Interpersonal Communication Syllabus for 2016-2017
Return to Syllabus List

Instructor Information

Course Information

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

If you have a disability (learning, mental, physical) that affects your ability to participate effectively and have access to any program or service at Amarillo College please contact Disability Services at (806) 345-5639 . Our offices are located in the Student Service Center office 112. More information may be found at www.actx.edu/disability.
Disability Services facilitates access to all programs and services according to the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as other federal and state laws.

Amarillo College Web Accessibility Policy Statement

Amarillo College is committed to providing equal access to all programs and services, including all working, learning, and service environments that affect equal access for persons with disabilities. This commitment to provide equal access and opportunity for persons with disabilities is in compliance with federal and state law. Amarillo College also strives to provide Electronic and Information Resources (EIR) that are accessible to all authorized users.

If you find you are unable to access material in an accessible format please contact the Disability Services Office at (806) 345-5639 . This office will work in conjunction with other campus resources to address and accommodate your issue in a timely manner.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Administrative Drop Policy

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a class must:

• consult with their instructor to obtain a signed academic withdrawal request form to submit to the AskAC department for processing
• consult with the financial aid office if receiving financial aid
• consult with the Veterans Benefit Coordinator if receiving veteran benefits
• consult with their academic advisor to determine how withdrawing may affect their enrollment in future semesters
  • NOTE:  The Texas Education Code stipulates that students attending Texas institutions of higher education for the first time fall 2007 and later may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career, including courses from which transfer students have withdrawn at other Texas institutions of higher education. (Senate Bill 1231) Rule 4.10.

Privacy Statement

The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Course

SPCH-1318-016 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.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Textbook: “Messages” by Joseph A. Devito, 4^th edition, including the on-line component called Revel. You will Revel in this course for readings and activities.

The Revel component is essential for success in this course. You will be graded on the readings and quizzes you complete on-line.

Supplies

Student Performance

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.

 

Learning Outcomes:

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

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

2.      Analyze various communication contexts.

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

4.      Improve listening skills.

5.      Understand the process of intercultural communication.

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

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

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

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

10.   Participate in class and group processes.

11.   Demonstrate courtesy and respect for classmates.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

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.

 

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

Grading Criteria

Course Requirements:
NOTE:  Except for “Coffee Talks”, assignments will be due each week by Sunday at 11:30 PM. (unless otherwise specified)

Chapter Activities/Quizzes:   = 25%

Assignments: You will have one paper, and a choice between a paper or a multi-media presentation = 20%

Journal Entries- = 10%

Discussions- “Coffee Talks” -  = 20%

Service Learning Assignment: = 15%

Final Exam:.= 10%

 

Chapter Quizzes/Activities:

Each week we will study a new Interpersonal Communication topic. All of the readings are located in Revel. You will find this linked to the course content.

 

You need to read the chapter and take the smaller self tests and quizzes as you go. There is a Chapter Quiz at the end of each  Chapter.

Your scores for each week’s activities and quizzes will be worth different point values, but will count for 25% of your total grade. 

The lowest grade will be dropped

Papers/Assignments:

However, you will have a choice between an essay or a presentation for the second assignment. These are each worth 10% of your final grade. Assignments must be submitted to the Assignment Drop Box by 11:30 PM on the due date.

Journal Entries:

There will be periodic journaling assignments during the semester. These are meant to be private, and will only be seen by your instructor. This assignment is designed to allow you to go deeper into the IPC topics, and reflect on how they work in your life.

These journal entries must be written using formal language (no slang or text language).  You can write as much as you want, but no less than 100 words (3 paragraphs).

 

“Coffee Talk” Discussions :

We will have numerous on-line discussions during the semester.  Your participation in these discussions is crucial to your success in the class. Everyone must contribute in order to ensure a lively discussion.•   

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 Chapter for that week’s discussion.  You must read the chapter to find out what to post.

  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.
• 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.

Stay on Topic, Construct a quality response and use proper “nettiquette”. More information about “nettiquette” is available through Blackboard.   

•Failing to cite sources within emails or discussions is a form of plagiarism, which is grounds for receiving a 0 on the assignment.
Students who violate Discussion Forum  rules will be asked to leave the discussion through a private email, and they will receive a zero for the discussion assignment.

 

Final Project: Service Learning and Self Analysis:

The Final Project is worth 15% 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". 

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.

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.

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

This assignment is worth 15% of your final grade. Don’t wait until the last minute to arrange your volunteer time.

Final Exam:

The final exam will be comprehensive and worth 100 points. Check course calendar for due date.

 

Late Work Policy:

This is an eight week class, so there is not much time to catch up if you fall behind. The “coffee talks’ are meant to be your class participation, so I will not accept late posts.

As for other assignments, I will take 20 points off if the assignment is turned in one day late. After that, I will grade the assignment, and average it with a zero. (half credit)

 

Grading Scale:

A= 90-100

B= 80-89

C= 70- 79

D= 60-69

F= 59 or below

 

Extra Credit:

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.

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

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.

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.

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

Attendance

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.

Calendar

Additional Information

Office Hours:

Mon-Thu 1:00-3:00 PM or by appointment.

*Please do not hesitate to call or email me with questions or concerns.

If you have questions about the course content, assignments, due dates etc., contact me.

 

Technical Assistance:  If you have questions about the course material, assignments, due dates etc. please contact me.  If you need technical support contact the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) student help center located in the Ware Student Commons on the Washington Street campus, room 111. Or call  (806)-371-5992.

Hours of operation for CTL:

Monday – Friday       8am – 5pm (WARE Student Commons Room 111)

Monday – Thursday   5pm – 9pm (Library Research Desk on the 4^th Floor)

 

To Access REVEL from your Blackboard Course:

To access REVEL from your Blackboard course:

Start from your Blackboard course.

Select a content area. The link is called “Revel Text and Activities”from the left navigation menu.

Select Open REVEL.

• If you have a Pearson account, enter your username and password. Otherwise, create a new account. Note: If you are also registering for a Pearson MyLab (like MyMathLab or MyVirtualChild) this term, you must register for the
• MyLab first, in order to use the same username and password for REVEL.

When your accounts are linked, select an access option:

• Redeem an access code purchased from the bookstore.
• Buy access using a credit card or PayPal.
• If available, get temporary access.

Your REVEL content appears.

To go back to Blackboard, look for the Blackboard tab or window in your browser.

That’s it. Throughout the semester, please access your REVEL content through Blackboard.

To upgrade temporary access to full access:

To upgrade your access before your temporary access expires, select the link in your confirmation email.

Once your temporary access expires, when you open REVEL from Blackboard, you’re prompted to upgrade your access. Redeem a pre-purchased access code, or buy access using a credit card or PayPal.

Need help?

If you have trouble getting access, make sure your laptop or other device is set up to work with REVEL.

Visit Pearson Support at https://support.pearson.com/getsupport.

Dedicated REVEL support line for students: (855) 875-1801