THE UNIVERSITY OF TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

FINAL EXAMINATION, APRIL 2013

Course Code and Title: COMM 1004: Industrial Communication

Programme: Certificate in Process Operations (CPO)

Date: Time: 9:00am – 11:30 am

PLEASE READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU BEGIN THIS

EXAMINATION

Instructions to Candidates

This exam is 2 hours 30 minutes (INCLUSIVE of 10 minutes reading time).

YOU MAY BEGIN WRITING DURING YOUR READING TIME.

1. This exam accounts for 50% of your overall course grade.

2. This paper consists of four (4) sections and eleven (11) pages (including the cover page).
3. You are to attempt questions from all sections. Marks for each section are clearly indicated.
4. Ensure that you read and follow the instructions in each section.
5. Answers to Section 2 ONLY must be written on the question paper itself.
6. Sections 1, 3 & 4 must be written in the answer booklet provided.
7. You must return the question paper along with your answer booklet to and other
writing paper to the Invigilator at the end of the examination.

Key Examination Protocol

1. Students please note that academic dishonesty (or cheating) includes but is not limited to
plagiarism, collusion, falsification, replication, taking unauthorised notes or devices into an
examination, obtaining an unauthorised copy of the examination paper, communicating or
trying to communicate with another candidate during the examination, and being a party to
impersonation in relation to an examination.

2. The above mentioned and any other actions which compromise the integrity of the academic
evaluation process will be fully investigated and addressed in accordance with UTT’s
academic regulations.

3. Please be reminded that speaking without the Invigilator’s permission is NOT allowed.

PLEASE RETURN COMPLETE EXAM PACKAGE TO THE INVIGILATORS

The University of Trinidad & Tobago Page 1 of 11
April, 2013 Final Examination
COMM 1004
 SECTION 1

CASE STUDY (25 marks)

Instructions:
 Read the scenario below then answer the five (5) questions that follow.
 Please answer in complete sentences.
 Write your answers to these questions in the answer booklet.
 [Spend 45 minutes here].

THE COWARD

Jennifer Sandman is an architect who works for a small firm in Kansas City. The firm is
completing its largest project ever, designing a building for a GrandMart superstore. Jennifer and
her boss, a lead architect, Bill Voss are in charge of the project.

At an upcoming city council meeting, they will need to give a public presentation on their plans
for the new GrandMart. At the meeting, the mayor and city council will look over the plans and
listen to comments from people in the audience. Failure to persuade the audience might mean the
loss of the project as well as future business with GrandMart, an important client.

Everyone knows that the meeting would be contentious, with many angry residents arguing
against the plans. Notwithstanding, GrandMart’s surveys have shown that a silent majority
would welcome the new store in their neighbourhood. Meanwhile, GrandMart’s marketing
specialists are certain that the store would be profitable, because there are no competitors within
10 miles.

Jennifer has one problem – her boss is a coward. He scheduled a business trip to coincide with
the meeting, and he promptly delegated the presentation to her. As her boss walked out the door,
he said, “It will be a good growth opportunity for you. Just don’t make the firm look bad.”

For Jennifer, making presentations is not a problem. She is a whiz with PowerPoint and she has
undertaken enough presentations to feel comfortable in front of people. Her concern, though, is
the hostile people in the audience. There might even be some hecklers. These hostile people will
never accept the idea that a GrandMart should be built in their neighbourhood. Others in the
audience though, will be undecided. So she wants to devise ways in her presentation to soften
The University of Trinidad & Tobago Page 2 of 11
April, 2013 Final Examination
COMM 1004
and deflect some of the hostile criticisms, while gaining support of people in the community who
might want the store built.

QUESTIONS

1. According to your module, write the objective statement for Jennifer’s presentation.
(1 mark)

2. If you were Jennifer Sandman, what three (3) main ideas would you emphasise in your
presentation? (6 marks)

3. During her presentation, in what two (2) ways can Jennifer deflect some of the hostile
criticisms? (4 marks)

4. Jennifer’s mixed audience would want to know different bits of information. Identify two
(2) specific kinds of information which will be needed by:
 The mayor and city council members (2 marks)
 The hostile people in the audience (2 marks)
 The silent, supportive, undecided majority (2 marks)

5. If you were Jennifer, how would you:

(a) Design your oral presentation to avoid being seen as defensive? (4 marks)

(b) Deliver your presentation to avoid being perceived as defensive? (4 marks)

Total = 25 marks

The University of Trinidad & Tobago Page 3 of 11

April, 2013 Final Examination
COMM 1004
 SECTION 2

CORRECTION OF SENTENCES (25 marks)

[Spend 40 minutes here].

A. All answers to Section A must be written in the space provided. Each question is worth
one (1) mark. (8 marks)

Instruction: Questions 1 & 2 – Make the following sentence fragments into complete
sentences.

1. The next draft of the report

________________________________________________________________________

2. Our committee decided to hire two people for the position. Karen. And Shelby. Both
did very well. In their interviews. Last week.

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Instruction: Questions 3 & 4 – Turn these passive voice constructions into active voice.

3. Ronnie Williams was assigned an office on the second floor by me.

________________________________________________________________________

4. Three letters of commendation were presented to Deepak at his annual appraisal.

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

The University of Trinidad & Tobago Page 4 of 11

April, 2013 Final Examination
COMM 1004
Instruction: Questions 5 & 6 – Correct the dangling modifiers in these sentences.

5. With paid medical leave, your baby should be born while you have complete medical
coverage.

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

6. Sitting on the loading dock for weeks, Tyronne found the display unit was in poor
condition.

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

Instruction: Questions 7 & 8 – Rewrite the following sentences to make them parallel.

7. I spent an hour planning the memo, half an hour writing it, and 90 minutes revising
the memo.

_____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

8. Make sure the following departments get a copy of the letter: Purchasing, Human
Resources, the folks in Communication, and the Logistics group.

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

The University of Trinidad & Tobago Page 5 of 11

April, 2013 Final Examination
COMM 1004
 B. Instruction: Underline the correct word from those in brackets to complete the
sentence. (8 marks)

1. Wendy received recognition as her (division’s, divisions’) Employee of the Year.

2. Two (days’, day’s) worth of hard work proved invaluable, as we surpassed the
(competitions, competition’s) best (efforts, effort’s).

3. Our expediting department (need, needs) your orders by tomorrow morning.

4. The data (indicate, indicates) that our initial findings (is, are) correct.

5. A successful community leader understands how to gauge (people’s, peoples’) opinions.

C. Instruction: Circle the letter of the preferred choice in each of the following group
of sentences. (4 marks)

1. A. The CDs are priced at $15, $12.95, and $11.00.

B. The CDs are priced at $15.00, $12.95, and $11.00.
C. The CDs are priced at $15, $12.95, and $11.

2. A. Companies use a wide variety of techniques-contests, displays, and giveaways, to

name a few-to sell you things.
B. Companies use a wide variety of techniques ̶ contests, displays, and giveaways,
to name a few ̶ to sell you things.
C. Companies use a wide variety of techniques ̶ contests, displays, and giveaways to
name a few ̶ to sell you things.

The University of Trinidad & Tobago Page 6 of 11

April, 2013 Final Examination
COMM 1004
 3. A. Joel told me, “I can’t stop humming this song in my head, “There’s a Moon Out
Tonight.”
B. Joel told me, ‘I can’t stop humming this song in my head, “There’s a Moon Out
Tonight”.’
C. Joel told me, “I can’t stop humming this song in my head, ‘There’s a Moon Out
Tonight’.”

4. A. Accountants are guided by three basic concepts, the fundamental accounting

equation, double-entry book-keeping, and the matching principle.
B. Accountants are guided by three basic concepts: the fundamental accounting
equation; double-entry book-keeping; and the matching principle.
C. Accountants are guided by three basic concepts: the fundamental accounting
equation, double-entry book-keeping, and the matching principle.

D. Instruction: The following words are misspelt. Please re-write the correct spelling
in the blank space provided. (5 marks)

1. seperate ________________________________

2. labratory ________________________________

3. professional ________________________________

4. deisel engine ________________________________

5. inventary ________________________________

The University of Trinidad & Tobago Page 7 of 11

April, 2013 Final Examination
COMM 1004
 SECTION 3

WRITING A MEMO (20 marks)

Instructions:
 Based on the information provided, use the fully-blocked format and open
punctuation in applying the principles of written communication to answer
EITHER question A) OR B) in the following scenarios.
 Use the Memorandum format that you learnt this semester.
 Include an appropriate letterhead.
 [Spend 45 minutes here].

EITHER
Scenario A

You are a Refinery Operator II with Chem-Industries Company Limited of No. 477 Google
Road, Point Lisas Industrial Estate, Point Lisas.

Over the last three (3) months there was one (1) “fall on same level” accident and two (2) “near
misses” which were costly in terms of time and money to the organization. You were actually
involved in one (1) of these accidents.

While undergoing a Health, Safety, Security and Equipment (HSSE) training session last week,
you discovered a bi-monthly HSSE journal (name the journal) that could be useful to someone
working in the chemical profession.

You strongly believe that by having these items in the company’s library or customer client
room, they will add value to fellow colleagues working in a chemical environment.

Consider the following criteria:

 Relevance of information in the source to the job;
 Level of material with respect to potential readers;
 Cost of HSSE journal, as compared to its value;
 Amount of probable use; and
 Important features of the journal (such as real life experiences, etc.)

Write a persuasive memo to your supervisor, Mr. Steve Stern recommending the purchase.

The University of Trinidad & Tobago Page 8 of 11

April, 2013 Final Examination
COMM 1004
 OR
Scenario B

You are the Project Manager for Metal & Construction Designs Limited, of No. 909 Creed Road,
San Fernando.

The current Human Resource policy at your company states that all employees must pass a pre-
employment drug screening before being hired. After that, there are no tests unless you or one
of your job supervisors has reason to suspect that an employee is under the influence of drugs on
the job.

Lately, a number of clients have vigilantly suggested that you should have a random drug-
screening policy for all employees in the company. They argue that the on-the-job risk to life and
property is great enough to justify this periodic testing, without warning. You have consulted the
Branch Manager, Mr. Peter Rawlins, who likes the idea.

You have also talked with the company’s attorney, Mrs. Sally Hosein who assures you that such
random testing is in fact legal, given the character of the group’s work. After considerable
thought, you decide to implement the policy in three (3) weeks.

Write an instructional memo to all employees and relate this news.

The University of Trinidad & Tobago Page 9 of 11

April, 2013 Final Examination
COMM 1004
 SECTION 4

CRITIQUE OF VISUAL & DOCUMENT DESIGN (25 marks)

Instructions:

 Mr. Elvis Kingly, a Refinery Supervisor with Chemical Works Limited

undertook a presentation entitled “PIGGING IN THE PROCESS INDUSTRY” to a
group of Process Operator Trainees at Chemical Entrepreneurs Limited (CEL).
 He produced a visual in his Power Point presentation on “PIGGING”. This slide is
included below.
 In your answer booklet, answer the questions related to the visual.
 Please answer in complete sentences.
 [Spend 35 minutes here].

The University of Trinidad & Tobago Page 10 of 11

April, 2013 Final Examination
COMM 1004
 Examine the above visual aid and complete the following tasks:

(a) Identify and list any five (5) separate types of errors found in the design of the visual.
(5 marks)

(b) Clearly state why each of the five (5) errors identified in (a) above is unacceptable as a
visual aid in an oral presentation. Highlight in each case the presentation rule pertaining
to visual aids that the speaker has broken in making such a design error.
(15 marks)

(c) If you were Mr. Elvis Kingly, other than the errors already discussed in parts (a) and (b)
above, suggest and describe two (2) new ways that you could effectively improve the
above power-point slide. (5 marks)

THE END


PLEASE RETURN COMPLETE EXAM PACKAGE TO THE INVIGILATORS

The University of Trinidad & Tobago Page 11 of 11

April, 2013 Final Examination
COMM 1004