COMA 100 – Purposive Communication

A Module

Prepared and submitted by:

__________________
Date: ____________

Submitted to Ma’am Catherine E. Genisan

Date: ___________
 Unit 1: Communication Processes, Principles, and Ethics

Introduction

In this unit, you will learn about communication processes, principles and ethics.
In your personal life, in school, in the community and in your workplace later, take
note that effective communication is vital for success. Faced with people of different beliefs,
values, attitudes and backgrounds, communication processes, principles, and ethics become
necessary. In real world scenarios, you need to engage in group discussions, make presentation
and interact with different people. If you do not have the necessary and purposive
communication skills, you will have a hard time relating with others in different situations. Your
goal, therefore, is to become a fully-developed, thoughtful and persuasive communicator.
Every time you talk, you present:
 yourself
 your purpose
 your ideas; and
 information to others
If you:
- are ambitious and want to move up the ladder of success;
- wish to have a positive impact on others;
- want to have your skills and talents recognized and rewarded;
then strive to be a successful communicator NOW. Now is the time to equip
yourself with the mastery of the communication processes, principles and ethics, so that you will
be prepared in your future jobs.
Topic 1: The Communication Process

Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, you are expected to:
1. discuss the importance of communication in different situations;
2. share how communication helped in resolving issues you have experienced in different
situations.

Communication is integrated in all parts of our lives

a. Academics
 Communication skills are tied to academic success.
 Students who are good at writing and speaking perform better not only in the English
classroom but also in the content areas and all other areas of learning.

b. Professional
 Desired communication skills vary from one career to another. Being able to
communicate leads to a harmonious relationship within the organization.

c. Personal
 The skills to talk with fluency and write with efficiency lead to a person’s
achievement of his aspirations.

d. Civic
 One cannot live alone, so being able to blend with the community is a satisfying
endeavor. This can only be done when a person can communicate his/her ideas
with different people coming from different backgrounds in the community.
Avoid searching on Google. Don’t copy your classmate’s work.
You can share your own experiences to lengthen your answers.

QUESTIONS:
1. What are the importance of communication in different situations? Please discuss and share
your own thoughts.
2. How communication helped in resolving issues you have experienced in different situations?
Please share your personal experiences.

ANSWERS:
1.
2.
Topic 2: Types of Communication

Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, you are expected to:
1. differentiate verbal from non-verbal communication;
2. explain how the combination of verbal and non-verbal makes communication more
effective.

Presentation of content
Study the pictures below and determine the type of communication being used.

1. Verbal communication

 It is a form of transmitting messages using word symbols in representing ideas

and objects which comes in two forms oral and written.
 It includes a face to face interaction with another person, speaking to someone on
the phone, participating in meetings, delivering speeches in programs and giving
lectures or presentations in conferences.

Factors that affect Verbal Communication

a. Tone of voice
b. Use of descriptive words
c. Emphasis on certain phrases
d. Volume of voice
 2. Non-verbal Communication
 It is a form of communication which refers to sending of messages to another
person using signs, gestures, facial expression and means other than the spoken
and written language.
Two Categories of Non-Verbal Communication
a. Non-verbal messages produced by the body
b. Non-verbal messages produced by the broad setting such as times, space and silence

Functions of Non-Verbal Communication

a. It is used to repeat the verbal message.
Example – Point in an object while saying it.

b. It is often used to accent a verbal message.

Example – verbal tone indicates the actual meaning of the words.

c. It is often complements the verbal message but also may contradict.

Examples – A nod reinforces a positive message among Americans and Filipinos.
- A wink or a frown may contradict a positive message.

d. It regulates interactions
Example – Hand gestures may signal a person to speak or not.

e. It may substitute for the verbal message, especially if it is blocked by noise or

interruption.
Example – Touch to mean comfort or encouragement
- A thumbs-up gesture indicating approval

Consider this:

Communication is a
combination of verbal and non-verbal
aspects. Proper blending of the two
types of communication make the
message clearer.
Avoid searching on Google. Don’t copy your classmate’s work.
You can share your own experiences to lengthen your answers.

QUESTIONS:
1. What is the difference of verbal from non-verbal communication? Please give your own
examples.
2. How the combination of verbal and non-verbal makes communication more effective?
Please explain it.

ANSWERS:
1.
2.
Topic 3: The Elements and Process of Communication

Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, you are expected to:
1. identify the element of communication;
2. explain the process of communication.

Presentation of Content:

The diagram above illustrates the components and the flow of communication.

Elements of Communication
1. Sender
- A person, group, or organization who initiates communication
- She/He may be called the source, encoder, speaker or communicator

2. Message
- An element transmitted in communication
- It may consist of the idea, opinion, information, feeling or attitude of the sender.

3. Channel
- A pathway or medium through which the message travels to reach its destination
- It may be oral, written, or visual.

4. Receiver
- A person who receives, analyses, understands, and interprets the message.
- She/He can also be called decoder, reader or listener.

5. Feedback
- The receiver’s response that provides information to the sender.
- The return process in which the receiver provides both verbal and non-verbal signals to
show whether the message is understood or not.

6. Noise
- A form of distortion, barrier or obstacle that occurs in the oral communication process.

7. Adjustment
- Done if the message is distorted or is not clearly understood by the receiver.

8. Context
- It is the situation from which the communication is done. It includes settings or environment
(family, school, workplace, religious communities); social relations (friends, husband and
wife, parent and child, colleagues/boss- subordinate in the office); scenes which include
place, time and occasion (business meeting, job interview, social gathering – parties,
weddings, etc.); and culture (history, tradition, beliefs, norms, values)
The Process of Effective Communication
To communicate effectively, understanding the steps in this information exchange process is
vital.
Five Steps of the Communication Process (Schreiner, 2018)
1. Creation
 It is forming the communicative intent where the sender generate an idea.
 This requires the individual who is sending the message to decide what she/he
wants to say and select a medium through which to communicate this
information.
 If the medium she/he selects is a written one, she/he must compose a concise and
clear message that others can understand and if the medium is oral, she/he must
plan out a clear spoken message.

2. Transmission
 The transmission may be as simple as meeting with the intended recipient of the
message, and orally sharing the message or calling the individual to communicate
orally over the phone.
 If the message is a print one, it may include distributing a paper memo or sending
an email.

3. Reception
 After transmitting the message, the communication duties change hands and fall
upon the receiver of the message.
 The message is obtained either from the written format the sender selected or
listening carefully as the message is delivered orally.

4. Translation
 Once receiving the message, the recipient must translate the message into terms
that she/he can easily understand.
 To do this she/he must listen to or read the message in question and paraphrase it
within her/his head, turning the potentially complex context contents of the
message into more manageable and meaningful components.

5. Response
  This may be verbal and immediate, which is commonly the case if
communication is face-to-face.
 It may also be easily a written response that either expands upon the message or
simply indicated receipt of the message in question.

Avoid searching on Google. Don’t copy your classmate’s work.

You can share your own experiences to lengthen your answers.

QUESTIONS:
1. What are the elements of communication? Please share your own thoughts.
2. What is the process of communication? Please explain your own ideas.

ANSWERS:
1.
2.
Topic 4: Communication Principles

Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, you are expected to:
1. explain the seven principles of communication;
2. point out how these principles of communications can be achieved.

Presentation of Content

Communication becomes more meaningful if it is:

Avoid searching on Google. Don’t copy your classmate’s work.
You can share your own experiences to lengthen your answers.

QUESTIONS:
1. What are the seven principles of communication? Please share your own thoughts.
2. How these principles of communications can be achieved? Please point it out.

ANSWERS:
1.
2.
Topic 5: Ethics in Communication

Learning Outcomes
At the end of the lesson, you are expected to:
a. tell what communication ethics is;
b. explain how ethics in communication can be achieved and;
c. enumerate ways of avoiding violations of ethics in communication.

Presentation of Content
Ethics is an integral part of communication. When we communicate, we do not
simply choose words; we choose words for the effect they will have on our audiences, on
ourselves, and ultimately, on society. Also, we choose the manner of communication because
sometimes “what matters is not what you say, but how you say things,” Thus, when we
communicate, we ask ourselves how harmful or helpful our words and our ways are.

Considerations in Ethical Communication

(Johansen, 16)

1. Ethical Communicators are Respectful of Their Audience.

 Communication is a two-way process. The communicator must consider the
audience ideas and feelings during the interaction.

2. Ethical Communicators Consider the Consequences of their Communication.

 Every communicator must bear in mind that the ultimate aim of communication is
to promote the common good. Communication must be set in a way that conflict
is reduced or eliminated.

3. Ethical Communicators Respect the Truth.

 A great deal of the ethics of communication involves a respect for truth. Indeed,
as one has put it, the assumption of truth undergirds the very concept of
communication itself: “an inherent end of speech is the communication of belief”
(Kupfer 118). If we cannot trust the other party, we cannot accurately judge how
to respond. If we cannot accurately judge how to respond, then our
communication becomes increasingly ineffective.

4. Ethical Communicators Use Information Properly.

 Communicators have the responsibility to give and acquire adequate and accurate
information. As an ethical communicator, as respect for truth means being
informed on a topic before posing as any kind of authority on the subject. We also
need to consider the accuracy of the information and the accuracy with which we
use it. When we communicate, we expect people to react in some way to what we
say and do. When we use inaccurate information to influence other, we cause
difficulty for them and for ourselves.

5. Ethical Communicators Do Not Falsify Information.

 Worse than the distortion of information is falsifying information. Failing to find
information useful to our goals, we make it up. This is a form of cheating;
therefore, it should by all means be avoided.
 6. Ethical Communicators Respect the Rights of Others to information.
 A respect for truth and an ethical consideration of others also means respecting
the rights of others in regard to information and access to information. Collecting
information is an integral part of the research process, but stealing information is
theft, taking something that does not belong to us. Beyond the personal act of
theft, stealing information is unethical because it prevents other people from
securing information and unnecessary makes their lives difficult.

Summary
In this chapter you have learned the Communication Process, Principles and Ethics.
You have discovered the importance of communication in the different aspects of your life like
in your family, in your community, in your school and in even in your work place later on. It is
also emphasized in this chapter that verbal and non-verbal communication are both needed in
achieving effective communication. It is very important to note that participants of the
communication process must consider the Seven C’s which are Clarity of thoughts, Conciseness,
Coherence, Completeness, Concreteness, Correctness and Courtesy. Lastly, this chapter
introduced you to the Ethics of communication which reminds you of the standards that you have
to practice when participating in a communication process.

Avoid searching on Google. Don’t copy your classmate’s work.

You can share your own experiences to lengthen your answers.

QUESTIONS:
1. What is communication ethics? Please share your own thoughts.
2. How ethics in communication can be achieved? Please share your own thoughts.
3. What are the ways of avoiding violations of ethics in communication? Please enumerate
it and share your own ideas.
ANSWERS:
1.
2.
3.

References

Montano-Harmon M.R. (2014) Developing English for Academic Purposes, California State
University, Fullerton
Manzano, B.A., Arador, MVP and Ladia Map (2018). Purposive Communication for College
Freshmen. St. Andrews Publishing House, Plaridel, Bulacan
https://www.laneccedu/llc/speech/ethical-communication
https://ethiccomm.weebly.com/ethical-communication.html
https://expertprogrammanagement.com/2018/04/7-cs-communication
https://expertprogrammanagement.com/2018/04/7cs-communication/www.ThoughtCom.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REXmob7TX8k