Assignment five
1. The recalling stage of the listening process is a place where many people experience difficulties. What techniques do you use or could you use to improve your recall of certain information such as peoples names, key concepts from your classes, or instructions or directions given verbally?

2. Getting integrated: Identify how critical listening might be useful for you in each of the following contexts: academic, professional, personal, and civic.

3. Listening scholars have noted that empathetic listening is the most difficult type of listening. Do you agree? Why or why not?

4. Which style of listening best describes you and why? Which style do you have the most difficulty with or like the least and why?

5. Bad speakers and messages are a common barrier to effective listening. Describe a time recently when your ability to listen was impaired by the poor delivery and/or content of another person.

6. Of the bad listening practices listed, which do you use the most? Why do you think you use this one more than the others? What can you do to help prevent or lessen this barrier?

7. Apply the strategies for effective critical listening to a political message (a search for political speech or partisan speech on YouTube should provide you with many options). As you analyze the speech, make sure to distinguish between facts and inferences, evaluate a speakers supporting evidence, discuss how your own biases may influence your evaluation, and think beyond the message.

Assignment six
1. Pick an important relationship and describe its relationship culture. When the relationship started, what relationship schemata guided your expectations? Describe a relationship story that you tell with this person or about this person. What personal idioms do you use? What routines and rituals do you observe? What norms and rules do you follow?

2. Of the five conflict management strategies, is there one that you use more often than others? Why or why not? Do you think people are predisposed to one style over the others based on their personality or other characteristics? If so, what personality traits do you think would lead a person to each style?

3. Of the conflict triggers discussed (demands, cumulative annoyance, rejection, one-upping, and mindreading) which one do you find most often triggers a negative reaction from you? What strategies can you use to better manage the trigger and more effectively manage conflict?

4. In what situations would you be more likely to communicate emotions through electronic means rather than in person? Why?

5. Can you think of a display rule for emotions that is not mentioned in the chapter? What is it and why do you think this norm developed?

6. When you are trying to determine someones emotional state, what nonverbal communication do you look for and why?