Electric shock from leads indicates criticisms of the students (6)
I believe the answer is:
essays
'criticisms of the students' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to communication as well as being plural nouns.
Maybe you can see an association between them that I can't see?
I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for essays that I've seen before include "Disquisitions" , "Written works" , "Short pieces of writing on a particular subject" , "Makes attempt to do short pieces of writing" , "Literary compositions" .)