Speech 1130: Interpersonal Communication - Fall 2002

Instructor: Mary Swart
Office: Plaza Hall 417, Phone: (507) 285-7195
Office Hours:
Email Address: mary.swart@roch.edu
Text:
Course Discription:
This course covers the theory and practice of communication skills which affect critical thinking, intercultural consciousness, empowerment, and day to day interaction with other people. Topics may include using verbal and nonverbal symbols, interactive listening, resolving conflicts, developing and maintaining personal and professional relationships.
Course Objectives:
· Demonstrate the principles of Human Communication Theory.
· Demonstrate the principles of Interpersonal Communication including receiving skills and response skills, nonverbal communication, and the individual factors that influence communication.
· Define and understand the components of interpersonal relationships
· Define and understand the major components of intercultural communication.
· Synthesize all factors effecting an interpersonal situation and demonstrate competent verbal and nonverbal behaviors in accordance with that particular situation.
Supplemental Learning Tools:
Web CT enhanced course
Interactive CD packaged with Text

· Attendance: I take attendance and expect you to attend all classes. You will miss lecture information, class discussion, orally announced assignments, quizes, and communication activities just to name a few. Bottom line, you will not earn as good of a grade if you skip class. "Bring your mind and your body will follow, showing up is half the battle, bite the bullet and get it done!" If you miss 7 class periods without documentation you will loose half of your attentance/participation points. Miss more than 10 class periods I may ask you to withdraw from class.
· Oral Presentation Assignments: Present on the day you agree to. Group work and presentations can not be made up. Be present for all group work and presentation days If you experience a severe emergency; I will read and consider a written petition to make up points lost. Professional documentation is required for such consideration.
Exams and Quizzes: Quizzes can not be made up. You must take the exams at their scheduled times. I will read and consider a written petition if you experience a severe emergency, but documentation is required.
· Classroom Management: You are expected to actively listen and respond in a way that demonstrates that you have been doing the reading and thinking about interpersonal communication principles. Respect for yourself and others is mandatory. Class climate is an essential ingredient for the success of this couse. Various points in the semester, we may be examining sensitive and personal issues as they relate to aspects of interpersonal communication. Differences of experiences, attitude, and values can be discussed meaningfully as long as we agree to respect norms of civil discussion. Verbal attacks on the person and character of another are expressly prohibited. We will discuss this more in class.

Course Assignments and Point Values:
End of Chapter Tests: 25 points each = 250 points
Three exams, including multiple?choice, true/false, and short answer questions, will be given for each unit of the text.

Communication Journal Assignments: 3 submissions 100 pts each - 300 point value
Place all of the following journal entries in a folder and hand in as a group as per schedule.
1. Goal Setting and Strategies: To begin your journal you will spend some time setting 3 goals for improving your personal lives and relationships with others. This will go in your journal.
2. Journal of Interpersonal Relationships: You will journal on some aspect of interpersonal communication that is covered in each chapter in our text that we cover. For example, you may choose to journal about how self concept and self esteem affect your relationships with others (Chapter 2)

Journal Content Guidelines:
Journal entries should be typed, free of spelling and grammatical errors. In terms of length, per chapter entry, one paragraph is too little, more than a page and half probably too much. Journal entries should not be superficial in nature. I expect you to draw relationships from the concepts we are studing to your own personal life. (1) Define the concept you are journaling about. (2) I want to know what you think, what your interpretations of the concept(s) are and how you are applying it to your own interpersonal relationships and/or self. (3) Include an example/reasoning based on your experiences. (4) Relate to your goals you set, this is a must.

Group Presentation: 100 points
Each student will be assigned to a group to research a specific are of interpersonal communication. Each group will designate a topic, perform research, and present a thirty-minute presentation to the class covering their topic. Students will be graded based on content, delivery, and peer evaluation.

Goal Progress Reports: 4@ 10pts each = 40 points.
Each report should address the progress being made toward one or all of your goals. These reports should be detailed and not superficial in order to earn the full 25 pts. Reports can be oral or written. If oral you must schedule a time (see attached course schedule) Written reports should be typed and at least 2 pages in length. Oral reports should be between 4-6 minutes in length with a written outline handed in the day of the report. The oral report should not be read from a manuscript. I am assuming if you have opted to do an oral report one of your goals is to overcome speaker apprehensions. Thus, the presentation becomes part of your strategy.

Class Attendance and Participation: 75 points You can't participate if you don't attend. I will take attendance every class period. Group activities can not be made up.

Total Points Possible = Keep track of accumulated points to bring with you on your conference day time. At any time during the semester you can consult with me concerning your grade.
A straight percentage scale is used.