COM263 Full Course (September 2018)

COM 263 Elements of Intercultural Communication

Week 1 discussion

DQ1 Why is intercultural literacy needed in today’s world?

DQ2 What role do media technologies play in everyday intercultural communication experiences?

 

COM 263 Elements of Intercultural Communication

Week 2 discussion

DQ1 Reflect on your responses to the PRICA self-assessment and GENE Scale in the textbook. How does your worldview influence the level of apprehension or attitudes you feel when communicating with people from other cultures?

DQ2 Reflect on the Great Commission Jesus gives to the Apostles. How might the Great Commission/Biblical Worldview influence someoneâ€s motivation to study culture as opposed to someone studying culture from a secular perspective?

 

COM 263 Elements of Intercultural Communication

Week 3 discussion

DQ1 How would you explain the relationship between one’s culture and one’s identity? What does it mean/look like to have a “Christian” identity?

DQ2 How is identity communicated generally, and how do you communicate your identity? What is the relationship between cultural and religious or spiritual identity? How are they different/similar?

 

COM 263 Elements of Intercultural Communication

Week 4 discussion

DQ1 After watching the TEDTalk: Patricia Ryan—Donâ€t Insist on English! [Video file] (2011) in Films on Demand. (Reference the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis), what would be the consequences (positive or negative) of one world language? How does this relate to the Biblical account of the Tower of Babel?

DQ2 What are examples from your own life of your language shaping your worldview and how does the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis influence your understanding of this relationship?

 

COM 263 Elements of Intercultural Communication

Week 5 discussion

DQ1 If a professor had an Indian student in class and the student asked the professor to not pass out handouts with his left hand, do you think the professor should comply?

DQ2 How does the way you dress reflect the culture with which you identify?

 

 

COM 263 Elements of Intercultural Communication

Week 6 discussion

DQ1 What are some positive outcomes of intercultural conflict? Think about a recent example in your own life and explain why you think it occurred and how you benefited from the experience?

DQ2 How does your cultural background affect how you handle conflict? How might the Christian Worldview as a “cultural background” influence the way someone might handle conflict?

 

COM 263 Elements of Intercultural Communication

Week 7 discussion

DQ1 If you traveled to another country, what elements would most likely cause you to experience culture shock?

DQ2 What strategies do you think are most helpful for coping with culture shock?

 

 

COM 263 Elements of Intercultural Communication

Week 2 assignment

Research Project Part 1- Cultural Communication Values and Intercultural Communication Challenges Paper – Rough Draft

Select a culture to research throughout the semester.

This first paper will analyze what you find out about the culture 1) from depictions of the cultural group in U.S. media and 2) from academic journals or scholarly references explaining the communication/values of the cultural group.

Write 1,000-1,250 words in response to the following:

Compare and contrast the concepts of stereotyping and ethnocentrism.

Find two concrete examples that show how the cultural group you are studying is stereotypically represented by local and/or national media in the U.S. (This could include Comic Strips, Newspaper Articles, Advertisements, TV Shows, etc.).

Compare and contrast these media stereotypes with research about the culture communication value orientations (pick two value dimensions from the list provided below, describe the value dimension, explain what research findings say about your culture in relation to these values, and give illustrations of how this is expressed in their communication).

High vs. low-context

High vs. low power-distance

Individualism vs. collectivism

High vs. low uncertainty avoidance

Polychronic vs. monochronic

Femininity vs. masculinity

Long-term vs. short-term

Indulgence vs. restraint

Using academic sources, explain how mass-mediated stereotypes may affect communication between you and a member of this cultural group.

You will turn this paper into 2 places by the deadline (Day 7): 1) submit it into the assignment dropbox, and 2) post it into the MAIN FORUM under the folder your instructor sets up. (Your final draft of this assignment will be due by Day 7 of Topic 3.)

Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.

 

 

COM 263 Elements of Intercultural Communication

Week 3 assignment

Benchmark: Research Project Part 1- Cultural Communication Values and Intercultural Communication Challenges Paper – Final Draft

Review the feedback provided by your peer. Make any revisions to your paper based on their feedback.

This first paper will analyze what you find out about the culture 1) from depictions of the cultural group in U.S. media and 2) from academic journals or scholarly references explaining the communication/values of the cultural group.

Write 1,000-1,250 words in response to the following:

Compare and contrast the concepts of stereotyping and ethnocentrism.

Find two concrete examples that show how the cultural group you are studying is stereotypically represented by local and/or national media in the U.S. (This could include Comic Strips, Newspaper Articles, Advertisements, TV Shows, etc.).

Compare and contrast the media stereotypes with research about the culture communication value orientations (pick two value dimensions from the list provided below, describe the value dimension, explain what research findings say about your culture in relation to these values, and give illustrations of how this is expressed in their communication).

Using academic sources, explain how mass-mediated stereotypes may affect communication between you and a member of this cultural group.

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.

 

COM 263 Elements of Intercultural Communication

Week 3 assignment

Peer Review of Research Project Part 1- Cultural Communication Values and Intercultural Communication Challenges Paper

Review the draft of the person who posted his/her response directly below yours in the MAIN FORUM. If your draft is the last posted, review the first draft posted at the top of the thread.

Complete the attached “Peer Review Worksheet”.

You will need to post your completed Peer Review Worksheet and peer reviewed essay with any marks & comments to two places: 1) to the MAIN FORUM for your peer to view, and 2) to the Peer Review assignment box, so the instructor can grade your work.

Attach the file with your completed Peer Review Worksheet and essay to the MAIN FORUM as a “reply” to the initial post of your peer’s first draft.

Your Peer Review worksheet is due by Day 5 of Topic 3.

 

 

COM 263 Elements of Intercultural Communication

Week 4 assignment

Research Project Part 2: Language and Culture

This section should be 500-750 words or 3-5 minutes if completing a video.

Give a brief overview of the way language influences culture in general.

Give a brief overview of the language that is unique to your culture in light of your research.

Pick 3 well-known idioms from the culture you are researching (an idiom is a phrase or manner of speaking that is unique to a particular group)

Explain how it is unique due to unique history, values, beliefs, or environment of the culture you are studying.

Two to three academic resources are required for this assignment (include verbal citations somewhere in the video if a video is your choice).

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.

 

 

 

COM 263 Elements of Intercultural Communication

Week 5 assignment

Benchmark – Nonverbal Communication Training Guide

Create a nonverbal training guide for someone who wants to travel and experience the culture you have been studying in this class. In your training guide, you need to explain what to do and what not to do in nonverbal communication as well as provide explanations for why behaviors are either appropriate or inappropriate (ground your justification in scholarly research on cultural norms). This guide could be in paper, video, or in-class presentation format according to instructor discretion.

The training guide needs to cover each of these nonverbal communication dimensions:

Kinesics

Proxemics

Haptics

Paralinguistics

Chronemics

Physical appearance/attire

Oculesics

Olfactics

The training guide must also include a visual element to illustrate dos and donâ€ts.

Include specific warnings that address key differences in nonverbal symbols between the culture you are studying and the culture of your audience.

Be sure to included scholarly sources to support claims about what is normal/accepted behavior in the culture.

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

This assignment measures the following competency: Comp 2.1: Interpret the meaning of symbols across cultures.

 

 

COM 263 Elements of Intercultural Communication

Week 6 assignment

Benchmark – Case Studies in Intercultural Conflict and Conflict Management

In a total of 750-1,000 words, explain how someone from the culture you have been studying is likely to handle interpersonal conflict (according to cultural conflict ethics).

Create a hypothetical conflict or describe a recent conflict situation in which an individual or group from the culture you have been studying was involved.

Be sure to write out the details of the conflict as communicated by the source of the story and give a consultation for how to resolve/manage the conflict.

Based on your research in intercultural conflict and the conflict ethics/styles of the cultural group, explain why the conflict arose. Explain how the ethics or expression of conflict was influenced by the individuals†culture/worldview.

Write out a consultation outlining what the communicators in the conflict scenario need to know, or do, to best handle the conflict.

Also include one recommendation that comes from the Christian Worldview, or scripture.

Be specific in your recommendations and justify them with scholarly evidence (when you justify, explain what ethical considerations should be taken into account when handling the situation described in the case study). Two academic sources are required for the consultation.

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit the case study and the consultation to Turnitin. Refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.

This assignment measures the following competency: Comp 4.1: Evaluate the connection between ethical communication and different worldviews.

 

 

 

COM 263 Elements of Intercultural Communication

Week 7 assignment

Culture Shock Reflection

Think about a time when you were immersed in a new culture or co-culture.

Write a 250-500-word reflection, addressing the following:

Explain the circumstances surrounding your immersion in a new culture/co-culture. What was the reason for your trip/experience?

Identify the stages of culture shock present in your experience of the new culture/co-culture.

Explain how you tried to cope with the culture shock.

Discuss how you might cope with the culture shock in a healthier way in the future based upon what you learned about culture shock in this topic.

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are not required to submit this assignment to Turnitin.

 

COM 263 Elements of Intercultural Communication

Week 7 assignment

Research Presentation

You have become an expert of intercultural communication in the country you have researched throughout this course. The goal of this assignment is to share your knowledge of your expertise.

Utilize the findings from all previous assignments to create a presentation. Your presentation can be constructed using one of the following formats: a video presentation, PowerPoint, or Prezi (or a format not listed, as long as it is approved by your instructor). Be creative; but make sure that you include the following sections:

Introduction/Preview

Cultural Communication Values and Intercultural Communication Challenges

Language and Culture

Nonverbal Communication Trainings Guide

Conflict Styles and Conflict Management

Conclusion/Summary

A minimum of 20 slides are required for this assignment. Title slide and reference slide are not included in the slide count.

Include speaker notes below each content-related slide that represent what would be said if giving the presentation in person. Expand upon the information included in the slide and do not simply restate it.

Utilize the following assignments to complete your presentation: Cultural Communication Values and Intercultural Communication Challenges Paper, Language and Culture Paper, Nonverbal Communication Training Guide, and Case Studies in Intercultural Conflict and Conflict Management.

Ten to fifteen sources are required for this assignment.

While APA style is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and in-text citations and references should be presented using APA documentation guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are not required to submit this assignment to Turnitin.