Instructions:
Overview – Your final paper will build off the work you completed for the annotated bibliography. You will write a paper in which you apply a communication theory to your profession. The theory must be one we reviewed during the semester.
Communications theory to use: Spiral of silence
Requirements – The guidelines are as follows:
- An introduction in which you present the reader an issue facing your profession, citing relevant professional literature (2-3 pages)
- An introduction and overview of a relevant communications theory (3-4 pages)
- An application of the theory to the professional issue, such that you create a “best practices” guide that would aid your colleagues in using the theory to succeed while handling the issue. (4-5 pages)
- Use APA format, 6th edition
- 9 to 12 pages in length (the reference list, while required, does not count toward this page requirement)
- Double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font, 1 inch margins
- Proper grammar and spelling
The following questions might help you develop your paper:
Introduction of Issue (2-3 pages)
- What issue is facing your profession?
- Why should readers care?
- What are industry pundits and professionals saying about the issue?
- Briefly, how might we address the issue using communications theory?
Theory Section (3-4 pages)
- What theory are you using to address the professional issue?
- Briefly, why is the theory relevant for this issue?
- What are the assumptions underlying the theory?
- What are the concepts and relationships? How have scholars defined the concepts?
- What predictions/explanations does the theory offer?
Application of Theory to Issue (4-5 pages)
- When we apply the theory to the issue, what might we expect?
- What explanations would it offer?
- What insight does the theory (and its supporting research) offer us that will help professionals address the issue?