RESUME

Artifact Analysis

SCOM 241: COMMUNICATION THEORY LAB

Course Description: This lab is designed to complement and supplement the SCOM 240 lecture course. Students will discuss, write and/or give presentations related to the content covered in SCOM 240. The SCOM 241 lab and SCOM 240 lecture portions must be taken concurrently.

In this prerequisite, we had to write a 950 to 1000-word paper using two different theories to offer understandings or explanations of how specific audiences derive meaning from a textual artifact.  We had to pick any public message that can be read or interpreted as having meaning. After we chose an artifact we picked two theories covered in class that are appropriate for interpreting the artifact. Finally, we applied these theories to the artifact, demonstrating how the artifact works in the creation of meaning.

Research Article Presentation

SCOM 242: PRESENTATIONAL SPEAKING

Course Description: Study of methods for preparing and presenting public speeches. Consideration of impromptu and extemporaneous speaking, sales speeches, business presentations, and other special occasion speeches. Emphasis on performance and evaluation.

I created and presented a 5-6 minute Informative presentation about a research article based on speech anxiety and improv that was related to some aspect of public speaking. This presentation utilized a visual aid, a review of the research article, and highlighted relevance for being a good presentational speaker.

Final Research Paper Proposal

SCOM 280: INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION RESEARCH

Course Description: An introduction to the principles, methods, and analysis techniques used in the field of communication. Emphasis on a broad-based understanding of the breadth of research in the field. Includes both qualitative and quantitative research methods, methods of literature review, and research article critiques. Fulfills the College of Arts and Letters writing-intensive requirement for the major.

For this class, we had to write a final research proposal on a topic of our choice. This proposal includes a cover page, an introduction to the project, a literature review, a discussion of research methods, and an annotated bibliography.

Field Interview

SCOM 340: PRINCIPLES AND PROCESSES OF INTERVIEWING

Course Description: Study of communication principles and processes in interviewing. Emphasis on interpersonal processes involved in interview structures, goals, and question types. Development of communication skills in information, persuasive, counseling, health care, employment, and performance appraisal interviews. 

The subject of the field interview was to interview an approved organization of our choice about which we would like to learn more. We had to complete every step of the interview process. It introduced us to the process of initiating an interview about an organization instead of an individual. We had to interview someone who holds a leadership position and is knowledgeable about most aspects of the organization. We had to identify a hypothetical (1) audience and (2) goal/objective for the serious purpose of our interview- interviewing to gather information to prepare a comprehensive report on the organization. I interviewed Veronica Jones, an employee, and leader at the University Health Center-the Well.

IF Certification Program in Collaborative Discussion

SCOM 447: FACILITATING PUBLIC AND ORGANIZATIONAL ENGAGEMENT PROCESSES

Course Description: Students will learn theories and tools that help organizations and communities think through difficult issues in productive ways. Dialogue, deliberation, strategic planning, and collaboration are communicative tools that help people deal with complex issues by promoting understanding of multiple viewpoints of the issues, engaging in processes to facilitate choice-making and ways to act together to implement these decisions. Hands-on experiences will be utilized.

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In this class, I gained hands-on experience in dialogue, deliberation, strategic planning, and collaboration. By learning and using the theories and tools, I gained the IF Certification Program in Collaborative Discussion. This certificate means I am a recipient of the Interactivity Foundation's Certificate in Collaborative Discussion recognizing skills necessary to be a vital contributor in group discussions.

Final Rhetorical Criticism Research Paper

SCOM 381: RHETORICAL RESEARCH METHODS

Course Description: The study of rhetorical and critical research methods in various communication contexts. Emphasis is on developing and applying appropriate standards to consider communicative factors such as audience, tone, and rhetorical strategies. Consideration of criticism of public address, mass media, and other forms of persuasive communication. Students will be expected to conduct an original research project and present findings in a paper and/or oral presentation

I wrote a 20+ page rhetorical analysis on Beyonce's music video Formation. We needed to include a title page, an abstract page, an introduction, a literature review, a method section, a context section, an analysis section, a discussion/contributions section, a conclusion, and a references page.

Final Audit Project Report

SCOM 350: ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION

Course Description: Students gain a complex understanding of organizing practices by investigating the evolution of how historical events have influenced organizational communication and managerial practices at work. Drawing upon communication theory, students analyze various organizational communication practices such as the management of workers, development of organizational culture, and interaction with larger systems. Learning is complemented by an experiential learning project. 

I was placed in a group of 4 students to conduct a communication audit of an assigned local student housing complex to understand how organizational communication is shaping interactions, perceptions, and the achievement of goals. We worked with Squire Hill Apartment Complex and this audit report includes an organizational briefing, a culture scan, pages on our data collection method, our SWOC/SWOT analysis, and recommendations for the organization based on our analysis.

Essay Assignments

SCOM 357: YOUTH, COMMUNICATION, AND CULTURE

Course Description: Grounded in the cultural communication perspective, the course examines the relationship between communication, youth, and popular culture. Defining youth as children, tweens, teens, and college-aged young people, this course focuses on communication issues such as how youth are represented in various forms of popular culture; how they are defined by corporate discourse; how young people make sense of popular culture artifacts; and how they become cultural communicators as well as consumers. 

In this class, I had to write 5, 2-page essays throughout the semester that ranged in topics. All were related to ideas taught in Youth, Communication, and Culture.

Portland Beavers Final Written Report

SCOM 365: SPORTS PUBLIC RELATIONS

Course Description: This class is designed to provide students with opportunities to explore the profession of sports public relations. In this class, students will discuss various sports communication issues including media relations, community relations, player relations, fan relations, crisis communication, sports social responsibility, and more.

For my Sports Public Relations class, we had to complete PR assignments for our group's fantasy football team, the Portland Beavers. For our final written report and oral presentation, we had to identify a social issue or problem in the franchise city of our fantasy team and propose a solution using our team. We needed to include a cover page with the name of our team, our team logo and team members’ names, a table of contents with page numbers, a secondary research/situation analysis section, profiles of two to three target publics, a section for goals and objectives of the campaign, a public relations strategies and tactics ideas section, a tentative timeline and budget section, and an evaluation plan. We completed a 10-12 minute oral presentation on the information included in our report as well.

Reflective Essay

SCOM 450: ADVANCED STUDIES IN ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION

Course Description: Advanced studies in organizational communication is the concentration’s capstone. Through case studies, readings, discussions, and experiential activities students investigate complex issues that emerge for organizations and their members. Students apply theoretical knowledge and skills as they develop organizational communication concepts to analyze a communication problem. Expertise is showcased through an applied field study in an active organization.

In this reflective essay, for part two of my capstone portfolio project, I reflected on what I have learned about communication, people, and organizations and how my study of communication and organizations has affected myself and others. I detailed the processes I learned, the skills and knowledge I gained, the challenges I overcame, and how this major has impacted my future career.