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One of the most dramatic changes in how interpersonal relations are conducted has occurred in the past 15 years with the introduction of “new technologies.” The technologies of the internet and the smartphone have been widely employed not just for business and education but for everyday life interpersonal connections. The current pandemic has only deepened the sense of dependence on technology.
For this project, your task will be to collect some data about your own communicative practices and then reflect on your data in light of the theoretical perspectives you have encountered in this class so far.
STEP 1: For four (4) hours of one weekday (Monday-Friday), between 2 pm and 6 pm, record every connection you make with any other person—or s/he makes with you. You should go about your daily routine as usual. Use the attached data sheet for recording your connections. For each contact, please indicate: the start & stop time, the duration, the particular person(s), who initiated the connection, the mode of connection WHEN USING CELL-TALK , and a brief summary of the exchange. Producing the record is to be done as you go through the four hours (i.e., not afterward based on recall). This is very important! Make the record as you go.
STEP 2: If you strictly follow Step 1, the data you collect will be resourceful. I would like you to rely on your data for the following assignment. Take a close look at the record and identify some prominences (i.e., something special, something worth your attention, and something regular) in the way you connect with others. Please briefly report on your findings. Then, I would like you to choose one of the following inquiries to write a self-reflective essay.
• What does interpersonal communication mean to you through the phenomenon/phenomena you identified in step one? (Source: Ch. 1 & Article 1)
Engaging Theories in Interpersonal Communication: Multiple Perspectives, 2nd Edition
(Edited
by L. Baxter & D. Braithwaite)
ISBN-13: 978-1452261409
Since this is a short writing assignment (800 words), a clear thesis and in-depth analysis will be more appreciated than the breadth of the coverage. Practice insightful thinking! Rambling on about your experiences will not be a good choice.
You must demonstrate active engagement with the readings using the identified sources to support your arguments. Refer to the APA format for the proper citations.
Make sure your paper is a carefully edited and spell-checked Word document in standard manuscript format –12-pt type, double-spaced lines, one-inch margins on all four sides. Please submit this paper and the record sheet to the Blackboard before 11:59 pm on Feb. 17.