Toulmin Model Week 4 D3

One concept that I found interesting was the Toulmin Model on page 250-252. It has to do with arguments and how to test them.  In the model there are 6 parts which make up an argument; Claim, Qualifier, Data, Warrant, Backing, rebuttal/reservation. The claim, which is what the speaker wants the audience to accept. The qualifier, which tells the strength of the claim.  Then is data which is like evidence to support the claim that is being made.  The hidden part is the warrant, and this is where the argument either keeps going or ends depending on the link between the data and the claim. In order for some people to accept the speakers claim after the warrant, some need more evidence which is the backing.  The last part of the model is the rebuttal/reservation which talks about how the claim doesn’t hold true. Some people who don’t believe the claim or warrants might bring up rebuttals to see how those respond to their arguments. Since people sometimes only give others part of their arguments, its good to look at the model and see what is left out. Especially if you are making an argument, you should make sure you have all the information needed, for if someone were to rebuttal what you are arguing about, you can then rebuttal back as well to prove them wrong.

Well Known Speaker. Week 4 D2

One well known speaker that comes to mind would be Martin Luther King Jr. He was a great speaker and had many great speeches. Some are still taught today in classroom and people refer back to his “I have a Dream” speech a lot. I believe that his strongest characteristics would be that his words were so powerful and easy to remember. He could relate to people and gave a personal connection to his speeches. He had great leadership skill and was persistent as well as being brave. I believe that he was credible, power and had attractiveness. He was credible since he could relate to his audience. He would talk about topics that mattered and what people wanted to hear that was intellectual.  Since he had such strong leadership skills and stood up for what he believe was right, it gave him a lot of power. A lot of people liked Martin Luther King Jr., and that helped him with his attractiveness. He was also a family man and people could relate to him. Since ethos has to do with the impression that the audience forms of the speakers character, I believe that he didn’t need to build up any more since he already used ethos in those areas. Many people respected him and he attracted huge crowds to  listen to his speeches. He had tons of character and that is why so many people remember his speeches and one reason why his speeches are being taught in schools still today.

Influenced by a Speaker. Week 4 D1

I believe that I have been influenced by a speaker before. The speaker was actually my Comm1 teacher that I had at West Valley. Even though she was a communications teacher, didn’t  mean that she had to be an influenced speaker by nature. She could have had her flaws but she really didn’t to me. The way she communicated with the class was the best ever. I have never had a teacher who I believe was as influential as a speaker to me before as she was. Her style of communication used pathos, ethos and logos and she really knew how to use them all perfectly. She always had great personal stories and had awesome examples to the things she taught us. I never wanted to miss her class because I always enjoyed what she had to say. She is one of the reasons why I choose communications as my major. She also would speak at seminars for different things, and I still wish that I would have the opportunity to hear her speak at one. The worst speaker I have ever heard would have been at a leadership conference that I attended.  I don’t remember the guys name but he was just not prepared and kept saying the same thing over and over during a demonstration. I remember that he didn’t send out a good message by trying to convey what he was teaching the group. By reading the brochure, I learned more about the concept than from him.

Observing Communication. Week 3 D3

One thing that I found interesting was the section that talked about, “what to look for when you look at communication” I liked Hymes model that he made and find it useful. The ethnography of communication is an interesting approach to looking at things, but it really makes sense.  Since it is talking about what we look for when observing communication. He has the models for the context for observing communication, and the elements of communication. I found it interesting that in the elements of communication the main words spell Speaking.  It makes it appropriate since that is what communication has to mainly do with.  Situations, participants, ends, act sequences, keys, instrumentalities, norms, and genres are all things to look for when observing communication. With his contests for observing communication, all the steps fit in with each other and it flows well together.  It makes it easy to see what to observe, and when you think about it, without knowing what they are, you do actually do all of those and sometimes more when observing communication.

Pragmatic Perspective. Week 3 D2

I do think that communication is a patterned of interactions. The way the book explains that the pragmatic perspective is like a game makes sense to me. I do think that it can be a game and that when you talk to someone you are the partners in the game. In order to start communicating with another person, one has to make the first move. After the first move is made, then the other person responds and makes their move. It usually goes back and forth like chess. In order for one to communicate, another has to be willing to play back and communicate with them. If a person is not going to communicate, then the game won’t work. Also in terms of communication, like a game, come people like to “play games” with others. Some know what to say and when to say it, in order to get a reaction from another person. They know how to control the game and play it in their favor. Just like other board games, some people have them figured out and they know what moves to do and when to make it so they can win. Just like with communication, so people know when to say things and how to say it to either win an argument, or to persuade someone to agree with them. Not all communication though is like a game, but some of it is.

Social Constructionist Perspective, Week 3 D1

We “build worlds” through communication from what we see around us and our influences. With the social constructionist, it is  through collective representations of what is going on. These representation are seen through the symbolic codes, cultural traditions, cognitive customs and roles and rules. Our peers and media help shape our understanding of things.  

 The way we communicate things, make others believe that it is okay. In other cultures, still today, women are not a loud to talk much. Their husbands are the ones who call all the shots and the women have to so what they are told. They don’t have a voice. Things may be getting better for those women because they see that other women around the world are being stronger and independent and they want to be like them. They way we communicate, helps others see that it is okay to do certain things, or try to stick up for what is right. As people communicate with others around the world, they have to understand the way they communicate as well. Some things that are said and done in one country, might not be appropriate for another. People need to break down certain barriers and realize that not everyone is alike. The way we communicate “builds” our own world, but not always others. Some things that we talk about in our culture, that might not exist in others, would be women’s rights. Not all cultures believe that women can be strong and that they can pursue higher education, or be in charge of large corporations. Because we have mostly equal rights for women in our culture when compared to men, it makes women more happy, and we run better as a culture. Now women can feel like they belong to things and that their opinions matter. We run better as a culture. Also the right to vote and our government system. Some cultures are just told what to do and if they don’t like it, then oh well. At least in our culture we can vote and voice our opinions on things that go on. If we don’t like it then we can try to change it. Some cultures, people are killed if they don’t agree or try to change things. Because of our government system, we the people have more of a say, and it makes our country run better as a whole.