Interperscomcmccsyllab

Syllabus INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION FALL 2008 Central Maine Community College 6:00-8:50 P.M. Wednesdays 9/3-12/17/08 Instructor: Nancy A. Henry, JD Email: [email protected] [email protected] Office hours by appointment COURSE WEBSITES:     

Nancy’s Educational Blog Nancy’s YouTube Videos Nancy’s Links Blackboard Class Scribd documents

COURSE DESCRIPTION (from College Catalog) Interpersonal Communication COM -101 3 Credits (3 Lecture 0 Lab 0 Shop) 3 Hours/Week (3 Hrs. Lecture) This course introduces the student to the elements of interpersonal communication. The overall goal of the course is to enable students to improve the effectiveness of their interpersonal communication skills in their personal and professional lives. The course covers the nature of communication, the importance of one's identity, the role of perception and emotions, and the importance of active listening. It examines the nature of language and non-verbal communication and considers gender and cultural differences. It focuses on improving communication in relationships, concentrating on relational dynamics, communication climates, and interpersonal conflict. COURSE SPECIFICATIONS Total class hours Lab or shop hours Estimated hours for outside work Total estimated student work time Course semester credit hours

45 0 90 135 3

LEARNING OBJECTIVES After completing this course, the student will be able to: 1. experience greater confidence in interpersonal encounters, 2. understand interpersonal processes, 3. recognize nonverbal communication patterns,

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4. improve listening skills and develop/demonstrate empathy, 5. improve speaking and self-disclosure skills, 6. recognize and cope with ethical dilemmas that may arise in the context of interpersonal communication. REQUIRED TEXT: Adler and Proctor, Looking Out, Looking In, 12th Edition ONLINE RESOURCES: Students will regularly be directed to online resources I have compiled for the class. We will also have a Blackboard site. Please see “course websites” above and make certain you add or subscribe to those groups so you will have access to these materials. REGULAR ACCESS TO THESE ONLINE SITES, INCLUDING BLACKBOARD, IS REQUIRED FOR THIS COURSE. If you do not have regular computer access and an email address to which you have daily access, you should not take this course. Grading Categories Homework Student Journal Interpersonal Communications Analysis Group Project In-class exercises and participation

Percentage 20% 20% 20% 20% 20%

Late Work Policy: A student may turn in one assignment up to one week late without penalty. Other late work will not be accepted. If you must be absent from a class, your work must be turned in electronically by the beginning of the class period of that date. Classroom etiquette: No use of cell phones, laptops or other electronic devices is allowed in class unless instructor explicitly directs you to use them. That said, there will be at least one class during which you will be asked to use your electronic devices. Apart from the aforementioned exception "electronic chat" during class will result in dismissal from that class period. Team Project: A presentation of no less than 20 minutes will be required. This will be primarily a creative, rather than a written, project. Students will work in groups of 3-4 depending on class size. Further information about this assignment will be provided to you by Week Two. Student Journal: Each student will keep a notebook or journal for the purpose of recording reflections on the readings, class exercises, and class materials. Some reflections will be assigned, but the notebook is for broader work and response than just the assigned questions. Aim for 10 handwritten pages or 3-4 single-spaced typed pages per week. If you elect to respond to issues on the blog, this will count towards your

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journal total. You will turn these in twice during the semester. YOUR JOURNAL MAY BE ELECTRONIC. Class Participation and Homework: You are an important part of this class, and I have provided many avenues for you to participate and interact with your classmates. Given the unique nature of this class, participation and attendance are especially crucial. If you must miss class please let me know immediately, as you will have group members depending on your attendance and I may have to rearrange class exercises. I do not give “excused absences”—what I do is work with you to make a plan to cover the material you will miss. I retain the right to lower the grade of any student who does not address attendance and absences in a responsible, adult manner. I will also inform a student’s advisor if their academic work or attendance indicates that they may be having difficulty meeting course requirements. Keeping up with the Class Students who are having difficulty should notify the instructor as soon as possible. I understand that problems and stresses arise and that we are dealing with difficult material in this class. I have a wealth of links and study aids to share with you and would be happy to have an appointment to address any problems. Cancellations: Please check your email AND OUR BLACKBOARD SITE sometime in the afternoon of every Wednesday class day in case there has been some need to cancel. In the event of ANY sort of cancellation, WE WILL HAVE A VIRTUAL CLASS, not a “make-up” class. There is an abundance of excellent instructional material online and I have more than enough of this for several classes. Blackboard and the blog provide a forum for class interaction when it is not possible to be physically present in the classroom. This online work will be required and will count for classroom instructional time—it is not “additional homework”. Disability Access Statement If you are a student with a documented disability and plan to request an academic or other accommodation, you must register as soon as possible with the Central Maine Community College Disabilities Coordinator, Ms. Laura Rifkin. Visit the Coordinator’s office in Jalbert Hall or call for an appointment (755-5277). Please share any accommodation letter issued by her with the instructor. While the same policies must apply to all students, students with life situations that may adversely impact their academic achievement may wish to discuss these with the instructor so he can be supportive. Affirmative Action Statement Central Maine Community College is an equal opportunity / affirmative action institution and employer. For more information, please call 755-5233. Ethical Behavior Statement Central Maine Community College requires all students to adhere to high standards of integrity in their academic work. Activities such as cheating on exams and plagiarizing the

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intellectual work of others are not acceptable and will be subject to severe disciplinary actions up to and including dismissal. Time Management: It is reasonable to expect to spend two hours of class work outside of class for each hour of instructional time. I have “mixed it up” so that there are assignments to appeal to every learning style: video, podcast (be sure to use your mp3 player if you have one!), blog, PowerPoint, popular films, journal, and of course reading in our excellent text. If you spent an average of 5-6 hours studying these materials outside of class every week, complete class assignments, and make a sincere effort, you should be able to pass this course with at least a “C”. Weekly Readings & Assignments-READINGS ARE DUE TO BE COMPLETED ON THE DATE ON WHICH THE ASSIGNMENT APPEARS. Date Sept. 4 Sept. 11 Sept. 18 Sept. 25 Oct. 2 Oct. 9 Oct. 16 Oct. 23 Oct. 30

Topics & Assignments INTRODUCTIONS and overview. (All readings will be from Adler). Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven (Review of student journals) Chapter Eight

Nov. 6 Nov. 13 Nov. 20 Nov. 27 Dec. 4 Dec. 11 Dec. 18

Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven HOLIDAY Group Presentations Complete presentations/TBA FINAL CLASS

Homework assignments will be posted on Blackboard. Please check frequently. Written work is to be turned in electronically.

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