SPCH277N 2021 March Assignments Latest (Full)

SPCH277N Interpersonal Communication

Week 1 Assignment  

Part 1 – Selecting a Communication Goal

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Textbook: Chapter 1, 2, 3, 5

Lesson

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

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

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 and improve (Week 1), attempt to change your behavior or pattern in the communication area you selected (Week 2), and evaluate your progress and performance (Week 3).

Click on the following link for project examples:

Link: Project Examples

 This week, you will select a communication goal or challenge that is related to interpersonal communication. You will work on this challenge for the following two weeks with the goal of improving your communication pattern in this area.

Project Timeline

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

Due

Description

Week 1 Selecting a communication goal

Week 2 Describing communication pattern, analyzing goal and developing a plan

Week 3 Implementation of the plan and evaluation of your progres

Instructions

Part 1

Take some time to think about challenges you have communicating with other people. These difficulties may involve strangers or acquaintances; consider communication aspects with 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. Then, write and submit the following for this part:

Make a list of six challenges relating to your interpersonal communication that you feel require attention because you “can’t” seem to do these well.

Under each “I can’t” identified, describe the behavior in detail for the first paragraph. In the second paragraph, provide an example that illustrates that behavior

Write a two paragraph response (description then example) for each “I can’t” behavior.

Link: Sample List

Link: Sample Description

1B. “I Won’t” List

What are your “I won’t” communication behaviors? Once you have 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:

Provide a list of any statements that you were honestly able to revise to say, “I won’t.”

Provide an explanation for each regarding why it is more accurate to say “I won’t” rather than the original “I can’t” statement.

Eliminate any “I won’t” statements from consideration for this project because the “I won’t” aspect indicates your unwillingness to actually make a change.

1C. “I 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. This section needs to be at least a paragraph long.

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

Link: Sample Project Statement

Part 2

In order to gain further understanding regarding the communication challenge you have selected, you will need to do some research to find an outside scholarly source (in addition to the textbook) that addresses the challenge you face. Once you have located that source and read it, summarize the source and share how the information within the source has provided insight into your challenge and strategies that can help that challenge.

Continue following the template as you complete Part 2.

Begin with the title of the source.

The first paragraph beneath the title will summarize the source.

The second paragraph will explain how the information in your chosen source has provided guidance or insight.

End with a full APA citation on the references page

You will be submitting Part 1 and Part 2 as one document that begins with a title page and ends with a References page.

Writing Requirements (APA format)

 

 

 

 

SPCH277N Interpersonal Communication

Week 2 Assignment  

Part 2 – Describing Communication Patterns

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Textbook: Review chapter(s) specific to your goal

Introduction: Communication Change Challenge (CCC)

In Week 2 of your CCC, you will be laying the foundation and putting together a plan for the change you will implement in Week 3. The challenge you identified and had approved in 1E during Week 1 is the challenge that will be your focus for Weeks 2 and 3.

Note: The headings identified below and detailed on your template must be used to keep your submission organized.

Project Timeline

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

Due

Description

Week 1 Selecting a communication goal  and conducting research

Week 2 Describing communication pattern, analyzing goal, and developing a plan

Week 3 Implementation of the plan and evaluation of your progress

Instructions

Before you try to repair the communication challenge identified in Week 1 Part 1E, you first need to identify a pattern and understand where the breakdown takes place. Consider your encounters over the last few weeks. When did this challenge occur? If you have selected as your challenge “keeping a calm voice when instructing my children,” then identify when you did not keep a calm voice. Next, identify your challenge as a behavioral pattern. Here is this challenge stated above as a behavioral goal, “I want to keep a calm voice when instructing my children.” Now it is your turn, write your behavioral challenge as a behavioral goal that begins with the phrase, “I want to….”

Next, put yourself in someone else’s shoes. . . someone who has the same communication challenge you identified in 1E in Week 1. Answer the following questions as if you were watching the challenge take place.

What did that person do to escalate the communication challenge?

What could that person have done to de-escalate the communication challenge?

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

Part 1: Identifying Patterns (2 pages)

Sometimes, stepping outside yourself and viewing the communication challenge objectively can help you to see trigger points and strategies more clearly. Now that you have had an opportunity to do that, brainstorm a minimum of three strategic steps that could be taken based on what you have learned thus far from the textbook. You will need to search through the textbook for specifics, and those specifics will need to be cited within this section using APA in-text citations.

Strategic Step 1:

Strategic Step 2:

Strategic Step 3:

Based on the three strategic steps you have identified above, now it is time to write out some declarative statements. Following each declarative statement, you will need to share what will help you and what will hinder you as you move toward reaching your own communication challenge goal.

Declaration 1: In order for me to achieve my goal of . . ., I will . . .

Declaration 2: In order for me to achieve my goal of . . ., I will . . .

Declaration 3: In order for me to achieve my goal of . . ., I will . . .

Remember to follow each declaration with a paragraph that provides further insight.

Part 2: Plan and Practice (1-2 pages)

Now that you have a clear goal and declarative statements, it is time to plan a rehearsal. A rehearsal can be helpful when you need to think through all the details needed for a production to go well. You are not putting on a play, but you are moving toward your event in Week 3 when you will apply all that you have been doing and learning. So, let’s consider what is needed for your rehearsal.

A covert rehearsal is an effective way of trying out new communication behaviors. Think about a time and place that will allow you to practice your new interpersonal communication skill to meet your goal as outlined in your new behaviors listed in Part 1 (above). By covertly rehearsing in your mind, you make it much more likely that you will perform the behavior comfortably and effectively in real life situations. For example, if you are planning to initiate and maintain a conversation with your neighbor, you should think through a number of possible topics and questions before finally choosing what you perceive to be the best options. In other words, think before you speak. Plan what you will say and do in a particular situation where you can practice your goal.

If you are having a hard time talking to people in your mind, speak to yourself out loud or speak to your reflection in the mirror. Think about the following:

Identify the situation you would like to practice. Do you want to plan a new conversation, or replay a past situation but change the outcome?

Where will you have this conversation – in the kitchen, on the bus, in the cafeteria at lunch, at school in a classroom, in the board room, in your manager’s office, or at a friend’s house?

Consider how your physical surroundings will affect your rehearsal.

Consider the conversation: What would make it effective? What would need to change?

Now that you have thought through this conversation scenario, you are ready to select a communication event, related to your goal, for which you will prepare covertly. Choose a communication event that mirrors the communication goal you have selected, then you will begin to prepare for this event privately or secretly – covertly. As you imagine yourself practicing your new skill, focus hard on specific interactions. Actually think about what you would say and how the other person might respond. Don’t just go through the motions. Really see yourself asking specific questions, making specific comments, and hearing the other person replying. As you imagine the sequence, apply principles you are learning so that you can practice precisely what you want to say and how you want to say it. Experiment with what appears to be the most effective and comfortable way for you to implement the new behaviors you have been learning.

Now it is time to do some writing. In this section, you will submit a detailed narrative that identifies your selected communication challenge and the potential plan you want to implement in Week 3. Include the following:

2A. Surroundings

Describe the potential surroundings – specific room, physical surroundings and so forth. Include an explanation of how your physical surroundings might affect your plan negatively, positively, or both.

2B. People

Describe the people who will potentially participate in this communication event

What will be the elements of the conversation?

How might the other person respond?

What could go well?

What might derail your success in meeting your communication goal?

In a quiet place, begin thinking about the plan for your conversation event; consider how you would like to see it evolve. When you hit rough spots, try a variety of options until you find a response that pleases you. If you are having trouble with this, pretend you are an author planning to write the dialogue for a reality TV episode, or you are composing lines for characters in a play or movie or book. Use the mirror technique and take turns role-playing both people in the conversation. You can also use puppets, stuffed animals, socks on your hands, or different hats or coats to take the parts of two people having a conversation.

Practice through the plan using different scenarios. In your imaginary practice, make sure that you are always aiming toward achieving your communication goal.

2C. Reflection

In a well-written paragraph, explain how your covert rehearsals helped to equip you for implementing your plan in Week 3.

 

SPCH277N Interpersonal Communication

Week 3 Assignment  

Part 3 – Enacting Communication Change

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Textbook: Review all chapters and use as needed

Introduction: Communication Change Challenge (CCC)

This is your week to put into action what you have been learning regarding the communication challenge that you would like to change. You have put a plan in place, and now you will be implementing that plan. The goal is successful change.

Project Timeline

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

Due

Description

Week 1 Selecting a communication goal and conducting research

Week 2 Describing communication pattern, analyzing goal, and developing a plan

Week 3 Implementation of the plan and evaluation of your progress

Part 1: Beginning of the Week (1 paragraph)

For this CCC, you should have chosen a person with whom you share regular communication. So, you should have a few occasions this week to apply your plan. Under this heading for your submission, write down what you project will be your opportunities to implement your plan. You need to be on the look-out for when you will be putting your plan into place.

Part 2: Middle of the Week (1-2 paragraphs)

In this section, you will describe the setting and people involved in your exchange that was your implementation of your CCC plan. Include enough details so that the process of the exchange is understood.

Part 3: End of the Week

Under this heading, you will have the opportunity to reflect on the process that you went through for your Communication Change Challenge. Use the following sub-section headings for your responses (see template). You will evaluate the impact of the project as it relates to interpersonal communication and the course objectives (COs). It is important here that you clearly demonstrate your understanding of the course concepts through application to your course project.

Remember that your patterns for communicating interpersonally have been developed over many years. Therefore, you should be neither surprised nor discouraged to find that changing your interpersonal communication behavior takes time. In order for you to take this project to its fullest potential, you may need to continue to modify, implement, and reinforce these new behaviors for far longer than the duration of the project. It is possible, however, to modify the way you communicate because the payoff is improvement to our communication and relationship outcomes. Changing interpersonal communication for the better is worth the effort.

3A. Topic Selection Reflection (1 paragraph)

What course material did you use to help guide your particular communication change? Cite the information you found helpful as you write your paragraph summary of texts used.

3B. Implementation Analysis: Satisfaction (1 paragraph)

Consider the implementation of your new approach to communication and share which of your communication changes particularly pleased you?

3C. Implementation Analysis: Dissatisfaction (1 paragraph)

Consider the implementation of your new approach to communication and share which of your communication changes particularly displeased you.

3D. Implementation Analysis: Additional Changes (1 paragraph)

Consider the implementation of your new approach to communication and share which of your communication changes you still want to work on.

Note: For each section, be detailed and specific. You need to use several course materials from different chapters, course outcomes, videos, assessments, articles, etc. Your course project evaluation will be graded for comprehensive content, analysis evaluation, application of the course material, organization, and so forth. Please consider its weight when you place value on its importance to your final course grade.

 

SPCH277N Interpersonal Communication

Week 4 Assignment  

Team Outline Exercise

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Textbook: Chapter 8, 11

Introduction

It is time for us to turn our attention to outlines, organization, and topic choice. This week has two separate assignments that will be submitted. Assignment 1 is the Team Outline Exercise, which involves group work and which will prepare you for Assignment 2, an individual assignment that will start you on the road to completing your Week 7 PowerPoint presentation.

Instructions

Part 1: Outline

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. Note: You must engage early in the week so that you have time to work together as a group. 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

Your group can be found in the menu under “People.”

You must use the discussion that is setup in the Group Home Page to work on this project.

 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 in the group discussion and submit the same version of the outline. Please put the names of your group members who participated in this exercise on the title page under your name. Each member must submit the final group project for their grade.

Part 2: Reflection

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  

Presentation Topic and Organization

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Textbook: Chapter 11

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

Introduction

This assignment is an individual assignment that will start you on the road to completing your Week 7 PowerPoint presentation.

PowerPoint Project Timeline

Due

Description

Week 4 PowerPoint Topic and Organization

Week 5 PowerPoint Outline Rough Draft

Week 6 PowerPoint Outline Final Draft, Images, and Sources

Week 7 PowerPoint Presentation

Week 8 PowerPoint Evaluation

Instructions

Although the lesson for this week already addressed this information, for ease of assignment completion, here it is again.

Here is a list of topics from which you can choose:

Verbal communication

Nonverbal communication

Public speaking

Cross-cultural communication in the workplace

Listening in communication

Gender and communication

Communication and care management

Perception

Conversation skills

Communication, technology, and social media

Click on the following link for an example of what you will be doing this week:

Link: Example Submission

Now it is your turn. In order to write an effective thesis, you will need to do your research. Find a minimum of three scholarly sources that you plan to use to inform your teaching. Use the template for Assignment 2 to guide your organization of this information. You will receive feedback concerning your topic choice, thesis, organization, and sources in the grading process.

Reflection

At the end of your submission, add a reflection paragraph addressing your consideration of a cross-cultural topic and why or why not this topic what chosen. What is about cross-cultural communication that interests you, concerns you, or creates a barrier for you.

Note: Any topic you chose is fine, but this is a chance to reflect on the added component of cross-cultural communication.

Presentation Note

PowerPoint presentations with recorded narration are due in Week 7. Begin practicing the use of your microphone with your computer and the PowerPoint narration feature.

Make sure to view the following tutorial for help with creating narration:

Link (website): Narrated PowerPoint Tutorial

 

SPCH277N Interpersonal Communication

Week 5 Assignment  

Slide Analysis and Outline

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Textbook: review Chapter 3, 6, 7

Minimum of 4 scholarly sources (in addition to the textbook lesson)

Introduction

This week you continue the individual assignment, working toward completing your Week 7 PowerPoint presentation.

PowerPoint Project Timeline

Week

Description

4 PowerPoint Topic and Organization

5 PowerPoint Outline Rough Draft

6 PowerPoint Outline Final Draft, Images, and Sources

7 PowerPoint Presentation

8 PowerPoint Evaluation

Instructions

Part A: Slide Analysis

Analyze the following three slides for what works well and what should be changed to improve each slide. Write a two-paragraph summary for each image using the following headings:

Slide # What Works Well

(paragraph response)

Slide # What Needs to be Improved

(paragraph response)

You will provide a two-paragraph analysis for each of the following three images, with a total analysis of six paragraphs.

Click on the arrow to see each slide.

Part B: Outline Rough Draft

As you continue to develop the outline for your PowerPoint presentation, you will be confirming your thesis, main ideas, and adding a fourth source to your list of sources to be used.

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 topic, specific topic, and thesis statement

Three main points with at least two working sub points that will make up the body of the speech

Reference section with a minimum of four authoritative, outside scholarly sources

These sources can include the source titles referenced during Week 4.

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.

 

 

 

 

SPCH277N Interpersonal Communication

Week 6 Assignment  

Outline Final Draft

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Textbook: Chapter that pertains to your chosen topic

Introduction

This week you continue the individual assignment, working toward completing your Week 7 PowerPoint presentation.

PowerPoint Project Timeline

Due Description

Week 4 PowerPoint Topic and Organization

Week 5 PowerPoint Outline Rough Draft

Week 6 PowerPoint Outline Final Draft, Images, and Sources

Week 7 PowerPoint Presentation

Week 8 PowerPoint Evaluation

Instructions

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

Include and submit the following components:

Page 1

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.

Pages 2-3

General topic, specific topic, thesis statement (one sentence)

Introduction paragraph (written out)

Body in outline format using complete sentences

Summary or conclusion paragraph

Pages 4-5

5 visuals to be used in your PowerPoint

Beneath each visual describe why you selected this visual and how you plan to use this visual in your PowerPoint.

Paste the images onto the document. Do not simply provide a URL for each image.

Page 6

References page with minimum of 4 authoritative, outside scholarly sources.

These sources can include the sources referenced during Week 5, but you are free to change those sources if they are no longer serving as support for your PowerPoint.

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 these citations 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 in your Week 7 submission. 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.

 

SPCH277N Interpersonal Communication

Week 7 Assignment  

PowerPoint Presentation

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Textbook: Review chapter(s) applicable to your presentation

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 Weeks 5 & 6)

Introduction

Your PowerPoint presentation is due this week. Most of you will have a mic built into your computer, but if you don’t, then you are required to obtain a headset microphone to produce the PowerPoint narration. Headset microphones can b