Interpersonal Communication Skills
SDS 4410 – Section 4987
Monday – Friday: 3rd Period
Room 2337 Norman Hall
Summer B 2003
Instructor: Meggen Sixbey
Office: 1313B Norman Hall
Office Hours: Mondays 12:15 pm – 1:30 pm & Wednesdays 10:00 am – 11:00am and by appointment
Phone Number: 392-0731, ext. 277
E-mail address: mailto:meggentucker@hotmail.com
TA Coordinator: Jennifer Heard
E-mail address: jennmichelle100@hotmail.com
Required Textbook:
Adler, R.B., Rosenfeld, L.B., & Proctor, R.F. (2001). Interplay: The Process of Interpersonal
Communication (8th Ed.). Fort Worth, TX: Harcourt.
Course Web Site: http://plaza.ufl.edu/mbtucker
Course Description and Objectives:
Due to the nature of this course and the assumption that we “cannot not communicate,” we will spend a
great deal of time every class period communicating in large and small groups, learning to communicate more
effectively through awareness-raising and skill enhancement. Consequently, participation is of the utmost
importance. Throughout the semester, we will also survey the fundamentals of interpersonal communication
and explore personal applications to our own communication and relationships.
Course Components:
 Class Participation and Attendance: The effort that each one of us puts into our awareness, personal
growth and enlightenment is a choice we each must make. Every moment in this class (as in life) is a
learning opportunity, and the process of purposefully experiencing this course will teach you the
content. Your investment is vital to your success, the success of your small groups, and the overall
success of the class. Please evaluate the following implications as you make the decision whether or not
to attend class.
o Attendance sheets, assignments given in class, pop-quizzes and in class activities will combine to
determine your participation points and will have a significant impact on your overall grade.
Missed material cannot be made up.
o Since this class is largely experiential, each of you will benefit from being in class. Your
contributions are significant and important to the class dynamic. What you get out of this class is
predominately what you are willing to put in. Your level of investment will be noted by both
myself and your TA.
*As situations arise in which you are unable to attend class, please notify me as soon as possible prior
to missing class.
*please note that class P&A is worth 6.1 points a day, allowing you to have one excused absence,
whereas lab P&A is worth 6.25 points per meeting.
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Small-Group Participation (Lab): During the first or second day of class, you will be assigned to a
group that will be your primary discussion group throughout the semester. Each group member will
either individually or partnered with another group member (depending on class size) prepare a
discussion which will include activities to present to their group members. These discussions and
activities should be designed to practice and enhance you own interpersonal communication and that of
your group members. Failure to attend or amply notify your Teaching Assistant of your inability to
attend on your presentation day will result in a score of 0 points for your entire lab participation grade.
Your assigned Teaching Assistant will determine your individual group participation grade.
Journals: You will be expected to write nine (9) journal entries to be turned in over the course of the
semester. Included in your syllabus are suggested topics for each journal entry. However, you are
invited to use your creativity in deciding what you will write about providing you relate it to the
pertinent interpersonal communication chapter that will be discussed in class, reactions to class activities
or reactions to a guest speaker. The journals are to be typed and double-spaced, and should be 1.5-2
pages long. Please use 1’ margins, 12-point font and Times New Roman. They should be submitted
with a title page to help protect confidentiality. Journals are due in paper form by Lab time on
appropriate days. You will be allowed one “emergency journal” that can be turned in by the next class
period or submitted via email. Please note that only one emergency journal will be accepted. No other
journals will be accepted via email except an emergency journal. Mark any emergency journal with an
“E.” Because I realize that your journal entries will be based on your self-disclosure and personal
perspective, only your assigned TA and myself will read them. For grading requirements, please refer to
the section in your syllabus entitled Journal Evaluation Form.
Cultural Investigation Paper: In lieu of a midterm and final exam, a cultural investigation paper will
be conducted on the culture of your choice. You must choose a culture that you are not, nor have ever
been, apart of. The purpose of this paper is to gain insightful information about a new culture while also
practicing different interpersonal communication techniques that you learn throughout the semester.
This research paper will consist of five (5) parts: 1. Research and Facts, 2. Interview Information,
3. Current Issues, 4. Summary and 5. Bibliography. For more information, please refer to the section
in your syllabus titled Cultural Investigation Paper located below.
Group Project: Your group project will be completed with your small group members. Topics
pertaining to interpersonal communication will be announced and your group will submit their top three
(3) topics of interest as voted upon by the majority of the group. Each group will prepare a 30-minute
presentation pertaining to their topic of interest; creativity is strongly encouraged. Each group is asked
to meet as a whole or designate an individual to meet with me to go over ideas that will be covered
during the presentation. Additional information about the requirements of this assignment will be
provided. Please note that you MUST be present for your small group project. Failure to attend will
result in an incomplete in the course. For grading information, please refer to the section in your
syllabus entitled Group Presentation Evaluation.
Portfolio: You will need to submit a collection of your original journals (with instructor/TA feedback),
bound together in an appropriate fashion. In addition to this collection of your work, you will also need
to include a table of contents and a reaction paper discussing what the journal writing and feedback
process was like for you. For grading information, please refer to the section in your syllabus entitled
Portfolio Score Sheet.
Course Point Breakdown:
Grading Scale:
Classroom Participation and Attendance
Small Group Participation and Attendance
Journals (9 journals at 10 pts each)
Research Paper
Group Project
Portfolio
110
50
90
100
100
50
Total:
500
A
B+
B
C+
C
D+
D
F
448-500 points
423-447 points
398-422 points
373-397 points
348-372 points
323-347 points
298-322 points
297 or less points
Class Policies:
 Late Assignments: No late assignments will be accepted.
 Extra Credit: up to 20 points (5 points each)
Additional opportunities for extra credit may or may not present themselves throughout the semester.
However, you may earn up to 20 points extra credit by completing one or more of the following
assignments (all papers must follow the format detailed in the journal writing section):
1. Double Vision Film Review- Select/view a movie for which you will take the perspective of
two different movie critics who espouse very different worldviews/opinions and write two
different/conflicting versions of a critique of the movie.
2. Interview a professional in the community that has experience in a field that is relevant to
your current personal or professional development goals. Write a summary/reaction paper
about your experience. In addition to the 1.5 -2 page requirement, you must include a list of
your interview questions as well as a brief biography of the person you interviewed.
3. Challenge your own stereotypes or lack of experience in a particular area by immersing
yourself in a culture different from your own or volunteering somewhere in the community.
Write a reaction paper.
4. Select a topic relevant to the course and conduct a brief survey of peoples’ reactions to the
issue you have chosen. You must verbally survey a minimum of 15 people, asking each
person the same 5 questions. Write a summary of your findings as well as personal reactions
to the experience (Were people open to answering your questions? Were the interactions
awkward?). In addition to the 1.5 -2 page requirement, you must provide a brief summary
about the issue you have chosen and why as well as a list of your interview questions.
 Pass/Fail Option: Pass/Fail (S/U) is not an option for this course.
 Office Hours: Please feel free to stop by my office during office hours, to set up an appointment with
me or email me with any questions. I am happy to talk with you about your progress in the course, any
difficulties you may be experiencing, or anything else you would like to discuss.
 University Honor Code: Plagiarism or cheating in any form is a sign of disrespect to yourself, your
classmates, and this university and will not be tolerated. On all work submitted for credit by students at
the University of Florida, the following pledge is implied: On my honor, I have neither given nor
received unauthorized aid in doing this assignment. If a student is caught plagiarizing or cheating in any
form, the policies of the university will be followed.
 Confidentiality: Due to the nature of this course and the small group activities, you are expected to keep
what is talked about to yourself. If you must share something that went on in class, make every effort to
conceal the identity of the person who shared it. Please note that in any group activity, absolute
confidentiality cannot be guaranteed. Therefore, please share only what you feel comfortable.
Tentative Due Dates
Mondays
June 30
Course Overview
July 7
Chapter 4: Perceiving
Others
Tuesdays
July 1
Ch 1:
Inter.
Process
July 8
Lab
Due: J2
July 14
Chapter 6: Nonverbal
Communication
July 15
Lab
Due: J4
July 21
Cultural Guest Speaker:
Rosa West
July 28
Chapter 8: Emotions
July 22
Lab
Due: J6
July 29
Lab
Due: J8
Aug 4
Group Presentations
Aug 5
Group
Present
-ations
Wednesdays
July 2
Chapter 7: Listening
Due: J1
Thursdays
July 3
Personal
Comm. Day
Fridays
July 4
Independence Day
July 9
Chapter 3:
Communication & the
Self Bring an object that
is symbolic of the way
you view yourself (don’t
let anyone see it!)
July 16
Chapter 6: Nonverbal
Communication
Continued
July 23
Chapter 2: Culture and
Communication
July 30
Chapter 10: Intimacy &
Distance
July 10
Lab
Due: J3
July 11
Chapter 5: Language
July 17
Lab
Due: J5
July 18
Communicating within
Societies
July 24
Lab
Due: J7
July 31
Lab
Due: J9
Aug 6
Group Presentations
Due: Portfolio
Aug 7
Group
Presentations
July 25
Emotions Guest Speaker:
Dr. Marshall Knudson
Aug 1
Chapter 9: Dynamics of
Int. Relationships
Due: CI Paper
Aug 8
Group Presentations
Suggested Journal Topics
Journal #1: Introducing Yourself:
 How would you define yourself? How would others define you?
 What is your major? What year are you?
 What do you see as your strengths? Your growth areas?
Journal #2: Ch 4 Perceiving Others
 Why do you think identical twins are perceived in different ways?
 How do you perceive others differently based on physical differences, clothing, etc.
 What do you feel has influenced the way you perceive others?
 If you were to place yourself in your peers shoes, how do you think they are perceiving you and why? Do
you perceive yourself in this same way?
Journal #3: Ch 3 Communication and the Self
 What was it like to show others a personal aspect of yourself represented by an object?
 Were you scared, excited, afraid… to show it?
 What did you think of hearing what others thought it represented?
 Did you find yourself incorrectly or inaccurately deciding on another individuals “self” according to what
you perceived the object to represent?
Journal #4: Ch 5 Language
 What are some specific examples of when your choice of language led to positive or negative results in your
own interpersonal relationships?
 What do these statements mean to you: Meanings are in people, not in words; language is arbitrary,
meanings change.
Journal #5: Ch 6 Nonverbal Communication
 How do you "read" nonverbal behaviors? Are you usually accurate? Why or why not.
 Explain how the way you dress is a form of nonverbal communication. What are you communicating when
you dress for class?
 How are vocal cues a form of nonverbal communication?
 Do you agree/disagree with the idea that nonverbal communication is more powerful than verbal
communication? Why or why not.
 How does the idea of "we cannot not communicate" apply to nonverbal communication?
Journal #6: Reactions to Guest Speaker or Class Activity
 How do you communicate within various subcultures that you are immersed in?
 How are different styles of communication present within your subculture?
 What are some phrases and expressions, that people from a culture different from you own, use. What do
you think about them? Are they effective when these individuals are communicating to you?
 How do cultural differences help/hinder communication and decision-making?
 What information may you need when communicating with someone from a culture different from you
own?
Journal #7: Cultural Investigation Update OR Reactions to Class Activity
 Where are you at with your CI paper?
 What do you still have left to do?
 What is hindering/helping this process?
Journal #8: Ch 8 Emotions OR Reactions to Guest Speaker
 How comfortable do you feel expressing your emotions?
 Why and when do you not express your emotions.
 What about certain climates allow you to express your emotions and which emotions?
 Where in your body do you "feel" emotions?
 How would you go about expanding your repertoire of emotions to be better able to describe what you're
feeling.
Journal #9: Lab Reaction Journal
 How did it feel to have others using listening and communication skills with you in an intimate setting?
 What different communication skills did you see yourself exhibiting?
 What different range of emotions did you experience as you went through the Lab experience?
Cultural Investigation Paper
The investigation paper is a course requirement that accounts for 100 points (5 sections at 20 pts each) toward
your final grade. It is your report of an investigation that you have conducted into a particular culture. This
culture can be a particular nationality of people or a subgroup of individuals such as the Homeless culture, the
Rave culture, the Harley Motorcycle culture, etc. The paper should be double-spaced, typed, and should be
seven - ten pages in length. Please use 1’ margins and 12-point, Times New Roman font. You should also
include in-text citations where appropriate that correspond to your bibliographical information. It is also
recommended to use section headings that correspond with the 5 sections required for your paper.
The paper consists of five sections:
1. Research and Facts – include (but not limited to) the following data as evidenced in the literature:
a. Title of culture or other appropriate variations
b. History of Culture/Future of Culture
c. Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria
d. Specific Skills Required
e. Duties/Nature of culture
f. Hobbies
g. Possible Typical Employment
h. Related Information
2. Interview Information – the purpose of the interview is to learn as much about the culture as you can
from a personal perspective. The interviews should be with persons currently in the culture of choice
and should include questions pertaining to what lead this person to be drawn to this culture, benefits,
drawbacks, identifying cultural beliefs, time spent practicing cultural beliefs, hierarchies evident in this
culture, travel as it pertains to the culture, foods, geographic locations, etc. Please record this interview
with an audiotape and submit a written transcription that has been taken from an engaging 10-minute
segment of this interview (transcriptions are NOT included in the total page length of your paper).
Thus, this section should consist of two (2) parts: 1. A summary of the questions asked and data
received pertaining to the interview as well as 2. a 10 minute transcription.
3. Current Issues – using information from journals, magazines, interviews, and/or newspaper resources,
identify a specific current issue (from 2002 or 2003) related to the culture, i.e., problems, controversy,
etc. Give a brief summary and reaction.
4. Reflective Summary – due to the nature of this course, this is perhaps the most important section of this
paper. Therefore, relate the information you learned about yourself through your introspective journals
to your cultural investigation. Identify your strengths and weaknesses in engaging with an individual
from another culture. Consider questions such as:
a. How did you use your listening skills in the interview?
b. What part of yourself did you communicate to the individual? How much impression
management was present on your part?
c. What nonverbal cues did you notice in the interviewee? In yourself? How might have cultural
differences influenced these cues?
d. What level of intimacy did you experience with this person?
e. How did you perceive this person initially? How (did) your perceptions change throughout your
interaction?
5. Bibliography - using MLA or APA style for your bibliography, cite in alphabetical order three (3) to five
(5) resources that were used in conducting the investigation.
a. Example for referencing a book: Author, A.B., (Year of publication). Title of book. City of
Publication, State of publication: Publishers.
b. Example for referencing a journal article: Author, A.B., Author #2, C.D., & Author #3, E,F.
(Year of Publication). Title of article. Name of Journal, (volume), pages-pages.
c. Please see me if you have any questions regarding how to cite references.
Journal Evaluation Form
Format
Cover page meets specified requirements
Appropriate length
Double spaced, 12 pt. Font
Grammar, spelling, sentence construction
_____ / 4
Clarity
Logical expression of thoughts and ideas
Flow and ease to read
Clear, concise writing
Discernable focus/understands purpose of the assignment & responds to questions posed
_____ / 2
Depth, Awareness & Critical thinking
Attempting to view situations from different perspectives
Valuable insights/self-perceptions
Writing about topic on more than a surface level
Exploring connections, themes, & patterns relevant to interpersonal communication
_____ / 2
Openness, Honesty & Risk-taking
_____ / 2
Balanced discussion of both positive/negative insights
Focus on self vs. others
Taking genuine risks to talk about personal reactions/emotional responses
Total: _____ / 10
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- ---- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --
INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS
PORTFOLIO ASSIGNMENT SCORE SHEET
Name: ____________________________________
Table of Contents
____/2
Original Journals #1-9 (3 pts each)
____/27
Reaction to Journal Process
____/15
Bound in an Appropriate Fashion
____/3
Timely Submission of Portfolio
____/3
TOTAL:
____/50
_________________________________’s Group Presentation Evaluation
Group Member Evaluation
If you would like to see any written feedback from your group members, please see the instructor. Below you
will find the average scores from your group members’ feedback for the following sections:
Participated in group meetings and discussions
_____
Contributed ideas to the project
_____
Completed assigned tasks
_____
Demonstrated an openness to others’ ideas
_____
TOTAL:
_____/20
Class Member Evaluation
If you would like to see any written feedback from your classmates, please see the instructor.
Below you will find the average scores from your classmates’ feedback for the following sections:
Relevant to Interpersonal Communication
_____
Creative
_____
Informative
_____
Well-Organized, Easy to Understand
_____
TOTAL:
_____/20
Instructor Panel Evaluation
If you would like to see any written feedback from your instructor panel, please see the instructor. Below you
will find the average scores from your instructor panel’s feedback for the following sections:
Demonstrated Creativity
_____
Involved the Class
_____
Presenters were knowledgeable
_____
Presenters covered areas relevant to the topic
_____
Well-Organized
_____
Articulated information well
_____
Presentation was of appropriate length
_____
Demonstrated sensitivity to diversity
_____
Illustrated the topic well
_____
Appeared to work well as a group
_____
Demonstrated adequate preparation
_____
Used examples where appropriate
_____
TOTAL:
GRAND TOTAL:
_____/60
_____/100
RESOURCE LIST
It is very stressful being a student. There are a number of factors that contribute to student stress and anxiety
including exams, grades, fear of failure, concerns about admissions to graduate school, parental pressures,
financial concerns, juggling several different roles in your life as well as many, many other things. During
stressful periods of time, there is an increased tendency for us to isolate and alienate ourselves from others.
Please keep this list of resources available to you and your friends should the need arise to seek outside help if
you find yourself needing assistance from a neutral, nonjudgmental source.
Alachua County Crisis Center: 264-6789
- Offering free face-to-face counseling as well as a 24 hour crisis phone line
Center for Sexual Assault/Abuse Recovery and Education: 392 1161 x4231
- A counselor is on-call 24-hours a day to assist with sexual assault issues
Corner Drug Store: 334 3800
- For assistance with drug and alcohol related problems
University Counseling Center: 392 1575
- A counselor is available to assist students on a face-to-face basis as they work through personal
issues
Office of International Studies and Programs: 392 1345
- Assistance is provided for international students at the University
Dean of Students Office: 392 1261
- A staff member is available to assist students
Student Health Care Center: 392 1161
- A counselor is available to assist students on a face-to-face basis as they work through personal
issues
Student Mental Health: 392 1171
- A mental health counselor is on-call 24-hours a day to respond to emergencies; a counselor is also
available to assist students on a face-to-face basis as they work through personal issues
Meridian Behavioral Health Care: 374 5600
- MBH addresses mental health needs, medication management as well as provides a crisis
stabilization unit for immediate stabilizing needs