SPCH277N 2020 November Full Course Latest

SPCH277N Interpersonal Communication

Week 1 Discussion

Perception

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Textbook: Chapter 1, 2, 3, 5

Lesson

Link (video): The Communication Process (Links to an external site.) (25:35)

Minimum of 1 scholarly source (in addition to the textbook)

Initial Post Instructions

Perception of messages is not as straightforward as we need it to be, nor as easy. Additionally, in our changing society, we are learning how to interact with people who culturally have different beliefs, values, and attitudes. For the initial post, address the following:

How can our understanding of perception help us become more effective communicators?

Think of time when you interacted with someone from a different culture. Using the communication model, how did your conversation evolve? Was there a miscommunication?

What could you have done differently?

Follow-Up Post Instructions

Respond to at least two peers or one peer and the instructor. Further the dialogue by providing more information and clarification in all your responses.

 

SPCH277N Interpersonal Communication

Week 2 Discussion

Listening Analysis

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Textbook: Chapter 4, review Chapter 5 (Listening for Understanding section)

Lesson

Minimum of 1 scholarly source (in addition to the textbook)

Initial Post Instructions

Read the lesson for this week, and complete the listening exercise in the Listen Up! section to evaluate your listening skills. Then, address the following:

State the results of the exercise.

Using the information from the exercise, describe an instance when you failed to be an effective listener.

Next, respond to the following prompts, making connections to the ideas contained in the listening chapter assigned for the week. Explain your thought process and provide examples to give explanation to your descriptions of why you feel that way.

Where in the stages of listening did you experience breakdown?

What was the reason you failed to listen effectively? Were listening barriers present?

What could you have done differently to improve your listening?

Follow-Up Post Instructions

Respond to at least two peers or one peer and the instructor. Further the dialogue by providing more information and clarification in all your responses.

 

SPCH277N Interpersonal Communication

Week 3 Discussion

Conflict Management

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Textbook: Chapter 10

Lesson

Minimum of 1 scholarly source (in addition to the textbook)

Initial Post Instructions

For the initial post, address the following:

How can you manage your emotions in a conflict situation so that you remain aware of how you are communicating and listening?

When you have a conflict with someone with whom you only communicate online (instructor, another student, online customer service, etc.), how do you resolve your conflict? What is appropriate, and what is not?

When you have a conflict with someone you see face-to-face, how do you resolve your conflict? What is appropriate, and what is not?

Follow-Up Post Instructions

Respond to at least two peers or one peer and the instructor. Further the dialogue by providing more information and clarification in all your responses.

 

SPCH277N Interpersonal Communication

Week 4 Discussion

Culture & Groups

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Textbook: Chapter 8, 11

Lesson

Minimum of 1 scholarly source (in addition to the textbook)

Initial Post Instructions

For the initial post, address one (1) of the following:

Scenario 1: A colleague from another country has limited English-speaking skills and does not comprehend the group task. Additionally, this colleague has the habit of giving gifts to business associates at the end of projects. Gift-giving is an expected part of business etiquette in her culture. How do you deal with these issues to ensure the success of the group? What criteria would you set early on in the process?

Scenario 2: Your manager asks you to take on a new project that you think you could take on by yourself. He suggests that you form a task group with 15-20 members, which you think is too much. One of the members he recommends adding to the team is John. This gives you additional concern because you think John has had hidden agendas in the past. Even though you think you can do this on your own, how is a group decision different from an individual decision? How can you convince your manager that a smaller group would be better? How do you deal with John if your manager insists on him being in the group?

Follow-Up Post Instructions

Respond to at least two peers or one peer and the instructor. Respond to one peer who chose a scenario different from the one you chose. Further the dialogue by providing more information and clarification.

 

SPCH277N Interpersonal Communication

Week 5 Discussion

Grabbing and Maintaining Attention

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Textbook: Chapter 3, 6, 7

Lesson 1, 2

Minimum of 1 video

Minimum of 1 scholarly source

Initial Post Instructions

For the initial post, address the following:

Why is knowing your audience an important part of capturing and maintaining their attention?

What cultural considerations do you need to take into account for your particular audience/topic?

How are you going to keep the audience's attention throughout the speech?

Find at least one example on YouTube, TEDx, or other video repositories of good attention-getting examples. Post the URL and explain how the video is a good model for capturing the audience's attention. The video can be on any topic but must be appropriate for sharing.

Make sure to include a scholarly source to support your points.

In place of the textbook citation, you will need to integrate and cite the video you selected as well as a scholarly source.

 

SPCH277N Interpersonal Communication

Week 6 Discussion

Delivery: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Lesson

Minimum of 1 scholarly source (in addition to the textbook)

Initial Post Instructions

Find a video or article about speech anxiety, speech content, organization, or delivery. For the initial post, address the following:

Summarize the content.

Include tips on verbal and nonverbal communication with audience members of different cultures.

Explain why you thought it was important.

Determine how it will help you deliver a presentation.

SPCH277N Interpersonal Communication

Week 7 Discussion

Relationships and Technology

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Textbook: Chapter 9, 10, 11

Lesson

Minimum of 1 scholarly source

Initial Post Instructions

For the initial post, select one of the following options and address the related questions:

Option 1: Interpersonal Relationships

Pick an important relationship and describe its relationship culture.

When the relationship started, what relationship schemata guided your expectations?

Describe a relationship story that you tell with this person or about this person. What personal idioms do you use?

What routines and rituals do you observe?

What norms and rules do you follow?

How do self-concept, self-image, self-esteem, and self-disclosure effect a relationship?

Option 2: Technology

How does technology affects your communication in various contexts including the following:

Academic

Professional

Civic

Personal

Examine how your engagement with technology changes from context to context.

For example, do you use online technology more in one context than another?

In what contexts/situations might you prefer "old media" like phone, written letter, or even face-to-face communication?

Follow-Up Post Instructions

Respond to at least two peers or one peer and the instructor. Select one peer who chose the option you did not choose.

For example, for Option 1, examine where your interpersonal relationships have the same or similar routines, rituals, norms, and rules and where they are very different.

For Option 2, how are the context for technology use the same or different? Is there a trend or pattern that you see as a whole?

Further the dialogue by providing more information and clarification.

 

SPCH277N Interpersonal Communication

Week 8 Discussion

Interviews

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this

Lesson

Minimum of 1 scholarly source

Initial Post Instructions

For the initial post, address the following:

Have you ever been on an interview?

What were some of the questions asked?

What questions did you ask the interviewer?

What was the nonverbal used?

What did you wear?

If you have not been on an interview, look up three questions an interviewer might ask, and answer them. What do you think you would wear?

 

SPCH277N Interpersonal Communication

Week 1 Assignment

Communication Behavior Analysis

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Textbook: Chapter 1, 5

Link (Word doc): Week 1 Assignment TemplatePreview the document (Use this template to complete the assignment.)

Lesson

Instructions

Prove for yourself that communication is both frequent and important by observing your interactions for a one-day period. Record every occasion in which you are involved in some sort of human communication.

Based on your findings, answer the following questions:

What percentage of your working day is involved in communication?

What percentage of time do you spend communicating in the following contexts: intrapersonal, dyadic, small group, and public?

What percentage of your communication is devoted to satisfying each of the following types of needs: physical, identity, social, and practical? (Note: you might try to satisfy more than one type at a time.)

Based on your analysis, describe at least 5 ways you would like to communicate more effectively. For each item on your list, describe the following:

Who is involved (e.g., my boss, my co-workers, my friends, etc.)?

How you would like to communicate differently (e.g., act less defensive, speak up more, etc.)?

 

SPCH277N Interpersonal Communication

Week 2 Assignment 1

Nonverbal Communication Analysis

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Textbook: Chapter 4

Lesson

Minimum of 2 scholarly sources (in addition to the textbook)

Instructions

Analyze the nonverbal communication codes demonstrated in the images located on the following 5 slides by answering the following questions for each image:

What nonverbal messages are being sent in this image?

What type of nonverbal communication codes are being used to deliver the message(s)?

What effect does each message have on the other people in the image?

What nonverbal communication skills and strategies could be used to communicate effectively in this situation?

Incorporate outside sources and terminology from the textbook in your responses. Make sure to identify the slide number you are addressing

 

SPCH277N Interpersonal Communication

Week 2 Assignment 2

Presentation Topics

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Textbook: Chapter 4

Lesson

Minimum of 3 scholarly sources (in addition to the textbook)

Instructions

For this assignment, address the following:

Topics: Review the table of contents in the textbook.

Choose a communication skill about which your class needs to learn.

Put together a numbered list of at least 6 communication presentation topics you might have an interest in researching and developing for the Week 6 Assignment: Presentation. This must be about communication.

Rank the topics with your strongest choice at the top of the list and the others in descending order.

Sources: Using your first-topic choice, do the following:

Write a paragraph about why you choose this topic.

List 3 APA formatted references (on a references page) that would be suitable as research sources to support a presentation. These should be in addition to your textbook and not come from the open Web (e.g., a Google search, a blog, or Wikipedia). The best place to look is the Chamberlain University Library.

Your professor will approve or deny your topic, so make sure that you review his/her comments in the gradebook.

 

SPCH277N Interpersonal Communication

Week 3 Assignment 1

Conflict Analysis

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Textbook: Chapter 10

Lesson

File (Word doc): Week 3 Assignment 1 TemplatePreview the document

Instructions

This assignment has two parts: analysis and reflection.

Part 1 Analysis: Observe an instance where conflict is present, one in which you are not personally involved. (You will need to be a bit of a covert operator to accomplish this.) Answer all of the following:

Describe the conflict scene.

Who was involved in the conflict? What was the relationship between the participants prior to the conflict? Did it appear as if the relationship between the participants had any impact on how either person responded to the conflict?

When and where did it take place? Was it formal or informal? Planned or unplanned? What impact did the location and time have on the outcome?

What transpired? (Be specific.)

What was the surface problem?

Many times when we face conflict, there is a surface-level problem and an underlying problem. The surface-level problem acts only as a symptom of the real problem. Consider both.

What was the surface problem?

What was the underlying problem, or the real problem? If this is unclear, what might you speculate the real problem to be?

There are many conflict management strategies that can be employed when dealing with conflict. Consider which were present in this conflict.

Which conflict management strategies were employed by each of the participants? Did the conflict management strategies change during the course of the conversation? How do you know?

What was the outcome? Was there a winner? A loser? Did there appear to be an impact on the relationship? If so, what was that impact?

Looking back, describe at least two variables that could be changed in this scene to alter the outcome.

Part 2 Reflection of Analysis: Much of the learning in this course requires you to draw conclusions about your experiences and observations based on the concepts we have read about and discussed. For the reflection, address the following:

List two specific things you learned about conflict as a result of this exercise.

Use reference material from the text, discussions, lesson, course objectives, and so forth to support your statement. Answers that demonstrate application of the course material and effective critical thinking will earn the greatest number of points.

 

SPCH277N Interpersonal Communication

Week 3 Assignment 2

Presentation Thesis & Main Points

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Textbook: Chapter 10

Lesson

File (Word doc): Week 3 Assignment 2 TemplatePreview the document

Instructions

Think about the communication topic that you chose in your Week 2 Assignment. Your instructor should have already approved this. If not, contact your instructor right away for your presentation topic.

Now for this part of the assignment, you will begin preparing for the Week 6 Assignment (individual PowerPoint presentation). Research your chosen topic in the textbook, and then address and submit the following:

Write a good thesis statement. The thesis must be only one sentence.

Brainstorm (You do not have to show your brainstorming in the assignment submission.)

Write at least 3 main ideas concerning your topic. (Write in full sentences)

Next week you will be researching, adding to this draft, and submitting additional outline material.

Note: Notify your professor now by e-mail if you do not understand how to choose a speech topic.

 

SPCH277N Interpersonal Communication

Week 4 Assignment

Team Outline Exercise

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Textbook: Chapter 8, 11

Lesson

Instructions

This week, you will have an opportunity to work in a team and to put into practice many of the communication strategies about which we are learning. Your instructor has already assigned you to a group of team members. You need to solve a communication business problem outline together by the end of the week. Remember, what makes a group a team is a shared common goal, and this team will be no exception. In this case, your shared goal is to create and deliver an A+ solution to a communication business outline.

The following is a list of ideas that were brainstormed in a meeting with your company employees. The company needs to include all these ideas in an all-company presentation, but the list is very disorganized right now. What would be the best way to sort these ideas into some sequence of main points with sub points?

Hints

There are 3 main points, and the rest are sub points.

There is no introduction or conclusion.

Discuss

Use your Group Home Page to converse.

With your assigned team, unscramble the following statements to create a logical outline for an upcoming business presentation. Use standard outline format as described in your textbook.

Ensure that the language is used correctly.

Speaker credibility influences how listeners feel about the speaker.

Character is the quality of being honest, trustworthy, and showing goodwill.

Deliver the speech with confidence.

Credibility is an extremely important factor in determining speaker effectiveness.

Connect the audience to the topic.

Practice your delivery.

Verbally cite personal subject knowledge.

Present error-free written materials.

Credibility has three primary characteristics: the three Cs.

Ensure that typographical errors are eliminated.

Charisma is the quality of being assertive, confident, and enthusiastic.

Speaker credibility influences the listener's ability to learn or to believe.

Demonstrate expertise.

Verbally cite expert sources.

Connect yourself to the topic.

Plan your delivery.

Ensure that facts are correct.

Competence is the quality of being an expert and being intelligent.

Connect with the audience on a personal level.

Establish common ground.

Credibility is established in four ways.

All team members must collaborate and submit the same version of the outline.

As part of your individual submission, reflect on the group process. Was there miscommunication? Were there any listening barriers? How did the group handle it?

 

SPCH277N Interpersonal Communication

Week 4 Assignment 2

Presentation Draft Outline

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Textbook: Chapter 11

Lesson

Link (website): Narrated PowerPoint Tutorial

Link (Word doc): Presentation Outline TemplatePreview the document (Use this template to complete the assignment.)

Minimum of 3 scholarly sources

Instructions

Continue researching your topic and refine your thesis statement. You should by now have written at least 3 sentences for the main ideas concerning your topic.

Submit the following in outline form:

Thesis statement

At least 2 subtopics for each of the 3 main points

References page (minimum of 3 resources, 1 per each main point)

Complete the outline tutorial exercises provided in the lesson. Spend time learning about outlining and solving your topic organization, sequence, and outline problems. You will also continue working on this outline next week.

Notify your instructor now if you do not understand how to create an outline. If you are having difficulty creating a draft of your outline, e-mail specific questions to your instructor. You may wish to ask for a personal phone call.

Presentation Note: PowerPoint presentations with recorded narration are due in Week 6. Begin practicing the use of your microphone with your computer and the PowerPoint narration feature. Review the Narrated PowerPoint Tutorial for information on how to use the narration feature.

 

SPCH277N Interpersonal Communication

Week 5 Assignment

Presentation Final Outline, Description of Visuals, and References

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Textbook: Chapter 3, 6, 7

Lesson 1, 2

Link (Word doc): Outline TemplatePreview the document

Minimum of 4 scholarly sources

Instructions

For the final outline, continue conducting research for your presentation, locating specific scholarly sources to include on your references page.

Include and submit the following components:

Title page (title of speech, name of presenter, audience prepared for - school or institution, date)

You can use this information to create your first slide in PowerPoint.

General goal, specific goal, thesis statement, introduction paragraph (written out), body in outline format using complete sentences, summary paragraph (written out) (approximately 4 pages)

Visuals and their description plan (1-2 pages)

This section should include a minimum of 5 images you will use for your PowerPoint slides with a description of how and why you will be using each image. Paste the images onto the document (Do not simply provide a URL for each image).

Reference page with minimum of 4 authoritative, outside scholarly sources

These sources can include the sources referenced during Weeks 2 and 3.

Anonymous authors or web pages are not acceptable.

References must be written in APA format with hanging indents, in alphabetical order, and with everything double spaced.

The word references should be centered.

Include copyrighted image resources in this list.

You can copy and paste this to use as the last slide in your PowerPoint.

Presentation Note: Do not copy and paste your table of contents, final outline, or visuals description plan into your PowerPoint slides. Your speech slides must be created as a meaningful presentation.

Use a few bullets for each slide with one phrase or one sentence for each bullet.

Do not put any paragraphs into the slides.

Any questions about this assignment may be discussed in the Course Q & A Forum.

Optional: Team Editing

This is not required or graded. Complete the following steps for team support on your outline. This is not a group project:

Early in the week (Day 1, 2, or 3), post in your group homepage a completed first or second outline draft with your team to ask for feedback. If you do not share I added this your first draft early in the week, you cannot expect other people to have time to review it for you. Provide good concrete constructive comments.

During the week (Days 1-5), respond to team members who have asked for your suggestions, comments, and corrections on their outlines. Try to respond as early as you can, or at least within 2 days. If you can't review an outline or provide any comment within 2 days of receiving a team member's outline, notify your team member about when to expect your comments. Day 5 should be your latest date to respond to other people, or Day 6 for emergency last-minute reviews. Remember that other people need time to use your ideas and revise their outlines!

Review the suggestions, comments, and corrections that you receive from your team and incorporate the best ideas into your first draft outline.

 

SPCH277N Interpersonal Communication

Week 6 Assignment

PowerPoint Presentation

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Lesson

Headset microphone (If your computer does not already have a built in microphone, then you can find this item under the Additional Items section in the bookstore).

Link (website): Narrated PowerPoint Tutorial (Make sure to review this tutorial before you begin recording.)

Minimum of 4 scholarly sources (from Week 5 outline)

Introduction

Your PowerPoint Presentation is due this week. You are required to obtain a headset microphone to use PowerPoint narration. Headset microphones can be purchased from the bookstore or at any electronics or discount store for between $10-25 or even less. When purchasing a headset microphone, consider the ports available on the computer being used and purchase accordingly.

In addition, you should take the time to review the Course Resources for technology guidance so that you will be ready to complete your speech on time. Of course, if you face technical trouble, there is support available.

Review the Narrated PowerPoint Tutorial (in Required Resources) for instructions on how to record the narration.

Instructions

The following are the best practices for creating your speech presentation:

Title Slide: Include the title, audience (who you prepared the presentation for – school or institution), the presenter who prepared it and will be the speaker, and date.

Attention-Getter: Give the audience a reason to pay attention. Make them want to listen to your speech.

Overview: List the main ideas and sections of your presentation for the following purposes:

To introduce the subject and why the subject is important.

To preview the main ideas and the order in which they will be covered.

To establish the tone of the presentation.

To include the questions you think your audience might have about your topic – questions you will answer during your presentation.

Body of the Presentation: Include the information you found during your research and investigation and organize it in a visually pleasing manner.

Break out each main idea you will use in the body of your presentation.

Show some type of division like levels of headers or titles

Separate groups of bullets for the presentation.

Use a header for the title of your presentation or subtitle of the section.

Then, proceed to break out the main ideas. State the main idea, state major subpoints in each main idea, and provide evidence for each subpoint.

Cite your evidence, quotes, and statistics within your presentation, and use in-text citations in APA format.

Summary and Conclusion: Summarizing is similar to paraphrasing but presents the gist of the material in fewer words than the original. An effective summary identifies the main ideas and major support points from the body of your outline or presentation. Minor details are left out. Summarize the benefits of the ideas and how they affect the thesis statement of the outline and main objective of the presentation.

References: Use the APA citation format. The illustrations should be included with your resources. APA tutorials are available in the Chamberlain University library.

At least 4 authoritative, outside scholarly sources are required from Week 5 outline. (Anonymous authors or web pages are not acceptable.)

Appropriate citations within the presentation are required on the last slide. Just copy and paste this from the last page of your outline – the references page. References should be in APA format.

Each resource should be entirely double spaced.

All entries must use hanging indents – the first line is flush left, and all the rest are indented.

All Chamberlain University policies are in effect including the plagiarism policy.

 

SPCH277N Interpersonal Communication

Week 7 Assignment

Reflection – Self-Disclosure and Social Media

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Textbook: Chapter 9, 10, 11

Link (Word doc): Week 7 Assignment TemplatePreview the document (Use this template to complete the assignment.)

Lesson

Introduction

Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook are undoubtedly dominating the world of online social networking, and the willingness of many users to self-disclose personal information ranging from moods to religious affiliation, relationship status, and personal contact information has led to an increase in privacy concerns. They offer convenient opportunities to stay in touch with friends, family, and coworkers, but are people using them responsibly? Some argue that there are fundamental differences between today's digital natives, whose private and public selves are intertwined through these technologies, and older generations (Kornblum, 2007).

Even though some colleges are offering seminars on managing privacy online, we still hear stories of self-disclosure gone wrong, such as the football player from the University of Texas who was kicked off the team for posting racist comments about the president or the student who was kicked out of his private, Christian college after a picture of him dressed in drag surfaced on Facebook. However, social media experts say these cases are rare and that most students are aware of who can see what they are posting and the potential consequences (Nealy, 2009). The issue of privacy management on Facebook is affecting parent-child relationships as well. As the website "Oh Crap. My Parents Joined Facebook." shows, the results can sometimes be embarrassing for the college student and the parent as they balance the dialectic between openness and closeness once the child has moved away.

Instructions

For this assignment, address the following:

How do you manage your privacy and self-disclosures online?

Do you think it is ethical for school officials or potential employers to make admission or hiring decisions based on what they can learn about you online? Why or why not?

Are you or would you be friends with a parent on Instagram, Snapchat, or Facebook? Why or why not? If you already are friends with a parent, did you change your posting habits or privacy settings once they joined? Why or why not?

 

SPCH277N Interpersonal Communication

Week 1 Course Project

Part 1 – Selecting a Communication Goal

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Textbook:Review this week's chapters

Lesson

Link (Word doc): Week 1 CCC Part 1 TemplatePreview the document (Use this template to complete the assignment.)

Introduction: Communication Change Challenge (CCC) Part 1

The Course Project is about improving your interpersonal communication skills. For this project, you will select a relevant interpersonal communication behavior to work on, attempt to change your behavior or pattern in the communication area you selected; and evaluate your progress and performance. Click on the following link for project examples:

Click on the following link for project examples:

Link: Project Examples

In Part 1 of the project you will select a communication goal or challenge that is related to interpersonal communication. You will work on this challenge for the duration of the session, so take some time to consider what is worthy of the time.

Note: Later in this course, you will be implementing new communication behaviors to rectify your communication challenge. It is critical that you interact with the person or people identified in Part 1E over the next 8 weeks.

Project Timeline

The following is a breakdown of what will be covered in each part of the project:

Part	Description	Due
1	Selecting a communication goal	Week 1
2	Describing communication patterns	Week 2 & 3
3	Establishing behavioral goals: What will it look like when I am doing it well?	Week 3
4	Analyzing the goal	Week 4
5	Covert Rehearsal: Practicing in your imagination	Week 5
6	Behavioral Rehearsal: Practicing your new behavior	Week 5
7	Actual Implementation: Performing your behavior in real-life situations	Week 7
8	Evaluating your progress	Week 8

 

Instructions

Take some time to think about challenges you have communicating with other people. These difficulties may involve strangers and acquaintances, friends, family members, or people at school or work. You may identify situations that involve specific individuals or general circumstances. Some examples include having trouble starting a conversation with someone you have never met, saying "no" when your sister asks to borrow money, or avoiding participation in meetings even when you have a question or contribution to the discussion.

Complete the steps in the following framework to identify a goal. Using the template for this week, detail each of the steps to explain how you chose this one communication problem area you intend to change.

1A. "I Can't" List

What are your "I can't" communication behaviors? Address verbal, nonverbal, listening, group communication aspects, and cultural differences. Click on and read the sample responses for this section first:

Link: Sample List

Link: Sample Description

Then, write and submit the following for this part:

Make a list of 4-8 challenges relating to your interpersonal communication that you feel require attention because you "can't" seem to do these well.

Describe each "I can't" behavior in detail. Provide examples to illustrate why you included each behavior in this list.

Write a 1-2 paragraph description/example for each behavior.

1B. "I Won't" List

What are your "I won't" communication behaviors? Now read your list of "I can't" communication behaviors aloud and consider each one carefully. Go back and read each behavior aloud again, but this time, substitute the word "won't" for "can't." ("I won't ask my friends for favors when I need their help.")

Be honest with yourself - were there behaviors on your list for which the word "won't" seemed more accurate than the word "can't?" Probably so, because there are very few communication behaviors that people are physically unable to do. "Won't" suggests that an element of choice is involved.

Write and submit the following for this part:

A list of any statements that you revised to say, "I won't"

Explanation for each why it is more accurate than the original "I can't" statement

A narrative describing why you feel each statement belong there instead of the original

Eliminate any "I won't" statements from consideration for this project.

1C. "Don't Know" List

Now go back to your remaining "I can't" communication behaviors and try substituting, "I don't know how to" for the words "I can't." Instead of saying, "I can't keep my staff focused on the discussion at hand during meetings," try saying "I don't know how to keep my staff focused on the discussion at hand during meetings."

It is important that you do not take the phrase "I don't know how to" too literally. You may find that you do know how to do some of the things on your list, but you don't know how to change from your existing poor habit to an improved communication behavior.

Link: Sample Response

Make a list of any statements you revised to say, "I don't know how to," and describe for each why this is more accurate than the original "I can't" statement. If there are any issues that you still feel belong on your "I can't" list, include a narrative to describe why.

The "I don't know how to" items on your list are the ones to consider for this project. These are the ones you can expect to change by taking this course. Select one of these problem areas to work on for the remainder of the course and for the purpose of this report. Describe your process for eliminating additional "I don't know how to" items to narrow your list to the one issue that you finally selected for the project.

Write and submit the following for this part:

Your list of issues that more accurately fit the "I don't know how to" category

A narrative describing why you feel they belong there instead

Describe why you left certain issues in the "I can't" category.

1D. Issue Selection

Write and submit the following for this part:

A narrative describing how you eliminated those that remained in the "I don't know how to" category to decide on the one issue you selected for your project

1E. Project Statement

Write and submit the following for this part:

A clear project statement of the communication behavior you will address with this project and the person or people with whom you will be communicating for this project

 

SPCH277N Interpersonal Communication

Week 2 Course Project

Part 2 – Describing Communication Patterns

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Textbook: Review all chapters

Lesson

Link (Word doc): Week 2 CCC Part 2 TemplatePreview the document (Use this template to complete the assignment.)

Introduction: Communication Change Challenge (CCC)

In Part 2 of the CCC, your goal is to take an in-depth look at the challenge you selected in Part 1E, which you will work to improve later in the course. It is not time to make any behavior changes yet.

Before you try to repair the problem identified in Part1E, you first need to understand it. Keeping a conversation log for 5-7 days of instances when the communication behavior is most apparent, and reviewing your log for patterns, will lay the foundation for identifying how you will rectify the communication behavior later in the project.

Note: Communication Change Challenge Part 2 is due this week and again next week along with Part 3. This part requires you to observe and analyze your communication patterns and observe the communication behaviors of others for Weeks 2 and 3. It is important that you get started now in order to ensure that you will have sufficient time to observe these patterns and behaviors as they occur. Record daily conversations during these two weeks. You will turn in your work for Part 2 each week. You will have 8 days this week, from Sunday to Sunday, to record your conversations.

Be sure to include specific detailed evidence from your observations that support your identification of a particular pattern for each section. Respond in narrative format for all Behavior Log Review and Evaluation sections.

 

2A. Behavior Log Listing

List your interpersonal communication goal from Part 1E.

Keep a dated conversation log of specific instances when you exhibited this behavior. Keep this log throughout Weeks 2 and 3.

Think about who, what, where, when, why, and how questions. Record the following:

To whom you spoke

What you talked about

Where you spoke

When you spoke – the time of the day

Why you had this conversation

The circumstances

How you spoke

Think about your feelings and your nonverbal communication. Did you listen well? Were you delighted, hurried, rude, polite, angry, frustrated, and so forth? Record other important or interesting conversations as well, even if they do not relate to your goal. You need at least 5 entries this week, but you may have many more.

Be sure to include an entry each day from the time you begin monitoring your communication behavior (conversations with others) until the time you conclude 2A. If you do not face your challenge on a particular day, say so. If you face other challenges, perhaps related challenges, on any of these days, include that as well. If you cannot document a conversation about your challenge that day, record another interesting or important conversation. You should have at least one daily entry for your conversation log, and you may have multiple conversations on the same day.

2B. Behavior Log Review and Evaluation – Most Effective

Review your log and document patterns of your most effective communication skills. Answer the following questions:

At what time and under what circumstances did I perform this behavior most effectively?

In what places?

With whom?

Under what conditions?

2C. Behavior Log Review and Evaluation – Least Effective

Review your log and document patterns of your most effective communication skills your least effective communication skills. Answer the following questions:

At what time and under what circumstances did I perform this behavior least effectively?

In what places?

With whom?

Under what conditions?

2D. Behavior Log Review and Evaluation – Recurring Communication

Review your log and document patterns of your other recurring communication behaviors. Answer the following question:

What other recurring communication behaviors did I exhibit when I did or did not perform this behavior?

2E. Behavior Log Review and Evaluation – Most Pressing Behavior

Review your log and document patterns of your most pressing behavioral pattern. Answer the following questions:

Is your greatest communication problem the same one you listed in your goal for CCC Part 1 E at the top of your page?

Do you need to modify your goal for this project? If so, state your new goal by revisiting Part 1E in Week 1.

Remember, you should identify these patterns from the log you have recorded over the entire week. When you make a statement about an observed pattern, be sure to document it with specific data/examples from your log. You may find at the end of logging your communication behavior that your challenge is not what you first thought it was. As a result, it is possible that you may ultimately modify CCC Part 1E at this point in the project.

 

SPCH277N Interpersonal Communication

Week 3 Course Project

Parts 2 & 3 – Establishing Behavioral Goals

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Link (Word doc): Week 3 CCC Parts 2 & 3 TemplatePreview the document (Use this template to complete the assignment.)

Introduction: Communication Change Challenge (CCC) Parts 2 and 3

This week, you were to continue your observation log (Part 2) from Week 2 Course Project. In Part 3, you are to observe the communication behavior of others who share your challenge and others who perform better in similar situations. Part 3 will help you to identify positive changes related to your challenge that you might make to your communication behavior. This will also help ensure that you don't fall into the trap of adopting alternative communication behaviors that do not improve your communication outcomes. For this assignment, make sure to observe and write about an individual and a group. You can choose which conversations will be for the positive models and negative models (e.g., positive – group and negative – individual OR positive – individual and negative – group).

Reminder: You are still observing; you should not be making changes to your communication behaviors yet.

Project Timeline

 

3A. Positive Models

Find positive models. Choose a person or several people who perform your interpersonal communication skill well. Observe and record specific aspects of their verbal and nonverbal behaviors and listening skills as they relate to your chosen issue.

What do they say?

How do they say it?

How did listening help you to understand the positive model?

What behaviors would be useful to incorporate into your own repertoire?

Provide 4 conversation model examples of effective application of this communication skill by others, i.e., positive modeling. Examples should be specific and based on your observations of others. Label each example: 3A1, 3A2, 3A3, and 3A4, and so forth if you have more.

3B. Negative Models

Find negative models. Identify people who perform verbal, nonverbal, and listening skills ineffectively. Watching these can be very useful, too.

What makes them ineffective verbally?

What makes them ineffective nonverbally?

How did listening make this a negative model?

What behavior do these people exhibit that you would like to avoid?

Provide 4 conversation model examples of ineffective application of this communication skill by others, i.e., negative modeling. Again, your examples should be specific and based on your observations of others. Label each example: 3B1, 3B2, 3B3, and 3B4, and so forth if you have more.

Reminder: Go back to Week 2 Part 2. Provide the new daily conversations, and submit Part 2 for this week as well.

 

SPCH277N Interpersonal Communication

Week 4 Course Project

Part 4 – Goal Analysis

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Link (Word doc): Week 4 CCC Part 4 TemplatePreview the document (Use this template to complete the assignment.)

Introduction: Communication Change Challenge (CCC) Part 4

In Part 4, you are setting a goal for this project based on the outcome that you want to achieve. Knowing what you want the end result of this project to look like will help you to identify and implement the behaviors necessary to achieve that goal. Second, you are identifying a set of communication behaviors (in 4E) that will lead you to your goal. Be specific and very detailed. What will you do or say that is different?

Reminder: It is not time to implement new behaviors yet. This week you are setting a goal and identifying the new communication behaviors that will help you to achieve that goal.

Project Timeline

 

Instructions

The interpersonal communication skill you selected earlier in this project is not yet stated in specific behavioral terms. For example, "I want to overcome shyness and meet new people," gives you little direction. Some questions you might ask yourself for that behavior goal include the following:

What new people?

Where will I meet them?

When will I meet them?

How many do I want to meet?

How often?

What will I say when I meet them?

What do I typically do in these situations that I want to avoid?

Provide a detailed outline of your movement through these 4 steps: 4A through 4D.

4A. Goal Reflection and Revision

Think about your original goal from CCC Part 1E. Review your Week 1 statements: "I can't" and "I won't." Read over your journal analysis of the CCC Part 2, and the positive models you want to emulate from CCC Part 3. Do you think your goal as written in Part 1E needs to be modified or changed? Address and submit the following:

Your original goal from CCC Part 1E.

What do you think your updated goal for this project should be now? It may be the same, slightly modified, or totally different from Part 1E.

Why is your goal the same as CCC Part 1E, or why did it need to be changed?

Link: Example

4B. Behaviors Brainstorm

Jot down some communication behaviors that you associate with your goal. To arrive at this list, address and submit the following:

What must a person be saying and/or doing for me to say that he/she has achieved the goal?

Given a room full of people, what is the basis on which I will separate them into two classes: those who have achieved the goal and those who have not?

How will I recognize and measure goal achievement when I see it?

4C. Behavior Description

Describe each behavior. Do this in a statement that identifies the manner (or extent) of the behavior that is required to achieve the goal.

Link: Examples

Repeat this statement for each behavior on your list. This step helps you to establish the criteria by which you will measure your success in reaching the goal.

State your goal in specific behavioral terms, considering these example questions again.

What new people?

Where will I meet them?

When will I meet them?

How many do I want to meet?

How often?

What will I say when I meet them?

What do I typically do in these situations that I want to avoid?

Use the following format:

4C1. Behavior 1: In order for me to achieve my goal of ..., I will . . .

4C2. Behavior 1: In order for me to achieve my goal of ..., I will . . .

4C3. Behavior 1: In order for me to achieve my goal of ..., I will . . .

Do this at least 3 times for each behavior.

4D. Description Revision

Now, look at your behaviors again. Consider this: If someone else performed the behaviors you have outlined, would you be willing to say that person has achieved your goal? Can you answer "yes" to this question for each of the behaviors you listed above in Part 4C? If not, modify the descriptions of the behaviors until you can say, "YES." The answer to Part 4D is YES or NO.

Do this over until you can state YES as the answer for each of the behaviors you have listed in 4C above.

In your description, explain why these behaviors would exemplify the attainment of your goal.

4E. Final Behavior List

Conclude with a clearly identified statement of the communication behaviors you intend to implement to achieve your interpersonal communication goal. Be specific.

Revisit these questions to help finalize the list:

What new people?

Where will I meet them?

When will I meet them?

How many do I want to meet?

How often?

What will I say when I meet them?

What do I typically do in these situations that I want to avoid?

Copy your goal from 4A and then add all your specific behaviors from 4C. Conclude with a clearly identified statement of the communication behaviors you intend to implement to achieve your interpersonal communication goal. Be specific and detailed.

Writing Requirements (APA format)