Week 4, The Grammar Vigilante

Kate McCulley became so incensed about the grammatical errors she saw around her that she started a blog documenting not only the errors, but also the corrections. Visit her blog at http://thegrammarvandal.wordpress.com/ and read at least two of her entries. Then, look around this week and be alert to grammar errors.

Write your reaction to what she is doing and your reaction to her examples. Describe at least one grammar error you found, tell us where you found it (e.g. Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, a web site, an email, here on the campus at Globe, wherever), and what the correct usage would be.

Week 3, Communication between the genders

Read the following short article from the U.S. Coast Guard on communication differences between men and women: http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/uscg/gender_communication.htm

What is your reaction? This article was written in 1998. Do you think the information in the article is still valid? Or do you think men and women no longer have issues communicating in the workplace today?

Finally, give an example from your own life—either at school or in the workplace—where you believe communication between genders either was or was not successful. If it was successful, why? If it was unsuccessful, what could you or the other person(s) have done differently? Be specific.

Week 2, Communication beyond words

Verbal communication uses words in writing and speaking. It is important in both your professional and personal lives. The other form of communication—nonverbal—is also important. One type of nonverbal communication is when a person’s words and behavior do not match (also called incongruent behavior). An example of this is when a person tells you he or she is happy and loves the job, but doesn’t look you in the eye and is frowning. Experts agree that the nonverbal behavior is more likely to communicate the person’s true feelings than his or her words. Keep in mind, however, that the tricky thing about all types of communication, both verbal and nonverbal, is that communication may be misinterpreted. The person may enjoy the job, but has a piece of lint in his or her contact lens.

Think about a situation in your personal, academic, or work life where you interacted with someone who had incongruent behavior. What was your interpretation at the time? Could there have been another way to interpret it? Describe the situation, your interpretation, and at least one other possible way to explain the conflicting actions and words.

Week 1, Virtual introductions

Between now and 5 p.m. Monday, October 12, enter a comment on this post. In your comment, briefly introduce yourself: your full name, your job (currently or the one you’d like in the future), your program in school, and anything else you would like your instructor and classmates to know about you.

Instructions: click on “comments” at the end of this post. If you already have a Google account you want to use, enter your email address and password. If you do not have a Google account or want to create one using your Globe email address, click on the new user, create an account and REMEMBER it. After you have signed on, enter your comments, the letters indicated (to show you are a human and not a spam machine), and click “post comment.”


For this week only, you will receive five points for participation. The goal is to be sure you are registered and able to participate on this blog before the formal blogging assignments begin in Week 2. Once the formal assignments begin, you will be able to earn up to 10 points depending on the quality of your response. Feel free to scroll down and click on "archives" to see what other students in previous classes have written.