Being able to discern the main points and implications of theories discussed in Griffins "First Look at Communication theory" chapter 5 (symbolic interactionism)

Summary and Implication Papers

The goal of Summary and Implication (S&I) papers is to summarize AND provide insight into a theory described in the Griffin text. Being able to discern the main points and implications of theories will be an important skill to develop in the longer papers as well.

GUIDELINES

Your final draft should be two paragraphs and no more than one double-spaced typed page with one-inch margins and 12-point Times New Roman font. Points will be deducted for not following this format.

Paragraph #1 should describe the theory you are reviewing:

-Try to begin with a sentence that identifies the general focus of the theory. For example, define the issue being addressed or the theorist’s general perspective.

-The remainder of the first paragraph should identify the theory’s key concepts, major points or arguments. For example, identify the claims the theory is making or the assumptions being advanced. As an alternative, you might identify the primary variables or “things” that a theorist examines, and summarize the relationship between those variables, according to the theory.

-This first paragraph is descriptive in nature. In other words, provide enough information to present the basic framework of the theory and all its important parts. You will not have room to expand beyond the key concepts. Lastly, you should not evaluate the theory (i.e., state whether or not you think it’s good or bad).

Paragraph #2 should identify what you consider to be the implications of the theory:

-Assume that the theorist’s claims are true (whether you agree with them or not). Think about what the theorist’s ideas imply about communication processes or human interaction in general or in particular contexts. For example, you might describe other conclusions about communication that could be drawn from the theory that are not specified by the theorist. In a sense, you are to identify what else ought to be true if the theory is assumed to be true.

-Your goal is to identify four claims about communication that are implied by the theory, but not already stated by the theory. Thus, this paragraph should not reiterate assumptions that are part of the theory or implications stated by Griffin in the chapter. Implications should not simply restate what the theory is already telling us. Provide four statements, that we can imply are true if the theory is assumed to be true.

-This paragraph involves extending the theorist’s ideas, not evaluating them. Thus, you should not dwell on whether you think the theory is good or bad, right or wrong, clear or ambiguous, or whether you “like it.”

-Focus on generating general claims implied by the theory, rather than using personal anecdotes to exemplify an implication.

CRITERIA

Three S&I papers will be submitted this semester. Each S&I paper will be graded on a 35-point scale. Together, the S&I papers are worth up to 105 points toward your final grade.

Each paper will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

1. Accurate and comprehensive summary of main points (15 points).

2. Insight into significant implications of the theory (15 points).

3. Clear, grammatically correct writing, effective word choice, careful proofreading (5 points).

PLEASE NOTE

-S&I paper #1 is due Wednesday, September 6th, 2017. You will write S&I #1 on Griffin chapter five (symbolic interactionism). After the first mandatory S&I, each week you will choose whether to write an S&I paper on one of the assigned theory chapters from the Griffin textbook for that week. Only one S&I paper may be submitted per week. Weekly due dates are typically each Monday unless stated otherwise in the course schedule. It is up to you to do at least three S&I papers before the last due date (note: there are 13 opportunities to submit S&I papers). Submit papers to the D2L Dropbox before class (the Dropbox closes when lecture begins) and bring in a hard copy for your TA to grade. Late S&I papers are not accepted (i.e., papers that are not uploaded to the dropbox and submitted as hard copy on time). Please see the course schedule (in the syllabus) for the final deadline for submitting the second and third S&I papers.

Please note that the COMM 300 staff does not pre-grade/read rough drafts during office hours or via email. However, we encourage you to attend office hours with your specific paper-related questions, before submitting your paper for a grade.

-Direct quotes from the chapter are not appropriate in this assignment; your goal is to summarize and paraphrase rather than to extract specific phrases.

-You do not need to cite page numbers or the author as a source. The nature of the assignment identifies the source of your information.

-Although each chapter is written by Griffin, your paper should be a summary of the theory, rather than of Griffin’s description of the theory. For example, rather than write “According to Griffin…” it would be better to write “According to the theory…”

-Papers should be expository or argumentative and should be regarded as exercises in scholarly writing. Do not write in a conversational style that would characterize a journal entry or personal narrative. Personal examples or anecdotes are not appropriate.

-Accomplishing this task in the confines of one page of text requires careful editing. Exceeding the one page limit should be taken as a sign that you have not spent enough time with the assignment. Anything beyond one page will not be graded. Similarly, if you have less than a full page of text, you should check whether you have been comprehensive in your theory review and analysis of the theory’s implications.

-The sample S&I paper illustrates the ideal formatting for an S&I paper.