Symbolic Interactions

Essay Instructions:

The goal of the assignment is to analyze a conversation and then come to a judgement as to what occurred during the conversation. Please limit your paper to a single theory. Task: For this assignment, you will select a conversation and then apply a communication theory to analyze the conversation in order to produce an interpretation of that conversation. The paper should include a detailed review of the theory, an accurate description of the conversation, followed by an analysis of the verbal and nonverbal content used by the people in conversation. Purpose: Conducting accurate and concise analysis that leads to a specific conclusion is a skill sought and valued by employers, as is the ability to apply abstract principles to practical domains. Additionally, integrating understanding of how verbal and nonverbal communication operates within the framework of a theory listed below increases skillsets useful in other areas of life. Grading: your paper will be graded using the Essay Grading Rubric on the reverse side of this prompt. The strongest grades are given to papers that employ greater amounts of theoretical depth. Papers that treat the theory superficially typically do not fare well. Theories (select one theory from the following) 1. Symbolic Interactionism 2. Coordinated Management of Meaning 3. Expectancy Violations Theory Structure (Follow the D, A/I, and E structure for organizing your paper.): 1. Introduction (creates a sense of purpose by explaining the problem, presenting a contestable question/thesis, and presenting background as necessary,) 2. Describe the theory. 3. Describe the conversation. 4. Analysis of the conversation by using the theory and it’s parts to break down the conversation. 5. Interpret the analysis by explaining the meaning according to the theory. 6. Conclusion (terminates in a specific judgement that is related to the original question or thesis) Administrative Matters 1. Type & double-space your paper. 2. Include a cover page using the APA format. 3. Include a bibliography with a minimum of four sources for this assignment following the APA style guide 4. Include a minimum of four sources with appropriate in-text citations following the APA style guide. 5. Word count (-5 points will be deducted for each 200 words below the minimum word count)

Essay Sample Content Preview:

Symbolic Interactions Name Institution Course Code and Title Instructor Due Date Symbolic Interactions In sociology, the symbolic interactionism theory explains the relationship between individuals and society based on their interactions. The mode of interactions among individuals involves the use of language and symbols to create shared norms. There are many languages and symbols, creating a difference in how different societies interact or behave. Individual behaviors that have shared meaning in a society constitute communication symbols. These behaviors come from common behaviors of body movements and gestures observed during conversations. The difference in interpretation of communication symbols arises due to differences in social norms. The interview between Barack Obama and Amanpour provides an important case study for analyzing the use of symbols using symbolic interactionism theory. Description of the Theory The symbolic interactionism theory analyzes the use of symbols in communication. Communication is vital in defining social relationships due to shared meanings and norms arising from different communication forms. This theory holds that communication influences the relationship between individuals and society (Ali et al., 2022). Charles Cooley and George Herbert Mead developed this theory to explain the relationship between individuals and society. Using language and symbols in human interactions enables decoding and understanding of information sent by a communicator (Chen et al., 2020). Symbols are the physical aids used in communication, such as body movements, facial expressions, and items with shared meaning within a specific context. People should use a limited number of symbols because excessive use may distort the message (Megawati & Hartono, 2020). People create common symbols that have the same meaning within a particular context but may have different meanings in other cultural or geographical contexts (Ali et al., 2022). Symbolic interaction views humans based on the activities between actors, but not individual behavior or personality (Chen et al., 2020). However, the interaction within an individual, which involves the thought process, is central to shaping human interactions. Thinking is essential in human interactions because it defines the environment in which they interact. Therefore, symbolic interactions theory holds that people shape their environment or society, not the opposite. Symbols are important in society because they shape the norms, values, and rules because they have a shared social meaning (Ali et al., 2022). One criticism of this theory is that it is subjective because it assumes people in the same society have similar behaviors. Describe the Conversation The conversation between former United States President Barrack Obama and journalist Christiane Amanpour offers insights into symbolic communication. This conversation is about democracy in the United States, where...

Updated on April 26, 2024

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