CM 220 Unit 3 Seminar

General Education, CompositionKaplan University

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Seminar Overview

• Unit assignments • Preview of unit 4• Primary and secondary research• Brief library overview• Interviewing skills• Creating questions for mock

interview

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Applying what you know. . .

Let’s review the article by O’Hegarty, et al. • The article concludes that the U.S. should use graphic

warnings on cigarette packages because these are likely to be effective in encouraging people not to smoke.

• Is their research valid? Does it have any weaknesses? Could the hypothesis be tested further? Would the use of graphic warnings be an example of the “appeal to fear” fallacy and, if so, would using them in an anti-smoking campaign be ethical?

• What were drawbacks that study participants noted with some of the ads?

• Does their argument rely on any LOGICAL FALLACIES?

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Canadian warnings

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How do we AVOID fallacies in our own

writing? • Imagine you disagree with your own argument. Which of your arguments would not convince you and why? Which arguments are “fishy” or weak?

• List your argument. List the evidence you provide for each claim. Look critically at this evidence.

• Ask yourself which fallacies you are prone to make. Look for these in your arguments.

• Review your argument for absolutes and sweeping generalizations (all, every, never, always)

• Review the types of Logical Fallacies listed in the handbook on pp. 5-6 and review your argument for these problems.

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UNIT 3 ASSIGNMENTSUnit 3 seminar

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Unit 3 Reading

• Introduction to unit• Schamberger, M. (1997). Elements of

quality in a qualitative research interview. S. A. Archives Journal, 3925. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.

• Interview Tips (posted in Doc Sharing)• Research Resources (posted in Doc

Sharing)

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Other Assignments

• Invention lab: Analysis of Senate hearing videos from Fred Rogers and Al Gore

•  Seminar: Interview techniques and listening skills

• Tech lab (ideas for unit 7 IL presentation revised for final): Creating websites (Kaplan optimal resume website builder, Google sites, Weebly, GoDaddy)

• No project due in unit 3

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Purpose of Unit 3 Assignments

• Discuss what constitutes effective communication

• Review effective listening skills• Prepare for the unit 4 project, which

includes a pre-interview worksheet and discussion of 3 secondary sources

• Note: You do not have to conduct the interview, or, if conducted, use it as a source in your project, but this is a great chance to get interviewing experience!

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Evaluating Communication• What is the setting? • What is the appearance of speaker?• Is the speaker reading the speech from notes?• Does the speaker have appropriate pauses

and make eye contact with audience? Use gestures?

• Does the speaker gear the speech to the intended audience? How does the speaker attempt to connect with the audience?

• How does the speaker emphasize specific points?

• Does the speaker have any annoying habits that detract from the speech?

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Understanding Context

• Everything is written (or spoken) to someone for some purpose. The email you send to your sister should be written differently than a proposal you send to a business client, and a speech delivered to a group of second graders would differ from the President speaking to Congress.

• Knowing the audience, purpose, and the context is vitally important to good writing and speaking. Ask yourself: – Why am I writing or saying this? – Who is my audience? – What am I trying to say?

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Writing vs. Speaking

• Writing only uses words

• Message must be clearly and correctly written to convey ideas

• Demonstrate competence by using Standard American English

• Speaking uses words, tone, gestures, facial expressions, posture, eye contact

• May be accompanied by visual aids (Power Point, etc.)

• Appearance is important!

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CONDUCTING INTERVIEWSUnit 3 seminar

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Primary Sources

“A primary source is a document or physical object which was written or created during the time under study. These sources were present during an experience or time period and offer an inside view of a particular event. Some types of primary sources include: ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS (excerpts or translations acceptable): Diaries, speeches, manuscripts, letters, interviews, news film footage, autobiographies, official records 

• CREATIVE WORKS: Poetry, drama, novels, music, art  • RELICS OR ARTIFACTS: Pottery, furniture, clothing, buildings

“ (“What is a Primary Source,” 2009).

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Examples of Primary Sources

• Diary of Anne Frank - Experiences of a Jewish family during WWII 

• The Constitution of Canada - Canadian History  • A journal article reporting NEW research or

findings  • Weavings and pottery - Native American history  • Plato's Republic - Women in Ancient Greece  • Interview with author about his novels

(“What is a Primary Source,” 2009)

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Secondary Sources

“A secondary source interprets and analyzes primary sources. These sources are one or more steps removed from the event. Secondary sources may have pictures, quotes or graphics of primary sources in them. Some types of secondary sources include: PUBLICATIONS: Textbooks, magazine articles, histories, criticisms, commentaries, encyclopedias ” (“What is a primary source,” 2009)

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Examples of Secondary Sources

• A journal/magazine article which interprets or reviews previous findings 

• A history textbook  • A book about the effects of WWI  (“What is a Primary Source,” 2009).

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Finding Secondary Sources

• Kaplan Library (see library presentation in Doc Sharing, as well as video on library home page)

• Google Scholar• Other databases with peer-reviewed

works• Newspapers and appropriate

magazines

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Interviews

Is this a PRIMARY or SECONDARY source?

• What are the benefits of conducting an interview?

• Is all interview information useful and reliable?

• How do you determine what information is useful and reliable?

• How would you choose an interview subject?

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How to Conduct an Interview

1. Select interview subject 2. Prepare for interview3. Conduct interview4. Follow up

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Select Interview Subject

• Who would be a good source of information for your subject?

• How well known is this person? Is this person an expert on the subject?

• How do you locate this person? • How do you request and schedule an

interview?

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Preparing for an Interview

• Research your interviewee• Establish a goal or purpose for the

interview• Prepare questions in advance• Prioritize the questions

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Determining Questions

• Ask yourself: “What do I need to know?”• Write a list of things you want to find out• Write a list of research questions that will help

your interviewee discuss this information• Avoid biased questions: “Don’t you think we

could improve campus parking by building another parking garage?”

• Check the questions carefully to see if the wording could be offensive to your interviewee (“How to Conduct an Interview,” 2008).

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Open and Closed-ended Questions

Yes/no questions can be answered with a simple yes or no. They may not be very productive or elicit much information. These are “closed-ended” questions.

Ask open-ended questions when possible, which allow the interviewee to explain, clarify and defend an idea.

Yes/no: Will you support the new tax increase?

Open Ended: How will increased taxes benefit or hurt local businesses?

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During the Interview• Be gracious and thank the person for his

or her time.• Respect this person’s time by being on

time and prepared.• Pay attention to what the person is saying

and use the opportunity to ask follow up questions

• Take notes or record the interview (with permission)

• Stick to the subject but be flexible.

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Listening Skills

• When you interview or are the subject of an interview, listening is a very important skill.

• Look at your interviewee. We learn a lot from a person’s facial expressions, tone, posture, eye contact.

• How can YOU show you are listening and paying attention?

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Follow-up

• A follow up thank you note would be appropriate.• Transcribe your notes as quickly as possible after

the interview.• Give the interviewee an opportunity to review the

notes to be sure they are accurate.

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DEVELOPING QUESTIONS FOR AN INTERVIEW SUBJECT

Unit 3 seminar

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Unit 4 Project: Pre-Interview Worksheet

• Describe the interviewee and reflect on why this person would be helpful for your research

• Discuss any research you have done on the topic

• Come up with three open-ended and three closed-ended questions and discuss your reasons for asking them

• Anticipate answers to questions• Come up with additional questions

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Selecting a Subject

• Topic: Banning smoking in public places• Possible interviewee: Michael Siegel, a

professor at Boston University’s School of Public Health and an anti-smoking advocate

• How to find out information? Faculty profile on BU website, internet search, other interviews, search in KU Library for articles written by subject

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“His primary research interest is in the area of tobacco control, focusing on secondhand smoke health effects, exposure, and policies, cigarette advertising and marketing practices and their effects on youths, and evaluation of tobacco control policies and their impact on youth and adult smoking behavior. His primary teaching is in the areas of mass communication, marketing, and public health advocacy. He is co-author of a book, entitled Marketing Public Health: Strategies to Promote Social Change, that grew out of his teaching experience at the School. He has been active in promoting smoke-free bar and restaurant policies throughout the country and has served as an expert witness in several major tobacco litigation cases” (Boston University School of Public Health, 2010).

What questions might you have for Siegel?

• While Siegel is an anti-tobacco advocate, he worries that researchers exaggerate the impact of tobacco on non-smokers’ health. An article published on Kansas Watchdog.org quotes Siegel regarding the relationship between second-hand smoke and heart attacks and third-hand smoke. He feels that the claims are “hysterical” and pose a threat to reducing the number of smokers (Soutar, 2010, para. 32).

Closed-ended (yes/no) example:

Do you believe smoking bans reduce the number of smokers?

Open-ended example:

How have your public criticisms of claims about dangers of second and third-hand smoke affected your own efforts to reduce smoking?

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Your TurnWhom would you like to interview and

why?What questions would you like to ask?What kind of information would you

like to get from the interview?How will you arrange the interview?

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