COMM 3140
Dangerous Liaisons in Interpersonal and Organizational Relationships
Fall 2014
Syllabus
Class Meetings: T, Th 9:10 – 10:30 am
Instructor: Dr. Heather Canary
Location: LNCO 1100
Office: LNCO 2860
Hours: Mondays, 1 – 2:30 pm;
Tuesdays, 10:30 am-12 noon;
or by appointment
Office Phone: (801) 581-7633
Email: heather.canary@utah.edu
Course Description
COMM 3140 is designed as an introduction to interpersonal and organizational communication.
It does so by exploring the dark side of communication—the side in which we lie, con, exploit,
spin, disrupt, deny, obstruct, misguide, resist, and all that is commonly considered less desirable
practice. Along the way, it provides the opportunity to explore a variety of theoretical
perspectives and apply them to the everyday problems we each face.
Course Goals
The goals of this course are to: (a) further develop one’s critical learning skills, (b) gain
knowledge about interpersonal and organizational theory and performance, (c) develop and test
practical applications in everyday problems in interpersonal relationships and organizational
practice, and (d) further one’s proficiencies in the critical analysis of communication.
Course Activities
Course activities include a series of foundational classroom activities, the careful engagement of
the course texts, the completion of a portfolio of personal achievement, a group-based research
paper, and a group presentation of that paper.
Required Texts
Olson, L. N., Baiocchi-Wagner, E. A., Kratzer, J. M. W., & Symonds, S. E. (2012). The dark
side of family communication. Malden, MA: Polity.
Lutgen-Sandvik, P., & Sypher, B. D. (2009). Destructive organizational communication:
Processes, consequences, & constructive ways of organizing. New York, NY: Routledge.
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Course Procedures
Overview—A Learning Organization
This course is designed as a “learning organization.” A learning organization is one that uses the
power of coordinated action and collective effort to achieve agreed upon objectives. Members
are organized into cooperative workgroups that establish: (a) their own local goals appropriate to
the objectives of the larger organization, (b) their own administrative structure, and (c) their own
work procedures. An Administrative Committee composed of representatives elected from the
work groups and the instructor provides the connecting coordination to ensure that the
workgroups have the needed administrative and production resources and that the output of the
work groups will flow together.
Class Structure
This course makes use of classroom activities, work groups and Canvas. Classroom activities
include lectures, discussions, performances, and group presentations. Work groups will develop
part of the course content and present it to the other class members. Canvas is used to post all
assignments. As a learning organization, we are all teachers and all students. Authority for the
success of the class is shared with all class members.
Workgroup Activities
Once constituted, the cooperative workgroups will develop their structure and operating
procedures with their first task being to identify a representative to the Administrative
Committee. The products of the group will be its research paper and its classroom presentation.
Workgroup products will be evaluated on the extent to which the mastery, application, and
creative integration of course concepts is evident through claims, evidence, logic, clarity,
accessibility, and quality of presentation (both written and oral). Mechanical errors will result in
loss of points. See the Assignment Description document on the Course Canvas site for detailed
information about the Group Research Paper & Presentation.
The Individual Portfolio
Each student will prepare an individual portfolio documenting individual activities and
achievements appropriate to the course goals and personal objectives. The portfolio will include:
(1) A statement of the individual's educational objectives relevant to this class;
(2) evidence of the careful engagement of the content of the course to be composed of reading
notes (submitted online regularly according to the Course Schedule), lecture/presentation notes,
reflections, and other relevant material;
(3) evidence that demonstrates: (a) the further development of one’s critical learning skills; (b) a
gain in knowledge about communication theory; (c) an effort to develop and test practical
applications of this theory for everyday problems in interpersonal relationships, media
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engagement, and organizational practices; and (d) the furtherance of one’s proficiencies in the
critical analysis of theory.
(4) evidence of participation as a supervised and evaluated group member in knowledge
production activities.
Individual Portfolios will be graded two times—at approximately the mid-term mark and at the
end of the semester.
Initial Assignment
Your first assignment will be to print, sign, and return the signed agreement at the end of this
syllabus (this is the only action required of all class members). The signed agreement will be
submitted in hard copy to the instructor in class. The Initial Assignment is due by September
9th.
Announcements
This course is governed by all of the appropriate university policies available at
http://www.admin.utah.edu/ppmanual/8/8-10.html
Academic Integrity
Participants are bound by the student honor code posted on the University web site. The
University Academic Integrity policy is available at
http://www.regulations.utah.edu/academics/6-400.html
ADA Accommodations
The University of Utah seeks to provide equal access to its programs, services, and activities for
people with disabilities. If you need accommodation in this class, reasonable prior notice must be
given to the Center for Disability Services, 162 Olpin Union Bldg, 801-581-5020 (V/TDD),
http://disability.utah.edu/. CDS will work with you and the instructor to make arrangements for
accommodations. All written information in this course can be made available in an alternative
format with prior notification to the Center for Disability Services.
Attendance Policy
More than three absences is considered excessive. Ten points are deducted on the fourth absence.
Twenty points are deducted for each subsequent absence. Participation points are calculated at
the end of the semester and can raise or lower the final individual portfolio grade by a maximum
of 50 points.
Content Accommodation Policy
No content accommodations are available for this course.
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Member Evaluations
Group member evaluations are taken twice during the semester. These evaluations are
confidential—but not anonymous, administered on-line through the Canvas site, and are the basis
of the individual contribution coefficient.
Grading
This is a points-based course. Other than signing the consent document, there are no
requirements that must be completed. However, points lost are points lost forever.
Each individual’s grade will be determined by the percentage of total points earned out of a
possible 770 points. Total possible points include:
 20 points for the Initial Assignment
 200 points for the first half (mid-term) Individual Portfolio
 200 points for the second half Individual Portfolio
 50 points for addressing instructor comments on first half Portfolio
 50 points for attendance
 150 points for the Group Research Paper
 100 points for the Group Research Presentation
Points assigned are based on timely and complete submissions. Late assignments will be
reduced by 10% for every 24 hours late. Incomplete assignments will have points deducted
appropriately.
The Group Research Paper and Group Research Presentation grades for each individual member
are calculated by multiplying the group score times the individual’s contribution coefficient. The
group score is the value (0-150 and 0-100) given to the group’s overall performance by the
instructor. The individual’s contribution coefficient is the proportion (.00-1.00) assigned by the
instructor based on the average member evaluation score given to the individual by his or her cogroup members in two member evaluations. For example, if the group’s Research Paper scores a
150 and an individual was considered by his or her co-members to have contributed at 80 percent
of everyone else, the group contribution score (given no mitigating circumstances) would be (.80
x 150) or 120 points.
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Course Schedule
Date
Topic/Activity
Reading/Materials
8/26-8/28
Introduction to Course
Canvas;
Olson Prologue;
Sandvik Introduction
(Reading Notes #1)
9/2-9/4
Conceptualizing the Dark Side of
Family Communication
Olson Ch. 1
(Reading Notes #2)
9/9
Initial Assignment Due In Class
9/9-9/11
Individual Influences on Darkness
Workgroup Introductions
Olson Ch. 2
(Reading Notes #3)
9/16-9/18
Darkness in Family Dyads
Olson Ch. 3
(Reading Notes #4)
9/23-9/25
Family System Darkness
Olson Ch. 4
(Reading Notes #5)
9/30
Family Contexts
Olson Ch. 5
10/2
Workgroup Meetings
No In-Class Session
(Reading Notes #6)
10/7-10/9
Summary of Dark Side of Families Unit
Olson Ch. 6
(Reading Notes #7)
10/14-10/16
Fall Break – No Class!!
10/21
Mid-Term Portfolio Due 11:59 pm
Canvas
10/21-10/23
Dark Side of Teams
Sandvik Ch. 13
(Reading Notes #8)
10/23
Group Member Evaluation #1 Due
10/28-10/30
Workplace Bullying
Sandvik Ch. 2
(Reading Notes #9)
11/4-11/6
Workplace Incivility &
Organizational Trust
Sandvik Ch. 3
(Reading Notes #10)
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Date
Topic/Activity
Reading/Materials
11/11-11/13
Civility in Multicultural
Organizations
Sandvik Ch. 6
(Reading Notes #11)
11/18
Ostracism, Cliques, & Outcasts
Sandvik Ch. 7
(Reading Notes #12)
11/20
Workgroup Meetings
No In-Class Session
11/25
Destructive Potential of ECTs
in Organizations
11/27
Thanksgiving Holiday – No Class
12/2-12/4
Creating Resilience & Unit Summary
12/9
Group Research Papers Due 11:59 pm
12/9-12/11
Group Presentations
12/11
Group Member Evaluation #2 Due
12/15
Final Portfolios Due 11:59 pm
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Sandvik Ch. 11
(Reading Notes #13)
Sandvik Ch. 14
(Reading Notes #14)
Agreement
I have read the foregoing syllabus, understand its terms, and agree to participate in
COMM 3140 as a member of a workgroup. I recognize and accept that I and my fellow
course members share the authority and responsibility for this course. I am committed to
exercising that authority and discharging that responsibility at an appropriate level of
performance. I understand that all grading will be conducted by the instructor. I
understand that a significant portion of my grade will be based on my group’s
performance, that I will be evaluated (but not graded) by my fellow group members, and
that public presentation is part of the course. I also understand that if the terms of this
syllabus change, those changes will be posted on the web site in agreement with the
Administrative Committee
Signed________________________________ Date___________
Please print your name: ________________________________________
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