Interpersonal Communication (SPCH 100)
Syllabus
Fall 2008
Instructor: Gilbert Puga, Jr
Phone: (562) 692-0921
Course: Interpersonal Communication
Email: gpuga@riohondo.edu
Day & Time: MW
location:
Office: A222G
Office hours: appointment recommended
Prerequisites: Advisory ENGL 35 and READ 23 eligibility
Welcome!
Thanks for taking this course. I am eager to teach you a subject that will influence you throughout your
life as interpersonal communication will. By the end of this course, you will be introduced to various
areas of everyday communication. I hope you enjoy and learn a lot from this class!
TEXT
Please consider purchasing your textbook from Rio Hondo Bookstore—proceeds go toward student
activities such as the speech team.
Textbook: Steven Beebe, Susan Beebe and Mark Redmond. *Interpersonal Communication (5 th edition)
DESCRIPTION
Interpersonal Communication is an introductory course focusing on the interactions between two people. Designed
to provide students with greater understanding or communication in everyday activities the course focuses on selfdiscovery and strengthening self-image; discovering and understanding the factors that influence communication
behavior; and the establishment and maintenance of meaningful and necessary relationships.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
Students will conclude the course with an understanding of conflict management strategies in
an interpersonal relationship context
ASSIGNMENT DATES
Specific dates for your assignments will be assigned. DO NOT MISS THESE ASSIGNED DATES! In many
cases, you cannot make up assignments if you miss your time slot. If you anticipate a schedule conflict, there
are some options:
(1) Notify me far in advance (beginning of semester) about schedule conflicts so when I assign dates I
can schedule you at a time that avoids the schedule conflict
(2) apply missed/late speech score to the assignment
WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS
Unless otherwise indicated written assignments can be neatly hand written or typed (10, 11, or 12 point font).
Out-of-class assignments should not be done in class. Late assignments are either not accepted or receive
automatic point deductions. Assignments are due at the beginning of the class on the due date of the
assignment.
PARTICIPATION
Getting an “A” in the participation area. A student who gets an “A” in this area:
 is seated and appears attentive throughout the class
 shows high commitment through his or her consistent and complete attendance
 takes notes and asks some relevant and insightful questions at the end of some of the sections or
discussions
 is quick to help other students and works well (both friendly and task oriented) with other students
 agrees or disagrees in a tactful manner (assertive)
 abides by the rules of the class
 does not blurt out sarcastic or defensive comments
CLASS RULES, GUIDELINES, AND SIMPLE SUGGESTIONS FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS
Why have class rules & guidelines:
 Following some basic class rules and guidelines helps the students listen to lectures and to other students.
 To help speakers speak in an environment that is comfortable, safe, and conducive to learning.
 To help you adapt to college, while not unknowingly violating communication expectations of teachers.
 To help foster a positive and fun learning environment.
For a student to be immersed into a climate of learning—students need to feel safe, comfortable, and involved. The
comprehensive rules and participation requirements described here are designed to make this a fun and educational
course. In addition, many students will feel vulnerable enough without another student distracting them. Please
abide by the rules of this class, for your sake and for the sake of the other learners in this course. Please read this
section thoroughly. It will help you in this class and in other courses.
Rule #1: Offer support
Help yourself and others to learn. Develop good relations with class peers. Review assignments and information
with each other. Be committed to group assignments and be supportive and respectful to your classmates.
Rule #2: Avoid verbal aggression
Pu downs, verbally aggressive behavior, attacks of a person’s self-concept (i.e., “name calling”) are not
appropriate in an academic environment. This negative type of behavior will cause a deduction in participation
points. Please treat all people with respect. Rational critical feedback is acceptable and at times highly
encouraged; put downs, yelling, threatening, and so forth are not acceptable and will not be tolerated. Monitor
your communication.
Rule #3: Treat others (including me) in a confirming respectful manner
 Avoid heckling or deprecating humor towards the teacher or other students in class.
 When you participate, time out your verbal participation so you are not speaking when others are speaking.
 Avoid profanity. Cuss words and profanity should not be used in class (Board Policy 4200).
Rule #4: Focus in on class
 Do not do other course work in this class. Do not do out-of-class work during class time.
 Don’t leave class midway through. Stay the entire time.
 Don’t continually talk or joke around in class, especially when you should be listening.
 Avoid sleeping in-class. You need about 8 hours of sleep per night. Schedule in those valuable hours.
Rule #5: Be a good audience member for the teacher or student speaker
 Give each speaker (teacher or student) your full attention.
 Avoid making noise that may divert the audience’s attention away from the speaker. For example, do not
crumble any food wrappers or begin organizing your folder during someone’s speech.
 Do not comment or say anything during another student’s speech—unless the speaker directs you to
(i.e., the speaker asks the audience a question).
 Heckling is not allowed and will lead to a loss of participation points.
Rule #6: Practice listening skills
 Be quiet, to listen to the teacher and other class-peers. Talk when appropriate.
 Ask questions at an appropriate time.
 Don’t ask an overwhelming number of questions during lecture. If you’re asking more than three questions
during class that’s a lot. Use your discretion but after class may be a better time for questions.
 If there are empty seats in front, I recommend you sit there, rather than in the very back.
 Avoid drawing pictures instead of taking notes or listening—it is a poor listening habit.
Rule #7: Remedy your absences and lateness’s:
If you miss a class, copy the notes and or handouts from a class peer. You need not tell me of your
absence(s) unless there is some unique college excused reason (you’re on the Rio Hondo baseball team), or
you have an excused absence. College related activities are the only excusable absences in this course.
Rule #8: Cell phones/beepers/and other noise makers
Our class should not be disrupted by any cell phones or electronic devises. A student will lose
participation points (5 pts) if that student’s electronic devices disrupt the class. Please turn off your cell
phone or adjust to silent/vibrate mode so it will not be heard in class. Generally, if it can be heard than it’s
disruptive. If phones and so forth become consistent problem, the student may be required to leave the class
(counted as an absence).
Rule #9: Classroom visitors
Classroom visitors are not allowed. No auditing of the class. Only students who are officially enrolled can
be in this class. Please do not bring any children or friends to class. For public out-of-class
performances—visitors are welcome.
Suggestions for student success
Prioritize your education! Make your education one of the most important endeavors in your life. Sometimes
when the opportunity to socialize with friends, family and or a significant other comes up—you need to
postpone socializing for another time so you can study. Work vigilantly in an environment that has little to
know distractions. Everybody should have that secret library that no one knows about—except you. So you can
regroup, study, and relax. Stay healthy: Sleep and eat well. Plan to have a manageable balanced schedule. In
general, these schedule distributions seem reasonable:
3 – 6 units/40 hr work wk
6-9 units/30 hr work wk
12 units/20 hr work wk
15 units/10 hr work wk
18 units/0 hrs of work
If you feel confused or want advice about your schedule, I would be happy to offer suggestions and give feedback.
This can be a fairly intense class, so, give yourself two or three 2 hour blocks of time to study per week.
Allocate time, attention, and commitment to this class and you will master this subject!
Remember, this is your education—invest in it. Research shows that your degree of education positively
correlates to your career pay.
Come to class 5 minutes early: talk with peers, form relationships, compare notes. Stay after class 5 to 10
minutes: obviously you may not have this opportunity because you might have a class directly after, but
reviewing your notes directly after class enhances your memory because everything is still fresh on your mind
(recency effect). You will also get a head start on upcoming material. Developing the habit of going to the
library directly after class will help you focus your goals and help by saving time later. Even if you review for
just 10 minutes after class, this will pay off tremendously in the future. Read the textbook frequently and study
to learn
EXAMINATIONS/QUIZZES
Exams may be take-home or in-class or a combination of both. A missed exam will be given the extrapolated score
similar to that of a missed assignment or an instructor determined late penalty. For scantron exams: bring a scantron
form 882 ES, paper (in case of an essay question), and a #2 pencil for in-class exams. For out-of-class exams, please
thoroughly follow the directions and turn in scantron and test copies separately at the beginning of class on the due
date. Quizzes are scheduled and follow the same standards as exams.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
ABSENCES/LATENESS/LEFT EARLY
If you are absent, get the information you missed (notes and handouts) from a class peer. Getting missed
information and notes is the most critical obligation you have if you are absent. Write down class peer contact
information here when/if they have agreed to help
name
email
1._________________
phone
_____________________________ ____________________________
2. ______________________ _____________________________ ___________________________
In this course:
Absences = Lateness = Left early
NONPENALIZED ABSCENCES, LATES, LEFT EARLY
There are no direct grading penalties if you are absent/late/leave early up to:
4 times = for a this course
EXCESSIVE NONPARTICIPATION
Point deductions
Excessive absences, lates, left-earlies are one of the main causes for low grades. Further, these three nonparticipative aspects can be disruptive to the entire class. If you are anticipating excessive absences, lates, or left
earlies consider rearranging your schedule or dropping this course and re-signing up at a more appropriate time.
Excessive nonparticipation can decrease the student’s participation points. Being late/absent/leaving early more
than 1 time will cause point deductions.
PLEASE NOTE: If you do arrive to class late:
1. Sit in the nearest seat to the door so you do not disrupt the class.
2. At the conclusion of class, give the instructor a note with your name, course, and the date and time
you arrived OR if available indicate on the attendance sheet. If you do not do this, your late will be
recorded as an absence.
Class withdraw
There will be an attempt to drop student’s who have excessive absences, but I cannot guarantee I will drop you,
so if you want to drop complete the paper work and submit it to admissions.
*I attempt to administratively drop students at one or two points in the semester. However, please do not
assume that you will automatically be withdrawn administratively. I cannot administratively drop students after
a certain point in the semester; therefore, the absentee student remains on the roster and receives an “F” grade.
To avoid this, if you (the student) determine that you can no longer attend the course, you need to
administratively withdraw from the course.
MISSED ASSIGNMENT POLICY
Though you cannot make up an assignment, test, or speech—there is a safety net. I do not recommend applying
the missed speech or assignment policy, however, here is what it entails. The missed speech/exam policy allows
a student to miss a speech or major assignment or completely fail an assignment and have it substituted for a
better score. For all students, at the end of the semester, I will extrapolate the average of your highest and
lowest score (among major assignments) and deduct 25%. The score would then be substituted for any missed
scores or very low scores.
PLAGIARISM/CHEATING
Cheating will not be tolerated. Cheating in this course will lead to an “F” grade, suspension from the class, and
reported to the director of student affairs (see catalog for specifics). During in-class exams do not talk or copy from
class peers until both of your exams have been turned in. Plagiarism is representing another person’s words or ideas
as one’s own (see catalog). Avoid plagiarism. Make sure you cite your sources! This means that you will not copy
from another person’s exam, written exercises, speeches, or paper. Plagiarized speeches receive an “F” grade.
Copying or doing someone else’s speech hurts you the most. You lose your opportunity to learn. Learning requires
that you try to design and deliver a speech. During this process, it is expected that you will face some barriers or
problems. Knowledge of these barriers is just as important as your success. In essence, these barriers tell the specific
learner what he or she needs to work on. By cheating/plagiarism, you lose an important awareness of what you need
to work on.
FREE SPEECH ORIENTATION
You are appreciated as an audience member. As an audience member you will be able to listen, evaluate, and
learn from listening to your instructor or other class peer’s speeches/comments. A student audience member can
walk out of a speech/lecture, if that speech/lecture is perceived as too offensive or sensitive to that particular
student. Walking out (exiting) during a speech under these circumstances will not cause any grade penalties. If
you walk out under these circumstances please turn in a written statement discussing briefly that you used this
option (for attendance modifications), and (optionally) the reason why you walked out.
INCOMPLETES
An Incomplete will be given only when all College policies are met. To discuss an incomplete, please make an
appointment with me that is conducive to both of our schedules. Notification must be done prior to the end of
the semester and initiated by the student. You need verification (e.g., doctor’s letter) and a copy of the college’s
incomplete policy. Refer to your college’s current catalog for further details on this matter.
CLASS WITHDRAWAL
It is the student’s responsibility to officially withdrawal from a class whenever the student determines that he or
she can no longer attend the class. Students who stopped attending, but do not administratively withdraw from a
course may receive an “F” grade.
EMERGENCY INFORMATION
Monday – Thursday (7:30am – 5 pm), Friday (7:30-430 pm) Dial “15”
Parking Booth 562-692-0921 x4118
Monday – Friday (5pm – 10pm), Saturday (8am-4 pm) 562-692-0921 x3437
LEARNING DISABILITIES
If you believe you have a diagnosed learning disability, you need to advise the professor and seek appropriate
accommodations. The Disabled Students Program and Services phone number is 562-908-3420 or TDD 562699-4077.
FOOD AND BEVERAGE POLICY
No food is allowed in class. If you see any food or trash please throw it away in the outside trashcan. Bottled
water is acceptable.
GRADING
Assignment
Points
Quizzes...............................………..….150
Group Speech ......................……….....100
Portfolio……………………….………100
Participation, exercises, attendance….. 100
Grading will be on a straight percentage of
the total points.
90% and above = A
80% - 89% = B
70% - 79% = C
60% - 69% =D
59% and below = F
CALENDAR
Study guides will be given for quizzes and quizzes will occur each class meeting.
Date
Topic
August 28
Introductions, course overview
The nature & characteristics of
interpersonal communication (IPC)
Discovering yourself assignment
September 4
The nature & characteristics of IPC
The self and interpersonal communication
Communication and self
September 11
Perceptions and attributions
Perception Checking assignment
Portfolio discussed
September 18
Presentations on Discovering yourself (all)
September 25
Culture and interpersonal communication
October 2
Emotions and IPC
October 9
Nonverbal Communication
Desmond Morris video
October 16
Nonverbal Communication
October 23
Language: slang and verbal interaction style
October 30
Listening
November 6
Relationship Climate
November 13
Family Relationships
November 20 Family Discipline video and a guest speaker
November 27
Relationship Development/Romantic Relationships
December 4
Conflict
December 11
FINAL DAY