36:070
COMMUNICATION AND EVERYDAY LIFE
Fall 2004
Graduate
Teaching Assistants (T.A.s)
Megan
Foley (335-0585)
Office: 205A Communications Center (CC)
Office hours: MWF 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Discussion A 7:00-7:50
p.m. W 203 BCSB
Discussion D 6:00-6:50 p.m. Th 202 EPB
Discussion F 7:00-7:50 p.m. Th 213 EPB
Dena
Huisman (335-0585)
Office: 205A Communications Center (CC)
Office hours: M 2:00-4:00 p.m.p.m.; Th 11:00-12:30 p.m.
Discussion B 7:00-7:50
p.m. W 209 EPB
Discussion E 6:00-6:50 p.m. Th 213 EPB
Discussion G 7:00-7:50 p.m. Th 3 EPB
COURSE
DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES
36:070
provides a survey of communication theory and research topics, particularly as
they pertain to everyday social interactions. The course seeks to accomplish three
objectives:
1.
Provide students with a broad understanding of various communication theories
and theoretical perspectives that have influenced the social scientific study
of human communication;
2.
Provide students with a broad understanding of research topics and questions addressed
by communication scholars;
3. Provide students with
an understanding of the role and functions of communication processes in everyday
social interaction.
TEXBOOK
The textbook
for this course is: Em Griffin (2002). A First Look At Communication Theory (custom
edition). New York: McGraw-Hill. These readings are NOT meant to replace the lectures
in this course. The lectures are the primary means of instruction; the readings
are meant to supplement that lecture material. The textbook is available at the
IMU Bookstore.
This textbook is supported
by a web site at www.afirstlook.com.
Although the site was created for instructors, it offers a lot of useful resources
for students such as chapter outlines, alternative ways to view each theory,
sample reaction papers, suggestions for class discussion, and so forth. I encourage
you to browse the site and use whatever information is there to prepare for
exams and write your reaction papers. DO NOT plagiarize from this website. If
you do, and you are caught, you will face not only disciplinary action from
me, but also a copyright violation law suit from the author of the website.
GRADING POLICY
Final grades
will be based on the total number of points accumulated by students upon completion
of the following:
Exam
I (9-23) ................................... 50 points
Exam
II (10-25) ................................ 50 points
Exam
III (12-8) ................................. 50 points
Short papers (3 pts./each)
................ 15 points
Participation .....................................
10 points
EXAMINATIONS,
PAPERS, & PARTICIPATION
Examinations.
There will be three non-comprehensive examinations. Examination I covers lectures
1-6; Examination II covers lectures 7-13; and Examination III covers lectures
14-21. All examinations will consist of multiple choice and essay questions.
POLICY
ON MAKE-UP EXAMS:
A make-up examination will be administered ONLY when a student
misses an examination because of an EXCUSED absence. If you miss an examination
because of an UNAVOIDABLE circumstance -- e.g., illness, certain major religious
observances, participation in official University activity, National Guard duty
-- it is YOUR responsibility to provide me with WRITTEN documentation of the excused
absence, including those of a medical nature. If you know in advance that your
excused absence will force you to miss an examination, please notify me as soon
as possible prior to the scheduled examination so proper arrangements can be made
for you to make-up the examination. Absences for University activities must be
officially documented in advance.
Short papers. Each
student will be required to write five short papers that respond to FIVE (5)
of the course lectures. It's best if you write each paper as soon as possible
after you've heard my lecture. In writing each paper ask yourself: What insight(s)
did the lecture provide me to help me understand my own, and others', communication
behavior in everyday life? Each journal entry should be about 2 typed, double-spaced
pages in length (~500 words). Check the syllabus schedule to note when each
paper is due.
POLICY ON SHORT
PAPERS: All
short papers must be typed in 10- or 12-font, double-spaced, one-inch margins
on the sides, bottom, and top. Use only 8-1/2 "
by 11" paper with no ragged edges. Include page numbers on each page, and
staple (or otherwise bind) all pages together. Save a copy of all your work
on a computer disk, as a hard copy, or both. Papers
are to be turned into your TA by the beginning of your discussion section on
the week that it is due (check the syllabus), unless prior arrangements have
been made with your TA. You will receive a 1-POINT DEDUCTION for EACH calendar
day your paper is late.
Participation.
There are eight "chautauquas" scheduled throughout the semester. A chautauqua
is an open-forum class discussion facilitated by student leaders. Each chautauqua
will focus on the lecture material for that day. The essence of a chautauqua is
open discussion. They are meant to be enjoyable and beneficial in enhancing
your understanding of the lecture material. The most successful chautauquas have
been those in which a "discussion stimulus" (e.g., movie, TV sit-com, etc.) has
been used to promote discussion. Students will receive one (1) participation point
for every chautauqua they attend and participate in. Every student is expected
to volunteer to lead one one chautauqua and will receive two (2) points for doing
so. As many as three "leaders" will be assigned to each chautauqua session on
a first-come basis. The leaders of a chautauqua are responsible for generating
discussion questions and guiding the chautauqua session. The amount of points
you receive will depend on my assessment of how well you prepared for, and facilitated,
the chatauqua.
POLICY ON MISSED
CHAUTAUQUAS:
Chautauqua
points CANNOT
be made up unless you miss a class because of an excused absence.
If you miss a chautauqua because of an excused absence, your instructor will
notify you on how the points can be made up. It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to
provide your instructor with written documentation of your excused absence.
Absence for University activities must
be officially documented in advance.
GRADING
SCALE
Final
grades will be based on the following scale:
A+
(97% and higher) = 170 points or more
A (94-96%) = 165-169
A- (90-93%)
= 158-164
B+
(87-89%) = 152-157
B (84-86%) = 147-151
B- (80-83%) = 140-146
C+
(77-79%) = 135-139
C (74-76%) = 130-134
C- (70-73%) = 123-129
D+
(67-69%) = 117-122
D (64-66%) = 112-116
D- (60-63%) = 105-111
F
(Below 60%) = Below 105
EXTRA
CREDIT: Extra credit
points MAY be available this semester, depending on what options emerge as the
semester progresses. If extra credit options become available, they will be
announced to the class in a manner that enables ALL students to choose among
available options. Participation in a given study cannot be counted for
extra credit in more than one course. The amount of extra-credit points
you earn will depend on the amount of time your participation will involve --
the more time involvement, the more extra-credit points you will receive. In
any case, students may earn a MAXIMUM of 5 extra-credit points in this
course.
LECTURE
SCHEDULE
M 8-23 Orientation to
the course
Discussion: Chautauqua
assignments made
Discussion: Chautauqua
#1
M 9-6 LABOR DAY (No Class)
Discussion: Chautauqua
#2
* 1st
SHORT PAPER DUE *
Discussion: Chautauqua
#3
M 9-20 Review for Examination
I
W 9-22EXAMINATION
I
Discussion: Chautauqua
#4
* 2nd
SHORT PAPER DUE *
W 10-6 10. Video: Applied
Functional Perspective
Discussion: Chautauqua
#5
W 10-13
12. Video: Applied Structuration Theory
Discussion:
Chautauqua #6
W 10-20 Review for Examination
II
* 3rd
SHORT PAPER DUE *
M 10-25 EXAMINATION
II
W 10-27 14. Guest Lecture
(Megan Foley)
M 11-1 15. Semiotics
pp. 104-114
Discussion: Chautauqua
#7
M 11-8 17. (Nonverbal
communication continued)
W 11-10 NO CLASS
Discussion: Chautauqua
#8
* 4th
SHORT PAPER DUE *
11-22 to 11-26: THANKSGIVING BREAK
W 12-1 21. Guest Lecture
(Dena Huisman)
*5th
SHORT PAPER DUE *
M 12-6 Review for Examination III
W 12-8 EXAMINATION III
POLICIES
AND PROCEDURES
This
course is given by the College of Arts and Sciences (CLAS). This means that
class policies on matters such as requirements, grading, and sanctions for academic
dishonesty are governed by the CLAS. Students wishing to add or drop this course
after the official deadline must receive the approval of the Dean of the CLAS.
Details of the University policy of cross enrollments may be found at:
http://www.uiowa.edu/~provost/deos/crossenroll.pdf
ACCOMODATIONS:
I would like to hear from anyone who as a disability that may require some modification
of seating, testing, or other class requirements so that appropriate arrangements
may be made. Please see me PRIVATELY during my office hours.
PLAGIARISM:
"Plagiarism" is the use of someone's words or ideas without proper documentation.
Even paraphrasing someone else's work without reporting the source constitutes
plagiarism. Protect yourself
from being suspected of plagiarism by documenting your sources.
Students suspected of plagiarism will be subject to the
penalities for plagiarism noted in the Student
Handbook of Policies and Procedures for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
CONCERNS/COMPLAINTS:
If at any time during the course you have concerns or complaints
about your teaching assistant, please go to see him and try to work things out
as soon as possible. If you are unable to reach a satisfactory outcome with your
teaching assistant, then contact me (Randy Hirokawa). If you are unable to reach
a satisfactory outcome with me, then you may contact the Associate Dean of the
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (Fred Antczak). Consult the Student Handbook
of Policies and Procedures for additional information regarding this process.
For
more information: Student Rights and Responsibilities
1) Academic Misconduct
2) Plagiarism & Cheating
3) Forgery
4) Student Complaints Concerning
Faculty Actions
5) Procedures for Complaints
http://www.clas.uiowa.edu/students/academic_handbook/ix.shtml
HUMAN
RIGHTS: The University of Iowa prohibits discrimination
in its education programs based on race, national origin, color, creed, religion,
sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or associational
preference. If at any time during class lectures or discussion sections you feel
uncomfortable about what is being talked about, or feel that your human rights
have been violated, please feel free to leave the room. However, I ask that you
confer with me as soon as possible about what happened so that appropriate action
can be taken if necessary to avoid future problems.