For your final project, briefly identify a problem within Interpersonal Communication then provide research-based solutions for the problem. The problem you identify might be one of your own, it could be a problem that someone close to you has encountered or a problem that you're concerned about. This project gives you an opportunity to synthesize the information you’ve learned, identify a problem within your area of interest to explore in-depth, research using credible sources, and create recommendations based on proven techniques.

1. What specific topic do you wish to find solutions for? Note: "Anxiety" is a very general topic that you could write an entire 500-page textbook about. "How to respond when a loved one has a panic attack" is a specific topic related to anxiety for the final project.

2. Give some background information about why you are proposing this area of research.

3. What do you hope to accomplish for yourself/others through this project?

Covid-19 topic suggestions include:

• My wife and I are both trying to work/school from home while taking care of our kids. But, it seems like our division of childcare isn't fair. I find myself getting so angry with her because of this. How can I best advocate for a more shared division of labor?

• My brother is part of the essential labor force and he mentioned he didn't feel well before his shift. How can I communicate to my brother that he really needs to stay home when he's ill? Especially right now?

• My grandmother is in a nursing home and she's feeling really lonely. How can I stay connected to her even though I'm not allowed to visit her?

Some problems students have explored in the past:

• Every time my sister and I get together, we end up arguing. We used to get along so well, but now she's just so defensive. How can I change my communication approach to reduce defensiveness?

• My parents are divorcing. As an adult, I didn’t think this would affect me so much. Is there anything I can do to protect myself?

• I read in Forbes that no matter how much an employer offers you to work for them, it's never enough. We should always negotiate our starting salaries with a company before we accept the job. How do I negotiate a salary before starting a job?

• My son’s mother and I aren’t together anymore. What can I do to keep our relationship positive for our son’s sake?