Course Syllabus
Interpersonal Communication
COMM 1307
Semester with
Course
Reference
Number (CRN)
Fall 2013: Communication 1307
CRN: 66350
Instructor
contact
information
(phone number
and email
address)
Dustin McDunn
Dustin.mcdunn@hccs.edu
713-718-2505
Office Location
and Hours
Felix Morales 124
Office Hours: Tuesday/Thursday 10-11 a.m. and 12:30-1 p.m., Wednesday 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Course
Location/Times
Southeast: Felix Morales, Room 305
Tuesday/Thursday: 2:30-4 p.m.
Course
Semester
Credit Hours
(SCH) (lecture,
lab) If
applicable
Credit Hours
3.00
Lecture Hours
3.00
Laboratory Hours NA
Total Course
Contact Hours
48
Course Length
(number of
weeks)
16
Type of
Instruction
Lecture
Course
Description:
Analyzes communication theory and mass media in 21st century society. Surveys
history, operation, and structure of the American communication system.
Identifies major legal, ethical, and socio-cultural issues, studies basic
communication theory, and the interrelations between media and the individual,
media and society, and media and the future. Examines career potential and job
prospects in today and tomorrow’s electronic culture. Core curriculum course.
Course
Prerequisite(s)
Must be placed into college level reading (or take GUST 0342 as a co-requisite) and
be placed into college level writing (or
take ENGL 0310/0349 as a co-requisite).
Academic
Discipline/CTE
Program
Learning
Outcomes
1. Apply elemental competency in the operation of selected media.
2. Understand and explain the terms mass communication (also referred to as media
communication).
3. Describe the development of print media, radio, television, and film.
4. Provide a chronology of some milestones relevant to the advancement of media from their
onset to today.
Course
Student
Learning
Outcomes
(SLO): 4 to 7
1. Discuss the development of print and broadcast media, advertising, public relations,
movies, and recordings.
2. Examine theories about media communication, and provide clarification to others about the
significance of the public viewer's critical eye to reasonably comprehend that which is
produced and aired by the media.
3. Understand and define mass communication.
4. Understand and explain the functions of the mass media.
5. Understand and describe the development of radio and television and the film industry, and
explain the relationships between the two.
6. Understand the implications of electronic technology and the Internet on mass
communication.
Learning
Objectives
. Discuss the development of print and broadcast media, advertising, public relations,
movies, books and recordings.
. Identify pioneers in mass communications.
. Examine theories, research, laws and external influences of the media.
. Illustrate how the media are everywhere through personal reflection.
. Become a more sophisticated mass media consumer.
HCC Grading
Scale
A = 100- 90
4 points per semester hour
B = 89 - 80:
3 points per semester hour
C = 79 - 70:
2 points per semester hour
D = 69 - 60:
1 point per semester hour
59 and below = F
0 points per semester hour
IP (In Progress)
0 points per semester hour
W(Withdrawn)
0 points per semester hour
I (Incomplete)
0 points per semester hour
AUD (Audit)
0 points per semester hour
IP (In Progress) is given only in certain developmental courses. The student must re-enroll to
receive credit. COM (Completed) is given in non-credit and continuing education courses. To
compute grade point average (GPA), divide the total grade points by the total number of
semester hours attempted. The grades "IP," "COM" and "I" do not affect GPA.
See "Health Science Program/Discipline Requirements" for grading scale.
Instructor
Grading
Criteria
Presentations, assignments and projects will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
 Adherence to all specific assignment guidelines/content requirements.
 Adherence to deadlines.
 Level of technical difficulty attempted and achieved. More sophisticated work may
receive higher scores.
 Creativity and Originality: Solving the assignments in an imaginative and unique
way may lead to a higher score.
 Honesty: Submit your own work.
Late Work
Late written assignments will lose 10 points for each day that they are late. Late presentations
without a verifiable medical/HCC service excuse will lose 10 points for each day that they are
late.
Missed Tests
You must notify the instructor within 24 hours and must provide verifiable medical/HCC service
excuse. You may not make up a missed test without a verifiable, official, excused absence.
Instructor’s Final Grading Legend:
The final grade will consist of the following:
2 Analysis Papers (100 points each):
3 Exercises (50 points each):
3 Exams (100 points each):
200 points
150
300 points
Total points available:
650 points
Calendar
HCC Calendar:
Per specific Semester
Monday, Aug. 26
Classes Begin
Monday, Sept. 2
Holidays and Breaks
Thursday-Friday, Nov. 28-29
Friday, Nov. 1 @ 4:30 p.m.
Last day for student/administrative
withdrawals
Sunday, Dec. 8
Instruction ends
Thursday, Dec. 12 @ 2 p.m.
Final examination
Course Calendar:
Date
Week 1: Aug. 27 & 29
Lectures / Topics / Assignments / Projects /
Quizzes / Exams
Introduction, why study interpersonal
communication
Chapter 1: lecture, discussion
Week 2: Sept. 3 & 5
Week 3: Sept. 10 & 12
Week 4: Sept. 17& 19
Week 5: Sept. 24 & 25
Week 6: Oct. 21 & 3
Week 7: Oct. 8 & 10
Week 8: Oct. 15 &17
Week 9: Oct. 22 & 24
Week 10: Oct. 29 & 31
Week 11: Nov. 5 & 7
Week 12: Nov. 12 & 14
Week 13: Nov. 19 & 21
Week 14: Nov. 26 & 28
Week 15: Dec. 3 & 5
Week 16: Tuesday, Dec. 10 @ 1
p.m.
Chapter 2: lecture, discussion
Chapter 3: lecture, discussion
Convergence Exercise due Sept. 5
Chapter 4: lecture, discussion
Chapter 5: lecture, discussion
Review
Exam #1 (chapters 1-5) Sept. 19
Chapter 6: lecture, discussion
Chapter 7: lecture, discussion
Power of Visual Exercise due Sept. 25
Chapter 8: lecture, discussion
Chapter 9: lecture, discussion
Media Analysis paper due: informal
presentations
Chapter 10: lecture, discussion
Review
Exam #2 (chapters 6-10) Oct. 22
Chapter 11: lecture, discussion
Chapter 12: lecture, discussion
Chapter 13: lecture, discussion
Global Media Exercise due Nov. 7
Chapter 14: lecture, discussion
Media and democracy paper due: informal
presentations
Chapter 15: lecture, discussion
No class 11/28: Thanksgiving
Chapter 16: lecture, discussion
Review
Final Exam (chapters 11-16)
Please remember that this syllabus is subject to change.
All changes will be documented by the instructor.
Instructional
Materials
Media and Culture, (9th ed.), by Richard Campbell, Christopher R. Martin, and Bettina Fabos.
Publisher: Bedford St. Martins.
HCC Policy
Statement:
HCC Policy Statement: Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)
According to federal and college guidelines, any student with special needs bears responsibility
of notifying faculty accordingly. Official notification from Disabled Student Services must be
received to provide special consideration and accommodations. Any student with a
documented disability (e.g., physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to
arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability Services Office at the
respective college at the beginning of each semester. Faculty is authorized to provide only the
accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services. Contact Jette Lott at (713)
718-7218 for additional information.
HCC Policy Statement: Academic Honesty
You are expected to be familiar with the College's Policy on Academic Honesty, found in the
catalog and student handbook. Students are responsible for conducting themselves with honor
and integrity in fulfilling course requirements. Penalties and/or disciplinary proceedings may be
initiated by College System officials against a student accused of scholastic dishonesty.
“Scholastic dishonesty” includes, but is not limited to, cheating on a test, plagiarism, and
collusion.
Cheating on a test includes:
 Copying from another student’s test paper;
 Using materials during a test that are not authorized by the person giving the test;
 Collaborating with another student during a test without authority;
 Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or soliciting in whole or part the
contents of a test that has not bee administered;
 Bribing another person to obtain a test that is to be administered.
Plagiarism means the appropriation of another’s work and the unacknowledged incorporation
of that work in one’s own written work offered for credit.
Collusion means the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written work
offered for credit.
Violations: Possible punishments for academic dishonesty may include a grade of “0” or “F”
on the particular assignment, failure in the course, and/or recommendation for probation or
dismissal from the College System. A recommendation for expulsion will be referred to the
College Dean of Student Development for disciplinary disposition.
Students who wish to appeal a grade penalty should notify the instructional supervisor within
30 working days of the incident. A standing committee appointed by the College Dean of
Instruction (Academic or Workforce) will convene to sustain, reduce, or reverse the grade
penalty. The committee will be composed of two students, two faculty members, and one
instructional administrator. A majority vote will decide the grade appeal and is final.
Attendance Policy:
Research has shown that the single most important factor in student success is attendance.
Roll will be taken each class period in the form of a sign-in sheet available to students during
the first fifteen minutes of class. It is the students’ responsibility to sign the attendance sheet
during the first fifteen minutes of class to be counted as present for the day. Due to unforeseen
events or emergencies, four unexcused absences will be allowed for the semester. Students,
who miss more than 4 days (6 hours) of class may be dropped. Absent students are
responsible for discovering what was missed and must be prepared for the next class. For
each absence over four, ten points will be deducted from the total grade at the end of the
semester.
Administrative drops are at the discretion of the instructor. If you are doing poorly in
the class, but you have not contacted your professor to ask for help, and you have not
withdrawn by the official withdrawal date, it will result in you receiving a grade of “F” in the
course
Access
Student
Services
Policies on
their Web site:
http://hccs.edu/student-rights