COMM 120: Introduction to Interpersonal Communication ...

COMM 120: Introduction to Interpersonal Communication Course Home Page

Blackboard

Instructor's E-mail

Introduction

Course Objectives

Required Textbook

About Your Instructor

Contacting Your Instructor

Assignments and Exams

Evaluation and Grading

Honor Code

Course Mechanics

Course Schedule

Introduction "The way we communicate with others and with ourselves ultimately determines the quality of our lives." --Anthony Robbins

Welcome to COMM 120, Introduction to Interpersonal Communication. This course will focus on the communication that occurs in our interpersonal interactions. The course will cover both verbal and non-verbal communication and will include elements of intercultural communication throughout. We will seek to understand interpersonal communication from a variety of perspectives. You will be exposed to various topics and contexts related to interpersonal communication and will study this material through readings, discussions, and activities. It is my hope that this class will provide insights and information that will help you more effectively analyze your interpersonal skills and relationships, and improve your communication in those relationships. top of page

Course Objectives COMM 120 is designed to help you develop both your skills in and understanding of interpersonal communication. Through this course you will:

  

gain a better understanding of basic communication processes and elements practice and improve your interpersonal communication skills through class activities and discussion become more aware of your own interpersonal communication behaviors and their effects on your interpersonal relationships.

top of page

Required Textbook The following required textbook can be purchased through Friday Center Books & Gifts either online or by printing out a book order form. Wood, Julia T. (2010). Interpersonal Communication: Everyday Encounters, sixth edition (2009), ISBN 978-0-495-56764-6. Do not buy earlier editions. top of page

About Your Instructor My name is Jen Cronin, and I am currently working on my Ph.D. in Communication Studies at UNC Chapel Hill. I completed my B.A. in Communication and English at Georgetown College in Georgetown, Ky., and my M.A. in Communication Studies at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Ky. Prior to beginning my graduate career, I worked for two years in public relations for the International SPA Association writing press releases, planning media events for the world’s top spas, and distributing research to top news outlets. My previous work has focused on parent-child relationships and how deceptive communicative acts impact emotion, perception, and relational strength. I have subsidiary interests in marriage preparation and enhancement and quantitative methodology. Interpersonal Communication is an important concept and skill in navigating our everyday lives. Since we cannot not communicate, I believe it is of utmost importance that we learn how to communicate well—and in doing so create, maintain, and enjoy more satisfying relationships with others. top of page

Contacting Your Instructor The best way for you to contact me is by e-mail. (Please be sure to include your last name and CCO COMM 120 in the subject line.) I will generally respond to e-mails within 24 hours during the week and within 48 hours on weekends. If an issue arises that we cannot resolve via e-mail, I will be happy to speak with you on the phone or through instant messaging. top of page

Assignments and Exams The assignments in this class are broken up into three categories:   

discussion forum participation papers exams

Discussion Forum Most weeks of the semester, you will be required to post on the discussion forum in Blackboard. You will read a chapter, review the lesson notes, and then respond to one or two questions. By Tuesday (or the second day of the lesson) at 11:30 pm of each week in which we have a lesson, you will answer the discussion question(s) provided in an original post. By Sunday at 6 pm of each week, you will respond to at least one other student’s original post. There are nine weeks during which you will be expected to make these posts (the other weeks are exam review weeks or holidays). Because of the time constraints of the summer schedule, there are a total of three weeks where we will cover two lessons. For these three weeks, you will be responsible for “double participation.” This means that you will be responsible for two original posts, and two responses to another student’s post (one discussion/one response for each chapter covered). Original posts should be approximately one paragraph and should be carefully written and edited. They should reflect reading and comprehension of that week’s reading, and they should answer all parts of the question. Responses should address the content of the original post and should also reflect an understanding and engagement with the course material. Making a connection to another concept, sharing a similar example in a way that extends the original poster’s idea, or offering advice that is based in course content are all acceptable replies. Simply saying that you like or do not like a post or only telling a similar story does not meet the requirement. Do your best, and feel free to ask me if you are

unsure if your posts meet the requirements. I will also be active on the discussion forums and will pose questions and offer information to help guide your thinking.

Papers Over the course of the semester you will create an Interpersonal Communication Journal. Whether or not one’s job is to do interpersonal communication research, we all conduct fieldwork on a daily basis. We create and test informal theories as we attempt to make sense of our lives and our relationships. Over the course of this term you will keep a record of some of the fieldwork you do. Through your reading and our discussions, you will learn about what communication researchers have learned about interpersonal relationships. You will use this information to elevate the informal fieldwork you do daily to a more nuanced, sophisticated level. You will write journal entries that reflect upon the course material and your relationships. For each section listed below, you will choose two chapters about which you will write an entry. Possible journal prompts can be found in the Fieldwork Project Journal Prompts. Only choose one question from the chapter about which you will write. Section 1: Chapters 1–3, due May 29 (by 5 pm) Section 2: Chapters 4–7, due June 26 (by 5 pm) Section 3: Chapters 8–12, due July 17 (by 5 pm) Each of your journal entries should be two full typed pages, not including the heading on the paper. Papers should be double spaced with 1 inch margins and in size 12 Times New Roman Font. Shorter entries will not receive full credit. I will not share these entries with others. Remember that your entries should reflect knowledge of and engagement with the course material and are more than mere personal reflections.

Exams You will take a midterm exam and a final exam in this class. The final will not be cumulative. The exams will test your knowledge of the course material in a variety of formats, potentially including but not limited to: multiple choice, short answer, essay, and true/false. You will take both of these exams online, through Blackboard. The exams will be open-book and open-notes; however, it is important that you study in advance and do not rely primarily on looking up answers. You will have a 48-hour time frame during which you can take the exam. Once you begin the exam, you will have 90 minutes to complete the exam. We will have an exam review on the discussion forum before each exam. top of page

Evaluation and Grading Grade Assessment Your grades will be based on how well you demonstrate what you have learned in this class as shown by your completion of assignments and participation. The following is an explanation of grades you can earn in this class: Exceeds requirements of the assignment/course. The student critically, creatively, and fully engages the course material in a way A that demonstrates that she/he understands and can apply the concepts. Written work is extremely well-composed and concise. Meets and, at times, exceeds the requirements of the assignment/course. In general, the student demonstrates a clear B understanding of the course concepts. Written work is fairly wellcomposed but there may be some unclear or awkward moments. Meets the basic requirements of the assignment/course. The student demonstrates a minimum understanding of major concepts but may C be unclear at times. Written work is acceptable but has errors and awkward moments. Fails to meet some of the basic requirements of the D assignment/course. A minimum understanding of course concepts is not evident. Written work is fairly poor. Does not meet the basic requirements of the assignments/course. A F minimum understanding of the course concepts is not evident. Written work is very poor.

Grading Scale I will grade your work using the following scale: A 94-100%

C

A- 90-93%

C- 70-73%

B+ 87-89%

D+ 67-69%

B

D

84-86%

74-76%

64-66%

B- 80-83%

D- 60-63%

C+ 77-79%

F

< 60%

Grade Distribution The points for this course will be distributed in the following manner: Assignment

Points

Discussion Forum

300 (25 points per lesson)

Fieldwork Project, Section 1 120 Fieldwork Project, Section 2 120 Fieldwork Project, Section 3 120 Midterm Exam

170

Final Exam

170

Total

1,000

Late Work It is important that you complete your work in a timely manner. All of the deadlines are listed on the Course Schedule. If you cannot complete an assignment (a discussion forum post, a paper, or an exam) by the date indicated, please contact me in advance so that we can make other arrangements. Turning in a paper late will result in a five-point deduction for every day that it is late. Posting late on the discussion forum is a problem because you cannot be part of the ongoing conversation if you do not post by the due dates. If you miss the Tuesday deadline (for original posts) but post by the end of the week, you will receive partial points. Posts after Sunday at 5 pm will not receive any points. Exams must be completed during the time indicated, and must be turned in on time. Late exams will receive no credit. Contact me as soon as possible if you know that an exam's timing will pose a problem for you.

Computer Troubles All assignments are created with enough leeway for any potential computer problems that might arise to be resolved prior to our course deadlines. If you are having a computer problem that will interfere with your being able to complete an assignment by the deadline, it is your responsibility to contact me in advance to make alternate plans.

top of page

Honor Code You are expected to adhere to the requirements of the UNC Honor Code. In this class, adhering to the Honor Code means making your own original posts, being honest in any communication related to the course, authoring your own papers, and completing the exams without the assistance of another person or material other than your own book and notes. All other general expectations of the Honor Code apply as well. If you are unsure of your responsibilities under the Honor Code, please visit the UNC Honor System Web site. Simply being unaware of the requirements of the Honor Code does not remove you from responsibility to adhere to it. Violations of the Honor Code will be reported to the Honor Court. top of page

Course Mechanics Blackboard Some of your class components (discussion forums, exams, and announcements) are accessed through a software package called Blackboard, and you will need to log in to Blackboard using a unique identifier known as your UNC Onyen (Only Name You'll Ever Need) and Onyen password. There is a link to the Blackboard site in the gray navigation bar at the top of every page in this course. Click on that link, and then use your Onyen to log in to Blackboard. Click on the "COMM 120" link, and you will see navigation buttons on the left side of the screen labeled Announcements, Discussion Forum, and so on. If you experience problems accessing Blackboard, this is what you should do:    

If you do not already have a UNC Onyen, go to the Onyen Web site and follow the instructions for creating an Onyen. If you have an Onyen but have forgotten it (or the password), go to the Onyen Web site. If you have your Onyen but can't log in to Blackboard, contact Janice Durham at the Friday Center. If you can log in to Blackboard but can't find this course listed, contact Janice Durham at the Friday Center.

 

If you can't locate an exam or discussion forum in Blackboard, contact the Instructional Designer. If you have other technical problems while using Blackboard, contact Blackboard Help (use the Help button in Blackboard, or call 919-962HELP).

Library Services and E-reserves Students enrolled in Carolina Courses Online have access to the UNC Library System. Visit Distance Education Library Services to access a wide array of online services and resources including e-reserves, online databases, online journals, online books, and live help with research and library access. Most online resources require you to log in with your Onyen and password. If you have any trouble finding the resource that you need or logging in to a resource, you can contact the library through the contact information at Distance Education Library Services. You can chat live about your problem, or send an email to request assistance.

Using E-mail All communication from your instructor will go to your UNC Onyen e-mail address (the one that appears when you post to the discussion forum). Offcampus users can access their UNC e-mail account using Webmail. You can have your Onyen e-mail forwarded to a different e-mail address by clicking “Forward email” on the Onyen Web site. We strongly recommend that you use your UNC e-mail account for all emails regarding your course. Hotmail users should be aware that Hotmail will block messages sent from within Blackboard because Blackboard uses “blind carbon copy” to protect privacy. If you forward your mail to a commercial e-mail service provider (yahoo.com or msn.com, for example), messages from your instructor, Friday Center staff, or other students may be delayed because these service providers sometimes place temporary blocks on messages originating from universities. If you are using a commercial e-mail service provider, the email links in this course may not work for you. Please add the following to your e-mail address book: Instructor

Jen Cronin

Student Services Friday Center staff

[email protected] [email protected]

Course Web site Instructional Designer [email protected]

Turning in Papers

Your papers for this class will be turned in electronically, via Blackboard’s Assignments tool. To use the Assignments tool, follow these instructions: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Using Internet Explorer, log in to Blackboard and choose our course. From the menu on the left, choose Assignments. Click the View/Complete link for the assignment. On the Upload Assignment page, scroll down to Section 2, Assignment Materials. Click Browse to locate the file you want to attach. Once you find the file you want to attach, double-click on the file name. You must type something in the Comments box (for example, "assignment attached") before your assignment can be submitted. Click Submit. A confirmation message will appear: "The assignment has been updated."

Please do not e-mail your assignment to me; send it through Blackboard Assignments. The only time you should e-mail your assignment to me is if Blackboard is not working. Using Blackboard Assignments ensures that your submission is secure and provides you with a confirmation message. If you do not get a confirmation, submit your file again. If you do get a confirmation message, please do not e-mail me to see if I got it; I did. Please save a copy of your work in a secure location. If a file is corrupted during transmission or does not arrive, I will expect you to resubmit it.

Other Questions If you have questions regarding 

 

the content of the course and your progress, contact me. There is a link to my e-mail address at the top of every lesson page. Please include "COMM 120 CCO" and your name in the subject line of your e-mail. problems with this Web site, including bad links, contact the Instructional Designer at the Friday Center enrollment, Onyen, credits, withdrawal, and so on, contact the Student Services staff at the Friday Center for Continuing Education (phone 919962-1134 or 800-862-5669).

top of page

Course Schedule Dates

Lesson

Lesson Title

Reading Assignment

Introduction Course Introduction May 10–15

Home Page

Lesson 1

Introduction to Interpersonal Communication

Chapter 1

Lesson 2

Communication and Personal Identity

Chapter 2

Lesson 3

Perception and Communication. Due: Fieldwork Project, Section 1

Chapter 3

Lesson 4

Verbal Communication

Chapter 4

Lesson 5

Nonverbal Communication

Chapter 5

Lesson 6

Mindful Listening

Chapter 6

Jun 14–19

Midterm

Midterm Review on Blackboard, Midterm Exam Available on Blackboard Jun 18–19

Jun 21–26

Lesson 7

Emotions and Communication Due: Fieldwork Project, Section 2

Chapter 7

Lesson 8

Communication Climate

Chapter 8

Lesson 9

Conflict and Relationships

Chapter 9

Lesson 10

Friendship

Chapter 10

Lesson 11

Romantic Relationships

Chapter 11

Jul 12–17

Lesson 12

Families Due: Fieldwork Project, Section 3

Chapter 12

Jul 19–22

Final Exam

Final Review on Blackboard, Final Exam Available on Blackboard Jul 21–22

May 17–22 May 24–29 Jun 1–5 Jun 7–12

Jun 28–Jul 3

Jul 5–10

Please complete the online course evaluation. We want to know if the course met your expectations.

top of page

Course Introduction Course author: Katy Bodey, MA Current instructor: Jen Cronin, M.A.

©University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Date modified: August 6, 2010 Send comments and questions to [email protected].