Posted: September 13th, 2017

Communication

Communication

Order Description

This assignment serves three purposes:
1. Provide you with an opportunity to expand your understanding of a specific communication theory.
2. Give you experience applying communication theory to relevant social or personal dilemmas.
3. Give you experience using critical thinking to weigh the possible application of a communication theory against its weaknesses and limits.

This assignment is designed to give you an opportunity to bring a particular communication theory into sharper analytical focus by using that theory to make sense of a practical communication problem or question.

Choose a theory from the class text that you find intriguing, plausible, and (in your view) relevant. Then pay close attention to communication events around you, watching for a particular event that appears to resonate with the theory you have chosen. This should be an interesting communication event that you can observe closely either through participation, textual analysis, or interviewing participants. Possible events include advertising campaigns, social movements, political campaigns, tv shows, movies, organizations, group meetings, problems in interpersonal communication, or events in personal relationships (e.g., family dinner table talk, shifting to a long-distance romantic relationship).

Once you have chosen a theory and a communication event to apply it to, read two additional journal articles or book chapters that help you expand your understanding of the theory and its possible application.

How to write the paper:
There are three key components to this paper:

1) Description: You will need to clearly describe relevant aspects of the communication event or dilemma. In addition, you need to clearly and accurately explain the theory you are applying to make sense of the event or dilemma. Incorporate your two outside sources into this explanation of the theory. Questions you might think about as you develop this section of the paper include: What is the interesting communication problem or the question that you have observed? What important information from your observations of the event will help to understand the event? What are important concepts and relationships proposed by this theory? How did you initially tie the communication event you observed to the theory you chose?

2) Application: Apply the theory to the communication event you observed. Questions you might think about as you develop this section of the paper include: How are the theoretical concepts illustrated in the communication behavior you observed? What does the theory help to explain? How might it help to solve communication dilemmas in this context?
3) Evaluation: Critique the theory, drawing on criteria for a good theory discussed at the beginning of the semester. Questions you might think about as you develop this section of the paper include: What are this theory’s strengths in helping you to observe, describe, and explain the event? Does this theory facilitate social change? What are the limitations of the theory? Would you challenge any of the assumptions of the theory? What ideas for further research and theory-building do these limitations introduce?
Paper Proposal:

1) A brief description of the communication event that you want to analyze. This should include a description of how you plan to observe this event to get information for the project (e.g., record tv shows, review web sites, interview participants, search archives).
2) A paragraph describing the theory that you think you will use to make sense of this communication event and your reasons for choosing that theory. Include information on the two sources you plan to use in addition to your textbook and cite them appropriately.

Format:
• Papers should be typed and double-spaced with one-inch margins.
• They should include both an introduction that identifies a central idea and frames the paper and a conclusion that summarizes the content of the paper.
• They should have a clear organizational structure with transitions that facilitate the flow between ideas.
• They should be approximately 8-10 pages in length.
• They should follow APA format guidelines. This includes title page, headings, and reference citations.

Evaluation:

Description (30 %): Your description of the event should cover important details for understanding the communication issue, should identify an interesting dilemma or question to focus on for your analysis, and should reflect thoughtful, careful observation. The description of the event should be coherent and provide the reader with information necessary for understanding the situation. Your description of the theory should be accurate, incorporating key concepts of the theory in an appropriate manner and demonstrating your understanding of the theoretical frame you are applying.

Application (30%): The points that you are making within this portion of the paper should be clearly articulated and explained. Your application should accurately apply the theory to make sense of the communication event. It should demonstrate insight into the application of the concepts and the functioning of relationships, organizations, social groups, or publics. The claims that you make regarding application should be persuasively developed with evidence and reasoning to support those claims.

Evaluation (30%): Your critique should demonstrate an accurate understanding of the theory. It should demonstrate insight into the strengths and weaknesses of the theory. The criteria you are using to evaluate the theory should be clearly explained and justified. Overall, the points that you are making within this portion of the paper should be clearly articulated and explained with strong reasoning to support your claims.

Style and Format (10%): Ensure that your paper will be readable by attending to grammar, punctuation, and spelling. The paper should be clearly organized with smooth transitions between points and an effective introduction and conclusion. While this is not a writing class, good writing skills are invaluable for clearly and effectively communicating your ideas.