This experiential learning writing assignment will require you to interview someone in a career you could envision for yourself. The purpose of the interview is to learn about the communication climate and conflict management practices in one organization or profession. You will subsequently analyze and reflect upon the interview, drawing connections to course concepts and recommendations relevant to your future career. Prior to or at the beginning of the interview, it may be helpful to share the text’s definition of communication climate: “Communication climate is the overall feeling or emotional mood between people—warm or cold, safe or anxious, accepting or rejecting, open or guarded—that is shared by verbal and nonverbal interaction between people” (Wood, 2020, p. 226). Preliminary Steps: Interview a person in a career that you could envision for yourself. You may conduct the interview through a face-to-face conversation or a mediated format such as Zoom, FaceTime, or Skype. Prepare questions prior to the interview. At a minimum, ask the professional to describe: the communication climate of their organization and/or profession how members of their organization and/or profession manage conflict how communication climate and conflict management shape and reflect relationships in their organization and/or profession recommendations on how to foster a healthy communication climate and manage conflict constructively in the workplace Refer to Chapters 8 and 9 of the textbook to prepare follow-up questions about specific course concepts, especially those that seem most relevant and applicable. Review the Writing Assignment Grading Rubric [DOCX] Click for more options Writing Assignment Grading Rubric [DOCX] – Alternative Formats and the Document Formatting Guidelines [DOCX]. Click for more options Document Formatting Guidelines [DOCX].
– Alternative Formats Your writing should be carefully structured, edited, and proofread. Use a pseudonym (i.e., a fake name) for your interviewee unless your interviewee has granted permission for use of his or her real name.
The recommended 500-750 word count of your essay does not include your name, your instructor’s name, and assignment title on the first page and reference(s) at the end of your assignment. You may exceed 750 words if necessary. In an approximately 500-750 word essay: Begin with an introduction that briefly describes your interview, the main themes in the body of your writing assignment, and your overall thesis. The body of your writing assignment should explore in detail how the interviewee’s organization and/or profession illustrate the following concepts from Chapters 8 and 9:
Communication climate Conflict management Recommendations on how to foster a healthy communication climate and manage conflict constructively in the workplace Additional course concepts and recommendations discussed or illustrated in the interview Apply specific course terminology correctly in your writing. Support your assertions with in-text citations of the textbook and other course material. In your essay, respond to the following questions as you reflect upon your learning in this module:
How did my conversation help me understand the course material in this module? What am I learning about this module’s material, myself, and others? Of what value is this?
How will I extend my learning to my interpersonal communication and relationships in the future? End with a concluding paragraph that summarizes the body of your writing assignment and reaffirms your thesis.