Communication Capstone

Assignment : Know Your Field For this first assignment, you will investigate your professional field's publication outlets, its central questions/problems, theories, methods, websites, authors, as well as areas of change that challenge the field.

1. Identify 3 key academic journals in your field/area.

2. Identify 3 key trade publications in your field/area.

3. Identify 3 key websites in your field/area.

NOTE: In your report, provide a paragraph identifying the purpose/focus for each journal, publication, and website in #1, #2, and #3 above.

4. Identify 3 key intellectual problems or questions in your field/area.

5. Identify 3 key areas of change (technological, social, etc.) that challenge the field.

6. Identify 3 key practical and/or intellectual theories in your field/area.

7. Identify 3 key methods of inquiry in your field/area.

NOTE: In your report, provide a brief context for each above: #4, #5, #6, #7. For example, why are these problems/questions central to the field (4), why are these theories favored in the field (6), etc.

8. Identify 3 key authors and their books/articles in your field/area.

NOTE: In your report, provide authors' names and full citations of their written works. In the case of a prolific writer, representative examples of their collected work would be sufficient.

Purpose/Objective. This is a foundational assignment. The information-and its understanding-is required of all who wish to participate in the life of their chosen field. If you are not conversant with the above, you may find it difficult to fit in professionally and socially. In short, the objective of the assignment is to make you more aware of, and ultimately more conversant with, professional expectations and your particular community of communication professionals.