COM 1010-02: ELEMENTS OF EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
Fall Semester 2005 (TH 4-5:20 p.m.; Draper)
Taught by Natalie Barfuss, Adjunct Instructor
CONTACT INFORMATION
E-mail: natalie.barfuss@utah.edu
University of Utah
Office: LNCO 2930
Phone: 581-7267 (don’t leave message)
Hours: by appointment
Web site: http://home.utah.edu/~u0142660/1010_02.htm
Cell (emergency only): 597-8674
*e-mail is preferred method of communication
REQUIRED READINGS
Exercises and Assignments. Print from Web site.
Adler & Elmhorst. (2005). Communicating at Work: Principles and Practices for Business and the Professions (8th edition).
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Effective communication is frequently cited as one of the most important elements contributing to corporate and personal success. This
course will:
1) introduce you to basic theoretical concepts designed to improve your interpersonal and organizational communication
competence and
2) provide you with an opportunity to apply these concepts and practice these skills.
The communication concepts we will study include: listening, superior-subordinate communication, conflict resolution, oral presentations
using PowerPoint, resume writing, interviewing, and interaction in task groups.
ASSIGNMENTS
PERCENT OF GRADE
DATE DUE
12%
Project #1:
Interview, memo, and thank-you letter
10/11
10%
Project#2:
Proposal
10/18
05%
14%
Project #3:
PowerPoint slides
Oral presentation (with PowerPoint)
12%
08%
Project #4:
Team project
Team participation
24%
Quizzes (online) (6 quizzes @ 4% each)
various
05%
Final exam (online)
12/09-12/15
10%
100%
Class attendance & participation
daily
11/08
12/08
NOTE: The content of this class has been carefully reviewed by the SLCC Curriculum Committee. Each assignment serves the purpose
of acquainting you with a different aspect of communication competence. Therefore, you cannot pass this class unless you submit all
four projects. That is, if you get As on three of the projects and then chose not to participate in the team project, your grade would
automatically revert to a C.
A = 93-100%
A- = 90-92%
B+ = 88-89%
B = 83-87%
B- = 80-82%
POINT/GRADE DISTRIBUTION
C+ = 78-79%
D+ = 68-69%
C = 73-79%
D = 63-67%
E = 0-59%
C- = 70-72%
D- = 60-62%
COURSE REGULATIONS
I believe in learning by doing. Be prepared to participate in discussion on-line and in class, learn independently and with your class, and
show what you’ve learned by producing employable results. This means time and commitment will be required on your part; this is not a
“easy A.” I work in the “real world,” and I assume you are planning to also. I want you to leave this class with skills you will continue to use.
Participation / Attendance: This is a communication class, so you will be communicating throughout. In-class lectures/discussions and
activities will not repeat what is in the text but will augment what you’ve read. That means you need to study the assigned pages before
class, so you can participate fully. To ensure that you are actively engaged, during each class meeting, you’ll submit a short written
assignment, which I will tally as your attendance / participation grade. You start with 95 points for attendance at the beginning of the
semester. Each student is allowed one absence without penalty. After that, you will lose 5 points for every absence. If you don’t miss any
classes, you will earn 5 extra-credit points, raising your attendance score to 100. It is your responsibility to be sure you have submitted
your assignment.
Please, NO HANGING CHAD on submitted written assignments.
Punctuality: You may not earn attendance / participation points if you arrive to class more than 10 minutes late or leave more than 10
minutes before the end of class. (Exception: I’ll be lenient with this policy on heavy snow days.)
Specifications for written assignments: I won’t accept your assignments unless you type them and staple the pages together. Please omit
cover sheets and/or folders unless otherwise instructed. In the upper left-hand corner of the first page, type (single-spaced) your name,
class and section #, title of assignment, and date, as shown below.
Natalie Barfuss
1010_02
Information-Gathering Interview
08/22/05
Timeliness of assignments: Written work is due on the date specified in this syllabus. I won’t always announce these dates in class; it is
your responsibility to read the syllabus and attend to the posted dates.
If you experience extenuating circumstances, you may submit one assignment up to two weeks late. Each student may use this privilege
only one time during the semester. The late assignment must be accompanied by an explanatory statement. Ten per cent will be
deducted from the score. I won’t accept assignments more than two weeks late.
Please do not abuse this “late” privilege. Trying to keep track of late papers creates an unwelcome burden for your professor and does not
represent professional behavior on your part. Have mercy on me please.
Oral presentations: The PowerPoint presentation may NOT be given late. If you fail to show up on time on your assigned speaking day,
you are a NO SHOW and you will receive NO CREDIT for your speech.
Evaluation of assignments: I will evaluate your assignments according to the criteria specified in each assignment description. Grades will
be based on achievement, not effort. I do not grade on a curve.
Quizzes and exam: You will take your quizzes and final examination online on WebCT. The questions will be objective in nature (multiple
choice, true/false, matching, etc.). All tests are open-book, open-note and are timed. No credit will be given for answers submitted after
the time limit has elapsed. Instructions will be posted on the WebCT site, which can be accessed by logging in to MyPage and selecting this
section.
Professional Civility: All class members are expected to behave professionally and treat others with civility. Cellular phones must be turned
off or silent during class. Racist, homophobic, and sexist behavior/comments directed at class members are unprofessional and therefore
inappropriate. Unprofessional behavior will be politely but immediately and firmly addressed by the professor.
Upward communication: I truly welcome your questions and/or feedback regarding course content, class activities, your performance, etc.
Don’t wait until the end of the semester to talk to me, especially if you are having any difficulties. I may be able to help you, so keep in
touch.
Accommodations for disabilities: Students with disabilities that need accommodations, please contact me on the first day of class. Also
contact the Disability Resource Center (SCC W138). Phone: 957-4659 (voice) or 957-4646 (TTY).
Academic dishonesty: If you cheat or plagiarize, YOU FAIL THE CLASS, not just the assignment.
Withdrawal from class: Any student who does not attend but fails to officially withdraw will receive an "E" grade for the course. I will not
award "I" or “W” grades to students who have not participated fully and successfully throughout the semester.
COURSE SCHEDULE
(Readings and assignments are to be completed by the dates shown below. The instructor reserves the right to modify this schedule during the
semester and announce the changes verbally in class, not in writing. If you miss a day, have a colleague fill you in on what you missed.)
WK
1
Date
08/25
Topics/Activities
Introductions / Syllabus
Activity Day
Readings Due
2
08/30
pp. 4-14
3
09/01
09/06
Nature of communication
Begin Practice Quiz (extra credit)
Communication Networks
Communication channels & ethics
09/08
Co-cultural communication
pp. 38-62
09/13
Organizational cultures
pp. 62-68
09/15
Sexual harassment
Begin Quiz #1 (Comm Basics)
pp. 87-90
5
09/20
Student as interviewer
Assign Project #1
6
09/22
09/27
09/29
Student as interviewee
pp. 198-237
Formal memo format
pp. A11-A13
Proposal
pp. 444-445
Assign Project #2
See packet
Begin Quiz #2 (Interviewing & Business Writing)
INTERPERSONAL COMPETENCE
Verbal communication
pp. 74-87
Nonverbal communication
pp. 90-103
Listening
pp. 106-131
Assignments Due
COMMUNICATION BASICS
4
7
8
9
10/04
10/06
10/11
10/13
10/18
10/20
pp. 14-24
pp. 24-35 & 441-443
Practice Quiz due
INTERVIEWING AND BUSINESS WRITING
pp. 172-189; 191-194
See packet
Supportive communication
Managing Conflict
Negotiation
Begin Quiz #3 (Interpersonal Competence)
pp. 134-142
pp. 142-154
pp. 154-165
Quiz #1 due
Project #1 due
Quiz #2 due
Project #2 due
PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS
10
10/25
11
10/27
11/01
12
11/03
11/08
13
11/10
11/15
Organizing your presentation
Assign Project #3
Shaping your presentation
Delivering your presentation
FALL BREAK – no class
PowerPoint lab I
pp. 314-335
See packet
pp. 338-365
pp. 368-398
PowerPoint lab II
Public presentations
PowerPoint Project due
Begin Quizzes #4 & #5 (PowerPoint & Public Presentations)
Public presentations
Public presentations
O’Hair Ch 1-3
Quiz #3 due
O’Hair Ch 4
Project #3a due
Project #3b due
11/17
14
15
11/22
11/24
11/29
12/01
16
12/06
12/08
12/09-12/15
Effective teamwork
Assign Project #4
Leadership
THANKSGIVING BREAK (No School)
Solving problems
Productive meetings
Decision methods
Groupthink & risky shift
Feasibility reports
Begin Quiz #6 (Teamwork)
Wrap Up Day
Wrap-up day
WORKING IN TEAMS
pp. 244-251, 269-275, & 277-278
See packet
pp. 252-262
pp. 262-266
pp. 282-308
pp. 266-269
pp. 275-277
pp 432-434
Quizzes #4 and #5 due
Project #4 due
Quiz #6 due
Final exam (Online)