SPEECH 220

INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION

INSTRUCTOR:  JIMMIE MANNING, PHD

NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

Course Description (from Course Catalog)

Theories and skills of dyadic interaction in professional and personal contexts; perception, self-concept, nonverbal communication, listening, assertiveness, relationships, conflict management and problem solving. PREREQ: SPE 101

 

Texts

1.      Adler, R. B., Rosenfeld, L. B., & Proctor, R. F. (2007). Interplay: The process of interpersonal communication (10th ed.). New York: Oxford University.

2.      Research articles available from Steely Library.

 

Course Goals

  1. Explain what interpersonal communication is and why it is important, as demonstrated through lecture, in-class activities, and quizzes/exams.

 

  1. Identify strategies and elements of interpersonal communication when given examples of interpersonal relationships in fictive mediated situations through writing assignments that ask you to identify textbook concepts from selected films.

 

  1. Identify and understand interpersonal theories from the formation, maintenance, and dissolution of relationships, as demonstrated through a writing assignment and presentation researching a specific interpersonal theory.

 

  1. Apply knowledge of principles of interpersonal communication to your own life and improve your relationships, as demonstrated through in-class discussions and quizzes.

 

  1. Become aware of your self-concept and how it affects your communication, how perceptual filters affect communication relational stages and dialectics, and the role nonverbal behavior plays in human communication, as demonstrated through readings, class discussion, and quizzes/exams.

 

  1. Understand who conducts research, how it is conducted, and the value of interpersonal research as demonstrated in the Scholar Biography paper and presentation.

 

  1. Become skillful in appropriately matching your verbal and nonverbal behaviors, active listening responses, use of responsible language, in creating a supportive communication climate, and in pursuing win/win conflict outcomes as demonstrated through in-class activities, readings, and quizzes/exams.

 

Individual assignment details are as follow:

 

QUIZZES (10 points each, 100 points total, or 10%)

Twelve graded quizzes will be given during the term.  They are designed to (a) assess your pre-lecture comprehension of the assigned reading and (b) encourage you to come to class prepared.  Any day in which a new chapter is introduced will be a quiz session; the quiz will cover only that chapter (see schedule).  Each quiz will consist of five questions (2 points each) in T/F and/or Multiple-Choice format. Your two lowest quiz scores will be dropped (any absence on a quiz day will result in a zero and thus becomes a dropped score).  Quizzes will be given at the beginning of class; students arriving late will not be given extra time to complete them. 

 

EXAMINATIONS (125 points each, 500 points total, or 50%)

Exams will cover lecture, text, and material discussed in class activities. All exams will be non-comprehensive, and you will have the full 1 hour and 15 minutes to take each exam. Since each exam will consist of T/F and Multiple Choice questions directly from class materials, no study guides will be given for exams.  Students arriving late on exam day will not be given extra time to complete their exams, and missed exams will only be made up at the discretion of the instructor.

 

THEORY RESEARCH AND PRESENTATION (150 points total, or 15%)

This assignment includes a written paper and an oral presentation. You will select an interpersonal communication theory from a provided list and discuss 1) the germinal piece of the theory (title, author(s) and year); 2) the definition of the theory; 3) two articles that have utilized the theory and explain how it was used to develop understanding of social situations; and 4) how the theory applies to your (and the audience’s) life. This paper will be 3-5 pages long. In addition, each student will prepare a 5-7 minute speech that introduces the theory to the class and talks about how it relates to interpersonal communication. This speech should match the criteria set forth in the introductory public speaking class. More details regarding this assignment will follow.

 

PERSONAL APPLICATION PAPER (125 points total, or 12.5%)

This assignment will require you to apply course concepts to your life.  It will be 2-4 pages in length and will deal with the topic of self-concept.  More details will be provided as the assignment approaches.

 

CLASS PARTICIPATION SCORE (125 points total, or 12.5%)

Your class participation grade will be based on a combination of your (a) attendance, (b) in-class involvement, and (c) class citizenship, as described below:

(a) Attendance:  Roll will be taken at the beginning of each class session. No attempt will be made to differentiate between “excused” and “unexcused” absences; you can miss three classes, for any reason, with no attendance penalty.  After TWO absences, your Class Participation score will be affected as follows:

                        3 absences:       Highest possible Class Participation score will be 100

                        4 absences:       Highest possible Class Participation score will be 80

                        5 absences:       Class Participation score will be 0

                        6 or more absences:      Fail the course

(b) In-class involvement:  Your contributions to class discussions are vital.  I want to hear your comments, questions, and examples.  Because this is a communication course, if I never hear your voice in class unless I call on you, your highest possible Class Participation grade will be 75. 

            (c) Class citizenship:  If you are chronically late to class, tune out regularly during

lectures/activities, or are impolite to your fellow students (or me!), your highest   possible Class Participation grade will be 65.

 

Tentative Class Schedule

 

T 1/9                Syllabus and Interviews

R 1/11              Introductions and Chapter 1 – QUIZ

T 1/16              Chapter 1 (cont)

R 1/18              Chapter 2 – QUIZ

T 1/23              Chapter 3 – QUIZ and IMPORTANT IN-CLASS ACTIVITY –

YOU MUST BE IN CLASS!!!! and Give Review Sheet

R 1/25              Chapter 3 (cont)

T 1/30              EXAM #1 (Chapters 1-3)

R 2/1                Chapter 4 – QUIZ and Discuss APA format

T 2/6                Chapter 5 – QUIZ

R 2/8                Chapter 5 (cont) and Discuss/sign-up for Theory Paper/Presentation

T 2/13              Chapter 6 - QUIZ and Give Review Sheet

R 2/15              Chapter 6 (cont) and APPLICATION PAPER IS DUE

T 2/20              EXAM #2 (Chapters 4-6)      

R 2/22              Chapter 7 – QUIZ

T 2/27              Chapter 8 - QUIZ

R 3/1                Chapter 9- QUIZ and Give Review Sheet

T 3/6-R 3/8      NO CLASS – SPRING BREAK

T 3/13              Chapter 9 (cont)

R 3/15              EXAM #3 (Chapters 7-9)

T 3/20              Chapter 10- QUIZ

R 3/22              Chapter 11- QUIZ

T 3/27              THEORY PRESENTATIONS

R 3/29              THEORY PRESENTATIONS

T 4/3                THEORY PRESENTATIONS

R 4/5                THEORY PRESENTATIONS

T 4/10              THEORY PRESENTATIONS

R 4/12              Chapter 12 – QUIZ and Give Review Sheet

T 4/17              Chapter 12 (cont) - IMPORTANT IN-CLASS ACTIVITY

R 4/19              MOVIE

T 4/24              MOVIE

R 4/26              MOVIE and discussion

R 5/3                EXAM #4 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. (chapters 10-12)