To complete this activity, write a short paper based on the claim that information technology professionals should excel in their communication skills.

Overview

Business and STEM leaders have repeatedly stated that learning to communicate well is a key skill needed to be successful (Jensen, 2012). “Research carried out by the Carnegie Institute of Technology shows that 85 percent of your financial success is due to . . . your personality and ability to communicate, negotiate, and lead . . . only 15 percent is due to technical knowledge” (Nelson, n.d.).

Prompt

To complete this activity, write a short paper based on the claim that information technology professionals should excel in their communication skills.

In your paper:

  • Define academic, professional, and technical communication in your own words, using at least two examples.
  • Discuss whether you believe the ability to communicate well is the most important skill for a STEM professional to learn.

Resources are not required, but any resources used must be appropriately cited using APA style. While all course materials are valuable resources for this project, the following resource may directly help support your work on this project:

Guidelines for Submission

Submit a Word document or PDF file of your short paper. Your paper must:

  • Be at least 500 words
  • Be double spaced
  • Address all of the requirements in the Prompt section

References

Jensen, K. (2012, April 12). Intelligence is overrated: What you really need to succeed. Forbes. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/keldjensen/2012/04/12…

Nelson, B. (n.d.). Three billionaires reveal the underrated skill you really need to succeed (and it’s not intelligence). Reader’s Digest. Retrieved from https://www.rd.com/advice/work-career/secret-to-su…

Module One Activity Rubric

Criteria Exemplary (100%) Proficient (85%) Needs Improvement (55%) Not Evident (0%) Value
Communication Definition Exceeds proficiency in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner Defines academic, professional, and technical communication in their own words with at least two examples Shows progress toward proficiency, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include using their own words to define the different types of communication instead of relying on resources or including at least two examples Does not attempt criterion 35
Importance of Communication Exceeds proficiency in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner Discusses whether communication is the most important skill for STEM professionals with some details that support the position Shows progress toward proficiency, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include selecting too many, too few, or unnecessary main ideas Does not attempt criterion 35
Articulation of Response Exceeds proficiency in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner Clearly conveys meaning with correct grammar, sentence structure, and spelling, demonstrating an understanding of audience and purpose Shows progress toward proficiency, but with errors in grammar, sentence structure, and spelling, negatively impacting readability Submission has critical errors in grammar, sentence structure, and spelling, preventing understanding of ideas 15
Citations and Attributions Attributes sources where applicable using citation methods with very few minor errors Attributes sources where applicable, but with consistent minor errors Attributes sources where applicable, but with major errors Does not attribute sources where applicable 15
Total: 100%