Download Chapter 5

Unit 3 Project – Chapters 5 and 6 (pg. 109-162)
In this unit, we will learn about nonverbal communication both in American and other cultures. For your projects, you
will work in groups to observe, research, and report on this topic using the vocabulary words and phrases we learn in the
chapters.
Chapter 5 –
In this chapter we will focus on body language involving gestural, facial, and eye communication. In groups of three (that
I will assign), you must use what we learn in this chapter to catalogue your observance of nonverbal communication out
in the world and make inferences based on what we’ve learned. Each group must catalogue three interactions and post
to OpenLab. On the next page is a template for you to use according to the example below.
Example Template:
Parties involved
Two men (brown hair and red hair) and a woman in their twenties.
Location/situation
In a bar late in the evening. The three people have been drinking.
Facial expressions and/or
facial management
The brown-haired man and the woman are smiling. The woman seems to be
intensifying her facial expression every time the brown-haired man speaks, smiling
broadly, laughing loudly, and overreacting to everything he says. The red-haired
man is quiet and is neither smiling nor frowning unless one of the other people
looks at him, in which case then he smiles. We think he might be masking his
expression at these times.
The brown-haired man and the woman are maintaining near-constant eye contact,
which we believe signals the nature of their relationship and communicates
romantic interest between the two. The brown-haired man occasionally looks to
the red-haired man to secure attention and try to include him in conversation. The
red-haired man’s eye avoidance unless he is being directly looked at makes us
think he is very uninterested in the conversation.
The brown-haired man and woman are using a lot of emblems and illustrators, and
are gesturing a lot and often. This could be because they are drunk or just excited.
The red-haired man is using a lot of object-adaptors, playing with his napkin,
swirling his drink, etc., probably because he is bored.
The brown-haired man and the woman are flirting or have just started dating. The
red-haired man is friends with one or both of them, but feels like a third wheel.
Occulesis (eye contact)
Gestures (including emblems,
illustrators, affect displays,
regulators, and adaptors)
What can we infer about the
relationship of these people?
What sort of conversation
are these people most likely
having?
How do you know?
They are probably talking about themselves and their interests.
We infer this because their nonverbal behavior communicates attraction between
one man and the woman and boredom or annoyance by the other man, and our
prior knowledge of what people usually discuss and how people usually act when
flirting or feeling excluded.
Fox 2014
Nonverbal Communication Observation Template
Parties involved
Location/situation
Facial expressions and/or
facial management
Occulesis (eye contact)
Gestures (including emblems,
illustrators, affect displays,
regulators, and adaptors)
What can we infer about the
relationship of these people?
What sort of conversation
are these people most likely
having?
How do you know?
Fox 2014
Chapter 6 –
In this chapter we will continue our discussion of nonverbal communication in relation to touch, space, and culture. For
your project, you will remain in your groups of three and each member will choose a culture to cover. No two people in
one group can choose the same culture. You will each do research on acceptable or unacceptable nonverbal
communication in the culture you have chosen related to the meaning of touch, spatial messages, and nonverbal
communication (which may include gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, and greetings). Then, you will compare and
contrast what you have learned with each other and eventually share your findings with the class.
You will turn in to me a short report on what you have learned as a group, including your sources. You will present your
findings to the class, demonstrating what you have learned.
For example, you may find through your research:
Greetings:
In America, there are many ways to greet people. A handshake is probably the most common, but people may hug,
wave, or nod and smile also.
In Holland, to greet someone you would give three kisses on alternating cheeks.
In Japan, you would bow to greet someone. The depth of the bow is dependent on your relationship with the person
you are bowing to and your gender.
-The above is what you would explain to the class, and you and your group mates would demonstrate each example.
Then, you would move on to another topic regarding each culture, such as touch or spatial messages, etc.
You and your group mates will also collaborate to turn in a report of your findings to me on the day of your
presentations.
Your report will be in essay/paragraph form and will look something like this example:
Our group has chosen to discuss the American, Dutch, and Japanese cultures. We will explain and compare the
cultural differences in nonverbal communication in relation to greetings, the meaning of touch, and spatial messages.
First of all, greeting differ across the American, Dutch, and Japanese cultures. Americans shake hands most
often, especially in a professional or formal setting. Hugs are usually reserved for family members and close friends, and
a wave or a simple smile and nod are acceptable in less formal circumstances as well. Meanwhile, in Holland, it is
common to give the person you’re greeting three kisses on alternating cheeks. Finally, Japan’s greetings involve no
physical contact at all. Instead, it is proper to bow to those you greet, and the depth of your bow indicates status,
gender, and respect.
Next, the meaning of touch in these cultures differs as well…
-Though you will be doing research to learn about the cultures you have chosen, you should try not to copy what you
read but to write about your research in your own words. Be sure that if you do use someone else’s words to quote and
cite your sources where necessary. At the end of the paper, please list your sources.
Fox 2014