Lesson plan for a 1-hour introductory Communication Studies theory class. Emphasis is on getting students to use the appropriate tool for their information need while considering indicators of authority. Collection of exercises requiring students to do the following: 1) look up background information on a communication theory; 2) chase down further readings; 3) find a scholarly article that applies a communication theory using the ComAbstracts database.
Susan Archambault
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Assignments Contributed
July 9, 2017
In biology or health classes, assign each student a 'diagnosis'. Have them act as responsible patients by investigating both the diagnosis and the prescribed treatment. Results presented in a two-page paper should cover: a description of the condition and its symptoms; its etiology; its prognosis; the effectiveness of the prescribed treatment, its side effects and contradictions, along with the evidence; and a comparison of the relative effectiveness of alternate treatments.
August 6, 2015
This assignment is designed to help students develop a thoughtful research topic. Students go through a series of steps, questions, and background reading to help them better understand and refine a research topic.
August 5, 2015
A 10-minute presentation accompanied by a 20-page research paper. The presentation features highlights from your extensive research on a career field, including a profile of a specific company or organization and an interview with a practicing professional.
June 13, 2015
A research diary is a log of the steps and thought processes researchers go through as they conduct their research. A research diary gives students the opportunity to reflect on the research process as they discover more information about a topic.
June 9, 2015
Students pick a topic related to Communication Studies (or another social science discipline) and then define the topic operationally by finding a way to measure it. They test out their instrument on a partner.
June 2, 2015
What is it?
An annotation is a brief evaluative summary of a book, article, or other publication. A bibliography is a list of resources cited in a consistent style format (such as MLA). An annotated bibliography, then, is a list of cited sources with brief explanations centering around one topic or research question. The purpose is to help the reader of the bibliography understand the uses of each source and the relationships of one source to another.
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Assignments Collaborated
June 9, 2022
Algorithms are not neutral but this does not mean they are not useful tools for research. In this workshop on algorithmic bias, student learn how algorithms can perpetuate bias and discrimination and how to critically evaluate their search results.
Assignments Adapted
May 8, 2015
I adapted this for a Communication Studies research methods class. I had students complete an in-class exercise where they find 1 recent academic journal article; 1 article that uses a qualitative research method; and then they fill out the summary chart dissecting the articles they found so they learn the typical parts of a research article. See https://lmu.box.com/v/exercisecmst1700