COM* 171 – Fundamentals of Human Communication

Spring 2008 – Sections 01, 02, 03W

Instructor:

                David S. Hopcroft; Office Hours,: M 9:00-10:15, T 12:30-1:45 in Danielson, room W 203B; W 6:00-6:30 in Willimantic, or by appointment.  E-Mail: dhopcroft@qvcc.commnet.edu

Text:

Communicating: A Social and Career Focus10^th ed.  (Berko, Wolvin, Wolvin 2007}

Course Description:

A study of oral communication in person-to-person, small group, and public situations.  The students will be given the opportunity to study theories, do exercises and activities, and prepare oral presentations in order to improve their skills as senders and receivers of messages.

Course Objectives:

                                Fundamentals of Human Communication will help you to better understand how human beings communicate in a variety of contexts; to become more aware of yourself as a sender and receiver of messages; to send more effective messages, both verbally and nonverbally; to listen more effectively and think more critically about the messages others are sending you; and to learn from your own experiences as a communicator so that your communication skills can continue to improve.

                                The term “oral communication” is a bit misleading.  You will, in fact, be studying a great many kinds of communication, both oral and non-oral, verbal and non-verbal.  The primary focus of the course, however, is on communication which either involves spoken messages, or contains the potential for spoken messages; and on the relationships which exist between your spoken messages and all those other kinds of communication.

                                You will study communication in three general contexts.  Interpersonal, or person-to-person, focuses on communication between you and one other person, such as you might encounter in conversations or interviews.  Small group communication looks at the skills involved in group dynamics, group membership, and leadership.  In the unit on public communication, you will learn about making speeches and presentations in front of audiences.

                                The course syllabus and calendar, assignments and grading, are based on the idea that the most effective learning involves discovery, the process by which we explore something, analyze our experience of it, assign meaning to it, and find an appropriate place for it in our personal body of knowledge and belief.

                                After successful completion of Fundamentals of Human Communication, you will be able to:

                                -- Explain, orally or in writing, the characteristics and components of the communication process and the “transactional” model of that process;

                                -- Explain, orally or in writing, the relationship between perception, self concept and effective communication, and the impact of cultural differences on that relationship;

                                -- Demonstrate skills in determining the need and purpose for communication in a variety of contexts;

                                -- Demonstrate skills in adapting your communication to specific contexts;

                                -- Orally demonstrate effective and appropriate use of verbal language;

                                -- Demonstrate effective and appropriate use of nonverbal language;

                                -- Demonstrate skills of comprehension and critical listening, empathetic listening, and listening for enjoyment;

                                -- Work effectively with others in developing information, completing tasks, resolving conflict, and maintaining appropriate relationships;

                                -- Plan, prepare, rehearse and deliver a well organized, clearly supported, effective public speech.

Assignments and Grading:

                -- Reading and Participation—

                                The textbook needs to be read because it contains information which is basic to the rest of the work of this class.  Readings in the text will be assigned (See schedule at back of syllabus).  You should read the assigned material and be prepared to ask any question(s) you may have about what you have read.  Understanding the material in the textbook is your responsibility.  Class time will be used for a variety of discussions and activities which may parallel the text or may depart from it, but will not reiterate it. 

                                Attendance and participation in class are important because they cannot be duplicated or made up.  Much will happen in class which cannot be experienced by reading the textbook or copying someone’s notes.  Attendance is not enough, however; you must be ready and willing to participate in the class.  You will need to ask questions, make contributions of your ideas and experiences, occasionally argue your point of view, and generally communicate with the instructor and the other students.

                -- Journals—

                                You will need to obtain a clean 9x12” pocket folder.  At least twice a week you will write a short journal entry, on 8½x11” paper, and place it in the folder.  Entries should be dated and numbered sequentially. The minimum number of entries required for the semester will be 22.

                                You will be given a set of questions to be used for journal entries.  You may answer the questions in any order, except that the first journal entry must answer question 1, and the last journal entry must answer question 22.  You do not, however, have to answer every question in the set.  You may choose to answer an occasional question more than once.  All entries must be written with consideration of the following guidelines:

                                                -- each entry should be as spontaneous and unedited as possible;

                                                -- you should make every effort to correctly and clearly use appropriate terms and language for the concepts and ideas from the textbook or class;

                                                -- you should explore the subject and ideas thoroughly in the entry, such that the minimum length for any entry will be 150-200 words, or one side of one 8 1/2 x 11” page.

You may also choose to write some entries based on your personal experiences or observations. Simply observe something related to material from the course; then write down what you observed, what concept it relates to, and why you think so.

                                The journals will be collected early in the semester in order for the instructor to check your work and offer encouragement and suggestions about how to proceed.  The journals will then be collected at the end of the semester and evaluated for a grade.  The grade on the journal will be determined by the completeness and regularity of the entries and how well they meet the guidelines.  Subject content, style, and writing skill will not be figured into the journal grade.

                -- Assignments—

                                There will be four (4) written assignments in this class.  The content and structure of these assignments will be determined as they are assigned and every effort will be made to ensure that the assignments are organic to the class and offer additional opportunities to learn, as well as to be evaluated on your learning.  One assignment will require you to come to the front of the room and speak to the class.

                -- Final Exam—

                                There will be a final exam in this class during the scheduled final exam period at the end of the semester. 

                -Grades-

                                In this course, a point system will be used for the awarding of grades.  Students will accumulate points during the semester based on completion and evaluation of the assignments as follows:

                                A) Reading/Participation—a maximum of 5 pts.

                                B) Journal—a maximum of 15 pts.

                                C) Written Assignments—maximum for each assignment:

1] 15 pts., 2] 15 pts., 3] 20pts., 4] 20 pts.

                                D) Final exam—a maximum of 10 pts.

                                All points are cumulative; once you have earned them you cannot lose them.  If a student fails to achieve the maximum number of points on any of the first three major assignments, she or he may come to the instructor and arrangements may be made to redo the assignment.  Students may never earn more points on any assignment than the maximum listed above, but the instructor may, at his discretion, offer opportunities for earning extra credit.

                                Final grades will be determined by the total number of accumulated points according to the following scale:

0 - 59 pts = F	77 - 79 pts. = C+
60 - 63 pts = D-	80 - 83 pts. = B -
64 - 66 pts = D	84 - 86 pts = B
67 - 69 pts = D	87 - 89 pts. = B+
70 - 73 pts = C-	90 - 93 pts. = A -
74 - 76 pts = C	94 - 100 pts. = A

                If there is any student in this class who has special needs because of learning disabilities or other needs, please feel free to come to discuss this with me.