Nonverbal Communication Blog Assignment

Subject Area: Interpersonal Communication

WTCS Course Competency: Apply nonverbal skills
Learning Objective: Students will display their ability to identify nonverbal communication artifacts
by analyzing a print or video advertisement in a blog posting with at least 75% accuracy according to
the grading rubric.
Assignment Description: Students will use the Internet to discover a print or video advertisement
that clearly displays the use of communication artifacts. Artifactual communication is the use of
adornments to express nonverbal communication about one self to others through the use of tattoos,
piercings, jewelry, makeup, clothing and hairstyles (Gamble & Gamble, 2010). Next, students will
display their advertisement choice by embedding or linking the ad to their personal blog posting. In
the corresponding blog posting, students will identify the artifacts and use course concepts to analyze
the perceived meaning of the artifacts presented in the advertisement.
Assignment Directions to Students: For this week, you have two objectives to accomplish with
your blog posting. You will use the Internet to discover a print, web site, or video advertisement that
clearly displays the use of communication artifacts. Artifactual communication is the use of
adornments to express nonverbal communication about one self to others through the use of tattoos,
piercings, jewelry, makeup, clothing and hairstyles (Gamble & Gamble, 2010). Your textbook, Think:
Communication, discusses this type of communication under the personal appearance heading on
pages 111-113.
Next, you will display your advertisement choice by either embedding the ad into your posting, adding
an image to your posting, or by providing a hyperlink to the ad in your posting. If you do not know how
to do this, please watch the video tutorials or view the printed directions for assistance.
Finally, you will discuss the artifact(s) in your blog essay and use course concepts to analyze the
perceived meaning of the artifacts presented in the advertisement.
What meaning do you think the artifact is supposed to express to the audience?
What do you think this artifact illustrates about the potential buyers identity or personality?
Which demographic groups do you think this artifact attempts to appeal to? (ie. Age,
generation, gender, etc.).
Examine the advertisement carefully for the other nonverbal communication systems being
used by the advertiser (body type, age, gender, posture, gestures, color, touch, spatial
relations, facial expressions, etc.). Identify and discuss the advertisers use of some these
nonverbal systems to sell her/his product. What is advertiser trying to make the viewer (reader)
think? How do you know?

Constructed by Kelly Soczka Kaiser for Assessment in E-Learning 762, Last updated on 3/1/15

References
Gamble, T. & Gamble, M. (2010). Communication works. New York: McGraw Hill, Inc.

























Constructed by Kelly Soczka Kaiser for Assessment in E-Learning 762, Last updated on 3/1/15