COM2000 Case Study

As 21st century global citizens, we live in a world that is filled with complex challenges. What can Communication teach us about addressing some of the major global challenges we face? Here’s where you come in!

In this 5 page paper, you will use what we have learned in class to begin to think about how Communication Theory/Concepts can help us understand the world around us. To do this, you will choose a piece of communication to analyze that relates to the theme of Good Health and Wellbeing (physical and mental health count here).

IRST explore the UN’s

Good Health and Wellbeing page

to learn a bit about some targets for Good Health and Wellbeing NEXT, select (a) a music video, (b) a piece of parasocial communication (e.g., a tiktok video), or (c) a conversation you had with a friend, family member or colleague that relates to/addresses good health/wellbeing. THEN, you will use terms from our course text book to analyze your music video, parasocial artifact, or conversation to help us better understand the nuances that are contained in it. Case Study Tips: Intro and Thesis
Introduction Goal: Set the scene that describes the value of understanding communication for understanding the world around us and your theme; offer a roadmap (what your
essay will cover); and provide a clear thesis statement articulating the overarching argument (This can be very simple: Why is this analysis important and what have you
learned about communication that you can improve or work on in the future?).
You may write in first or third person.
• Student example: In this essay, I will investigate the stigma around mental illness through an analysis of a conversation that occurred with a friend about her recent mental
illness diagnosis in order to understand how to better address social stigma within interpersonal conversations and small group settings. I will suggest strategies we can
implement in future situations including listening effectively, recognizing cultural influence, improving communicator competence, and separating fact from opinion. This is
an important topic to study due to its ability to both understand and reduce social stigma through rational and empathetic conversation.
• Student Example: Multiple types of cancer and severe lung damage has impacted the first responders severely in the decades after 9/11, leaving many with medical bills in
the hundreds of thousands and no help from the government. In short, these real-life heroes were left voiceless. It was for this reason that Jon Stewart, notable comedian
and political activist, decided he needed to use his voice to act and get meaningful legislation passed. This essay will analyze an address to Congress given by celebrity
John Stewart to convey how influence can be exercised in political conversations to successfully persuade an audience to act.
• Student Example: Understanding how to effectively communicate in the workplace about gender inequality can help eliminate stereotypes and change institutional
structures. Through an analysis of a meeting in my own place of employment, I will explain some of the common issues of gender inequality in the workplace and provide
strategies to combat it. Understanding important concepts of communication can help to improve issues of gender inequality in the workplace by avoiding hurtful
language and using clearly understandable language, understanding the importance of listening effectively, and building communication competence.
• Student Example: This essay explores Anti-Asian racism through an analysis of a discriminating confrontation at the grocery store in order to understand how
communication with biased people could have been improved. I will suggest strategies that I can implement in future situations, including improving communicator
competence, owning my feelings and thoughts, separating opinions from factual claims, and speaking up and out when necessary.Case Study Tips: Topic and Transition Sentences
• Body paragraphs for your paper: Your body paragraphs should have topic and transition sentences that situate the particular theme/s and describe the major points
discussed Floyd with analysis that links back to your theme. Here are some samples:
。 Topic sentence example 1: An important frame from which to analyze power imbalances in the workplace is Floyd’s discussion of social groups, notably in-groups and
out-groups. Proceed with paragraph on in-groups in relation to your event here.
• Transition sentence example 1: Just as examining in-group culture was important for understanding power imbalances in the workplace, a look at Floyd’s discussion of
out-groups can also help shed some light on this topic. Proceed with paragraph on out-groups in relation your event here.
• Topic sentence example 2: Taking a look at how we use and abuse language can shed some light on the concept of hate speech and what I witnessed when I went to the
protest.
。 Transition sentence example 2: Just as the concept of hate crimes described people’s behaviors towards us, a stereotype is an equally important term to take into
account because it thinks about the ways we are influenced socially and within our peer groups.
Case Study Tips: Citations
Citations and Works Cited: Be sure to include an end reference of Floyd in either APA or MLA style with matching and correct citations throughout your paper.
• MLA Paper Formatting: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_general_format.html
• APA Paper Formatting: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/general_format.html
(Please note that I do not require an abstract for APA; please note that I will require page numbers for all references to the text; this is different than APA style).
Citing a conversation: If you choose to analyze a conversation, you do not need to cite it in the paper. You will use the paper to analyze it (offering a brief framing of the
conversation but letting most of the description come via analysis).
Citing a conversation or video: If you choose a video, you will cite it at the end and attach a hyperlink if applicable. Here’s a resource I found that is helpful for both APA and
MLA! https://www.bibliography.com/how-to/how-to-cite-a-video/#:~:text=How%20do%201%20cite%20a, two%20elements%20of%20the%20citation.
List of Terms Used: Don’t forget that you will compile a list of the terms from the book that you used and defined in your case study. You will need at least six. At the end of the
works cited page, you will list each term and include a page number next to the term. You do not need to provide definitions here, just the terms and page numbers in list
form.