RTC worksheet 2/4
New Student Convocation Case
1. Briefly describe the communication situation.
a) WHEN and WHERE will the communication occur? (Day, date, time, place, and sometimes occasion)
When: New Student Convocation, which is a part of Preview, 3-4 p.m., Friday, August 25, 2017. Where: The minidome. The New Student Convocation begins new students’ college careers in a formal and ceremonial way, replete with bagpipers and a procession of faculty in regalia.
b) HOW will it occur? (Speaking/listening, writing/reading, designing/making/using, performing/auditing?)
Speaking and listening
c) WHO will be communicating? (You? Someone else?)
President Brian Noland
d) To WHOM? (The intended listeners, readers, users or performance audience)
800 of ETSU’s newest Buccaneers—mostly traditionally aged freshmen entering fall 2017—who are attending Preview. Some new adult and transfer students may also attend. Also present: Preview student leaders, ETSU faculty and staff who choose to attend (all are invited).
e) For what REASON?
ETSU began the convocation in 2014 in the hope that new students will start thinking of themselves as Buccaneers; will feel excited, eager and hopeful about starting college; and will get involved in the full college experience in and out of the classroom. President Noland is the last of six speakers, including the provost, the vice president for health affairs, the vice president for student affairs, the SGA president, and a faculty member. Each of them speaks for about 3 minutes; Dr. Noland will, too.
2. Say more about the purpose(s) of the communication. What is the communicator trying to accomplish?
3. If the communication is successful and achieves its purpose, how will intended listeners/readers/users/audience members respond to it? Check all that apply:
q They’ll UNDERSTAND something.
q They’ll AGREE with something.
q They’ll FEEL something.
q They’ll DO something.
4. For each response you checked, answer the “What?” question.
What will they UNDERSTAND?
With what will they AGREE?
What will they FEEL?
What will they DO?
wgk 8/3/17
RTC worksheet 2/4
5. Describe the intended listeners/readers/users/audience members. Be specific and focus on characteristics that matter.
What I KNOW about them / What I ASSUME about them / What I DON’T KNOW about themwgk 8/3/17
RTC worksheet 2/4
6. Based on what you’ve written on this worksheet, how should you plan and execute the communication?
Four fundamental questions; add your own:
§ What should the communication say or present?
§ In what order? With what structure?
§ Using what kind of style and vocabulary? (spoken, written, visual, kinesthetic)
§ With what kind of delivery? (e.g., read a speech or speak from notes; send a tweet or a news release; dance on the stage or in the street?)
wgk 8/3/17