Course Syllabus
Interpersonal Communication
SPCH 1318
Semester with
Course Reference
Number (CRN)
Fall 2012: Speech 1318
CRN: 24709
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., Wednesday 1:30-4:30
Course
Location/Times
Southeast: Felix Morales, Room 303
Tuesday/Thursday: 1-2:30 pm
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:
Theories and exercises in verbal and nonverbal communication with focus on
interpersonal relationships. Designed to develop proficiency in public speaking
situations; emphasis on content, organization, and delivery of speeches for
various occasions. Open to all students. Required for speech majors. Core
Curriculum Course.
Course
PREREQUISITE(S):
Prerequisite(s)
Must be placed in 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. Identify various types of relationships, and determine when relationships are healthy or
dysfunctional.
2. Resolve when and how to abort relationships when such is essential.
3. Examine his or her relationships without bias in an effort to promote better relations with
others, as well as to determine the appropriate manner in which to resolve conflict.
4. Explicate the meaning of interpersonal communication in its dyadic nature.
5. Comprehend theories of interpersonal communication, and apply them to decision-making
for personal and professional situations.
Course Student
Learning
Outcomes (SLO): 4
to 7
1. Explain the major theories of interpersonal communication,
2. Define the process of communication and define basic terms associated with the process.
3. Coordinate various events with self-confidence and a display of commitment.
Learning
Objectives
1. Provide a theoretical framework to enhance students' knowledge about
interpersonal communication, and how it differs from intrapersonal communication.
2. To foster a clearer understanding about the components of communication and its
unique process.
3. To use lectures, role-play exercises, discussions, and assignments to teach
students about communication.
4. To develop students' listening skills, and verbal, aural, and nonverbal
communication skills.
5. To help students identify different types of relationships, as well as to recognize
when relationships are healthy or dysfunctional, and how to dissolve them correctly.
6. To present realistic situations in developing students skills to think critically and
objectively.
7. To help students learn more about themselves in an effort to increase their selfconfidence and improve their relations with others.
Program/Discipline
Requirements
1. Identify and explain the components of the communication process and the role they
play in human interactions.
2. Deliver informative and persuasive oral presentations that are consistent with and
appropriate for the audience and purpose.
3. Identify, evaluate, and utilize evidence to support claims used in presentations and
arguments.
4. Discuss the major types of interpersonal relationships, and how conflict and power
issues can be handled effectively with communication.
5. Effectively communicate and interact with others in interpersonal, personal and
professional situations.
6. Demonstrate through performance and analysis the importance of both verbal and
nonverbal communication.
7. Work as a productive team member as either a leader or follower.
HCC Grading
Scale
A = 100- 90
B = 89 - 80:
C = 79 - 70:
D = 69 - 60:
4 points per semester hour
3 points per semester hour
2 points per semester hour
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
Speeches, 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
speeches 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:
Analysis Papers (100 points each):
Exercises (20 points each):
3 Exams (100 points each):
200 points
200
300 points
Total points available:
700 points
Calendar
HCC Calendar:
Per specific Semester
Monday, Aug. 27
Classes Begin
Monday, Sept. 3
Holidays and Breaks
Friday, Nov. 23
Friday, Nov. 2 @ 4:30 p.m.
Last day for student/administrative
withdrawals
Sunday, Dec. 9
Instruction ends
Tuesday, Dec. 11 @ 1 p.m.
Final examination
Course Calendar:
Date
Lectures / Topics / Assignments / Projects /
Quizzes / Exams
Week 1: Aug. 28 & 30
Week 2: Sept. 4 & 6
Week 3: Sept. 11 & 13
Week 4: Sept. 18 & 20
Week 5: Sept. 25 & 27
Week 6: Oct. 2 & 4
Week 7: Oct. 9 & 11
Week 8: Oct. 16 &18
Week 9: Oct. 23 & 25
Week 10: Oct. 30 & Nov. 1
Week 11: Nov. 6 & 8
Week 12: Nov. 13 & 15
Week 13: Nov. 20 & 22
Week 14: Nov. 27 & 29
Week 15: Dec. 4 & 6
Week 16: Tuesday, Dec. 11 @ 1
p.m.
Introduction, why study interpersonal
communication
Chapter 1: lecture, discussion, exercise
Chapter 2: lecture, discussion, exercise
Chapter 3: lecture, discussion, exercise
Analysis paper on perception due: informa
presentations
Chapter 4: lecture, discussion, exercise
Review
Exam #1 (chapters 1-4)
Chapter 5: lecture, discussion, exercise
Chapter 6: lecture, discussion, exercise
Chapter 7: lecture, discussion, exercise
Chapter 8: lecture, discussion, exercise
Exam #2 (chapters 5-8)
Chapter 9: lecture, discussion, exercise
Chapter 10: lecture, discussion, exercise
Chapter 11: lecture, discussion, exercise
No class 11/22: Thanksgiving
Analysis paper on relationships: informal
presentations
Review
Makeup
Final Exam (chapters 9-11)
Please remember that this syllabus is subject to change.
All changes will be documented by the instructor.
Instructional
Materials
HCC Policy
Statement:
DeVito, J.A. (2011). Interpersonal messages: Communication and relationship skills (2nd
ed.). Addison-Wesley.
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