Suggested Exercise 3: Imitate Role Models Examine a videotaped or televised performance of a confident, energetic speaker. For the purposes of the exercise, choose someone who consistently demonstrates effective speaking skills. Avoid speakers who display obvious speech habits, such as strong local or regional accents. It’s also a good idea to avoid speakers who demonstrate strong, unique personality traits, such as stand-up comedians or late night talk show hosts. Appropriate role models may include • A national television news anchorperson • Inspirational speakers • Television documentary hosts • Educational television program hosts Take notes as you watch, focusing on the body language that strikes you as particularly effective. If possible, practice the same speech or performance, incorporating the body language until it feels natural and spontaneous to you. The next time you prepare to speak in front of a group, consider how the person you’ve chosen as a role model might deliver the material. You might even try practicing as though you were that person. Bear in mind that this is only an exercise, and in no way implies that you need to act like somebody else in actual situations. Eventually, you’ll need to adapt your role model’s body language to your own style. GRADED PROJECT The graded project is intended to help you integrate the various communication techniques and skills you’ve been practicing and studying. The completed project will give your instructor an accurate gauge by which to measure your understanding and mastery of these important skills. More importantly, completion of the project gives you the opportunity to apply your new skills in a real-life situation— and perhaps even show off a little in the process! Graded Project: Interpersonal Communication 17 For your graded project, you have to choose one of two options: write an essay of 500-800 words or write and present a speech of two-to-three minutes. The second option requires the use of equipment which isn’t supplied by the school. As you work on the project, review pertinent lesson material in your study unit, the Graded Project booklet, and the Voice and Diction audio file. Option 1 Review the work you completed for the Nonverbal Listening Patterns exercise. Write a 500–800 word essay on your experience with this exercise, discussing the following points: • The steps you took to complete the Nonverbal Listening Patterns exercise • What you learned about your own interpersonal communication behaviors or skills • The steps you can take to improve or maintain each behavior or skill Process Step 1: Write from your point of view using the pronoun I. Use the past tense for your verbs since you’re reporting on what has already occurred. Your first paragraph should summarize information about the exercise—the identity of the two people (supervisor, friend, relative, etc.), how well you know each person, where the exercise took place, when it occurred, and how long it took to complete it. Also, give the main topic of each conversation In your second paragraph, describe specific examples of your nonverbal listening behavior for posture, eye contact, gestures, and facial expressions with one of the people. (Be sure to indicate how comfortable you felt with that person.) Explain and analyze why you behaved in these ways during the conversation. Was your behavior appropriate for that conversation given what you have learned about proper communication skills? Why or why not? In your third paragraph, provide the same type of discussion but with the second person. 18 Graded Project: Interpersonal Communication In your fourth paragraph, continue by discussing at least three non-verbal listening behaviors or skills that you discovered about yourself during these conversations. You may discuss your weak skills, your strong skills, or a combination of the two. Since this essay is a self-analysis of your skills, you will want to identify both your weak and your strong points. With each skill you describe, also explain how you intend to improve the weaker skills and maintain the stronger skills that you identified in the previous paragraph. Exactly what can you do to make and keep your nonverbal listening behaviors effective? Also, discuss how you can determine your status and progress toward improvement. In your final paragraph, discuss your reaction to the activity and analyze your non-verbal listening behaviors. Summarize the insights you have gained about your communication skills. Step 2: Read your essay aloud and listen for areas where you may have missed some words or your sentences are awkwardly constructed. You may want to ask someone to read it to you exactly as you have written it. Listen for clear, logical flow of your ideas and discussion. Edit your essay carefully according to the standard conventions for academic compositions: coherent paragraph development, varied sentence structure, correct grammar, word usage, spelling, and punctuation. Remember to use the pronouns I, me, and my, since you are writing about your own experience from your point of view. Also, use the past tense for your verbs. Further revise and edit according to the evaluation criteria given below. Introduction (5 points) You describe the exercise and the methods used to complete it. Description of your non-verbal listening behavior (30 points) You provide specific examples for each type of behavior for both conversations, analyzing the effectiveness of your behavior for that conversation. Graded Project: Interpersonal Communication 19 20 Graded Project: Interpersonal Communication Identification of weak skills or strengths along with plan for improvement and/or maintenance (30 points) Based on your experience during the two conversations, you specify areas for improvement and/or strong skills. You explain why you think these are weak and/or strong skills for you. For each weak area, you describe a specific way to improve that non-verbal listening behavior as well as how you will determine the level of improvement. For each strong and effective area identified, you describe a specific way to maintain that behavior as well as how you will determine that it is still a strong point for you. Conclusion (10 points) You provide closure for the reader by reflecting on your experience and sharing insights you gained about your communication skills. Grammar, sentence structure, and mechanics (15 points) Your essay is free of errors in grammar (especially verb tense), sentence structure, spelling, and punctuation. Format (10 points) You include the Project Sheet. Your essay uses the assigned font, is double spaced, and includes the required heading on each page. Step 3: Type the final draft of your essay using font Times New Roman, size 12. Include the following information at the top of each page of your document. The best way to ensure the information is on each page is to enter everything using the Header option (usually located on the View or Insert menu). Name and Student Number Exam number (eight digits) Page X of Y Mailing Address Example: Jane Smith, 12345678 05085702 Page 1 of 1 111 Education Drive Any Town, PA 18515
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