Analyze a Theory

Theories help us make sense of the world. Watch the following Big Bang Theory videoclip, 'Sheldon’s zones of privacy’ conversation between Amy and Sheldon. Sheldon's ‘zones of privacy’ both describes and explains who Sheldon can talk to about what types of topics. How would you describe Sheldon’s theory here? What does it describe? Have you ever come up with a theory to describe and explain a phenomenon? Think of an example of either a theory you’ve come up with, or one that a friend has pitched to you. Does the theory meet the theoretical goals of description and explanation? Does the theory seek to predict and control communications (as in Sheldon’s case), or does the theory seek to simply understand a phenomenon?

Activity Type: Video resources, Case study analysis

Career Portfolio

This assignment is designed to help you pull together your own information as it relates to Career Development. You will develop a portfolio that will not only assist you in preparing to apply and interview for positions/career opportunities. This assignment is intentional in requiring you to create a portfolio that will assist you in the next stage of your career

Activity Type: Research activities

Analyze Communication

Watch the following Big Bang Theory YouTube Clip, 'Please pass the butter' conversation between Amy and Sheldon. Can you identify the central ideas within the definition of communication?

Activity Type: Video resources, Reflective journals

Career Inventory

From the following list of career Inventories, choose two to complete and write a short reflection on the process and outcomes. Next, choose a career and use the following links to explore labour market information about the field. Write a short reflection for a blog post or discussion forum.

Activity Type: Online Discussion, Reflective journals, Writing a blog post

Dietary Analysis Report

For this assignment, you will record your eating habits over a three day period, and then compare it to the Dietary Reference Intakes and Canada’s Food Guide.

Activity Type: Essay assignments, Research activities, Case study analysis

Miracle Foods—Myths and the Media

Read the article, Miracle Foods – Myths and the Media by NHS Choices. Answer a series of prompts in the form of a blog post or on a discussion forum. Read and reflect.

Activity Type: Online Discussion, Research activities, Writing a blog post

Building and Testing Theory Exercise

Since there is no single theory of communication, there is no single view of the foundation of theory. However, there are four basic building blocks of theories, meaning each theory defines itself by taking a position in each of these four areas of: Views on Human Nature, Ways of Knowing, The Purpose of Theory, and, The Focus of Theorizing. View the film Kitchen Stories. While viewing the film, use the four basic building blocks of theories to describe the beliefs that the researcher holds at the start of the film and how those blocks change throughout the film. Use the table below (Microsoft Word format) to complete your answers.

Activity Type: Video resources, Reflective journals

Mindless Eating

There are factors that influence what we eat, such as culture, convenience, availability and so on. Another influence is our environment. “Mindless eating” is the act of eating when we’re not hungry, and is based on cues we find in our environment. It is what happens when we absent-mindedly snack while watching TV, or get the urge for fast food after seeing an advertisement for it. Dr. Brian Wansink at Cornell University has done extensive research on this behaviour and has written a book, Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think.

In this activity, we will learn more about how this behaviour happens and how we can instead learn to eat mindfully.

Activity Type: Online Discussion, Reflective journals

Analyze Argument Structures

Find three sample discussion articles from your field of study. Summarize the argument by restating the central thesis of the document in your own words. Complete a short paragraph of no more than five total sentences by stating each of the article’s main supports briefly in your own words.

Activity Type: Essay assignments

Research a Unionized Group

For this journal entry you will research a unionized group (preferably from your community). You will find unionized workplaces are schools and universities, city hall, mining and pulp and paper.

Activity Type: Online Discussion, Reflective journals, Research activities, Writing a blog post, Real world research

First Nations Studies and Human Service Practice Assignment

Select an Aboriginal community and provide a comprehensive overview of the community as if you were preparing to work within that community. The community could be in an urban setting such as a Friendship Centre. You can also look at resources that provide services to several communities. Sometimes, communities are too small to have their own services so several communities band together to combine services. Be creative and access various sources of information to complete this assignment, including websites, books, and direct contact. The assignment is in two parts.

Activity Type: Essay assignments, Creating a media piece, Real world research

Practive Grammar Exercises

In a single paragraph, summarize your own writing abilities and the level of standards for writing that you control in English. Spend no more than 15 minutes writing this and no more than 15 more minutes editing your work.

Activity Type: Reflective journals