Interpersonal Communication Kathy Lingo

The University of Texas at Dallas

Interpersonal Communication
Lingo- Spring 2006
M/W 2:00-3:15

Office hrs: M/W 3:15-4:15 and by appointment / Office Phone: 972-883-4152 / Office
Location: JO 5.408B

RATIONALE:

Communication is central to our lives. We are constantly engaged in communication. However,

because we do it so often, it does not mean that we do it well. The better we communicate, the
better our chances for success. The satisfaction of our needs is dependent on how well we
communicate those needs. Similarly, successful relationships are measured by how we assist
others in satisfying their needs. In the business world, knowledge is of little value if one is unable
to get along with others and communicate one's ideas. This course focuses on basic interpersonal
communication skills. It is designed to develop the student's skill, knowledge and understanding
of the process of communication in different types of relationships.

At this time in our society, two out of three marriages end in divorce and domestic violence is a
part of our every day news reports. The two leading reasons for divorce today are financial
difficulties and lack of communication in the relationship. Reports of domestic violence are
increasing: “Estimates range from 960,000 incidents of violence against a current or former
spouse, boyfriend or girlfriend each year to 4 million women who are physically abused by their
husbands or live-in partners each year.” (Violence by Intimates: Analysis of Data on Crimes by
Current or Former Spouses, Boyfriends, and Girlfriends, U.S. Department of Justice, March,
1998) The study of communications and relationships should be paramount in our society. This
course will discuss many of the elements that identify and develop an unhealthy relationship,
with ourselves and others, while examining the theories and strategies to help establish and
maintain healthy relationships.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

-- To understand basic concepts involved in the process of communication

-- To develop communication competencies through the acquisition and experiential practice of
communication skills
-- To understand how the self concept determines who we are
_ To understand the basics of building a personal agenda which may assist or sabotage our
goals.
- To understand how media images and commercial information can influence our self
concept.
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- To understand how listening skills affect our success in relationships.
- To identify communication successes and break downs.
- To understand how perception is developed.
- To develop empathy and understanding for diverse cultures when communicating.
- To understand and identify situational communication.

TEXT: Adler, Rosenfeld, Proctor. Interplay, ninth edition

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT COMPLIANCE

It is the policy of The University of Texas at Dallas to provide reasonable accommodations for
qualified individuals who are students with disabilities. This university will adhere to all
applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing
reasonable accommodations as required to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the
student's responsibility to contact the faculty member and the services for Students with
Disabilities in a timely manner to arrange for appropriate accommodations.

GRADING

I do not discuss grades, specific assignments, specific tests or final course grades over the phone
or through e-mail; therefore, please make an appointment with me. Your final grade will be
determined by the following:

Test #1: 10% (Chapters 1 - 3) Nonverbal Assignment 5%

Test #2: 10% (Chapters 4 - 6) Who Am I? Speech 10%
Test #3: 10% (Chapters 7- 9) Participation/Attendance: 10%
Test #4: 10% (Chapters 10 -13) Media/Advertising Influences 10%
Skill Assignment 5%
Concept Comprehension Paper 20%

PARTICIPATION GRADE

The participation grade is based upon in-class assignments, attendance, tardiness, general attitude
and class behavior. Also, you will be expected to participate in class discussions and experiential
exercises. The participation grade will decline ten points for each absence. If you come to every
class and participate in all of the classes you will receive a 100 for this portion of your grade.
However, points will be taken off this grade for each class missed and lack of participation.
Please read the attendance policy carefully.

ASSIGNMENTS AND TESTS

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You will receive a thorough description of requirements for all formal assignments before they
are due. A copy of all turned-in assignments should be kept since I will not be responsible for
any lost or missing assignments. If this should occur, a copy of the assignments will be needed.
ASSIGNMENTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED LATE!!! All of your written assignment will
be turned in through WebCT, so make sure you keep your confirmation notice that it was turned
in on time. Electronic errors do occur and this will validate your position. If your assignment is
not received and you cannot provide the confirmation notice I will not be able to reevaluate your
grade. If you cannot make it to class when an assignment is due, you may always submit
assignments to me early through WebCT. In addition, if a make-up test is given it will be
significantly more difficult than regularly scheduled tests, and only ONE make-up test may be
taken during the semester (in other words, you will receive "0" credit for any missed test). Make-
up tests will be given only in the case of extreme emergency or illness. Documentation must be
provided to the instructor. Make-up day will be announced in class.

ATTENDANCE

You will learn from lecture, class discussion, and from actively participating in experiential
exercises. We will cover a lot of material in a short period of time; absences are strongly
discouraged. It is your responsibility, when absent, to keep up with information discussed in class
(do not call me for the missing information). After three absences the instructor has the right to
give the student a grade of "F" unless there has been an extreme emergency by medical and/or
emergency documentation only.

TARDY POLICY

A student may enter the classroom up to 10 minutes late and will receive a "tardy." After 10
minutes, the student is welcome to enter class, but will be marked as absent. It is the student's
responsibility to contact the instructor after class to ensure a corrected roll count. If the student
does not notify the instructor the day the infraction occurs, the absent mark will remain on the
records.

WITHDRAWAL POLICY

The administration of this institution has set deadlines for withdrawal of any college-level
courses. These dates and times are published in that semester's course catalog. Administration
procedures must be followed. It is the student's responsibility to handle withdrawal requirements
from any class. In other words, I cannot drop or withdraw any student. You must do the proper
paperwork to ensure that you will not receive a final grade of "F" in a course if you choose not to
attend the class once you are enrolled.

Prof notes a/k/a: SUGGESTIONS/HINTS/& MORE INSTRUCTIONS:

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1. Always make a hard copy of anything you place on a computer hard drive or disk. Always
make a second disk copy if possible. Disk failure happens and computer drives crash.
Always keep a copy of any work you hand in! If I loose it, you will have to produce it!!! I
have not experienced a semester where a student did not use the excuse of computer failure
as an excuse to ask for an extension. This is not a valid excuse.

2. When you submit any assignment on WebCT always print the confirmation message. If it is
not received on time you will be given a zero for the assignment unless you can produce this
confirmation. Again, computers do fail.

3. Never procrastinate on assignments in this class. They will come back to haunt you. Begin
your assignment as soon as possible—you can always go back and add more information or
analysis.

4. You may hand in your assignments early without any justification. All assignments must be
submitted on WebCT unless specifically directed otherwise by your instructor.

5. I expect college level writing skills on all assignments. Any work submitted that does not
reflect these skills will be given a grade of zero for the assignment. Writing problems can
serious affect your grade.

6. If you turn in messy work your grade will reflect it. This includes appropriate margins
consistently throughout any paper (approximately 1.5" at the head, foot and both sides of the
paper), headings and/or titles on each entry, all entries should be single spaced and general
page layout should be aesthetically pleasing. If you spent the time and effort to produce
quality work, make it look as if you did so. If pages are sloppy, hurriedly thrown together,
and margins are inconsistent or "cheated," this does not leave a good impression and does not
reflect quality work. These rules apply to electronic and paper submissions. Grades do reflect
aesthetic quality. Always submit papers to me using a 12 point font.

7. Do not try to enter the classroom late with any assignment. I do not accept papers or
electronic submissions late and do not permit assignments to be completed in class on the
day they are due. If you are more than 10 minutes late to class you are considered absent and
the assignment will not be accepted late!!!!

8. If you miss class handouts, lecture notes or assignment sheets, look for the item on WebCT
before consulting me. It is your responsibility to deliver an assignment on time, even if you
missed class when the assignment was given. There is a tentative schedule of assignments
posted. These dates may change at the instructor’s discretion. Please pay careful attention to
these matters and check your WebCT cite for these changes.

9. You may wish to exchange phone numbers and/or e-mail addresses with a classmate you
deem as responsible. Since it is your responsibility to keep up with class activities and
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assignments, you will have someone to contact that will keep you abreast if you cannot make
class. Be careful who you exchange phone numbers and e-mail addresses with. Not
everyone is responsible and no one likes to be taken advantage of. You may also post
questions to your classmates under the discussion section.

10. The key to any successful academic project/paper is proofing and editing your work.
You must read each sentence carefully.

Classroom Equipment Use and Behavior

1. You may not use the classroom equipment to check e-mail, research for other classes or any
other purpose not directed by classroom instruction.

2. You may not use the printers in our classroom. Please print all materials needed for class
before class time. Printers are not available to use.

3. Since all of your exams and assignments will be taken and submitted through WebCT you are
responsible for acquiring your NetID and setting up your account immediately. You must make
sure that you can log on to WebCT to access all the information you will need for this course.
This is your responsibility and must be done by the first day of class.

4. Do not enter the room late when students are giving presentations. If the door is open,
stand by the door or if a seat is available next to the door you may sit down. Do not walk across
the room to find your seat or disrupt the presentation in any way. If the door is closed please do
not knock. Wait until you hear the applause before trying to enter. If you upset or disrupt
another person’s presentation in any way 10 points will be taken off your presentation.

PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHIES

If you lose the power to laugh, you lose the power to think. Clarence Darrow

Don't argue about difficulties. The difficulties will argue for themselves.

CHEATING/PLAGIARISM

Everyone should know by now that looking on someone else's paper to copy an answer is
cheating; however, there are many other forms and ways of cheating. If you "jointly" do your
assignments together, using the same ideas and information, that is cheating. Your assignments,
unless specified, are not group projects, and they are to be composed of your individual
experiences, ideas, and analysis. Do not share similar experiences or ideas -- this is cheating.
Cheating insults and embarrasses both teacher and student. There are few aspects of my job I do
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not dearly love, but prosecuting those who cheat is one. However, I will not tolerate any
academic or scholastic dishonesty in my classes. Carefully read the college's policy on cheating
and plagiarism.

BASIC PAPER SPECIFICATIONS:

1. Please follow MLA guidelines at all times. This handbook can be purchased at any "college"
or commercial bookstore. The MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers is a necessary
source when writing any formal paper, in order to establish the writing standards and
guidelines required by most four year universities today.

2. All papers must be typed and submitted through WebCT. Handwritten papers will not be
accepted.

3. Single space all WebCT submissions.

4. Check your printer ribbon and make sure my copy of your paper/assignnent is legible and
clear for any hard copies you may turn in. Faded print strains the eyes and grade.

5. Do not cheat pages or margins.

6. You must have references and/or works cited on all main points. Always prove your point
using a credible source and quote the source. Papers maybe submitted to “Turn-it-in” before
grading. If your work is deemed plagiarized, in any manner, the student will be immediately
reported to the Dean of Students and will be given a “0” on the assignment in question.

7. Place all communication terms in “bold text” and put the definition of the terms in italic in
your Concept Comprehension Paper and any other paper required in this class.

Analysis of Concept Comprehension Paper:

Date Due: __________________________________

Objective: To be able to recognize, understand and manage communication concepts that occur
in daily living situations. In order to achieve this goal, the student will analyze specific segments
from films.

Film Selection: You may choose ONE fifteen minute segment from one of the following films.
Check the rating of the film before viewing. If strong language, sexual content or violence
offends you, make sure the rating matches your taste.

1. Shawshank Redemption
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2. Bridges Over Madison County
3. About A Boy
4. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
5. Chocolate
6. Somethings Gotta Give
7. Erin Brockovich
8. Sliding Doors
9. Waiting to Exhale
10. The Big Chill
11. Sixteen Candles

The only other films that maybe analyzed for this assignment, must receive the instructors
permission prior to mid term.

How to begin your analysis:

The following questions are to help the student begin to analyze the scene. Many other questions
and/or forms of analysis may be used. The key to this assignment is to employ depth and
breadth. Feel free to use your textbook and any other academically respected reference to justify
or clarify your analysis.

1. Discussion of the scene situation and what communication terms apply to what is happening.
2. Define the terms being used in your example with definition and dialogue.
3. Discussion of how the communication concept impacts the scene and the characters’
interactions.
4. Were the characters successful in their attempts to communicate or unsuccessful and why?
5. How did the communication affect or develop the relationship(s) of the characters?
6. Was anyone or thing (circumstance) manipulated by the communication employed?
7. What could the characters do to improve or correct the situation?
8. How did the perceptions of the characters affect the communication process?
9. What would make the communication more effective and/or appropriate?
10. This is where you prescribe a possible solution and defend your conclusion. How realistic are
your prescriptions?

Suggested Secondary Referrences:

• Bell Hook’s, all about love, New Visions Publishers, ISBN # 0-688-16844-2
• Ethel S. Person, M.D., Feeling Strong, HarperCollins Publishers,ISBN #0-688-17577-5
• Trenholm and Jensen, Interpersonal Communication, fifth edition, Oxford University
Press, 2004.
• Sarah Trenhom and Arthur Jensen, interpersonal communication, Oxford University
Press, 2004

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Basic Min. and Max:

No less than 20 terms discussed for an A

No less than 15 terms discussed for a B.
No less than 10 terms discussed for a C.

Cheating:

1. If you plagiarize in any manner you will be given a zero on this project and reported to the
Dean of Students. I will be using “Turn-it-in.”
2. You should use a 12 font.
3. Don't do it - cheating is never worth the price your dignity pays.
4. If you share ideas or analysis of information, it is considered cheating. Keep your work to
yourself!

Suggestions:

1. Use your "own" computer disk or flash and bring it to all our classes. Don't share disks or
leave any work you do in class on the university computers.
2. Pick a topic/film you can "really get into." You need a minimum of three credible sources in
addition to your textbook. Your textbook is your primary source. Your personal interest in
your topic normally is reflected in your attention to detail and depth in analysis.
3. Serious and in-depth analysis is required for all assignments. Superficial analysis will not be
appreciated and will be a waste of time for everyone.