Phillip G. Clampitt Ph.D.,
"Changing Neural Pathways Every Class Period"
"Anyone can talk, but few do so strategically"
Advice
words from the wise...
Practice practice and then practice your writing skills more! Phil is obsessed with professional looking and sounding written reports. You might not be an english major, but you should be able to write just as well, if not better than one. Also make sure you watch the daily news and stay up on current events,I can guarantee that current events in politics, business, science, and industry will come up almost every class period.
~Megan Witt
2008 Graduate
American University Graduate Student in Public Communication
Don't underestimate the importance of the time you spend with your group members. Just like in the real world you'll be working in a team that has member with different stregnths, skills, and weaknesses. Make sure you get a weekly meeting time nailed down first and then spend some time getting to know the 4 other people you'll be trapped in a GAC lab project room with for countless hours over the next semester.
~Ben Kotenberg
2008 Graduate
Iliinois State Unversity Graduate Assistant / Teachning Assistant
Phil's classes are designed to challenge you like you've never been challenged before. Many students report having their neural pathways "fried" at the end of scintillating 3 hour lectures. Once the ashes blow away however you'll be amazed at how much you've learned when comparing your skills to the beginning of the semester. This section of the website offers you some advice on how to make the most of your experience with Phil.
~Adam Halfmann
2007 Graduate
Director of Marketing UW- Green Bay Athletics
Listed below is some advice from former communications students who have successfully trained their neural pathways.
"Taking a Phil class will definitely raise your stress levels. However, once the class is over, you will realize that it was all worth it." -Jerome Allen
"Do not concern yourself with what you believe Phil is "looking for" as the "right answer," rather construct a unique solution to the problem and develop a strong line of rationale and you will succeed beyond measure" -Marcus Reitz
"GO TO CLASS!!! No matter how many notes you print off the website, you will never get all the information! Also...read, read, read! If you don't read, the multiple choice questions in the exams are going to kick your butt!" -Angela Stangel
Communication Students...
Communication students should be striving for excellence by: 1) continuously improving personal communication skills such as listening, public speaking, writing and managing conflict, 2) developing effective group communication skills by knowing how to effectively and efficiently solve problems, 3) becoming critical thinkers by understanding how to analytically and strategically address communication problems and 4) developing communication expertise by learning fundamental communication principles, practices and theories.
Concentrating on these four critical areas puts every student in the best possible position to become a thoughtful, strategic, and professional communicator. Such individuals glisten like rare gems – coveted by friends, colleagues and organizations.
7 Questions to guide your thinking...
Can you prove it?
So what?
What are your assumptions?
What is effectiveness?
What is the pattern?
What can you do about it?
Is it ethical?
"There is nothing worse than aggressive stupidity." - Johann Goethe