Experiential essay

You will use the theory to explain your own “memorable” experience, event(s) or communication behaviors or activities in everyday contexts, including your personal/interpersonal relationships, family/home, work, public/mass media, and other settings. Specifically, select and present one and only one communication theory from lecture materials in detail and use the theory to explain your experiences, demonstrating or highlighting theoretical points. In particular, you should describe how your experiences have enhanced your understanding of your personal responsibilities for communicating successfully with others. Personal responsibilities in the essay mean that you examine ethical values/decisions (your own or those of others) within your essay contexts. You need to show that you recognize ethical dilemmas and alternative actions and evaluate the consequences of various ethical perspectives.

You should cite 3-5 specific theoretical comments, notes, quotes, or writing from the required textbook.

The essay needs an introduction, body and conclusion. In the introduction, gain attention, preview the scope and purpose of the paper, and offer a theme or thesis. The conclusion summarizes the points you made, often with your own concluding remarks or personal reflections.

Additional tips

1. This essay should be like a good short story or case analysis–with a beginning and an ending. Start with a great title that summarizes/characterizes your experience, people involved, background of involved people, what has happened over time.
2. It should cover “a chunk of reality,” focusing on real events in your real-life context.
3. It should depict a series of events with a past as well as a present.
4. It should have a clear time structure; usually the past tense is most appropriate.
5. It should have some elements of argumentation, including multiple sources of evidence for support (for your theoretical points).
6. It should be engaging, with suspense and drama.
7. It should include background information, explicit boundaries, and multiple viewpoints, if appropriate.