SPEECH 107-INTRODUCTION TO INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION

                                    Fall 2006--Department of Communication

 

Instructor: Bob Glenn                                                EM: bobj.glenn@kctcs.edu

Classroom: Liberal Arts 2005                      

Office Hours: By Appointment                                 Phone: (270)686-4553

                                                                                    Fax:      (270)686-4594

Adjustments may be made as necessary to meet our needs.

Credit: 3 Hours                      Class Meets: Tuesdays 6-8:40pm 

 

Course Description: 

Many individuals believe that communication is so basic that they take it for granted or casually dismiss its importance.  Unfortunately, this attitude tends to result in a variety of difficulties including misunderstandings, conflict avoidance, and stereotyping.  Based upon the belief that students become more socially sensitive by recognizing conditions that help/hinder the communication process, this course seeks to increase students’ relational sensitivity and behavioral flexibility so that they can select appropriate responses to specific communication situations.  We will examine basic theoretical concepts relevant to verbal and nonverbal competence; to interpersonal influence; and to initiating, developing, modifying, maintaining and terminating relationships in order to diminish the number of communication difficulties students may confront in their daily experiences.

 

We will assess and evaluate effective communication strategies while employing a variety of learning activities including lecture/discussion, journals, exercises

(dyadic, and individual), experimental observations, group projects, and various writing assignments.  

 

Textbook:  Wood, Julia  Interpersonal Communition: Everyday Encounters. (5th Edition, 2007).   (Belmont, CA: Wadsworth-Thomson Learning). 

                                   

Grade Standard: 92-100=A     91-89=B+  88-81=B   80-78=C+  

     77-71   =C    68-70=D+ 67-61=D   60-00=”You don’t wanna know.”      

 

Make Up Exams: Students will only be allowed to take a make up quiz or exam with instructor approval.  Ideally, students who know they will miss a scheduled exam will make arrangements to take it early.  I must be notified in advance of your absence or conflict via email, phone, or written message in advance of the test/quiz/ or exam.   Personal illness, illness or death in one’s immediate family, or institutional excuses are the only reasons for providing make up opportunities.

 

Major Tests and the Final Exam: The test format will include true-false, multiple choice, matching, and short essay items.  Students should contact the instructor only via email concerning their grades.  Information concerning grades and student performance will not be given via the telephone.

 

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Disability Statement:  If any member of the class feels he or she has a disability of any kind, please advise me of the disability and needed accommodations by the end of the first week of class.  Please provide written documentation of the disability. I will work with you and the staff of Disability Services to ensure that you have the adjustments needed for a fair opportunity to perform in this class. 

 

Attendance Policy: This is a vital area and will be monitored closely.  Attendance will be taken during each class session.  Excessive tardiness will result in further lateness being counted as an absence.  You are granted one excused absence during the semester.  No other absences will be considered as excused for purposes of your attendance grade.  Missed work may be made up only at the instructor’s discretion. Any absences beyond that will result in a loss of 15 points from your overall attendance grade.  Students are expected to attend and participate in all class sessions.

 

Academic Honesty Statement:  Students are obligated to demonstrate respect for the principles of academic honesty and integrity by not engaging in the following activities:

-Cheating-Using unauthorized assistance, materials, or study aids in any academic exercise.

-Plagiarism-Using the words, ideas, or work of another without proper acknowledgment.

-Fabrication-Falsifying or inventing information or data.

-Deception-Misrepresenting work or academic records or forging signatures.

-Electronic Dishonesty-Using network access in an inappropriate way, having an impact on a class or the work of others.

-Facilitating Academic Dishonesty-Intentionally assists another student to commit an act of academic misconduct.

 

Implications: Students who commit acts of academic dishonesty will be subject to disciplinary action by the University through the procedures for student conduct violations. Refer to the student handbook for more information concerning penalties for such acts.

 

You have the right and obligation to make known any concerns or problems that you may encounter regarding the operation of the department and/or its compliance with AEJMC accreditation rules.  This includes the liberal arts building and its facilities, department personnel, your classrooms, equipment, and your courses and their expectations.  See postings in classrooms and labs for procedures for voicing your concerns.

 

 

 

 

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Course Assignments

 

1-Journal  (Class Activities/Post Class Analyses)                                 =15%

2-Exams (Midterm and Final Exam)                                           =30%

3-Writing Assignments (Music Analysis/Self Improvement Paper)  =30%

4-Quizzes (Take Home-Due the week after we cover a chapter)         =10%

5-Group Presentation (Film Analysis)                                                    =15%

Total                                                                                                         =100%

 

Assignment Descriptions

 

Journal-You will keep a folder which will contain 2 weekly journal entries concerning concepts and applications learned  each week and, later in the semester, your growth or self improvement efforts in a targeted area.

 

Exams-Midterm will cover material from chapters 1-6.

Final Exam will be comprehensive and cover all material covered in the

            course.

 

Music Analysis Paper-You will select a collection of songs centering upon either a particular artist, genre, or lyrical theme and link it to a particular communication principle reviewed in chaps. 1-5.  The paper is to be college work, 3-4 pages, typed, no bigger than a 14 font, and including a cover page.

 

Self Improvement Paper-You will identify a particular personal area in which you would like to improve your overall performance as a communicator.  In order to improve you must select and utilize a variety of strategies for a six-week period You will record your progress in your journal weekly and then assess how much progress you experienced during this time. The paper is to be college work, 3-4 pages, typed, no bigger than a 14 font, and including a cover page.

 

Quizzes-Each week (after week 1) you will complete a take home quiz, turn it in for grading, and then incorporate it into your journal once it is returned to you.  The quizzes will be worth 10 points each and focus on chapters we have recently reviewed or will soon review.

 

Group Film Analysis Presentation-You will self select a group to join and work together to develop a sophisticated, well organized, oral presentation complete with film clips and multimedia elements.  The presentation should focus upon one film which can be effectively analyzed using one of the Chapters from Wood as a framework (e.g. listening as exhibited in “Ordinary People” or “Good Will Hunting”). 

 

 

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Tentative Schedule for Fall 2006 Semester

 

Week 1-Hello/Introductions/Course Overview/Chapter 1

Week 2-Self Improvement Assigned/Journal Assigned/Chaps. 2 & 3

Week 3-Chap. 3 & 4/Self Improvement Topics Due/Song Analysis Assigned

Week 4-Chap. 4 & 5/Film Analysis Groups Established

Week 5-Chap. 5 & 6/

Week 6-Chap. 6 & 7/Journal Check

Week 7-Chap. 7-Midterm Review

Week 8-Midterm Exam

Week 9-Chap. 8/Review Midterm Exam

Week 10-Chap. 9/Song Analysis Due

Week 11-Chap. 9 and 10

Week 12-No Class Assessment Day

Week 13-Chapter 10/Group Film Project worktime

Week 14-Chap. 11 & 12/Group Work Time

Week 15-Chap. 13 & 14 & /Self Improvement Paper

Week 16-Group Film Analyses/Final Exam

 

I look forward to a fun and educational semester together!