COMMUNICATION STUDIES 120
Introduction to Interpersonal Communication
Spring 2011
Class meets: Mon., Wed., and Fri., at 9 a.m.
Instructor: Jen Cronin, jcronin@email.unc.edu, Office: 303 Bingham Hall
Office Hours: Mon. 10 – 11 a.m. and by appointment
Course Description
Interpersonal communication is the foundation of personal identity and our relationships with others.
The communication we engage in helps make us who we are and allows us to define and reach for
the selves we want to be. Interpersonal communication is also a primary influence on the
relationships we build, sustain, and sometimes end.
The purpose of Communication Studies 120 is to enhance your understanding of the role of
interpersonal communication in your everyday life and to give you opportunities to improve your
skills in interacting with others. As a result of taking this class, you should have a more sophisticated
understanding of what is involved in interpersonal communication. In addition, you should gain
insight into your own interpersonal communication and ways you might be more effective when
interacting with others. By keeping an open mind and actively participating you can actually
improve the quality of your life!
I expect to have an interactive class with LOTS of student participation. In other words, our class in
interpersonal communication will involve interpersonal communication among us! You should come
to class on time and ready to initiate ideas and questions, offer examples that illustrate theories and
principles that you encounter in your reading, reflect on what others say, and discuss and extend
assigned readings. I expect you to come prepared to participate and have fun while doing it!
Contact with your instructor
Please schedule meetings with me if you would like to discuss ideas covered in class, assignments,
or other matters. I am available to meet with you during office hours or by appointment.
Required Textbooks
Adler, R. B., Rosenfeld, L. B., & Proctor II, R. F. (2010). Interplay: The process of interpersonal
communication (11th ed.). New York: Oxford University Press.
 This textbook is available at Student Stores and online.
 Bring your textbook to class.
 When reading, do not skip over the Film Clips, Focus on Research pieces, or Reflections—
these are part of the substance of the book.
 In class, we will highlight some portions of the reading and skim over others; however, all of
the material is important and may be on the test. It is critical that you have completed the
readings in order to keep up with the class discussions and activities.
Gottman, J. M., & Silver, N. (1999). The seven principles for making marriage work. New York:
Three Rivers Press.
 Purchase this paperback book online (Amazon has it for as low as $5).
Additional readings: PDF files may be posted on Blackboard.
NOTE: The benefits you may receive from this class are directly proportional to your effort in
keeping up with the assigned reading and actively participating in class.
Class Policies
Everyday Applications and Participation At the beginning of every class, we will make time to
discuss everyday applications, examples, and observations related to material covered in class and
the textbook. These may come from media, campus happenings, and other interactions and
observations in our everyday lives that show how interpersonal communication works.
There is no requirement to disclose personal information, but in order to receive your participation
points (10% of your grade) you will need to demonstrate your ability to make connections between
class material and everyday interactions. Also, it is important to respect people who do choose to
share personal information. As a member of this class, you are expected to attend civilly to others
who express their perspectives, even if their perspectives differ from your own. If you are not willing
to listen and speak respectfully to others, drop this course. Because members of our class may share
thoughts that are highly personal, please do not pass on your classmates’ comments to others.
Privacy will foster a climate that cultivates honest communication among us.
Classroom Civility There are standards of classroom civility that should be adhered to, particularly
in a communication course. Civility does not eliminate appropriate humor, enjoyment, or other
features of a comfortable classroom community. Classroom civility does, however, include the
following:
1. Display respect for all members of the classroom community.
2. Avoid disruptions during class, such as holding private conversations, reading the campus
newspaper, and using your computer, blackberry, iPod, etc., for something not relevant to the
ongoing class discussion (e.g., doing work for other classes, reading and responding to
emails, and looking at Facebook).
3. Be attentive to and participate in lectures, group activities, and other exercises.
4. Avoid racist, sexist, homophobic, or other hateful language that may exclude members of our
campus and classroom community.
5. Come to class on time.
6. Set your cell phones on silent (not vibrate). If, however, you have a family emergency in
which you need access to your phone, please see me before class starts.
7. Be awake.
These features of classroom civility do not comprise an exhaustive list. Rather, they represent the
minimal sort of behavior that helps to make the classroom a pleasant place for all concerned.
Therefore, if you want to text, check email, surf the web, play computer games, read newspapers, or
participate in social conversation, please move outside of our classroom.
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Attendance Attendance will be taken and will be factored into your participation grade. If you
miss class for any reason, you are still responsible for what was covered in class. It is your
responsibility to contact other students concerning class assignments, notes, handouts, and any
changes in the schedule. There will be material covered in lecture that is not covered in the textbook
and may appear on an exam.
Tardiness Please arrive to class on time. Tardiness is unprofessional and is not fair to me or to
your classmates.
Blackboard & Email Regularly check your email account associated with Blackboard. Please note
that my e-mail address is jcronin@email.unc.edu.
No Laptops, Cells, or Smart Phones Our classroom is a place for engaging ideas and one another,
which requires focusing on what is happening in our class. Mounting research shows that such
engagement can be hampered by phones and computers. For that reason, you must turn off
phones and computers before class begins and not use them during the class period. If you do
not wish to abide by this policy, please drop this class. Here are links to a few relevant articles on
how computers and phones impair attentiveness and focus on classroom discussions:
http://www.britannica.com/blogs/2008/10/why-i-ban-laptops-in-my-classroom;
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/hot-thought/201007/banning-laptops-in-classrooms-0;
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2010/03/08/AR2010030804915_2.html?sid=ST2010030805078
Missed & Late Work If you miss a test for a university-approved excuse, the weight of that test
will be added to the weight of your final exam. University excused absences include the sickness of
a student, the death of a family member, university-sponsored event, and other circumstances
covered by UNC policies. All excused absences must be accompanied by a written excuse. Tests
missed without a university-approved excuse will receive a grade of 0. There are no exceptions.
Honor Code You are expected to adhere to the requirements of the UNC Honor Code. If you are
unsure of your responsibilities under the Honor Code, please visit honor.unc.edu. Being unaware of
the requirements of the Honor Code does not absolve you from responsibility to adhere to it.
Violations of the Honor Code will be reported to the Honor Court.
Adverse Weather Policy The campus, roads, and drivers are dangerous when there is snow, sleet,
or ice. Even when main roads are relatively clear, the roads in many neighborhoods remain
unplowed. Hurricanes pose different but equal challenges. Thus, if we have adverse weather, please
check your university email to see if our class will meet.
Assignments and Grading
Because information is essential to thoughtful attitudes and knowledgeable choices, assignments will
test your command of information presented in the book and class, as well as your ability to analyze,
apply, and extend conceptual material.
Grading follows the College of Arts and Sciences’ policy, which states that grammar, spelling, and
syntax are important considerations in the evaluation of student work. Additionally, how each are
utilized has important implications for interpersonal communication – especially with regards to its
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effectiveness. If you have specific questions about your paper I am more than willing to help. I will
not, however, “pregrade” papers, as this is unfair to the rest of the class. I encourage you to take
advantage of the Writing Center. It is a great resource. For information about the writing center, visit
http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/
Your grades will be based on how well you demonstrate what you have learned in this class through
your tests and assignments. Definitions of possible grades are:
A = Exceeds requirements of the assignment/course. You critically, creatively, and fully
engage the course material in a way that demonstrates that you understand and can apply the
concepts. Writing is well-composed, clear, and creative.
B = Meets and, at times, exceeds the requirements of the assignment/course. In general, you
demonstrate a clear understanding of the course concepts. Writing is generally good.
C = Meets the basic requirements of the assignment/course. You demonstrate a satisfactory
understanding of major concepts but maybe unclear at times. Writing is competent but
includes errors and awkward phrasings.
D = Fails to meet some of the basic requirements of the assignment/course or demonstrates
only minimum understanding of material. Writing is poor.
F = Does not meet the basic requirements of the assignment/course. A minimum
understanding of the course concepts is not evident. Writing is very poor.
Exams All exams will include both objective and essay items. A scantron sheet is required for each
and can be purchased at the bookstore for approximately 10 cents. You must come prepared to each
exam with a blank scantron in hand. Failing to have a scantron will result in not being able to
complete the objective portion of the test. Each exam is worth 20% of your overall course grade. The
third test, the final exam, will be cumulative.
Participation Becoming an effective, competent communicator requires more than passively reading
assigned material. Although this course will present you with the information you need to enhance
your relationships with others, it is up to you to implement interpersonal strategies within your own
relationships. It takes practice to become skillful at interacting with others. Therefore, every class
period will require you to actively engage in class discussion and/or some type of group activity
where class material can be practiced and applied to real life scenarios. Participation counts for 10%
of your overall grade.
Written assignments Assignments must be submitted in hard copy form, typed, stapled, and are due
at the beginning of the class period on the specified days. Papers turned in late will be penalized one
letter grade for each day late—this includes holiday and weekend days. Do not email papers, as
they are not permitable.
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Assignment 1: Communication Skills in the Workplace (15%)
Due: Jan. 21
Interview a professional in the field you plan to enter. Ask her/him to explain the communication
skills needed for success and advancement in the field. Which skills do you already have? Which
ones do you need to develop or improve? Write out a personal action plan for using this book and the
course it accompanies to enhance your effectiveness in interpersonal communication. In your paper,
include the following information:
1. Briefly describe the person you interviewed, the field, and the job you are interested in
pursuing (approx. 1/2 to 1 page).
2. List the communication skills the interviewee cites as important to the field. Do not include
other skills necessary for advancement unless they pertain specifically to communication
(approx. 1 to 1.5 pages).
3. Describe the skills you currently do and do not have (1 to 1.5 pages).
4. Write out a plan for using this course to enhance your competitiveness in your field as it
pertains to communication skills (approx. 2-3 pages).
Assignment 2: Mock Interview (15%)
Due: Information sheet due to partner by April 13 (bring copy to class); Mock Interview on April 18;
Packet due on April 25th.
You are going to participate in a mock interview with a partner in which you can practice what
you’ve learned in chapter 12. For homework, you each need to choose one of the options below:
Option 1: If you are interested in entering the corporate sector following graduation, choose a
job in your respective field in which to interview for. Research the company and prepare
answers for “Common Employment Interview Questions” on p. 407 of your text.
Option 2: If you are interested in applying to graduate school, research a graduate program
that matches your scholastic interests. Prepare answers to the list of “Commonly Asked
Questions for Prospective Graduate Students,” which can be downloaded from blackboard.
On April 13, exchange with your partner a completed Mock Activity Information Form. Prior to
coming to class for the mock interview, partners should be familiar with their own, as well as one
another’s, company and specific job opportunity or graduate program. This may require additional
research.
On April 18, you and your partner will conduct a mock interview. You will each take turns acting as
both the interviewee and the interviewer. Here is what to expect:
On Monday, you will come to Gardner Hall, room 210. You will be dressed according to the
job you are interviewing for and will bring with you the necessary materials (see the
evaluation sheet on blackboard for specifics). Make sure you bring with you a blank copy of
the evaluation sheet to rate your partner.
We will begin the interviews promptly at 9 a.m. so that we have enough time for each of you
to play the role of the interviewer and interviewee. LET ME BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT
BEING ON TIME. If you are late, you will not have time to do the full activity, and,
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therefore, you will receive a zero for the entire assignment. No exceptions. Being late is not
appropriate for an actual interview nor is it respectful to your partner.
You and your partner will decide who is going to be the interviewee first. You will have 15
minutes to conduct your interview. You will need to bring with you a copy of the questions
you need to ask your partner (e.g., if you partner is interviewing for graduate school, you need
to bring that list. If corporate, bring that one). Also, you will have thrown in a few unexpected
questions of your own. Make them hard! Challenge your partner! After the 15 minutes is up,
the interview will conclude and the interviewee will go out into the hall. The interviewer will
then have 5 minutes to fill out the evaluation sheet privately and will then hand it to me.
Partners will then switch roles. You will have 15 minutes to conduct your interview in your
new roles. Once time is up, the interviewee will go out into the hall, the interviewer will fill
out the form privately, and then hand it to me.
Since this is an in-class project, you must be present in class on the day of the interview. There is no
way to make up this activity. Also, make sure the principles outlined in chapter 12 are adhered to as
closely as possible. You will be evaluated on how well you carry them out.
On April 25th, each partner will individually turn in three items for this assignment: (1) the
information form for the company and job you are applying for; (2) a completed evaluation form
rating how your partner performed during the interview; (3) well thought-out responses to the
commonly asked questions (this can be written in conversational style but properly punctuated and
grammatically correct); and (4) a one page reaction paper reflecting on your experience as an
interviewer or interviewee. You may want to discuss topics such as: What did you find difficult about
the interview process? What role did Interpersonal Communication play in the interview process?
What anxieties do you still have about the interview process? What will you do differently now that
you have had this experience?
**At a Glance Assignment Breakdown:
Assignment
Exam 1
Exam 2
Exam 3 (Final)
Assignment 1
Assignment 2
Participation
Weight
20%
20%
20%
15%
15%
10%
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Schedule of Classes & Assignments
Date
Jan
Feb
Class Focus
Readings/Assignments
10
Introduction to course and each other
Syllabus (on Blackboard)
12
Interpersonal Processes
Chapter 1
14
Interpersonal Processes
Chapter 1
17
Holiday – Martin Luther King, Jr., Day
No class
19
Culture and Communication
Chapter 2
21
Culture and Communication
Chapter 2
*Comm Skills in the
Workplace Due
24
Communication and the Self
Chapter 3
26
Communication and the Self
Chapter 3
28
Communication and the Self
Chapter 3
31
Perceiving Others
Chapter 4
02
Perceiving Others
Chapter 4
04
Perceiving Others
Chapter 4
07
Exam 1
09
Language
Chapter 5
11
Language
Chapter 5
14
Language
Chapter 5
16
Nonverbal communication
Chapter 6
18
Nonverbal communication
Chapter 6
21
Nonverbal communication
Chapter 6
23
Listening
Chapter 7
7
Mar
Apr
25
Listening
Chapter 7
28
Listening
Chapter 7
02
Emotions
Chapter 8
04
Emotions
Chapter 8
7, 9, 11
SPRING BREAK – Enjoy your break!
No class
14
Emotions
Chapter 8
16
Exam 2
18
Interpersonal Relationships
Chapter 9
21
Interpersonal Relationships
Chapter 9
23
Interpersonal Relationships
Chapter 9
25
Communication Climate
Chapter 10
28
Communication Climate
Chapter 10
30
Communication Climate
Chapter 10
01
Managing Conflict
Chapter 11
04
Managing Conflict
Chapter 11
06
Managing Conflict
Chapter 11
08
Gottman Theory of Successful Relationships
Book
11
Gottman Theory of Successful Relationships
Book
13
Gottman Theory of Successful Relationships
Book
**Information Form
due to partner
15
Communication at Work
Chapter 12, p. 400-417
18
Mock Interview
20
Communication in Families and at Work
Chapter 12, p. 384-400
22
Good Friday
No Class
8
May
25
Communication in Families and at Work
27
Course review; exam preview;
evaluation of course
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FINAL EXAM (8:00 a.m.)
Chapter 12
**Interview Packet Due
NOTE: If you wish to reschedule your exam, you must get advance, written permission
from your dean and present it to Jen Cronin by the last day of class, April 27.
The time for all rescheduled Comm 120 exams is 8 a.m. on Friday, May 7.
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