Interpersonal Communication COM 240 Winter 2011, Section 01, Tuesday & Thursday, 11:00 a.m.-12:27 a.m., Bert Walker Hall, Rm. 205 Instructor: Janet Paul, M.A. Email: [email protected] Phone: Bert Walker Hall office 517-796-8582; leave message Office hours: By arrangement before or after class Text: “Interpersonal Messages: Communication and Relationship Skill-Second Edition” J.A. DeVito Also required for the course: a ‘flash’ drive, to which your completed assignments will be copied as back-up. Recommended: A stapler. Ctr. For Student Success: 517.796.8415 Solution Center (I.T. issues): 517.796.8639 Course Description . . . Students will learn to improve communication in one-on-one and small group situations. In this course, students will examine basic verbal and nonverbal elements affecting communication between individuals in family, peer group and work scenarios. Specific units of discussion include intrapersonal perspective, conflict resolution, self-disclosure, intercultural messages and nonverbal communication. Associate Degree Outcomes (ADOs) . . . Jackson Community College’s Board of Trustees has determined that all of our graduates should develop or enhance a variety of important skills while enrolled in courses. The ADOS for this course are: o ADO 2: Speak clearly, concisely and intelligibly. o ADO 9: Work productively with others, recognizing individual contributions to group success. o ADO 10: Understand and respect the diversity and interdependence of the world’s peoples and cultures. Attendance . . . Your attendance and participation are essential. Class activities have proven to have a direct impact on your final grade and everyone is expected to participate. I realize that emergencies “come up” for all of us. Other than that, be smart about classes that you need to miss. After two unplanned absences, points will be taken from your class activity grade. Disrupting the class by coming in late and/or leaving early is not lightly accepted by your instructor. If you find this necessary, please try to let me know ahead of time. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to obtain the assignment for that class period. I will generally post assignments on JetNet within a day. Allowance to ‘make-up’ a quiz, exam or presentation due to absence is at the discretion of the instructor, and will automatically earn reduced credit in most instances. Each student is expected to bring to each class: 1) pen or pencil, 2) writing paper, 3) course textbook.COM 240 –Winter 2011 – Sect. 01, Tuesday and Thursday, J. Paul 2 Class Courtesies . . . Anything that distracts from the communication process should be avoided in class. Cell phones, pagers, mp3 players, laptops, and text messaging devices should be turned off when not being used as part of the class. More than one ‘warning’ to an individual by the instructor may result in a lower final course grade. Assignments are to be…. Typed….and proofread, please! A hard copy should be presented on the due date. Handwritten assignments are not accepted. 12 point, Times New Roman, double-spaced with 1 inch margins. I require that a ‘flash’ drive be used to save assignments. This will be useful in other classes, as well. I expect any written communication with me – whether hard copy or via email – to be grammatically correct, with proper punctuation and spelling. Regarding emails sent to me: If you do not receive a reply from me, you can assume that I did not receive your email J! Late Assignment Policy. . . Communication is key to your success in this class. Let me reiterate – if you are absent, it is your responsibility to check JetNet for any assignments. If you are absent on an assignment due date, you are still expected to submit the assignment that day, via email, to avoid reduced credit. Any late assignments must be submitted within one week of the due date for reduced credit. Assignments beyond one week late will not be accepted. Tip: When emailing an assignment to me (or to anyone for that matter), it is highly advisable to save your file as “Rich Text” before attaching it. This way, it can be opened on any computer. Ethics, Language and Topics . . . All work submitted must be your own. Failing to document sources in both oral and written assignments is considered plagiarism. Students found plagiarizing will be dealt with according to JCC’s policy on academic honesty. In this course it is unethical to use as your own, a speech, outline or paper, that has been written in whole or in part, by someone other than yourself. Doing so constitutes reasonable cause for course failure. Any student found plagiarizing will be dealt with according to JCC’s policy on academic honesty. Academic dishonesty in all forms is a serious offense and will result in a grade of “0” for the entire assignment. It is inappropriate in this course to use obscene language or gestures, tell offensive jokes, or allude to sexual, racial, cultural, or gendered references that may be demeaning or offensive. Please be mindful of what you say and how you say it.COM 240 –Winter 2011 – Sect. 01, Tuesday and Thursday, J. Paul 3 Exams . . . Quizzes and exams will cover material from the book, class lectures, and discussions. Quizzes will be open book, open notes with a time limit. Exams will be completed without book or notes, and will be related to material previously on the quizzes. Quizzes and exams missed due to absence will be administered at the instructor’s discretion. Any quizzes or exams taken late will automatically receive a reduction in points. Special Needs . . . Students with disabilities who believe that they may need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact the office of Learning Support Services at 787-0800, extension 8270/8553 as soon as possible to ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion. Grading Breakdown….. Quizzes (4) 20% In-Class Activities 15% Mid-Term Exam 10% Final Exam 10% Assignments* 25% Semester Project/Presentation 20% *Points of each assignment may vary. Final grades are calculated on a true weighted scale. 94% above…………………………………………...A/4.0 90-93%...........................................................A-/3.5 84-89%...........................................................B/3.0