Final Week Post #3

• Pick one other concept in the book that you feel needs further discussion? (You can choose from ANY chapter in the book).

I think that Speech Anxiety (page 288), may need a little more discussion. I perform in musicals and have been onstage in front of hundreds of people, but I'm still terrified of public speaking. I know so many other performers that feel the same way, and also many kids that have a fear. I think it is important to note that there are many ways to relieve many of the stresses of speech anxiety. As the text says, breathing deeply or trying to relax muscles is one way you can try to relax. Also, substituting your negative thoughts with positive ones is a way to build confidence. Public speaking is an important tool to make great communication, so hopefully people can feel comfortable with their speaking! :)

Have a GREAT winter break! :)

Final Week Post #2

• What concept/s in this class have you found most interesting? What was it about that concept/s that you found interesting?

This semester was extremely fruitful. I think the chapter on Group Communication was very interesting to me. I liked the idea of shared behavioral standards and the fact that a group can function as a whole unit and feel a sense of identity or shared beliefs. It seems like a group’s norms and values mesh together to be collective. I thought that the characteristics of groups was interesting because I think about companies or organizations and forget to realize many days groups spend together. Members of each group are interconnected and work and interact with each other, learn about the nuances of their functions, and together progress and evolve.

Final Week Post #1

• (Regarding Chapter 13) Which of the research methods listed in Table 13.3 seem the most interesting? Assume you want to study some aspect of deception. Frame a research question. Which method would you choose to answer the question. Why?

Performance research seems the most interesting to me. I love the idea of observing a work of performance art, oral communication, or artistic components of everyday life and being able to deduce from there. I also think it is by our own performances that we can make conclusions about our behavior, thoughts, and feelings. If I were to form a research question about deception, it would be something like “How can you tell if someone is lying”. I would probably use Experimental Research or Conversation Analysis. That way, I could either conduct research based on the way people talk or formulate various scenarios between people in an experimental setting.

Week 13 Discussion Post #3

Do you agree with Marshall McLuhan that the medium is the message, i.e. that the format or logic of a medium is as important as its content and, in fact, determines what content will be broadcast through that channel? Evaluate his idea that television is a cool medium.

I mostly agree with what McLuhan is saying. I do think that the way a message is transmitted is very important. The environment as well as the mode of the message affect us differently and make us experience the world differently.

McLuhan’s opinion regarding television as a cool medium is quite true, at least from my perspective. I think that we have to use our minds to interpret information and make assumptions for whatever holes there are in the transmission. When I think about looking at imagery on television, I am usually taken back to a memory or something from my lifetime that gives me an opinion. We all interpret things differently, and because television is diverse and selective, we must base our opinions off of whatever it offers us.

Although this doesn’t relate to specifically television, I am reminded of political cartoons. A single image the ability to influence our opinion greatly.

Have a great Sunday! ☺

Week 13 Discussion Post #2

Pick one concept from the assigned reading that you found useful or interesting and discuss it.



I found Functions of the Media to be interesting concepts in Chapter 11. All functions (surveillance, correlation, cultural transmission, and entertainment) all serve a purpose in informing its audiences and producing communication.

Surveillance is “the gathering and disseminating of information” (Trenholm 301). The media informs us throughout the day of information, breaking news, and anything we would need to know. Our local television stations provide weather reports and traffic updates.

Correlation is taking the information at hand and interpreting it for the audience. This can be making a news story or writing an article in a newspaper. Media professionals must understand events and social programs and help translate them for audiences.

Cultural transmission is defined as “the education and socialization of receivers” (Trenholm 301). I really like this concept because I think books, magazines, and movies heavily influence most people. Books and movies provide insight into our own cultural and the behaviors within it. We can also learn about history and fact-based information from these forms of media.

Entertainment is the last form of function that many people in America enjoy. This function serves as a pleasurable and enjoyable form of communication that is usually a leisurely activity for most. For myself, I usually read fashion or home decoration magazines when I want to unwind and relax.

All functions of media have negative effects, but can also be a great tool in helping the media communicate to us in our everyday lives.

Enjoy the weekend! ☺

Week 13 Discussion Post #1

Have you made friendships that exist exclusively in cyberspace? If so, how are they different from face to face relationships? If you have not formed cyber relationships, why not?


Lately I have been connecting with others through food review and food blogs. I have commented on blogs and shared recipes with others over the internet. While I have made “friends” with these people, I do not I truly know them. (I don’t know everything about them, and I do not witness their nonverbal behavior). All I know is that we share common interests.

I wholeheartedly prefer face-to-face relationships. For my friends and I, having face-to-face interactions is necessary in order to trust and get to know one another. Online, people can be deceiving, and I feel like I would not be able to pick up any cues or signals if a person was dangerous. When people are lying, we might be able to pick up cues from their body language or eye contact. When people talk online, they may read or interpret/assume information, and be totally wrong if they met the person face-to-face.

I think technology is amazing in that we are able to connect globally with others. And for various blogs or websites, meeting others is great to share information or gain a new perspective. For me personally, I would just want to be cautious!

Have a good week! ☺

Week 12 Post #3

Pick one concept from the assigned reading that you found useful or interesting and discuss it.

As a senior approaching graduation at SJSU, I found the textbook section of Increasing Organizational Skills to be very interesting.

Upon graduation, I will be interviewing with prospective employers, and it is really important to prepare for an interview. Trenholm writes, “before the interview, prospective employees need to review skills gained through coursework, personal experience, or previous employment” (Trenholm 234). I think this is really important because during an interview, future employers will ask many surprising questions, but the one way in which a prospective employee can be prepared is by knowing their own skills and background information.

The resume and cover letter are two important elements that factor into an employer’s decision to hire someone. For myself, my resume is written out but I have been trying to improve my cover letter, which should “highlight one’s ability to do the job and motivates the employer to examine the resume” (Trenholm 235).

I definitely think being prepared for an interview is the most important step to a successful communicative interaction!