COM 113: Creative Communication

Discussions (Weeks 1-8)

25%

Essays (Weeks 1-8)

50%

Vocabulary LIsts (Weeks 1-8)

10%

Video Confernces (Weeks 2, 5, 6)

5%

Final Exam (Week 8)

10%

Total

100%

Week

SLOs

Readings and Exercises

Assignments

1

1,2,3,7

Writing With Imagination

1. Writing is Thinking (4 pp.) 
   

2. Rewrite Your Story (2 pp.)
3. Words Matter: Imperium, Robert Harris (p. 304):

   "He raised his cup. And we all raised ours with him. Although I could not help remembering the last remark Lucius ever made to him: 
   ‘Words, words, words.  Is there no end to the, tricks you can make them perform?’”     

4. Racist Connotations (2 pp.)
5. The Two Creative Writers with the Same Story (2 pp.)
6. Discussion Board Netiquette - 15 Rules (2 pp.)
7. Merriam-Webster Word-of-the-Day
8. Proofreading Marks

• Read and review assigned materials
• Write: "YOU" essay
• Write: Worst Date or Job Interview
• Write: Poem
• Participate in discussions
• Begin your rolling Vocabulary List

2

2,3,7

Topics: Figures of Speech, Creativity, and the Power of Language

1. Figures of Speech  (10 pp.)
2. Similes (2 pp.)
3. Metaphor Examples (2 pp.)
4. More Metaphors (1 p.)
5. Conceits (2 pp.)
6. "Windmills of Your Mind", Dusty Springfield (great imagery)
7. "Starry, Starry Nights", Don McLean
8. "Firework", Katy Perry

• Read and review assigned materials
• Listen to assigned resources
• Compose five succinct metaphors
• Write: Critical movie or novel "review" highlighting copious figures of speech
• Write: Creatively explore a cultural experience(s) that has impacted you
• Participate in discussions
• Continue rolling Vocabulary List
• Participate in the Video Conference

3

1,3,4,5,6

Writing Effectively – Words Matter

1. “Garbage Language” – Why Do Corporations Speak the Way They Do? (11 pp.)
2. Avoid Jargon (2 pp.)
3. Netiquette (2 pp.)
4. 15 Rules of Netiquette for Online Discussion Boards
5. 101 Romantic Love Letters (8 pp.)
6. Obituary (2 pp.)

• Read and review assigned materials
• Write: "Garbage language" to romantic letters - how do words matter?
• Write (briefly):
  • press release
  • love letter
  • letter to HR
  • your obituary
• Participate in discussions
• Continue rolling Vocabulary List

4

1,3,4,5,6

Storytelling – Inspiration and Vision; Imaginings and Dreams

1. Six-main-arcs-in-Storytelling, as Identified by an AI (3 pp.)
2. CRITIC’S NOTEBOOK (4 pp.)  In ‘The Last Dance,’ Michael Jordan and the Bulls Still Dominate
3. St. Bernard’s Dilemma (3 pp.)

   Your Elusive Creative Genius (19 min)
   

   OPTIONAL/RECOMMENDED: [if you intend to follow the arc of your successful writing trajectory, purchase online as I did (inexpensive) both of these timeless books for constant reference.]

   1. Stein on Writing, Sol Stein, 1, “The Writer’s Job May be Different Than You Think” (pp 3-14)
   2. The Leader's Guide to Storytelling – Mastering the Art and Discipline of Business Narrative, Steve Denning, Ch. 2, “Telling the Right Story – Four Key Elements of Storytelling Performance” (pp 25-43)

• Read and review assigned materials 
• Write: Book outline, first chapter
• Write: Critique style and voice in readings #2-3
• Participate in discussions
• Continue rolling Vocabulary List

5

1-7

Presentations, Proposals / Team Building, Power of Networking

1. The Seven Deadly Sins Of Proposal Writing (11 pp.)
2. Appearing Smart When Brainstorming (Bad Advice) (3 pp.)
3. What Makes Some People So Successful? Here are 17 things that high achievers do every day to stay on top. (4 pp.)
4. Why I Wrote The No Asshole Rule (2 pp.) Prof. Robert Sutton, Stanford University
5. The definitive guide to … surviving bullies, creeps, jerks, tyrants… (1 p.)
6. Team Building (3 pp.)
7. Learn to Love Networking (4pp.)
8. 10 Reasons Why Networking Is Essential For Your Career (2 pp.)

• Read and review assigned materials
• Draft your presentation
• "Pitch" your proposal
• Listen: to each other
• Participate in discussions
• Continue rolling Vocabulary List
• Participate in Video Conference

6

1-6

Speaking with Aplomb, Happiness, and Humor

1. How to be a More Effective Communicator (3 pp.)
2. 20 Tips for Mastering the Art of Public Speaking (6 pp.)
3. Important Public Speaking Skills for Workplace Success (3 pp.)
4. You Talk Too Much – Words (2 pp.)
5. The Strange English Language
   1. The Brits
   2. Poem
   3. Story
6. Art and Science of Making Conversation (3 pp.)
7. Practicing Gratitude is the Simplest and Fastest Way to Build Mental Strength (1 p.)
8. How to be Happy -- Re-Write Your Story (2 pp.)
9. Laughter - 7 Ways to Boost Endorphins (2 pp.)
10. The Happy Secret to Better Work, TED Talk (12 min)
11. Happy: Four Pillars of Meaning, TED Talk (12 min)
12. Funny Lady, Comedy Skit (3.5 min)
13. "Find a Little Kindness", Glen Campbell
14. Computers - What Gender! (video)

• Read and review assigned materials
• Write: Define the secrets and threads of happiness that weave through the readings, and how they relate to the TED Talks
• Write: What deed of your has made others happy?
• Participate in discussions
• Continue rolling Vocabulary List
• Particpate in Video Conference: Presentations on humor, sales and storytelling

7

4,5,8

Digital Communications – Social Media and Its Influence

1. The Dark Psychology of Social Networks (8 pp.),
2. Lurking, Joanne McNeil, “Unfriend the Internet”, NY Times (3 pp.)
3. Words do matter: careless, damaging-tweets (3 pp.)
   
4. Antitrust Concerns (1 p.)
5. "I don’t know what algorithm Facebook is using to calculate the positives that it brings to the world, but I know too well the harm it has done..." (2 pp.)
6. Twitter (4 pp.)
   
7. Sacha Baron Cohen's Scathing Attack on FB (6 pp.)
8. Pew Research (2018) – selectively peruse for  good reference
9. Data Privacy
10. Domino’s Pizza

• Read and review assigned materials
• Write: Pros and Cons of social media; does Facebook need regulation?
• Write: How has social media been an advantage or embarrassment to you?
• View: Domino's Pizza Scandal
• Participate in discussions
• Continue rolling Vocabulary List

8

1-5,9

Kindness and Conflict – Negotiations  & Ethics

1. Negotiation (6 pp.)
2. How to Sway the Other Side – Two Techniques (3 pp.)
3. How to Sway (8 min video)
4. Optimism (1 p.)
5. Take ownership of Your Future Self (2 pp.)
6. 12 Examples of Important Business Ethics (3 pp.)
7. The Wells Fargo Cross-Selling Scandal*  (9 pp.)
8. The Walk from "No" to Yes". TED Talk
9. Sympathy (5 min)

*Watch: Netflix episode, Dirty Money, season 2, “The Wagon Wheel” (Wells Fargo Scandal) 1 hour [if not a subscriber, contact instructor]

• Read and review assigned materials
• Listen: Sympathy
• Write: Most memorable spat; and persuasive argument
• Write: What went wrong at Wells Fargo?
• Participate in discussions
• Continue and finalize rolling Vocabulary List
• Complete Final Exam