Comm 240.81: Interpersonal Communication
Fall 2015, Friday 9-11:54am, Hillsdale – Room 13
Mindy S. Maples, M.A.
maplesmindys@jccmi.edu
mindymanalp@yahoo.com
Course Description: Students will learn to improve communication in one-on-one and small group
situations. In this course, students will examine basic verbal and nonverbal elements affecting
communications between individuals in family, peer group and work contexts. Specific units of discussion
include intrapersonal perspective, conflict resolution, self-disclosure, message generation, intercultural
messages and nonverbal communications.
Associate Degree Outcomes:
Jackson Community College’s Board of Trustees has determined that all of our graduates should develop or
enhance a variety of important skills while enrolled in courses. The ADOs for this course include:
 ADO 2: Speak clearly, concisely and intelligibly (proficient)
 ADO 9: Work productively with others, recognizing individual contributions to group
success (Developing Level)
 ADO 10: Understand and respect the diversity and interdependence of the world’s
peoples and cultures (developing)
JetNet will be used a great deal in this course. Every Thursday students will print off an article
and bring it to class for reflection and evaluation. The following are steps to obtain access to
JCC’s JetNet services:
1) Go to JCC Website: www.jccmi.edu
2) Click on a tab at the top titled “online classes”
3) Login: first seven letters of last name, first seven letters of first name, middle
initial. Use no spaces, for example Jennifer Ann Smith would login as: smithjennifea
4) Password for JCC Accounts: Your password is your first and lasts initials, the two digit date
of your birth, the last two digits of your birth year and the last four digits of your student ID.
5) Click on this Comm 240 located on the bottom, left side of the page
6) On the next screen, click on “Latest News.” You will find all relevant material at this
location.
Required Course Materials: Spiral bound notebook for journaling
Text: Interpersonal Messages: Communication and Relationship Skills, by Joseph A. Devito
Assessment of Grades:
*All work must be typed in 12-point, legible font. Handwritten work will not be accepted with
the exception of journal work.*
1.) Positive Participation and Preparedness (100 points)
2.) Cross-Cultural Presentation (Group Project): Students will be assigned a group. Each group will
choose another country’s culture to research and present to the class. Each portion of this assignment will be
assigned to different group members. A Power Point presentation is required. At least 3 slides per student. Use
concepts and terms for the text. Other visual aids can also be included. (100 points)
3.) Personal Discovery Project: Take an online personality test, either Meyers-Briggs or Four
Temperaments. Find a description online. Write about your personality type and your discoveries. (2-3
pages) (100 points)
4.) Scene Analysis: Students will select and show the class a scene from a movie or television show and
discuss the verbal and nonverbal miscommunication aspects. Choose a scene from a TV show or movie that
you like, one that demonstrates communication problems. The scene should be 3-5 minutes in length; the
analysis portion should be 3-5 minutes in length as well. First, show the class the scene. Then discuss what is
happening in the interpersonal relationships depicted. You must use a minimum of 5 terms or concepts from
the textbook. Bring 2 copies of outline to class. Hand in one to instructor before presenting. (100 points)
5.) Family Culture Project: Students will create a written document that explores their family culture. They
will write about their families based on all of the information integrated within the text regarding family life
and family culture. 3-5 pages in length (200 points)
6.) Journal Entries: At the start of each class students will be given a quote or question to which they will
respond. A minimum of 3-5 sentences is expected for each entry. In addition, students will be asked to journal
about their reactions to articles dealing with interpersonal communication. At times, they will be asked to
work in groups on this project. (50 points)
7.) Response Papers Students will choose 4 movies, from the ones we view in class, to analyze interpersonal
communication issues. 2-3 pages are expected. Reference the text quite often in the paper. The following
questions must be addressed:
1) What communication problems are depicted?
2) How are they addressed/resolved/handled, if at all?
3) Are there any communication lessons or tools which could be applied to your life?
More specific questions may also be posted on JetNet pertinent to a particular movie.
(50 points each = 200 points)
8.) Outline of Chapters 2 pages minimum (typed, double spaced, 12 point font) is expected per chapter
from textbooks (10 @ 20 points each = 200 points)
9.) Final Exam (200 points)
Attendance: Attendance is crucial for success in this course. A significant portion of the student’s grade
comes from in-class participation and from pop quizzes. More than 2 absences will result in the reduction of
the student’s final grade. An attendance sheet will be passed around at the beginning of class. Students will be
responsible for signing this sheet if they arrive late.
Missed Assignments: Exams, tests, and major projects may be turned in late or re-scheduled if the student
has a legitimate excuse such as serious illness or emergency. (A doctor’s notes will be required.) Students
must make arrangements with the instructor for tests and/or exams to be re-taken within a week of the missed
class.
Office Hours: By appointment only an hour before class or in a local Starbucks 
Help: Please email me if you need help outside of class. I will be happy to assist you. Remember, no question
is a stupid question  Furthermore, tutorial services are also available through JCC.
Tutors (plus additional services for academic success) can be accessed by calling 7968415 or visit the Center for Student Success, Bert Walker Hall room 123.
“Students requiring special assistance (including those affected by the Americans with Disabilities Act) should
contact the Center for Student Success. This is the first step in acquiring the appropriate accommodations to
facilitate your learning.”
Academic Integrity: Academic honesty is expected of all students. It is the ethical behavior that includes
producing your own work and not presenting other’s work as your own, either by plagiarism, by cheating, or
by helping others to do so.
Classroom Protocol: Please turn off cell phones or place them on vibrate upon entering class. Refrain
from texting or accepting calls. If an emergency develops, please step in the hall to use your phone even to
text. Nearly every class session, students will be asked to participate in discussions and teambuilding
activities. Please refrain from talking or being disruptive in anyway. Come with positive, supportive, and
cooperative attitudes.
Journals: Students will need a notebook or binder to serve as a journal. Every class session, a journal
prompt, somehow relating to communication, will be placed on the board. Students will be asked to journal in
response, writing at least one paragraph for every prompt. They will be asked to share voluntarily at random
times. Students should bring journals to every class session. It is the student’s responsibility to get any missed
journal prompts. Journals will be graded at the end of the semester.
Grade Scale: 95-100 = 4.0
90-94 = 3.5
85-89 = 3.0
80-84 = 2.5
73-79 = 2.0
65-72 = 1.5
60-64 = 1.0
< 60 = 0.0
Calendar (Subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances)
Students are expected to have read the chapter before coming to class.
In addition, students are expected to check JetNet on a regular basis.
Week 1
Sept. 11
Week 2
Sept. 18
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Sept. 25
Oct. 2
Oct. 9
Oct. 16
Week 7
Oct. 23
Week 8
Oct. 30
Week 9
Nov. 6
Week 10
Nov. 13
Week 11
Nov. 20
Week 12
Week 13
Dec. 4
Dec. 11
Dec. 18
Introduction to Course/Discuss the benefits of effective communication skills/
“The Miracle Worker”
Chapter 1: Foundations of Interpersonal Communication
Chapter 2: Culture and Interpersonal Communication/Begin “El Norte”
Paper due “The Miracle Worker”
Work in Cross-Cultural Groups/ Continue “El Norte”
School Closed
Present Cross-Cultural Presentations/ Finish “El Norte”
Chapter 3: Perception and the Self
Paper due “El Norte”
Chapter 4: Listening in Interpersonal Communication/Personal Discovery Projects due
Chapter 5: Verbal Messages
Chapter 6: Nonverbal Messages
Chapter 7: Emotional Messages
Continue discussion of Ch. 6 & 7/Begin “The Joy Luck Club”
Chapter 8: Conversation Messages/ “The Joy Luck Club” continued
Chapter 9: Interpersonal Relationships/”The Joy Luck Club” continued
Chapter 10: Interpersonal Relationship Types and Theories
Chapter 11: Interpersonal Conflict Management/ Paper due “The Joy Luck Club”
Continue discussion over Ch. 8, 9, 10 &11/ Begin“The Way Back”
Film or TV Scene Analysis due/Paper “The Way Back” due
Family Culture Projects due/Group discussions/Review for Final Exam
Final Exam/ Journals graded