The instructor talked about some of the points from Chapter 7. We did an experiment with personal idioms where students wrote their personal nicknames for their romantic partners or other family members on a slip of paper. Then we read the slips of paper in class.
Next we discussed dialogue and looked at a map of U.S. dialects. After that, we watched a Ph.D. student do various dialects and wrote out the constructive criticism for which he was asking. Last we watched a professional actress do dialects from around the world and including the U.S. dialects.
We did chapter check-ins of 5, 6, and 7.
We reviewed the clarifying question and paraphrase worksheet from two weeks ago and the instructor urged students to work the communication techniques into their daily communication.
The last item we did in class was an exercise on denotative and connotative words. The instructor illustrated the difference such words can make both in personal communication and in the mass media ("failed to sign the bill").
Next week:
Read Chapter 8 and do workbook
"I Am" papers will be returned
Do Constructive Complaint worksheet (on back of denotative group exercise) and be prepared to show your work on the overhead document cam
View last website on handout--high/low context cultures
Theory paper: have your summary of the film and summary of the theory completed. Bring to class, as the instructor will discuss transitions and how the two can be combined. There will also be various paper formats suggested at this class.
