Sample Essay Questions From Across the Disciplines

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FROM COMMUNICATIONS 1113
1. What is meant by the transactional nature of communication? Discuss several implications/consequences of viewing communication as a transactional process. Use examples from your own experience to clarify your answer.
2. Construct a brief dialogue between a dating couple that illustrates at least four of the seven principles of communication discussed in Chapter 2. Point out and explain each principle (you can include expository information about the couple if that helps).
3. Some people believe that intrapersonal communication (i.e. the self in communication) more appropriately belongs to a study of human psychology than to human communication. Create a rationale explaining why intrapersonal communication should be an aspect of communication study as well as psychological theory. Use examples to further your argument.
4. Argue either for or against the following position: words in themselves are not meaningful – meaning is in people, not in words (you might discuss this terms of denotation/connotation, taboos, euphemisms, etc.).

FROM ZOOLOGY 1114
1. Describe three functions of proteins in the bodies of animals, giving an example of each function.
2. Define and differentiate the concept of "hypothesis" and "theory" as used in science.
3. Describe two ways in which the digestive tract of mammals protects itself against being digested by the powerful digestive enzymes.

FROM HISTORY 1483
1. Explain who two political parties (Federalist and Republican) formed so soon after the creation of the republic in 1789. Be specific.
2. Briefly discuss the major social and religious ideas of the Puritans who settled at Massachusetts Bay. Be specific!
3. Trace American political party development from 1790 to 1840.
4. Compare and contrast the evolution of the representative government in Virginia and Massachusetts.

FROM UNDERSTANDING ART 1113
1. Several artists in the western tradition have perceived themselves to be "realists." Explore the reason why one of these artists has turned to this position and the particular character of his style as it relates to his realist philosophy.
2. Discuss the distinctive qualities of the Venetian style during the Renaissance with particular emphasis on those which influenced other directions.
3. Compare the self-perception of the artist’s role in the early and later renaissance periods.

FROM UNDERSTANDING MUSIC 1113
1. Ludwig van Beethoven has been called a revolutionary in the music world. Even though much of his music is considered "Classical," his innovations in music helped to pave the way for the entry of the Romantic period. In your discussion, please indicate at least four of Beethoven’s musical innovations and explain how these changes helped to propel the music from the Classical period into the Romantic period.
2. In our class we have been looking at several formal structures and almost all of them have some kind of thematic return. Please discuss this idea of thematic return and compare and contrast this idea as it happens in the various forms. You may use diagrams to illustrate your discussion. Be as specific as you can and feel free to use any references to musical style periods, composers, and elemental considerations such as key involvement and the thematic alteration in the course of your discussion. Some forms to consider would be the Sonata Allegro, Rondo, Ritonello, Theme & Variation, Rounded Binary, and Strophic.
3. Please discuss the instrumentation of the symphony orchestra as it has evolved from the Baroque period through the Romantic period. Be as specific as possible.

FROM PSC 1113 U.S. GOVERNMENT
1. The case of McSurely v. McClellan was a Fourth Amendment case. What is the Amendment about? What was this case about? Can traditional doctrine consistently be applied to this type of case or is it subject to interpretation?
2. The issue of "Rights Retained by the People: Privacy" is a Ninth Amendment case. What is this Amendment about? What was this case about? Can traditional doctrine consistently be applied to this type of case or it subject to interpretation?