Week 5, Unit 4: Language

Identify at least one regulative and constitutive rule for interacting in face-to-face situations, and one of each type of rule when communicating over e-mail. Reflect on how you learned each of these rules.

Your response should distinguish between regulative rules and constitutive rules in general. Examples of regulative and constitutive rules for face-to-face interaction can be found on pages 107 - 109 of the textbook. Examples of regulative and constitutive rules for e-mail could be that one should reply to an e-mail within 24 hours of receiving it (regulative) and using ALL CAPS counts as “shouting” (constitutive).

Week 4, Unit 3: Perception

Identify a situation where stereotypes (as a schemata used in organizing perceptions) are useful and helpful in a communication situation. Next, identify a situation where that same stereotype becomes unproductive and perhaps damaging.

Look for both the useful and necessary aspects of stereotyping, as well as the negative connotations this term often carries. That is, stereotypes allow humans to make predictions about situations and people, and that this is a necessary process so we are not constantly overwhelmed with new information. However, this can be unproductive if we do not continually seek to engage in person-centeredness to distinguish people from the social groups in which categorize them.

Week 3, Unit 2: Self & message

“Generalized other” refers to the view that others in a society generally hold. Race, gender, sexual orientation and socioeconomic class are frequent identifiers in America and elsewhere in the continent and in Europe, as well as other Westernized nations like Australia. The “generalized other” tends to value differences unequally, such as when a group views another group as being of less value or more value than themselves.

Read through a magazine and identify examples of the “generalized other’s” perspective. Focus on how media define desirable women and men. Analyze these messages and how you respond to them.

For example, in fitness magazines, being well-toned might be emphasized more for women, while being more muscular might be more emphasized for men. In business magazines for women, desirable characteristics of women might be engaging in active, business pursuits while women may be less represented in business magazines that are not explicitly targeted for one gender or another.

What is your analysis and response to the "generalized other’s” perspective that you noticed in the magazine you reviewed. Be sure to identify what magazine you used for this assignment. Also note what appeared to be the “generalized other’s” view of what traits an attractive woman and an attractive man have. Give some specific examples.

Making a good impression on the Internet

We will be studying how verbal and nonverbal communications are important in projecting an image that reflects who you are. A good impression counts just as much over the Internet as in a job interview, business meeting, and at a social function. Throughout the quarter, you will be gaining skill in interpersonal communications. This blog will help you polish your ability to present a good impression over the Internet through correct grammar and spelling, use of appropriate language, and presenting your thoughts in a clear, concise manner.

In your comments, use proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Don’t even THINK about using text-message abbreviations! Hint: if you draft your comments in a Word document, you can take advantage of the spelling and grammar checks. Then all you need to do is copy your comment and paste it into the blog.

It goes without saying (but I’ll say it anyway), all comments must show respect for me and the other students. If you are unsure whether you should say something, if you should bother checking a dictionary, or if a remark may offend, ask yourself, “would a prospective employer still hire me if he or she found my comment when Googling my name for a job I really want?”

Between now and October 13, enter a comment on this post. You may enter several if you like. The goal is to be sure you are registered and able to participate on this blog before the formal blogging assignments begin in Week 3 (October 13 through 17).