SOC 249
Syllabus: Interpersonal Communication (SOC 249)
Spring Semester 2015 Location:BH 120
MWF, 1:00-1:50pm
Office: BH 107 Matthew S. Vos – Instructor
Work Phone: 419-1419
Home Phone: 706-931-2552 e-mail: vos@covenant.edu
Office Hours: TBA
Required Texts :
Beebe, Beebe, & Redmond (2010). Interpersonal Communication: Relating to Others ,
(6th edition), Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
Gergen, K. (2009). Relational Being: Beyond Self and Community . New York: Oxford
University Press.
Each student must have the required texts in the proper editions to continue in the course.
Introduction
In many ways, the quality of our communication determines the quality of our lives. We live in a world characterized by broken and self-centered interpersonal relationships. If we think about it, life began with a communication – God spoke and the world came into being. The purpose of human communication has always been to reveal the truth and reflect God’s image. The fall of humankind and the brokenness it entails has deeply affected our ability to live as fellow image-bearers who speak the truth.
Instead we deceive, manipulate, and live in discord with one another. The scriptures provide us with a vision of what relationships with God and with others should look like.
This course is intended to help you view interpersonal communication through a biblical lens. Consequently, the course should provide you with an understanding, not only of problems in interpersonal communication, but with ways in which we can, with God’s help, work to heal the brokenness in our interpersonal relationships.
Course Objectives
 1. To help the student identify themes in scripture related to interpersonal communication, including how the biblical themes of creation, fall, redemption, and consummation relate to a proper understanding of interpersonal communication and human relationships.
A. Instructional activities include: lectures, class discussion, out-of-class writing assignments, listening to a recording of “Little Silver Boxes.”

SOC 249
B. Primary means of assessment include: written assignments and exams
 2. To identify, explore, and understand foundational concepts important for understanding interpersonal communication. To this end we will develop several different models of interpersonal communication, explore the sociological concept of the “self,” learn about the role perception plays in interpersonal communication, and understand some of the implications that culture has for human communication.
A. Instructional activities include: lectures, class discussion, classroom activities, videos.
B. Primary means of assessment include: movie review project, journal entries, exams.
 3. To develop new skills in order to become more effective communicators.
A. Instructional activities include: lectures, in-class exercises.
B. Primary means of assessment include: paper, out-of-class written assignments, journal entries, exams.
 4. To look at how interpersonal relationships function, in order that we might enhance the quality of our relationships.
A. Instructional activities include: lectures, in-class exercises, in-class activities, journal entries.
B. Primary means of assessment include: paper, exams, journal entries

5. To understand the relational character of the self and the implications of this for community .
A.
Instructional activities include: reading, discussing, and journaling on Ken
Gergen’s “Relational Being.”
B.
Primary means of assessment include: journal entries and exams.
Course Requirements/Assessments
Midterm Examination: 15% (Objectives 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
Final Examination: 20% (Objectives 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
Paper (You will have your choice of 5 or 6 possible assignments): 25% (1, 2, 4)
Movie Review Project (done with a partner): 25% (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
Journal Entries: 15% (5 x 3%) (2, 5)
There are several readings I have placed on electronic reserve. I will point them out to you as the class progresses.

SOC 249
Attendance and Class Policy
Much of the learning planned for you depends on your being here and cannot be gained simply by reading the course texts. Furthermore, your participation in class activities adds to the richness of the experience for other members of the class. You are permitted three absences during this course. The three absence-without-penalty limit applies even if you begin the course late. Beyond the allowed misses, every additional absence will result in a 3% reduction of your final grade for the course. In general, absences should be used for emergencies. For example, if a student missed three classes for personal reasons
(leaving early for break, etc.) and then was sick for two classes later in the semester, those two absences would result in a 6% reduction in the student’s final grade
(irrespective of their legitimacy). In other words, you are wise to plan on the unexpected coming up in the latter part of the semester, and not use up excused absences early on.
Students are counted “present” if marked on the instructor’s attendance sheet and
“absent” if they are not. It is the student’s responsibility to be present when the class roll is called. If you come in late and fail to alert me after class, the omission will count as an absence regardless of whether you were actually present or not.
You may not be absent during test periods (unless you have a documented medical/family emergency). Any student found cheating on any portion of an assignment or test or helping any other student cheat on any portion of the course will fail the course and may be withdrawn from the college.
Technology use policy:
To be decided …
Work that is late or exams that are missed due to a disciplinary action against a student may not be made up.
Students must submit assignments in hard copy. I do not print out and read e-mailed assignments.
I expect to be able to communicate with you using your college email address. For you to remain in this course, I require that you reply to any email I send you within a 24 hour period. Accordingly, you must check your college email every day. It also requires that you notify me if and when your email is down. Failing to reply to a communication that I initiate constitutes a lack of serious intent in the course, and may result in your being penalized.
Assignments
The instructor will provide ample notice before assignments (or exams) are due/given.
The following may be used to record exam and assignment turn-in dates. Students should keep all graded assignments until after the course is completed.

SOC 249
Jan 19,
21, 23
Assignment
Midterm Exam
Final Exam
Journal Entries
Due Date
________________
________________ throughout course
Grade
______
______
______
Movie Review Project ________________
Paper ________________
#1 conflict resolution
#2 mediated communication
#3 community development assignment
______
______
#4 norm breaking assignment
#5 fasting from electronic communication assignment
This course is an attempt to help you identify and frame some of the underlying processes governing everyday life. We communicate constantly, but we are often unaware of many of the dimensions and subtleties of our communication. As we work through the text, I hope to use a variety of approaches to help you understand the concepts presented.
However, although we may not specifically address all concepts presented in the text, please remember that you are still expected to read all of the material outlined in the following class schedule.
Class Schedule
Intro
Topic/Class Activities
Introduction to the course
Jan 14, 16 “The Angry Family;” “Patch Adams;” ”3d Rock”
The W.C., Biblical Themes and IPC, Worlds of Meaning
Biblical Themes and Interpersonal Communication
Reading
Syllabus
Supplemental Reading
Defining IC
Making a PBJ Sandwich
Understanding Models of Communication
Role Plays
The Six Selves
“Presence”
Chapter 1

SOC 249
The Self Who are you??
Facework
Jan 26, 28, The self in history
30 Self-esteem
Johari Window and Social Penetration model
Scripture and the Self-Esteem concept
Perception Perceiving persons exercise
Old woman/young woman
Solomon Asch exercise
Feb 2, 4, 6 Standpoint Theory: Social location and perception
Barriers to Accurate Perceptions
Schemas and Scripts
The scriptures and perception
Chapter 2 / Gergen 1 & 2
Chapter 3
Diversity The Nature of Culture
Cultural Values
High context and low context cultures
Four basic building blocks of culture
Diversity Almanac
Feb. 9, 11, International student panel discussion
13, 16 Stereotyping and Prejudice inhibit effective communication
Daily effects of white privilege
Food across cultures/Andrew Zimmern’s “Bizarre Foods”
Cultural Relativism
Chapter 4 / Gergen 3 & 4
Listening Recognizing outstanding communicators
Responding with empathy (role plays)
Chapter 5
Feb 20, 23, Listening styles
25 Listening barriers
The Amazing Squirrel exercise
The therapeutic power of listening
Empathic listening
Verbal Com.
Principles from Proverbs
Feb 27,
Florence Littauer’s “Little Silver Boxes” (audio recording)
Concrete and Abstract Terms
Mar 2, 4, 6 On Truthfulness as a Vocation (brief article on reserve)
Malaproprisms (Bloopers)
Do You Speak American? (DVD)
Offensive Language
Chapter 6/ Gergen 5 & 6
Nonverbal Verbal and Nonverbal sex differences (exercise)
Nonverbal role plays
Chapter 7
Mar 16, 18, Warm vs. Cold exercise
20, 23 International Gestures: Exploring Body Language Around the World

SOC 249
Reading the Face
The Human Face (DVD)
Various short exercises on paralinguistics, proxemics, etc.
Secrets of Body Language
Chapter 8 / Gergen 7 & 8 Conflict Myths About Conflict
Types of Conflict
Mar 25, 27, Dyad vs. Triad: Living in a Dormitory
30 Conflict and Gender
The Dirty Dozen
Interpersonal conflict measurement (instrument)
Scripture and Conflict
He is Our Peace
Understanding Rel’s of Circumstance and Rel’s of Choice
Relationships The Social Psychology of Attraction
Relational Escalation and De-escalation
Apr 1, 8
Theories of Interpersonal Relationship Development
Who are Your Friends?
Power in Marital Relationships “My Parents’ Marriage”
Someone who Looks Like Me
Dramaturgy
Her Town Too… (James Taylor Song)
Discovering your love profile (exercise)
Managing Relationship Challenges
Relationship The Dark Side of IPC and Relationships
Challenges De-Escalation and Termination of Relationships
A Lying Inventory
Apr 10, 13 Strategies and Skills for Developing Interpersonal Rel’s.
Interpersonal Friendship
Rel’s: Romance
Friendship & Skills and Strategies for Developing Interpersonal Rel’s
Romance Discovering Your Own Love Profile
The Secret Test
Apr 15, 17 “Hooking Up”
20 Choosing Friends for Specific Situations
Chapter 9
Chapter 10/
Chapter 11
Gergen 9 & 10
Interpersonal Family Relationships
Rel’s: Work Relationships
Family & Interpersonal Rel’s at Work
Workplace Weird Things Families Do
Investigating Your Family Rules in-Class Exercise
Apr 22, 24, Organizational Communication
27
FINAL EXAM schedule
Chapter 12/ Gergen 11 & 12