INTRODUCTION TO INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
Communication Studies 102
Summer 2016
Dr. Mark V. Redmond
Office: 338 Carver Hall
Phone: 294-0183
Email: mredmond@iastate.edu
Office Hours:
MTWTH 2:00-3:00 & by appointment
Homepage:
www.public.iastate.edu/~mredmond
This introduction to interpersonal communication includes an overview of basic theory and emphasizes
interpersonal communication skill development. This course represents an application of
communication principles, theory and research to an examination of the process of interpersonal
communication and the improvement of communication skills that are most relevant to a broad range
of interpersonal settings. Students are expected to actively participate in a variety of activities
designed to examine, develop and enhance their interpersonal competence.
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COURSE OBJECTIVES
To improve your interpersonal communication skills.
To increase your awareness and understanding of interpersonal communication
particularly as it applies to initiating, maintaining, and terminating
interpersonal relationships.
To introduce you to fundamental theories of interpersonal communication.
To enhance your awareness of the importance of effective interpersonal communication.
CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS
Participation: This is an “experiential” class—student participation is a key element. You are
expected to conscientiously participate in activities and discussion. My method of teaching is
interactive and interpersonal; you should respond and behave accordingly.
Respect: Showing respect to fellow students and me includes not reading unrelated class materials
(e.g. , The Daily) during class, not talking at inappropriate times, not arriving late, not sleeping
(especially snorers), not packing up early to leave, and acting responsibly in group activities.
Not leaving class once it begins: Be sure you have made any necessary stops to the restroom before
class begins. If it is absolutely necessary to visit the restroom once class begins, quietly leave
your cell phone on my desk as you leave to reduce your impulse to use it in the hall way..
Laptops: Students wishing to use a laptop for note taking need to sign a contract indicating they will
only use it for note-taking; otherwise, laptops should be put away at the start of class.
TEXTBOOK
Beebe, S.A., Beebe, S.J., & Redmond, M.V. (2011). Interpersonal Communication: Relating to
Others. (SEVENTH Edition). Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon. (Please be sure to get the 7th ed.)
ASSIGNMENTS Readings
You are expected to complete the reading prior to the class period for which a chapter is indicated on
the attached calendar. Completion of readings is essential to understanding the lecture and effectively
participating in classroom discussion and activities. All readings are subject to examination.
Examinations (100 points each; 300 points total)
There will be three 50 minute exams. These are multiple choice exams covering the text, lectures,
classroom discussion and exercises. Many of the questions are not just regurgitation but require
analysis of a situation and application of concepts and theories. You should adjust your studying
accordingly. See sample questions online at my homepage.
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Self-Analysis/Application Papers (25 points each. 50 points total + bonus)
You are required to do ANY TWO of the three papers assigned. You may do all three and receive
up to 11 points as a bonus for the additional paper. The bonus is the number of points above 14 (an F
grade) of your lowest graded paper. Your grade will be based upon your best two paper grades with
the bonus based on the remaining paper. For example, if you had grades of 22, 18 and 23; your two
best papers (22 and 23) total 45 out of 50. You would then get the bonus points based on how much
better your worst paper was compared to failing it or not doing it (thus, in the above example your
worse paper was 18 which is 4 points higher than the failing grade of 14, giving you a 4 point bonus
added to the 45 for 49 out of 50). The papers are graded on 1) how well you answer the assigned
questions, and 2) how well you identify and apply material from the text and lecture. Fourteen
points (an F) is the minimum assigned to a paper or for not submitting a paper. Papers may be
submitted early, but NOT AFTER THE CLASS PERIOD FOR WHICH THEY ARE DUE.
If you feel uncomfortable writing on a specific assigned topic for personal reasons, alternative
assignments are available. Request for an alternative assignment must be made the class period before
the assigned topic is due.
ATTENDANCE
You are encouraged to attend all classes. You can only gain the full impact of the course by
attending class sessions since there are frequent skill-development exercises and activities during class.
In addition, each class period covers almost the same amount of material as a week during fall or
spring semesters. Those who are diligent in their attendance can obtain bonus points. You can miss up
to 2 class periods with no impact on your grade—however THERE ARE NO “EXCUSED”
ABSENCES. I do not feel it is necessary or appropriate for me to make judgments about the
legitimacy of each absence. You do not need my permission nor do you need to provide evidence for
why you are absent—the choice is yours—but be prudent there are no-after-the-fact reconsiderations.
Each absence after 2 results in the reduction of your overall grade. Frequent lateness or early
departures are converted to absences at my discretion. If you know this policy conflicts with your
other commitments see me immediately, it might be necessary to drop the course.
After your final grade is determined, the percentage will be adjusted on a bonus basis according
to the following: 0 absences, 1.5% will be added to your final grade; 1 absence, 1%, 2 absences, 0%.
Thus for example, if you have 79 %, “C+” after all the assignments and have not missed any classes,
your percentage would be raised by 1.5% to 80.5%, “B-”. Grades will be lowered for each absence
after two as follows: 3-4 = 2% per absence, 5-6 = 4% per absence, 6+ = 8 % per absence. Thus
having a grade of 80% but missing 7 times (half the class) means, 80- 20% for a grade of 60%, “D-”.
GRADING
The following scale will be used in determining your final grade:
100-93% = A
92-90 = A89-87 = B+
86-83 = B
82-80 = B79-77 = C+
76-73 = C
72-70 = C69-67 = D+
66-63 = D
62-60 = D59- 0 = F
Disability Accommodation
If you have a documented disability and anticipate needing accommodations in this course, please
make arrangements to meet with me soon. Please request that a Disability Resources staff send a
SAAR form verifying your disability and specifying the accommodation you will need.
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Self-Analysis / Application Papers Topics and Requirements
Example Cover Line--the first line of your first page should look like the following:
Your Name Here
Paper # 1: Analysis of Interpersonal Perceptual Skills May 23, 2016
Assignment #1: Interpersonal Communication and Self Concept: Face and Disclosure
(Complete both A and B)
A. Discuss a recent interpersonal interaction in which either your positive and/or negative face was
significantly threatened (more than holding a door open). Include in your discussion the nature
of your relationship, what occurred that threatened your face, how you reacted, and how your
face was restored or repaired if at all (if not, discuss the impact).
B. Draw a Johari window for a particular friend or family member with appropriate size window panes
and write about each of the following:
1) What 2 interpersonal skills do you have that are in the open quadrant? How do you know the
other person knows these?
2) What 2 interpersonal skills or qualities are not known by this other person (hidden)? Discuss
why not? What would be needed before you let the other person know about them?
3) Ask the other person to tell you 1 interpersonal skill or quality he or she sees in you that he or
she believes you don’t know about yourself. Write about that quality as it applies to you
including why you didn’t know you had it? If you did know you had it, what lead the other
person to say you didn’t?
4) Discuss 1 interpersonal skill/quality you might possess but are unsure about. What needs to
happen to help you decide whether or not you have this skill/quality?
Paper # 2: Interpersonal Conflict Analysis For this assignment you are to analyze an interpersonal
conflict that occurred in the last few weeks which you initiated and attempted to manage but were
unsuccessful in doing so (mismanaged or unresolved). This need not be a major conflict, but it does
need to be a point of contention that both parties are aware of and not just a complaint/problem you
have that your partner is unaware of. This is to be an issue you have raised with another person that
represents a “simple conflict” as defined in the text.
1. Describe the conflict: Who was it with? What was it about? When did it happen? What was the
outcome? How did you attempt to manage or resolve it? Discuss the conflict management
styles used by both. Include the role that positive and negative face played in the conflict.
2. Describe your perspective: What did you see as the problem? What did you see as the cause? How
did you behave? How did you feel? How do you think the other person behaved?
3. Use social decentering and describe the conflict from the other person's perspective: What would
the other person say was the problem? What would the other person say was the cause? How
would the other person say he or she felt? How would the other person describe your
behavior? (Be brutally honest with yourself when considering what the other person would
think or feel).
4. Assume you had a do-over and were approaching this issue; or going to return to this unresolved
conflict. Write the exact words (like a transcript) that you would say in initiating the discussion
incorporating the principles covered in class/text. Do not include a transcript of the partner’s
response, but describe how you honestly expect your partner will react to your initial statement.
5. Identify and explain the skills and strategies (p. 238-248) you incorporated into your statement.
Paper # 3: Interpersonal Communication Skills
1) Identify and discuss the one concept or theory that you learned in this course that you feel is the
most important to your own interpersonal communication and/or relationships. How has
learning this concept/theory proven valuable. Explain its effects on your communication and
relationships. (continued on next page)
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2) Besides the concept/theory discussed in #1 above (something different than #1),
A) describe one other aspect of your own interpersonal communication, behaviors, or
relationships that you intend to change because of something you learned and
B) explain the strategies/plans covered in the course that you intend to use to accomplish the
change (don’t just copy lists, but instead explain how you will apply the strategies).
3) Think of a specific friend who is confronting a relational issue covered in chapters 9-12. Based on
the text/lecture identify and discuss one important piece of advice you could give that would
help the most. Explain how this advice would improve or resolve the issues in your friend’s
interpersonal relationship development and/or relationships.
4) Repeat #3 addressing a different relational issue (can be either the same or a different friend).
Calendar (tentative and likely to change)
DATE
May 16 M
17 Tu
TOPIC
Course introduction. Interpersonal communication defined.
Principles of interpersonal communication.
READING
Ch. 1
Principles of communication continued. Electronic mediated communication.
Interpersonal communication and the self.
Ch. 2
18 W
Interpersonal communication and the self continued.
19 Th
Perception and interpersonal communication.
20 F
Diversity, culture and interpersonal communication.
Paper #1 Due
Ch. 4
23 M
Exam #1 (Chpts. 1, 2, 3, 4) Listening
.
Ch. 5
24 Tu
Listening continued. Verbal communication
Ch. 6
25 W
Verbal continued. Nonverbal communication
Ch. 7
26 Th
Nonverbal continued. Managing interpersonal conflict.
Ch. 8
27 F
Understanding interpersonal relationships. Relational stages and
development theories.
Paper #2 Due
Ch. 9
Ch. 3
30 M
Memorial Day Holiday. No Class.
31 Tu
Exam #2 (Chpts 5, 6, 7, 8) Stages & relational development continued.
Managing relationship challenges. Dark side of interpersonal communication.
June 1 W
Relational termination. Interpersonal relationships: Friends and romance.
Ch. 10
2 Th
Friends and romance continued.
Ch. 11
3F
Interpersonal Relationships: Family and Workplace.
Ch. 12
6M
Exam #3 (Chpts 9, 10, 11, 12). We meet only the first hour to take the exam.
Paper # 3 Due. Turn in at exam time or place in the envelope on the bulletin board
outside my office, 338 Carver Hall no later than 4:00 PM, Tuesday, June 7th.