PURPOSE: The purpose of this assignment is to create a visual representation of communication using the seven elements of the communication process, and to create awareness of the complexity of communication.
- Skill: The purpose of this this assignment is also for you to practice the following skills that are essential to your success in school and your professional life beyond school:
- Define and apply theoretical concepts to your own communication.
- Knowledge: This assignment will also help you become familiar with the following important knowledge in the field of communication studies:
- The model for transactional communication, the accepted model in the field of communication studies
- The complex nature of communication
TASKS:
- Read the part in Chapter one of the textbook that describes the transactional communication model. Take notes.
- Listen to the lecture of Chapter 1. Take notes. Make sure you understand each element and the transactional nature of communication.
- Think of a communication situation you have experienced that would lend itself to this project.
- Create your own personal model of communication. You may use whatever materials you desire to construct your model of the process of communication. Some examples include: 3-D structure, mobile, poster, collage, book, comic strip, painting etc. Your creative project should demonstrate an actual situation or communication encounter/interaction between at least two people and the transactional nature of communication.
- Example: You show two people talking to each other (sender, receiver, message, and channel). Their messages are in bubbles (like in cartoons) to each other (messages, feedback); the dog is barking on the end of the senders line (physical interference) and the receiver feels anxious about a math test they has earlier (psychological interference). The communication takes place at night in the living room (context/situation).
- Requirements:
- Must be neat and have color
- May not use pencil only
- You may print/cut out pictures from magazines, personal photos, or newspapers if you cannot draw the pictures neatly yourself.
- You must be creative!
- You must include the following 7 elements of the communication process
-
- the sender (where the message originates)
- the receiver ( who receives the message)
- the message (something you are attempting to communicate)
- the channel (how the message is sent)
- the barriers or interference (at least 2 types)
- the feedback (the response of the receiver to the original sender)
- the context/situation (the environment and where the communication encounter takes place).
- At the end of your explanation of the model, explain HOW the communicators could have been more COMPETENT in this communication. Use concepts from your readings to support your points.
- You will present your model to the class in a brief 3-4 minute video presentation.
- The presentation should be well organized: think about how you want to begin, what is a logical way to “walk” the viewer through your project and thinking.
- Make sure your project is clearly visible and the quality of the sound is very good. We don’t need to see you: the emphasis is on your model and how it illustrates the process of communication.
