The reflection paper you will be asked to submit is a 3-4 page paper in which you select two theories discussed this semester and attach relevant real-life examples to the theories discussed. Your discussion of the selected theories should demonstrate your informed understanding of each theory, and your examples (you must have 2 per theory), can be either your own experience with these theories, or you may describe how you see examples of these theories manifested in our community as you have observed in daily life or in television and/or movies. It is required that you include at least 10 additional outside of class scholarly references. Be sure to include applicable headings, correct word usage, spelling, and grammar, edit for coherence and flow, and be sure to reach (and stay within) the length requirement.
First, you must select two theories that we covered in class and use the assumptions of each theory to explain your included examples. How would the theory account for certain behaviors in relationships? What would the theory suggest as a means of addressing this behavior? To accomplish this task, you should first summarize the assumptions of the theory. Then, link those assumptions to aspects of your examples to explain how the theory accounts for those examples.
You are assigned to a due date on your syllabus to complete this assignment (so you are only doing one paper total). You will not be allowed to rewrite your paper after it is graded or complete a second paper this semester for an improved grade. So make this your best work possible!
I have also received several questions pertaining to what qualifies as a scholarly source. Remember that we discussed research, namely primary and secondary, with primary being those who conducted it. This type of research is then scholarly, and can be found in journal articles (some major ones in the Communication field are Journal of Communication, Communication Monographs, as examples), with secondary research acting as a culmination of primary research sources (like your text, for example). So, your text (which counts as one citation), likely some other texts for other classes, and journal articles are going to comprise your required 10 sources. Your other sources can be as needed (if you are discussing a television show, for example), but would not count towards your required 10 scholarly sources. Sometimes this can be a bit harder to determine, so feel free to reach out to a member of the support team during office hours with specific scholarly source related questions.
I have also received a number of questions pertaining to your required examples. Your examples should come from personal experience, witnessed social interactions, or TV/Film. These do not (and likely should not!) need sources unless they are to provide a source for a TV/Film example, so use your sources within your discussion of the theory selected. Then, let your selected example demonstrate your informed understanding of the theory as it is applied to real-world contexts. While this is an academic paper and your style of writing should reflect that, in this section you may use I a bit as it makes sense when you are describing personal experiences.
The last question I often receive is if you are to cite in-text. Yes, always cite in-text! Get into the habit of citing your writing consistently using in-text citations, and then make sure all of those sources are listed on your list of sources at the end of your submission.
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