Reflect COM114 journal reflections

HOMEWORK
REFLECTIVE JOURNAL [10%]
Course:COM 114 Fundamentalsof SpeechCommunication
Instructor Names: Dr. Alvaro Subero,Dr.Arda Jebejian,Dr. Koba Lomidze, Dr. Mohammad Al-Afnan, Dr.
Nurcan Kose,Dr.Sofia Gkertzou,Dr. StavrosPapakonstantinidis, Dr.Tzu-Chiao Chen
Term:Spring2018
AssignmentTitle:Reflective Journal
Rationale
Reflection is a purposeful activity in which you discuss communication concepts, summarize class
lectures, and reflect on your presentations as well as your classmates’ presentations. This journal will
help you to explore your personal speaking style and learn from your in-class experiences.
Tasks/ Instructions
 Fill in all ten reflective journal entries as provided by the instructor
 In order to answer each entry, students should write clear, concise, and error-free sentences
and paragraphs, minimum 100 words per reflection entry.
 Ideally, each entry should be answered at the end of each designated week of classes
 It isthe student’sresponsibilityto submitthe journal (Turnit-in) onthe date of final submission
announced on Moodle
Assignment policy
 Please note thattoreceive the full grade,students mustsubmitthe journal on the day assigned
by the instructor and posted on Moodle.
 Late submission will incur a penalty as per the AUMpolicy.
 Grading will be based on the rubric provided for the assignment.
COM114 | Spring 2018
American University of the Middle East
Student Name: ____________________
Student ID: _
Section: _
COM114 | Spring 2018
American University of the Middle East
Student Name: ____________________
Student ID: ______________
Section: ________

COM114 | Spring 2018 | Reflective Journal
1
REFLECTIVE JOURNAL | REFLECTION #1 | WEEK 1
Please answer the following question:
Why did you enroll on COM114? How does this course fit into your major? What do you
expect from this course?(min 100 words)
This subject is fascinating and it has a huge career growth. World is dependent on good
communication skills and everyone wants that capability to explore in this subject.
Everyone have eagerness to learn about communication and how a person can communicate
in various ways with each other by speaking or not speaking be it verbal or nonverbal. People
have a habit of learning various types of communication skills so as to communicate different
types of people.
This course that will be able to completely develop new skills be it verbal and non-verbal
communication and brush up anyone’s inbuilt skill of communicating way ahead for his/her
better career.

2
After reading Communication Perspectives (Chapter 1), how would you define the concept
of communication? Use your own words only, do not copy and paste from the textbook.
(min 100 words)
Communication can be explained as a process of exchanging information, views, thoughts
etc. via mediums like speaking, writing or through any other medium. Communication has
certain purposes which as follows:-
1. Through communication or interactions a person comes to know itself and which are
the things he/she are good at.
2. People must communicate with others to express their feelings, their views, and to
express their thoughts.
3. People communicate with each other to maintain relationship with others.
4. People communicate with each other to exchange information via speech or writing
or directly communicating verbally with the concerned person.
5. People communicate to convince others be it friends to visit any place or any other
person to implement their thought process.

3
Read the speech outline given at the end of Chapter 12 (Delivery) and provide a new
conclusion, including the following elements: restatement of thesis, main point review, and
clincher. (min 100 words)
Restatement of thesis- A thesis is a statement or theory that will be put forward on the basis
of a previous statement and it will be followed as conclusion.
Main point review- A person before delivering a speech must sort out its main points and
review its speech. A main point may contain certain sub points to support its speech. A sub
point expands the content of main point. Once main points and its sub points are sorted out
it must be reviewed before delivering it so that no points is missed out.
Clincher- A person’s speech is remembered if its main points are well sorted and it will have a
good impression on its audience because it derive a positive conclusion and it justifies the
importance.

4
Reflect on your first individual presentation (Interpretive Reading). What did you do well
and what would you like to improve in the upcoming speeches? (min 100 words)
Interpretive reading is process in which a reader communicates with the listener by reading
through the authors words without any digital sound effects but rather only in naked voice.
The choice of the author’s speech was focused and simple which the audience was able to
understand clearly. It could be improved more by specifically choosing essays, stories, topics,
speeches etc. so that when the reader communicates it is more meaningful to the listener. In
a story there maybe various characters each must be represented individually with different
voice changes, postures and various gestures to support that character. There can be more
than one reader so it must be maintained that there is no eye contact.

5
Which of the different types of nonverbal communication explained in Chapter 5
(Nonverbal Communication) is the most challenging for you according to your own personal
skills? Explain why. (min 100 words)
It is not mandatory for communications to be verbal. It can be nonverbal also. There are
various types of non-verbal communications such as:-
1. Gestures- Communication via hands, arms, fingers.
2. Eye contact- Communication made via eye contact with the other person.
3. Facial Expressions- Communications done via facial expressions to express happiness
or sadness etc.
4. Posture- Communication done through body movements or various body postures.
Nonverbal communication is very challenging as it is not expressing or communicating via
words rather than it is communicating via gestures, eye contact, or facial expressions which
are difficult to understand as it contains implicit message not delivered directly.

6
How do you evaluate your individual performance during the first half of the course? Keep
in mind all the assignments assessed from Week 1 to Week 8 (Assignment 1, Project
Deliverable 1, Project Deliverable 2, and Midterm)?(min 100 words)
In week 1, which are the portions the course will cover up regarding communication skills be
it verbal or non-verbal. It gives a detailed idea about the course idea and what are the things
it is going to teach.
In week 2, basic topic of communication is discussed, why we need communication, what is
actually a communication is, and how it is done.
In week 3, Basic topic on thesis is covered up and also taught about the main points which an
individual must keep in mind before delivering a speech or communicating to anyone. Even
clincher is discussed in which it is specified the positive attitude must maintained in a speech
so that audience remember it for a long term.
In week 4, Interpretive reading is covered up like how anyone can read any authors writing
without any supporting medium but only by its own voice.
In week5, In this week it is taught that how a person can communicate with others without
verbal speech by the help nonverbal communication techniques.

7
What did you learn from working with your group during the different stages of the Project
Deliverable that you will carry into your next group experience? How did you and your
group get ready for Project Deliverable 3?(min 100 words)
This is a project or course is based on communication so for better communication any
person at first have to learn communicating with its immediate surrounding persons or group
he/she is working or studying with. Then only a person can be a good communicator. As this
course provide lot of knowledge about communication and types of communication a so a
person surrounding environment is the best place to implement its learning to see and self-
assess itself whether the course is fruitful for him/her. It encourages student to communicate
not only with its surrounding groups but also the groups also as the subject is interesting and
it helps students to communicate outside groups as well.

8
Considering Chapters 16 and 17 (Informative Speaking and Persuasive Speaking,
respectively), use your own words to explain the main differences between informative
and persuasive speaking. Additionally, give two examples to illustrate these
differences.(min 100 words)
Persuasive speaking and informative are distinct and related types of speeches. Informative
speeches are the prevalent types of speeches. In informative speeches, the main objective is
to supply facts and collective information to the audience. While providing knowledge to the
audience which they did not have before the speech, the speech may be boring. The
persuasive speeches are also like informational speeches which use information and data.
The persuasive speeches is not only made for the audience to hear and understand but also
use to convince them for a viewpoint. A sales pitch is one of the best example of persuasive
speech.

9
Explain four positive characteristics seen in other classmates’ persuasive presentations
(Assignment 2) that you would consider applying to your future performances. Provide
names and details to emphasize the relevance of these positive characteristics.(min 100
words)
As it is known that in persuasive presentation a speaker wants to convince the audience to
accept its point of view and the speaker should arrange its words in such a way that the
audience accepts its view. The positive side of persuasive speech are:
1. First positive characteristic seen in other classmate is that it has made them more
confident about how they want to communicate and get it accepted by the audience.
2. Secondly it has made them sharper in gathering more convincing words and arranging
them in proper manner for good presentation.
3. Thirdly they are not over excited anymore, they are calm and cool to give a proper
speech.
4. Their presentation is not centered towards them rather it is more open for all and
clear to understand.

10
Having finished all the assessments of the semester, including Assignment 3, how do you
evaluate your overall performance during the course? What did you do well? What did you
not do well? Explain why.(min 100 words)
After finishing the assessment of the semester. Everyone have eagerness to learn about
communication and how a person can communicate in various ways with each other by
speaking or not speaking be it verbal or nonverbal. Communication can be explained as a
process of exchanging information, views, thoughts etc. via mediums like speaking, writing or
through any other medium.
Everyone have learnt a lot about communication and communicating skills. This course
helped to gain some healthy knowledge about communication through verbal and non-verbal
communication.

11
GRADING RUBRIC | REFLECTIVE JOURNAL (10%) – INDIVIDUAL GRADING
NAME: _____________________________ | SECTION: ________ TOTAL POINTS: ___________ / 100
Criteria
Unsatisf
actory
Poor Average Good
Very
Good
[Journal] Reflection #1
Use of the Template: The template is accuratelyusedas provided andfree ofspellingerrors.
Content: Question fullyanswered, with relevant information and minimal repetitions.
Theoretical Background: Gradual awareness of the course’s theory. Use of terminology.
2 4 6 8 10
2 4 6 8 10
2 4 6 8 10
2 4 6 8 10
2 4 6 8 10
Use of the Template:The template is accuratelyused as provided andfree of spelling errors.
2 4 6 8 10
Use of the Template:Accuratelyusedas provided andfree of spelling and grammar errors .
2 4 6 8 10
Use of the Template:Accuratelyusedas provided andfree of spelling and grammar errors.
2 4 6 8 10
2 4 6 8 10
2 4 6 8 10
NOTES

Reflect COM114 journal reflections

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (20)

Similar to Reflect COM114 journal reflections

Similar to Reflect COM114 journal reflections (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Reflect COM114 journal reflections