Communication Writing Intensive Course Description: Course Student Learning Objectives:

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1 Communication Introduction to Communication Theory Writing Intensive 1:00-2:15pm MW; Ferguson 373 Stephen F. Austin State University Division of Communication and Contemporary Culture Communication Studies Professor: R. Tyler Spradley, Assistant Professor Office: LAN 417 Phone: Office Hours: M 2:15-4pm rspradley@sfasu.edu TR 8:30-11am Class Times: 1pm MW; 11am TR; 12:30 TR; 4pm M Other times by appointment Course Description: Communication Theory is an introductory course designed to develop a basic understanding of foundational constructs in the field of communication. Course Student Learning Objectives: Over the semester, students will engage a number of communication theories, learn to situate communication theories in social science and humanities perspectives, analyze the practicality of theory, build a greater understanding of the various levels of communication, and survey the discipline of communication studies in general. Communication Studies Program Learning Outcomes: *PLOs assessed in this course. 1. Theory Knowledge: Students majoring in Communication Studies should display comprehension of major communication theories.* 2. Theory Application: Students majoring in Communication Studies will apply the major theories in the field to communicate effectively in a variety of settings.* 3. Research Methods: Students majoring in Communication Studies will be able to use and demonstrate understanding of appropriate methodology in critical, humanistic, or social scientific paradigms in examining research questions in communication. 4. Diversity and Freedom of Expression: Students majoring in Communication Studies will be able to recognize the central role of diversity and freedom of expression in a global community. 5. Constitutive Nature of Communication: Students majoring in Communication Studies will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the constitutive nature of communication, which includes forces that enable and constrain communication such as technology, ethics, and organizational life. 6. Higher Order Thinking: Students majoring in Communication Studies will be able to demonstrate oral and written competence in logical and critical thinking. Course Materials: Students will be expected to purchase the following: Griffin, E. (2012). A first look at communication theory (8 th ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill. Use the textbook website for study assistance: Governing Policies: The following policies will apply toward classroom decorum. 1. ACCEPTABLE STUDENT BEHAVIOR: Classroom behavior should not interfere with the instructorʼs ability to conduct the class or the ability of other students to learn from the MW COM 102 Fall

2 instructional program (see the Student Conduct Code, policy D-34.1). Unacceptable or disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. Students who disrupt the learning environment may be asked to leave class and may be subject to judicial, academic or other penalties. This prohibition applies to all instructional forums, including electronic, classroom, labs, discussion groups, field trips, etc. The instructor shall have full discretion over what behavior is appropriate/inappropriate in the classroom. Students who do not attend class regularly or who perform poorly on class projects/exams may be referred to the Early Alert Program. This program provides students with recommendations for resources or other assistance that is available to help SFA students succeed. 2. CELL PHONES AND OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES: All phones, MP3 players and PDAs must be off and out of sight during class, unless instructed otherwise. Students are expected to appreciate the learning environment and to prevent unnecessary distractions. If a cell phone is seen or goes off during a celebration, the student will receive a ZERO on the test. 3. COURSE ADAPTATIONS: To obtain disability related accommodations, alternate formats and/or auxiliary aids, students with disabilities must contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS), Human Services Building, and Room 325, / (TDD) as early as possible in the semester. Once verified, ODS will notify the course instructor and outline the accommodation and/or auxiliary aids to be provided. Failure to request services in a timely manner may delay your accommodations. For additional information, go to 4. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: Academic integrity is a responsibility of all university faculty and students. Faculty members promote academic integrity in multiple ways including instruction on the components of academic honesty, as well as abiding by university policy on penalties for cheating and plagiarism. Definition of Academic Dishonesty: Academic dishonesty includes both cheating and plagiarism. Cheating includes but is not limited to (1) using or attempting to use unauthorized materials to aid in achieving a better grade on a component of a class; (2) the falsification or invention of any information, including citations, on an assigned exercise; and/or (3) helping or attempting to help another in an act of cheating or plagiarism. Plagiarism is presenting the words or ideas of another person as if they were your own. Examples of plagiarism are (1) submitting an assignment as if it were one's own work when, in fact, it is at least partly the work of another; (2) submitting a work that has been purchased or otherwise obtained from an Internet source or another source; and (3) incorporating the words or ideas of an author into one's paper without giving the author due credit. Please read the complete policy at 5. BLACKBOARD AND ONLINE COURSEWORK: ALL students are expected to use Blackboard in this course to perform and keep up with graded activities and scheduled readings. Students should sign in at using the same username and password as MySFA. All graded activities will be turned in or completed via Blackboard. 6. GRADE WITHHELD POLICY (Semester Grades A-54): II. Withheld Grades: Ordinarily, at the discretion of the instructor of record and with the approval of the academic chair/director, a grade of WH will be assigned only if the student cannot complete the course work because of unavoidable circumstances. Students must complete the work within one calendar year from the end of the semester in which they receive a WH, or the grade automatically becomes an F. If students register for the same course in future terms the WH will automatically become an F and will be counted as a repeated course for the purpose of computing the grade point average. MW COM 102 Fall

3 Attendance, Participation and Make-up Work Policy: Students are expected to attend every class meeting. Generally, the following policy will apply to absences and make-up work: 1. For evaluated activities such as celebrations and writing, absences will NOT be allowed. You will be allowed to make up the activity only when conditions are clearly beyond your control and are convincingly documented. If you do not have valid documentation for the absence, you will receive a ZERO for the assignment. Even if you are allowed to make up the activity you will still be counted absent for the class day. 2. There is no provision for excused absences for class meetings that do not involve graded activities. Your professor will not hear excuses for these days, nor will he accept documentation. You will simply be counted as absent. 3. Attendance can add or deduct from you final course grade. Students who have perfect attendance will receive bonus. Students who have excessive absences will receive a reduction in from their final course grade based on the following scale: 3 absences, - 5% 4 absences, - 10% 5 absences, - 15% 6 absences, - 20% 7 or more absences, -100% (Automatic failure) 4. Students who are dishonest about attendance or provide false documentation will receive an automatic failing grade for the course. 5. Students are expected to be present and participate in activities and discussions. A lack of participation will result in a mark of absence for the day. Evaluation: In addition to attendance, students will be evaluated using exams and written work. Each evaluated activity must be completed and turned in by the scheduled class meeting time. Your professor throughout the semester will provide additional instructions. Celebrations (the evaluations formerly known as tests/exams): There will be three celebrations throughout the semester. Celebrations will be administered through Blackboard. Celebrations will be worth a total of 500. KBlog (Knowledge Blog): Students will complete 2 KBlogs throughout the semester summarizing communication theories and their practical application. Students will choose one theory per KBlog of theories cover on or before the date scheduled. Each entry must be 4+ double-spaced pages in 12-point font, cite sources in APA format, and include an introduction, a review of the theory, a discussion of the theory s philosophical assumptions, and a practical application section. Each entry should be well written with collegiate level writing. Students are expected to use academic journal articles and communication texts for sources. Deductions will be given to entries not composed accordingly. KBlogs are always due before 11:00pm on the day scheduled. Each entry is worth 150. KBlogs will be worth a total of 300. Theory Paper: Students will write a page paper summarizing and applying observations made in their semester KBlog assignments. Papers will include edited KBlogs based on instructor feedback, 5 new sources cited in APA format, and a discussion of their school of thought in 2 to 3 pages of the page theory paper. Theory Papers will be submitted electronically via Blackboard on November 30 th before 11pm. When submitting papers, do not copy and paste. Submit the paper by uploading the file in DOC or RTF format after clicking the Theory Paper icon on the course homepage on Blackboard. Include an APA formatted reference list of all cited sources in the same file and title it using your last name MW COM 102 Fall

4 and theory i.e. spradleysymbolicinterationism.docx. The Theory Paper will be worth 200. Evaluation Summary: Final grade averages will be determined by an accumulation of each evaluated activity and attendance. Total Course Points: 1000 Tentative Course Calendar: Use the course calendar to see when daily readings, KBlogs and exams are scheduled. Calendars are subject to change based on student learning progress and unforeseen occurrences. In the event the calendar changes, announcements will be posted on Blackboard. Week Date Daily Discussion, Lectures, Readings, and/or Assignments Points /29 Introductions & Syllabus 8/31 Introducing Theory and Developing Terminology Read and discuss CH 1 9/5 Introducing Theory and Developing Terminology Interpretive and Objectivist Approaches Read and discuss CH 2 9/7 Building Communication Theory and Traditions Read and discuss CH 3 9/12 Building Communication Theory and Traditions Seven Traditions of the Field of Communication Read and discuss CH 4 9/14 Interpersonal Messages: Foundations for Future Theory Symbolic Interactionism and Coordinated Management of Meaning Read and discuss p and CHs 5 & 6 9/19 Relationship Development: Self-Disclosure Social Penetration Theory Read and discuss p and CH 9 9/21 Relationship Development: Predicting Relational Outcomes Uncertainty Reduction Theory Read and discuss CH 10 9/26 Relationship Maintenance: Building and Keeping Relationships Relational Dialectics Read and discuss p and CH 12 9/28 Celebration 1 via Blackboard /3 Influence: Communicating to change behavior. Social Judgment Theory Cognitive Dissonance Theory Read and discuss p and CHs 15 & 17 10/5 KBlog 1 due on Blackboard before 11pm /10 Group Decision Making Processes Functional Perspective Symbolic Convergence Read and discuss p and CHs 18 & 19 10/12 Organizational Communication Introduction Cultural Organizational Communication Theory Read and discuss p and CH 20 MW COM 102 Fall

5 8 10/17 Critical Organizational Communication Read and discuss CH 21 10/19 Communicative Constitution of Organizations McPhee and Zaug s (2000) Four Flows Putnam and Nicoteria (2009) CCO Advances and Uses 9 10/24 Leadership and Communication Framing Message Design Logics Leadership as meaning management 10/26 Rhetoric: Foundations Aristotle Read and discuss p and CH /31 Rhetoric: Contemporary Burke: Dramatism Narrative Paradigm Read and discuss CH 23 and 24 11/2 Media and Culture Schools of Thought Media Ecology Semiotics Read and discuss p and CHs 25 and /7 Media and Culture British Cultural Studies Read and discuss CH 27 11/9 Celebration 2 via Blackboard /14 Spradley at NCA National Convention 150 KBlog 2 due on Blackboard before 11pm. 11/16 Media Effects: Deterministic to Limited Effects Uses and Gratifications Cultivation Read and discuss p and CH 28 and /21 Media Effects: Deterministic to Limited Effects Agenda-Setting Read and discuss CH 30 11/23 Thanksgiving Holiday 14 11/28 Intercultural Communication Face Negotiation Read and discuss p and CH 31 and 32 11/30 Theory Papers due on Blackboard before 11:00pm /5 Gender and Communication Standpoint Muted Group Read and discuss p and CH 35 & CH 36 12/7 Celebration 3 Preparation Day 16 Celebration 3 via Blackboard 100 Points Last Day to Register: 9/1 MW COM 102 Fall

6 Twelfth Class Day: 9/14 Mid-semester: 10/19 Last Day to Apply for Degrees Completed in December 2011: 10/24 Last Day to Drop or Withdraw without WP or WF: 10/26 Last Day to Withdraw from the University: 11/28 Dead Week: 12/5-12/9 Finals Week: 12/12-12/16 Finals Weeks: 12/13-12/17 MW COM 102 Fall