COM 110 Interpersonal Communication, Due 9/25 Fall 2017

Communication Observation Papers

The purpose of the observation papers is for you to apply what we are learning in
class to your communication experiences in "the real world." You are involved in a
variety of communication transactions every day at school, work, home, church, as
a consumer, and in leisure activities. The paper focuses on one concept which
interests you and which you observe in your personal experiences of
communicating with others.
Begin with a concept that interests you -or- with an interesting situation which you
can analyze and figure out what is going on in the transaction(s).
You may choose any topic the book discusses even if we don't cover it in class. (we
can't cover every single concept in the text due to time restrictions)
EXAMPLE TOPICS:
Influences on perception (access to information, physiological influences, cultural
differences, social roles (Chapter 4)
Expressing Emotions and the affect they have on a conversation (Chapter 5)
The communication process, linear or transactional, interpersonal and impersonal
communication (chapter 1)
1. Start your paper with the topic from the book that you are using as your
thesis.
2. Explain what the topic means by paraphrasing or elaborating on the
explanation given in the book. Do not copy verbatim from the book.
3. Apply this principle to your own personal experience as a communicator. Your
own observation or experience is the most important part of this assignment and
should be the majority of the paper. This is not a report. It is a "communication
observation paper."
Be specific; give examples. Make it clear that you understand and can apply the
concept to your own communication experience. It is not necessary to identify
people by name--family members, co-workers, and friends have privacy rights too!
(no photos)
For format, follow these guidelines:
2-3 pages; staple the pages
typed on 8.5 x 11 white, unlined paper
double-spaced, 12 point font; 1-inch margins
no cover or title page; no report covers (put your name & date in upper right
comer of page 1)
You do not need to cite the book but please identity where you found your
topic (chapter or page number)
Observation Paper Criteria
Statement
5 pts
from book Full Marks 5 pts No Marks 0 pts
present
Observation Paper Criteria
Statement
5 pts
from book Full Marks 5 pts No Marks 0 pts
cited
Explanation
of 10 pt
statement Full Marks 10 pts No Marks 0 pts s
from book
explained
Information Information Information Information No info
provide is provided is provided is provided is 0 pts
applicable applicable applicable applicable
and shows and shows and shows and shows
Statement depth of depth of some some
from book thought, thought, thought, thought,
30 pt
applied to very few numerous very few numerous
s
own life or spelling, spelling, spelling, spelling,
observatio grammar grammar grammar grammar
n and and and and
punctuation punctuation punctuation punctuation
errors errors errors errors
present present present present
30 pts 25 pts 20 pts 10 pts
Total Points: 50