|[pic] |Course Syllabus | | |College of Humanities | | |COM/100 | | |Introduction to Communication |
Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved. Course Description This course is an introduction to the field of communication with emphasis on the history of communication study, concepts important to all areas of communication, the contexts in which communication occurs, and the issues that must be faced by students of communication. The course serves as an introduction to the strands of communication: interpersonal, small groups and teams, mass communication, organizational, intercultural, and rhetoric.
Policies Faculty and students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained within the following two documents: • University policies: You must be logged into the student website to view this document. • Instructor policies: This document is posted in the Course Materials forum. University policies are subject to change. Be sure to read the policies at the beginning of each class.
Policies may be slightly different depending on the modality in which you attend class. If you have recently changed modalities, read the policies governing your current class modality. Course Materials Beebe, S. A. , Beebe, S. J. , & Ivy, D. K. (2013). Communication: Principles for a lifetime (5th ed. ). Boston, MA: Pearson/Allyn & Bacon. West, R. , & Turner, L. H. (2004). Introducing communication theory: Analysis and application (2nd ed. ). Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill. West, R. , & Turner, L. H. 2010). Introducing communication theory: Analysis and application (4th ed. ). Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill. All electronic materials are available on the student website. |Week One: Overview of Communication | | |Details |Due |Points | |Objectives |Identify historical developments in communications. | | | |Identify communication models. | | | | |Explain how communication affects self-concept. | | | |Reading |Read Ch. 1 of Introducing Communication Theory (2010). | | | |Reading |Read Ch. 2 of Communication: Principles of a Lifetime. | | |Reading |Read University of Phoenix Material: The Contexts and Theories of Communication document | | | | |located on the student website. | | | |Reading |Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings. | | | |Participation |Participate in class discussion. |Two posts on each |20 | | |of four different | | | | |days | | |Discussion Questions |Respond to weekly discussion questions. |DQ #1 on Day 3, DQ|15 | | | |#2 and #3 on Day 5| | |Learning Team |Complete the Learning Team Charter. Day 7 |10 | |Learning Team Charter |Resource: Learning Team Toolkit | | | |Individual |Complete the University of Phoenix Material: Introduction to Communication Worksheet located |Day 7 |25 | |Introduction to Communication |on the student website. | | | |Worksheet | | | | Week Two: Verbal, Nonverbal, and Interpersonal Communication | | |Details |Due |Points | |Objectives | | | | | |Distinguish between verbal and nonverbal messages. | | | |Recognize types of interpersonal communication. | | | | |Identify conflict management stages. | | | | |Identify interview techniques. | | | |Reading |Read Ch. 3 of Communication: Principles for a Lifetime. | | | |Reading |Read Ch. of Communication: Principles for a Lifetime. | | | |Reading |Read Ch. 5 of Communication: Principles for a Lifetime. | | | |Reading |Read Ch. 7 of Communication: Principles for a Lifetime. | | | |Reading |Read Ch. 8 of Communication: Principles for a Lifetime. | | | |Reading |Read Appendix A in Communication: Principles for a Lifetime. | | |Reading |Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings. | | | |Participation |Participate in class discussion. |Two posts on |20 | | | |each of four | | | | |different days | | |Discussion Questions |Respond to weekly discussion questions. DQ #1 on Day 3,|15 | | | |DQ #2 and #3 on| | | | |Day 5 | | |Learning Team |Complete response of 250-300 words to the following: Describe the positive and negative |Day 4 |10 | |Learning Team Exercises |effects that a modern form of communications has had on business and personal communications. | | | | | | | | |Post in the Main forum. | | | |Individual |Complete the University of Phoenix Material: Nonverbal, Interpersonal, and Textual |Day 7 |25 | |Nonverbal, Interpersonal, and |Communication Worksheet located on the student website. | | |Textual Communication | | | | |Worksheet | | | | |Learning Team |Write a 500- to 750-word summary about the stages of conflict management. What steps will a |Day 7 |30 | |Conflict Resolution Paper |team take to resolve conflict? What are the consequences of exhibiting behavior that could | | | | |have a negative effect on the team? | | | | | | | | |Explain how you would handle the following situations: | | | | | | | | | |A team member who does not submit his or her portion of an assignment | | | | |A team member who does not meet deadlines | | | | |A team member who wants to control the completion of all assignments | | | | |A team member who submits work that is below team standards | | | | |A team member who does not cite sources | | | | |A team member who is not open to others’ ways of doing things | | | | |A personality conflict between two team members | | | | |Team members who post derogatory messages directed at others | | | | | | | | | |Describe the different interview skills and techniques you used to collect information on | | | | |conflict resolution methods from Learning Team members. | | | | | | | | |Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. | | | |Week Three: Small Group and Team Communications | | |Details |Due |Points | |Objectives | | | | | |Identify elements of group dynamics. | | | | |Identify group development phases. | | | |Recognize characteristics of effective teams. | | | | |Identify problem-solving steps. | | | |Reading |Read Ch. 9 of Communication: Principles for a Lifetime. | | | |Reading |Read Ch. 10 of Communication: Principles for a Lifetime. | | | |Reading |Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings. | | | |Participation |Participate in class discussion. Two posts on |20 | | | |each of four | | | | |different days | | |Discussion Questions |Respond to weekly discussion questions. |DQ #1 on Day 3,|15 | | | |DQ #2 and #3 on| | | | |Day 5 | | |Learning Team |Complete response of 250-300 words to the following: Review Ch. 0 of Communication: |Day 4 |10 | |Learning Team Exercises |Principles for a Lifetime. Discuss any concept that a team member is having a difficult time | | | | |understanding and examine the importance and applicability of this week’s concepts to each | | | | |team member and to society in general. | | | | | | | | | |Post in the Main forum. | | |Learning Team Instructions |Take the Leadership and Group Dynamics Self-Assessment by clicking the link on the student | | | |Group Dynamics |website. | | | | | | | | | |Discuss your individual results in the Learning Team forum. | | | |Individual |Recall a small team or group you have been a part of. |Day 7 |55 | |Small Team and Group Paper | | | | | |Write a 700- to 1,050-word paper about your experience. | | | | | | | | |Provide a brief description of the team or group. How many members did it include? What was | | | | |its purpose? | | | | | | | | | |Describe the behaviors the team or group exhibited as it went through each stage of | | | | |development. | | | | | | | | |Describe a problem the team or group encountered. What steps were taken to address and solve | | | | |the problem? Was the team or group able to generate a successful solution? Why or why not? | | | | | | | | | |Discuss the influence that leadership—or the lack of leadership—had on the team’s or group’s | | | | |ability to solve the problem. What style of leadership did the leader exhibit?
What | | | | |problem-solving steps were taken to resolve the situation? What steps would have produced | | | | |better results? | | | | | | | | | |Explain whether the team or group was effective. Support your position by discussing goals, | | | | |roles, ground rules, norms, and characteristics your team or group displayed.
How did these | | | | |characteristics affect the team’s or group’s ability to accomplish its purpose and solve the | | | | |problem it encountered? | | | | | | | | | |Analyze how communication contributed to cohesiveness. Identify and address how diversity or | | | | |technology affected the team or group members’ ability to communicate with one another to | | | | |reach a resolution. | | | | | | | | |Explain your thoughts on how goals, roles, ground rules, and norms help determine | | | | |effectiveness. How did these characteristics affect the team’s or group’s ability to | | | | |accomplish its purpose and solve the problem? | | | | | | | | | |Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. | | | Week Four: Mass Communication and Presentations | | |Details |Due |Points | |Objectives | | | | | |Explain how mass communication influences society. | | | | |Identify presentation techniques. | | | | |Distinguish between informative and persuasive presentations. | | |Reading |Read Ch. 11 of Communication: Principles for a Lifetime. | | | |Reading |Read Ch. 12 of Communication: Principles for a Lifetime. | | | |Reading |Read Ch. 13 of Communication: Principles for a Lifetime. | | | |Reading |Read Ch. 14 of Communication: Principles for a Lifetime. | | | |Reading |Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings. | | | |Participation |Participate in class discussion. Two posts on |20 | | | |each of four | | | | |different days | | |Discussion Questions |Respond to weekly discussion questions. |DQ #1 on Day 3,|15 | | | |DQ #2 and #3 on| | | | |Day 5 | | |Learning Team |Complete the following in 250-300 words: Consider the speeches you have heard and the |Day 4 |10 | |Learning Team Exercises |conferences you have attended in the past.
Think about the speaker’s presentation style and | | | | |discuss among team members the following: | | | | | | | | | |Name of the speaker and the event at which he or she was speaking | | | | |Nonverbal communication and body language used | | | | |Voice reflections used | | | |Eye contact used | | | | |Verbal communication used | | | | | | | | | |For the formal/written part of the assignment, Identify five or more presentation best | | | | |practices. | | | | | | | | |Post in the Main forum. | | | |Nongraded Activities and |The best way to learn public speaking—other than actually doing it—is to observe other | | | |Preparation |speakers in action and analyze what factors contributed to the strengths or weaknesses of | | | |Speech Analysis |their presentations. | | | | | | | | |Watch Randy Pausch’s speech located on the student website. | | | | | | | | | |Complete the University of Phoenix Material: Individual Speech Evaluation Form. | | | |Learning Team |Create a 10- to 15-slide Microsoft® PowerPoint® presentation that traces the rise and fall of|Day 7 |40 | |America’s Smoke Screen |the tobacco industry’s advertising campaigns from the 1920s to the present. | | | |Presentation | | | | |Develop a presentation that outlines strategies the tobacco industry used to improve its | | | | |image and convince the public of its sincerity. | | | | | | | | | |Use an informative or persuasive approach to illustrate how the tobacco industry demonstrated| | | | |it is serious about its efforts to improve its image. | | | | | | | | |Cite at least two references from University Library for every team member. | | | | | | | | | |Format your references consistent with APA guidelines. | | | | | | | | | |Deliver your presentation and submit your presentation file or link. | | | | | | | | |For Local Campus students, these are oral presentations accompanied by Microsoft® PowerPoint®| | | | |presentations. | | | | |For Online and Directed Study students, these are Microsoft® PowerPoint® presentations with | | | | |notes. | | | Week Five: Special Issues and Research Methods in Communication | | |Details |Due |Points | |Objectives | | | | | |Explain how diversity affects communication. | | | | |Identify communication technologies. | | | | |Recognize the role of ethics in communication. | | | |Identify research methods used in communication. | | | |Reading |Read Ch. 6 of Communication: Principles for a Lifetime. | | | |Reading |Read Ch. 3 of Introducing Communication Theory (2010). | | | |Reading |Read “Methods of Inquiry” in Ch. 4 of Introducing Communication Theory (2004). | | | |Reading |Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings. | | | |Participation |Participate in class discussion. Two posts on |20 | | | |each of four | | | | |different days | | |Discussion Questions |Respond to weekly discussion questions. |DQ #1 on Day 3,|15 | | | |DQ #2 and #3 on| | | | |Day 5 | | |Learning Team |Complete the following: Select two cultures other than your own and compare those cultures to|Day 4 |10 | |Learning Team Exercises |your cultural background. | | | | | | | | |Consider the following: | | | | | | | | | |What are the differences in how men and women are viewed in each culture? | | | | |List two social customs of each culture. How do they differ from your culture? | | | | |Compare cultural values and how they differ from your culture. Refer to Ch. of | | | | |Communication: Principles for a Lifetime. | | | | | | | | | |Also complete the following as a team: | | | | | | | | | |Discuss any concept that a team member is having a difficult time understanding. | | | |Examine the importance and applicability of this week’s concepts to each team member and to | | | | |society in general. | | | | | | | | | |Post in the Main forum. | | | |Individual |Read the instructions in the University of Phoenix Material: New Business Product, and select|Day 7 |60 | |New Business Analysis |one option to complete the assignment.
You can choose from the following options: | | | | | | | | | |Option 1: Product Market Analysis Paper | | | | |Option 2: New Advertising Campaign | | | |Learning Team |Resource: Communication Research Methods Activity located on the student website |Day 7 |40 | |Special Issues Presentation | | | | | |Prepare an 8- to 10-slide Microsoft® PowerPoint® presentation on special issues in | | | | |communication.
Discuss the following in your presentation as they relate to communication: | | | | | | | | | |Diversity | | | | |Ethics | | | | |Technology | | | | |Mass communication | | | | | | | | | |Include how these issues relate to each other. For instance, How do gender differences affect| | | | |communication?
How does technology affect communication between different cultures? Does | | | | |diversity affect ethical decisions? How does technology affect ethical decision making? | | | | | | | | | |Identify the research approach typically used for each issue by filling out the University of| | | | |Phoenix Material: Communication Research Methods Matrix. | | | | | | | | |Include a summary of the matrix in your presentation. | | | | | | | | | |Deliver your presentation and submit your presentation file or link. | | | | | | | | | |For Local Campus students, these are oral presentations accompanied by Microsoft® PowerPoint®| | | | |presentations. | | | |For Online and Directed Study students, these are Microsoft® PowerPoint® presentations with | | | | |notes. | | | Copyright University of Phoenix® is a registered trademark of Apollo Group, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Microsoft®, Windows®, and Windows NT® are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other company and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Use of these marks is not intended to imply endorsement, sponsorship, or affiliation. Edited in accordance with University of Phoenix® editorial standards and practices.
