Interpersonal Paper Guidelines

DUE: June 24

You have several options for this paper, but most require you to apply interpersonal communication concepts from the text, lecture and class discussion to actual observations of real-life or fictional communication behaviors. You should include all relevant detail in reporting those observations in order to provide maximum support for your analysis. For those of you who are more academically oriented, option 4 allows you to look at the poplar literature on communication and relationships and do a critique with your COM 114 eyes.

1. Observe a conversation while remaining out of earshot. Write an analysis/interpretation in which you describe the nonverbal factors you observed. Then write a two part essay.
   In Part I, describe closely various nonverbal activities such as body language, voice volume and inflection, use of touch, and positioning between individuals. Be careful to describe without making conclusions about the meaning of the behaviour.
   In Part II, you will ascribe appropriate and reasonable meanings to the behaviors, using the evidence Part I to support your interpretation of the interaction.
2. Using a scene from a film or television program in which two characters are in conflict, describe the conflict itself and analyze the conflict management approaches of the participants. Assess the effectiveness of the method of conflict resolution for each party and, if appropriate, suggest an alternative method.
3. Using the two part essay structure of Option 1, you will ascribe meaning to a personal or controlled space. You should not be acquainted with the "owner" of the space. Note
   1. In Part I, describe a personal space, such as a room in someone's home, someone's garden, or a business office. Note the nonverbal communicative aspects of the space (arrangement, furnishings, decoration, color schemes, etc.). Be careful to describe without making conclusions about the meanings of that being describe.
   In Part II, you will discuss what meanings you can derive from the space about the person, persons, groups, or institutions that "own" the space.
4. Read two (2) popular advice books on the topic of effective communication between romantic partners. Your paper should do the following:
   • Identify and evaluate the credentials of each author as an expert on intimate communication;
   • Summarize communication principles advocated in the books;
   • Relate communication principles and theories covered in this course to those advised by the authors of the popular advice books;
   • Evaluate the value of each book

The essay should be three (3) to five (5) pages in length. While this assignment is not long, it should be written carefully and thoughtfully. Papers should be proofread carefully for mistakes in grammar, spelling, typographical errors, etc. Papers will be graded on form as well as content, so pay attention to these concerns.