Communication Skills Vol2

The Purpose of This Book A number of books have been written advising students on study skills. While some of the books target secondary institutions, others target tertiary institutions. However, I have not found a book that attempts to connect the gap between the secondary schools and the tertiary institutions. Such a book would provide a smooth transition from the secondary level to the tertiary level.

This book is designed to fill this gap and prevent some students from falling between the "cracks." An important aspect of this book is that it is based on a study of the secondary school syllabus as well as a study of Communication Skills programmes, such as the University of Development Studies, the University of Ghana, and the University of Education, Winneba.

Additionally, a study of first-year students' writings at the University of Education, Winneba based on class assignments and end of semester examinations revealed that most first year university students taking the Communication Skills course are unable to write effectively. For example, at a post-examination meeting in August 2005, lecturers in Communication Skills compared and analysed their findings regarding students' performance and summarized the following problems confronting first year university students:


 * 1) Evidence of inadequate knowledge of grammar resulting in rudimentary grammatical mistakes.
 * 2) Boring expressions reflecting a weak foundation in sentence construction.
 * 3) Inability to comprehend the spoken word and the written text due to poor listening and reading skills.
 * 4) Inability to summarize.
 * 5) Inability to write for a specific audience.
 * 6) Inability to write scholarly papers.
 * 7) Inability to answer examination questions in an orderly fashion.

This book addresses these problems, with the exception of number six, which requires a different organizational approach and is therefore being researched separately by the author.

Coverage and Order of Presentation
This book covers seven areas of English Language study in the following order.
 * 1) Essay-Writing
 * 2) Summary
 * 3) Comprehension
 * 4) Grammar
 * 5) Idioms, Phrasal Verbal Direct and Reported Speech
 * 6) Lexis and Structure
 * 7) Literary Terms


 * Copious examples are given to teach students how to effectively tackle the first three areas, i.e. essay writing, summary and comprehension. The grammar section attempts to revise as much grammar as possible, by giving definitions and supporting them with illustrative examples. While many idioms are started and explained, there are many exercise on lexis and structure. Finally, literary terms are stated and explained followed by multiple choice test items to help the student to revise.

The order of presentation is in accordance to language learning. Language is presented as a whole before an examination of its constituent parts. To make learning effective and pleasurable, revision exercises follow in depth treatment of each sub topic.

Audience

 * The target groups of students are those in the final year of SSS, Diploma awarding institutions, teacher training institutions and first year university students taking courses in Communication Skills. Needless to say students in technical school and Polytechnics also stand to gain tremendously from this book.

Content

 * Page

Dedication...............................................................ii Acknowledgement...................................................iii Copyright Notice......................................................iv Preface...................................................................v The Purpose of This Book........................................vi

Part One:
Essay Writing
 * Introduction to Essay-Writing.............................1
 * Personal/Friendly Letters.................................15
 * Formal Letter and Rejoinders............................24
 * Argumentative Essays.....................................44
 * Descriptive Essay............................................48
 * Report Writing.................................................52
 * Making a Speech............................................55
 * The Marking of Essays....................................59
 * Essays for Practice.........................................63
 * Language at Social Functions...........................65
 * How to Introduce a Chairman............................65
 * Vote of Thanks................................................67
 * Writing of Minutes...........................................68
 * Agenda of a Meeting........................................69

Part Two:
Section A - Summary Writing
 * What Summary Writing Involves.......................70
 * Example 1: Action Research Procedure............71
 * Example 2: African Architectural Ingenuity........73
 * Example 3: A Shift in Approach.......................74
 * Suggested Answers........................................76

Section B - Comprehension
 * Introduction to Comprehension.........................78
 * The Way to Solve Comprehension Problems.....80
 * Scanning and Skimming..................................85
 * The Fence is Whitewashed..............................86
 * The Kaleo PTA...............................................91
 * Refugees.......................................................94
 * Narrow Escape...............................................95
 * Cape Coast...................................................98
 * Suggested Answers to Some Exercises on
 * Comprehension Exercises..............................100

Part Three: Grammar

 * The Verb and the English Sentence Pattern........107
 * The Sentence...................................................109
 * Types of Sentences..........................................110
 * Subject and Predicate.......................................112
 * Parts of Speech (Word Classes)........................113
 * Nouns.............................................................114
 * Pronouns.........................................................117
 * Adjectives........................................................118
 * Verbs..............................................................121
 * Adverbs...........................................................126
 * Prepositions....................................................130
 * Conjunctions....................................................133
 * Interjections.....................................................134
 * Phrases...........................................................135
 * Clauses...........................................................138
 * The Mechanics.................................................142
 * Capital Letters..................................................142
 * Punctuation.....................................................145
 * Quotation Marks...............................................146
 * Rules of Punctuation for Using Quotation Marks..151

Part Four: Idioms, Phrasal Verbs, Direct and Report Speech

 * English Idioms and how to use them..................153
 * Animal Cries....................................................159
 * Direct and Reported Speech..............................160
 * Phrasal Verbs..................................................
 * Reported Speech: Questions.............................163
 * Passive and Active Voice..................................166
 * Exercise on Lexis and Structure........................170
 * Answer: Exercise on Lexis and Structure...........183

Part Five: Literature

 * Literary Terms..................................................186
 * References......................................................199
 * Answer: General Knowledge on Literature...........202
 * Appendix A: Irregular Verbs...............................203
 * Bibliography.....................................................215
 * Continuous Assessment Assignments...............

ESSAY WRITING A Friendly Letter......................................................23 An Article...............................................................40 An Expository Article...............................................43 Argumentative Essays.............................................47 A Descriptive Essay................................................50 Essay Topics for Practice........................................63

SUMMARY - WRITING EXERCISES Example 1: Action Research Procedure.....................71 Example 2: African Architectural Ingenuity.................73 Example 3: A Shift in Approach................................74

COMPREHENSION EXERCISES Scanning and Skimming..........................................85 The Fence is Whitewashed......................................86 Good Comprehension..............................................89 How to Concentrate.................................................90 The Kaleo P.T.A......................................................91 Refugees................................................................94 Narrow Escape.......................................................95 Cape Coast............................................................98

EXERCISES ON LEXIS AND STRUCTURE A word most nearly opposite in meaning..................171 A word that best completes a sentence...................173 Appropriate interpretation of sentences....................175 Word(s) nearest in meaning....................................179 Word(s) that best complete sentences.....................181 Answers................................................................183

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE OF LITERATURE Exercises..............................................................199 Answers................................................................202