COMM 30253 INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
Department of Communication Studies
Summer 2015
COURSE OBJECTIVES
In this course we will examine cultural groups with whom people identify by birth or by
choice, and how a group’s culture influences the communication of its members. The goal is
to improve our competence as intercultural communicators as we do the following:
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Consider how culture shapes our perception of the world and our ways of communicating.
Compare U.S. communication characteristics with those of other nationalities.
Understand the stresses and challenges associated with cross-cultural adaptation.
Acquire the knowledge and skills to communicate competently in our multicultural society.
Identify communication strategies to reduce stereotyping, prejudice, and ethnocentrism.
PROFESSOR – DR. PAUL WITT
817-257-6683
p.witt@tcu.edu
Moudy South room 328 after class or by appointment
REQUIRED TEXTBOOK
James Neuliep. Intercultural Communication: A Contextual Approach, 6th Edition. Sage
Publishers, 2015. Additional readings and resources are found at http:personal.tcu.edu/pwitt.
IMPORTANT POLICIES
Classroom Courtesy – Electronic devices are welcome only if used for course activities. If
you cannot restrain their use, please do not bring them to class. Late arrivals and early
departures are especially disruptive given the configuration of our classroom. We will take a
break during the 2-hour class period. Please do not leave the room at other times unless an
emergency arises.
Late Work – Written assignments are to be word-processed in standard academic format
and e-mailed to Dr. Witt before class on the due date. Late work will receive half credit if
turned in one class day late. Late work will not be accepted after that.
Academic Integrity – Turning in a paper you did not write or using content you did not cite
constitutes plagiarism and will result in failure of the course. Guidelines regarding tutors,
writing coaches, and proofreaders are on the course website. Accessing notes or receiving aid
during an exam constitutes cheating and will result in failure of the course. See p. 18 in the
Student Handbook for full disclosure of the TCU standards of academic conduct.
Core Requirements – This is a Writing Emphasis course that carries Cultural Awareness
credit applicable to the TCU core curriculum. You will write three viewpoint papers as a
learning strategy to explore knowledge about intercultural communication, as well as to
sharpen the accuracy and effectiveness of your writing.
EVALUATION AND GRADING
Your grade will be determined by your performance in the following areas:
50% Exams – Five short tests (10% each) will cover detailed information about concepts
and principles presented in the textbook and in class. Tests will consist of true-false, multiplechoice, and short-answer questions. It is essential that you be present on test days, as makeups are not possible. Unexcused absences on test days will result in a grade of 0.
30% Papers – You will write three short viewpoint papers (10% each) addressing aspects of
your own culture and that of others. Papers will be graded on how well you apply concepts
from the course, as well as the quality of your written expression. These papers should
represent your best thoughts and your finest writing. Regardless of content, a paper that
contains errors of language and punctuation will not receive a grade of A. All papers will be
submitted to turnitin.com to verify original content. Plagiarism in whole or in part will result
in automatic failure of the course.
20% Final Exam - The final exam will be a comprehensive essay exam designed to test
both your written expression (10%) and your understanding of course content (10%).
Attendance – Except for one free miss, you must provide written documentation of any
absence due to a medical or personal emergency. Otherwise, your final course grade will be
reduced as follows: miss 2 classes (total), lose 5 points; miss 3 classes lose 10 points.
Texting, sleeping, or accessing outside information is inappropriate during class and will
result in your being counted absent that day. Students who leave class after the break will
not receive full attendance credit.
Course Grade
A = 99–90
B = 89–80
C = 79–70
D = 69–60
Date
Assignment
Grade
Wed. July 8
Test 1
____
Mon. July 13
Test 2
____
Tue. July 14
Viewpoint Paper 1
____
Fri. July 17
Test 3
____
Mon. July 20
Viewpoint Paper 2
____
Fri. July 24
Test 4
____
Tue. July 28
Viewpoint Paper 3
____
Wed. July 29
Test 5
____
Fri. July 31
Final Exam – writing
____
Fri. July 31
Final Exam – content
____
Adjustment for _____ absences
Course Grade =
- ____
____
F = Below 60
CLASS SCHEDULE
Changes will be announced in class.
M6
Intercultural competence (Ch. 12); Identify your personal cultural profile
T7
Culture and communication (Ch. 1 and Madrid); Introduce Viewpoint Papers 1 and 2
W8
Test 1; Cultural variables (Ch. 2)
R9
Cultural variables (Ch. 2 and Braithwaite)
F 10
Cross-cultural exchange with students from South Korea
M 13
Test 2; Writing tips
T 14
Write Viewpoint Paper 1 in class; Language and culture (Ch. 7)
W 15
Sex/gender roles (Ch. 6 and Wood); Privacy and time orientations (Ch. 4)
R 16
Gender as culture
F 17
Test 3; Nonverbals and culture (Ch. 8)
M 20
Turn in Viewpoint Paper 2; African-American culture; The Great Debaters, Part
1; Assign Ch. 3, Martin & Hicks article, Simmons article (read these before Tuesday)
T 21
The Great Debaters, Part 2; Stereotypes, SAE, reducing prejudice (Ch. 5); Assign
Hispanic-American reading (Ch. 3 and Martinez)
W 22
Hispanic-American culture; Guest speaker Eddy Reyes
R 23
Religion as culture; Arranged
F 24
Test 4; Origins of white American culture
M 27
International experiences; Video interviews; Acculturation and Culture Shock (Ch. 12)
T 28
Turn in Viewpoint Paper 3; Developing intercultural relationships (Ch. 9);
Romano’s marriage types
W 29
Test 5; City of Joy, Part 1
R 30
City of Joy, Part 2; Preparation for final exam
F 31
Final exam
This portion is the generic TCU syllabus for all sections of
COMM 30253 – Intercultural Communication
TCU Mission
To educate individuals to think and act as ethical leaders and responsible citizens in the global community
Course Description/Catalog Description
This survey course examines the influence of culture on our communicative interactions with others. Emphasis is placed on identifying the relationship
between communication and culture, developing intercultural communication competence, and understanding the elements that constitute and separate
cultures.
Degree Requirements Meet by the Course
This course currently applies to the major and minor in Communication Studies (COMM). It also satisfies the Cultural Awareness (CA) and Writing Emphasis
(WEM) requirements of the Core Curriculum.
Credit Hours
You will earn three undergraduate credit hours for successfully completing this course.
Prerequisites
Students must complete COMM 20113 before enrolling in Intercultural Communication.
Learning Outcomes
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Students will
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Students will
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Students will
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Students will
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Students will
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Students will
demonstrate an understanding of the interconnectedness of society, culture and individual identity.
engage with other perspectives and cultures with reason and respect.
participate in diverse cultural activities.
demonstrate a working knowledge of the rhetorical conventions of the target discipline.
exhibit the ability to use writing as a means of gaining and expressing an understanding of discipline-specific content.
produce writing that demonstrates clarity and precision of thought.
Required Text and Additional Resources
Neuliep, J. W. (2015). Intercultural communication: A contextual approach. Los Angeles, CA: Sage.
Course Policies/Grading
Each instructor will provide a description of all assignments that will be evaluated and how their students’ work will be translated into a final course grade.
In addition to this explanation, the grading scale will be included. Currently, every faculty member has the option of using the plus/minus grading method
or traditional letter grades.
The faculty definition of grades, and the point system designed to indicate quality of work, is as follows:
A
4.00 – Excellent
A3.67
B+
3.33
B
3.00 – Good
B2.67
C+
2.33
C
2.00 – Satisfactory
C1.67
D+
1.33
D
1.00 – Poor
D0.67
F
0.00 – Failing
P
Passed the course.
NC
No credit awarded for the course.
In all cases where academic policy requires a grade of “C” or better, a “C-”will not meet those criteria. The same applies for “B” and “B-”.
University Attendance Policy
The University Attendance Policy is that regular and punctual class attendance is essential and no assigned work is excused because of absence, no matter
what the cause. The course instructor will keep records of class attendance. When an accumulation of absences reaches the point of endangering a
student's academic status, the faculty member should report his situation to the Campus Life Office. An instructor should not assume that continued
absence from class indicates an official withdrawal until notified by the Registrar.
The Campus Life Office may grant official University absences for students who miss class to represent the University (as in athletics, band, chorus, national
or state meeting of organizations represented at TCU). Faculty/staff who wish to have an activity sanctioned for official University absence status must
submit the names of all students, including date and hours absent from campus, to the Campus Life Office no later than one week prior to the date of the
activity. The Dean of Campus Life reviews and approves the request as appropriate and forwards the names for publication and distribution to all faculty
members through the TCU Weekly Bulletin. Faculty members are required to permit students to make up work missed because of official university
absences.
Serious illness or family emergencies may be verified by the Campus Life Office but are not considered official absences. Illnesses that will be verified are
those involving hospitalization, or catastrophic accidents or illness. When a serious illness or emergency has been verified, each instructor should assist the
student to make up any missed work. Time lost through such absences should NOT prejudice class standing. Faculty members should specify the
appropriate time frame for making up missed work.
Students who miss an instructional experience are expected to meet with faculty to discuss their absence as soon as possible. Faculty may permit a student
to make up missed work or assess a penalty for class absence.
Academic Misconduct
Academic Misconduct (Sec. 3.4 from the Student Handbook) –Any act that violates the academic integrity of the institution is considered academic
misconduct. The procedures used to resolve suspected acts of academic misconduct are available in the offices of Academic Deans and the Office of Campus
Life and are listed in detail in the Undergraduate Catalog (Student Policies>Academic Conduct Policy Details; http://catalog.tcu.edu/undergraduate/).
Specific examples include, but are not limited to:
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Cheating: Copying from another student’s test paper, laboratory report, other report, or computer files and listings; using, during any academic
exercise, material and/or devices not authorized by the person in charge of the test; collaborating with or seeking aid from another student
during a test or laboratory without permission; knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or soliciting in its entirety or in part, the
contents of a test or other assignment unauthorized for release; substituting for another student or permitting another student to substitute for
oneself.
Plagiarism: The appropriation, theft, purchase or obtaining by any means another’s work, and the unacknowledged submission or incorporation
of that work as one’s own offered for credit. Appropriation includes the quoting or paraphrasing of another’s work without giving credit
therefore. (If you are using Turnitin www.turnitin.com place information about your course id and password so students can create and/or join
your Turnitin account. If you only want to use Turnitin as a spot check please indicate in your syllabus that you may use Turnitin for plagiarism
detection.)
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Collusion: The unauthorized collaboration with another in preparing work offered for credit.
Statement of Disability Services at TCU
Texas Christian University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 regarding students with
disabilities. Eligible students seeking accommodations should contact the Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities in the Center for Academic
Services located in Sadler Hall, 11. Accommodations are not retroactive, therefore, students should contact the Coordinator as soon as possible in the term
for which they are seeking accommodations. Further information can be obtained from the Center for Academic Services, TCU Box 297710, Fort Worth, TX
76129, or at (817) 257-7486.
Adequate time must be allowed to arrange accommodations and accommodations are not retroactive; therefore, students should contact the Coordinator as
soon as possible in the academic term for which they are seeking accommodations. Each eligible student is responsible for presenting relevant, verifiable,
professional documentation and/or assessment reports to the Coordinator. Guidelines for documentation may be found at
http://www.acs.tcu.edu/DISABILITY.HTM.
Students with emergency medical information or needing special arrangements in case a building must be evacuated should discuss this information with
their instructor/professor as soon as possible.
Netiquette: Communication Courtesy Code
All members of the class are expected to follow rules of common courtesy in all email messages, threaded discussions and chats. If I deem any of them to
be inappropriate or offensive, I will forward the message to the Chair of the department and the online administrators and appropriate action will be taken,
not excluding expulsion from the course. The same rules apply online as they do in person. Be respectful of other students. Foul discourse will not be
tolerated. Please take a moment and read the following link concerning "netiquette". http://www.albion.com/netiquette/
Participating in the virtual realm, including social media sites and shared-access sites sometimes used for educational collaborations, should be done with
honor and integrity:
http://macaulay.cuny.edu/community/honorable-technology/guidelines/
Getting Help with Pearson LearningStudio (eCollege)
If you are enrolled in a Web-enhanced section of this course and have not yet taken the Student Tutorial, please do so immediately. The Student tutorial is
listed on your personal student homepage. To access it, click on "Exit Course" at the bottom of this page. Then click on the "Student Tutorial" on your
home page and follow the instructions.
If you experience any technical problems during when using an online course, please do not hesitate to contact the HELP DESK (at Pearson LearningStudio
(eCollege) ). They can be reached by phone or by email 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
email: helpdesk@tcuglobal.edu phone: 1-800-826-1665
For questions about logging into Pearson LearningStudio (eCollege) visit the online video:
http://www.elearning.tcu.edu/resources/howtologinvideo/howtologinvideo.asp
TCU Campus Resources for Students
Many resources exist on the TCU campus that may be helpful to students: Mary Couts Burnet Library (257-7117); Center for Academic Services (257-7486,
Sadler Hall. 11); the William L. Adams Writing Center (257-7221, Rickel Bldg. 244); Student Development Services (257-7855, BLUU 2003); and Office of
Religious & Spiritual Life (257-7830, Jarvis Hall).
Only the official TCU student email address will be used for all course notification. It is your responsibility to check your TCU email on a regular basis.
Department Research Requirement
All COMM undergraduate students are required to participate in research projects conducted or sponsored by the Department of Communication Studies.
Examples of typical research activities include completing opinion surveys, observing the communicative behavior of others, or assessing one’s own
speaking performance or other experiences during the course. Identities of all students participating in departmental research will be kept strictly
confidential. All research conducted with the assistance of COMM students will conform to the University’s policy for research involving humans. Alternative
activities, such as tests over readings on communication research, are available for students who are unable or do not wish to participate in the
Department’s research program.