Dr. Gass
HCOM 360
Nonverbal Communication
Nonverbal Communication in the Popular Press
PROMPT
Step 1
Locate at least one article in the “popular press” in the last three years that addresses some aspect of
nonverbal communication. By popular press I mean the sort of media on which the general public relies.
This includes newspapers, tabloids, magazines, TV shows, and online news sources. Do not use personal
blogs, Facebook, MySpace, Websites focusing specifically on nonverbal communication, or scholarly
journal articles.
Step 2
Identify specific claims, generalizations or assumptions that are made about nonverbal communication
in the article. For example, does the article say what a nonverbal cue signifies, how a nonverbal cue
should be interpreted, or offer a guideline for “reading” people’s “body language”?
Step 3
Examine original research from at least two scholarly journal articles to confirm or disconfirm the claims
made in the popular press. Do scholarly studies support the conclusions offered in the popular press?
EXAMPLES
Possible examples of nonverbal behavior in the popular press include
Sara Palin’s winking
Sara Palin’s “hotness”
Hillarly Clinton’s pantsuits
Barack Obama’s low Bow to the Japanese
Barack Obama’s racial/ethnic background
Barack Obama’s abs
Barack Obama’s composure
Barack Obama’s smoking habit
Richard Gere kissing Shilpa Shetty
Michelle Obama’s arms or “guns”
John McCain’s memory lapses
Chris Brown’s assault on ex girlfriend Rihanna
Adam Lambert’s onstage kiss during the
American Music Awards
Britney’s shaved head
Britney sans underwear
Kanye West’s interruption of Taylor Swift
acceptance speech
Janet Jackson’s wardrobe malfunction during
the Superbowl
George W. Bush holding Saudi Prince Abdullah’s
hand
Joaquin Phoenix’ appearance on David
Letterman
Controversy over Caster Semaya’s sex
LENGTH AND FORMAT
I anticipate that your paper will be between 4-6 pages in length, typed and double-spaced. You will be
graded on the quality of your writing as much as on the substance of your ideas. Your paper must
conform to A.P.A. style. A complete reference must be provided whenever you refer to the words,
ideas, statistics or other information provided by an author. Failure to provide appropriate references
constitutes an act of plagiarism.
This paper is worth 10% of your course grade.
HELP IS AVAILABLE
Feel free to stop by my office and brainstorm about possible topics. I'm in my office far more than the
official office hours indicate.