Communications Merit BadgeRequired badge for Eagle

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Skills you’ll learnHow to planHow to speak with adults you don’t knowTaking notesDifferent ways we communicateCareer opportunities in communicationsTeaching skillsSpeaking skillsThinking on your feet

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Communications Requirements

1. How We Communicate2. Describe yourself/ Sell Something3. Public Speaking4. Conduct an Interview5. Public Meeting6. Teaching7. Explore Publishing8. Plan a program9. Investigate Careers

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1. How We Communicate 4

Do ONE of the following: a. Communication Log

b. Listening Log

c. In a small-group setting, meet with other scouts or with friends. Have them share personal stories about significant events in their lives that

affected them in some way. Take note of how each scout participates in the group discussion and how

effective each one is in telling his story. Report what you have learned to your counselor about the differences you

observed in effective communication.

d. List as many ways as you can think of to communicate with others For each type of communication discuss with your counselor an instance

when that method might not be appropriate or effective.

Communication

What is it?Message – transmission - reception

How do we communicate?How much is verbal?Communication problems

Clarity of words Intent Efficiency

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How To Ask your patrol to meet with you before a troop meeting. Remind them by phone the night before Take notes Use the logs for the other items. Meet with your counselor

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Describe Yourself/ Sell Something Do ONE of the following: a. Think of a creative way to describe yourself, using,

for example, a collage, short story or autobiography, drawing or series of photographs, or a song or skit. Using the aid you created, make a presentation to your counselor about yourself.

b. Choose a concept, product, or service in which you have great confidence. Build a sales plan based on its good points. Try to persuade the counselor to agree with, use, or buy your concept, product or service. After your sales talk, discuss with your counselor how persuasive you were.

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How To Self Description:

Define who you are: likes, dislikes, favorite things, most important, strengths/weaknesses

Next construct an outline, concept, or prototype Build on this by constructing the finished product Remember: you’re the expert on you

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How To (continued) Selling:

Define the value of the product in the eyes of the customer

Make eye contact with the buyer, smile, talk slowly and respectfully

Highlight emotional items (color, look, feel, taste, smell)

Sell the sizzle not the steak

Complete your presentation, ask for the order and stop talking (this is a closing question)

Handle any objection by restating it, then answering it in the eyes of the customer

Ask for the order again and stop talking

Repeat this cycle (closing question, objection, closing question) until the buyer says yes. This typically takes five tries.

Remember, price is the one object you can not overcome. When a customer objects to the price, sell the value

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Public Speaking Write a five-minute speech. Give it at a meeting of a group.

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How To Outline what you are going to say Plan the time (speaking always takes longer than you think)

Pick a subject that you know well Begin with an introduction Add some light humor (an icebreaker)

This doesn't’t always work, but don’t let it bother you Explain what your going to speak about Speak about it Summarize End

Rehearse at least three times Speak up – project your voice Look your audience in the eye Smile Keep hands out of your pockets (put on your hips or cross

them) Try to be yourself

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Conduct an Interview Interview someone you know fairly well, like, or

respect because of his or her position, talent, career or life experiences. Listen actively to learn as much as you can about the

person. Then prepare and deliver to your counselor an

introduction of the person as though this person were to be a guest speaker, and include reasons why the audience would want to hear this person speak.

Show how you would call to invite this person to speak.

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How ToPick an adult that you know, but not your parentsPrepare a list of ten questions

Tell me about your job? What other jobs have you done in life? What’s the most important thing you learned in life?

Use follow-up questions as you listenTake notesAfter the interview, copy your notes and expand

them

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Public MeetingAttend a public meeting (city council, school board,

debate) approved by your counselor where several points of view are given on a single issue.

Practice active listening skills and take careful notes of each point of view.

Present an objective report that includes all points of view that were expressed, and share this with your counselor.

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How To Visit a public hearing at Derry Township or Dauphin County Visit the courthouse and attend a trial Attend a community meeting (check the library for notices Listen to a debate on TV, the Radio, or the Internet Half hour is long enough so long as you listen to two points

of view

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Teaching With your counselor's approval, develop a plan to teach a

skill or inform someone about something. Prepare teaching aids for your plan. Carry out your plan. With your counselor, determine whether the person has learned what you intended.

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How To Teach someone how sink a basket Teach someone how to pitch a tent Teach someone how to tie scout knots Write a plan

Write an objective statement List the main topics/steps Prepare teaching aids (drawings, examples, model) Construct a test for the student

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PublishingDo ONE of the following: a. Write to the editor of a magazine or your local newspaper to

express your opinion or share information on any subject you choose. Send your message by fax, email or regular mail.

b. Create a Web page for your scout troop, school, or other organization. Include at least one article and one photograph or illustration, and one link to some other web page that would be helpful to someone who visits the web page you have created. It is not necessary to post your web page to the internet, but if you decide to do so, you must first share it with your parents and counselor and get their permission.

c. Use desktop publishing to produce a newsletter, brochure, flier or other printed material for your scout troop, class at school, or other group. Include at least one article and one photograph or illustration.

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Plan a program Plan a troop court of honor or campfire program. Have the

patrol leaders' council approve it, then write the script and prepare the program. Serve as master of ceremonies.

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How To Court of Honor

Opening ceremony Awards Special Recognition Closing ceremony

Campfire Skits Songs Stories

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Careers Learn about opportunities in the field of communication.

Choose one career in which you are interested and discuss with your counselor the major responsibilities of that position and the qualifications, education, and preparation it requires.

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Communications CareersJournalism CareersPublic OfficeRadio/TV BroadcastingActing (Movies, TV, Stage)Audio/Sound techniciansTeachingSales/SellingWeb site developmentAdvertising

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How To Identify Jobs (at least five)

Look in the Sunday Classified Ads

Call companies that are hiring

Look Online

For each job find out Education requirements Experience requirements Pay range How much travel required Specialized training needed Other aspects of that job

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PracticeIntroductionsTaking notesInterviewingSellingTypes of communication

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Michelle J. Nickolaus, CRNP, AACC 717-531-5411 (work) 717-583-0946 (home) 717-468-1622 (cell phone) mnickola@me.com

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