-it-in. As Students Are Increasingly Studying Online, Additional Examples Of Online Students’ Communication Work And Additional Coverage Of The Communication Challenges Students Face When Going To University Via An Online Channel Are Included. The Direct, Inclusive, Motivational And Student-friendly Text Addresses Both Individual Students And Those Working In Seminar Or Workshop Groups, And Provides Activities For Both Types Of Student Throughout The Book. The New Mindtap Offers Students Resources For Learning And Revision, Making This The Strongest Communications Textbook In The Market Today. Learn More About The Online Tools Au.cengage.com/mindtap