Category: Communications and Media

Assignment Requirements You will write one 3-5 page (excluding title page and reference pages) paper that demonstrates your comprehension and application of important communication concepts in analyzing communication phenomena. Your paper will be based on an integration of your observation/experience of communication, your engagement with our textbook, your participation in our discussion forums, and your library research. The purpose of this assignment is to introduce the practice of examining a topic in depth and using research resources. You are not expected to make any fresh discoveries or solve any long-standing problems in communication. You only need to look into a topic that you find interesting, and report on what you learned about it. Based on your research, write a short paper about an issue, theory, or concept in communication studies. You must pick a topic from the list below. Paper Content  Part I: Conceptual discussion-Discuss the chosen topic in-depth by o Providing definition o Elaborating on the different aspects or implications of the topic and, o Illustrating the topic with specific factual or hypothetical examples (or personal examples, if appropriate).  Part II: Application and/or reflection: Discuss how an understanding of this topic could help or has helped someone (or you) communicate more effectively, or live more happily or successfully, in social or professional

The Listening Process reading states that barriers to effective listening are present at every stage of the listening process. After completing the reading, respond to the following prompts:
Describe two instances when you did not listen. 
Which listening barriers did you encounter in those two instances? 
Based on the reading, what should you have done instead to be a better listener?
Remember to cite the video and your text using either MLA or APA style. 

Social media has become a common mode of communication for businesses, professional communicators, and interpersonal communication. In this discussion, you will consider the impact of social media and online communication in our society.
For your initial posting answer the questions below. Explain your viewpoints and give supporting examples, where possible, that are reflected in today’s society and your personal experiences, as well as using supporting resources.
Do you think social media and online communication have positively and/or negatively impacted social skills and communication in our society domestically and globally? Why or why not?
What specific challenges and barriers in communication, if any, do you think social media reinforces in our society and on a global level?
Have you found yourself relying predominantly on online communication (e.g., texting, instant messaging) in your personal and professional circles, instead of in-person meetings or phone conversations? Has anything been lost or gained from this transition?
Are we losing the art of communication? Is the language of textease and tweeting adversely affecting students’ ability to write effectively and efficiently in their academic coursework and beyond in their careers?
Tip: Copy and paste each question (bullet group) and type your responses underneath.
In your replies to at least two peers, use these questions to guide your responses:
What is your reaction to your peers’ viewpoints about the impact of social media and online communication in our society? Do you agree or disagree and why?
Have you had similar experiences to your peers in their use of social media for personal and professional communication? Has anyone (e.g., parent/grandparent, professor, employer, friend, or significant other) ever complained to you or given you feedback about the lack of quality in such communications?
*Please reply to each peer individually as if you are speaking to them directly.

Identify three specific personal examples of times when choice of language led to negative results in your own interpersonal relationships or those around you that you can speak easily about. 
First, describe what language means to you overall. Then, for each situation, cite the person(s) involved, the place of the occurrence, the situation, and the language used. Then identify the type of language (sexist, racist, powerful or powerless, ambiguous, abstract, euphemism, relative words, evaluative language, weasel words, equivocation, allness statements, etc.) and note the results of each incident. 
How did language play a pivotal role in these experiences? Each example should illustrate a different issue with language. Your journal-style response should be approximately one page.

In this exercise, you will analyze the text and images in at least 5 ads/commercials for reflections of stereotypes. You may focus on gender stereotypes or cultural stereotypes. (Gender stereotypes will be used as the example in this description.)
Begin by collecting at least five print or Internet-based ads/commercials to analyze. Each ad must contain some text and at least one image, and the ads should be for different products or services. 
After collecting the ads, analyze each ad separately to determine, and then discuss, the extent to which it: (1) reflects a gender stereotype, (2) counters a gender stereotype, and/or, (3) avoids reflecting a gender stereotype. Keep several things in mind as you do your analysis. First, gender stereotypes involve both women and men and can involve the types of job each sex should have as well as the types of activities each sex should enjoy or the types of clothing each sex should wear, among other things. Second, a given ad might reflect one stereotype while countering another. For example, an image might depict a mother bringing her infant to the doctor (reflecting the stereotypical notion of women as caregivers) but the nurse at the doctor’s office might be a male (countering the stereotypical notion that nurses are always women). Third, some ads might neither reflect nor counter any gender stereotypes, so although you are encouraged to critique the ads carefully, you should also be cautious not to “see” evidence for or against stereotypes where none is present.
Discuss how people’s perception errors (and name those you consider) may influence them to “jump to a conclusion” about a phrase or image in the ad.
Write up your analyses in a journal that is a minimum of one page of content (not including the ads) . Be sure to include pictures or links to your ads/commercials.

Final Project Due on June 29.
A 3,500-word research paper
-Your names and topics are included on the title page
-Has at least 20 sources
-References are in APA
-Paper length: 3,500 Words (not including reference)
-Paper structure
Title page
Abstracts
Introduction
Literature Review
Arguments, Findings, & Results
Conclusion

Instructions
Revisit the self-assessment you completed at the start of the course and reflect on the progress you have made with regard to your communication competence and personal communication goals. Develop your self-assessment by reevaluating your skill in The 7 Competencies of Effective Communication by Engleberg and Wynn (2015) by circling or highlighting your current level. For each narrative section in Part 1, simply state your growth, such as “I moved from average to good”; you do not need to fully reflect on each category again. Part B is the area that requires the most attention for this revisited assignment. Be sure to provide a detailed summary of your growth, drawing from what you learned in tracking your goal progress. Also, be sure to state each of your initial goals and share your outcome or progress. As you reflect, be sure to connect what you have learned from the course to your progress to demonstrate your learning.
Website for The 7 competencies- https://files.galencollege.edu/media/ADN/COM2105/7KeyCompetenciesofEffectiveCommunication/index.html#/lessons/Wr4rhvH3xjosfp91-8NeT5a9eeOn3Ec1
Required Format and Process
Complete the assessment table. Open this document with ReadSpeaker docReader by writing it in sentence format; submit it to your faculty by the due date. Be sure to address all rubric criteria. 
The assesment table will be attached on here 

Please see the uploaded file before attempting questions. Please follow instructions as directed by file uploaded
Answer these questions as you prep your Story of Now
What specific action are you asking us to take? How does it help solve the problem you’ve addressed?
How does this action reflect a commitment to shared values?
What will the world look like if we take action?
Please note (this section is about telling the audience what you want them to do, give specific action steps).

Any sources cited must have been published within the last five years, unless citing
classic, philosophical, literary or historical and theoretical information or research.
Acceptable sources include course materials, and scholarly peer-reviewed sources, and
the Bible. Two of the sources will be books we used in this class, and two must be
from scholarly peer-reviewed journal articles.
Fisher, R., Ury, W., & Patton, B. (2011). Getting to yes: negotiating agreement without giving in. Penguin Books. ISBN: 9780143118756.
Jones, R. D. (2012). Pursuing peace: a Christian guide to handling our conflicts. Crossway. ISBN: 9781433530135.
Lederach, J. P. (2003). The little book of conflict transformation clear articulation of the guiding principles by a pioneer in the field. Good Books.

You are the communication director at Acme Widget Co. and oversee a small team of direct reports. The CEO has recently brought three items to your attention that he would like you to address.
Part I: Communication Plan
The first item impacts external communication strategies. A new bicycle model that was part of a prerelease trial recently received many poor reviews on a prominent online marketplace website. One of the most-read reviews was from a customer with a high user following. The review read:
“I’m an avid biker, and I was all for the automatic downhill braking feature on this bike, but ten minutes into my first ride, the automatic braking kicked in while I was still on a flat stretch and threw me over the handlebars directly into the road. Thankfully, there was no traffic and I walked away with just some nasty scrapes and bruises. This could have been a lot worse if I were riding on a busy road. If you’re riding in any kind of high-traffic area or intend to go faster than 5 mph, do NOT get this bike!”
There was a problem with the prerelease braking sensor, but it was fixed before it was released to the general public. You need to explain to your team how you can work together to rebrand the product and use multiple mass-media channels to reach various audiences to increase sales, despite the poor reviews.
The second item impacts internal communication. It has come to the CEO’s attention that employees aren’t reading the monthly newsletter, a lengthy but helpful print publication that addresses everything from birthday shoutouts to organizational announcements. Recently, employees have been chatting about an upcoming reorganization of staff and getting anxious, but aren’t reading the newsletter that has accurate information. It is important for employees to read the publication so they can get accurate information at appropriate times, avoid spreading misinformation and speculation, and keep everyone informed. You’ll need to create a few key strategies that can help increase the efficacy of information sharing with employees.
Part II: Hiring Request
The third item impacts the size of your team. The CEO informed you that your department has been given a substantial budget increase in order to hire for three new communication positions that will help the company address current and emerging trends in the field. While the funds have been allocated for this purpose, you will need to explain the need for these new roles.
Prompt
Part I: Communication Plan
Use the Communication Plan Template to complete the criteria below. As you complete these sections of the communication plan, make sure to use Module Four resources to guide you, and cite any sources you use in APA format.
Specifically, you must address the following rubric criteria:
Business Problem Identification:
Define each problem the business faces in the Part I scenario.
Identify and explain the communication theory or theories that most appropriately explain the root cause of the problems.
Potential Solutions:
Draft a few possible solutions to each business problem in the Part I scenario. (These will be refined at a later date, and bullet points are okay to use in this section of this milestone.)
Theory:
Explain how you are considering communication theory as you brainstorm and evaluate potential solutions.
Describe specific theories that can help you understand the business problem.
Explain how a potential solution could be supported by a specific theory.
Explain how a potential solution can be ruled out as ineffective based on a specific theory.
Part II: Hiring Request
Fill in the Trends section of the Hiring Request Form to explain the current state and emerging future of communication. As you complete this section, make sure to use Module Five resources to guide you, and cite any sources you use in APA format.
Specifically, you must address the following rubric criteria:
Professional and Social Trends:
Describe current professional and social trends that are impacting the field of communication.
Explain how each trend you identify is improving or impeding communications, making sure to support your analysis with supporting resources.
New and Emerging Technologies:
Describe new and emerging technologies that are impacting the field of communication.
Explain how each is improving or impeding communication.
What to Submit
To complete this project, you must submit the following:
Template: Communication Plan Template Word Document
This template will guide you as you complete your communication plan. For this milestone, you only need to complete the sections Business Problem Identification and Supporting Theories. You will also need to draft a few ideas for solutions to each business problem in the Proposed External Communication Solution and Proposed Internal Communication Solution sections.
Template: Hiring Request Form Word Document
Use this Hiring Request Form to explain why your department requires new positions. For this milestone, you only need to complete the Trends section. It is suggested that you continue to add to your Milestone One submission, where you have already filled in the Historical Context section of this template.