1. Suppose you share the aircraft mechanic’s suspicion that scholars who create
theories would be all thumbs working on a plane’s ailerons or engine. What
would it take to transform your hunch into a theory?
2. Which metaphor offered to capture the meaning of theory do you ind most
helpful—theory as a net, a lens, or a map? Can you think of another image that
you could use to explain to a friend what this course is about?
3. Suppose you want to study the effects of yawns during intimate conversa-
tions. Would your research fall under communication as denied as the relational
process of creating and interpreting messages to elicit a response? If not, how would
you change the definition to make it include your interest?
4. You come to this course with a vast array of communication experiences in
interpersonal, group and public, mass media, and intercultural contexts. What are the
communication questions you want to answer, puzzles you want to solve, problems
you want to ix?
