COM1501/001/3/2021
Tutorial Letter 001/3/2021
Fundamentals of Communication
COM1501
Semesters 1 and 2
Department of Communication Science
This tutorial letter contains important information
about your module.
BARCODE
, CONTENTS
Page
1 INTRODUCTION TO THE MODULE ............................................................................................ 3
2 PURPOSE AND OUTCOMES ...................................................................................................... 3
2.1 Purpose ........................................................................................................................................ 3
2.2 Outcomes ..................................................................................................................................... 4
3 LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS................................................................................... 4
3.1 Lecturer(s) .................................................................................................................................... 4
3.2 Department ................................................................................................................................... 4
4 RESOURCES ............................................................................................................................... 4
4.1 Prescribed book(s) ........................................................................................................................ 4
5 STUDY PLAN ............................................................................................................................... 5
6 ASSESSMENT ............................................................................................................................. 6
8.1 Assessment criteria....................................................................................................................... 7
8.2 Assessment plan .......................................................................................................................... 7
• General assignment numbers ....................................................................................................... 7
• Unique assignment numbers ........................................................................................................ 7
8.3 Assignment numbers .................................................................................................................... 7
8.3.1 General assignment numbers ....................................................................................................... 7
8.3.2 Unique assignment numbers ........................................................................................................ 8
8.4 Assignment due dates .................................................................................................................. 8
8.5 Submission of assignments .......................................................................................................... 8
8.6 The assignments .......................................................................................................................... 9
8.7 Other assessment methods ........................................................................................................ 33
8.8 The examination ......................................................................................................................... 33
7 IMPORTANT CONTACT DETAILS FOR STUDENT QUERIES. ................................................ 33
8 CONCLUSION............................................................................................................................ 34
9 ADDENDUM ............................................................................................................................... 34
2
, COM1501/101/3/2021
Dear Student
Due to the ministerial request to extend the 2021 registration dates, Unisa had to revise both the
tuition periods and the assessment arrangements for the 2021 academic year.
The purpose of this TL001 is to inform you of the new assessment requirements for module
COM1501, Fundamentals of Communication, for students registered for both semester periods.
1 INTRODUCTION TO THE MODULE
Dear Student
Welcome to COM1501, the introductory module to Communication Studies.
Communicative competence is a skill which can be developed. The purpose of Communication
Studies, and this module COM1501 in particular, is about motivating you to learn more about
communication and its development in order to assist you in becoming actively involved in
developing your competence in communication. In order to achieve this, we will supply you with
the theoretical knowledge necessary for understanding communication as a phenomenon. We
will guide you to apply theory to practical, everyday communication experiences. You are also
encouraged to question the material that you are studying, to think critically about it rather than
merely accepting it. Remember, one of Unisa's main learning outcomes is to develop critical,
academic thinkers. For this purpose, shortcomings of theoretical approaches are debated and
questions about these aspects may be expected in assignments and the examinations.
All study material that you have received for this module is important and applicable to the
examination. ONLY Chapters 1-6 are applicable to COM1501 and Chapters 7-12 are applicable
to COM1502. The examination for COM1501 will be based on the contents of Chapters 1-6 of the
prescribed book, the study guide and contents of the tutorial letter.
Please ensure that you READ this tutorial letter, and familiarise yourself with the closing dates of
assignments, since you have to meet certain requirements in order to gain admission to the
examination.
2 PURPOSE AND OUTCOMES
2.1 Purpose
COM1501 is an introductory module to communication studies aiming to equip students to
communicate effectively. It is on NQF level 5 and bears 12 credits. The module introduces
students the basic principles of communication, and it is assumed that students are already
competent in terms of:
• the language of instruction
• the ability to learn independently from predominantly written material
• the ability to communicate what they have learnt comprehensively in the medium of
instruction
• taking responsibility for their own progress with guided support
3
, 2.2 Outcomes
Once students have mastered the content of this module, they should be able to communication
concepts and skills in different types of communication contexts in real life settings
• demonstrate a basic understanding of theoretical principles of communication
• integrate theoretical principles of communication, communication theories,
communication concepts and skills in different types of communication contexts in real
life settings
• demonstrate the necessary skills, attitudes and competencies to communicate effectively.
3 LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS
3.1 Lecturer(s)
The lecturers responsible for this module is:
Ms Mercy Bvuma
Module coordinator
Tel:012 429 3508
Email:
AND
Ms. Carol Moncho
Tel: 012 4292358
Email:
3.2 Department
The address of our Department is:
Department of Communication Science
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Building
7th Floor Room 69
4 RESOURCES
4.1 Prescribed book(s)
The ONLY prescribed book for this module is:
Steinberg, S. 2007. An introduction to Communication Studies. Cape Town:Juta.
This book can be acquired at book stores such as Juta and Van Schaick or even online
booksellers.
4
Tutorial Letter 001/3/2021
Fundamentals of Communication
COM1501
Semesters 1 and 2
Department of Communication Science
This tutorial letter contains important information
about your module.
BARCODE
, CONTENTS
Page
1 INTRODUCTION TO THE MODULE ............................................................................................ 3
2 PURPOSE AND OUTCOMES ...................................................................................................... 3
2.1 Purpose ........................................................................................................................................ 3
2.2 Outcomes ..................................................................................................................................... 4
3 LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS................................................................................... 4
3.1 Lecturer(s) .................................................................................................................................... 4
3.2 Department ................................................................................................................................... 4
4 RESOURCES ............................................................................................................................... 4
4.1 Prescribed book(s) ........................................................................................................................ 4
5 STUDY PLAN ............................................................................................................................... 5
6 ASSESSMENT ............................................................................................................................. 6
8.1 Assessment criteria....................................................................................................................... 7
8.2 Assessment plan .......................................................................................................................... 7
• General assignment numbers ....................................................................................................... 7
• Unique assignment numbers ........................................................................................................ 7
8.3 Assignment numbers .................................................................................................................... 7
8.3.1 General assignment numbers ....................................................................................................... 7
8.3.2 Unique assignment numbers ........................................................................................................ 8
8.4 Assignment due dates .................................................................................................................. 8
8.5 Submission of assignments .......................................................................................................... 8
8.6 The assignments .......................................................................................................................... 9
8.7 Other assessment methods ........................................................................................................ 33
8.8 The examination ......................................................................................................................... 33
7 IMPORTANT CONTACT DETAILS FOR STUDENT QUERIES. ................................................ 33
8 CONCLUSION............................................................................................................................ 34
9 ADDENDUM ............................................................................................................................... 34
2
, COM1501/101/3/2021
Dear Student
Due to the ministerial request to extend the 2021 registration dates, Unisa had to revise both the
tuition periods and the assessment arrangements for the 2021 academic year.
The purpose of this TL001 is to inform you of the new assessment requirements for module
COM1501, Fundamentals of Communication, for students registered for both semester periods.
1 INTRODUCTION TO THE MODULE
Dear Student
Welcome to COM1501, the introductory module to Communication Studies.
Communicative competence is a skill which can be developed. The purpose of Communication
Studies, and this module COM1501 in particular, is about motivating you to learn more about
communication and its development in order to assist you in becoming actively involved in
developing your competence in communication. In order to achieve this, we will supply you with
the theoretical knowledge necessary for understanding communication as a phenomenon. We
will guide you to apply theory to practical, everyday communication experiences. You are also
encouraged to question the material that you are studying, to think critically about it rather than
merely accepting it. Remember, one of Unisa's main learning outcomes is to develop critical,
academic thinkers. For this purpose, shortcomings of theoretical approaches are debated and
questions about these aspects may be expected in assignments and the examinations.
All study material that you have received for this module is important and applicable to the
examination. ONLY Chapters 1-6 are applicable to COM1501 and Chapters 7-12 are applicable
to COM1502. The examination for COM1501 will be based on the contents of Chapters 1-6 of the
prescribed book, the study guide and contents of the tutorial letter.
Please ensure that you READ this tutorial letter, and familiarise yourself with the closing dates of
assignments, since you have to meet certain requirements in order to gain admission to the
examination.
2 PURPOSE AND OUTCOMES
2.1 Purpose
COM1501 is an introductory module to communication studies aiming to equip students to
communicate effectively. It is on NQF level 5 and bears 12 credits. The module introduces
students the basic principles of communication, and it is assumed that students are already
competent in terms of:
• the language of instruction
• the ability to learn independently from predominantly written material
• the ability to communicate what they have learnt comprehensively in the medium of
instruction
• taking responsibility for their own progress with guided support
3
, 2.2 Outcomes
Once students have mastered the content of this module, they should be able to communication
concepts and skills in different types of communication contexts in real life settings
• demonstrate a basic understanding of theoretical principles of communication
• integrate theoretical principles of communication, communication theories,
communication concepts and skills in different types of communication contexts in real
life settings
• demonstrate the necessary skills, attitudes and competencies to communicate effectively.
3 LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS
3.1 Lecturer(s)
The lecturers responsible for this module is:
Ms Mercy Bvuma
Module coordinator
Tel:012 429 3508
Email:
AND
Ms. Carol Moncho
Tel: 012 4292358
Email:
3.2 Department
The address of our Department is:
Department of Communication Science
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Building
7th Floor Room 69
4 RESOURCES
4.1 Prescribed book(s)
The ONLY prescribed book for this module is:
Steinberg, S. 2007. An introduction to Communication Studies. Cape Town:Juta.
This book can be acquired at book stores such as Juta and Van Schaick or even online
booksellers.
4
