The First Day of Class - Book Report/Review Example

In this model of communication, all of the information is flowing from one source to another.  There is no feedback from the receiver.  Linear communication is characterized by a one, way flow of information from sender to receiver.  It is as if you are receiving e-mail messages, but you do not have a reply button.  Anyone that has been on the receiving end of this model of communication usually comes away unsatisfied.  I often lose interest in the lecture if there is no opportunity for interaction with the professor or the source of the information.  I find that my attention begins to wander and that taking in information becomes difficult.  This is probably why linear communication is not a great model for giving lots of information to people if you expect them to remember the information.  Without interaction, people lose interest in the commotion.  I find this to be true even when I am interested in the topic of unification.  If the lecture is great, it will hold my attention longer, but in the end, I will willet not having the opportunity to ask questions and give feedback.

            The next scenario involves fast food, something I do not have much experience with, but is a big part of our society.  I’m hungry, so I pull into the drive-through at McDonald’s.  I pull up to the microphone and a crackly voice asks me to place my order.  I place my order.  I am asked what type of drink I want.  I reply.  I am asked if I would like to try a new product.  I respond.  I am ordered to drive up to the window to make payment.  I comply.  I drive up, make payment, and ask for extra napkins.  Extra napkins are placed in the sack with my food.  I drive away.  This is an example of an interactional model of communication.  The communication is linear, but it goes both ways.  I am asked to order so I place an order.  I ask for napkins, so I receive napkins.  Interactional communication is like discrete messages that flow both ways but are not connected with e are situational in nature.  It is allotting on a computer with a friend.  Your friend writes a message, sends it to you and then you reply to the message.  Interactional communication works to fulfill needs but does not provide a lot of depth of understanding or meaning.  It is affected by a person’s culture and background, so it is more complicated than the linear model.