Interpersonal Communication Syllabus for 2024-2025
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Instructor Information

Course Information

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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

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Course

SPCH-1318-025 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 ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Interpersonal Communication: 2024 Release by Kory Floyd with Connect

How to Register for Connect through Blackboard Ultra:

 

Video link: https://www.mheducation.com/highered/support/connect/first-day-of-class/blackboard-ultra.html

Step 1: Login into your campus Blackboard Ultra account using your personal login and password.

Step 2: Then select SPCH 1318.

Step 3: Select the folder that contains your course assignments.

Step 4: Select any McGraw-Hill Connect assignment link to start the registration process.

Step 5: Enter your Amarillo College email address and click Begin. If you receive the message,

You have a Connect Account but have forgotten your password, click Forgot Password. *Depending on your school, you might skip this step. That’s ok! Just continue the process from that step to the end.

Step 6: Create your McGraw-Hill Education account. Please use your Amarillo College email address when creating an account. To receive text alerts, enter your mobile number. Agree to the Terms and Conditions and then click Continue.

Step 7: You’ll see 3 registration options. Choose the option that allows you to enter an access code and use 2BL7-FH2K-BP3K-GMFX-KIDA and click redeem.

Step 8: Click Confirm. You are now registered.

Supplies

Make the most of Connect

Stay Organized

            •           Digital Course Planner has all your upcoming Connect assignments in one place, and you can customize calendar alerts 

Focus On What Matters

            •           Use Reports to track your performance and your understanding of key concepts

Learn On-the-Go

            •           Download the free ReadAnywhere App to take your eBook* and SmartBook® 2.0* with you – online and offline

*ReadAnywhere supports newer eBooks and SmartBook 2.0. may not be available in your Connect course.

Connect Student Support Tools

            •           Find more tips:https://www.mheducation.com/highered/support/student/connect.html

 

FREE Study App

            •Thousands of short videos, quizzes, and flashcards designed for your courses:

https://mhss-links.mheducation.com/G1f2/JB1243

 

Tech Support:

Please contact McGraw Hill’s Customer Experience Group for tech support using the information below.

            •           Phone: 1-800-331-5094

            •           Available for Instructors and Students

                        Hours Available

            •Sunday: 11 AM – 11 PM

            •Monday – Thursday: 24 hours

            •Friday: 12 AM – 8 PM

            •Saturday: 9 AM – 7 PM

                        https://mhedu.force.com/CXG/s/ContactUs

Student Performance

Course Requirements:

McGraw Hill Connect “Smartbook” assignments20%

Major Assignments: You will have two essays - 10% for each essay = 20%

Journal Entries = 15%

Discussions- “Coffee Talks” = 15%

Midterm exam = 10%

Final Project = 10%

Final Exam = 10%

Total = 100%

 

McGraw Hill “Connect” Smartbook assignments- Each week we will study a new Interpersonal Communication topic. All of the readings are located in Connect. You will find this linked to the course content. The link is called, ‘McGraw Hill Connect”.

It is vital that you complete these “smartbook” assignments. As you read the material, you will answer questions as you go to assess what you have learned. Your journal entries and “coffee talks” will reflect what you read about in the textbook. So please read the chapters first before you go on to the other weekly assignments.

Papers/Assignments:

Two 2-3-page papers will be assigned during the semester. These are each worth 10% of your final grade. Assignments must be submitted to the Assignment Drop Box by 11:59 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). To receive credit for your discussion postings, you must respond to the discussion assignments with quality comments that demonstrate you have completed the 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 to receive credit for your comments.

 

Stay on Topic! Construct a quality response and use proper “netiquette”. More information about “netiquette” 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.

 

*Grading policy for “coffee talks and journal entries:

 

 *I have a “pass/fail” grading policy for discussion posts (coffee talks) and journal entries. This means you have to complete the assignment correctly and thoroughly following all of the directions entirely. I do not give partial credit. So, if you post an initial response to the prompt, but you do not reply to your classmates, you will receive a “0” for the assignment. Also, if you do not respond to every question in the prompt, or you leave out specific information, you will receive a “0”. So, please read the instructions carefully, and do your very best work.

Final Project:

 

You will write an essay about your IPC skills before and after this course as they relate to family, friends, workplace, romantic relationships etc. This essay should be 2-3 pages in length and include citations in APA format.

Mid-term and Final exam: exam:

These exams will be comprehensive (mid-term will cover the first 4 weeks, and the final exam will cover the last 4 weeks). They are worth 100 points. Check the course calendar for due dates.

 

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)

 

*I will not accept any assignment beyond two weeks after the original due date.

 

Grading Scale:

            •           A= 90-100

            •           B=80-89

            •           C= 70- 79

            •           D= 60-69

            •           F= 59 or below

 

 

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

 

 

Attendance

Attendance:

Attendance will be recorded daily. After more than 2 absences, points will be deducted from your participation grade regardless of the reason for the absence. Points will also be deducted for coming to class late, or leaving class early. No explanation is needed for tardies or absences.

 

The following criteria will determine the attendance portion of your grade.

No more than 2 absences - 100%

3 absences- 90%

4 absences 80%

5 absences 70%

6 absences 60%

7 absences 50%

8 absences 40%

More than 8 absences 0%

 

Essentially, this translates to raising your grade for terrific attendance and participation in class. More than eight absences will result in final course grade deduction of approximately two full letter grades.

Calendar

Additional Information

Course Calendar:

 

You will have several assignments to complete each week. Unless otherwise specified, all assignments are due on Sundays by 11:59PM.

 

Week 1: August 19-25

Purchase your textbook “Interpersonal Communication” by Kory Floyd with the access code to McGraw Hill “Connect”

Read chapters 1 and 2

Complete “Smartbook” assignment in Connect

Interaction: Post to the “Coffee Talk discussion board, and reply to two classmates

Real life application: Complete the journal assignment “”

Just for me: Complete the “contact information” assignment and submit it to the assignment drop box

 

Week 2: August 26-Sept 1

Read chapters 3 and 4

Complete “Smartbook” assignment

Real life application: Journal Entry-Self Concept

 

Week 3: Sept 2- 8 

Read chapter 9

Complete “Smartbook” assignment

Interaction: Coffee Talk: post and reply to two classmates  

Major Assignment: Paper 1 due in the Assignment Drop Box, “The Way We See Me, submit the essay as a word doc. or pdf. Attach the worksheets with your essay.

 

Week 4: Sept 9-15   

Read chapter 10

Complete “Smartbook” assignment

Interaction: Coffee Talk post and reply to two classmates

Real life application: journal entry-Halfway check-in

Assessment: Mid-term exam Opens Monday and closes Sunday

 

Week 5: Sept 16- 22

Read chapter 11

Complete “Smartbook” assignment

Real life application: Journal Entry-Analyzing a recent conflict

Major Assignment: Relationship Analysis” Submit to the Assignment dropbox by Sunday at 11:59 PM

 

Week 6: Sept. 23-29

Read chapters 5 and 6

Complete “Smartbook” assignments

Interaction: Coffee Talk post and reply to two classmates

 

 

Week 7: Sept. 30-Oct. 6    

Read chapters 7 and 8

Complete “Smartbook” assignments

Real life application: Journal Entry: Emotional Messages 

*Final project is due Monday Oct. 7 by 11:59PM. You will receive 5 bonus points if turned in early

 

 

Week 8: Oct. 7-9

Read chapter 12

Complete “Smartbook” assignment

Real life application: Journal Entry *due Wednesday*

Major Assignment: Final Project essay is due Monday Oct. 7 by 11:59PM

Assessment: Final Exam Opens on Sunday Oct. 6 and closes on Wednesday Oct. 9 at 11:59PM. 

 

*No work will be accepted after Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 11:59 PM.