SCOM 6203, Introduction to Graduate Study: Study Guide for Exam 1

Articles + Text:

What were Julia Wood’s (2002) criticisms of John Gray’s portrayals of men and women in the Men and from Mars/Women are from Venus series? How useful are these types of popular books? Should people be wary of such popular books on relationships? Be specific in your answer and use examples.

You’ll be asked to identify what major trends are in the communication field. Specifically, what is there “too much of” and “too little of” in the field. What should students consider as they choose an appropriate program? What matters (or would matter) most to you if you were searching for a PHD program? Of the schools we visited via the web, what was the most interesting thing to you?

What is communication!??? Use your lecture notes on communication models, your exercise on defining communication, your text and the articles (Keith, etc). to formulate your answer. Be specific in your answer and use examples. (See Chapter 2 in text) EVERYONE WILL ANSWER THIS QUESTION

Know  key ideas discussed in the Petronio (1994) article, Conducting Communication Research. Studying your quiz may help.

Why does Craig (1999) say that to look for a grand theory that will unite the disciple of communication is pointless? What does he argue for instead? Where might your place be in the seven traditions and why? Be specific in your answer and use examples.

Kindred and Roper (2004) noted that there are two views of technology and its effect on interpersonal relationships. What are these two views and which do you gravitate toward, or can you synthesize both? Use Kindred and Roper to support your answer. Be specific and use examples.

What did Winston Churchill mean by saying “We shape our building and they shape us?” Refer to Hall’s chapter on the anthropology of space and the material on feng shui to support your answer. Give specific details and examples.

Text Material:

Ch. 3

·         What are characteristics of the nonverbal communication system? (Ch. 3 in text)

·         What is hard architecture? (Ch. 3 in text)

·         How does space affect our communication with one another? (Ch. 3 in text)

·         What are Hall’s four social distances? (Ch. 3 in text)

·         What are the four levels of communication? (Ch. 3 in text)

·         What are the dimensions of Lievrouw and Finn’s model of mediated and non-mediated communication? (Ch. 3)

Ch 4

·         What is perception and factors affecting perception such as selective attention, perceptual salience, etc.?

·         What is language, signs and symbols? What is a signifiers and the signified?

·         What is a speech act?

·         What are metanarratives and grand narratives? What does it mean to say that people in the postmodern world have no grand narratives? How do they share meaning? What role does deconstruction play in the process?

·         What is mentation and self-talk? How does speech  help us lead more complex inner lives? What does it mean to decenter?

·         What is Baktin’s concept of dialogism/inner speech? How does he view literature?

·         What is the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis and linguistic relativity? What is the “sticky point” in the theory?

·         What is symbolic interactionism and associated terms? Society, acts, Self, me, I, mind, Generalized other, etc.

·         What is behaviorism and the black box?

·         What is cognitive complexity and shades of gray? What is adaequatio?

Ch. 5

·         What is communication competence?

·         What is social exchange theory and associated terms?

·         What is pragmatism?

·         What is inclusion, affection, and control?

·         What are the five axioms and associated terms set forth by the Palo Alto Group?

·         What is CMM and associated terms? Know the five levels.

·         What is dialogue? What is an I-thou vs. I-you attitude? What is genuine dialogue?

·         What is the person centered approach and the central concepts of congruence, positive regard, and empathy?

·         What is hermeneutics and productive meaning?

·         What is old rhetoric vs. new rhetoric?

·         How does dramaturgical theory and impression management relate to what we have discussed about self-presentation in CMC?

·         What are key concepts in impression management? Role enactment, facework, floor, personal front, expressions given/given off, footing, regions, teamwork, frame, etc.?

·         What is symbolic convergence and associated terms. Dramatizing messages, fantasy themes, fantasy types, chaining, scripts, rhetorical visions?

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Note: Be SPECIFIC, DETAILED AND USE EXAMPLES. SYNTHESIZE THE MATERIAL-Make connections!

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