Communication Skills for Architecture Students

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2 Architecture students spend much of their academic careers creating visual solutions for design problems. An emphasis, however, has been placed lately, on the importance of lucid writing and clear speech for architects in their profession.

3 It is important to write with impact and to speak with conviction. Global economy and politics require that a successful architect should express himself or herself effectively in English through writing and speech.

4 Architecture focuses on architectural education, but teachers all over the world have become aware that though a studio experience with its emphasis on design is of fundamental importance, an architect s ability in writing proposals memoranda planning reports articles delivering oral and written presentations of posters and designs is of equal importance.

5 The aim is to build up a greater confidence and proficiency in students in expressing ideas, questions, criticisms and arguments and developing writing skills in composition, in essays on the history of architecture and in design descriptions and explanations, thus, expanding students interests beyond drawing and modeling.

6 Writing and oral assignments will range from: 1. a formal analysis of a building which entails the use of technical terminology necessary for verbal and written communication. 2. writing descriptions and explanations of designs. 3. writing essays 4. writing reports. 5. research papers about architectural programs of study 6. the written and verbal presentation of posters which provide strong advantages in developing communication skills since they combine visual and verbal information by using illustrations, the written text and a spoken explanation.

7 Assignments will be classified by media : Printed: technical writing, essays and reports Graphic: presentations with visual graphics Spoken: speech Electronic: or the Web

8 Writing well and speaking clearly is important for students to get good grades. Above all, you will become professional architects one day and as such will need to communicate both in writing and speaking with professionals and future clients about your project.

9 The principal scope of the assignments will be to provide language and communication skills specifically designed to help Architecture students acquire a wider range of architectural terminology in order to interact effectively in discipline-specific discussion tasks and to write clear and well-organized descriptions of buildings.

10 Assignment # 1 Student Portfolio The student will write an introduction to their portfolio. The About Me section shall include information about their personal and academic background, educational aspirations, and their outlook into their future goals. They will have the opportunity to showcase their strengths and introduce the reader to their works.

11 Assignment # 1 continued Student Portfolio The student will use the weebly website builder to design an online portfolio to showcase their visual graphics and writing assignments. The portfolio will include at least 3 pages (Home, Architectural Gallery, and Writing Samples) Each page shall include text and graphics that best illustrate the students strengths

12 Assignment # 1 continued Student Portfolio The student will be assigned a peer to evaluate and give constructive criticism to. The student will present their portfolio design at the completion of Assignment #1 to the class. The oral presentation will serve as an exercise to enhance their verbal communication skills.

13 Grading Rubric: Design (40%) Was the student s design well-thought out? Is it organized and easy to follow/navigate? Is it visually dynamic? Does it contain a clear vision? Written assignments (40%) Was the student successful in conveying a clear concise view about their background, goals, and strengths in their introduction? Was the student able to clearly define their works? Did the student offer constructive criticism to their peers? Presentation (20%) Was the student successful in presenting their portfolio? Did they defend their design choices and text? Did they speak clearly and confidently with correct terminology? Did they show a level of preparedness for the presentation?

14 Writing exercise: What do you hope to gain from this course? What would you like to learn more about in this course?

15 Writing exercise: You are the architect for a brand new construction project that will house a Hospital complex. In order to build the complex you must tear down a dilapidated neighborhood with 82% foreclosed homes. In your speech, you must convince the residents and the city council why the Hospital complex would benefit the overall community. You must defend your structure and persuade the people affected why it would be a good thing for them to sell their land.

16 Writing exercise: Creative Essay Assignment: The Ultimate Gameroom. Everyone wants a special place they can hang out with friends, describe in detail what your ultimate Gameroom would be. Write the essay in a descriptive point of view. Include where it would be located and why. What architectural details would be built-in to better the experience?