Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon Portland Community College

Core Outcomes: Communication

Read

  • Identify the writer’s stated or implied central and secondary ideas.
  • Measure the writer’s viewpoint against their own experiences.
  • Think critically about the writer’s assumptions about experience.
  • Analyze the writer’s use of style and logic to manipulate audience.

Write

  • Understand and use writing as a way of thinking and imagining.
  • Focus on a central purpose, determine audience, and write coherent and effective prose using standard English conventions.
  • Use creative problem-solving techniques and knowledge of various modes of critical thinking to create and evaluate text.
  • Use collaborative techniques to explore and test ideas.
  • Apply knowledge of writing process.
  • Develop and organize a text by using details, examples, data, metaphor, etc.

Speak

  • Identify and apply communication strategies appropriate to interpersonal, group, and public speaking contexts.
  • Organize and deliver verbal and non-verbal messages for effective audience reception and retention.

Listen

  • Check personal understanding of a message by summarizing.
  • Question as appropriate.
  • Analyze message critically for assumptions, purposes, use and misuse of rhetorical and argumentative forms.

Interpret Visual Images and Communicate Visually

  • Use visual elements and materials effectively to convey a message or idea.
  • Analyze visual elements to assess their influence on perception of purpose and assumptions.
  • Use technology as appropriate (e.g. computers) to convey ideas visually.
  • Appreciate the various forms of art and the contexts from which they emerge.
  • Make and defend judgments about the quality of artistic expressions.
  • Explain how personal and formal factors shape own responses to works of art.
  • Take a position on the merits of specific artistic works and reconsider own judgments about specific works as knowledge and experience change.
Core Outcomes
Sample Indicators
Level 1

Limited demonstration or application of knowledge and skills.

Identify a variety of communication models.

Understand written and oral communication basics.

Use written word appropriately yet unable to fully communicate thoughts and ideas effectively in all situations.

Give a rehearsed oral presentation on a familiar subject using notes.

Level 2

Basic demonstration and application of knowledge and skills.

Communicate thoughts and ideas in writing using appropriate format and mode.

Use prescribed models to provide organizing structure for ideas.

Demonstrate congruency between verbal and nonverbal communication.

Give an oral presentation which includes main points, detail and supporting evidence.

Level 3

Demonstrates comprehension and is able to apply essential knowledge and skill.

Use a variety of written communication models using effective and appropriate language with minimal structure, grammar or spelling errors.

Speak effectively in a variety of situations demonstrating an awareness of differing points of view.

Integrate research and identify sources of evidence used in written and oral communication.

Level 4

Demonstrates thorough, effective and/or sophisticated application of knowledge and skills.

Use written and oral communication in academic, work and personal communication to convey complex ideas and thoughts in a clear and coherent manner without technical flaws.

Demonstrate a wide variety of written and oral communication tools in a variety of situations.

Make a polished presentation that demonstrates audience awareness, topic development, research, verbal and nonverbal communication skills.