Communication Commons^™

Evaluation Of A Basic Communication Course, Wendy S. Zabava Ford, Andrew D. Wolvin

Basic Communication Course Annual

This study addressed the effects of a basic communication course on students' perceptions of their communication skills. Students enrolled in a basic course were asked via a pre- and post- course questionnaire to assess changes in their perceptions of their communication skills. An analysis of the questionnaire results revealed that the basic course did have a positive effect on students' perceptions of their communication skills, particularly in presentation and interviewing skills, and on their comfort in communicating. The results also illustrate that the effects on communication skills were stronger in those areas (especially public speaking) where students perceived the greatest …

Critical Thinking Is/As Communication, Warren Sandmann

Basic Communication Course Annual

This essay argues for the place of critical thinking in the basic communication course. Included in the argument is a discussion and critique of traditional modes of critical thinking, an analysis of an alternative approach to critical thinking, the grounding of this alternative approach in a classical communication model, a discussion of why the basic course in communication is the most appropriate home for the teaching of critical thinking, and a sample approach to teaching critical thinking in the basic course.

Video-Modeling And Pre-Performance Apprehension: Is Ignorance Bliss?, Craig Newburger, Michael Hemphill

Basic Communication Course Annual

This research examined the impact of video-modeling on basic communication course students' public speaking apprehension. Students were confronted with successful and unsuccessful video model presentations of their first public speaking assignment. The viewing of the video models preceded in-class live performances. Results indicate that students who were confronted with both of the video models experienced increased public speaking apprehension, while students who viewed neither video model did not.

Directing The Basic Communication Course: Eighteen Years Later, Richard L. Weaver Ii, Howard W. Cotrell

Basic Communication Course Annual

We focused on three problems that evolve over time for veteran basic course directors. After briefly commenting on the state of basic course literature, we discuss dealing with tradition, motivating students for the long term, and maintaining our own motivation for the course — three areas quite distinct from those addressed in an earlier article. The ideas and issues discussed here have arisen as a result of eighteen years of directing a basic communication course.

To Say Or Not; To Do Or Not — Those Are The Questions: Sexual Harassment And The Basic Course Instructor, Mary M. Gill, William J. Wardrope

Basic Communication Course Annual

Although men and women may be the victims of sexual harassment, the majority of women will experience harassment in the classroom and/or on the job. Harassment in the classroom occurs often out of ignorance of knowing what constitutes harassing behaviors. Those feeling harassed often are not the only victims in these situations. Many "victims" of harassment are the inexperienced instructor or graduate assistant who realize too late that their well-intended actions have been received differently. The specific parameters of what constitutes harassing behaviors and its prevalence are examined. A training module is offered which presents guidelines for the basic course …

Be Relevant, Careful, And Appropriate: Scary Advice On The Use Of Humor To The Novice Public Speaker, Judythe A. Isserlis

Basic Communication Course Annual

Most contemporary public speaking texts contain some reference to the effective use of humor by public speakers. This advice tends to reflect common assumptions on the role of humor in public speaking and the ability of the novice speaker to incorporate humor in a speech. A review of 27 contemporary texts explores the trend in humor instruction and offers 11 categories which summarize the treatment of humor: (1) theories of humor, (2) rationale for the use of humor, (3) guidelines for the use of humor, (4) sources of humor, (5) humor as a factor of attention, (6) specific humorous techniques …

The Introduction Of A Speech: Do Good Introductions Predict A Good Speech?, Valerie A. Whitecap

Basic Communication Course Annual

Can the introduction predict the success or failure of the speech? Does anything predict a successful speech? First, textbooks were examined to see what is being taught about introductions. Then the results of the first speeches given by freshmen and sophomores in a hybrid communication course were studied to see if successful introductions predicted successful speeches. Finally, some other predictors to speech success are discussed, including public speaking experience and the verbality of the student's chosen major.

This comparison of the introduction of the speech and the subsequent grade on the speech was done as a preliminary "think piece," so …

The Use Of Role Models In Teaching Public Speaking, Lauren A. Vicker

Basic Communication Course Annual

This study investigated the use of role models as an instructional strategy in public speaking classes. The subjects in this study were 24 college students in two communication classes. One group viewed a videotape of seven informative speeches given by upper-division speech students and representing a range of ability. The other group did not view the video. Both groups were videotaped presenting their own speeches, and these speeches were rated by a group of senior speech majors at another college. Means of the ratings for each speaker were analyzed using a two-sample t-test. Results did not support the hypothesis that …

Basic Communication Course Annual Vol. 4

Basic Communication Course Annual

Full issue (180 pages; 7.5 MB)

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Front Cover

Basic Communication Course Annual

No abstract provided.

Title Page

Basic Communication Course Annual

No abstract provided.

Editorial Board

Basic Communication Course Annual

No abstract provided.

Editor's Page, Lawrence Hugenberg

Basic Communication Course Annual

This volume is the result of a lot of hard work by the authors and the editorial board. When we changed the submission date to get The Annual to press earlier in the year, it meant we had to have submissions sooner than expected, reviews turned around quickly and revisions made as soon as possible. Everyone cooperated in getting this edition of The Annual out following the publisher's deadlines. I will be forever grateful for everyone's hard work, patience and understanding through this process.

Contents

Basic Communication Course Annual

No abstract provided.

A Forum: Six Approaches To The Introductory Communication Course, Lawrence Hugenberg

Basic Communication Course Annual

During the 1990 Speech Communication Association Convention in Chicago, the Basic Course Committee sponsored a program to discuss five popular approaches to the introductory communication course. These included the public speaking course, the hybrid or blend course, the interpersonal communication course, the introductory communication theory course and the business and professional speaking course. During the exchanges between the presenters and the 80 audience members, it was noted the group communication course was conspicuously absent but was added for this volume.

The Introductory Communication Course: The Public Speaking Approach, Rudolph F. Verderber

Basic Communication Course Annual

Although a communication department has several choices for the focus of its introductory course, the public speaking approach continues to be the most prevalent largely because of its perceived value. People need public speaking skills because of their importance in achieving success in so many walks of life. In fact, in such professions as teaching, politics, law, sales, marketing, and the like, public speaking skills are fundamental to the job description. In addition, public speaking skills are useful to people in their daily impromptu speaking efforts as well. For instance, effectiveness in giving directions to a place, in giving instructions …

The Introductory Communication Course: The Hybrid Approach, Judy C. Pearson, Richard West

Basic Communication Course Annual

The introductory communication course is one of the most important courses in a general education program at the college or university level. Gibson, Hanna, and Huddleston (1985) observed that the course “remains a vital component of American higher education” (290). Seiler and McGukin (1989) agreed that the course is critical to a speech communication curriculum. Professors adopt a variety of approaches in teaching the introductory course. The purpose of this essay is to examine one approach to the introductory course: the hybrid course. The authors will (l) describe the hybrid approach; (2) consider the course structure including general teaching strategies. …

Small Group Communication As An Introductory Course, John L. Brilhart

Basic Communication Course Annual

It took considerable temerity for me to write a paper about an introductory course in small group communication. Although I have taught basic small group courses throughout my career as a college teacher, I have never had the opportunity to teach where a small group course was an option among introductory communication courses from which most or all graduates were required to choose. So I projected from my experience in teaching and coordinating multiple-section hybrid, interpersonal and public-speaking courses. Mostly I have drawn on my experiences in teaching small group courses at the sophomore and upper-class levels, my experience in …

Introductory Communication Theory: Not Another Skills Course, William C. Donaghy

Basic Communication Course Annual

Speech communication departments in every institution of higher education face unique circumstances when deciding their type and number of introductory courses. Different demands are placed on communication departments operating in community colleges, four year liberal arts colleges, land-grant institutions and major research universities. Some of these situational demands are: how the department is perceived by the administration (i.e., service or major oriented); whether skills courses are accepted as part of the college- or university-wide general education curriculum; whether the college or campus has a communication skills requirement; the college division in which the department is located (i.e., humanities, fine arts …

The Interpersonal Communication Course, Joseph A. Devito

Basic Communication Course Annual

The interpersonal communication course is one of the really great courses in the entire communication curriculum and, in fact, in the entire academic curriculum. It is relevant to just about everything you do — to your satisfaction with yourself, to your effectiveness on the job, to your success as a friend or lover. And students know this and quickly become involved and motivated. Even the research is exciting — it addresses significant issues in truly imaginative ways and is always advancing our knowledge and understanding of interpersonal communication and interpersonal relationships in important ways. It’s a great course to teach …

The Business And Professional Speaking Course, Lawrence W. Hugenberg, Alfred W. Owens Ii, David J. Robinson

Basic Communication Course Annual

No abstract provided.

The Introductory Communication Course: Results Of A National Survey, Douglas M. Trank, Pat Lewis

Basic Communication Course Annual

Data for this survey were gathered from a national sample of institutions of higher education by means of a questionnaire mailed in November of 1987.

The questionnaire and a cover letter signed by the president of the Association for Communication Administration were sent to all 2-year colleges and all 4-year and graduate institutions which have an affiliation with the Speech Communication Association or the Association for Communication Administration. In each case they were addressed to the executive officer of the relevant communication department and requested data relevant to the 1987-88 academic year.

The instrument used in this survey is a …

Logic And Emotion, Persuasion And Argumentation: 'Good Reasons' As An Educational Synthesis, Warren Sandmann

Basic Communication Course Annual

The purpose of this essay is three-fold. First, I will summarize the history and development of persuasion and rhetoric in the classical and renaissance world, demonstrating the manner in which argumentation, or conviction by means of logical proof, and persuasion, or conviction by means of a unified appeal to emotions and reasons became separated. Second, I will look at the manner in which persuasion and argumentation are presented educationally today by analyzing four of the most popular public speaking texts. Finally, I will argue that there is a more effective method for teaching the combined principles of argumentation and persuasion, …

Instructional Communication Strategies For Adapting To A Multicultural Introductory Course, Charles A. Braithwaite, Dawn O. Braithwaite

Basic Communication Course Annual

No educator is surprised to hear that college enrollment for members of racial and ethnic groups is continuing to rise (The Chronicle of Higher Education, 1990). However, this increase was particularly striking for us after we began teaching in the southwestern United States. We had moved from Minnesota, where the proportion of college students who are minority-group members is only 4%, to New Mexico where the proportion of college students who are minority-group members is 35%, the highest for any state in the continental United States (The Chronicle of Higher Education, 1990). We now look out into multicultural classrooms that …

The R3a3 Processing System For Experiential Learning In The Classroom, Pamela L. Gray

Basic Communication Course Annual

In education today, much emphasis is placed on “experiential learning,” or learning by doing. An experiential approach to teaching allows students to participate in activities that provide concrete examples of concepts and skills being taught in class. Experiential activities seem especially appropriate in a communication class in which a focus is on developing communication competence, because becoming a better communicator involves active practice and evaluation. However, experiential learning is not totally without problems. (For more information about problems associated with experiential learning activities and tips for increasing their effectiveness, see Eisenberg, 1980; Gray & Buerkel-Rothfuss, 1985).

One area that can …

Reading Our Own Speech Critiques As Texts That Reveal Educational Goals, Instructional Roles And Communicative Functions, Jo Sprague

Basic Communication Course Annual

About twenty years ago I reviewed the prescriptive literature related to classroom criticism of students’ oral performances. Basically, it consisted of a set of questions about format, timing and wording of critiques that were answered in terms of each author’s preference: “Here’s how I always do it and it works for me.” Recently I had occasion to review the current literature in preparing the instructor’s manual for a basic public speaking text. I found that not much has changed. The advice that our field has is still largely anecdotal and consists of recommending techniques for universal application. The scant research …

Classroom Interventions For Reducing Public Speaking Anxiety, Michael A. Neer, W. Faye Kirchner

Basic Communication Course Annual

Findings of many studies demonstrate that instructors are able to offer instructional interventions that mediate state anxiety. The present study therefore examined several additional interventions designed to moderate situational factors contributing to state anxiety. The interventions were tested by creating cover stories similar to the Booth-Butterfield (1988a) study that described various instructional formats through which the first required speech in the introductory public speaking course would be processed.

Respondents did not participate in actual in-class manipulations but were instructed to rate their perceived state anxiety if their first speech was structured in the manner described within each cover story.

The …

Measurement Of Communication Motivation In Public Speaking: An Exploratory Study And Scale Development Based On Expectancy Theory, Edwin J. Dawson, Donald D. Yoder

Basic Communication Course Annual

Since the motivational construct has been previously investigated using need gratification theory, it is important to explore the conceptual differences and similarities between Communication Motivation in Public Speaking based on expectancy theory and current measures of communication motives.

Therefore, this study asks the following research questions: l) What are the factor structure and reliability of a “communication motivation in public speaking” (CMPS) instrument which is based on expectancy theory? 2) What is the relationship between Communication Motivation in Public Speaking (CMPS) and the PRCA, WTC, and ICM?

Models For Graduate Teaching Assistant (Gta) Training: The 'Real,' The 'Necessary,' And The 'Ideal', Nancy L. Buerkel-Rothfuss, Pamela L. Gray

Basic Communication Course Annual

The purpose of this paper is to assemble what our research says about graduate teaching assistant (GTA) training in general and specifically in departments of speech communication. Our hope is that, by compiling the four data sets into a comprehensive description of what is presently happening and what is needed in the area of GTA training, we will provide the empirical evidence campus and departmental administrators need to argue for increased activity at their own institutions. In particular, we will use data from the four samples to develop three models of GTA training: 1) the current state-of-the-art (the “real” model), …