Description
COM2614 Assignment 3 (Portfolio) Semester 1 Memo | Due 22 May 2025. All questions fully answered. Part A: Reflection Entry Structure [40% of total PF mark]
Date: [Insert date] Reading/Video/Topic: [Insert weekly topic or reading]
A. Initial Reactions (200-250 words)
•What were your immediate thoughts and feelings about this week’s content?
•Which aspects challenged your existing understanding of communication theory?
•What connections can you draw to your own cultural background and experiences?
B. Critical Analysis (300-350 words)
•How does this topic/reading challenge or reinforce Western communication paradigms?
•What alternative perspectives or epistemologies are presented or missing?
•How do power relations and colonial histories shape the discussed communication practices?
•What assumptions about knowledge production and validity are being questioned?
C. Personal Transformation (250-300 words)
•How has this week’s learning shifted your understanding of communication studies?
•What biases or privileges have you become aware of?
•How might you apply these insights to decolonize your own communication practices?
D. Questions and Tensions (150-200 words)
•What uncertainties or contradictions emerged for you?
•Which aspects require further exploration?
•What challenges do you foresee in implementing decolonial approaches?
Evaluation criteria for Reflection Entries
Depth of reflection and critical analysis 15
•Moving beyond simple descriptions of events or readings
•Questioning assumptions and considering multiple perspectives
•Connecting ideas across different sources and discussions
•Analysing why you think or feel certain ways about topics discussed
Engagement with decolonial perspectives 20
•Considering viewpoints outside of Western/European frameworks
•Recognising whose voices are centred or marginalised in materials
•Exploring how knowledge is produced and validated in different contexts
•Questioning “universal” or “objective” claims about knowledge
Recognition of power dynamics and colonial legacies 15
•Identifying historical patterns that continue to influence present situations
•Examining who benefits from existing systems and structures
•Considering how your own position affects how you view issues
•Noticing language that reinforces unequal power relations
Personal growth and transformation 15
•Documenting shifts in your thinking over time
•Acknowledging discomfort or resistance to new ideas
•Reflecting on how course material challenges your previous understandings
•Identifying actions you might take based on new awareness
Application of concepts to practical situations 15
•Connecting theoretical ideas to real-world examples
•Using course concepts to analyse current events or personal experiences
•Proposing how decolonial approaches might apply in your field of study
•Imagining alternative ways of approaching problems
Thorough completion of entries 10
•Appropriate length and detail in each entry
•Responding to all prompts or questions provided
•Building on previous entries to show development of thinking
Remember: It is important to be consistent with your journal entries throughout the semester so as not to fall behind
Technically Sound 10
•The assignment contains a personal declaration of own work
•Table of contents
•All sources are cited in the list of sources
•Correct referencing techniques are used
•Grammar, typing errors, terminology, spelling rules, etcetera
TOTAL: 100
[20% of total PF mark]
•Copy and paste your responses from at least eight (8) activities you completed in the Discussion Forum to this journal. You should include at least 2 activities per unit in this section.
Evaluation criteria for discussion forum activities
Each entry will be assessed based on
Voice and Style [30]
•Write in first person
•Use clear, accessible language
•Acknowledge your positionality
•Balance academic analysis with personal reflection
Critical Engagement [40]
•Question taken-for-granted assumptions
•Consider multiple perspectives
•Examine power relations
•Connect theory to practice
Evidence and Examples [30]
•Reference course materials
•Draw from personal experiences
•Include relevant cultural contexts
•Make sure that you cite all relevant sources and pay specific attention to including Global South scholars
Total: 100
Part C: Semester 1 synthesis (500-600 words) [40% of total PF mark]
At the end of the semester, write a synthesis that:
•Identifies recurring themes in your weekly reflections
•Tracks changes in your thinking about communication studies
•Examines the evolution of your understanding of decolonial practices
•Proposes concrete actions for implementing decolonial approaches in your academic/professional work
Evaluation criteria for semester 1 synthesis
Depth of reflection and critical analysis 15
•Moving beyond simple descriptions of events or readings
•Questioning assumptions and considering multiple perspectives
•Connecting ideas across different sources and discussions
•Analysing why you think or feel certain ways about topics discussed
Engagement with decolonial perspectives 20
•Considering viewpoints outside of Western/European frameworks
•Recognising whose voices are centred or marginalised in materials
•Exploring how knowledge is produced and validated in different contexts
•Questioning “universal” or “objective” claims about knowledge
Recognition of power dynamics and colonial legacies 15
•Identifying historical patterns that continue to influence present situations
•Examining who benefits from existing systems and structures
•Considering how your own position affects how you view issues
•Noticing language that reinforces unequal power relations
Personal growth and transformation 15
•Documenting shifts in your thinking over time
•Acknowledging discomfort or resistance to new ideas
•Reflecting on how course material challenges your previous understandings
•Identifying actions you might take based on new awareness
Application of concepts to practical situations 15
•Connecting theoretical ideas to real-world examples
•Using course concepts to analyse current events or personal experiences
•Proposing how decolonial approaches might apply in your field of study
•Imagining alternative ways of approaching problems
Thorough completion of entries 10
•Appropriate length and detail in each entry
•Responding to all prompts or questions provided
•Building on previous entries to show development of thinking
Remember: It is important to be consistent with your journal entries throughout the semester so as not to fall behind
Technically Sound 10
•The assignment contains a personal declaration of own work
•Table of contents
•All sources are cited in the list of sources
•Correct referencing techniques are used
•Grammar, typing errors, terminology, spelling rules, etcetera
TOTAL: 100
Tips for Meaningful Reflection
•Set aside dedicated time for reflection
•Read entries from previous weeks to track your growth
•Connect with classmates to discuss insights (while maintaining journal privacy)
•Consider how your reflections might inform future practice
•Be honest about challenges and uncertainties
•Document moments of discomfort or resistance as learning opportunities
Sample Prompts for Deeper Reflection
‣How do my cultural background and lived experiences influence my understanding of communication theories?
‣What Global North assumptions about communication am I unlearning?
‣Whose voices and perspectives are centered/marginalized in communication studies?
‣How can I contribute to decolonizing communication practices in my future work?
‣What responsibilities come with my position as a scholar/practitioner in this field?
Remember: This journal is a space for growth, questioning, and transformation. There are no “right” answers, but rather an ongoing process of critical engagement with decolonial perspectives in communication studies.
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