Overview
Paper Overview
We all have relationships which can range from familial to romantic to platonic. Understanding the communication elements at play in a relationship leads to deeper understanding of other people and yourself. The purpose of this assignment is to demonstrate your understanding of the course concepts that we have studied throughout this term by applying them to a current significant relationship of yours or choosing a relationship portrayed in a movie. Regardless of the prompt you choose, remember this is an analysis paper which means that you must:
• Accurately define all course concepts and theories that you use in your paper.
• Accurately explain what these course concepts and theories that you use in your paper are about in your own words.
• Accurately apply and illustrate these course concepts and theories with vivid, personal examples from the relationship that demonstrate your understanding.
• Accurately cite the textbook and one outside scholarly source.
For this paper, you'll choose one of the following prompts.
Essay Prompt 1: Personal Relationship
Identify a significant relationship that you are or have been in. The relationship that you choose does not have to be romantic in nature, but it does have to be one that you are currently a part of, and one that you define as important and meaningful. Analyze your interpersonal relationship using 3 concepts from the course.
Essay Prompt 2: Movie Relationship
Choose a relationship portrayed in one of the following movies- When Harry Met Sally (1989, Harry and Sally), Before Sunrise (1995, Jesse and Celine), or Love and Basketball (2000, Monica and Quincy). Analyze the main interpersonal relationship from your chosen film using 3 concepts from the course.
If you want to write about another movie, please email me at least one week before the due date for approval. Submitting an essay about a non-approved film will result in a 20% deduction.
Course Concepts
Regardless of essay prompt, you will be required to choose THREE different course concepts as a framework for analysis. Consider which concepts we have examined over these past weeks you believe best apply to this relationship. Any theory, concept, or term included in the chapter readings can be used as your applied concepts.
Paper Structure
Use the following guide to structure your speech regardless of the prompt you chose.
Introduction: Two Parts
• Begin by providing an attention-getter that will grab your reader’s attention, a thesis statement, a preview of each main point (your main points are the three course concepts or theories that you will discuss in the body of the paper), a transition into the second part of the introduction – which is a brief synopsis of the relationship.
• Provide a brief synopsis of the relationship. Describe the type of relationship you are a currently a part of. Is this a romantic relationship? A relationship with a parent, sibling, extended family member, close friend or a mentor? How did your relationship develop? What is the current state of the relationship? Include a transition into the body of the paper.
Body
In the body of your paper, include the THREE different course concepts and theories (each course concept or theory should be a new paragraph) that tie vivid, personal examples from this relationship to each of the given course concepts or theories that you will use in this paper.
I will be looking at how well you are able to demonstrate your understanding of these course concepts and theories through proper analysis, application, definition, and vivid illustrations that tie examples from this relationship to the course concepts you have selected. (If needed, these sections can be broken down into 2 paragraphs per concept)
• Paragraph one: First course concept/theory that you will apply and analyze to this relationship *Include a transition to the second paragraph
• Paragraph two: Second course concept/theory that you will apply and analyze to this relationship *Include a transition to the third paragraph
• Paragraph three: Third course concept/theory that you will apply and analyze to this relationship *Include a transition to the conclusion
Conclusion: Two Parts
• Tell me what you have learned from writing this relationship analysis paper. Now that you have a much better understanding of various interpersonal communication concepts and theories than you did prior to taking this course; please explain how this understanding will change your communication behavior in this relationship? How do you plan on implementing these changes to improve your relationship with this person? Include a transition to the second part of the conclusion.
• Include a signal of closure, summarize your main points and leave the reader with a memorable closing statement.
Formatting Requirements
• Papers will be 3-5 double-spaced pages (this does not include headers and/or cover page if included): Papers that are UNDER or OVER the page requirement will not receive full points.
• Use 1-inch margins and 12pt Times New Roman font.
• You will be required to cite outside sources and course materials.
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o An Academic Journal Article: You will be required to use a total of ONE different academic journal articles that focuses on your chosen interpersonal course concepts and theories that you include in this analysis paper. The academic journal articles must be from 2000 to the present year. Textbooks will not meet the academic journal requirement- it must be an academic journal article.
o Course Textbook: You will be required to use a minimum of THREE in-text citations exclusively from the readings/OER textbooks provided on Canvas.
▪ Note: In an effort to discourage AI use, citing a textbook not used in the class (without previous written instructor permission) will not be accepted. Students may resubmit a rewritten essay on a different topic, but resubmitted essays will be subjected to the late point penalty (20% deduction).
o In-Text Citations: The information that you use from both the academic journal article and your course readings will be required to include in-text citations in the correct MLA style format. If you need assistance with citing using MLA, check out the OWL Purdue Writing LabLinks to an external site. or reference Chaffey's library resources.
o Separate Works Cited Page: The information that you borrowed from the academic journal article and your course textbook will should be properly cited in a separate references page in the correct MLA style format as the last page of this paper. The works cited page is not included in the 3-5 page count.