COM 597 Response Papers - Irwin Mallin, IPFW Communication

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Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne Department of Communication
COM 597 – Organizational Conflict Communication – Summer I 2007
Instructor: Irwin Mallin

Response Papers
Critique of Theory
Response Paper 1 Due at Beginning of Class on Tuesday, May 29
Response Paper 2 Due at Beginning of Class on Monday, June 18

IMPORTANT: See Additional Instructions for Response Paper 2

In this course we are looking at various approaches to studying and understanding conflict communication in organizations. Since you've all been part of organizations of one form or another – and experienced the conflict that goes along with organizational life – for some time now, you should be drawing upon your experience to develop opinions about the concepts we discuss. Some may strike you as particularly useful in developing your understanding (as when our class discussion or your reading of a theory leads you to think, "Ooh, that explains it!"). Others may strike you as not so useful (as when you think, "Gosh, that's stupid!"), while still others may strike you as incomplete (as when you think, "Yeah, but what about the times when....?") This paper is your chance to explore those reactions in depth. For Response Paper 1, choose any concept or theory from our course readings for the month of May. For Response Paper 2, choose any concept or theory from our course readings for the month of June.

Each paper should begin with a paragraph or two in which you explain the concept and its uses in your own words. There should also be a thesis statement early in the paper in which you "make the call" on the usefulness of this idea. In one sentence, this statement will tell your readers whether the theory is always, sometimes or never useful and why. Then draw upon your personal workplace experiences to demonstrate the strengths and/or shortcomings of the theory as well as how the theory may be used to guide organizational practice.

Your goal here is to make an argument, illustrate it with examples from workplace events/practices you have participated in or observed, and explain how those illustrations support your argument. That is, you are progressing from your initial reaction to the theory to a developed argument. That is, you are moving from saying "Gosh, that's stupid" to "This theory is deficient because....," from “Ooh, that explains it” to “This theory is useful because....,” or from “But what about the times when...” to “This theory’s utility is limited by....”

Generalizations will not lead to good papers. Support any assertion you make with a specific example from your workplace. When I read the paper I should be able to "see" the workplace events/practices to which you're referring.

The best papers will also be grammatically correct, free of spelling and punctuation errors. Include an introduction in which you set up your paper as well as a conclusion in which you wrap up.

Each essay should be between three and five pages in length. It should be typed (double spaced, margins of 1" all around, font no larger than 12). It should also be stapled. Of course, keep a copy of your paper.

You shouldn’t do any research beyond the readings for this course to do this assignment, but your paper should conform to APA style (5th ed, 2001).

Hints for success for these papers:

•Make sure you do everything called for in these directions.
•Don’t wait to do this! Take your time, and use the services of the Writing Center in Kettler G19 if you need to.
•You are invited to show me a draft or discuss potential paper topics in office hours or by appointment.

IMPORTANT: See Additional Instructions for Response Paper 2

Back to Assignments | Go to Syllabus | Go to Course Schedule
Go to Irwin's Main Page | E-Mail Irwin