Interpersonal Communication Syllabus for 2014-2015
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Instructor Information

Course Information

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Course

SPCH-1318-005 Interpersonal Communication

Prerequisites

Course Description

Application of communication theory to interpersonal relationship development, maintenance and termination in relationship contexts including friendships, romantic partners, families and relationships with co-workers and supervisors.

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Department Expectations

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Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Messages, Joseph A. DeVito, Second Custom Edition for Amarillo College (available at the AC Bookstore.)

Supplies

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Student Performance

Course Description:

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Application of communication theory to interpersonal relationship development, maintenance and termination in relationship contexts including friendships, romantic partners, families and relationships with co-workers and supervisors.

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Learning Outcomes:

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Through reading the current literature, researching recent communication findings, and participating in group and individual oral assignments, the student will:

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1.      Define and explain basic communication terms and principles which undergird competent communication in personal, social, and professional settings.

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2.      Analyze various communication contexts.

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3.      Understand the process of perception and the part perception plays in communicating with others.

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4.      Improve listening skills.

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5.      Understand the process of intercultural communication.

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6.      Apply communication principles and theory in diverse circumstances and demonstrate effective communication, distinguishing effective from less effective responses.

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7.      Become aware of the stages of relational development and deterioration.

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8.      Describe the influence of both verbal and nonverbal messages in communication.

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9.      Demonstrate use of appropriate citations for all reference work used in papers and presentations.

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10.   Participate in class and group processes.

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11.   Demonstrate courtesy and respect for classmates.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

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Expected Student Behavior

Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact disAbility Services (located in the Student Services Center 119; phone number 371 5436) as soon as possible.

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Every student is required to comply with the policies published in the “Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook.”

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Grading Criteria

Course Requirements:

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\ 3 papers at 10% each \	\ 30% \
\ Discussion postings and replies \	\ 20% \
\ 3 tests at 10% each \	\ 30% \
\ Final Project: Service Learning & Self Analysis \	\ 20% \
\ Total \	\ 100% \

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Papers:

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Three 2-page papers will be assigned during the semester.  Each paper will be worth 10% of your final grade.  Papers must be submitted by 3 PM on the due date. Twenty points will be deducted for every day a paper is late. Assignment instructions are available through Blackboard.

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Discussions:

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• We will hold twelve online discussions, which will represent 20% of your overall course grade.  Your participation in the on-line discussions is crucial to your success in this course. Everyone must contribute in order to ensure a lively discussion. The on-line forum rules are as follows:
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• Your postings to the Discussion Forums and your replies to your classmates' postings will make up a significant portion of your grade in this class. Points are earned based on the quality of your responses and your compliance with the required number of discussion postings (at least one) and substantive replies (at least two.) In order to receive credit, for your discussion postings, you must respond to the discussion assignments with quality comments that demonstrate you have completed the online and textbook readings and have given significant thought to the questions.
Prompts for each posting (in other words, the question or questions you are supposed to answer or the topic you are supposed to discuss) are located within the respective online lesson for that week’s discussion.  You must read the online lesson to find out what to post.
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• Postings should be approximately one to three paragraphs long. (Each paragraph should be about 4-5 sentences or approximately 150-250 words.) Proofread and spell check your work.

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• You must post by or before the specified deadline for each initial posting and reply within the specified time in order to receive credit for your comments. Initial posts will be due on Tuesdays before 11:30 p.m. and replies will be due Wednesdays before 11:30 p.m. Review the class calendar for the posting dates.
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• Help out your fellow classmates and respond to the original question early so everyone will have something to comment on and discuss.

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• An "I agree" or "great answer" will NOT earn you participation points. Replies must have sufficient detail to merit credit. Students who attempt to meet the discussion postings quota by simply making posts such as "That happened to me too" or "I couldn't have said it better" are not really contributing to the discussion and will not receive points. They are certainly present but they are not contributing. Real online contribution takes time and work.

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• Quantity is not a substitute for quality, Take time to formulate your thoughts carefully, and then draft your responses.

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• You must focus on the specific topic of the discussion as assigned. The introduction of irrelevant subjects is not permitted. Violators will be asked to leave the discussion and a grade of 0 points will be recorded for that assignment.
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  • “Flaming” and controlling behavior are not permitted. "Flaming" is posting abusive or insulting messages.  Controlling behavior includes, but is not limited to, attempts to dominate a discussion by posting threads excessively, intentionally changing the discussion topic or exhibiting an inappropriate or argumentative attitude. Violators will be asked to leave the discussion and a grade of 0 points will be awarded.

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• Do not type in all capital letters.  IT IS LIKE SHOUTING!
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• Never copy someone else's writing without permission or citation. Failing to credit your sources within emails or discussions is a form of plagiarism, which are grounds for receiving a 0 on the assignment.

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• Students required to leave a discussion will be notified of this consequence in a private email.
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Tests:

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Three online open-book multiple choice tests will be given. Each test will be worth 10% of your final course grade.  Tests will be available one week prior to the due date.

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Final Project: Service Learning and Self Analysis:

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The Final Project is worth 20% of your final course grade.  This assignment will require you to contact a non-profit organization or charity and serve as a volunteer for at least three hours.  During this time, you will observe some of the interpersonal communication principles, methods and theories we learned about during the semester as they apply to the "real world". 

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After you have completed your volunteer hours, please have the person you dealt with at the organization complete the Service Learning Contract for verification and evaluation.

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Next, you will write a 4-5 page paper that consist of your reflections on your time as a volunteer and the interpersonal communication skills you observed during that time.  Include IPC skills you used yourself as well as examples of IPC skills you noticed among the other people around you. The paper must be typed in 12 pt. New Times Roman with 1 in. margins.

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Please include at least three examples of topics and/or theories discussed during the semester from our online reading, online discussions or from the text.  Information retrieved from the text or from online reading and on-line discussions must be cited.  

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The last discussion topic of the semester will be a summary of your paper that includes your choice of non-profit and the insights and observations you gained from this experience.

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Evaluation Scale:

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A= 90-100

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B= 80-89

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C= 70- 79

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D= 60-69

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F= 59 or below

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Extra Credit:

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Students may write up to 4 papers during the semester to earn extra credit.  These 2   page papers are worth an additional 5 points to an assigned paper or test.

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The papers may be turned in at any point in the semester but no later than the week scheduled for final project presentations.  Make sure you allow enough time to complete class assignments before you focus on extra credit papers.

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Each paper should be two pages long, typed and double spaced using 12-point font.  Please proofread your papers, run spell-check if you are using a computer and ask a friend to check it over for spelling and grammatical errors.  Papers that do not meet the assignment criteria or that are not satisfactory college-level work will not qualify for extra credit.

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No administrative withdrawals will be initiated by the instructor.  It is each student’s responsibility to drop a class or withdraw from school in the event he/she decides to quit attending class.

Attendance

\ Students are expected to conduct themselves in a courteous manner in this online class. Special attention should be paid to the wording of discussion posts, emails, and any communication with peers or the instructor.  In other words, "be nice!"  There is no font for sarcasm.  In reading emails and discussion posts, nonverbal communication elements are lost, such as facial expressions, tone of voice, etc. 

Calendar

Additional Information

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