Hi Everyone,
Welcome to Communication 240: Business and Government. I am looking forward to a creative and productive semester. I look forward to getting to know each of you and watching you evolve as effective communicators. I am excited to be here at TCNJ. This is my third semester. I enjoy teaching this class because I teach from a practical perspective, although we will examine some ethical and theoretcial dimensions too. It is so satisfying to help so many of you get prepared for your professional careers. We will be examining communication from a number of different directions all in the context of real life in both business and government settings. A few of the many paths that we will explore include investigating how messages are created from the perspective of the sender to how they are received from the perspective of the receiver. The channels used, the effective of culture in the formation of a message and the networks used. We will understand how to effectively communicate in business and examine how messages travel in a business environment whether you the management or subordinate. Additionally, we will focus on the presentational skills needed to give a talk, train an employee or ace a job interview, just to name a few. We will address the message shared in government and politics by using the issues in today's government. Examining the message and learning that making important decisions is more than the charisma but, analyzing the message. We will observe and apply technology and explore how it creates and changes in the message in new and fascinating ways. And, lastly, we will focus on networking and interviewing that occurs in professional settings. Blogging on our class blog will be an important method of capturing our thoughts. We will be using this blog to communicate in many ways in the class, so it is an important class requirement that you visit this blog a few times during the week to keep abreast of assignments and other important class information.We will be using blogs as a means of recording our learning and studies. Every student is required to blog. You can begin by posting your blogs on our class blog post or as the semester evolves, create your own blog. Whatever the case, it is important that you remember that this is an extension of our academic classroom. You must use appropriate grammar, spelling and ideas in all your posts. Also, trying to rush through an assignment or making a weak effort in posting will be evident for all persons to see. Also, be sure to adhere to copyright issues in all posting. Only your originals work(s) whether words or pictures may be used. Please check out the Com 240 links throughout the semester for helpful places needed while in this course. You should feel free to email me at the address on the syllabus at any time for help, questions, concerns, or possible class absences. We will be using this blog to create discussion and complete written assignments this semester. Please be sure that you create a gmail account so you can post on our blog this semester. Please email me if you have any problems asap.
Use this blog post to introduce yourself to the class. We will use it as a practice post. I am looking forward to a pleasurable and productive semester! Share with us similiar information from class and be sure to include how you hope this course will help you further your career or personal goals.
Hello class!
ReplyDeleteHi everyone,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Leyla Mulaibrahimovic and I'm a senior a TCNJ.
Here’s a little bit about my past and what brings me here today.
"We're moving to Germany! They have more toys in Germany!" Those were the convincing words of my father when he told me that we were moving eight hours away from what I called, my paradise. Although I'm Bosnian, I was born on the beautiful coast of Croatia. Living there for three years seemed like paradise, but I was young and could not see what was going on in the world at that time. My dad was called to serve in the Croatian army, but he refused and we moved to Germany. Of course when he mentioned the words "more toys," I was more than eager to get up and leave. Little did I know we were escaping war at that point. After living in Germany for seven years, it was time for us to move again. On March 19, 1998, my father announced we were moving to America. I've been living in the U.S. for eleven years now.
Seeing what my parents went through to get us to where we are today, makes me appreciate all that I have. I am the first one in my family to go to college so it is important for me to set a good example for my brothers and all my cousins that came along with us to the U.S.
I am a Communication Studies major, and although I am not exactly sure what I want to do a year from now, I know that with hard work, and the will to succeed, I will find a career that I'm satisfied with.
In a way this course will also help me decide what I want to do once I get out of college. Although it might not show me the "light," I hope that it will prepare me for my future interviews. They say that the first step is the hardest, and I want this class to give me the confidence to skip my way through! I am very excited about creating my own blog as well as updating my resume. I think it will be a great way to show future employers what I'm all about and what I've got to offer.
My past experiences made me worldly and diverse. I am motivated, diligent, non-judgmental, hardworking and loyal. The transition from a third world country to a more developed country made me aware of my advantages. I appreciate the opportunities that are given to me and I will work hard to take full advantage of them now and in my future.
Hello everyone!
ReplyDeleteMy name is Jess Clarke and I am senior here at TCNJ. I have been blessed with the ability and opportunity to participate in sports for as long as I can remember. Concentrating solely on soccer in my most recent years has given me the chance to hone in on my position as a goalkeeper. Every goalkeeping coach and trainer I have worked with has stressed the importance of one specific aspect of the game; communication.
As a goalkeeper, I am the only player who can see the entire field. I have learned that in order for my team to perform well, I need to be using appropriate communication for my teammates to understand. I have played with many people and personalities throughout the years and found it is crucial to adjust my tone, body language, descriptions, frame of reference and approach to cater to each situation. If I do not assert myself correctly, it can become detrimental to my team. In addition, this year I was named one of the captains. This demands an even better understanding of communicating with not only your peers or teammates but coaches and campus officials alike.
I am a firm believer that sports can build a successful foundation for the working world. I have begun to learn how to translate my communication skills into my work and life experience but I understand there is always room for improvement. I am looking forward to developing better public speaking skills and creating an online site for future employers to view my resume and blog. This past summer I worked for the NY Jets Events Staff and loved going to work everyday. I am not certain where I will be working in one year, five years or ten years from now but I am positive that communication will be a crucial component in whatever I pursue.
Hi my name is Phil Hutchins and I am a junior at the College of New Jersey. I am in a program called Career and Community Studies also know as CCS. I am a commuter from Milford, NJ so it takes me an hour to get here every day. I have a twin brother named Dan, who passed away seven years ago in car accident, but I miss him every day. He is one of the reasons I am here at TCNJ because he never had the chance to go to college so I am going for both of us.
ReplyDeleteThe classes I have taken so far at TCNJ are, an FSP called “Disabilities Unplugged”, and other leadership classes. A cool thing that I do on campus is a club called Bonner Society, which is a community service organization that helps people in need.
I wanted to take this class because I thought it would help me with my public speaking skills. I have been doing public speaking for about seven years and hope to continue it after college because I want to try to make a difference in people’s lives. If you want to check me out go to this website http://www.philhutchins.com . What I hope to learn in this class is how to make my speeches flow better. I think it will also give me a broader approach to public speaking.
Hi everyone!
ReplyDeleteMy name is Kevin Malcolm and I am currently a sophomore double majoring in Finance and Communications. For Communications, I am following the Radio, Television and Film track.
I do realize that doing a double major in Film and Finance is a weird combination. However, there are a few reasons why I picked those two particular majors. My first true passion is definitely film. As of now, I have still never lost a game of Scene It. I do not know if that is a proud testament of my movie knowledge, or a sad acknowledgment of just how many movies I have seen.
I am also majoring in Finance for more practical reasons. The film business is a very competitive one, so I wanted a major I could fall back on. My hope with a Finance major is that once I stop wanting to be physically behind the camera, I will then have the ability and skills necessary to help produce television and movies.
I am currently the President of LTV, the on-campus television station. There, I am able to fulfill my goals associated with both of my majors. I do a lot of the filming personally, whether it be our news show, talk show, or concerts. I am also getting some experience for the non-production side of television. I have met with many of the clubs around campus to help integrate our club into the greater TCNJ campus.
My hope is that through my experiences at TCNJ, I will be able to transition easily from college to the "real" world. Hopefully, that "real world" means a job at ABC or NBC, but as long as I am able to achieve my goal of a career in film or television, I will be satisfied.
Hey Everyone!
ReplyDeleteMy name is Cait Coyle and I am a senior communications major, and professional writing minor. Unlike alot of students preparing to graduate high school, I knew exactly what my major was going to be. And also unlike many students in college, I never changed my major or even seriously considered the possibility. But that does not mean I know what I want to do in May when I graduate. (Besides of course get a "real" job). I think I will probably want to do something in Public Relations.
I am the president of Colleges Against Cancer and have been actively involved with the American Cancer Society for the last seven years. Colleges Against Cancer is a college chapter of ACS with the mission to spread cancer awareness and education on campus. We also host the Relay for Life each year on campus, which is an overnight event to raise money for cancer research and treatment.
I have always been volunteer and community oriented, and I could definitely see myself persuing a job in the health field or non-profits. (Although recently travel and sports have been creeping up on me as possible interests). But my passion for non-profits is obvious through my internships with the LADACIN Network, Southern Ocean County Hospital, and the American Cancer Society.
I am taking this class because although I don't mind public speaking, like many people I do have nerves and have little "issues" to iron out to be more comfortable and a more effective communicator. And although I have already made a blog for a similar assignment, I am glad to have the opportunity to update it and work on it somemore to make it even better.
my blog-- http://www.caitlincoyle.blogspot.com
Hey everyone! My name is Erin Nemes and I am a Junior here at TCNJ. I grew up in Edison, NJ and absolutely loved living there. I had a great high school experience and had many friends. When applying to colleges I was hesitant as to whether I would enjoy the new experience, and I was pleasantly surprised when I came to TCNJ and found so many close friends. I currently live in a house off campus with them, and it has been great thus far.
ReplyDeleteI am a marketing major with a minor in communications. I have known for a very long time that I wanted to have a job that dealt with marketing, public relations or event planning. I know that I would enjoy the challenges of any of those careers. My goal is to have a job in one of these fields in a city like New York and have clients that are interesting to me.
I am currently the VP of Public Relations for the new professional business fraternity on campus called PSE. Since the organization is new, the E-board and I are getting things off the ground, and so far we have been very successful in our efforts. It is a great experience to be a part of a new organization, because basically we are putting it together ourselves.
I chose to take this class because I want to become an effective communicator. I envy people who can communicate in front of others almost effortlessly, and I hope that one day I can do it as well. I believe that this course will improve my communication skills immensely and I am eager to learn.
Hey guys my name is Mike Coniglio and I am a junior at TCNJ. I am a commuter this year and I live in a house off campus with some of my friends. I am from Roxbury NJ which is close to the Delaware Water Gap.
ReplyDeleteI started off at TCNJ as a business management major but quickly learned that business was not really the place for me. I would rather be out talking to people rather than sitting behind a desk. With that in mind I switched over to communications and have loved it ever since.
I am also pursuing the Politics, Law, and Philosophy minor which is essentially TCNJ's version of a pre-law program. I never really saw myself as wanting to be a lawyer until I started thinking about my strengths and weaknesses. I have always been told that I am a good communicator and that I have a talent for talking my way out of difficult situations so I thought why not follow a career path that uses those abilities.
In addition to all of my school work I am also studying and training to become a personal fitness trainer. Exercise and physical fitness have always been my passion an as such I want to share that passion with others.
I am taking this class because although I love talking to and interacting with people, I only do so in an interpersonal or small group setting. Knowing how to confidently speak to large groups will definitely help me in the future when I start practicing law.
Hello everyone!
ReplyDeleteMy name is Samantha Schroeder and I am from Hillsborough, New Jersey. I am a senior here at The College of New Jersey and a Communications Major. I follow the public and mass communication track and also have a minor in Fine Art. After graduation I plan to attend Grad school and get my Masters degree in teaching.
I currently have an internship at Creative Marketing Alliance, a marketing and public relations firm, in Princeton Junction. I have only been working there since the first week of September, but so far I really enjoy the tasks I’ve had to complete. I manage the company’s blog and LinkedIn accounts, and assist the marketing directors in their strategic planning.
In my spare time I work at Jasna Polana, a country club in Princeton, where I drive the beverage cart around the golf course. I enjoy my job because it allows me to work outside and it has taught me important qualities to take into my future career.
I am taking this course in order to get over my fear of public speaking, and learn how to speak in a flowing manner during impromptu situations. I am also excited to make a virtual resume to submit to future employers.
Hello Everyone!
ReplyDeleteMy name is Katie Ward, and I am a sophomore at The College of New Jersey. I was raised in Montvale, NJ about thirty minutes away from the heart of New York City. I have always loved the positive energy and culture that the city has provided me. It has inspired my creativity and quick thinking.
My major is Communications with an interdisciplinary concentration in Health Communications. I aspire to enter the public health field to work on different campaigns and projects that help society as a whole. My mother, a nurse of 25 years, has been a big influence on me throughout my entire life. She has taught me the importance of community service and helping those in need. This semester, I am the philanthropy chair in my sorority and a member of the Alternative Break Club with plans to visit New Orleans this winter break to rebuild.
I believe this course will help me become a more successful and persuasive public speaker. These skills are necessary in the world today in order to make a difference. Without proper leadership skills, many excellent ideas to help society can go unheard. I am hoping this course can make me a leader that can get her voice heard.
Hello everyone! My name is Jacqueline Webb and I am currently a senior here at TCNJ. Although I am fairly new to the college, my experience so far has exceeded my expectations. I previously attended a small college in New York City where my main focus was marketing in the fashion industry. During this time I worked as a marketing intern for Donna Karan international along with other fashion houses. Although the fashion industry is a very fast paced and exciting environment, it was not for me. In fall 2008 I said goodbye to the big apple and moved back to New Jersey where I began taking courses at TCNJ in the spring. Since then, I have been focusing on the communications field along with an interest in health communications.
ReplyDeletePrior to TCNJ, I had been given the opportunity to study abroad in London. Although I was excited to hear the news, I was a bit apprehensive since this was my first time out of the country. Before I knew it, two seventy pound bags were packed and I was practicing my British accent. In London, my weekends were transformed into mini vacations where I explored other countries and cultures. The most memorable experience of all was my backpacking trip through Europe. For twenty-one days I lived out of a backpack and shared hostels with other students from around the world. Although my lack of sleep and proper nutrition was nothing to brag about, I wouldn’t have changed a thing.
My travels and past courses in advertising and public relations have greatly heightened my interest in the communications field. I am intrigued by the challenge of catering messages to various cultures through advertising messages as well as other communication strategies. In addition, my interest in communication also stems from the various new media channels available to corporations (i.e. Facebook and Twitter). I hope to explore these channels from a business perspective and educate myself on the opportunities available.
In the past, I have taken courses in public speaking and understand the need for great communication skills in such a competitive job market. I hope to refine my skills as a speaker and build confidence throughout the semester. I am also eager to develop a virtual resume that will promote my strengths and career goals to perspective employers.
Hey, what’s up everybody! My name is Dan Fernandez and I am from Middletown, NJ. Middletown is a large suburban town right outside of Red Bank which you may know from the movies Chasing Amy or Clerks. My town is about 15-20 minutes from Sea Bright and Long Branch and an hour train ride from the city. I have been surfing since I was about 16 and was fairly disappointed that I was not able to go to the beach as much as I usually do this summer because I was living in Ewing so I could work an internship. Also, I am a brother of Sigma Pi Fraternity where I serve as the Historian, and I live at our house "The Hole" which you may have been to before. I am a senior this year and I major in Political Science and am taking this course as part of my Communication Studies minor.
ReplyDeleteThis summer I worked for S&S Public Relations in Princeton, which is the East Coast office of the company's main office in Chicago. It was a really good experience even though I was working unpaid. Basically everyone in the office was under 25 and fairly fresh out of college so I received plenty of good advice about what to expect when I graduate. I want to work in public relations when I graduate and I feel that this class will help me develop communication skills that will benefit me in my future career.
I do not have a fear of public speaking but I still do not feel confident in my abilities as a public speaker. This class is a real opportunity to develop those abilities for me in a way that I hope can benefit both my personal life and professional life.
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear” by Nelson Mandela. This is my favorite quote because I could relate to this quote in everyday life and in times of struggle this quote keeps me moving. My name is Gideon Opoku and a senior at The College of New Jersey. Currently majoring in mechanical engineering and hopefully going to graduate school after college.
ReplyDeleteI was born and raised in Ghana which is located in West African. I lived in Ghana till the age of eleven before coming to the United States in 1999. It was difficult to adjust to a different culture and way of living because everything was totally different compared to Ghana. Luckily English was my third language and that was the language used to teach in schools because Ghana was colonized by England. Lived in the NY for a year and moved back to Ghana in 2000 and came back 2004 to finish high school. Am also a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity incorporated at TCNJ.
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ReplyDeleteHey Everyone!
ReplyDeleteMy name is Lisa LoCascio and I am currently a junior. I transferred to The College of New Jersey Fall 2008 from Rutgers University in New Brunswick. Though for my first two years of college I was determined to make a successful future with a Psychology major, I am now taking a risk and pulling the plug. This is why I am taking several communication courses this semester as opposed to continuing my psychology studies. I have a very upbeat and exciting personality – so I like to think – and I am pretty convinced that sitting in an office all day listening to people talk about their issues or calculating statistics on trends we see in the workforce but will never bother to fix, is not exactly suiting. Besides, people are always telling me about their problems and I have yet to ask them for any financial compensation.
Like I said I am taking a risk exploring communications as a minor or possibly as a second major because I want to do something exciting in my life like Public Relations. I am a firm believer in everything happens for a reason so since I am suddenly having this life changing epiphany, instead of being scared about delays or mistakes, I am just taking it all in.
As mentioned, I am a transfer so I basically skipped my first year here at The College of New Jersey and never really had a chance to enjoy it at Rutgers University. However, this past summer I got to experience the most amazing opportunity I have ever encountered that was life altering and also compensating for my lost freshman year. I went abroad for a month to Harlaxton, England with nineteen other TCNJ students. It was absolutely insane!! I explored all of these crazy places, met so many interesting people, and even had some one-on-one adventures with real witches – politically correct term: Pagans. Hopefully, I’ll get to have the chance to talk to you all more about these adventures because let’s say in the end, I came so close to finding out who I really am. I am still on this self-discovery adventure but I know I am almost there.
Looking forward to getting to know more about everyone!
My name is Jessica Virga and I am a sophomore mass communications with a concentration in health communication and Italian linguistics major with alternate route education. I came into college hoping to be an anchor woman however after researching further in the communication field I have found that I am more interested in the health aspect and plan to do something in pharmaceutical marketing. My mother always insisted that both my sister and I have teaching to fall back on because according to her it is the ideal job.
ReplyDeleteFor the past year I have been involved with the television station on campus. Both last year and this year I am producing the show “The concert series” where bands comes and perform. The radio station on campus runs the event with us and we video tape the concert as they record the audio to play on-air. I enjoy this because not only do I get to meet new people and listen to some new music, it also gives me some experience.
I have always enjoyed volunteering and am the community service chair in my sorority Delta Phi Epsilon. So far we have donated school supplies at the battered women’s shelter in the area. We also volunteer at the Trenton area soup kitchen and animal shelter. I have always been taught that it is important to do whatever you can to help out others.
This class seemed interesting and something that would help me out for not only the rest of the time I am I student but also for the future when I have a career and need to stand up in front of people and make speeches. My goal is to stop all the nervous habits I have when talking and learn how to speak clearly.
Whats going on everyone!
ReplyDeleteMy name is Shadrac Cadeau and I am a senior here at the College of New Jersey. I am from a town called Orange which is located in the northern part of the state. Orange is a small town, where everyone knows each other. It was fun growing up there, but felt good to leave. A day in Orange isn’t always a good day.
Coming out of high school, college was the last thing on my mind. I honestly did not want to go. Instead I wanted to produce music. I was really big into music. I loved it so much that I wanted to pursue a career in it. However, my parents shattered that idea. They told me that they didn’t fight their way to this country to listen to me play music. My parents both migrated here from Haiti. They came to United States in early 80’s in pursuit of better opportunities for them and their seven children. I promised them that I would not let their hard work and sacrifices go in vein. So if you see me here today, it’s more for them then it is for me.
I applied to one college and lucky for me I got in. My first couples of years at the college were pretty rough for me. I was having a hard time getting used to the college life and couldn’t get myself to step outside my box. However, eventually I started to get it and now I call TCNJ home. Huge reason why I have become so comfortable here is because I joined a fraternity. Matter of fact, I am now the president. Being in a fraternity has really thought me a lot about myself. My first year in, I was given the responsibility of being the public relations chair. Because of this, I realized that I had a passion for promotion, event planning, and marketing. I liked it so much I made marketing my major. This is one reason why I decided to take this course.
I am terrible at public speaking. I don’t speak loud enough. I mumble. I’ve realized that if I want to be successful in a competitive field such as marketing, I am going to have to fine tune my speaking skills. And as marketing major I understand the importance of being able to communicate ideas and feelings to other people. I hope this class helps me build confidence in my speaking abilities so I can be better equipped for life after college.
Hey Everyone!
ReplyDeleteMy name is Lasha Carey. I live in Howell, New Jersey, about 10 minutes from Six Flags and 15 minutes from Belmar beach. I am a junior here at The College of New Jersey. I have a double major: Political Science and Communications. After graduation, I plan to go to law school or maybe take a year off first to serve in the Peace Corps or Teach for America. I am a Bonner Community Scholar here at TCNJ. So, I am required to do a minimum of 300 hours of community service throughout the Trenton area in exchange for a scholarship. We also go on many service trips, for example, rebuilding in Louisiana and Mississippi and international trips such as, Nicaragua. Community service is a huge part of my life and definitely one of my many passions so; I know that I will be doing service forever! In fact, since becoming a Bonner Community Scholar, I discovered this passion and I was even able to choose my career path; I plan to one day practice human and civil rights law.
In high school, I was very involved in student government, student council, and many other clubs and organizations so, I am no stranger to public speaking. However, I do still get butterflies when in the spotlight and I know I have a lot of room for improvement when it comes to public speaking! I am very excited for this class and I know that what I learn will be useful for the rest of my life, both within my career in law as well as in everyday life. I hope to gain confidence and all the skills I need to successfully write and deliver an effective speech.
Hi! My name is Natasha Gabrielle Perez and I am currently a junior majoring in Communication Studies with a possible minor in Marketing. I am half Puerto Rican and half Ecuadorian. I live up North in a Italian based town called Lodi. So far, I have had a meaningful three years at TCNJ. To be honest I didn't quite think I would be accepted however my involvement in extracurricular activities such as student government, community service, and sports are the main reasons to why I am here. As an incoming freshman I was accepted into the Bonner Scholars Program which Lasha touched based with before. I truly enjoy and cherish my experiences in Trenton. I have also learned a lot about myself and discovered my ability to communicate with different types of social and age groups. As great as bonner has been, the downside to it is it having an impact on my career path.
ReplyDeleteIn addition to being a bonner scholar on campus I am also a proud sister of Chi Upsilon Sigma National Latin Sorority Inc. Being a part of these organizations has made me feel welcomed as well as involved on campus. I think this class is going to help me better my public speaking skills which is very important to me this year. As I get older, I recognize that I will be placed in more settings in which my public speaking skills will come in handy.