CAPE Communication Studies
Communication Studies is a one-unit CAPE course and contains three modules:
MODULE 1
Gathering and Processing Information
MODULE 2
Language and Community
MODULE 3
Speaking and Writing
Candidates are assessed both externally and internally. The external assessment of the course has two written papers (Paper 01A, Paper 01B and Paper 02) * Note that Paper 01 has two parts) while the internal assessment requires the candidates to complete a Portfolio on a selected theme.
THE PORTFOLIO
The portfolio is a combination of an oral and a written assignment. It is based on the skills learnt in all three modules in the course. The entries in this portfolio have a theme or a main idea which is made evident in all of them (entries). Your theme ought to be an area which is of interest to you.
The portfolio should be internally coherent and organized under three major headings:
Expository
Reflective
Analytical
The Expository section will be orally presented and examined, the Reflective will require the candidate to produce one sample of original work and the Analytical will be an analysis of the original piece.
The expository presentation for CAPE Communication Studies Internal Assessment
The presentation has two distinct parts
* A FACTUAL presentation on an aspect of your portfolio theme
* A presentation about your research including an evaluation of two sources of information used to prepare your factual presentation.
It will have all the following 6 elements present
1. An introduction (statement of topic)
In the introduction you will give a brief explanation of topic/ theme and a preview (with a thesis statement) of what you are going to cover.
For example.
"My theme is Returning Migrants to Jamaica. Returning migrants or returnees are a group within the population of Jamaica who have spent a significant time away from the island and have then returned to permanently settle again. Returning migrants often are retired from their previous occupation which they pursued in a more developed country such as the United States, Canada or Great Britain or they have been working in another Caribbean state. According to statistics from the Customs Department given to me by Mrs B Chalres in an interview 4361 people claimed the concession for returning residents in 2005.
Thesis Statement: Returning migrants experience 5 phases of adjuststment when returning which can be termed as “culture shock”."
2. A rationale
In the rationale you need to explain why you picked the theme and it can form part of the introduction. In the rationale you should mention any personal interests, current academic links and future career plans which influenced your decision to choose the theme
For example
I chose the theme returning migrants to Jamaica specifically to focus on culture shock because I am a child/wife/husband/sister of a returning migrant. I currently pursuing a course in Sociology and the concept of culture shock is part of socio-cultural studies carried out by Kavelo Oberg 1958. In the future I will be submitting my Masters thesis on this specific issue.
3. Discussion of issues
The discussion of issues is the factual presentation about the theme and its narrowed focus based on the thesis statement. Remember this will be about 3 minutes or so – it is not long.
It should have a distinct organisational pattern and you should aim for one of the expository structures such as cause and effect, process analysis, analysis by division, classification etc (See Writing in English)
It should also be referenced and include any research findings. You will also need to give a conclusion to your factual presentation as a sort of sub conclusion don’t wait until the end
Here is an example of a possible outline for your presentation. It uses the organisational pattern of process analysis.
Culture shock 5 phases
Honeymoon, rejection/ regression, conformist, assimilation, reverse culture shock
Honeymoon
Centre for Overseas Travel “the tourist phase”
Questionnaire (300 returning migrants) 78% not feel “tourist” 82% “elated”
Rejection
Oberg – frustration etc
Questionnaire 50% wanted to return after 3 months,
Reasons, poor service, backward attitude, nothing to do, boring
Interview Dr Sheridan Mental health presentations tend to be in 1st 4 months of return.
4. Challenges of research
You need to discuss what difficulties you faced in preparing your factual presentation. If you did not have any difficulties then just explain why.
For example
Questionnaires – time consuming, identifying sample,
Other sources - no central data on returnees, newspaper articles useful
Academic research not on St Vincent
5. Evaluation of two sources
For this aspect of the presentation you need to discuss your research. The two sources should be relevant. You should try to select two different types of data source e.g. a newpaper article and an interview. You may want to very briefly summarise all your sources before evaluating two for reliability and validity.
For example
Secondary sources:
academic text books and journals,
local and international newspapers and magazines,
web sites: international public organisations e.g. Peace Corps
Primary sources
interviews of experts in Jamaica
questionnaire of returning migrants.
Questionnaire of returning migrants
Reliable: primary data source, research method suited to collecting data for social research
Valid: Problem with sample size as total population of RMs unknown
Problem with generalisation as differences between UK, US and other RMs more research needed.
Overall reliable and reasonably valid
The Experience of Return Migration: A Caribbean Perspective, Joan Phillips and Reliable Denis Conway, Ashgate Press, London 2005
Author expert Phd Social Anthrop. Specialised Caribbean writer – Canada
Publisher: reputable, specialst academic main interest Social research
Valid Recently published Problem no reference to Jamaica
Overall general but very reliable and valid source
6. Conclusion
The conclusion should be slightly different to the internal summary conclusion in your discussion of issues. At this stage you can express a personal view or put forward a possible solution.
For example
Returning migrants
YES culture shock
3 ways
Honeymoon
Rejection
Conformist
NO assimilation
Solutions
Programme – promote overseas, keep in touch,
Information - government
Summary of requirements for Expository Presentation
The expository presentation should conform to the following requirements
· An 8-10 minute presentation on the same theme as your reflective portfolio
· It will have 6 elements
- An introduction with a thesis statement
- A rationale in which you explain why you chose your theme
- A discussion of issues (a factual presentation)
- An evaluation of the reliability and validity of two sources of data used in your presentation
- A report on the challenges you faced while researching the presentation.
- A conclusion
· You cannot read from a full script
· You can use notes in bullet point/ key words form (apart from details of references and statistics)
· The notes should cover no more than 8 small index cards (or paper the size of index cards)
· You can use visual aids but they are not a requirement
· You should wear school uniform which conforms strictly to the dress code for the examination
A Checklist for the Portfolio - the Reflective and Analytical Elements
Reflective written portfolio – 20 of 60 marks
The portfolio will contain, in the following order:
(a) Cover sheet with name, candidate number, centre, centre number, territory and teacher's name
(b) Introduction to theme and reasons (personal, academic or other) for choosing the theme.
(c) A rationale for the piece of writing which includes inspiration, purpose in writing, intended audience and situation the audience will receive the writing (e.g. in an anthology, newspaper etc)
(d) One piece of reflective (creative) writing of 1 of the 3 genres - poetry, short story or other prose form or drama.
These pieces should have literary non-factual content (although your purpose may be to educate through this medium). This piece can be taped or videoed but the tape for video must be 3 to 5 minute long, and there must be a script for this tape/video.
(e) Conclusion. In the conclusion the student should reflect on his/her process in writing and his/her opinions.
Analytical Section of the portfolio – 20 of 60 marks.
This will be an analysis of your reflective piece.
The analysis will include any TWO of the following:
* register (formality, tone, word choice etc)
* dialectal variation (standard, non-standards)
* attitudes to language (what does the choice of language convey to the reader about the character, what do other characters think of the choices of language or what do certain language types symbolize in societies)
* communicative behaviours shown in the story e.g. use of non-verbal communication
Word limits for written portfolio
The word limit is 800 words for the reflective portfolio and 350 words for the analytical piece. You will be penalised by 29% of your marks if both the pieces together exceed 1250 words. Words over 2 letters will be counted.
With regard to taped or videoed submissions, the script must conform to the word limit and should be submitted along with the tape.