Write down some of the key elements of communication on a piece of paper. These include, according to Mind Tools, listening, speaking, reading and writing. Think about times when you effectively communicated ideas, strategies or directions. Make a list of a few experiences that could be expanded upon later in the essay.
Note all of these elements and begin the essay by making a general statement regarding the importance of communication skills and why and how communication has affected your life. This should be your opening statement. Do not delve into specifics about the different kinds of communication. Simply make a general statement about the importance of it.
Write a first paragraph about the importance of using comprehensive listening skills. Describe an experience when you listened to another person in order to make a major decision or change, especially in a job or leadership role. Discuss how listening to people is important in other situations as well. These situations could include listening over the phone, during a college class or in a job interview.
Write a third paragraph about your reading and writing skills. Describe important situations during which you read what others wrote in order to extract essential information. Next, provide details about how writing to others in professional ways can make a difference in communicative efforts such as in email discussions or academic papers. Discuss when you use proper grammar, sentence structure and clear ideas.
Write a fourth paragraph about speaking. List an experience where you delivered a message in public or spoke with someone about something significant. Write about how well you conveyed the message and any ways you used speech to prove a point. Talk about when you use assertive, clear speech versus everyday, colloquial speech with friends or family. Provide an example by detailing a scenario.
Proofread the essay and let someone else read it so that any errors can be caught.