Personal Improvement Paper Guidelines
Film Analysis Paper Guidelines
Fall 2006 Course Plan-Introduction to Interpersonal Communications/COM 252
INSTRUCTOR: Bob Glenn OFFICE HOURS:
OFFICE: LRC 223 (2nd Floor-LRC) MW 9-11AM EMAIL: bobj.glenn@kctcs.edu T& TH-2--3 PM
PHONE: 686-4553 FRI. by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION: “Examines basic verbal and nonverbal elements affecting
communication between individuals in family, peer group, and work contexts. The course requires participation in activities designed to develop interpersonal communication skills. Topics include: strategy development, relationship and conversation management, effective listening, conflict management, and cultural/sex differences in communication.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: “To communicate in a clear oral and nonverbal fashion while employing active listening skills.”
COURSE SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES: The student should be able to exhibit an increased awareness and understanding of the elements, principles, and content of communication. The student should also exhibit an understanding of the special communication traits necessary in a variety of communication contexts. (Assessment will include quizzes, class discussion, class participation, exercises, projects, group presentations, role playing, and exams).
TEXT: Wood, Julia T. (2002). Interpersonal Communication: Everyday Encounters. (Belmont, CA.: Wadsworth-Thomson Learning).
PARTICIPATION AND ATTENDANCE: Consistent class attendance and active class participation are essential as we will engage in many group and dyadic activities throughout the semester. You earn points for participation up to a maximum of 200 points, which will be based on group activities and weekly quizzes.
WITHDRAWAL POLICY: From the last day to drop a course without a grade through midterm, you may officially withdraw from a class and receive a “W.”
After midterm, through the end of class work, permission to withdraw from this course will be granted only under extenuating circumstances.
ASSIGNMENT POLICIES: All written work (papers, journal checks) is due (IN CLASS) on the scheduled date. A 10% per day deduction will occur for every day written work is late. Quizzes and exams must also be taken on the day scheduled. NO MAKEUP TESTS or EXAMS WILL BE PROVIDED. Papers should by typed and meet the standards for college work
Page 2-COM 252 Course Plan
Class Assignments:
1-Participation-Attendance =100
Points earned for class attendance, participation in class activities, and completion of chapter summary forms. Each student is allowed 2 excused absences before points are deducted. A 10-point bonus is also available to those who do not miss more than one class all semester.
2-Class Portfolio =200
You will be required to obtain a three-ring notebook and keep a weekly journal, all completed chapter review sheets and group activity evaluations are to be kept in this portfolio. Each missing journal entry or item will result in a loss of 10 points off of your total score. You will be asked to construct a table of contents and place items in listed order.
3-Article Summary
You are to select one fully detailed article 1-3 full pages in length and write up to a 1-2 page, typed summary following a three paragraph format outlined by the instructor in a handout =100
4-Cartoon Summary =50
Students will select a multi-panel cartoon featuring a concept from the basic principles outlined in Chapters 1 and 2. You will write a one page summary following a basic three paragraph format (1-Describe the cartoon,
2-Define the selected concept from the text, 3-Explain how the cartoon storyline and characters depict or exhibit your targeted concept).
5-Group Film Analysis =100-Paper/100-Presentation/100 Grp Eval.=300
This assignment requires students to work in a group to select one in depth concept (e.g. listening or conflict resolution) and provide us with a detailed (25 minutes minimum) explanation of the concepts accompanied by scenes from the selected film that demonstrates the reviewed concept in action. The group must turn in an 8-10 page paper detailing their analysis of the film and its relationship to a particular element within the communication process (e.g. nonverbal communication, gender communication). Each group will also give a 20 minute presentation highlighting major areas of analysis.
5-Exams and Quizzes (2 Exams=100 X 2=200) + (8 Chap. quizzes=150)=350 points.
Each exam will be worth 100 points and cover material from multiple chapters. We will try to review for the exam at least one day prior to its scheduled date. The exams will include true-false, multiple choice, matching, and short essay items.
Quizzes will be worth 20 points each and cover individual chapters as we complete reviewing them.
Page 3-COM 252 Course Plan
6-Personal Improvement Paper =100
You will select one communication skill area in which you wish to make improvements and employ 3-4 strategies in order to accomplish the task. You will then report on the results of this experiment. 3-4 typed double-spaced pages.
Total Points: 1200 Points
ASSESSMENTS OF WRITTEN WORK:
All late papers and assignments will be assessed a 10 point (full letter grade) penalty for each day the paper is late which will be deducted from the grade earned. Written work will be evaluated for spelling, grammar, basic structure, and adherence to assignment instructions.
Assigned sections of the text should be read before we discuss the subject matter.
To facilitate improved interaction all students will complete a chapter summary form prior to the discussion of each chapter. The instructor will provide the forms to the class prior to the scheduled date for reviewing specific material from each chapter. A quiz will be given over each chapter prior to our discussion of the core ideas in a unit.
GRADING SCALE
92-100=A /91--80=B/79--70=C/69--60=D/00--59=E
I look forward to a fun and educationally rewarding semester together!
Book Report Guidelines
Steps to follow in completing the assignment by due date of: _______,_________.
1) Select a book ranging in length from 175-250 pages which deals with communication issues in the workplace, at home, or in primary relationships.
2) Avoid religiously focused works that center on scripture or dogma to solve human relations problems.
3) Gain approval from Mr. Glenn (that would be me) for your potential choice of book.
4) Read the book while taking detailed notes concerning what you consider to be the 10 most important ideas in the book.
5) Develop a powerpoint presentation or a typed handout in which you highlight and discuss those 10 key concepts from the books.
6) Prepare a well developed outline of the key ideas which will be due on the day you give the oral presentation
7) Make sure you relax and just talk to us in dynamic and conversational tones. I will be grading on organization and content so if you are a little nervous that is not a major impediment to succeeding with the assignment.
8) Time length of the presentation 5-7 minutes min-maximum.
Good Luck!
GUIDELINES FOR PERSONAL IMPROVEMENT PAPER
1) SELECT ONE INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION SKILL OR COMPETENCE YOU WISH TO IMPROVE UPON. BE VERY SPECIFIC AS TO THE CONTEXT OF THE IMPROVEMENT AREA (E.G. LISTENING IN THE WORKPLACE AS OPPOSED TO JUST “BECOMING A BETTER LISTENER”).
2) RESEARCH TECHNIQUES AND STRATEGIES YOU CAN USE TO IMPROVE YOUR COMMUNICATION IN YOUR CHOSEN AREA.
3) NEXT, IMPLEMENT THOSE STRATEGIES FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS IN ORDER TO ASSESS IMPROVEMENT IN YOUR SELECTED SKILL AREA.
4) DEVELOP A 3-4 PAGE, TYPED AND DOUBLE SPACED REPORT WHICH CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING 3 SECTIONS: 1) PERSONAL HISTORY-DETAIL THE CAUSES AND RESULTS OF THE COMMUNICATION PROBLEM AREA YOU WISH TO IMPROVE UPON, 2) DETAIL THE TECHNIQUES AND STRATEGIES (AT LEAST 2 OR 3 SHOULD BE TRIED) THAT YOU UTILIZED TO IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS, AND 3) DESCRIBE THE RESULTS OF YOUR TWO WEEK EXPERIMENT AND ASSESS THE OUTCOMES GAINED OR OBSERVED FROM USE OF EACH OF THE SELECTED STRATEGIES.
5) YOUR TOPIC AREA MUST BE SELECTED BY ____________________.
6) YOUR STRATEGIES MUST BE IN PLACE BY _____________________.
· THE PAPER SHOULD BE PROOF READ, FREE OF SPELLING AND GRAMMATICAL ERRORS, NEATLY ORGANIZED, AND FOLLOW THE BASIC FORMAT OUTLINED ABOVE.
· THE PROJECT REPORT SHOULD DETAIL THE USE OF STRATEGIES AND TECHNIQUES DESIGNED TO IMPROVE YOUR COMMUNICATION SKILLS IN A PARTICULAR AREA.
· THE PROJECT IS WORTH 100 POINTS.
· AN HONEST ASSESSMENT OF THEIR IMPLEMENTATION SHOULD BE PRESENTED IN THE THIRD AND FINAL SECTION OF THE PAPER.
1) Select a film which contains real people involved in communication interactions. Thus animated films (Finding Nemo, Who Framed Roger Rabbit) and those lacking a high degree of interaction would not work well for this assignment. Action films can be appropriate choices if there is enough depth of character and story-line to allow you to effectively analyze the communication principles you see being put into practice (e.g. In the Line of Fire, The Fugitive).
2) Select one unit from our text as the framework for your analysis. Be prepared to highlight 5 to 10 principles you see exhibited in the film. Hint: the four personal distances counts as one principle rather than 4. Try to match the film you select with the appropriate unit (e.g. Conflict Resolution or Compliance Gaining and the film "Rainman" would probably work).
3) View the film several times while taking notes and recording your impressions concerning the characterizations and the major plot events.
4) Organize the group presentation into three distinct sections:
Section I: Film Background-tell me all that you want to about the storyline and characters featured in the film. You can even tell me why you chose or particularly enjoy this film and decided to choose it for this assignment.
Section II: Explain and highlight the 5 to 10 principles you observed at work in the film. Use multimedia elements (overheads, powerpoint, film clips) to highlight the concepts. Full detail and the use of real world examples to explain these principles is better than a mere listing of the concepts selected.
Section III: The MOST important part! Here you link film scenes with each of the 5 to 10 principles you see at work in the film. Be meticulous in justifying your choices (e.g. When Charlie takes Raymond from Wallbrook you could contend that this is an example of "communication is irreversible and unrepeatable").
Parameters for the assignment: All group members must have active, speaking roles and those roles must be roughly congruent in quality and quantity. Each section must be clearly introduced and previewed. Multimedia elements must be a part of your presentation. Handouts for the class and other materials are highly recommended. Practice the presentation for time and quality. Time limits 20-30 minutes in length. Presentations that are less than 20 minutes in length will suffer gradewise. Film clips can only comprise 30% of your total presentation time so trying to fill the time with video would not be a good presentational choice.
100 Points for the Presentation and 50 points for the quality of your role as a group member based upon assessments by your classmates.