Your initial discussion thread is due on Day 3 (Thursday) and you have until Day 7 (Monday) to respond to your classmates. Your grade will reflect both the quality of your initial post and the depth of your responses. Reference the Discussion Forum Grading Rubric for guidance on how your discussion will be evaluated.

In Chapter 4 of your text, titled Verbal and Nonverbal Communication: Making Every Word and Gesture Matter, Bevan & Sole (2014) discuss the power of language and how verbal communication can affect interpersonal relationships. The authors also mention ways you can improve your verbal communication.

Prepare: As you prepare to write this discussion post, take a few moments to do the following:

• Read the writing prompt below in its entirety. Notice that there are three tasks:
  1. Discuss the importance of verbal skills in communication.
  2. Identify at least two strategies for improving your verbal communication.
  3. Explain how you can use these skills to improve your computer-mediated communication (CMC).
• Review Chapter 4 in your text.
• Review the grading rubric and remember that 25% of your grade is based on your application of course material (Content/Subject Knowledge) and 25% is based on your ability to demonstrate you are thinking critically and presenting original ideas.

Reflect: Take time to reflect on the role of language in communication. Due to our reliance on computer-meditated communication, think about the emerging need to pay close attention to how we use written language.

Write: Based on the information in Chapter 4:

• Discuss the importance of verbal skills in communication.
• Identify at least two specific strategies from the text for improving your verbal communication generally.  
• Consider the special circumstances of computer-mediated communication (CMC). Based on what you’ve learned from Chapter 4, how do you think improved verbal communication can enhance your CMC?

Thoroughly address all three elements of this prompt by writing at least two to three sentences on each element. Use the course readings at least once to help you make your points. Consider copying and pasting these tasks into a word file and addressing each of them separately.

Your initial response should be 200-300 words in length and is due by Thursday, Day 3.