Cuyamaca College Presidential Debates and Communication Discussion

You now have an enhanced lens through which to view and analyze the debates which start this week. Here are just some of the concepts we have covered so far:

• Communication Model
• Communication Styles
• CommunicationCompetence
• Ethics
• Perception
• Culture (so many concepts here)

What a perfect time (in the next two weeks) to be getting into:

• Language (required in analysis)
• Power of words
• Rhetorical devices
• Nonverbal Communication

Other topics we will cover that may be useful are:

• Emotions
• Conflict
• Listening

Tasks:

1. Check out the Presidential Debate schedule:

• Tuesday 9/29 6pm-7:30pm
• Thursday 10/15 6pm-7:30pm
• Thursday 10/22 6pm-7pm

2. Watch (at least) one of the debates.

3. It’s your turn to be a political analyst! Write a 2-3 page paper using the following guidelines:

• Your paper must analyze the debate using 3 unrelated concepts (from different book chapters).
• One of the concepts MUST be from the chapter about Language (Chapter 3).
• Include a definition of each concept in your own words.
• Include an example of how each concept was or was not used.
• You must provide evidence. Although your opinion may leak out in the paper (you do not have to avoid giving it), this is NOT an opinion piece.
• Use the following structure:
  • Introduction (set the scene and preview the content of the paper)
  • Body (3 concepts and examples)
  • Conclusion (summary and closing thought).