SYLLABUS - Fall, 2013
GEN ED AOD 0836
Interpersonal Communication:
Critical Competencies for Professional and Personal Success
Temple General Education Course – Human Behavior Area
Lead Faculty (Tues. Lecture & Thurs. Lab)
Course Supervisors
Nate Terrell, LCSW
Ritter Annex 255
Phone: 856-223-0606
Cell Phone: 609-313-0792
Office Hours: Tues: 3:30 – 4:30 pm
Thurs: 12:45 - 1:45 pm
Email: nterrell@temple.edu
Prof. Tricia S. Jones, Ph.D.
Ritter Annex 247
Office Tel: 215-204-7261
Email: tsjones@temple.edu
Cynthia Bellievean, Ph.D.
Ritter Annex 231
Office Tel: 215-204-4397
Email: Cynthia.belliveau@temple
Seminar Instructors (Thursday Lab)
Carmin Bermudez
Email: tuc72857@temple.edu
Office Hours:
Mon: 10:00-12:00
Thurs: 12:30-1:30
TA Office: Ritter Annex 238
Jake Godino
Email: tub53124@temple.edu
Office Hours:
Tues: 3;30-4:30
Thurs: 12:30-1:30
Belinda McLeod
Email: mcleod.belinda@gmail.com
Office Hours:
Thurs: 9:30-10:30
Thurs: 12:30-1:30
Phone: 215-204-6016 Fax: 215-204-6013
Please contact your instructor if you need to schedule a meeting outside of regular office hours
Class Times and Locations
The Tuesday lecture for sections 01, 02, 03 and 04 meets from 11:00 am to 12:20 pm in Beury 166 and for
sections 05, 06,07 and 08 meets from 2:00 to 3:20 in Gladfelter 024.
Thursday lab times and locations are as follows:
AM class meets from 11:00 am to 12:20 pm
Section 01 (Nate Terrell) meets in Tuttleman 306
Section 02 (Belinda McLeod) meets in Ritter 109
Section 03 (Carmin Bermudez) meets in Weiss 312
Section 04 (Jake Godino) meets in Bartan B 102
PM class meets from 2:00 to 3:20 pm
Sections 05 (Nate Terrell) meets in Barton B 308
Section 06 (Belinda McLeod) meets in Ritter Annex 301
Section 07 (Carmin Bermudez) meets in Tuttleman 0005B
Section 08 (Jake Godino) meets in Tuttleman 402
Course Description
The primary goal of this course is to help you enhance your interpersonal communication competence so you
have successful interpersonal communication with your family, friends and work colleagues. In the course you
will learn the basic components of interpersonal communication situations (communicators, content, and
contexts) and you will investigate how interpersonal communication needs and effectiveness change throughout
life (in early childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, middle age, and old age).
In terms of personal communication competence, you will assess your own communication skills in
interpersonal and intimate relationships, set personal goals and develop strategies by which to create the change
you wish to see. There will be many opportunities in class for small group discussions which will allow you to
integrate course and research information for personal skill development. The small group work will provide a
reflective and supportive environment in which to expand your communication skills and knowledge.
For professional communication competence, you will be involved in class projects that help you think about
critical communication skills for your profession and will conduct a Philadelphia Experience project that focuses
on inquiry of professional communication competence in multicultural contexts.
Required Reading
Interpersonal Communication Through the Life Span. By Tricia Jones, Martin Remland, and
Rebecca Sanford, Allyn & Bacon, 2007.
Course Packet – All students are required to purchase a Course Information and Activity Packet for the course
which includes the exercises that will be used in the Thursday Sections. The packet is available at the Ritter Hall
Copy Center (room 234) for $4.00. Students are required to bring the Course Packet to lab every Thursday.
Course Website
We have created a course web site using the Black Board system. The web site contains the syllabus, class
assignments, and links to related web sites for information relevant to the class. There are several additional
readings added to the course as supplementary material on the basics of inquiry methods (observation, content
analysis, discourse analysis) in preparation for your work on the Philadelphia Experience project.
The web site is available through TUPortal. Log in to TUPortal using your Temple University user id and
password. Students enrolled in AOD 0836 are automatically enrolled in the course web site. If you are having
difficulty accessing the web site: (1) confirm you are registered for the course, and (2) contact computer services
to verify your user id and password.
Students are expected to review materials on the web site in preparation for class assignments and content.
Students are responsible for access to the web site and to consult with Temple University computer services if
they are having difficulty accessing the web site. Finally, students are responsible for regular monitoring of the
web site for announcements and course-related information and materials.
COURSE GRADING
Grading Scale: Final semester grades will be determined based on the total number of points
accumulated in the course. The point values for specific grades are:
94-100%
90-93%
87-89%
83-86%
80-82%
77-79%
73-76%
70-72%
67-69%
63-66%
60-62%
0-59%
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
573-610 points
549-572 points
530-548 points
506-529 points
488-505 points
469-487 points
445-468 points
427-444 points
408-426 points
384-407 points
366-383 points
000-365 points
Grading Components: There are seven grading components in the class.
1. Exam #1 (Midterm)
2. Exam #2 (Final)
3. Personal Communication Analysis Project I
4. Personal Communication Analysis Project II
5. Philadelphia Experience Project
5. Reflection Exercises (2)
6. Attendance
7. Participation
Total
100 pts
100 pts
30 pts
70 pts
100 pts
50 pts
90 pts
70 pts
610 points
Attendance
In a course on personal and professional communication competence, participation is very important. 90 total
points will be given for attendance in the semester. This course is structured in a large lecture/lab section
format. Your attendance is required in all class sessions. Attendance will be taken in lecture (Tuesdays) as well
as lab (Thursdays) classes.
The university policy is that students should regularly attend classes in order to get credit for a course.
University policy states that students who miss 20% or more of classes can be failed in the class by the instructor
solely for attendance issues. We assume that you start with full points and lose points when you miss class
without a justifiable or documented excuse. Each unexcused absence results in the loss of 3 points
from the attendance grade.
Excused Absences: Excused absences are those that the instructor determines are excused based on
documented illness, emergency, or civic responsibility (e.g., jury duty). Excuses are only given if appropriate
documentation (as determined by the course supervisor) is provided. In order for an absence to be excused you
must notify the instructor PRIOR to the absence (if you cannot reach the instructor in his/her office before class
time leave a message on voice mail or e-mail).
Lateness: The expectation is that students will be present and ready at the start time for class. Students who
are consistently late for class disrupt the ability to conduct class effectively. For every 3 times that a student
is 10 or more minutes late to class, there will be a deduction of 6 attendance points.
Participation
Participation points are based on: physical attendance in class, prompt attendance in class, participation in
class discussion and exercises, and demonstrable knowledge of the assigned readings and any other materials.
Participation will be especially critical in lab sections where more focus on skills development and small group
interaction is possible.
Cell Phone/Media Usage: The use of cell phones for calling and text messaging is not permitted during class
time. Instructors will note violations of this policy indicating time and date. While using a laptop is permitted,
the use of a laptop for non-course related activities will result in a reduction of participation points. If a
student engages in excessive cell phone, unauthorized computer usage, or texting use after
warning from an instructor the student can be dismissed from that day of class and be charged
with an unexcused absence penalty.
Participation Grade Breakdown
A=65-70pts
Student participated consistently in both lab and lecture sections, answering questions and discussing ideas and
interpersonal communication experiences that illustrate course concepts and promote learning for all students.
B=59-64pts
Student participated frequently in lab sections, answering questions and discussing ideas and interpersonal
communication experiences that illustrate course concepts and promote learning for all students.
C= 53-58pts
Student participated fully in group activities and responded to questions occasionally.
D= 47-52pts
Student participated in group activities as directed.
F=0-46pts
Student failed to participate in group activities
Penalties for Cheating and Plagiarism
The penalty for cheating or plagiarism is a failing grade in the course. It is the student’s responsibility to review
the university rules on plagiarism and to clarify with the instructor PRIOR to handing in an assignment if there
are uncertainties about what might constitute plagiarism. Ignorance of the standards for plagiarism or cheating
is not a defense.
Temple University has guidelines for plagiarism. Please go to the university website:
www.temple.edu/bulletin/Responsibilities_rights/responsibilities/responsibilities.shtm that discusses
plagiarism. The following is an example of appropriate American Psychological Association (APA) citation when
copying or borrowing significant amounts of someone else’s work.
Plagiarism is the unacknowledged use of another person's labor, another person's ideas, another person's words
or another person's assistance. Normally, all work done for courses such as papers, examinations, homework
exercises, laboratory reports and oral presentations is expected to be the individual effort of the student
presenting the work. Any assistance must be reported to the instructor. If the work has entailed consulting other
resources such as journals, books, or other media, these resources must be cited in a manner appropriate to the
course. It is the instructor's responsibility to indicate the appropriate manner of citation. Everything used from
other sources like suggestions for the organization of ideas, ideas themselves or actual language must be cited.
Failure to cite borrowed material constitutes plagiarism. Undocumented use of materials from the World Wide
Web is plagiarism. (Temple website,2005).
Student and Faculty Academic Rights and Responsibilities Policy (#03.70.02)
Freedom to teach and freedom to learn are inseparable facets of academic freedom. The University has a policy
on Studentand Faculty and Academic Rights and Responsibilities (Policy #03.70.02) which can be accessed
through the following link: http://policies.temple.edu/getdoc.asp/policy_no=03.70.02.
Turning in Assignments/Lateness
During the week each assignment is due, a hard copy of the written assignment is to be turned in during the
Thursday lab sections and an electronic copy should be uploaded to Black Board. Students will be penalized
25% if they hand in their assignment a week late, 50% if they hand two weeks late and receive no credit if it is
handed in more than three weeks late. Additionally, until both hard copy and Black Board requirements are
met, a "0" will be given for that assignment on Black Board. The deadline for all papers to be submitted to
blackboard is 11/26 after which no submissions will be accepted and a "0" will be given for that assignment.
Make-Up Exams
If you miss class on the day of an exam and wish to take a make-up, you must fulfill the following criteria for
make-up work.



You must have a justifiable excuse (justifiability will be determined by the instructor).
You must notify the instructor PRIOR to the absence (if you cannot reach the instructor in his/her office
before class time leave a message on voice mail or e-mail).
You must make-up the exam within one week from the date the original was missed (if your health
allows). It will be your responsibility to arrange for a time to take the make-up exam. Make up exams
will be essay exams.
Final Exam Schedule



The Final Exam IS NOT CUMULATIVE.
Final exams will not be given earlier than the regularly scheduled time for any reason.
You must take the final exam in the section you are registered for.
ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS
Special Needs Students:
We maintain a firm commitment to ensuring that all students have access to all aspects of the learning
experience this seminar offers. If you have a special need or disability recognized by the Temple University
Disability Resources and Services Center that impairs your ability to participate fully and succeed in this course,
please speak to your instructor as soon as possible. You should also contact the Temple Univesity Disability
Resources and Services Center at 215-204-1280 in room 100, Ritter Annex. If this is not done, students will not
be allowed to claim accommodation needs (e.g., extended text time or extended assignment time) later in the
semester. If students are uncertain about their status in terms of special needs and accommodations, it is the
student’s responsibility to contact Temple University Disability Resources and Services Center to assess and
determine this status.
If for any other reason you experience any barrier to engaging in course activities or achieving the goals of the
course, please discuss this with you’re your instructor. We will be as flexible as possible without compromising
fairness, academic standards or the integrity of the course goals, with respect to which all student’s work will be
assessed.
Withdrawal from Class: No withdrawals are permitted after the date indicated on the academic calendar
except for medical withdrawal from the entire semester slate of courses.
Incompletes: Incompletes are only given for serious family or personal problems that prevent completion of
coursework on time. It is the instructor’s prerogative to grant an Incomplete. However, all Incompletes must be
approved by the college administration. You must request an Incomplete from the instructor at least two weeks
before the last regular day of class.
Possibility of Changes to Syllabus: Some assignments or due dates in the syllabus may have to be changed
by the instructor in case of emergency. If this happens, all attempts will be made to communicate changes in a
timely and effective manner so the changes do not negatively affect student performance of assignments.
COURSE SCHEDULE
Note: All reading assignments due for a particular week should be read and ready to discuss on the first day of
the class that week. Additional readings that are recommended will be posted on the course web site but are not
noted in the syllabus. Instructors will announce and overview these readings during the semester.
PCAP = Personal Communication Analysis Project
PEX = Philadelphia Experience
IC = Text Book (Jones, Remland and Sanford)
WEEK TOPICS
Week 1 Introduction to Course and
8/27
Course Requirements
8/29 Introduction to Interpersonal
Communications
Week 2 Self Concept and Interpersonal Communication
9/3
9/5
Week 3 Emotion and Interpersonal Communication
9/10
9/12
Week 4 Person Perception and Listening in Interpersonal
9/17
Communication
9/19
Week 5 Nonverbal Communication in Interpersonal Interactions
9/24
-nonverbal communication analysis, observing and analyzing
9/26
nonverbal communication in interaction
Project and
Journal
Assignments
READING
ASSIGNMENTS
IC-Chapter 1
IC – Chapter 2
Reflection #1Self Esteem due
on
9/12
PCAP Section #1
due on 9/19
IC – Chapter 3
IC – Chapter 4
IC – Chapter 5
Week 6 Language in Interpersonal Interactions
-discourse analysis, observing and analyzing language in
10/1
interaction
10/3
Week 7
Midterm Examination
10/8
10/10 Develop PEX Groups and Begin Work on Project during Lab
Reflection #2 – IC – Chapter 6
Nonverbal
Communication
due on 10/3
Midterm Exam
10/8
Week 8 The Relational Context of Interpersonal Communication
10/15
10/17
Week 9 The Cultural Context of Communication
10/22
10/24
Week Conflict Competence in Communication
10
10/29
10/31
Week Developing Relationships Outside of the Family
11
11/5
11/7
PCAP II is due
on 10/31
Week
12
11/12
11/14
Week
13
11/19
11/21
Week
14
11/26
Marriage and Partnerships
Family Communication
PEX Presentations IC – Chapters 13
& PEX Papers
& 14
due on 11/21
Final lab meets on Tuesday
Happy Thanksgiving – A great time to practice your excellent
communication skills with family and friends!
Course Wrap Up
Intimate Relationships for Adolescents and Young Adults
Week Course Review (Tuesday lecture only)
15
12/3
Final Exam Schedule
AM Section, Tuesday, 12/10 from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm
PM Section, Thursday, 12/10 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm
IC – Chapter 7
IC – Chapter 8
IC – Chapter 10
Extra Credit IC - Chapter 11
Reflection #3 on
Disconfirmation
or Conflict
Resolution due
on 11/7
PEX Presentations IC – Chapter 12