Spring 2016 1 Course Syllabus Course Number and Title: SPCH 1318 Interpersonal Communication Course Description Application of communication theory to interpersonal relationship development, maintenance, and termination in relationships context including friendships, romantic partners, families, and relationship with co-workers and supervisors. Professor: Monica Villarreal, M.A. Phone: (956) 364-4967 Office Location: W313 Office Hours: MWF 3:00-4:00 Email: mmvillarreal54675 @tstc.edu TTH 11:00-12:00 Major Course Requirements/Task Listing: 10. Write effective paragraphs 13. Give Oral presentations 16. Accommodate cultural diversities in oral/written communication 17. Apply verbal and nonverbal communication techniques 18. Participate in group situations 19. Apply active listening skills 32. Analyze relational dynamics and conflict styles This course is divided in sections and they include the following: A First Look at Interpersonal Communication Part 1- Looking In (Self-Concept, Perception and Emotion) Part 2- Looking Out (Language, Nonverbal Communication and Listening) Part 3- Looking at Relational Dynamics (Relational Dynamics, Intimacy and Distance in Communication, Communication Climates and Managing Interpersonal Conflicts) SPCH 1315 Learning Objectives In accordance with recommendations from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, all speech courses at Texas State Technical College will address the following core objectives: 1. Critical Thinking Skills- including creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and
Spring 2016 2 analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information. 2. Communication Skills- including effective written, oral, and visual communication. 3. Teamwork- including the ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal. 4. Personal Responsibility- including the ability to connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision-making. LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course, students will: 1. Exhibit understanding of interpersonal theories and principles 2. Demonstrate ability to analyze and critique verbal and nonverbal interactions in mediated and face-to-face contexts. 3. Identify and understand the perceptual process as they relate to self and others. 4. Demonstrate critical thinking ability by effectively researching, evaluating, and applying communication theories in oral and written assignments. 5. Demonstrate understanding of the relevance of cross-cultural, co-cultural, gender, and age influences on human communication. 6. Identify, evaluate, and apply conflict styles and conflict resolution strategies. 7. Identify types of barriers to effective listening. Course Schedule (Tentative Schedule subject to change by your instructor) Day Date Lecture Topic Have Read/Due Tues Jan.12 Course Introduction/Partner Introductions Thurs. Jan.14 A First look at Interpersonal Communication- Ch. 1 engage in discussion and class participation while working together as a group. This activity is measured by observation. (Teamwork) Physical Needs Identity Needs Social Needs Practical Goals Process of Communication Communication Principles Communication Misconceptions Tues. Jan.19 A First look at Interpersonal Communication (Cont.)- Ch. 1 Communication Competence Defined Characteristics of Competent
Spring 2016 3 Communicators Competence in Intercultural Communication Thurs. Jan.21 Communication and Identity: Creating and Presenting the Self- Ch. 2 Self-Concept and Self-Esteem Biological and Social Roots of the Self Characteristics of the Self-Concept Culture, Gender, and Identity Self-Fulfilling prophecies and communication Public and Private Selves Characteristics of Identity Management Why Manage Identities Managing Identities in Person and Online Tues. Jan.26 Communication and Identity: Creating and Presenting the Self (Cont.)-Ch. 2 Extraversion/Introversion Intuitive/Sensing Thinking/Feeling Judging/Perceiving Engagement Activity One concepts in chapter one through logic and reasoning Engagement Activity Two (Points for E.A. 2 will be earned in class by bringing in results of Myers-Briggs Personality Test) analyze their self-assessments on communication awareness through critical evaluation. Thurs. Jan.28 Communication and Identity: Creating and Presenting the Self (Cont.)-Ch. 2 Models of Self-Disclosure Benefits and Risks of Self-Disclosure Guidelines to Self-Disclosure Silence Lying Equivocating Hinting Tues. Feb.2 Perception: What you see is what you get- Ch. 3 Perception Process Selection, Organization, Interpretation, Negotiation Influences on Perception Engagement Activity Three concepts in chapter three through
Spring 2016 4 Common Tendencies in Perception Perception Checking Thurs. Feb.4 Perception: What you see is what you get- (Cont.) Ch. 3 Empathy Cognitive Complexity Tues. Feb.9 Emotions: Feeling, thinking, and communicating- Ch.4 Emotions Defined Influences on Emotional Expression Guidelines for Expressing Emotions Accept Responsibility for feelings Journal One due develop a synthesized expression of ideas through a written assignment. (Communication Skills) Engagement Activity Four concepts in chapter four through Thurs. Feb.11 Emotions: Feeling, thinking, and communicating (Cont.)- Ch.4 Facilitative and Debilitative Emotions Sources of Debilitative Emotions Irrational Thinking and Debilitative Emotions Minimizing Debilitative Emotions Tues. Feb.16 Ch. 1-4 Exam One- Please bring Scantron and #2 pencil connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decisionmaking. (Personal Responsibility) Thurs. Feb.18 Language: Barrier and Bridge- Ch. 5 Understanding Words: Semantic Rules Understanding Structure: Syntactic Rules Understanding Context: Pragmatic Rules The Impact of Language Gender and Language Culture and Language Tues. Feb.23 Nonverbal Communication: messages beyond words- Ch. 6 Characteristics of Nonverbal Engagement Activity Five
Spring 2016 5 Communication NV skills are vital, have communicative value, primarily relational, has many functions, has deceptive cues, and is ambiguous Influences on Nonverbal Communication Gender Culture concepts in chapter five through Thurs. Feb.25 Nonverbal Communication (Cont.)- Ch. 6 Journal Two Due Types of Nonverbal Communication Body, Voice, Touch, Appearance, Physical Space, and Environment Tues. Mar.1 Nonverbal Communication (Cont.)- Ch. 6 Types of Nonverbal Communication Body, Voice, Touch, Appearance, Physical Space, and Environment Thurs. Mar.3 Listening: More than meets the ear Ch. 7 Listening Defined Elements of the Listening Process Types of Ineffective Listening Why We Don t Listen Better Listening Better Engagement Activity Six concepts in chapter six through Journal Three due develop a synthesized expression of ideas through a written assignment. (Communication Skills) Tues. Mar.8 Ch. 5-7 Exam Two- Please bring Scantron and #2 pencil Thurs. Mar.10 Communication and Relational Dynamics- Ch. 8 connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decisionmaking. (Personal Responsibility) Factors of Forming Relationships Influences of Factors Developmental Perspective Dialectical Perspective Tues. Mar.22 Communication and Relational Engagement Activity Seven
Spring 2016 6 Dynamics (Cont.)- Ch. 8 Characteristics of Relationships Communicating about Relationships concepts in chapter eight through Thurs. Mar.24 Interpersonal Communication in Close Relationships- Ch. 9 Dimensions of Intimacy Gender and Intimacy Culture and Intimacy Mediated Relationships and Intimacy Characteristics of Families Families as a system Communication Patterns in Families Romantic Relationships and Communication Tues. Mar.29 Interpersonal Communication in Close Relationships- Ch. 9 Relationships Require Commitment Relationships Require Maintenance Repairing Damaged Relationships Engagement Activity Eight concepts in chapter nine through Journal Three due develop a synthesized expression of ideas through a written assignment. (Communication Skills) Thurs. Mar.31 Ch. 8-9 Exam Three- Please bring Scantron and #2 pencil Tues. Apr.5 Improving Communication Climates- Ch. 10 connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decisionmaking. (Personal Responsibility) Levels of Message Confirmation How Communication Climate Develops Face-Threatening Acts
Spring 2016 7 Preventing Defensiveness in Others Thurs. Apr.7 Improving Communication Climates- Ch. 10 (Cont.) The Assertive Message Format Responding Nondefensively to Criticism Tues. Apr.12 Managing Interpersonal Conflicts- Ch. 11 The Nature of Conflict Conflict Styles Thurs. Apr.14 Managing Interpersonal Conflicts (Cont.)- Ch. 11 Conflict in Relational Systems Variables in Conflict Influences of Conflict Engagement Activity Nine concepts in chapter ten through Journal Four Due develop a synthesized expression of ideas through a written assignment. (Communication Skills) Engagement Activity Ten concepts in chapter eleven through Tues. Apr.19 Managing Interpersonal Conflicts (Cont.)- Ch. 11 Constructive Conflict Style Collaborative Problem Solving Constructive Conflict Thurs. Apr.21 PUGSS Constructive Conflict Tues. Apr.26 PUGSS & CH.10-11 Final Exam- Please bring Scantron and #2 pencil connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decisionmaking. (Personal Responsibility) NOTE: The instructor reserves the right to modify the course calendar and the course syllabus. The class will be notified if any changes occur, either through in-class lectures or via MyMail and Moodle.
Spring 2016 8 Required Text and Materials Adler, R. B., Rosenfeld, L. B., & Proctor II, R. F. (2011). Looking Out Looking In (14 th Ed.) Boston: Wadsworth. ISBN: 978-0-8400-2817-4 Grading Criteria Quizzes 15% Journals 20% Exams 50% Final Exam 15% Grades will be distributed in the following manner: A (90-100) B (80-89) C (70-79) D (60-69) F (0-59) Course Requirements 1. Ten Engagement Activities (50 pts.) 2. Four journal questions (40 pts.) 3. Exams Exam 1 (100 pts.) Exam 2 (100 pts.) Exam 3 (100 pts.) Final Exam (100 pts.) Attendance. Good attendance contributes to a positive learning environment, and you can t do your best in this course if you do not attend regularly. There are many things to be learned on a weekly basis that are not measured directly on the tests. Since I know your objective is to increase your learning, my assumption is that you will attend class. It is your responsibility to get the information covered in the classes missed. NO distinction is made between an excused and unexcused absence. If you miss 3 or more class periods you will be encouraged to drop the course. Dropping Course. It is your responsibility to drop the course prior to the last date for withdrawal without incurring an F grade. Failure to withdraw will result in an F grade. Engagement Activities. You are expected to read assigned material before coming to class and to be prepared to discuss the information. Engagement activities consist of short quizzes and engagement worksheets. Engagement activities will also serve as part of the review of examinations. Engagement activities can be found online on
Spring 2016 9 Moodle under designated module. NOTE: A 24-hour notice and valid excuse prior to class date must be given to professor in the case that student will need additional time to complete an engagement activity. Otherwise, engagement activities will not be reopened. Journals. You will be assigned four journal questions throughout the semester. Journal questions will be based off of the lectures and textbook. Responses should be based off the lecture and readings, as well as personal experiences. Journal responses must be typed, no less than a page long, and 12 point Times New Roman Font. NOTE: Journals must be submitted in class. A 24-hour notice and a valid excuse prior to class date must be given to professor in the case that student will need additional time to complete journal or will not be able to submit journal in class. Late journal responses without valid excuse will not be accepted. Examinations. You will take four exams in this course. Each exam is multiple-choice format and objective-based. Study guide questions for each chapter will be available upon request. Answering these study guide questions as you work through the chapters will prepare you for the exams. Exams are worth 65% of your final grade. Please bring a #2 pencil and Scantron to all exams. NOTE: If you must miss an exam please contact me via email and let me know that you will not be attend exam date prior to the commencement of the exam. If you miss the exam without talking to me ahead of time, you will receive an automatic zero. NOTE: If instructor makes a safe and educated assumption that a student has either plagiarized or cheated on an exam or any other assignment the student will be given a zero in that particular assignment and will be reported to the community standards office. DEPARTMENT PARTICIPATION POLICY: Only absences of an extreme or catastrophic emergency may be excused and must be corroborated in writing by an appropriate authority (hospital, doctor), merely phoning in does not excuse an absence. Students must file a withdrawal form with the Admissions Office to be withdrawn from the course. It is the responsibility of the student to drop the course prior to the last date for withdrawal without incurring an F grade. The withdrawal process will no longer be initiated by the instructor. *If you are absent more than three times because of a health issue, you will be encouraged to contact the Student Support Services Office immediately. ACCOMMODATION STATEMENT: If you have a documented disability which will make it difficult for you to carry out the work as the instructor has outlined, and/or if you need special accommodations due to a disability, please contact (956) 364-4521 or visit the Support Services Office located in the building EK as soon as possible to make appropriate arrangements. COPYRIGHT STATEMENT
Spring 2016 10 The material used in the course (textbooks, handouts, media files, podcast, MP3, Videos, RSS Feeds), and all instructional resources on the colleges Learning Management System (Moodle) are intended for use only by students registered and enrolled in this course, and are only to be used for instructional use, activities associated with, and for the duration of the course. By handouts, this means all materials generated for this course, which includes but are not limited to syllabi, quizzes, exams, lab problems, in-class materials, review sheets, and any additional materials. These materials may not be retained in another medium or disseminated further. They are provided in compliance with the provisions of the Teach Act. These materials may not be reproduced, displayed, modified or distributed without the express prior written permission of the copyright holder or TSTC. For further information contact your instructor. Communicating with your instructor (MyMail Email System) The use of Your MyMail TSTC College Student e-mail account will be the only way to receive official notices from the college. When communicating with instructors and/or employees of the college you are required to use your TSTC MyMail student e-mail address. If you choose to forward your email to another account, please be advised that all communication from and within the college will use your MyMail student e-mail. Safety TSTC Harlingen faculty, staff, and students are asked to report all threats, perceived or real, immediately to College Police located in the Auxiliary Building. If the threat is imminent, the College Police emergency phone line at 364-4234 or 9-911 should be called. College Police will then coordinate the proper response in accordance with State and federal laws and TSTC System/College rules and regulations. In the event of an emergency, students should familiarize themselves with building and classrooms emergency exits/evacuation routes and be able to locate the nearest fire extinguisher. When an emergency alarm is activated, students should immediately leave the classroom, exit the building, and go to a designated safe area until clearance is given to go back into the building. Students should also register and be familiar with the Emergency Notification System. OTHER POLICIES Student Success Office If you need assistance in your academic studies, please contact (956) 364-4110 or visit the Student Success Office, in Building D, Room 121. For supplemental instruction, you can go to the website: http://www.tstc.edu/oss/ossprograms.aspx Electronic Devices No electronic recording devices will be allowed in class. Children are not allowed in lecture rooms or laboratories.
Spring 2016 11 General Education Program Assessment Assignments from this course are subject to being archived for general education assessment. Procedures will follow protocol as prescribed by the research guidelines of the Association for Institutional Research. Note: The instructor reserves the right to changes in the due dates of activities, assignments and quizzes. Any changes to this course syllabus will be announced/provided in writing to the students. *The last day to drop the class with a grade of W is April 1 st, 2016. Tutoring Statement The Supplemental Instruction & Tutoring Program at TSTC offers free tutoring and academic support services to help you achieve your academic and career goals. You can access the most up-to-date Supplemental Instruction & Tutoring Schedule, as well as MyTSTC Video Tutor Library, by using your smart phone to scan over the QR code below or visiting our webpage at: http://www.tstc.edu/harlingenoss/situtoringprogram For more information, please contact the Office of Student Success at 956.364.4163 or the Supplemental Instruction & Tutoring Program at 956.364.4170. Personal Note I look forward to having you in class and getting to know you as we work through this semester together. We have so much to learn from each other and accomplish this semester. I expect you to adhere to the course policies listed above and consider the syllabus to be a contract. It outlines what I expect from you and what you can expect from me. I expect you to come to class having completed the assigned readings and prepared to contribute to in-class dialogue. Please know that I am committed to quality teaching. Every class will be well organized, fully interactive, relevant, and intellectually stimulating. I have designed this course to set you up for success. You can hold me to this! I encourage you to take advantage of my office hours and email address. Thanks for being here! -Monica Mercado