COM 170.006 INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION The Division of Communication and Contemporary Culture Syllabus Fall 2010 W 4:00-6:30 Room F373 Professor: Dr. Jean Eldred e-mail: jean.eldred@suddenlink.net Office: Rm. 414 Liberal Arts North PLEASE USE THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS Office Phone: 468-1086 Dept. Phone: 468-6540 Office Hours: Mon. 2:15-4:00 Tues. - 1:45-3:15 Wed. 2:15-4:00 Thurs. - 1:45-2:30 Other Hours by Appointment Course Description (from SFA General Bulletin): COM 170 Interpersonal Communication Study of communication in the one-toone situation leading to development of interpersonal communication skills. Emphasis on positive mental attitude and personal growth. Required Text DeVito, J. (2009), The interpersonal communication book, 12th Ed., Boston: Allyn & Bacon. Course Goals: 1. To create an awareness of the importance of communication in everyday life. 2. To develop understanding of the nature of the interpersonal communication process. 3. To develop sensitivity to the events and behaviors that may affect relationships with others. 4. To help each student develop her/his potential as an effective interpersonal communicator through the understanding and practice of positive interpersonal skills. Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) 1. Students majoring in Communication Studies should display comprehension of major communication theories. 2. Students majoring in Communication Studies will apply the major theories in the field to communicate effectively in a variety of settings. 3. Students majoring in Communication Studies will be able to demonstrate knowledge of ethical principles in communication. 4. Students majoring in Communication Studies will be able to demonstrate competence in logical and critical thinking.
General Education Core Curriculum Exemplary Educational Objectives/Outcomes (EEOs): 1. To understand and demonstrate writing and speaking processes through invention, organization, drafting, revision, editing, and presentation. 2. To understand the importance of specifying audience and purpose and to select appropriate communication choices. 3. To understand and appropriately apply modes of expression, i.e., descriptive, expositive, narrative, scientific, and self-expressive, in written, visual, and oral communication. 4. To participate effectively in groups with emphasis on listening, critical and reflective thinking, and responding. 5. To understand and apply basic principles of critical thinking, problem solving, and technical proficiency in the development of exposition and argument. Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) After completing COM170 students should be able to apply the major theories in the field to communicate effectively in a variety of settings. Students will be able to demonstrate their proficiency by selecting correct responses to multiple-choice questions on the final exam that direct them to apply theory appropriate responses in a variety of settings or situations. Student Responsibilities Be present - both physically and mentally Be prepared - read the assigned material Participate - do homework assignments, take part in class discussions Be polite - behave with respect for fellow students and the teacher Grading: Grading Scale There are 800 points possible in the course A = Minimum of 720 points B = Minimum of 640 points C = Minimum 560 points D = Minimum of 480 points F = Less than 480 points (less than Course Requirements Points Available for Course Exams Exam 1 & Quizzes = 300 points Exam 2 (Final) & Quizzes = 400 points Written Exercises & Class Activities 700 points 100 points Total Points 800 points
Exams & Quizzes The points possible for quizzes will reduce the number of points that the exam over that section of material is worth so that the quiz points and exam points equal the number stated above. Example: If there are five quizzes over the material covered by Exam 1, worth a total of 100 points, then Exam 1 would be worth 200 points (20+30+25+25+25+200 = 300). If more points are used by quizzes the exam is worth less, if fewer points are used by quizzes the exam is worth more. Quizzes are usually given on the day after we complete a chapter, however, they may be given on other days. Exam 2 contains questions over material covered after Exam 1 (new material) and questions over material covered by Exams 1 (comprehensive material). Homework/Written Assignments Full instructions for homework will be furnished at the time the assignments are made. These assignments are designed to develop a specific communication skill, promote class discussions, prepare you for examinations, or provide opportunities for you to develop and demonstrate understanding of course material. Unless specifically stated otherwise at the time the assignment is made: 1) homework is to be submitted in class in hard copy typed double-spaced form, and 2) homework will be accepted no later than the date upon which it is due unless the student has an excused absence for the due date and any other days that have elapsed prior to submission. A numerical grade will be assigned to each homework assignment. Some exercises are written exercises that will be done in the classroom. Typically these are activities that are directed towards allowing you to apply ideas learned in the course. Some of these exercises will yield a few points in the Homework/Written Assignments category. If the final possible number of numerical points is either greater or less than 100, the points accrued by each student will be converted to a percentage of the numerical score possible for Homework. The percentage achieved will be applied to the points available for Homework. In-Class Participation and In-Class Activities Your learning of course concepts is greatly enhanced through participation in class discussions, asking pertinent questions, responding to questions, and participating in exercises in the classroom. Some exercises are simply expected and your only reward is what you learn.. Since you receive a substantial reward from your participation, there are no points for in-class participation, participation is simply an expected behavior of students. By the same reasoning, it would appear that the non-participating student is the one who loses out by not participating so it would seem that no penalty would be in order. It is not that simple, non-participation, and some forms of bad participation, can actually damage the learning experience of others in the class I will not allow anyone to hurt my students without suffering some consequence.. If a student behaves in a manner that adversely affects the course and detracts from the learning experience of others in the class, I will deduct up to 20% from the final grade of that student. I welcome inquiries from students who would like information regarding their standing in relationship to this rule. Please contact me, outside of class to discuss this or any other relevant matter.
Students engaging in non-course related activities during class (reading materials for other courses, playing games on their computers, reading newspapers, crossword puzzles etc.) are not present. These students may be asked to leave and may be denied the opportunity to participate in graded activities or take quizzes since they are not truly present and do not have an excused absence. In all honesty, most students enjoy the exercises, at least they are a break from listening to lectures! I rarely have anyone whose behavior adversely affects the learning experience of others. For the first two class meetings attendance will be checked through roll call. After the first two class meetings attendance will be checked through sign-in at the beginning of class. If you fail to sign in you will be counted as absent. If you do not sign-in before class begins, be sure you sign-in immediately after class so that you will be counted as tardy rather than absent. Changes from absent to tardy will not be made on any day other than the day on which the tardy occurred. If you arrive after roll call, you are responsible for coming to me immediately after class and calling it to my attention that you were late, as opposed to absent, and seeing to it that the appropriate adjustments are made to the record. Your attendance is expected. You MUST be present in order to participate in classroom experiences (and to learn from them). YOU MUST HAVE AN EXCUSED ABSENCE IF YOU MISS A DAY WHEN THERE IS AN EXAMINATION OR QUIZ, if you do not you will receive a zero for the exam or quiz. There will be no opportunity to make-up points lost on exams or other assignments due to unexcused absences. You are responsible for any assignments given during excused or unexcused absences. There will be a brief break at about the mid-point of each class meeting. If you do not return to class after break you are considered absent for the entire class. If you are not present for almost all of the time class is held (around 90%) you are considered absent. I will note tardy arrivals and any student who establishes an on-going pattern of late arrival will be warned and then, after being warned, will be assigned absences for continued late arrivals. Excused absences are normally granted only for cases in which the student has a satisfactorily documented medical emergency, said document must state that you were injured or ill, or at a minimum that you were seen by a physician - simply visiting a medical establishment is insufficient. To receive an excused absence the student must make an appointment and talk to me IN MY OFFICE no later than the week following the absence. There are cases in which absences other than medical emergencies may be excused. If you are in hopes of receiving an excused absence for any reason other than a medical emergency you should discuss the reason with me before you are absent. I know this is not always possible, but do not assume that an absence will be excused. DO NOT attempt to discuss absences with me in the classroom before or after class. Again, my office is the only proper place to discuss absences. Final disposition of these matters CAN NOT be handled by phone or e-mail, they must be done in person. You will be allowed to be absent without excuse one time without penalty other than receiving a zero on any graded work that is turned in during your absence. If you are absent any additional days over the one free day without furnishing
acceptable documentation for an excused absence your grade for the course will be reduced by 6 percent for each day over one that you are absent (= -48 points). (a day of absence is any day that you are not present for the majority of the class). To receive an excused absence you must provide acceptable documentation that you were ill and saw a physician; or receive prior authorization from me for any other activities that you believe to be potentially excusable absences, including University sanctioned activities. If you are absent due to illness you must contact the professor and meet with her in her office within two weeks following your return to class; at this time you must provide documentation from your doctor or a hospital showing that you were ill at the time of the illness. Arrangements for any make-up work will be established during this visit consistent with the statements under Procedures above. Failure to meet with the professor within two weeks constitutes a forfeiture of the claim for excused absence and the absence will be treated as unexcused. Not all University activities constitute excusable absences and there are some reasons for being absent that are excusable but the range is just too varied to list here. Don t assume your reason will be excused, play it safe and check with me before you receive a zero on a quiz and have your grade reduced. It is University policy that a student is to be allowed to make up assignments missed due to documented illness up to a total of three weeks worth of class meetings (in this case that's 3 absences). According to University policy, assignments missed after a student has been excused for three weeks worth of classes cannot be made up. ELECTRONIC DEVICES (COMPUTERS, CELL PHONES, & MUSIC PLAYERS) Computers are to be used only for educational purposes note taking, and work on projects. Any other use is unacceptable and will result in loss of privilege of use of computer in this class. Cell phones, personal music players, etc. are to be turned off and put away while in the classroom. They are not to be on the desks and earpieces are not to be worn during class; this includes Bluetooth earpieces or other earplug devices. If you have some special crisis that you feel makes it imperative that you be accessible by phone on a particular day, talk to me that day and I m sure that we will be able to come to some mutually agreeable accommodation. Texting during class is not acceptable behavior, if you are texting you are in violation of the rules for student responsibility regarding participation and politeness as well as the rules regarding the use of electronic devices. If you are texting during class and notice me staring at you, quietly gather your books and leave. I will count you absent for the day. Under these circumstances do not cause me to have to further disrupt the class by publicly announcing that you have been unable to control yourself and have committed the violation. ACCEPTABLE STUDENT BEHAVIOR Classroom behavior should not interfere with the instructor s ability to conduct the class or the ability of other students to learn from the 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 Academic Integrity (A-9.1) 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 http://www.sfasu.edu/policies/academic_integrity.asp Withheld Grades Semester Grades Policy (A-54) 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. Students with Disabilities 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, 468-3004 / 468-1004 (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 http://www.sfasu.edu/disabilityservices/. Once this has been completed, please schedule an appointment with me so we can work out specifics about the accommodations needed.
COM 170.006 Fall 2010 Tentative Schedule The items identified in the descriptive portion below are intended at highlights and are not intended as an exhaustive description of all that will be covered or that will take place on any given day. Sept. 1 Ch. 1 - Foundations of Interpersonal Communication Distribution and explanation of syllabus. Lecture over Chapter 1, overview of interpersonal communication. 8 Ch. 3 Perception and the Self in Interpersonal Communication Lecture and discussion over Chapter 3 focused on the formation of perception and the effects of perception upon interpersonal communication. An exercise on Perception Checking will be explained and assigned. Lecture and discussion over Chapter 3 focused on the use of the Johari Window as a tool for understanding self-disclosure, and the concepts of self-concept and self-esteem will also be discussed. Quiz over Chapter 1. 15 Ch. 4 - Listening in Interpersonal Communication Lecture and discussion over Chapter 4 focused on the importance and the process of listening, barriers to effective listening, including hearing impairment, the effects of culture and gender on listening, and styles of effective listening. Exercise on paraphrasing will be conducted. Quiz over Chapter 3. 22 Ch. 5 Verbal Messages - There may be some Ch. 4 Cont. Lecture and discussion over any remaining matters from Ch. 4, if no remaining Ch. 4 there will be a quiz. Lecture and discussion over Chapter 5 focused on meaning, abstraction, politeness criticism and praise, assertiveness, and confirmation/ disconfirmation (information regarding nonverbal communication in this chapter will be held for discussion until Chapter 6). 29 Ch. 5 Verbal Messages continued, and Ch. 6 Nonverbal Messages Lecture and discussion over Chapter 5 focused on cultural sensitivity and guidelines for effective verbal messages. There will be a brief in-class exercise on distinguishing between facts and inferences. Ch. 6 Nonverbal Messages Lecture and discussion over Chapter 6 focused on the importance and functions of nonverbal communication in relationship to verbal communication, the types of nonverbal communication and Ekman & Friesen s Categories of nonverbal behaviors.
Oct. 6 Ch. 6 - Cont. Lecture and discussion for Chapter 6 focused on gestures, appearance, and facial management techniques, on eye behaviors, the meanings and effects of touch throughout the life cycle, paralinguistics, space and territoriality, scent, and chronemics. Quiz over Chapter 5. 13 EXAM 1 Chapters 1 through 6 and Lectures Bring an 882 Scantron sheet and a #2 pencil. Exam will contain multiple-choice, completion, and essay questions. You will not need to furnish any paper other than the Scantron answer sheet. 20 Ch. 7 - Emotional Messages. (Mid-term) Lecture and discussion over Chapter 7 focused on principles of emotions and emotional messages, obstacles to communicating emotions, as well as skillful expression of emotions. Brief in-class exercise on communication of emotion will be conducted. Results of Exam 1 will be provided to students. 27 Ch. 8 - Conversational Messages. (last day to drop class) Second exercise on expression of emotion. Lecture and discussion over Chapter 8 focused on the conversational process, and managing conversations, conversational disclosure, organizational conversations, and conversational problems. Quiz over Ch. 7. Nov. 3 Ch. 9 Interpersonal Relationships: Stages and Theories Lecture and discussion over Chapter 9 focused on the principles of Stage Theories and Knapp s Stages of Relationship Development and Relationship Decline, Relationship Rules Theory, Social Penetration Theory, Social Exchange Theory and Equity Theory. Exercise on I Statements will be distributed and explained. Quiz over Chapter 8. 10 Ch. 10 Interpersonal Relationships: Development & Deterioration Lecture and discussion over Chapter 10 focused on theories of relationship development, and relationship maintenance, effects of relationship deterioration Directions for a homework assignment using the Clear Message Format will be distributed and explained. Quiz over Ch. 9 17 Ch. 10 - continued Lecture and discussion over Chapter 10 focused on interpersonal relationship repair and dissolution. Clear Message Format homework due. 24 THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
Dec. 1 Ch. 11 Interpersonal Relationship Types: Friendship, Love, Family & Workplace Lecture and discussion over Chapter 11 focused on friendship characteristics, types, and needs, discussion of friendship and communication, types of love, love and communication, families, and relationship violence. Students should carefully read the information on pages 270-272 as it is important but straightforward enough that I see little need for clarification unless asked. Quiz over Chapter 10. 8 Ch. 12 Interpersonal Conflict & Conflict Management Lecture and discussion over Chapter 12 focused on identifying what interpersonal conflict is, common myths about interpersonal conflict, conflict issues, principles of interpersonal conflict, conflict management types, styles, and conflict management stages. Quiz over Chapter 11. Hopefully there will be a few minutes for tips regarding the final exam. 15 4:00-6:00 p.m. EXAM 2(FINAL) Chapters 7 through 12, Lectures & Comprehensive Bring an 882 Scantron sheet and a #2 pencil, any paper needed for the essay portion of the exam will be provided. EXAM WILL BE GIVEN AT THE ABOVE TIME AND DATE DON T BOTHER ASKING TO TAKE IT EARLIER, YOU WILL JUST BE WASTING MY TIME (and that annoys me which is not a particularly good idea. It is currently August, if your family is making special Christmas cruise plans or something like that, there is still plenty of time to work around a December 15 th exam date).