SPRING 2014 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 Mercado, M.A. Phone: (956) 364-4967 Office Location: W350 Office Hours: MW 2:30-4:30 p.m. Email: mmmercado@tstc.edu F 2:30-3:30 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) 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 perceptual processes as they relate to self and others.
SPRING 2014 2 4. Demonstrate critical thinking ability by effectively researching, evaluating, and applying communication theories in oral and/or written assignments. 5. Demonstrate understanding of the relevance of cross-cultural, co-cultural, gender and age influences on human communication. 6. Demonstrate ability to identify, evaluate, and apply conflict styles and conflict management techniques in dyads and/or groups. 7. Identify types of and barriers to effective listening. Course Schedule (Tentative Schedule subject to change by your instructor) Day Date Lecture Topic Measureable Activities Mon. Jan.13 Course Introduction Wed. Jan.15 Partner Introductions engage in discussion and class participation while working together as a group. This activity will be measured by observation. (Teamwork) Friday Jan.17 Ch. 1- A First look at Interpersonal Communication Physical Needs Identity Needs Social Needs Practical Goals Process of Communication Wed. Jan.22 Ch. 1- A First look at Interpersonal Communication Communication Principles Communication Misconceptions Friday Jan.24 Ch. 1- A First look at Interpersonal Communication Communication Competence Defined Characteristics of Competent Communicators Competence in Intercultural Communication Competence in Social Media Mon. Jan.27 Ch. 2- Communication and Identity: Engagement Activity One
SPRING 2014 3 Creating and Presenting the Self 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 (Take Myers-Briggs Personality Test Online) concepts in chapter one Wed. Jan.29 Ch. 2- Communication and Identity: Creating and Presenting the Self Public and Private Selves Characteristics of Identity Management Why Manage Identities Managing Identities in Person and Online Friday Jan.31 Ch. 2- Communication and Identity: Creating and Presenting the Self & Myers-Briggs Personality Extraversion/Introversion Intuitive/Sensing Thinking/Feeling Judging/Perceiving Mon. Feb.3 Ch. 2- Communication and Identity: Creating and Presenting the Self 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. Models of Self-Disclosure Benefits and Risks of Self-Disclosure Guidelines to Self-Disclosure Wed. Feb.5 Ch. 2- Communication and Identity: Creating and Presenting the Self Silence Lying Equivocating Hinting
SPRING 2014 4 The Ethics of Evasion Friday Feb.7 Ch. 3- Perception: What you see is what you get Perception Process Selection, Organization, Interpretation, Negotiation Mon. Feb.10 Ch. 3- Perception: What you see is what you get Influences on Perception Common Tendencies in Perception Perception Checking Engagement Activity Three concepts in chapter three Journal Question One due develop a synthesized expression of ideas through a written assignment. (Communication Skills) Wed. Feb.12 Ch. 3- Perception: What you see is what you get Empathy Cognitive Complexity Friday Feb.14 Ch.4- Emotions: Feeling, thinking, and communicating Emotions Defined Influences on Emotional Expression Engagement Activity Four concepts in chapter four Mon. Feb.17 Ch.4- Emotions: Feeling, thinking, and communicating Guidelines for Expressing Emotions Accept Responsibility for feelings Wed. Feb.19 Ch.4- Emotions: Feeling, thinking, and communicating Facilitative and Debilitative Emotions Sources of Debilitative Emotions Irrational Thinking and Debilitative Emotions Minimizing Debilitative Emotions Friday Feb.21 (Ch. 1-4) Exam One- Please bring Scantron and #2 pencil
SPRING 2014 5 connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision-making. (Personal Responsibility) Mon. Feb.24 Ch. 5- Language: Barrier and Bridge Understanding Words: Semantic Rules Understanding Structure: Syntactic Rules Understanding Context: Pragmatic Rules Engagement Activity Five concepts in chapter five Wed. Feb.26 Ch.5- Language: Barrier and Bridge (cont.) The Impact of Language Gender and Language Culture and Language Friday Feb.28 Ch.6- Nonverbal Communication: messages beyond words Characteristics of Nonverbal Communication NV skills are vital, have communicative value, primarily relational, has many functions, has deception cues, and is ambiguous Mon. Mar.3 Ch.6- Nonverbal Communication Influences on Nonverbal Communication Gender Culture Engagement Activity Six concepts in chapter six through logic and reasoning. Wed. Mar.5 Ch.6- Nonverbal Communication Types of Nonverbal Communication Body, Voice, Touch, Appearance, Physical Space, and Environment Friday Mar.7 Ch.6- Nonverbal Communication
SPRING 2014 6 Types of Nonverbal Communication Body, Voice, Touch, Appearance, Physical Space, and Environment Mon. Mar.17 Ch.6- Nonverbal Communication Types of Nonverbal Communication Body, Voice, Touch, Appearance, Physical Space, and Environment Wed. Mar.19 Ch.7- Listening: More than meets the ear Listening Defined Elements of the Listening Process Friday Mar.21 Ch.7- Listening: More than meets the ear Journal Question Two due develop a synthesized expression of ideas through a written assignment. (Communication Skills) Types of Ineffective Listening Why we don t Listen Better Listening Better Mon. Mar.24 Ch. 5-7 Exam Two- Please bring Scantron and #2 pencil Wed. Mar.26 Ch. 8- Communication and Relational Dynamics connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision-making. (Personal Responsibility) Factors of Forming Relationships Influences of Factors Friday Mar.28 Ch. 8- Communication and Relational Dynamics Developmental Perspective Engagement Activity Seven concepts in chapter eight
SPRING 2014 7 Dialectical Perspective Mon. Mar.31 Ch. 8- Communication and Relational Dynamics Characteristics of Relationships Communicating about Relationships Wed. Apr.2 Ch. 9- Interpersonal Communication in Close Relationships Dimensions of Intimacy Gender and Intimacy Culture and Intimacy Mediated Relationships and Intimacy Friday Apr.4 Ch.9- Interpersonal Communication in Close Relationships Characteristics of Families Families as a system Communication Patterns in Families Romantic Relationships and Communication Mon. Apr.7 Ch.9- Interpersonal Communication in Close Relationships Relationships Require Commitment Relationships Require Maintenance Repairing Damaged Relationships Engagement Activity Eight concepts in chapter nine Journal Question Three due develop a synthesized expression of ideas through a written assignment. (Communication Skills) Wed. Apr.9 Ch. 8-9 Exam Three- Please bring Scantron and #2 pencil Friday Apr.11 Ch. 10- Improving Communication Climates connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision-making. (Personal Responsibility) Levels of Message Confirmation How Communication Climate Develops
SPRING 2014 8 Mon. Apr.14 Ch. 10- Improving Communication Climates Face-Threatening Acts Preventing Defensiveness in Others Wed. Apr.16 Ch. 10- Improving Communication Climates Engagement Activity Nine concepts in chapter ten The Assertive Message Format Responding Nondefensively to Criticism Friday Apr.18 Ch. 11- Managing Interpersonal Conflicts The Nature of Conflict Conflict Styles Mon. Apr.21 Ch. 11- Managing Interpersonal Conflicts Wed. Apr.23 PUGSS Conflict in Relational Systems Variables in Conflict Journal Question Four due develop a synthesized expression of ideas through a written assignment. (Communication Skills) Engagement Activity Ten concepts in chapter eleven (Communication Skills) Constructive Conflict Style Collaborative Problem Solving Constructive Conflict Friday Apr.25 PUGSS & CH.10-11 Final Exam- Please bring Scantron and #2 pencil connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision-making. (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. Quizzes and assignments may be announced or unannounced.
SPRING 2014 9 Required Text and Materials Adler, R. B., Rosenfeld, L. B., & Proctor II, R. F. (2014). 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 (Quizzes) 2. Four journal questions 3. Exams Exam 1 Exam 2 Exam 3 4. Final Exam 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
SPRING 2014 10 part of the review of examinations. NOTE: All engagement activities will be found on Moodle, unless otherwise noted by your instructor. If you do not complete the engagement activity before the cutoff time, you will not be allowed to make up the quiz. Journal Questions. 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. Late journal question responses 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. 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 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
SPRING 2014 11 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. 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. 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 4,, 2013. Tutoring 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
SPRING 2014 12 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