Service Learning Project

Speech 2214 Service Learning Project

Communication in Action!
Sample Paper

*(Subject to Revision)

Purposes:

To learn more about communication in an experiential setting

To teach communication skills to diverse audiences

To practice good listening skills
To practice good citizenship and to learn through serving (rather than just learn to serve)

Assignment:

1. Site Selection: Select a Service Learning Site and have this site approved by your instructor. While you volunteer at this site, you will act as a "participant observer," that is you will observe the communication of the people you work with as well as your own. You will need to focus your observations to a specific area of your choice (gender communication, intercultural communication, conflict management, organizational communication, etc.). You can not merely baby-sit for your sister's kids...be creative! I can help you if you become "desperate." Submit a "service learning update" to Lori via D2L by the fifth week of class (See D2L Online Assignments). Criteria for sites include:

Criteria for Sites:

A Contact person who can serve as your "mentor." This person will sign the 2 attached verification forms (one verifying on the onset of the project that he or she will serve as your mentor and one to verify that you satisfactory served with him or her for 10+ hours).
A duty to perform that will allow for communication with others.
A situation that is different than a normal volunteer or work experience for you.
Instructor Approval.

2. Time Commitment: You will need to commit to at least 10 hours of service during this semester. These hours need to be served in no fewer than 3 visits to ensure 3 different observation times.

3. Journal (For a journal entry worksheet see this link): You will keep a journal during your service learning project, logging your feelings, reactions, responses, etc. After each meeting (you should have at least 4 entries for 4 meetings) comment upon the following:

The date, time, and place of the communication interaction.
List 5 feelings you experienced today while working on your service learning project.
What specific communication skill did you use most effectively?
What specific communication skill would you like to use more effectively?
What did you observe today about the communication of the others you worked with?
Finally, what did you learn? Explore this area as you deem most appropriate. Tie your observations to some specific page in our text. For example, you might comment upon about what you are learning about cultural communication, your skills as a communicator, communication skills, communication theory, the importance of “dual perspective,” learning outside of the classroom…the list here is endless!

4. Essay: You will write a 7-page (approximately) essay that reflects upon, summarizes and analyzes your experience. In your essay you will comment upon:

Briefly, summarize your experience. What did you do, where did you do it and with whom?
What did you learn about communication? Focus your observations into a(n) specific area(s) of communication.
Research this area, include materials from at least 3 print sources other than your text. At least one source must be a scholarly one.
What did you personally learn about communication? Use vivid examples.
Include at least 5 quotes from your textbook to help you analyze your experience.
Make sure to cite your sources (both your textbook and your 2 other sources) within the content of your essay using parenthetical references as well as in a bibliography. If you do not know how to do this, see: www.stylewizard.com.

5. Round Table Discussion: You will summarize your experience in a 7-10 minute round-table discussion of your experience. You will assign the class a section of the text to read to prepare for your presentation.

In 4 minutes:
1) Begin by telling us what you did and where.
2) Briefly analyze your experience with the use of your text and research.
3) Tell us about what tips you'd suggest we follow if we do what you did.

End with a question and answer period for the rest of your time.

6. Related Links:

Site Ideas: "211" should work for local volunteer information!
Local Information for Volunteering -- www.c-net.org
For more about service learning in the field of communication, including "why do service learning?":
http://www.natcom.org/Instruction/sl/home.htm

Sample Paper -- From Spch 1130 but very similar assignment -- More coming soon hopefully!

Verification Form #1
(to be signed on the onset of the service learning project)

I agree to serve as a mentor to ___________________________________________

who will be working with me and/or my organization for an agreed upon 10 hours.

Mentor's Signature: _______________________________
Date: ________________________________

Student's Signature: _______________________________
Date: ________________________________

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Verification Form #2
(to be signed at the end of the service learning project)

____________________________(student's name) has satisfactorily served _____ hours with me and/or my organization.

Comments:

Mentor's Signature: _______________________________
Date: ______________________________

Student's Signature: _______________________________
Date: _______________________________

last updated: 8/04