Communication Competence

GCOM
T. Herron

Communication Competence Paper #1
Due Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Objectives:
To read and understand Chapter One in the course textbook.
To understand that communication is a central focus of your existence.
To recognize that you can improve your communication skills in a variety of contexts (situations).
To analyze yourself and determine when and where you are successful as a communicator. (Am I a competent communicator, am I good at communicating?)
To analyze yourself and determine what challenges you face as a communicator. (When and where do I fail as a communicator or need to improve?)

Guidelines:
1. After reading Chapter One, write a 2-page, typed, double-spaced paper on the question: Am I a competent communicator? You may use any and all sources to support your answer(s) to the question. I encourage you to use personal examples/stories to explain your answer to the question. Provide appropriate bibliographic information at the end of your paper as needed. Your writing should be clear, concise, and free of grammatical errors. Be real with your self-analysis. Don’t hold back – we can all get better as communicators. Please don’t regurgitate too much from the textbook – this analysis is about YOU!

2. After writing your 2-page paper, please attach a third page that lists bulleted items in 2 different categories. The first list should include areas of communication that you believe you are “GOOD” with. The second list should include areas of communication that you know you need/want to work on or “NEED IMPROVEMENT”.
For example: GOOD – I’m a good listener. I make friends easily. Etc.
NEED IMPROVEMENT – I don’t like conflict. I don’t make good eye contact with people. Etc.

Questions to help stimulate your writing/thinking:
What does it mean to be a competent communicator? Qualities/characteristics?
What does it mean to an incompetent communicator? Qualities/characteristics?
When I communicate with others – what do I do well?
When I communicate with others – what challenges do I face?
As a communicator – Do I often wish I would have said/done something differently?
What would I like to improve as it relates to my interactions with others?
What would I like to learn in GCOM this semester?