Attend everyday of class because there is a lot of information covered. Dr. Query's lectures are very in depth and covers an immense amount of concepts about organizational paradigms. Ask questions whenever necessary or else you will miss out. STUDY SMART!
My advice for incoming class:
STOP! If you are not a hard worker.
STOP! If you do not attend your classes regularly.
STOP! If you have trouble keeping on track with reading assignments.
STOP! If you have no passion for success.
STOP! If your name is Blow Off!
Warning, warning: If you have no passion for communication and its influences on your social
world(work environment, family life, school) this class is not for you.
If my friend was taking this class, I would say that he/she should appreciate what is taught. This class is very career oriented and the information will be useful to the future. The class is very stimulating, and the time goes by extremely fast. As long as he/she does not pick the scientific method for the term paper, he/she should be fine.
The class is fun and it applies to real life so: Go to class. Be attentive. Take notes. Follow Jims' outlines. Do the SRQ's. Outline chapters on your own. Try to find connections. Ask questions if you are confused (i.e., org. paradigms, prospectus, final paper). Choose option E for the essay part of exams. The course is a demanding course, but Jim is extremely helpful. He'll make time for his students and he goes out of his way to do so. It isn't impossible to get and "A" but it takes work. Be prepared to work. The great thing about this course is the real live applications it prepares students for. At times you might get frustrated with some of the concepts, but the current event articles bring the organizational communication theories and principles to the forefront. In addition, the sexual harassment section, makes one think about their actions and adjust inappropriate behaviors.
If a friend of mine was taking 224, I would stress the importance of keeping up in the class. It is important to attend class every day and keep up on the readings. Jim does not believe in surprises, which is helpful. You won't succeed in the class if you are not prepared. Do the self-review questions. They are extremely beneficial for all tests. In terms of the written assignments, prepare for them. A quick job the night before will not cut it. If you work hard, you will find the class enjoyable. Jim works hard to make sure every minute counts.
Be patient. This is not an easy class, but it is not impossible either. Make sure you do your work and you'll be fine. You will learn so much from the class and you'll take so much with you. Jim is an exceptional professor, but he is structures the class around a premise which requires the students to participate and to get the work done. Attending class is a must, but there are many events and aspects of the class lectures which make it fun. Honestly, it is one of the most rewarding classes I have ever taken.
Above all else read the assignments, pay attention in class and take good notes! Organizational communication is a very in-depth, interesting and challenging class. You need to be willing to do the work and dedicate a lot of out of class time to your papers, presentations and group projects. Be willing to ask Jim for help and guidance -- he is a very knowledgeable and caring man. If you put the time in you are guaranteed to succeed in this class. Make sure you and Jim are on the "same page" and your grade will be great.
At the beginning of Jim's course, I was very intimidated! I had heard how difficult he was and I was afraid I wouldn't be able to deal with the challenge. Fortunately, I stuck with it and I strongly encourage you to do the same. I know you will gain very valuable knowledge from this class, just as I have. I love Jim's energy and his "no surprises" style of teaching. The expectations are clearly defined, and you will succeed if you work hard. Good luck and enjoy! It can really be a fun class, and Jim is one of the best professors I've had at Loyola.
The most difficult part was the quizzes. The multiple choice questions cover a lot of material so memorize the material. The writing part of the course is not difficult unless you fall behind. Take advantage of the help Jim offers. He is open and you are welcome to ask any question.
I would advise a fried not to get discouraged after the first and second class. The class seems difficult at first but Dr. Query is very clear, thorough, and helpful. Luckily, there are no surprises. The professor tells us exactly what to expect from him and what is expected of us. I would suggest you take good notes on lectures, write down the answers to the review questions discussed in class, and save all materials. The handouts are definitely helpful when preparing for an exam.
Go to class, read your stuff, use the study guides. Make sure you start preparing for papers early, don't wait until the last minute. If you are having trouble, talk to Jim. He's a super nice guy and he will help you in any way he can.
Stay with it! Jim is a great teacher and is willing to work with you to help you do great. You will get more out of this class than most. Don't miss class, and have fun!
My advice to the incoming class would be to discipline yourselves. Do the assigned readings on time and come to class. Review frequently and you're set for Dr. Query's quizzes and exams. Do not be intimidated by the handouts, but continue to organize. You will be thankful in the end. It's also a great idea to set up appointments to meet with Dr. Query whether you need it or not.
CMUN 248 Tips...
I would tell this person that 248 is a good class for developing analytical skills. In order to do well in this class, the student must attend every class and stay on top of his/her readings. Take thorough notes, and don't be afraid to ask questions. Choose a topic for your research project which you are interested in and have an interest in spending time with. Don't be afraid of the workload, as it will only help you in the end.
If you are going to take 248 you must keep and review all handout given in class such as : articles, sample quizes, hollywood squares. these will help you to understand the material and do well on the exam. I would also advise when choosing your research topic you take time and really find something you would like to know more about. Lastly I would advise you to study for exams and quizzes ahead of time. Flashcards really help to pin down the material.
I would tell them it provides a good analysis of the world of research. It also teaches you exactly how to go about doing not only communication based reseach but this class gives you the general knowledge of how to do all types of research and then shows you how to quantify the results.
My recommendation/advice to future 248er's: Get yourself a organization tool (binder, folders, labels, etc.) This class is much more manageable and a lot less stressful if you keep all of the materials ORGANIZED. There will be a lot of handouts and a number of pages you'll end up printing off of Jim's website. It is very helpful to have those 'hard copies' stored in a notebook or binder for quick and easy reference. Also, DO NOT THROW ANYTHING AWAY. The Hollywood Squares, agendas, study review questions, challenges...will all serve to prepare you for exams throughout the semester. Lastly, regarding exams, do not be fooled into thinking the multiple choice is the "easy" part of the test. Jim usually gives the option to weight your exam (between multiple choice and essay) according to your strenths. Don't just automatically assume the multiple choice should be weighted 60% and the essay 40%. It could come
back to haunt you...as it did to many of my peers. : )
DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE to begin researching. The project may not be due until the very end of the semester and there might be specific rules Jim has regarding the research study, but many groups find themselves scrambling and struggling in the end because they did not allow themselves enough time to complete the research project and their data/data analysis suffered as a result.
A. Jim treats people as individuals and is receptive to varying situations in his students' personal lives. 
Be ready for a professor who loves to teach and loves his students.
Be ready for a professor who loves to teach and loves his students. B. I would also recommend that for whomever takes this class be Internet friendly. A large amount of work is done over the web and through email.
First, I would advise my friend to continually check his/her e-mail as Jim is very adept at driving the information highway. Secondly, in order to succeed in 248 one must keep up with the readings and visit Jim if any misunderstanding occurs because the concepts do build on each other. Third, especially during a night class, the ability to adjust to deadlines, is crucial. Being able to deal with the pressure and inconvenience of changing due dates is a common theme in college. But, with night classes meeting so infrequently, adjusting to everyone's schedules is significant. Finally, look up Jim's jargon on the web. I waited until half way through the semester to translate what *s* or *vbs* or *g* meant. Half of Jim's e-mails are full of the stuff so you might as well enjoy it. Also, get ready for tough, tough multiple choice questions on the quizzes. But you can prepare for them using the sample questions!
Buy a big 3 ring binder and a 3 hole punch. There will be A Lot of handouts.
If you can help it, try not to miss class. The lectures and hand-outs are very important. Try not to fall behind on the chapter readings and please, meet with Query as often as possible. It helps tremendously to talk to him outside of class and to ask questions you may be reluctant to ask in class. Never underestimate the tests, quizzes -- they are difficult. Don't get discouraged, once you get the hang of "the class," you'll be o.k..
A) You will work intensely/closely with a group. Choose your members wisely.
B) Have a binder notebook to keep track of all handouts.
C) Anticipate spending any free out of class studying this material. If you work, plan your schedule in advance if possible.
D) Read all assignments before class. The lectures will drive home key points and clarify questions.
E) Record lectures for reference to material covered in class.
F) Take good notes and keep them organized.
G) Purchase new texts, old ones will fall apart!
Good Luck!
This course is extremely challenging. You must keep up with the readings and attend class. Dr. Query puts a lot of time/preparation into this class. He is not an easy professor, but very fair. He makes himself available to help you, and is extremely helpful. 248 is a difficult course, but I have learned a tremendous amount.
Go to class everyday. Always ask questions and take notes. 248 is tough, but Dr. Query is in the classroom to help and guide his students throughout the semester. He is tough, and he expects a lot from his students, but if you hang in there, he will help you through. Dr. Query is always available, do not pass up any opportunities with him. When things get tough (and they will) take a deep breath, exhale, re-focus, and then plunge in again. The more you put in to 248, the more you will get out of it. Good luck!
Go to class! Make sure you really listen in class and take effective notes. Without good lecture notes, you might find yourself lost. Also, take a deep breath, and take each class one at a time. Stay on top of your reading because cramming does not work with this class. You should take advantage of Dr. Query's help. He is more than willing to help you succeed. In regards to the research paper, do the risk free prospectus. It will help your grade tremendously. Also, work on a topic that interests you -- if you don't, you are going to dread this class. You have the power to turn it into a positive; it's your choice. Good luck!
Keep up with the readings and take plenty of notes in class. They compliment each other and make studying a whole lot easier.
Do not panic when you hear how hard the class is. Jim will stress over and over and OVER about how challenging this is and how much work there will be. It won't be as bad as it seems. Just read the book, do the self review questions and always go to class. If you stay on top of the material you will do fine. IN the end your grade will reflect your effort.
Make sure the people you pick to be in your group are hard working and not slackers. Don't wait until the last minute; keep up with all your work. Make sure you really understand all the requirements for the prospectus before starting it. Ask if you don't understand.
Attend each class for lecture material is valuable. Take advantage of the risk-free prospectus, and never hesitate to discuss any problems you are having in the course with your professor.
Jim's 248 class is incredibly challenging. Make sure you are willing to put in the extra effort for this class. Clarification is key. We cover a lot of material in this class and, often, everything will not be clear. Make sure to consult with either Jim, or another student who knows what is going on. Everything is important in this class. Also, make sure you choose your research group wisely. Good luck!
1. Take advantage of the sample quiz questions. Make sure you review every multiple choice answer and understand their concepts because every answer is fair game on the quizzes and exams. If you know the sample quiz, you'll be ready for anything.
2. Don't give up! If you don't get the concepts in the beginning, stick with it. Do the review questions, go over the sample quizzes and you'll catch on to Jim's style. The material doesn't get easier, but it does get easier to understand. Good luck, have fun, and remember to mark "E" when Jim tells you to!
Ask lots of questions. Ask one every day if you have to. Go visit Jim in his office like every other week, to make sure "you're on the same page." Start the paper the 1st or 2nd week of school, and choose a group to work with that won't drive you insane, and won't make you do all of the work! You'll end up being good friends with these people, though at times you'll want to rip off their heads! Just remember, Jim is not lying when he says he'll help you.
Do not drop this class. It may seem difficult at first, but it is only hard work, and the content isn't difficult at all. Attend class regularly and take good notes. The exams are not so much remembering information, but applying it to other information and contexts. Work with your group on your research project; there's a reason for the group being together. Finally, use Jim to your advantage. He is quite busy, but he is a professor, and will always make time for his students.
Students should definitely take course 248 with Dr. Query. He's a professor who really cares about his students, and if he sees you are really trying, he'll help you out. You will learn a lot of new and interesting skills. Hang in there because the end result is well worth it.
