How Communication Plays A Vital Role English Language Essay

How Communication Plays A Vital Role English Language Essay Communication plays a vital role in our lives. We communicate based on five reasons which are to influence people, to establish or maintain interpersonal relationships, to acquire different kinds of knowledge, to help people, and to play (DeVito, 2001). With this in mind, communication can be considered a sophisticated activity and that is why misunderstandings and conflicts tend to arise. According to Bovà ©e and Thill (2000), communication barriers are usually due to a number of factors such as differences in perception and language, poor listening, emotional interference, cultural differences and physical distraction. Listening skills is an important aspect in effective communication. Listening is defined as the acquisition of information in an interpersonal interaction (Bostrom, 1996a; 1996b). Comprehending, retaining, and responding are the three elements of listening (Rothwell, 2004). There are however, some problems that contribute to the barriers to listening. Qn 1 Based on the clip Stephanie Explodes at Eric, there are three barriers to listening that I observed. First is the competitive interrupting. Competitive interrupting occurs when we dominate the conversation by seizing the floor from others who are speaking. At 00:11 to 00:13, when Eric interrupted Stephanie, the conflict was further ignited. Eric failed to listen to Stephanies points. Erics actions prove that men are more frequent competitive interrupters (Mulac et al., 1988; Stewart et al., 1996). Secondly, I observed ambushing. Ambushing occurs when we listen for weaknesses and ignore the strengths of a speakers message (Rothwell, 2004). At 00:38 to 00:50, Stephanie ambushed Eric by saying that he had an illegitimate child with Brooke, which is totally out of context. In the argument, Eric wants Stephanie to realize that her act of confronting Brooke in front of the media is wrong. However, Stephanie had selectively listened to Erics point of view and attack him by bringing up Brookes personal life story as Wood (2004) mentioned Once a conflict begins, everything that has been stored up is thrown in. Last but not least, I observed content-only response. A content-only response focuses on the content of a message, but it ignores the emotional side of communication. As cited in 1:13 to 1:23 clip; Eric has long known that Stephanie has never agreed to the idea that Brooke works in their family-business company, Forrester Creations. When Stephanie finally thinks that it is the right time to fire Brooke, Eric failed to understand and acknowledge Stephanies feelings towards Brooke. He was too concern with the status of the company. Problems simply arise when we expect or assume the opposite sex should think, feel or act the way we do (Conner, 2000). Qn 2 In enhancing listening skills, a competent communicator needs to take note of informational listening and critical listening. Informational listening expands our knowledge and understanding of our world whereas critical listening helps us sort through bad ideas to discover good ideas that will solve problems and help us make quality decisions that improve our lives (Rothwell, 2004). Both situations require emphatic listening. Emphatic listening requires us to take the perspective of the other person; to listen for what that person needs (Rothwell, 2004). In the clip, both Eric and Stephanie could use emphatic listening to enhance their listening skills. In 00:11 sec, when Stephanie mentioned that Im not as angry with Brooke as I am angry with you, Eric could firstly, used the probing response to seek more information from others by asking questions (Rothwell, 2004). He could have asked Why did you say that? to understand the underlying causes of Stephanies statement. Secondly, Eric could use supporting response which acknowledges the feelings of the speaker and tries to boost the persons confidence (Rothwell, 2004). Instead of saying this is not about you in 1:37 sec, Eric could have said I can see how much Forrester means to you. The response will acknowledge Stephanies feelings thus calming her down. Last but not least, in resolving conflict, Stephanie could use the understanding response which requires a listener to check his or her comprehension of the speakers message by paraphrasing and perception checking (Rothwell, 2004). In time code 1:37 to 1:55, rather than shouting dont you dare talking to me about any damn united front, Stephanie could have responded I understand youre concerned about the future of Forrester, and you agree that Brookes behavior is unacceptable. Qn 3 Based on the clip, I perceived Eric to be in the right. The first attribution that Ive made with regards to his behavior is based on internal attribution which is caused by internal factors such as personality, characteristics and individual belief (Dobkin-Pace, 2006). In the argument, Eric has consistently portrayed a strong characteristic as a businessman as he showed that he certainly knows what is best for the company and stood by it. The first cue is he tells Stephanie that the argument is not about her and that they should worked together to put up a united front so as to convince the media that the company is not falling apart. Secondly, although he has a personal relationship with Brooke, his argument with Stephanie has never been based on his feeling but for the interest of the company. The second attribution I made is based on external attribution which is caused by external forces such as the social situation or physical environment (Dobkin-Pace, 2006). The main reason why the arguments between Eric and Stephanie started is because Stephanie made a rude remark towards Brooke in public which might jeopardize the future of the company. Because the remark was made in public, Eric had to react immediately to defend Brooke hence not able to control himself as he is overwhelmed with shock and anger. I made this attribution based on the words of Eric who reminded Stephanie that it is wrong to insult Brooke in front of her children, employees and media (cue 00:27 sec to 1.05 sec). Qn 4 In making my attribution about Eric, there are two biases that I may have made. Firstly is the fundamental attribution error which is defined as the overestimation of the degree to which other peoples behaviors are due to internal factors and underestimation of the significance of external forces (Dobkin-Pace, 2006). I mentioned earlier that Erics defense toward Brooke is solely for the benefit of the company. However, I may have overestimated the behavior. It can be possible that Eric still have feelings towards Brooke whom he had children with. This in turn, explained his behavior towards Stephanie when she made a remark on Brooke. Secondly is the attractiveness bias which means we tend to think better of attractive than unattractive people and we tend to make positive attributions about their behavior (Dobkin-Pace, 2006). From the start, I have paid more attention to Erics points rather than Stephanie due to the fact that as a women, I tend to be attracted to physical attractiveness of a male as compared to female which I believe affects my attributions. It is natural for human beings to make perceptions toward others without finding the actual facts. Based on the study above, it is proven that these biased perceptions tend to cause grievances, misunderstanding and conflicts. Therefore, it is important to practice good communication in our everyday lives. (1200 words) References: Bostrom, R. N. (1996a). Aspects of listening behavior. In O. Hargie, (Ed.) Handbook of communication skills. (2nd Ed., pp 236-259) London: Routledge. Retrieved February 27, 2010, from http://www.uky.edu/~bostrom/ncalist3.htm Bostrom R. N. (1996b). Cognition, behavior, and listening: A reply to Thomas and Levine. Human Communication Research. Retrieved February 27, 2010, from http://www.uky.edu/~bostrom/ncalist3.htm Bovà ©e, C. L. Thill, J. V. (2008). Business Communication Today (9th ed.). USA: Prentice Hall International, Inc. Retrieved February 26, 2010, from http://courses.nus.edu.sg/course/elcttr/ES2002/communication_process.html Conner, M. G. (2000). Understanding The Difference Between Men And Women. Retrieved February 28, 2010, from http://www.oregoncounseling.org/ArticlesPapers/Documents/DifferencesMenWomen.htm DeVito, J. A. (2001). The Interpersonal Communication Book (9th ed.). New York: Longman. Retrieved February 26, 2010, from http://courses.nus.edu.sg/course/elcttr/ES2002/communication_process.html Dobkin-Pace (2006). Communication in a Changing World. Singapore : McGraw Hill. Mulac, A., Wiemann, J., Wideman, S., Dibson, T. (1988). Male/female language differences and effects in same-sex and mixed-sex dyads: The gender-linked language effect. Communication Monographs, 55, 315-335. Rothwell, J. D. (2004). In the Company of Others : An Introduction to Communication. New York, NY: McGraw Hill. Steward, L., Cooper, P., Stewart, A., Friedley, S. A. (1996). Communication and Gender. Scottsdale, AZ: Gorsuch Scarisbrick. Wood, J. T. (2004). Interpersonal Communication: Everyday Encounters. New York: Wadsworth. Retrieved February 27, 2010, from http://department.monm.edu/portfolio/cata2005/kstitt/Relationship%20Paper.htm

The movie Super Size Me

The movie Super Size Me, is an in your face way of making people realize how the fast food industry is negatively affecting our nation. The surgeon general has declared the increasing rates of obesity an â€Å"epidemic†. In this documentary movie, Morgan Spurlock conducts an experiment, to investigate if indeed, fast food is the correlation to our nations obesity epidemic. The movie has severally bonus features such as an interview with Eric Schlosser, the author of Fast Food Nation, and an interview with Phil Lawler about the PE 4 Life program. As well as, The Smoking Fry, an interesting experiment looking at the decomposition of food. The movie Super Size Me, and all of its bonus features, revolves around two main components, the importance of nutrition and physical activity. I. Fast Food Nation The interview between Morgan Spurlock and Eric Schlosser discusses how fast food is processed and flavored, the unhealthy agricultural settings, obesity trends and how both the government and the people need to make a change for the better. I was appalled by the information provided in the interview, I had a basic idea of all the concepts but did not realize how extream they were. I can easily say that after knowing how fast food is made I have no interest at all in eating it. The fact that while in feed lots, cattle are pilled in fecal matter which can make it into the hamburgers that we eat, and that is why there is a higher increase in poisoning and disease from eating fast food. I think that is absolutely disgusting and it should not be allowed. I definitely will read the book Fast Food Nation, if this short interview opened my eyes this much; I am very interested to see how the book will make me feel. II. PE4LIFE Phil Lawler pointed out that, Illinois is the only state that enforces mandatory physical education k-12. During his interview talked about the PE4Life program, how it refocuses testing based on a healthy zone, that physical activity is the â€Å"fertilizer† for the brain, and the importance of creating a pattern and habit of exercising. PE4Life departs from the traditional approach to physical education by not focusing on traditional sports, but rather physical activities that assures every child is active. Testing in the PE4Life program assesses results on whether the students â€Å"does it well enough that he/she is considered healthy. While the traditional program assesses testing based on what percentile the student falls into compared to their peers. If the State of Michigan were to adopt a serious daily approach to physical education, such as the PE4Life program the outcome would be extremely beneficial to the students overall heath. We discussed in class how students in Michigan do not meet the set goal of exercising five times a week for thirty minutes at a time. Also, how forty percent of children in MI are currently over weight. The end of the Super Size Me video made it a point to state that Detroit is now the fattest city in the United States. Obviously something needs to be done to change these trends, implementing mandatory physical education k-12; using a PE4Life philosophy may be exactly what Michigan students need. III. The Smoking Fry The Smoking Fry was an experiment conducted by Morgan Spurlock to examine how different McDonalds food items and less artificially enhanced flood items would decompose after periods of time. I thought that all of the different food items would start to mold after about a week, and they all would get worse as more time went by. I just assumed that food that wasn’t frozen or at least refrigerated started to mold after a period of time. My reaction to the results was disgust; it made me wonder what kind of crazy chemicals are in those fries that they do not show any signs of molding after ten weeks. I think that as our bodies decompose food we ingest from fast food chains it is exposed to the many chemicals preservatives put in the food, and does not receive the proper nutrients. I would also assume that the same logic would apply from the experiment, to our bodies, meaning that it is more difficult for the body to decompose fast food as opposed to more natural foods. My mother eats mostly all organic food whenever possible, so when my birthday came she was going to make a cake from scratch like usual. I told he that I would rather have a funfetti box cake instead; begrudgingly she made the cake for me. Not without going on and on about how bad it is for you, and how many chemicals, and ingredients you cant even pronounce and in it and that not even like eating a real cake. What was interesting and supports the results from the Smoking Fry is that, she pointed out to me that after a month of sitting in the tupperware not a speck of mold was on it. Processed foods contain so many preservatives that they may never mold, for instance a Twinkie has no expiration date, I think that is absolutely crazy. The fact that processed foods are filled with so many chemicals to they have a longer shelf life should be a good indication as to how bad they are for your body. IV. Movie Super Size Me The movie Super Size Me is a documentary by Morgan Spurlock. In this movie Spurlock undertakes eating nothing but McDonalds for thirty days, to determine if fast food is the fast track to becoming obese and if its unreasonably dangerous. Spurlock had a set of rules for the month; can only super size when asked, can only eat food from McDonalds water included, has to eat everything on the menu at least once, and he must eat three meals a day, lastly limit the amount of steps per day. Before the experiment Spurlock consulted with a cardiologist, gastrologist, and a general practitioner, all three doctors concluded that he was currently physically healthy. The doctors said that increased cholesterol and triglyceride levels, weight gain, and an increased risk for heart disease were expected outcomes of this experiment. The actual end results of the experiment where much more serous than expected. Spurlock gained twenty four and a half pounds, the liver had basically turned to fat, cholesterol shot up sixty five points, body fat percentage increased seven percent, he doubled his risk for heart disease and failure, felt exhausted and depressed, experience rapid mood sings, had a non existent sex life, and developed an addiction, he craved more and more and had headaches when he did not eat the food. There was a point where he considered stopping short of the thirty days because his health being seriously affected. The movie addressed the lack of regards to the state of our nations physical education programs. Again it was stated that Illinois is the only state that makes physical education mandatory k-12. Brain Philips a physical education teacher stated that students in his elementary school only receive physical education one day a week for forty-five minutes. According to the surgeon general, a person needs to be physical active thirty minutes a day, every day to maintain your weight and a healthy well-being. The Nations schools are not close to implementing these standards, and its only getting worse. In 2001 while President Bush was in office he created the No Child Left Behind reform. Due to this reform schools cut recess time, heath, nutrition, and physical education classes back to allow for more time to prepare for the more â€Å"academic† classes. Naperville, Illinois setting the standards for the model program of physical education because they are creating an awareness in the community about the importance of physical activity, and in turn receiving the support to make the PE4Life program possible. In my opinion other states are not pushing to adopt this model due to the No Child Left Behind reform, lack of effort, fear of change, and the financial expenses. Physical education should be of the utmost importance for individuals making decisions about education in Michigan. Detroit is heaviest city in the United States. From class lecture we no that in Michigan forty percent of children are over weight compared to thirteen to fourteen percent Nationally. It can no longer be ignored; it must be addressed by the school systems, to stop this growing epidemic of obesity. This movie mad an impact on how I view fast food. I do not consume fast food on a regular bases, but occasionally when I am starving and I do not have time, or am not around to cook something, I will eat it. That is definitely going to change, after watching this how could you eat fast food, its disgusting. When I have children of my own, I will not allow them to eat fast food, except on very rare occasions. I grew up with a mother that always cooks dinner, buys organic food, and has always been very couscous on the making sure I eat a balanced diet. I plan to use the same nutritional approach with my own children. V. Conclusions After viewing Supper Size Me, my position of consuming fast food still stands, as it not being a healthy choice. Proper nutrition directly related to a persons heath, and with a sufficient amount of physical activity a person is at their optimal level of overall health. After watching Super Size Me, and its bonus features, it opened my eyes wider to both the importance of nutrition and physical activity, and how the Nation is in a fight against obesity epidemic. I do now think that eating fast food is truly the fast track to obesity. I now will make a more conscious decision about the things I am eating. My periodic fast food visits will be eliminated, and I will try to stay away from all process foods, anything with artificial flavoring, and definitely increase my eating of organic foods.

Gay Marriage And Gay Rights - 2550 Words

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Of course there all sorts of different theories on what coul d happen if the United States government allows for the gay community to marry people of the same sex, including accusations of beastiality and incest, there is no actual connection to these theories, only causing a panic in our society, and allowing fear of what may be make the decision for these people’s lives. My goal today is to touch on some of these political issues with the gay marriage issue, and the onset of an epidemic that may occur if they do allowShow MoreRelatedGay Marriage : Gay Rights And Peoples Rights737 Words   |  3 PagesGay marriage in itself is not bad at all, but marriage is the binding of man and woman, not of either one of them. Gay marriage is not truly marriage and if the gay people would like to have a union, they should not call it marriage. Many a person would say gay marriage is not wrong because it hurts no one. This essay will prove to you that it is, in fact, wrong. 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Sexism Defined by Harry Potter - 856 Words

Sexism: Defined by Harry Potter Can a reader honestly expect a series of stories for children to be filled with sexism? Didn’t think so. Sexism, defined as â€Å"prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of sex,† has found its way into one of today’s most popular series of books. Christine Schoefer, who is the mother of three die-hard female Harry Potter fans, has managed to depict and illustrate obvious gender bias occurring in these stories. Throughout her piece, â€Å"Harry Potter’s Girl Trouble,† the reader is reminded as to how the author of the series is obviously discriminating against women. Schoefer makes a convincing argument as to why â€Å"Harry’s fictional realm of magic and wizardry perfectly†¦show more content†¦She relies heavily on the reader’s ability to form his or her own conclusion based on the evidence given. In one instance, she anticipates a possible objection that one c ould make and partially agrees with it (par. 3). She asks a question that an opponent would ask to set herself up to respond to another viewpoint. Her strategy continues to work after she starts to contest the opposing viewpoint with situational examples that the reader can relate to. Only towards the end of her essay does Schoefer start to prove her point. She starts using rhetorical questions to keep the readers thinking and engaged in the argument. After asking questions, Schoefer attacks the author’s credibility. She states that she â€Å"remains perplexed that a woman (the mother of a daughter, no less) would write a book so full of stereotypes† (par. 11). Her method of argument proves to be successful as she goes on to summarize her argument in paragraphs 12 and 13. As Schoefer ends her essay, she discloses another opposing viewpoint where she reveals that parents regard her as a â€Å"heavy-handed feminist with no sense of fun† (par. 13). She gives her argument to contradict the opposition and then effectively leaves the reader to question her claim overShow MoreRelatedLiterature : A Way Of A Person s Mind Essay1938 Words   |  8 Pagesdiscrimination are racism and sexism. While reading different stories, I tried to look into them on a deeper level and see the â€Å"between the lines† concepts that the author wanted us to see. I believe that many authors want us to look deeper than the surface storytelling techniques to capture the true essence of the story. Various forms of discrimination throughout history have been a literary staple in many different fictional works. The definition of discriminate as defined by Webster Dictionary asRead MoreThe Problem With Feminism, The Media, And You1824 Words   |  8 Pagessimple background characters, or sexualized objects. Even though the media may have become very progressive in this day and age, sexism in the media still exist and it is wrong because media influences children and feminism is being warped by today s media. Here are some words and their definition that would be helpful to know and will show up in this research paper Sexism: Prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of sex, Media: The main means of mass communicationRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 Pages20 percent in human resource management activities, and 19 percent networking. However, the time and effort different individual managers spent on those activities varied a great deal. As shown in Exhibit 1-2, among managers who were successful (defined in terms of speed of promotion within their organization), networking made What Managers Do 9 Exhibit 1-2 Average managers Allocation of Activities by Time Successful managers Effective managers 11% 26% 44% 19% 32% 20% 29% 48%