You will individually research a topic on some aspect of professional communication. You will then prepare a 1-2 page outline using the standard outline format (shown below) that would be used in a training session. At the end of your outline you must include a complete reference list, properly formatted according to current APA format. You must use at least 5 appropriate sources to support the points you make in your outline. See below for clarification on appropriate sources for this assignment.
Outline Requirements:
- The outline must be your original work and written solely for this course.
- The sample outlines available below should be referred to for proper formatting.
- Arial or Times New Roman are the only acceptable fonts.
- Any information paraphrased or directly quoted from a source - whether a statement or idea - must be followed with a complete and properly formatted in-text citation (according to APA guidelines) directly following the statement/idea. In-text citations will show how and where your sources were used.
Topic Ideas
The course textbook will be a great resource when looking for a topic that relates to some aspect of professional communication.
Some examples of topics include (but are not limited to):
- How to be an Effective Verbal and Nonverbal Communicator;
- How to Give an Effective Presentation;
- Effective Communication Within Teams;
- Overcoming Communication Barriers
It is recommended that you pick a topic and then do some research to make sure you can find 5 appropriate sources. Once you are certain you can locate 5 appropriate sources, begin creating your outline.
Example of Standard Outline
As you will see in the examples below, standard outline format has the following number/letter order: roman numerals, capital letters, numbers, lower case letters, etc..
You must always have more than 1 main point, meaning there must be (at least) a roman numeral I and a roman numeral II; in other words, you can't just have a roman numeral I without having a roman numeral II. Also, if you have one sub point ("A"), you must have at least one other sub point ( "B"). The same applies to sub-sub points ("1") and sub-sub- sub points ("a"), etc.... See below for clarification.
EXAMPLE #1
Title of Presentation
I. First main point
A. First sub-point (in-text citation)[JLW1]
1. First sub-sub- point (in-text citation)
a. First sub-sub-sub point (in-text citation)
b. Second sub-sub-sub point (in-text citation)
c. Third sub-sub-sub point (in-text citation)
2. Second sub-sub- point (in-text citation)
3. Third sub-sub point (in-text citation)
B. Second sub-point (in-text citation)
1. First sub-sub- point (in-text citation)
2. Second sub-sub- point (in-text citation)
a. First sub-sub-sub point (in-text citation)
b. Second sub-sub-sub point (in-text citation)
II. Second main point
A. First sub-point (in-text citation)
1. First sub-sub- point (in-text citation)
a. First sub-sub-sub point (in-text citation)
b. Second sub-sub-sub point (in-text citation)
2. Second sub-sub- point (in-text citation)
3. Third sub-sub point (in-text citation)
B. Second sub-point (in-text citation)
1. First sub-sub- point (in-text citation)
a. First sub-sub-sub point (in-text citation)
b. Second sub-sub-sub point (in-text citation)
c. Third sub-sub-sub point (in-text citation)
2. Second sub-sub- point (in-text citation)
C. Third sub-point (in-text citation)
1. First sub-sub- point (in-text citation)
2. Second sub-point (in-text citation)
a. First sub-sub-sub point (in-text citation)
b. Second sub-sub-sub point (in-text citation)
III. Third main point
A. First sub-point (in-text citation)
1. First sub-sub- point (in-text citation)
2. Second sub-sub- point (in-text citation)
a. First sub-sub-sub point (in-text citation)
b. Second sub-sub-sub point (in-text citation)
3. Third sub-sub point (in-text citation)
B. Second sub-point (in-text citation)
1. First sub-sub- point (in-text citation)
a. First sub-sub-sub point (in-text citation)
b. Second sub-sub-sub point (in-text citation)
2. Second sub-sub- point (in-text citation)
a. First sub-sub-sub point (in-text citation)
b. Second sub-sub-sub point (in-text citation)