For this assignment, you are to conduct research on a specific theory or concept from your readings/lectures and then apply the theory to reflect on and analyze an interpersonal communication situation you’ve experienced
For this assignment, you are to conduct research on a specific theory or concept from your readings/lectures and then apply the theory to reflect on and analyze an interpersonal communication situation you’ve experienced. The paper will have two parts. First, you will conduct research on the theory/concept using at least 3 sources. One of these sources can be your textbook/lecture, the other two sources must be scholarly journal articles. You will need to provide in-text citations as you write your paper. See the APA resources module under the “Content” tab in E-Learning for information regarding sources and in-text citing. At the end of your paper you will provide an APA Reference Page listing all of your sources. Again, see the APA resources module in eLearning for resources regarding APA and making a Reference Page.
If you are unsure if a theory/concept/etc. is acceptable to use for your paper, please email me directly
and ask.
Guidelines
● IMPORTANT – You can only use a theory or concept from the content/weeks listed below. Follow
this schedule to know what chapters for theories or concepts are available for each paper;
o Theory Paper 1 – Any theory/concept/etc pull from materials from weeks 1-7
o Theory Paper 2 – Any theory/concept/etc pull from materials from weeks 8-15
● At least TWO of your sources for this paper must be peer-reviewed journal articles. You will want
to utilize WMU’s library database, as well as search engines like “Google Scholar” to find relevant
articles. This will take time, will require you to browse through research, and might be
challenging. Don’t get overwhelmed with the process – just keep looking until you find the
articles you feel will work for your paper.
o To use WMU’s database go to wmich.edu, click “Academics,” click “Libraries,” enter
keywords in the search bar and click search, on the left hand side choose the filter
“Peer-reviewed journals.”
o Don’t hesitate to contact a WMU librarian to assist you with conducting research.
● Papers must be a MINIMUM of 2 double-spaced pages. DO NOT include a header at the top of
the paper (no name, no date, no course name, not my name). Simply include a title using the
name of the theory, centered in bold.
● Grammar and punctuation will be taken into consideration for grading purposes.
● Use Times New Roman, 12 point font.
● Must be double spaced.
● Use headers to separate sections of the paper – don’t use mine on the example, come up with
your own creative ones.
● You must upload your paper in its respective Dropbox folder as a WORD document by the
assigned due date (see course schedule).
SEE FOLLOWING PAGE FOR OUTLINE OF PAPER – USE AS A TEMPLATE
Social Penetration Theory
Introduction (1 paragraph)
● Thesis statement – “They purpose of this paper is to ______________”
● Preview your main points – “First, I will describe Social Penetration Theory and define
its various components based on the research I conducted. Second, I will apply the theory
to analyze a communicative experience I once had” (DO NOT use this exact wording,
this is just to help you).
Research on Social Penetration Theory (3/4ths – 1 page)
● In this section, you will provide a review of the research you’ve conducted. You will
want to touch on how the theory emerged, who created it, how its been used, what it
explains, etc., etc.
● Be sure to use in-text citations – (Ex. – “According to Smith (2013), Social Penetration
Theory was founded by Altman and Taylor in 1983.”
Social Penetration Theory Applied to My Life (3/4th – 1 page)
● In this section, you will need to focus on ONE specific instance in your life that you feel
the theory can help explain. Did you get into an argument with your mom over something
as a teenager? Did you and your boyfriend have a misunderstanding? Did you meet
someone new and really liked them right away but not sure why? Did you go to a
different country and noticed or struggled with cultural differences? Break down
whatever example it is that you use step-by-step and include tenets of the theory to
explain “what happened” the best you can. Use the theory to describe “why” your
interpersonal communication example transpired the way that it did.
Conclusion (1 paragraph)
● Thesis statement – “The purpose of this paper was to __________________”
● Review of main points – “First, I described Social Penetration Theory and defined its
various components based on the research I conducted. Second, I applied the theory to
analyze a communicative experience I once had” (DO NOT use this exact wording, this
is just to help you).
● Concluding device
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