HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE
COURSE SYLLABUS
SPEECH 1318 – INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
Spring ‘12
INSTRUCTOR:
B K Whetstone Smith
bk.smith@hccs.edu
713.718.6628
Office Hours: By appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course includes a complete study of relationship communication; it includes
the fundamental process as well as the stages of relationships .Other areas of interest and
emphasis are the self, self perception, verbal and non-verbal communication, listening
(technique and procedure), conflict, conflict management, and power in relationships.
Language, appropriate and inappropriate, is reviewed and analyzed. Ethics, empathy and
sympathy are also addressed.
Course length: 16 weeks
CRN#
Class times:
Credit value: 3 semester hours
HCC DISABILITY POLICY:
HCCS is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973(Section 504). Any student with a documented
disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who need to arrange
reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability Services Office at the respective
college at the beginning of each semester. Faculty is only authorized to provide
accommodations requested by that office! This may be done in Rm 101, San Jac or call
713.718.6164. Faculty is only authorized to provide accommodations requested by that
office.
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NOTE:
Scholastic Policy
Houston Community College defines “scholastic dishonesty” as: cheating on a test,
plagiarism, and collusion. Penalties for academic dishonesty at HCCS include, but are not
limited to, “0” on the test or assignment in question, “W” for the course, or “F” for the
course. Please be advised that this instructor leans toward ‘no tolerance’ in these
circumstances.
Insurance
The Fine Arts Department at HCCS strongly recommends that all students carry some
form of medical insurance to cover illness and injury, both on and off campus.
Information regarding low-cost health insurance for students is available in the Fine Arts
Office. Under Texas state statue, HCCS is immune to liability in the event of accident or
injury.
Evaluation for Greater Learning Student Survey System
At HCC, professors believe that thoughtful student feedback is necessary to improve
teaching and learning. During a designated time, you will be asked to answer a short
online survey of research-based questions related to instruction. The anonymous results
of the survey will be made available to your professors and division chairs for continued
improvement of instruction. Look for the survey as part of the HCC Student System
online near the end of the term.
Important
Academic advisement concerning specific Fine Arts courses and degree plans for Speech
Communication is available during the academic semester. Please sign up in the Fine
Arts office to speak to a full time instructor in your area of interest.
TEXTBOOK:
Messages: Building Interpersonal Communication Skills,
DeVito, edition
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ALL STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO SIGN UP FOR : Fine Arts News
Letters at www.centralfinearts.info
Notice: Students who repeat a course for a third or more times will face significant
tuition/fee increases at HCC and other Texas public colleges and universities. Please ask
your instructor/counselor about opportunities for tutoring/other assistance prior to
considering course withdrawal if you are not receiving passing grades.
ATTENDANCE:
Speech 1318 is both theory and practice; it is similar to a lab/participation class and
absences are often impossible to ‘make up’. This requires that students be present for
each class session. Students who are absent for more than 6 hours of instruction,, as
stated in the catalogue, have reached the maximum time allowed. After an absence,
students are responsible for next assignments as though they had been present. The
assignments are due regardless.
Roll will be taken each class period. You must sign in with name and time entering (not
at the end of class). NEVER SIGN IN FOR ANOTHER STUDENT!! Sign the roll sheet
when ENTERING class with the correct time.
YOU MUST BE PRESENT TO UNDERSTAND THE MATERIAL. You cannot interact
with the class if you are not IN the class. You receive NO CREDIT for the class if you do
not attend. If you fail to attend the class, you will be considered not to have done that part
of the course.
Students who are absent for more than 6 hours of instruction ,as stated in the catalogue,
are eligible to be dropped from the course. YOU WILL BE DROPPED WITH MORE
THAN 6 ACCUMULATIVE HOURS. A student with 6 hours of absences in the
semester will be required to make an appointment (within one week of that absence) with
the instructor. If not, YOU WILL NOTBE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE.
A student may expect a 10 point reduction FROM THE TOP OF THE FINAL GRADE
AVERAGE for each absence from class session after accumulating 6 hours IF
ALLOWED TO CONTINUE.
Jury duty, HCCS campus activities, and rare exception (defined by this professor)
ARE THE ONLY EXCUSED ABSENCES. This does NOT include childcare issues,
illness, funerals and personal travel (these are covered by the 6 hours mentioned in
HCC policies).
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Please be advised of the following: this instructor feels that it is the duty of each student
(should he/she at some point, for whatever reason, cease coming to class) to officially
drop the class in order to receive a ‘W’ on the transcript. This instructor will record an
‘F’.
GRADING:
A=93% AND ABOVE
A-=90-92%
B+=87-89%
B=83-86%
B-=80-82%
C+=77-79%
C=73-76%
C-=70-72%
D=60-69%
F=below 60%
Attendance and class participation – 30%
Tests – 25% Final Exam counts double (GRADE X 2)
Communication Journal – 25%
Book report – 20%
Communication Journals and Book reports are necessary accomplishments for class
completion and credit. REQUIRED!
.
Reading, project, and/or speaking assignments will be noted below. Students must
complete all assignments given and present each during the specific time period
requested.
ANY INFORMATION IN THIS SYLLABUS REGARDING CLASS
ASSIGNMENTS IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT THE INSTRUCTOR’S
DESCRETION. STUDENTS WILL BE NOTIFIED PROMPTLY AS CHANGES
ARE MADE.
ETIQUETTE:
NO CHEWING GUM EVER!!!!!!!!!! Effective communication calls for clear
heads….as well as mouths. Besides, it drives me crazy! Please turn off cell phones. This
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is a no-discussion, no exception, no tolerance regulation.. Please leave the classroom tidy.
Be aware of leaving trash behind. Appropriate language is expected at all times
Computers in class must be approved by the instructor. Without approval, do not use
personal computers at any time..
Absolutely no guests or children will be allowed in class at anytime. No exceptions!
CLASS CALENDAR/GUIDELINE
(SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
Week 1: Introductions
Lecture on Fundamentals of Communication
Journals assigned
Discussion of class overview
Week 2: Chapters 2 and 3
Self and Self Perception
Quiz
Introductions
Week 3: Chapter 4
Emotions
Personal Experience
Week 4: Chapter 5
Language
Test - Vocabulary
Week 5:
Chapter 6
Nonverbal Communication
Group Project
Week 6:
Chapter 7
Listening
Individual project
Week 7: Chapter 8
Relational Dynamics
Midterm test review
: Open
Midterm exam
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.
Week 8: Chapter 9, 10
Conflict, Conflict management: Power in Interpersonal Relationship
Lecture
Supplemental Material
Week 9: Book reviews
Course overview week
Weeks 10 and 11: Open for ‘catching up and optional assignments
Week 12: Communication Journal
Review and report
Week 13: Group projects
Book reports/Journal reviews
: Course review, Exam prep
Weeks – 14, 15 open
COURSE COMPETENCIES:
Twelve weeks from today, you should be able to:
 Define and practice ‘Communication I Q’
 Understand and value the communication process
 Recognize and respect the role of self perception in relationships
 Have ‘frame of reference’ a part of every-day vocabulary
 Understand the significance emotions have in our relations with others
 Understand the power of nonverbal communication
 Appreciate conflict, conflict management, and power as a part of the whole in
interpersonal communication
 See self disclosure as an important choice in relationships
 Understanding the element of power in relationships
 Ability to participate in effective conversations, learning the stages and
importance of rules of engagement
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I have read and I understand all information in this syllabus. It has been explained to me
and all questions have been explained and answered.
Name_______________________________________
Class_________________________________________
Date__________________________________________
Signature______________________________________
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