Relationship Paper

SPCH 110

Interpersonal Communication

Relationship Project (rev. 2018)

Purpose of project:

To describe and explain the communication in a relationship you have with another person
To create a plan to improve some aspect of the relationship, using specific concepts learned from class and/or from your textbook

Relationship Project Proposal- due separately from Relationship Project

Read the entire project description below. In a short 1-2 page paper, please tell me:
Describe some of your history as a communicator- what are your strengths and weaknesses as a communicator? Who taught you how to communicate?
Which relationship are you focusing on for this project?
Which aspect of the relationship would you like to see improve- what is the history of communication in this relationship?
What communication patterns do you think you do well within the relationship? What patterns don’t seem effective?

Implementation of project:

Choose an individual you see at least twice a week, and with whom you have had a personal or professional relationship for at least three months.
Describe the nature of the relationship: what type of relationship is it? How did you meet? What is the history of the relationship?
Find two resources (journal articles, properly cited) that discussion communication in the type of relationship you chose (ex. Friendship, romantic relationships, parental, sibling, etc)
Implement an improvement plan- the improvement plan will consist of the required elements listed below.
Write a paper describing your project and analyzing the results. In your paper, include and discuss:

Write and Submit the Paper

Background of the Relationship
A description of your communication background, including influences on your identity, perception, and your communication skills. How did you get to become the person and communicator you are? What relationships taught you about ethics and right/wrong in communication and relationships?
A description of the relationship you are working on for this project. How did you meet? What patterns do you see in your communication within the relationship? Can you identify any relational dynamics as noted in our material? What are your conflict patterns for this relationship? Have you had any ethical issues in the relationship?
Implementation of the Project
Summarize both journal articles addressing communication in relationships.
Describe two perceptions checks you used and results. What made you decide to use it in these circumstances? How did it go?
Describe and assess your listening patterns within the relationship (give examples). How do your nonverbal impact the situation? What changes did you make to improve your listening skills? (give examples)
Describe two situations where you used I language or supportive language. What was the context? Were your nonverbal congruent? How did it work?
Analysis of the Project
Analyze the overall result of the implementation. What seemed to work? What might need practice? How did your change in approach impact the relational dynamics? Did it impact your conflict patterns?
Reflection on the Overall Project
How might better results be obtained in future interactions?
What other relationships might benefit from these skills?
Did your understanding of the impact of interpersonal skills influence how you approach communication situations from an ethical perspective?
Additional Requirements
Oral presentation of highlights of project (see below)
Please include a works cited page with proper APA citation for your two journal articles

Submit (online students) or present (F2F students) a 2-3 minute video summary where you share the highlights of what you learned from this project with your classmates. You do not have to share personal details, but be as specific as possible in terms of the communication skills used and the lessons learned. (F2F classes will present this summary in class). This oral presentation is worth 10 points toward your project.

Your grade WILL NOT be based on the success or failure of the plan, but rather on the design, implementation, discussion, and analysis of the plan.

Guidelines for paper:

Papers should be submitted through Canvas by 11:59 pm on the due date.
The paper will be worth 100 points.
After ten (10) mistakes in spelling, punctuation, grammar and/or incomplete sentences, the final grade of the paper will be reduced one letter grade. Late papers will have 10 points deducted for each class day late.

RELATIONSHIP PAPER PROPOSAL ( THIS WAS SUBMITTED ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO)
Communication skills are the abilities you use when giving and receiving different kinds of information. Some examples include communicating new ideas, feelings. People with the strength of communication put their thoughts and feelings into words as they speak. I as a communicator did not use to be good. I would struggle to express myself. I was unable to gather together what I heard and rehash those thoughts into a simple, understandable, and sensible form. My communication skills improved when I met my home tutor. Who helped me work through the struggles that I mentioned above. He also helped me gain confidence while speaking, also making videos of me uploading them. I can also express my feelings in writing, musical, or artistically. My biggest strength is I can express my feelings and thoughts in any form, and I am not afraid to create new and unique ways to do them. I will be focusing on my relationship with my sister. As my relationship with her is not that great. Most of the time we don’t agree on the same thing. The way she wants to do things is different from my ways Which cause tension in the relationship and the fight starts with you being a little rude and ending with the word run. I am unabel to express my feelings to her. How I feel when she says or does something that’s hurtfull or even helpfull. Our communication on the written side is low. Whereas there is no verba lcommunication right now.I will love to focus on what caused the tension between us and how I can tackle it. What I can do to make things work with my sister. I would like to see my sister and me be more supportive of each other and agreeing on some of the things. Sacrificing one’s need for the other. My relationship with my sister was never good. We fight 24 hours, 7 days a week. This started at a very young age and is still happening. I would love to see these fights stop and have a nice brother-sister relationship. Like other families. Each human being has a different style of communication and interaction. There are four types of communication styles. Aggressive, Passive-aggressive, Passive, and assertive. It is vitally important to understand each style and why someone is using it. There are five types of organizational patterns: chronological order, topical sequence, spatial/relational, cause/effect, problem/solution, Transitions. What we do best in this relationship would be cause and effect. Causing problems for each other and getting stuck in a bad situation. The pattern that does don’t work in this relationship would be a problem and a solution. Which never happens in this relationship.