Communications Skill Assessment

Most of us have situations in which we find it difficult to communicate. Improving your written communication skills and being comfortable speaking to people are extremely important. Develop a two- to three-page APA-formatted paper in which you analyze your personal communication skills. Be sure to address the following:

• Describe the assessment you used to analyze your skills.
• Discuss your communication gaps.
• Describe any additional training you need in specific areas of communication.
• Analyze how you can improve your current communication skills to prepare you for advancement in your profession.

Your paper must be two to three pages (not including title and reference pages) and must be formatted according to APA style as outlined in the approved APA style guide. You must cite three to four scholarly sources in addition to the textbook

Carefully review the Grading Rubric for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.

Description:

Total Possible Score: 8.00

Describes the Assessment

Total: 1.50

Distinguished – Comprehensively describes the assessment used to analyze personal communication skills.

Proficient – Describes the assessment used to analyze personal communication skills. The description is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic – Partially describes the assessment used to analyze personal communication skills. The description is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations – Attempts to describe the assessment used to analyze personal communication skills; however, the description is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance – The description of the assessment used is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Discusses Communication Gaps

Total: 1.50

Distinguished – Thoroughly discusses personal communication gaps.

Proficient – Discusses personal communication gaps. Minor details are missing.

Basic – Briefly discusses personal communication gaps. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations – Attempts to discuss personal communication gaps; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance – The discussion of communication gaps is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Describes Additional Training Needed in Specific Areas of Communication

Total: 1.50

Distinguished – Fully describes additional training needed in specific areas of communication.

Proficient – Describes additional training needed in specific areas of communication. The description is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic – Partially describes additional training needed in specific areas of communication. The description is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations – Attempts to describe additional training needed in specific areas of communication; however, the description is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance – The description of additional training needed in specific areas of communication is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Analyzes How to Improve Current Communication Skills to Prepare for Advancement

Total: 2.00

Distinguished – Offers a thorough analysis of how to improve current communication skills.

Proficient – Offers an analysis of how to improve current communication skills. Minor details are missing.

Basic – Offers a partial analysis of how to improve current communication skills. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations – Attempts to analyze how to improve current communication skills; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance – The analysis of how to improve current communication skills to prepare for advancement is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Integrative Learning: Connections to Experience

Total: 0.35

Distinguished – Creates meaningful correlations among experiences outside of the classroom to deepen understanding of field of study and to broaden own viewpoints.

Proficient – Compares life experiences and academic knowledge to distinguish differences and similarities while acknowledging perspectives other than own.

Basic – Recognizes correlation between life experiences, academic texts, and ideas perceived as similar and related to own interests.

Below Expectations – Briefly comments about connections between life experiences and academic texts.

Non-Performance – The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Integrative Learning: Reflection and Self-Assessment

Total: 0.35

Distinguished – Assesses changes in own learning over time, recognizing varied contextual factors (e.g., works with ambiguity and risk, deals with frustration, considers ethical frameworks).

Proficient – Effectively communicates strengths and challenges (within specific performances or events) to increase effectiveness in different contexts (through increased self-awareness).

Basic – Depicts own performances with general descriptions of success and failure.

Below Expectations – Unsuccessfully defines own performances with general descriptors of success and failure.

Non-Performance – The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Written Communication: Control of Syntax and Mechanic

Total: 0.20

Distinguished – Displays meticulous comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains no errors, and is very easy to understand.

Proficient – Displays comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains only a few minor errors, and is mostly easy to understand.

Basic – Displays basic comprehension of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains a few errors, which may slightly distract the reader.

Below Expectations – Fails to display basic comprehension of syntax or mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains major errors, which distract the reader.

Non-Performance – The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

APA Formatting

Total: 0.20

Distinguished – Accurately uses APA formatting consistently throughout the paper, title page, and reference page.

Proficient – Exhibits APA formatting throughout the paper. However, layout contains a few minor errors.

Basic – Exhibits basic knowledge of APA formatting throughout the paper. However, layout does not meet all APA requirements.

Below Expectations – Fails to exhibit basic knowledge of APA formatting. There are frequent errors, making the layout difficult to distinguish as APA.

Non-Performance – The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Page Requirement

Total: 0.20

Distinguished – The length of the paper is equivalent to the required number of correctly formatted pages.

Proficient – The length of the paper is nearly equivalent to the required number of correctly formatted pages.

Basic – The length of the paper is equivalent to at least three quarters of the required number of correctly formatted pages.

Below Expectations – The length of the paper is equivalent to at least one half of the required number of correctly formatted pages. 

Non-Performance – The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Resource Requirement

Total: 0.20

Distinguished – Uses more than the required number of scholarly sources, providing compelling evidence to support ideas. All sources on the reference page are used and cited correctly within the body of the assignment.

Proficient – Uses required number of scholarly sources to support ideas. All sources on the reference page are used and cited correctly within the body of the assignment.

Basic – Uses less than the required number of sources to support ideas. Some sources may not be scholarly. Most sources on the reference page are used within the body of the assignment. Citations may not be formatted correctly.

Below Expectations – Uses inadequate number of sources that provide little or no support for ideas. Sources used may not be scholarly. Most sources on the reference page are not used within the body of the assignment. Citations are not formatted correctly.

Non-Performance – The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.