There are nine short assignments. Each is worth up to 5 points. You can earn up to 30 total points on these assignments. If you’ve done the math you realize that you need to complete only 6 assignments if you get perfect scores on each. I will count the 6 highest scores you get. Descriptions of these assignments are included in this syllabus and due dates are below as well as on the course schedule. The first assignment, leading a class discussion, is required of every student. Because we only meet weekly, this means that two or three students will present each week. The other options are short papers that are 1-2 pages each. Papers that adequately meet the assignment will be awarded 3 points. To receive 5 points, additional effort must be expended. For example, you might add some interpretation, show how the information can be applied, do some additional reading (and use the citation in paper) or link it to some other nonverbal concept. Be creative! Start this additional effort in a new paragraph and use a heading like “Interpretation” or “Links”. You must work alone on these assignments. Late short assignments will not be accepted.
1. Required Short Assignment:
Each student will lead one 10-15 minute discussion at the end of a class. The discussion can center on the listed discussion questions for that day or can involve showing a short video like those on youtube.com that illustrates one of the concepts from the readings or lesson for that day. A sign-up sheet will be passed around for you to select your lesson.
Other Short Assignments:
2. Theory Assignment (Due 1/19)
Choose one of the theories discussed in Ch 53 and 55. Use the theory to explain your observations in the rules violation exercise we will conduct in class on 1/12. If the observations do not fit any of the theories, use the observation to criticize or suggest how to revise the theory.
3. Culture Assignment or Gender Assignment (Due 2/3)
Observe a television show, movie, or website that presents members of 2 different cultural (e.g., two ethnic groups or people from two places outside the US) groups communicating. What are the nonverbal differences? What does this tell you about the cultures? What images or stereotypes are being presented?
Observe males and female talking. How do they tell us that they are men or women, masculine or feminine? What are the differences in their nonverbal presentations?
4. Physical Appearance (Due 2/17)
Describe what you consider to be an attractive male and an attractive female. Then interview two friends of the same gender as you and find out what they think. Develop two lists (one for each gender) of characteristics. Examine the two lists. What do you conclude? Do you see any similarities or differences? Can you link what you see to anything in the readings (pp. 48-49; Ch 4,5,9; see also Ch 6,7)?
5. Kinesics Assignment (Due 2/24)
Go to a social setting where people are meeting each other (e.g., party, mixer, bar). Observe the “body language” of people and try to predict who will approach whom. When people are meeting, try to predict who will continue to converse and who will separate quickly. Who likes each other and who does not? In your paper, describe the cues you used successfully as well as those which lead you to wrong conclusions.
6. Touch Assignment (Due 3/3)
Keep a journal covering one 24 hour period in which you record all touches you participate in (both given and received). Compile a chart in which you record whether you touched or were touched, the gender of the other, the part of the body touched (e.g., arm, shoulder, etc), the kind of touch (e.g., pat, poke), and the function or purpose of the touch. Do you see any patterns? See Chapter 23 for a more detailed discussion of this assignment. Avoid weekends if possible. Please keep in mind that I will be reading these and embarrass easily.
7. Public Space Assignment (Due 3/17)
Go to a public space and figure out the rules people are following. For example, walk down College Ave. and see how people decide who goes first, where to stand, etc. Other public spaces are malls, restaurants, the airport, and waiting rooms at offices. What happens when the rules are violated? Imagine that at least one rule was changed. Describe the change and explain how this might impact the way people behave nonverbally in the space.
8. Tie-Signs and Markers (Due 4/7)
Go to a shopping mall and position yourself to unobtrusively observe the people there – don’t be obvious about what you are doing. Bring a note pad. Pick out the people you believe are in a relationship (families, friends, romantic couples). Make a list of the nonverbal cues that “mark” or indicate that a relationship exists and the “tie-signs” that tell you the type of relationship it is (be sure to not the difference in your paper). Naturalistic observations are discussed briefly on pp. 36-7 of the text and in more detailed in Petronio, S., & Bourhis, J. (1987). Identifying family collectivities in public places: An instructional exercise. Communication Education, 36, 46-51.
9. Influence Assignment (Due 4/21)
Observe 3 sales people. How do they attempt to nonverbally influence the customer? Are there differences between effective and ineffective sales people?