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“The Undesired Repetitive Pattern Project” This final project involves long-term, planned effort over several months. Start it ASAP and ask for help if you get stuck. (The COMS 290 URP project is adapted from a project originally designed by communication professors Stanley Deetz and Sherrie Stevenson.) The URP project leads you through a structured approach to treating an unwanted yet recurring conflict pattern that you have been stuck in for a while. Choose something that you are currently experiencing during this semester, (though it can be something that started months or years ago.) This URP be a conflict pattern that has a long history, but the problem must also be current enough and frequent enough so that you can work on it during the time period of this course and this project. Choose a pattern you are enduring with someone who is important to you. Situations with partners, parents, roommates, co-workers, siblings, spouses, friends, OR conflicts in your regular official, religious, political, or professional communication can be treated, as long as these are specific to actual persons with whom you have regular communication during this semester. Below are the steps to follow as you conduct the project and compose a report on your URP. Label your report’s sections using the headings in ALL CAPS provided below: 1. MY URP: briefly identify and define the URP in one sentence. 2. NARRATIVE: write a detailed, thorough narrative (story form) concerning: a. when, where, how, and with whom the URP recurs. b. what conditions usually immediately precede the URP. c. how you feel just before the URP episode occurs. d. what is said, how it is said, and what else is expressed (verbatim). e. how a typical 'episode' begins, proceeds, and "ends." 3. ANALYSIS: write a brief analysis of #'s 1 and 2 above. Analysis means you are explaining WHY you think this pattern occurs: what is behind the pattern, at the root of it? Which concepts (3 minimum) from our readings are useful for labeling and explaining aspects of this pattern? What motivates your behavior, attitudes, emotions and also those of the other(s) involved? Boldface the concepts used and place in parentheses and cite pg#’s in the selected reading. 4. PLAN: write a Plan for Change, with detailed explanations of what YOU are going to try, when, where, how, with whom, and to what end. Be specific. Script out what new things you plan to say, new what actions you plan to take. In essence, write a "recipe" for change based on sections 1, 2 and 3 above. 5. EXPECTATIONS: list in detail what you expect might result from your efforts. 6. IMPLEMENTATION: implement the plan (#4 above) and write down in DETAIL what occurs. Write down what was said, verbatim, including what you said and did, what others said and did in reaction (mirroring how this contrasted with the pattern as you described it in the narrative section.) Make an effort to implement more than 2 times, since URP's by nature repeat. Your plan for change should be implemented repeatedly to begin to establish a NEW pattern. 7. REVIEW and APPRAISAL: review and evaluate your attempt to treat the URP, focusing on what further communication changes you could implement to continue treatment of the undesired pattern. End the report with a brief, candid appraisal of what you have done with the project, including a suggested letter-grade for the project. You are required to use the section headings in ALL CAPS indicated above to label the parts of your report. Please try to limit your total report length to 2500 words. HELPFUL TIP: To get an idea of what others have accomplished using this process read the SAMPLE URP Reports posted on our Bb site.

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