Assignment Instructions
Assignment: Application Paper
DUE on ISIDORE:
Purpose: The assignment provides you with an opportunity to more deeply understand a concept through your
application of concepts from the class or the textbook to your own personal experience.
Specifically, you are asked to demonstrate:
1. Your ability to explain a theory based on your reading and class discussion
2. Your ability to recognize the presence and relevance of that theory in a communication event
3. Your ability to analyze a communication event using the theory as criteria
4. Your ability to express your ideas in writing clearly, coherently, and accurately
General Description: The paper should contain a clear introduction, three inter-related parts, and a
conclusion.
NOTE: PLEASE CLEARLY LABEL EACH SECTION OF YOUR PAPER!!
Introduction: ( 1-2 paragraphs) You should introduce the paper with a brief overview of the theory that you chose
to discuss AND a very brief description of the communication event that you intend to analyze. Provide
a preview for the reader of what is to come in the paper.
Part 1: Describe a theory from the list below. (about 1 page)
-You should describe the theory completely and accurately, yet be brief.
-You should NOT use extensive quotations (more than a couple of phrases). You should describe the theory
completely in your own words. Note: Do not use examples in this section; just describe the theory conceptually.
-Be sure to define the import terms, state important propositions or assumptions, and describe how the theory works.
-Note: Your description of the theory can be based on class discussion, the textbook, readings from the
"Recommended Readings" at the end of the chapter on that theory, or other sources you might find. Be sure to
include the full source information that you refer to, quote, or paraphrase in that section.
-Hint: Use the study guide to help you determine important material.
Choose from the following:
The Meaning of Meaning
Social Penetration Theory [1]
Uncertainty Reduction [2]
Social Information Processing
Relational Dialectics
Narrative Paradigm
Media Ecology
Symbolic Convergence
Cultivation Theory
Cultural Approach to
Organizations
Agenda Setting
Speech Codes
Social Judgement Theory
Functional Perspective: Group
Decision Making
Face Negotiation
Elaboration Likelihood Model
Groupthink
Genderlect Styles
Cognitive Dissonance
Uses & Gratifications
Part 2: Describe a Communication Event! (about 1 page)
For best results, this should be a personal experience. But it could also be a scene from a movie, TV show, or book.
Please don't just look for examples that illustrate each part of a theory. Instead, use the theory to help us understand
one event.
Example: If you are using Social Penetration Theory: DON'T find a different relationship that illustrates each phase
of social penetration. DO use social penetration theory to analyze how and why your relationship with one person
evolved from "stranger" to best friend (as well as what motivated you to invest the time in the relationship).
There is no reason be long-winded or provide excessive detail. Just provide enough information such that the event
is clear to your reader and so your analysis will make sense, but not so much that it becomes irrelevant or confusing
to the reader (or to you!).
Part 3: Analyze the Communication Event! (about 2-3 pages)
Please analyze the communication event in the terms of the theory you have chosen. How does the chosen theory
give you / us insight (or understanding) into what happened in the communication event?
In this section, you should use specific quotations or provide direct dialogue examples from the event whenever
possible.
This is the place for your personal insights, but those insights must be informed. Use the specific principles or
assumptions, terminology, and concepts of the theory in developing your analysis.
How does the theory explain and help us understand what happened and why the event occurred as it did? How does
the theory suggest the experience could have been different, or better, or more constructive? This is the most
important part of the paper. Everything else leads up to this section. So be sure to keep your focus!
Conclusion
You should conclude the paper with a brief summary of the major ideas and re-visit your overall thesis for the
paper. Take a look at how well the theory you chose has done explaining the communication event that you
described. Does the theory make the event more clear or understandable? Does the theory hold up well when used to
analyze your communication event? Does your analysis reveal any shortcomings of the theory? Would you say that
the theory is a good (or not-so-good) explanatory tool?
Grading Criteria for this assignment: Please see the attached PDF file for the specific criteria!
Free advice: DO NOT read past student papers as a guide. It's really much easier to do your own work. In addition,
you should be well aware of the criteria and the rules about plagiarism. If the material you use or the idea you
advance is not original with you, and you don't cite the original source, that's plagiarism. That's true even if you
change the words around or use synonyms. As stated in the syllabus, plagiarism will result in at least failure of the
assignment, possibly failure of the course, and could lead to dismissal from the University.
Please feel free to check with Prof Sweet if you have any questions about this assignment (or nearly anything else).
Please also feel free to run ideas by me for some feedback. I MIGHT actually be helpful!
[1] A successful paper on this theory includes a discussion of Social Exchange Theory
[2] A successful paper on this theory should include a minimum of 3-4 axioms as part of the application