Assignments

COMM 1100 ASSIGNMENTS NOTE: Assignments and due dates are subject to change.

Summer Session 2013 Assignments

I. Written Assignment
All written assignments must be turned in in class and in person on the date specified in the course schedule, unless the due date is changed by professor. The papers should be printed using normal fonts, font sizes, and margins. Lines should be double-spaced. Sources used should be cited in a bibliography using APA or MLA style. No title page or separate bibliography page is necessary. For more on citing sources, see "Some Helpful Links" at the faculty web page. Remember that the length requirement is just the minimum; papers that don't meet this minimum will not receive a passing grade. Papers will be graded based on thoughtfulness, creativity, and following directions in the assignment.

In a research paper of 5-7 pages, describe and analyze an example of communication in the natural (that is, non-human) world. For example, you can choose how a particular animal communicates, like the songs of whales, the howls of wolves, the colors and patterns of poisonous animals, or the luminescence of fireflies and certain jellyfish. Or, you can look at plant communication, or communication, as in flowering, releasing chemicals, and luring insects to be consumed. More subtle examples include the codes of RNA and DNA, or how the central nervous system operates as a communication system.

There are two common ways to approach this assignment. You may choose a single organism and discuss several ways that organism communicates, or you may choose a specific form of communication and discuss how several animals and/or plants use that form of communication. For example, you could discuss two or three ways that dolphins, whales, wolves, ants, or bees communicate, or you could discuss how pheromones communicate and illustrate that using two or three different animals. You could choose a particular type of animal behavior, such as mating dances, play, coordinated hunting, or displays of dominance/submission. Try to choose a topic that is unique and interesting; creative topic choices will be rewarded.

As you describe and analyze your chosen example of communication, be sure to use our definition of communication. What is the purpose (either intended or evolutionary) of the communication? What medium or media are used? What sentient being is being influenced? How, and why?

II. Speech Assignment

Plan and deliver an informative speech of 5-7 minutes on a topic related to communication. There will be a 1 point penalty for every 10 seconds or part of 10 seconds under the minimum, and a 1 point deduction for every 20 seconds or part of 20 seconds over the maximum time. At 7 minutes you will be warned that you only have one minute remaining, and at 8 minutes, you will be stopped whether you have concluded or not.

The speeches will be given in class beginning TBA. You are responsible for being prepared to speak on the first day speeches are due.

The speech should include a minimum of three sources of information that are cited within the speech. Of course, you may cite more than three sources within the speech, and your bibliography should include more than three sources. The sources you mention within the speech cannot all be Internet sources; you must include at least one non-Internet source (book, magazine, newspaper, interview, survey, etc…) Dictionaries, your textbook, and Wikipedia are not acceptable sources.

You will hand in an outline and a bibliography which will be graded along with your classroom presentation. On the outline, citations of sources should be highlighted.

The outline should follow a consistent format and should contain all of your main points organized in a logical fashion. It should include separate sections for your introduction and conclusion. There should be at least three levels of organization, and the outline should follow the "Preparation Outline" format on pp. 397-400 of your textbook. (You can write your outline using full sentences or key words and phrases.) You may use a different outline, or index cards, or nothing at all when you deliver your speech; the outline you turn in should be complete and detailed, including all main points, subpoints, and supporting materials. (A typical outline is 2-3 pages long.)

At least two presentation aids should be included in your speech.

NOTE: Without a detailed outline, you will not be permitted to present your speech, resulting in a grade of 0.

The bibliography should follow APA or MLA guidelines, which can be found online, under "Links" on my faculty web page, or in the library.

This speech is worth 200 points, or 20% of your final grade. You will be graded using the major speech evaluation sheet, which consists of 20 blanks worth 10 points each. The criteria are broken down into the following categories:

1.) Content—how effectively are your main ideas supported with statistics, examples, stories, and the like? How fully are the ideas developed? Are the supporting materials adequately explained?

2.) Organization—how clearly and logically is the information structured? Are transitions used effectively? Are the relationships between ideas clear and logical? What type(s) of organization is/are used? Is there a clear introduction? Is there an effective conclusion?

3.) Delivery—how well do you use your voice and body to communicate? Do the volume, pitch, and rate of your voice vary effectively? Do you use your hands, posture, eyes, and face effectively?

4.) Outline/Bibliography

III. Group Assignment

Plan and deliver a group presentation of 15-20 minutes on a topic related to communication in the world of 1.) religion, 2.) science, 3.) politics, or 4.) art. In addition to your bibliography, you will hand in a brief one-page outline/overview giving the basic structure of the presentation, and substantial presentation aids are required.

This presentation will be graded holistically. The criteria for grading will be discussed in class.

The worlds of religion, science, politics, and art all involve their own unique communication systems. Each group will research one of these “worlds” and design a presentation on some aspect of communication in that world.

The presentations will be given the week of TBA.

As an example, think of the world of religion. In what ways is a religion a communication system? Every religion passes down information from generation to generation—a creation myth, a set of heroes (saints, martyrs, etc.), a founder or founders. Every religion also has a hierarchy, an organizational structure that transmits information and orders from “on high” to mid-level managers and then on down to the mass of believers. Finally, every religion has sacred texts that contain the essence of the religion: its history, laws, values, beliefs, heroes, legends, and the like. So, how does a religion (or religion in general) use communication to reach its believers? What are its sacred texts; what are its ceremonies/rituals; how does it use clothing, storytelling, sculpture, art, poetry, and rhetoric to pass down its beliefs to future generations? A group might choose to analyze a single religion, or compare two religions, or look at a single shared aspect of several religions. For example, what do various religions communicate about life after death? Or, how do various religions use architecture to communicate? How does God communicate to humans, and humans to God?

Similar analyses can be applied to science, politics, and art. For example, in the world of science, various organizations like the American Medical Association have been created to gather and manage information generated as scientists around the world conduct experiments, design surveys, test hypotheses, and the like. These organizations hold conventions, publish journals, and regulate the flow of information among members. In terms of culture, doctors wear clothing that distinguishes them from other workers in their field and are given great prestige and respect by the public. The medical profession even has its own vocabulary and symbols, its own culture. A group might choose to analyze a single scientific field, like medicine, climatology, or anthropology. Or, it might analyze a single aspect, like research journals, across several sciences. Or, it might analyze a scientific topic like astronomy across a series of thinkers, like Aristotle, Ptolemy, Kepler, Copernicus, and Galileo. An historical topic would also be appropriate, such as the Manhattan Project (which raced with the Nazis to produce the atomic bomb.) Or, a group could apply the scientific method to an abstract concept; for example, in biological terms, what exactly is love?

In politics, parties like the Democratic and Republican Parties have been established that manage campaigns, publish information, and exert influence over the processes of electing officials and proposing and passing laws. In terms of culture, these parties hold conventions in which their beliefs are highlighted, their candidates promoted, and their central beliefs and values debated. They have their own symbols (the donkey and elephant,) their own heroes, and their own histories and narratives. A group might choose to analyze communication within a single party, or some aspect (like conventions) across several parties. Or, it might look at an influential ideology, like communism, across history. Historical topics include the Lincoln-Douglas debates, pre-Revolutionary war pamphleteers, or propaganda campaigns from any war. The works of Karl Marx, and how they created a political movement that controlled nearly half the globe, is a fascinating topic.

In art, companies like Capitol Records select artists and promote the artists to the public; publications like Rolling Stone evaluate and track the work of artists within specific genres; and organizations like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame collect and present artists and works deemed worthy of commemoration. Central to the world of art is the communication of information—between artist and audience, critic and fan, producer and distributor. Music, theatre, cinema, sculpture, painting—each kind of art generates a communication system that binds its artists and audience into a cohesive whole. A group might choose to analyze communication within one "art world," like fashion or popular music; or, one aspect of art, like aesthetic judgment or criticism, across several arts. It might look at a single artist, like Picasso or the Beatles, or at a genre of art, like impressionism or rock music. A single work of art, like the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel; or, the city of Rome taken as a work of art, could be an interesting topic.

Remember that there are at least two parts to this assignment. First, each group will research communication in one of these worlds and learn as much as it can. This will require some logical way of focusing on an aspect of that world and breaking that aspect into clear, logical categories. Groups that focus precisely and break their world into clear and logical categories will be rewarded with higher grades. Second, each group will come up with a way to present their findings to the class. Groups that find creative and interesting ways to explain communication in their respective “world” will be rewarded with higher grades. Creative formats---including elements like skits, demonstrations, debates, and the like---will be rewarded with higher grades.

I. Written Assignments

A. Written Assignment #1--An Ethical Dilemma Involving Communication
DUE Jan. 16, 17

Think of an ethical dilemma, either real or imagined, involving communication. In an essay of 500+ words, describe the dilemma, then state what you think is the right thing to do, and most importantly, why that's the right thing to do. You can choose a dilemma from your life, from the life of someone you know, from the life of a historical figure, or from a fictional character.

For example, imagine you had a 5-year-old child who was diagnosed with a terminal disease. Should you tell the child? Why or why not? What about a 10-year old, or a 15-year old? Or, imagine that you own a business that is having serious financial difficulties. Should you inform your employees of the difficulties, which might cause many of them to quit? Should you keep the difficulties secret? Why or why not? Or, imagine you're a newspaper editor (or magazine editor or broadcaster.) You learn that the police are investigating an alleged rape. Should you publish the name of the alleged victim? Of the alleged rapist? Why or why not?

For this assignment, try to be creative and thoughtful. You can use a real dilemma from your own life or from history, or a fictional dilemma from books or movies or from your own imagination. This assignment is worth 20 points.

B. Written Assignment #2--An Example of Non-Verbal Communication
DUE Jan. 30, 31

Choose an example of non-verbal communication and do some research on it. Examples include body language, gestures, facial expressions, eye contact and other eye behaviors, fashion, visual arts, plastic arts, architecture, jewelry, body art, spatial relations, time relations, movement, touch, vocal variety/paralanguage, emoticons, and the like. Related areas of study include kinesics, oculesics, proxemics, haptics, and chronemics. Unique topics will be rewarded with higher grades.

In an essay of 750+ words, describe the non-verbal communication and how it communicates. Be sure to give plenty of examples to flesh out your ideas. Some types of non-verbal communication are universal; that is, they apply to all people, everywhere (an example would be the primary facial expressions that are cross-cultural.) Others are specific to one culture or sub-culture, or to one historical period. Be sure to ground your type of non-verbal communication in its historical and cultural context; for example, many hand gestures have different meanings to different cultures.

For this assignment, you should concentrate on focus and form. First, you need to focus on a single type of non-verbal communication; don't try to cover several at once! Fully develop your description of the type and its meaning in as much depth as you can. Second, form your ideas into clear logical categories, each of which is developed in its own paragraph; in other words, organize your topic with a clear structure. For example, there are several kinds of body art, including tattoos, piercings, and scarification, which would make good logical categories. The primary facial expressions, or a specific set of hand gestures, would also make good logical categories. Try to come up with your own logical categories that show your understanding of the type of non-verbal communication you've chosen, as well as an understanding of communication in general. Use as many terms and concepts from the course as you can.

Include a bibliography with at least two sources using APA or MLA format. NOTE: Your textbook isn't an acceptable research source, nor is a dictionary. This assignment is worth 30 points.

C. Written Assignment #3--Common Logical Fallacies
DUE April 8, 9

Choose two to four logical fallacies that aren't described in your textbook. In an essay of 750+ words, describe the logical fallacies, and then for each one, give one or two original examples that illustrate the fallacy. You can find plenty of logical fallacies at the faculty web page under "Some Helpful Links", or you can do your own research online or in the library.

The most important part of this assignment is the examples you come up with. Don't simply use examples from your research, from lecture, or from the textbook. Develop an understanding of the fallacies you choose, then think of your own examples to demonstrate that understanding. This essay should be relatively easy to organize. For example, each fallacy could be described in one paragraph, then the example(s) could make up a separate paragraph or two.

Include a bibliography with at least two sources. This assignment is worth 30 points.

D. Written Assignment #4--Analysis of a Speech from americanrhetoric.com.
DUE April 17, 18

Choose an appropriate speech from www.americanrhetoric.com--it should be of a sufficient length to write a detailed analysis, for example--and view/listen to it several times, reading the text if available, and paying close attention to elements we've covered in class. For example, listen for the aural aspects of delivery (volume, tone, rate, pitch, inflection, enunciation, pronunciation, vocal variety) and/or watch the visual aspects of delivery (posture, gesture, eye contact, facial expression, appearance). Consider the purpose of the speech--what is the speaker trying to achieve? Consider the audience of the speech--who is the speaker trying to reach? What demographic characteristics describe the audience? What psychographic characteristics? Consider the focus of the speech--what is the topic? What kinds of supporting material are used? Consider the form or organization of the speech--does it have a clear introduction and conclusion? Are there clear and logical main points, or main ideas, that are covered? Does the speaker transition effectively between the parts? Consider the flair, or animation, of both the speech's content and its delivery. Are there interesting stories, quotations, facts, and examples? Is it delivered with energy, spirit, animation? Consider the content of the speech as well--are there enough facts, statistics, and the like to fully develop the topic? Consider the use of language--does the speech sound like it was written for the ear, not the eye? What kinds of word choices does the speaker make? What kinds of sentence structures? Do the words and sentences flow smoothly? Are rhetorical devices like analogies, alliteration, or parallelism used? If the speech is informative, does it contain clear descriptions and explanations? Is the information expressed in a memorable way? If the speech is persuasive, how good is the evidence used? How convincing is the reasoning? Can you find any logical fallacies?

Write a 1200+ word critical analysis of the speech using the terms and concepts from the course, including those highlighted above. A critical analysis does two things: first, it analyzes the speech, its parts, its organization, its content, and the like; second, it judges or evaluates the effectiveness of those parts, of the organization, the language, the flair, and the like. You're explaining first how the speech works to achieve its purpose, and second, how well it works to achieve that purpose.

You should do some research on the speech to help you understand its historical context and to see what others have said or written about it.

Include a bibliography with at least three sources, one of which will be americanrhetoric.com. This assignment is worth 70 points.

II. Speech Assignments

NOTE: For Speech #1, limited presentation aids that are crucial to a speech may be used with prior permission of professor.
For Speech #2, at least one presentation aid must be used.
For Speech #3, at least two presentation aids must be used.
For the Group Presentation, substantial presentation aids are required.

A. Speech #1: A Great Communicator 100 points
DUE Feb. 12, 13

In a speech of 3-4 minutes, tell the class about someone, or something, or some place you consider to be a great communicator. This could be a famous artist, writer, actor, athlete, politician, journalist, dancer, architect, evangelist, or even a terrorist or dictator. What makes them an effective communicator? How do they reach people, and with what influence? Some examples of topics from past classes include: Helen Keller, Henry David Thoreau, Ronald Reagan, Adolph Hitler, Shakira, and Bob Dylan. Or, you could choose a thing, like an electric guitar, the Olympic Rings, or the Stanley Cup, and explain why this thing is a great communicator. In what way or ways is it expressive? What does it stand for? Or, you could choose a place, like Ground Zero in NYC, or the memorial at Stone Mountain, or the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. What does the place mean to people? How is that meaning expressed? Does it mean different things to different people?

This speech should include a clear introduction and conclusion, as well as 2 or 3 clear main points, all connected with transitions such as "first," "second," "third," "next," "last," "in addition," "in conclusion," and the like. You will hand in an outline that lists the main points and supporting details using the "Preparation Outline" format on pp. 397-400 of your textbook; and a bibliography that includes at least two sources cited using MLA or APA style (see "Some Helpful Links" at my faculty web page for details on these styles.) These two sources must be clearly cited out loud, with appropriate detail, in your speech.

This speech is worth 100 points--it will be graded using the first evaluation criteria sheet.

B. Speech #2--Communication in the Natural World 100 points
DUE March 4, 5

In a speech of 3-4 minutes, tell the class about a form of communication in the natural world. Include an outline and bibliography---without both, the speech will receive a 0. The speech could be any kind of animal communication, like the songs of whales, the howls of wolves, the colors and patterns of poisonous animals, or the luminescence of fireflies and certain jellyfish. It could be (what you believe to be) plant communication, or communication in the codes of RNA and DNA, or some aspect of the central nervous system. You may choose a single organism and discuss several ways that organism communicates, or you may choose a specific form of communication and discuss how several animals and/or plants use that form of communication. For example, you could discuss two or three ways that dolphins, whales, wolves, ants, or bees communicate, or you could discuss how pheromones communicate and illustrate that using two or three animals. You could choose a particular type of animal behavior, such as mating dances, play, coordinated hunting, or displays of dominance/submission. Try to choose a topic that is unique and interesting; creative topic choices will be rewarded.

This speech should include a clear introduction and conclusion, as well as 2 or 3 clear main points divided into sub points, all connected by clear transitions. You will hand in an outline that includes the intro, the main points, sub points, the supporting materials, and the conclusion, using the "Preparation Outline" format on pp. 397-400 of your textbook; and a bibliography that includes at least three credible sources cited using MLA or APA style (see "Some Helpful Links" at my faculty web page for details on these styles.) These three sources must be clearly cited out loud, with appropriate detail, in your speech.

At least one presentation aid should be included in your speech.

There will be a 1 point penalty for every 10 seconds or part of 10 seconds under the minimum time limit, and a 1 point deduction for every 20 seconds or part of 20 seconds over the maximum time. At 4 minutes, you will be given a signal to wrap your speech up; at 5 minutes, you will be stopped whether you have concluded or not.

You are responsible for being prepared to speak on the first day of speeches. Students who are called on but are not prepared to speak, or who don't have the required outline when called on, but still give their speech on a subsequent speaking day, will incur a two-letter-grade penalty.

This speech is worth 100 points--it will be graded using the second evaluation criteria sheet.

He approaches the study of mankind with great advantage who is accustomed to the study of nature. --Henry David Thoreau

C. Speech #3---Informative Speech 200 points
DUE March 25, 26

Plan and deliver an informative speech of 6-8 minutes on a topic related to communication. There will be a 1 point penalty for every 10 seconds or part of 10 seconds under the minimum, and a 1 point deduction for every 20 seconds or part of 20 seconds over the maximum time. At 8 minutes you will be warned that you only have one minute remaining, and at 9 minutes, you will be stopped whether you have concluded or not.

The speeches will be given in class beginning TBA. You are responsible for being prepared to speak on the first day speeches are due. Students who are called on but are not prepared to speak, or who don't have the required outline when called on, but still speak during a subsequent speaking day, will incur a two-letter-grade penalty.

The speech should include a minimum of five sources of information that are cited within the speech. Of course, you may cite more than five sources within the speech, and your bibliography should include more than five sources. The five sources you mention within the speech cannot all be Internet sources; you must include at least two non-Internet sources (book, magazine, newspaper, interview, survey, etc…) Dictionaries, your textbook, and Wikipedia are not acceptable sources.