Week 3
Discussion Questions:
Question 1 (Chapter 3)
Which of the four causes of poor listening do you consider the most negative? Why? Give examples that support your reasoning.
Choose a specific case of poor listening in which you were involved. Explain what went wrong. Then, explain what you would do differently to turn this into a positive experience.
Question 2 (Chapter 4)
Why should an introduction to a speech gain the attention of the audience?
Why should an introduction to a speech offer the central idea and preview the main points to be discussed?
Why should a conclusion to a speech reinforce the central idea of the speech?
For an occasion outside the classroom where you might give a speech of self-introduction, explain how you would apply the principles of introductory speeches discussed in Chapter 4.
Week 3
After reading the Ad Analysis and the Film Analysis on pages 270-278, please review all the material in the “Opening Up” section of this chapter as well, on pages 281-282. Be sure to look over the “Inquiry Project: Writing an Analytical Essay,” on page 280, too, for details about what to do in writing your analytical essay. You’ll see listed there a full range of possible types of topics—“literary works, films or television programs, advertisements, video games, speeches, fashion trends, photographs, brands, etc.” Pay particular attention to the stipulation offered by our text that, whatever topic you choose to analyze, it “must be suggestive: that is, there must be meanings that are not obvious.”
Join with your classmates in the discussion board this week to help one another explore possible topics for analysis in your analytical essay. Throw out some ideas of what you are thinking of writing about and be sure to explain what you find suggestive about the topics you mention.
Read what others have posted and critique the ideas shared. Do you, too, really see anything suggestive about the topics identified? Help your classmates avoid selecting a topic that just doesn’t have the depth to allow for a meaningful analysis. Or suggest alternative topics that you think deserve analysis.
Don’t be shy about asking others to help you find more than one way to interpret an item or advertisement or TV show or trend that you find intriguing, and offer help to others who may be asking for input about possible meanings of topics.
