CLASS SCHEDULE FOR THIS SEMESTER

   COM 106:  INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION

 

Section 001, Spring, 2007

Times: MWF 10:10am – 11:05am, Caudill Hall 203 (portable)

Instructor:  Leonard Assante

Office Info:  Ramer 150; Ph: 615.230.3727 or 888.335.VSCC x3727

Email: Len.Assante@volstate.edu

Office Hours:  MWF 9-10a, 11:15-2:30, TR 11:00am-2:00pm, & by appt.

 

Web Resources:

My Website (access to all):  http://www2.volstate.edu/lassante/

COM 106 page: http://www2.volstate.edu/humanities/comm/dpt106.htm

Communication Department site:  http://www.volstate.edu/communications/

Text website: http://www.us.oup.com/us/companion.websites/9780195300642/?view=usa

 

 

Course Description:  This course helps students understand and improve personal communication skills in a variety of contexts, including social, workplace, and family settings.  Topics may include intra-personal communication, language, non-verbal behavior, listening, roles, supportiveness and conflict management.  This course is useful in all COM curriculum guides and as a UNIV elective.

 

Course Objectives: 

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the linear, interactional, and transactional approaches to interpersonal communication.
2. Understand interpersonal communication concepts such as listening, perception, self concept, and message systems (language and non-verbal)
3. Understand the differences in communication in contexts such as families, friendships, and the workplace.
4. Demonstrate appropriate interpersonal communication skills such as managing conflict, self-disclosing, and active listening.
5. Identify patterns of functional and dysfunctional intrapersonal and interpersonal communication.
6. Understand the influence of technology on interpersonal communication.

 

These objectives will be accomplished through a variety of methods, including lectures, class discussions, exercises, and multimedia.  Emphasis will be placed on the acquisition and application of the skills and techniques necessary for effective and efficient interpersonal interactions.

 

Text:  Inter-Act, 11^th Ed., by Verderber, Verderber and Berryman-Fink.  Required.

Buy at bookstore or online (www.volstate.edu, click on “bookstore”)

 

Instructor Expectations:

1.  Respect:                           For each of us to receive a valuable education in this class, we will all need to listen openly and discuss ideas respectfully.

 

2.  Attendance:          You are expected to attend class and be on time.  10% of your grade is class participation.  You will be allowed only 3 un-excused absences for this semester. After the third unexcused absence, I will deduct 10 points from your grade for each additional un-excused absence.  Group work cannot be made up regardless of excuse due to the nature of the assignment.  Students with an excused absence during other in-class assignments will be given the opportunity to make up that assignment on the first class they attend after the absence.  Work missed during unexcused absences cannot be made up.  Excessive unexcused absences can result in course failure.  Excused absences do not reduce your grade.  Excused absences include doctor=s notes, documented personal reasons or documented college functions.  Arriving for class after roll has been taken counts as .5 of an absence. 

 

3.  Responsibility:      Late assignments will be penalized.  10% penalty per calendar day late.  Assignments are due to me by the start of class.  My mailbox is in the Humanities Division Office.  I have a paper drop on my office door (Ramer 150).  Please arrange for makeup exams before the test.  You will need a written excuse to make up an exam without prior notification.  Failure to take the final exam will result in a grade of “F” or “I” for the class.

 

4.  Honesty:                            Don't plagiarize!  Plagiarism is defined as taking another person's ideas, thoughts, words, music, quotes or answers without citing or crediting them.  This is not only prohibited in my class but is against the rules of the College.  Academic dishonesty will result in a grade of "F" on the relevant assignment.  I use plagiarism detection software on all written work.  The instructor reserves the right to withhold knowledge of blatant plagiarism until after the original incident. In addition, the instructor may note plagiarism on any paper at any time during the semester. Though the instructor may not have detected plagiarism in a paper that has already been returned to the student, discovery of plagiarism at a later date will still fall within the bounds of academic misconduct and will result in failing the course.

 

5.  Opportunity:          Americans With Disabilities Act/EOAA Statements:

It is the student's responsibility to self identify with the Office of Disability Services in order to receive accommodations.  Disability Services is located in the Woods Campus Center.  Only those students with official documentation from the Office of Disability Services will receive services.

 

Equal Opportunity Statement

Volunteer State Community College, a Tennessee Board of Regents institution, is an equal opportunity institution and ensures equal opportunity for all persons without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, age, sexual orientation or status as a qualified veteran with a disability or veteran of the Vietnam era (97.32.7 Revised January 2003)

 

Financial Aid Students Attendance Policy:

If you are receiving Title IV financial assistance (Pell Grant, Student Loan or SEOG Grant), you must regularly attend class (a minimum of the first full week) or be subject to repay PART or ALL of the Federal Financial Aid you received for the semester.

 

6.  Commitment:        Doing well in this class requires you to keep up with the reading, assignments, and class work.  If you miss a class, contact a classmate for assignments and notes.  Or come see me.  You are responsible for material you miss.

 

Assignments/Evaluation:

(All course work will be based on a 1000 point total.)

 

1.   Exams as follows:                                                           (300 points) 

a. 1^st  Exam                                                                                                    (100 points)

                                                            b. 2^nd Exam                                                                            (100 points)

c. 3^rd (Final) Exam                                                                             (100 points)

Exams will be objective and will test knowledge of assigned readings from the text.

 

2.   Paper Assignment on Relationships:                                      (150 points)

This is a 3-5 page paper assignment on the general area of relationships.  A separate assignment sheet will be provided.  Guidelines for paper writing are attached to this syllabus and are located on the website.  This paper will include an oral presentation of the results to the class and a class discussion of each paper.  (100 points for the written portion, 50 for the oral portion)

 

3.  Journal entries                                                                              (150 points)

Journaling allows the student to apply and understand course concepts in their everyday lives. You will be assigned a total of 10 journal questions over the course of the semester. (See separate handout)  (Entire journals are due at the end of the semester, but portions are subject to collection at random times!  Keep up with these!!)

 

4.   Movie Review Short Paper Assignment:                                 (150 points)

This will be a 3-5 page paper discussing the communication phenomena displayed in a movie you will watch and review.  A separate assignment sheet will be provided.  See also paper writing guidelines attached.

 

5.  Homework                                                                                    (150 points)

There will be several graded take-home activities.  It is possible one of these may be a graded in-class activity.

 

 

6.   Class Participation/Extra Credit                                               (100 points) 

This includes speech Q&A, participating in exercises, attendance, class participation, etc.  Attending and evaluating various on-campus or community-sponsored speakers will offer opportunities for extra credit (10 points per event, up to 3 per semester).  I encourage your participation.  In order to get the most out of a course on communication, you need to be an active participant.

 

Note:  All written work (outlines, reports, extra credit, etc.) must be typed or (preferably) word-processed.  The college offers several computer labs with modern equipment and laser printers.  Use them!  Hand-written work will be reduced by one full letter grade.  Non-legible written work may result in additional deductions. 

 

Note to computer users:  Any written work may be turned in to me electronically via E-Mail as an attachment in .doc, .wpd or .rtf format.  Assignments received in this manner must be in my mailbox before the start of the class they are due.  I encourage electronic submission of work.  Vol. State provides all students with e-mail and Internet access. 

 

 

Grading of Assignments:

 

Letter Grade Meaning:  An "A" (900+) indicates outstanding effort and performance and meets fully all graded criteria.  A "B" (800-899) indicates meeting all minimum criteria and shows some effort or performance beyond average.  A "C" (700-799) reflects meeting minimum requirements, a "D" shows deficiency and an "F" indicates failure to perform the assignment or speech.

 

Late/Missing Work:  I will accept late assignments with a 10% penalty per calendar day late.  Written medical or college-related excuses will permit you to turn in late work without penalty. Missing or extremely late work will result in failure of the assignment.

 

Misc. Grades:

I= Incomplete.  Assigned at discretion of instructor. 

N= Audit.  Not assigned by Instructor.

W= Withdrawal.  Not assigned by Instructor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Note:  The schedule on the next page is subject to change.)

WEEKLY SCHEDULE FOR SPRING, 2007

 

Week Of:        In Class Events:                                                                     Reading:

 

Part I:  Understanding Interpersonal Communication

 

01/17              Intro to course, what is Interpersonal Comm?                                            1

01/22              Forming and using perceptions                                                                  2

01/29              Basic relationship concepts                                                                        3

02/05              Verbal communication                                                                                 4

02/12              Nonverbal communication                                                                           5

 

 

Part II:  Developing Interpersonal Communication Skills

 

02/19              Exam 1, Conversations and Listening                                                       6-7

02/26              Supporting                                                                                                     8

03/05              Spring Break

03/12              Self-disclosure and feedback                                                                      9

03/19              Exam 2, Movie

03/26              Using interpersonal influence, movie review paper due                       10

 

Part III:  Using Communication Skills to Improve Relationships

 

04/02              Managing conflict (No class Friday)                                                         11

04/09              Comm. in Intimate Relationships                                                                12

04/16              Comm. in the Workplace                                                                             13

04/23              Relationship papers due w/presentations, Journals Due Friday. 

 

04/30                          Final Exam: Wednesday, May 2, 10:30am (50% chapters 10-13, 50% chapters 1-9)

 

VSCC Final Exams:  April 28 – May 3, 2007

 

 

General Criteria for All Written Work

(Research and Writing Guidelines)

Prof. Leonard Assante

Volunteer State Community College

 

[Note: See specific criteria on individual assignment sheets as well.]

 

1.  Typed, double-spaced 12 point or larger font.

2.  8.5" by 11" white typing or photocopier/printer paper. (Do not use colored paper.)

3.  Dark ribbon if typed, near or letter quality printing.  (Recommend laser printers.)

4.  Bound by paper clip or staple in upper left corner.

5.  A cover page, which must include:

-interesting title (centered on top third of page)

-your name, course name, my name, date (all centered on bottom third of page)

6.  One inch margins all around.

7.  All pages (except cover page) are numbered.

8.  Perfect grammar, style and spelling.

9.  An INTRODUCTION that includes:

-interesting sentences that draw the reader into the paper

-thesis or purpose statement

-preview, explaining what will be discussed and in what order

10.  A well-developed BODY that includes:

-support and evidence for all claims (sources cited in appropriate format)

-well-developed transitions between ideas

-clear, interesting and original ideas and insights

11.  A CONCLUSION that includes:

-complete summary of all major points covered in paper

-insightful commentary concerning the thesis, purpose, study or nature of the assignment

12.  Clear, dynamic, formal writing that includes:

-active (not passive) voice

-absence of clichés, slang, or colloquialisms

-absence of contractions or other “shortcuts” to writing (you are not texting me!)

-vivid and concise language

13.  Bibliographic citations that conform to MLA or APA style manual on a separate page headed “Works Cited.”  (See additional information below.)

14.  Quotations, when used are integrated into the student’s own sentences and refer to appropriate page numbers [e.g., According to Jones (1998), “students are more mature today than they were in the fifties” (p.16).]

15.  All terms and concepts are defined and explained.

16.  Examples are vivid, concise, interesting, and illuminate the idea or concept being discussed.

17.  Analysis indicates a clear grasp on the issues addressed and provides insightful commentary.  (A mere review without your analysis is not sufficient.)