BEING updated for Fall 2014

DYNAMICS OF HUMAN COMMUNICATION -  F'13

 (Test day = W 10/16/13).  See below for ONE required advance test question & ONE extra credit advance question

Questions likely will be a  mixture of  Fill-in  /  Terminology definitions /  Short answer / brief Essay.  Possibly some multiple choice questions will be included as well.  Be prepared to explain, to analyze, to compare-contrast. 

I will NOT use the same exact wording as in the books & I expect you to use your own words in your answers. We have covered a great deal of material and it will be difficult to "cram" effectively.  I'd recommend starting now to review & outline the chapters.

It is expected that most people will be able to complete the test in 45-60 minutes.

Review the handouts & online assignment pages that have been used for class activities.  They indicate important concepts/terms from the course that your professor wants to emphasize.  In addition, as you review your readings, make use of the chapter preview information as well as the post-chapter glossaries. Also, be familiar with such terms/concepts as these listed below: (please note that this list is random, incomplete & off the top-of-my-head, but it will get you started.)

Below are various samples of questions I have asked in the past. These may or may not pertain to your current textbook; I simply cut & pasted  items from previous tests, but at least they will give you an idea of how I tend to phrase my questions. You can also refer to your online quizzes for additional indications of my questioning technique.

Some Sample Objective-type Questions -----

  [F.I.]  1. According to your authors, a person needs to be skilled in several areas in order to considered "interpersonally competent. What are 4 of those competencies?______,______,______,______.

  [F.I.]  2. The idea behind Wilson's 4 Communication Styles is conceptually based on a matrix of a person's aggressiveness tendencies combined with a measure of _____________tendencies.

  [M.C.] 3. We all use our past experiences & frames of reference in order to help us make assessments about current people and situations. When we use such past information to GENERALIZE/PREDICT a stranger's behavior based on our observance of just one aspect, It is generally referred to as:    a) prototyping      b) personally constructing        c) stereotyping       d) scripting  

  [F.I.] 4. Define "Attribution Process" in reference to the study of human communication. Support youranswer by applying it to a specific current event.

[M.C.] 5. We use our past experiences & frames of reference in order to help us make assessments about current people and situations. When we use such past information to DEFINE a behavior via a particular person's demonstration of it, we are:  a) prototyping   b) personally constructing   c) stereotyping          d) scripting

  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  * * * * * * * * * *

Some Sample Short Answer/Essay-type  Questions -----

[SA] 6. Take one of the competencies you listed in question 1. Explain the item by briefly describing the last time you exhibited such competency during an interpersonal encounter.

[SA] 7. Recently,  you had the opportunity to confer with the instructor concerning the upcoming independent projects. Was that conference an example of "INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION"? Explain.  

[SA] 8. Now, choose a particular Attitude you hold rather strongly. Trace back to ONE Belief that  served to shape that attitude. Then determine from what Values(s) did that belief stem?  

[SA] 9. "Mirroring" in terms of nonverbal behavior  is connected to the basic human pattern of seeking  similarity. Explain .

[ES]  10. Two students (who have an acquaintanceship) pass each other on a campus pathway  and say: "Hi! What's up?"-"Nothing much"   and then continue on their way. This interaction can be discussed in a variety of ways  (e.g. as pragmatic language act / as phatic communication   /   as situational vs. developmental relationship  /  as interpersonal communication,  etc.).    From at least 3 of these perspectives, explain what could have been going on in this brief dyadic encounter.

[SA] 11. If Chris BELIEVES that racism exists in the workplace, Chris is more likely to PERCEIVE co-worker Jaime's loud voice & aggressive behavior as being racially motivated.  Explain this phenomenon by applying the Believing-is-Seeing concept .

[ES]  12. Explain the four basic ways that nonverbal communication channels are used in relation to the words being said.

[ES] 13. This weekend, while working in a box office with a female co-worker, a third party approached each of us and asked if we had some ":Motrin", "Tylenol", aspirin. etc. When we both told him that we didn't, his response was "What kind of  woman doesn't carry Motrin in her purse?  My next  thought was that the guy was so ignorant.

ANALYZE this communication encounter by applying relevant concepts from  PERCEPTION and/or CULTURE.

Slayer fans at Hammerstein Ballroom on Thursday night.   photo by Michael Falco for The New York Times-2/17/07

updated 10/9/13

These are leftover items probably  n.a. for this semester.Any items to be added this semester  at the last minute will be "flagged" above. 
 

 

Speech Acts

"Selected Insights on Culture / co-culture / Diversity / Intercultural Communication"  <<interesting but probably n.a. for this semester

BY CITING & DESCRIBING   SPECIFIC EXAMPLES FROM YOUR OWN LIFE, explain each of the 5 "Principles of Interpersonal Relationships" discussed in Chapter 1.