The Exams are Important...

• The exams comprise 50% of the course grade; the midterm and final each represents 25% of your grade.
• If you submit your exam on time, you will have an opportunity to improve your exam grade by writing on questions from a “second chance” set.
• If you do “second chance” questions, your best four answers (from 1st chance and 2nd chance tests) will count.

Mechanics

• Write in complete sentences.
• Write in paragraphs.
• Check spelling and grammar.
• Each exam answer will likely be 2 to 3 pages long, double-spaced.

• When quoting from the course text (Griffin), you can indicate the author and page number in parentheses, e.g.,  (Griffin, p. 33).
• When quoting from an article, book, or website, include the entire citation, in parentheses, in your answer, e.g., (http://www.indiana.edu/~sign/).  This is the Indiana University’s Center for Applied Semiotics site.

• The essay questions do not have a single “right” or “correct” answer.
• You should develop and explain your views on the question, using book and lecture ideas to support your views.  What do you think?  Why?
• Analytical writing goes beyond describing. It judges, evaluates, and argues ideas.

1. Select four questions from the set that follows.  Prepare typed/word-processed answers (single or double spaced, 11 point font) for the questions you select.
2. Mail, email, or fax your answers to the course instructor (e.g., Dr. Walker) by the date and time posted on the website.

Submit Your Exam . . .
Via conventional mail.  Send to the course instructor (e.g., G.Walker), Dept. of Speech Communication, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331.
Via FAX: 541-737-4443
Via email as an attachment in MS Word or Corel WordPerfect to the instructor, e.g.,  to gwalker@orst.edu
PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR RETURN MAILING ADDRESS ON YOUR EXAM.  It will be returned to you via email or surface mail.
 

Exam the Midterm Questions

1.   In Chapter 1 Griffin distinguishes between two theory perspectives: scientific/objective and interpretative.  Do you feel more comfortable with one view, or both?  Explain.  Is there any theory we have studied so far (other than symbolic convergence) that seems compatible with both views?  Explain.

2.   In Chapter 3 Griffin presents seven communication theory traditions.  In the aftermath of the tragic events of 11 September 2001, the war in Iraq, and current events in the United States and globally, evaluate the contemporary relevance of these traditions. Are some of these theory traditions more relevant in 2004 than others, or are all seven traditions equally relevant?  Explain.

3.  How do you think George Herbert Mead (symbolic interactionism) and Jessie Delia (constructivism) would evaluate Coordinated Management of Meaning theory (Pearce and Cronen)?  Explain.

4.  Explain what this statement means: "We cannot not communicate." What are the communication rules implications of this statement, if any?  Explain.  How, if at all, can we test (study, research) this statement?  Explain.

5.  Consider the key ideas in relational dialectics, social penetration, and uncertainty reduction.  What common ground, if any, exists among these theories?   Does understanding one theory help us understand the others?  Could all or part of these theories be combined into one larger theory?  Explain.

6.  Are semiotics theories more relevant to nonverbal communication behavior, verbal communication behavior, or equally to both?  Explain and provide examples.

7.  In light of interpersonal deception theory, should we assume that the potential for deception exists in every interpersonal communication interaction?  Does this theory provide adequate practical advice on how to deal with deception?  Explain.

Thanks for taking this course!