Journal 1

COMM4153: NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT: JOURNAL 1 Dr. Elaine Hsieh DUE: May 1, 2020 Credibility and Competence Activity: 1. You can do this activity either in-person (with family members or any person you are

currently not exercising social distancing) or online. Please either print 3 copies or email the file to them so that they can fill the form out for you.

2. Find a cause/topic that you believe in. The topic has to be a topic appropriate for a persuasive speech (i.e., you have to SELL that idea to your conversational partner).

3. Have a conversation (at least 10 minutes) with someone, try to bring in this topic gently. You can say that you learned about something in class, in the news, from friends, and was really convinced by it and thought it’d be a good idea to share with them.

4. After the conversation, ask your listener to fill the following survey. 5. You have to repeat step 3 and 4 three times (i.e., having at least 3 individuals to listen to your

comments and evaluate you). Journal Write-up: Requirements [Be sure to address each item] 1. Use the first paragraph to provide background information: what was the topic chosen?

Who are the listeners and where did the conversation take place? 2. Based on their response, did they have similar perceptions or suggestions on certain

elements? What are they? 3. Based on the lectures and readings, which dimension of credibility are you most good at? 4. Based on lectures and readings, which dimension of credibility do you need to work on

more? 5. Write 5 things that you can work on to improve your credibility in the future? 6. Include the 3 completed evaluation forms with your journal when you submit the journal

assignment via Canvas. 7. Make sure you incorporate the course content we covered, including PowerPoint, course

readings, and additional videos that I have designated, on credibility and competence in your analysis.

NONVERBAL CUE EVALUATION Communicator: ______________________ Evaluator: _________________________ Please reflect the communicator’s nonverbal cues very carefully to determine which cues had a positive and negative impact on credibility. The communicator should use these evaluations to make the adjustments in persuasive communication that are necessary to develop personal credibility. During the discussion, did the communicator: Eye Behaviors Yes No + 1 sustain eye contact with the listener? + 2 look directly at the customer? – 3 look down or away before making a point? – 4 exhibit shifty eyes? – 5 blink excessively? Gestures + 1 use hand and head gestures to emphasize points/ + 2 use gestures to signal a desire to continue talking? + 3 keep hands and elbows out and away from the body? + 4 avoid using distracting hand-to-face gestures? – 5 exhibit any weak and tentative gestures? – 6 clear throat? – 7 smile out of context? – 8 fidget? – 9 put hand in pockets or on objects in the room? Postures + 1 assume an open and relaxed posture? + 2 use postural shifts to indicate interest? + 3 lean forward while making a point? + 4 face the customer directly? – 5 exhibit bodily tension? – 6 appear rigid? – 7 communicate with crossed arms and/or legs?

Vocal Cues + 1 use a conversational speaking style? + 2 emphasize important points with change in pitch and volume? + 3 communicate with sufficient volume? + 4 speak at an appropriate rate? – 5 speak with a limited pitch rate? – 6 sound flat, tense, or nasal? – 7 pause at length before answering questions? – 8 use nonfluencies such as “ah” and word repetitions? – 9 interrupt the audience? Write an evaluation of persuasive communication. Begin by reviewing the assessments you have made earlier. Then identify the communicative cues that you felt had a positive or negative impact on credibility. Be sure to identify points not covered on the evaluation sheet. Desirable Aspects of Communication: Undesirable Aspects of Communication: Suggestions for Improvement: