How to Write Visual Essay

How to Write Visual Essay Once you got the visual essay writing task, there’s no need to worry. It can really turn to be a very easy task. The point is that you can make it easy on your own with our basic visual essay writing tips. No matter if it is a class essay or a college admission essay; you just need to use appropriate visual tools in order to illustrate the facts and arouse interest for your essay among the readers. Remember, the most important thing you have to keep to in your essay is trying to make your readers interested. You don’t want them to fall asleep, do you? Use visual additions in order to capture their attention, which will be a huge step to improve your overall grade. When you finish reading this article, you will be aware of a great number of ways to implement visual tools in your essay. One of the best methods to catch your reader’s attention is use different graphs and bars while providing the statistical data. Remember, these are crucial tools for visual essay making. You can always use them when the words are not enough. When you find it hard to illustrate this or that aspect of your visual essay, remember, you can always use the pictures, which will tell your story better than any word can do. Among the visual methods you can utilize there are paintings, a great variety of photos, films, etc. As you have probably already noticed, including visual objects in your visual essay can be a real helping hand in expressing your own point of view. Graphs, bars, photos, pictures and the rest of the visual objects can help the students gain higher grade and keep attention of the readers till the very end of the presentation. Use your creativity! Provide your readers with some stunning facts and they will highly appreciate it! Devote extra time for your visual essay project in order to do it in the best manner possible. Remember, your reputation and your grades depend on it!

Creating A Constructivist Classroom Education Essay Free Essays

string(30) " manners and personalities 2\." Abstractions: Constructionism claims that scholars are able to build cognition most of course and wholly while they are building some artefacts. This paper explains that cognition acquisition is a procedure of design that is facilitated when scholars are actively engaged in planing cognition instead than simply construing or encoding it i.e. We will write a custom essay sample on Creating A Constructivist Classroom Education Essay or any similar topic only for you Order Now Learners benefit the most from the larning procedure when they are the interior decorators of the instructional experiences. Constructivist instructors encourage pupils to measure how the activity is assisting them derive understanding. By oppugning themselves and their schemes, pupils become adept scholars as they learn how to larn. The pupils so have the tools necessary to go life-long scholars. Educational Technology can help pedagogues in making a constructivist larning environment. It offers a enormous sum of information, tools for creativeness and development, and assorted environments and forums for communicating. Through engineering, pupils can show themselves and their creative activities and they can reply inquiries that they are presenting for themselves. Hence, this paper tries to set forward the fact that Constructivist pattern is made easier with engineering because it promotes collaborative, synergistic and student-centered acquisition. Cardinal words: Constructionism, instructional experiences, life-long scholars, collaborative, student-centered acquisition. Introduction: Education is at the meeting of powerful and quickly switching educational, technological and political forces that will determine the construction of educational systems across the Earth for the balance of this century. The handiness of engineering may take instructors to integrate constructivist patterns in their schoolroom. Rakes, et.al. ( 1999 ) found that the sum of engineering available, the degree of engineering accomplishments of the instructors, and the usage of engineering were straight related to utilize of constructivist methods in the schoolroom. They province, â€Å" engineering can supply the vehicle for carry throughing constructivist instruction patterns † . Technology complements constructivism by supplying on-going information and tools for pupil creativeness and development, which contributes significantly to an addition in pupil larning results. It serves as a powerful tool for constructivism ‘s cardinal rule that pupils learn by making. Constructivis t pattern is made easier with engineering because it promotes collaborative, synergistic and student-centered acquisition. The usage of engineering in the schoolroom besides has a positive consequence on pupil attitudes because they feel more successful, are motivated to larn and hold better assurance ( Dwyer, et Al, 1991 ) . In today ‘s digital economic system, the ability to entree, adapt, and make cognition utilizing engineering is critical to a pupil ‘s success. Significance OF CONSTRUCTIVIST VIEWS OF LEARNING: Merely late has it become executable to see constructivism rules within the context of technology-mediated higher instruction ( Gunawardena, Lowe A ; Anderson, 1997 ; Blanchette A ; Kanuka, 1999 ) . This is due chiefly to progresss in communicating engineerings ensuing in an effectual agencies to implement constructivism rules, which would be hard to carry through with other media ( Driscoll, 1994 ) . Specifically, communicating engineerings have the capacity to supply an synergistic environment that can back up instructional methods required to ease constructivist rules. For these grounds, constructivism has become a popular epistemic place for many pedagogues who are utilizing technology-mediated acquisition. Unfortunately, pedagogues who take on the challenge of seeking to do sense of the literature on constructivism frequently find it to be an overpowering escapade. There are a assortment of epistemic places that coexist in the literature on how we construct knowledge – many utilizing the same constructivist label. Conversely, there are many different labels used to depict the same cardinal thoughts built-in in many constructivist places. Adding to the labeling confusion is another job: some of the instruction literature describes constructivism as a set of instructional schemes, some describe constructivism as a acquisition theory, and others describe constructivism philosophically – or as a manner we come to understand ourselves and our environment. The undermentioned literature reappraisal identifies the Hagiographas on constructivism that are notable. Hagiographas were identified as notable when they made of import theoretical points about the usage of constructivism for technology-mediated acquisition. Constructivism positions larning as a personal, brooding, and transformative procedure where thoughts, experiences, and points of position are processed into something new. In this doctrine, instructors are the facilitators for the pupils ‘ acquisition ( Sandholtz et al. , 1997 ) instead than the provokers. In the knowledge-constructed schoolroom, the pupils work together, sharing the procedure of larning non merely with their equals but with parents and others ( Sandholtz et al. , 1997 ) . The literature is rich with illustrations and grounds back uping the claim that cognition is constructed and non transferred. This attack to acquisition has become known as constructivism ( Jonassen, 1999 ; Riel A ; Fulton ; Schank, Berman, A ; Macpherson, 1999 ) . Learning takes topographic point in every schoolroom. The job is that it is frequently non what we expected would be learned ( Smith, 1998 ) . The constructivist larning environment contains a job that is cardinal to the sphere of survey, theoretical accounts of the acquisition procedure by an expert, and is scaffolded by a manager or more adept scholar that extends the ability of the scholar ( Jonassen, 1999 ) . Balakrishnan ( 2001 ) investigated the usage of constructivism and engineering in project-based acquisition in simple schoolrooms and found that instructors ‘ planning and pattern of project-based acquisition activities are focused more on multiple instructional activities and less on integrating of constructivism and engineering. Julius ( 2001 ) investigated how constructivism was evidenced in the beliefs, perceptual experiences, and patterns of in-between degree instructors who were considered to be effectual instructors. The consequences revealed that constructivists held consciousness of the function of both pupil and instructor in impacting the cognitive development in pupils. Classrooms using a constructivist attack to pedagogy would be pupil centered ( Bransford, 2003 ) . PRIORITIES OF EDUCATIONAL TECNOLOGY IN CONSTRUCTIVIST PRACTICE: The four precedences are: Thatch for Intellectual Development 1. Critical and originative thought accomplishments development 2. Demonstrated competences in nucleus course of study 3. Effective usage of engineering in the schoolroom in support of larning 4. Application of larning accomplishments to relevant, real-life state of affairss Make Learning Meaningful 1. Appreciation of diverseness of larning manners and personalities 2. Appreciation and application of appropriate instruction manners 3. Giving pupils the chance to have their acquisition experiences 4. Developing a passion for life-long acquisition Use Authentic Assessment 1. Set high criterions for ego and pupils 2. Developing a dynamic attack to a changing universe 3. Demonstrate competences through public presentation 4. Promote active engagement in our democratic society Focus on Students Becoming Manufacturers and Subscribers 1. Lend to others in category in and community 2. Foster value as an person and as a conducive member of society 3. Use larning accomplishments in real-life state of affairss and for existent wagess 4. Interact/team with other instructors and community members. ROLE PLAYED BY EDUCATIONAL TECNOLOGY IN CONSTRUCTIVIST CLASSROOM: a-? Paradigm displacement in position of the learning procedure: Paradigm displacement in position of the acquisition procedure coupled with applications of the new information engineerings, may play an of import function in conveying educational systems into alignment with the knowledge-based, information-rich society. The general impression sing the usage of computing machines in instruction is that it may best be used as a tool for drill and pattern plans supplementing the instructional procedure. In such instructional procedures, the scholar receives information already programmed inside the computing machine following an algorithm. Although some sum of interactivity is ensured, the general feeling is that in such instructional procedures, computing machines control the acquisition construction giving the scholar really small room for creativeness, doing him a inactive receiver of information. There is a demand to research the potencies of this device beyond these traditional impressions i.e. the meaningful designing of computing machine based instructional procedures with increased pupil engagement. Besides, it is non the drawn-out use on the device that would guarantee the coveted acquisition instead the nature of these larning undertakings, which would transform and enrich the instructional procedures. Computer application plans can be used to plan larning experiences to develop originative and critical thought and be used as ‘mind tools ‘ that can be used by pupils to stand for what they know and to prosecute in critical thought about the content. a-? Use of ICT in altering the function of the instructor from ‘prescriptor ‘ to that of ‘orchestor ‘ of acquisition: In schoolrooms today, the function of the instructor needs to alter from the traditional function of prescriptor to that of orchestrator of larning – which necessitates the designing of ICT integrated schoolrooms advancing higher order cognitive accomplishments. The focal point ought to be more on enquiry-based attacks frequently traveling beyond the prescribed course of study to dig and seek replies to the job under concern but now from different positions. This methodological analysis is disputing both for the instructor every bit good as for the scholar but finally the procedure of self-learning ensures a more strict attack and deeper apprehension of facts. The focal point is more on the procedure of information acquisition, the critical and analytical thought involved in geting information from multiple beginnings, analysing any information and so planing the acquisition results in aesthetic presentations. Such a theoretical account of larning focal points more on the proc edure over the merchandise, geting information from multiple beginnings, analytical and critical thought and eventually a comprehensive rating measuring different countries of pupil academic growing. a-? Development of educational portfolio through the usage of ICT: An educational portfolio is one such typical invention that can advance constructivist acquisition in the otherwise traditional schoolroom. It is a combination of a figure of larning undertakings and a digest of the results achieved as a consequence of the procedures undergone therein. A critical constituent is the accent on ‘process ‘ over ‘product ‘ and the changeless contemplation of the scholar as he moves from one phase to another in the realisation of the aims. The other important characteristic is the acquisition of information from multiple beginnings and the necessary constituent of changeless informations analysis before continuing to the undermentioned phases in the development of the educational portfolio. Appraisal of larning results besides is a comprehensive one taking into history different countries of scholar academic growing as a consequence of the procedures being carried out from designation of ends to acquisition of relevant information a nd eventually its processing and airing. a-? Promoting portfolio appraisal through ICT: Portfolio appraisal is a comprehensive mode of pupil rating integrating a assortment of larning undertakings with appropriate and timely proviso of the necessary guidelines to finish the same within accorded standards and allotted clip bounds. Portfolio Assessment, with a focal point on growing and development over clip, implemented through choice, contemplation and review of category work, along with end puting and self-evaluation. These are public presentation enablers that define the acceptable criterions expected from the scholar and therefore specify the way that he needs to follow to accomplish excellence. What differentiates the educational portfolio from the traditional signifiers of appraisal is the designing of the portfolio around a set of criterions and larning ends which are non the direct results of the schoolroom instructional procedures, instead an enterprise to guarantee pupil higher order acquisition as a consequence of these instructional procedures. Function Direction Construction Classroom Activity Teacher-centered ; didactic Learner-centered ; synergistic Teacher Role Fact Teller ; expert Confederate ; scholar Student Role Listener ; ever the scholar Confederate ; sometimes the expert Instructional Emphasis Facts ; memorisation Relationships ; enquiry and innovation Concept of Knowledge Accretion of facts Transformation of facts Presentation of Success Measure Quality of understanding Appraisal Norm-referenced ; multiple-choice points Criterion-referenced ; portfolios and public presentations Technology Use Drill and pattern Communication, collabor- ation, information entree and retrieval, look a-? Educational engineering advancing multiple positions of acquisition: With the aid of educational engineering the accent is on cognition building, non reproduction ; the composing of information instead than the infliction of cognition ; multiple outlooks instead than multiple workbooks. The instructor must fix with inventive foresight, and imperative penetration in order to excite and imitate effectual brushs that resemble existent life instruction. Wyld, S. and Eklund, J. ( 1997 ) .A province that: â€Å" facing scholars with jobs from multiple positions can advance the pertinence of their cognition across changing state of affairss. Learners have to work with the same construct in different environments at different and with different ends. So they are expected to develop cognitive flexibleness and to bring forth multiple positions of their cognition. † a-? Educational engineering making constructivist schoolroom through active acquisition: Learners can non build cognition merely by passively having, geting, or accepting it ; A nor by inertly listening nor heeding.A Knowledge is non formed during the transmittal of it.A Therefore the accent for direction must be on the creative activity of significance and understanding while meeting new information or new contexts.A Active scholars need to be involved bypartaking, take parting, building and cooperating.A Jonassen ( 1996 ) states that scholars must be given chances to be active in ways that will advance autonomy, creativeness and critical analysis of jobs necessitating a solution.A Wilson ( 1997 ) , created a list of chances for the scholars to develop more active buildings of meaning.A They included simulations, scheme and role-playing games, toolkits and phenomenaria, multimedia larning environments, knowing acquisition environments, storytelling constructions, instance surveies, Socratic duologues, training and scaffolding, larning by design, acquisition by learning, group cooperation, collaborative acquisition and holistic psychotechnologies. a-? Educational engineering advancing collaborative acquisition chances: Collaborative work allows for schoolrooms to be more concerted than competitive.A Students begin to see one another as resources instead than beginnings of ridicule.A The societal context within which a scholar resides is important to their accomplishment. Strommen A ; Lincoln ( 1992 ) A found that: â€Å" Constructivism has led to the extra find that powerful additions are made when kids work together†¦ ..children are able to reflect on and luxuriant notA merely their ain thoughts but those of their equals as good. Children come to see their equals non as rivals but as resources. † To understand a construct to the point of being able to explicate it to others, is when existent acquisition has occurred and personal cognition has been acquired.A Lunenberg ( 1998 ) believes the value of collaborative acquisition is in the chance for scholars to lucubrate on their ain thoughts every bit good as those of their peers.A Worldwide coaction is besides actuating for both pupils a nd instructors as it provides an appealing manner for pupils to derive internet accomplishments while go toing to regular schoolroom activities. The worldview of the pupil can be expanded because of the nothing cost of pass oning with other people around the Earth. Decision: Educational Technology provide an array of powerful tools that may assist in transforming the present stray, teacher-centered and text-bound schoolrooms into rich, student-focused, synergistic cognition environments. To run into these challenges, schools must encompass the new engineerings and allow the new ICT tools for larning. They must besides travel towards the end of transforming the traditional paradigm of larning. To carry through this end requires both a alteration in the traditional position of the acquisition procedure and an apprehension of how the new digital engineerings can make new larning environments in which pupils are engaged scholars, able to take greater duty for their ain acquisition and building their ain cognition. Constructivism modifies the function of the instructor so that instructors help pupils to build cognition instead than reproduce a series of facts. The constructivist instructor provides tools such as problem-solving and inquiry-based acquisition a ctivities so that pupils can explicate and prove their thoughts, draw decisions and illations, and convey their cognition in a collaborative acquisition environment. How to cite Creating A Constructivist Classroom Education Essay, Essay examples

Reflective Letter free essay sample

Reflective Letter English 101/Section 19/Fall 2013 The University of Arizona December 9, 2013 Dear Ms. O’Neill, Before taking English 101A, I was not confident in my writing ability. I never was able to wrap my head around what I was supposed to do and often wrote off topic. I would spend too much time looking at the screen thinking of what to write. My essays often turned out to be a summary; this was reoccurring. I feel that this class strongly helped me develop some standard and basic skills for writing an essay. The amount of time we spent breaking down each of the three essays was very helpful for me. It helped me really realize that I need to get into deeper thought to correctly analyze the text and put it on paper. I have obtained the knowledge from learning in the classroom that acquiring the ability to thoroughly analyze, make points for my body paragraphs, create a thesis, etc. We will write a custom essay sample on Reflective Letter or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page , is much simpler than I made it for myself prior. I now realize that I overthought too much while writing essays. I used to try to perfect every sentence as I wrote or typed. I found myself using so much time doing this. I found that just writing my ideas and thoughts down first, while ignoring diction, punctuation, and the flow of the sentences, and revising after made for a much more efficient and successful process. My experience in this class has really opened my eyes to realize that essay writing is a much simpler process than I thought it to be. Going back to revise my Essay 2 assignment, I noticed many of my sentences were dry and not very deep. I felt that my analysis part of my essay was very weak. I also failed to connect each of my body paragraphs to my thesis and idea of the author’s main point. Rather than revising my essay, I felt I would be better off re-writing the entire essay with a fresh start. First, I reread the poem and went into a deeper thought about my interpretation of the poem hoping that this procedure would improve my writing process; I was right. I feel that I acquired a better understanding of the poem and the author’s meaning. Secondly, I changed and improved my thesis so that it offers a debatable claim about the meaning of the text. My thesis now reads: â€Å"In â€Å"Charlie Howard’s Descent, Mark Doty argues and exposes the great harms that are caused by bullying and rejecting an individual particularly because of his or her sexual orientation using sensory description, diction, metaphor, and enjambment to touch the reader and explicitly describe the scene at which Charlie Howard was murdered† (Deffley 1). This new thesis makes it easier to connect my body paragraphs and points to my thesis. I feel that my new thesis helped build a more effective argument. The difference in both effort and ability to better analyze and connect to the text made my essay much stronger than before. After taking this course, I am more confident in my writing. I feel like I know what I need to do to correctly follow the prompt/criteria. Before, I would have difficulty sticking to the main idea. I would drift off topic and my essay would be very broad and far from the point. My connection to literature was severed, but through all of the assigned readings and short writing assignments, I was able to find the connection. I truly believe that the short writings are highly responsible for my improvements. It was overwhelming to me to have to write a multi-page essay. I would not know where to begin. The short writing assignments helped me analyze texts without a required page length. With this lack of pressure, I was able to think freely and go on and on. Throughout the semester, I found my short writing assignments to get longer and longer. I really was able to deeper analyze the texts on my own! I realized it was much simpler than I had thought it to be. I am very confident that my analytical skills improved throughout this semester and I believe that a barrier has been broken and that my writing skills will surely take off and continue to progress to where I would like them to be. I feel that my analytical skills and understanding of texts have greatly improved throughout this semester. I still do not feel fully comfortable writing, but I do feel that I have overcome some of my biggest writing obstacles that were holding me back from being successful and satisfied in my writing. I was surprised as to the amount of improvement I saw and felt in my writing and feel that I am ready to take it to the next level. That being said, I have not reached my full potential as a writer, but now have the faith in myself that I will reach it with more practice. I believe that reading will help me better connect with literature and help me better familiarize my writing. I am looking forward to seeing how I will continue to improve next semester in English 102. Sincerely,

Thanksgiving Lesson Plan Acrostic Poem

Thanksgiving Lesson Plan Acrostic Poem Are you in need of a quick and easy Thanksgiving lesson plan to share with your students in the week before Thanksgiving? Consider practicing acrostic poetry with your students. Acrostic poetry is great for building vocabulary and exercising creativity.   An acrostic poem uses the letters in a word to begin each line of the poem. All of the lines of the poem relate to or somehow describe the main topic word. Here are a few quick tips to consider. Model the format of acrostic poems with your students. Work together to write a collective acrostic poem on the whiteboard. You can use the sample below.Give your students a Thanksgiving-related word so that they can write their own acrostic poem. Consider: gratitude, thank you, Thanksgiving, thankful, blessings, or grateful. Discuss the meaning of these words and the true meaning of the Thanksgiving holiday.Give your students time to write their acrostic poems. Circulate and offer guidance as needed. Offer help but do not give students any phrases or sentences; let them do that on their own.If you have time, allow the students to illustrate their poems. This project makes a great bulletin board display for November, especially if you do it early in the month! Your students can even give their gratitude poems to family members as a creative way of saying thank you for all they do. Sample Thanksgiving Acrostic Poem Here are a few samples of Thanksgiving acrostic poems. Sample number three is written for someone. Sample No. 1 G - Giving me tasty food to eatR - Reading to me before I go to bedA - Always working hard for our familyT - Treating me sweetlyI - I appreciate you!T - Tucking me into bed at nightU - Understanding me when Im upsetD - Doing the right thingsE - Excellent parents! Sample No. 2 T - urkey time (I love the white meat!)H - oping the weather will stay coolA - untie’s pumpkin pie is my favoriteN -   ine plates around the family dinner tableK - eeping family traditions aliveS - tuffing my tummy with my nanas super stuffingG - iving thanks for my family and friendsI - nviting our elderly neighbors over so they won’t be lonelyV   - egetables that I love are corn and beansI - think I am about to burst from all of the foodN - aps for the babies, grandparents, and all of us!G - ames and laughter throughout the day! Sample No. 3 T - Thank you for alwaysU - Understanding. Thank you for alwaysR - Remembering to beK - Kind, helpful, generous, nice, and respectful ofE - Each other. That is why I am so happy and thankful everyY - Year for everything that you do for me.

What to Know About Zeta Potential

What to Know About Zeta Potential The zeta potential (ÃŽ ¶-potential) is the potential difference across phase boundaries between solids and liquids. Its a measure of the electrical charge of particles are that are suspended in liquid. Since zeta potential is not equal to the electric surface potential in a double layer or to the Stern potential, it is often the only value that can be used to describe double-layer properties of a colloidal dispersion. Zeta potential, also known as electrokinetic potential, is measured in millivolts (mV). In colloids, zeta potential is the electric potential difference across the ionic layer around a charged colloid ion. Put another way; its the potential in the interface double layer at the slipping plane. Typically, the higher the zeta-potential, the more stable the colloid. Zeta potential that is less negative than -15 mV typically represents the beginnings of agglomeration of particles. When the zeta-potential equals zero, the colloid will precipitate into a solid. Measuring Zeta Potential Zeta potential cannot be directly measured. It is calculated from theoretical models or estimated experimentally, often based on electrophoretic mobility. Basically, to determine zeta potential, one tracks that rate at which a charged particle moves in response to an electric field. Particles that possess a zeta potential will migrate toward the opposite-charged electrode. The rate of migration is proportional to zeta potential. Velocity typically is measured using a Laser Doppler Anemometer. The calculation is based on a theory described in 1903 by Marian Smoluchowski. Smoluchowskis theory is valid for any concentration or shape of dispersed particles. However, it assumes a sufficiently thin double layer, and it ignores any contribution of surface conductivity. Newer theories are used to perform electroacoustic and electrokinetic analyses under these conditions. There is a device called a zeta meter its expensive, but a trained operator can interpret the estimated values that it produces. Zeta meters typically rely on one of two electroacoustic effects: electric sonic amplitude and colloid vibration current. The advantage of using an electroacoustic method to characterize zeta potential is that the sample does not need to be diluted. Applications of Zeta Potential Since the physical properties of suspensions and colloids largely depend on the properties of the particle-liquid interface, knowing the zeta potential has practical applications. Zeta Potential Measurements are used to Prepare colloidal dispersions for cosmetics, inks, dyes, foams, and other chemicalsDestroy undesirable colloidal dispersions during water and sewage treatment, preparation of beer and wine, and dispersing aerosol productsReduce cost of additives by calculating the minimum amount needed to achieve the desired effect, such as the amount of flocculant added to water during water treatmentIncorporate colloidal dispersion during manufacturing, as in cements, pottery, coatings, etc.Utilize desirable properties of colloids, which include capillary action and detergency. Properties may be applied for mineral flotation, impurity absorption, separating petroleum from reservoir rock, wetting phenomena, and electrophoretic deposition of paints or coatingsMicroelectrophoresis to characterize blood, bacteria, and other biological surfacesCharacterize the properties of clay-water systemsMany other uses in mineral processing, ceramics manufacturing, electronics manufacturing, pharmaceutical producti on, etc. References American Filtration and Separations Society, What Is Zeta Potential? Brookhaven Instruments, Zeta Potential Applications. Colloidal Dynamics, Electroacoustic Tutorials, The Zeta Potential (1999). M. von Smoluchowski, Bull. Int. Acad. Sci. Cracovie, 184 (1903). Dukhin, S.S. and Semenikhin, N.M. Koll. Zhur., 32, 366 (1970).

Lurking in the shadows Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Lurking in the shadows - Essay Example So I try to put them at ease. I uncross my legs slowly so as not to draw their attention. I steady the rocking chair and I become very still. I am as still as a thousand year old stone; stiller, in all reality. I relax and then adjust my vision. I breathe softly, in measured breaths, and study these fascinating creatures anew. The distance is not close; indeed, there is an open field over which I must peer before reaching the edge of the wooded field where the doe keeps her fawn close by her side. The wheat in the open field rolls as the wind passes by, and the wooded field is studded with oak and pine. The fawn blends at times with the yellow of the wheat field and the brown of the woods. The fawn is at one moment visible and then nearly imperceptible; it is the down, with a darker brown color, that allows me to keep focused most precisely. The trees are crowded closely together, a shadow almost when compared with the brightly rolling yellow field of wheat, and the deer are perceptible only in their occasional movements.

Defensive Communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Defensive Communication - Essay Example By examining these forms of messages in the context of interpersonal communication, I shall reaffirm previous research findings that defensive communication results in 'losses in efficiency in communication' (Gibb 14). The strategy of defensive communication has various tactics and in the limited space afforded by this paper I will separately analyse in the following order only control messages, dogmatic messages, messages of indifference, and messages of superiority. Control messages predominantly operate as imperatives, commands, and instructions. Control messages therefore imply authority, that is, the 'right to give orders or make decisions' (Lewis). Authority, however, implies varying degrees of power. 'A power relation is a causal relation between the preferences of an actor regarding an outcome and the outcome itself' (Pettigrew 188). For example, a police officer has authority to issue commands and power to enforce those commands. In contrast, a teacher has authority to issue commands and instruction but less power to enforce those commands. Parents like teachers have authority and a limited degree of power. What is more, as the context of one's communication becomes more personal authority and power wan, so that no real power relations exist between friends. For instance, in intimate relations defensive communication can occur when 'individuals are sensitive about their own flaws as well as the flaws of others close to them' (Becker, Ell evold and Stamp 95). Complicating the matter is that not all communication is verbal - body language for instance. So that, without explicit messages or in fact any intent, one may communicate irritation or annoyance. Furthermore, control is not simply the directing of action; 'information may become an instrument for advancing, attacking, or defending status' (Burns and Stalker cited in Pettigrew 189). For example, one may use control messages to avoid a topic of discussion, as in family secrets (see for example Caughlin et al.). Dogmatic messages fall within the compass of defensive communication by virtue of the denotation of dogma; 'a doctrine or code of beliefs accepted as authoritative' (Lewis). In contrast to control messages, that expose authority and power, dogmatic messages expose censorship. Defensive communication in general, and dogmatic messages in particular, involve 'a self-perceived flaw that an individual refuses to admit to another person' (Becker, Halbesleben and O'Hair 144). Resisting the model of a dialogue (Pope 173), dogmatic messages rely on the monologue. For, 'every word is directed towards an answer and cannot escape the profound influence of the answering word that it anticipates' (Bakhtin cited in Pope 235). We may think of a dialogue as the collaboration between people to come to a mutual understanding. Yet in contrast, dogmatic messages attempt to curtail the give-and-take of communication. Such messages contain a deep irony; for, despite the effort to avoid a topic or point via an assertion of strength, the effort itself communicates a defensive attitude grounded on weakness. Dogmatic messages, therefore, undermine any authority or power asserted by a conversational partner. Furthermore, because a dogmatic message