COMM 2011
M/W/F Lang 213
Spring 2013
Introduction to Communication Studies
Instructor: Marilyn Shaw
E-mail: Marilyn.shaw@uni.edu
Office: Lang 369
Office Phone: 273-7478
Office hrs.—10:00 daily and by appointment
Course Description:
The purpose of this course is to overview the field of communication studies, to understand you role in community , the role of research and to explore the career
paths you may choose. We want you to be able to better understand why you are choosing communication for a field of study during your time here at UNI.
Secondly, we have designed this course as a welcome to the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Northern Iowa and to introduce you to the
range of programs and courses offered in the department.
An integral part of this course will be the creation of your career portfolio—a place where you will document the important process of exploring communication as
an area of study and its role in life. In this portfolio you will document your personal growth as a student and professional. (for examples of such portfolios, check
out the following website: http://department.monm.edu/cata/portfolios/2011portfolios.htm). Example portfolios form UNI students will be provided in class on the
blackboard/webCT e-portfolio secure-access system.
Texts:
Dues, M. & Brown, M. (2001). Boxing Plato’s shadow: An Introduction to the Study of Human Communication (2nd ed). United States:
McGraw Hill Higher Education.
Fleischman, Paul. (2002). Seedfolks. HarperCollins, New York, NY.
Pollak, Lindsay. (20007). Getting from College to Career. 90 things to do before you join the real world. HarperCollins Publisher.
Additional useful career possibility and job hunting websites:
http://www.uni.edu/advising
http://www.niu.edu/careerservices/weblinks/
New York, NY.
http://www.smartcarehttp://www.monster.com/internships-entry-level-college-jobs.aspx?wt.mc_n=monstertrakermove.com/
http://www.uni.edu/careerservices/
http://www.careerbuilder.com/default.aspx?cbRecursionCnt=1&cbsid=c5d9f9c94b62435094c9630732d24a65-300806253-RF-4
Past class papers/projects
Co-curricular, extracurricular, and work example documents
Course Protocol:
Daily Attendance: In this class we will frequently discuss issues and concepts that cannot be found in assigned readings. Therefore, your participation is
required. If you miss class it is your responsibility to get class notes or other necessary information from a classmate. After one absence, your total semester grade
will be lowered by one full letter grade. With each additional absence, your grade will be lowered by 1/3 of a letter grade. Excuses will only be considered where
conditions are clearly beyond your control (e.g., family or medical emergencies, approved university activities) and must be documented.
For written work the following policy will apply: All written work must be typed and given to your instructor on the day it is due in order for no penalty to be
assessed. Each class meeting that the assignment is late, you will be assessed a 10% penalty to your grade for that assignment. No assignments will be accepted
after one week past the due date.
Tardiness: Excessive tardiness will result in a grade reduction.
Honesty:
The guidelines set forth by the University Faculty Senate at UNI will be upheld in this course in regards to cheating and/or plagiarism. All plagiarized
assignments will receive failing grades—further penalties may be given as well. Therefore, always give source citations and indicate materials that are quoted or
paraphrased from someone else. Academic misconduct will not be tolerated and will be severely penalized, possibly resulting in a failing grade for the class. A
description of the incident will then be forwarded to the appropriate university office and handled through proper university channels.
Cell Phones and Lap Tops
As a matter of courtesy and professionalism, you are asked to turn off your cell phones during class time. No electronic device will be allowed on your desk
or in your work area during the class session. Allowing your cell phone to ring during class is your request for me to answer it. If you are going to be receiving an
urgent message, leave the phone with me at the beginning of class and I will handle the call for you and forward the information. Any texting in class will result
in a 0 for that class period. Since this class is held in a lab setting, I reserve the right to lower grades of students who are using class time to check e-mails,
Facebook, or work on other class assignments. Once class begins, it is class time!
The use of a lap top for taking notes will need prior approval from me and must be discussed in private outside of the classroom.
All work must be completed in order to complete this class. In-completes will only be issued in rare circumstances and only after no other alternatives can be
reached.
The University of Northern Iowa is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity institution. All persons, regardless of gender, age, class, race, religion,
physical disability, sexual orientation, etc., shall have equal opportunity without harassment in this interpersonal communication class. Any problems or
questions about harassment can be discussed with your instructor. Students with disabilities or other special needs should feel free to contact me
privately if there are services or adaptations which can be made to accommodate specific needs.
I encourage you to utilize writing assistance. Visit http://www.drgrammar.org/ or the Learning Center’s free assistance with writing, math, reading, and learning
strategies.
Visit the Online Writing Guide at or make an appointment at 008 ITTC or 319-273-2361. The Math Center is in 008 ITTC or call 319-273-2361. The Reading and
Learning Center provides an Ask-a-Tutor program, consultations with the reading specialist, and free, four-week, non-credit courses in Speed Reading, Effective Study
Strategies, PPST-Reading and-Math, and GRE-Quantitative and Verbal. Visit at http://www.uni.edu/unialc/ and 008 ITTC or call 319-273-2361.
Grading Policy
Each assignment requires forethought, research, planning and practice. You will be expected to display your understanding of reading assignments and
class discussion in all work and tests. Assignments must conform to the guidelines given for each one.
Each assignment is worth a specific number of points. The amount and value of those assignments are found in the next section. Your grade will be
determined by adding your total point value and dividing it by the total number of points possible for your percentage grade. The following percentages are used:
Always make a copy of your work for yourself in case the original is lost or misplaced. Keep all of your work on file until the course is satisfactory
completed.
A
95-100%
C+
77-79
D-
60-63
A-
90-94
C
74-76
F
00-59
B+
87-89
C-
70-73
B
84-86
D+
67-69
B-
80-83
D
64-66
Assignments and Evaluations 300 points possible
Quiz 1—(30 point)
www.williamcronon.net/writing/Cronon_Only_Connect.pdf
http://www.time.com/magazine/article/0,9171,1568480,00.html
Thought Paper (20 points)—Read the two articles above carefully and critically. After reading them, you are to write a ONE-PAGE “Thought Paper” discussing
your ideas about what a college education is about. Do not try to tell me what you think I want to hear. Be honest. Consider things like: “What is it I want from
this college education?” “Why is a college education important to me?” Make at least one reference to each article.
Due Date: ______________
Shadow Interview (30 points) Much of what we have to learn will come from class discussions and information shared in this room, but I also expect you to
take the initiative to engage with someone in the community who can provide you with a much more in-depth look at careers and opportunities. I would like for
you to contact someone who you may know holds a position you think you might be interested in pursuing with your degree. You may do this in person or via the
internet. Be sure to contact them in advance and request a short amount of their time so that you may ask them some questions about their career. In advance,
prepare about 8-10 questions you have about this career and what you have to do to be a successful candidate for a job such as the one they hold. Engage them in a
pleasant conversation and be sure to send a thank-you after the interview. Once the interview is completed, you will be required to write a 1-1 ½ page report of
your findings and how you feel this information has encouraged you to pursue this career or how it changed your mind. Also, attach a copy of your interview
questions.
Due Date : ___________
Reflective Essay (50 points). This reflective essay is a personal reflection containing the following:
First you will need to write a two sentence career objective statement. It should be very clear and concise of what you want to be doing in the future. Second, you
should research an appropriate professional association that sets professional standards or codes of ethics for that profession. Third—write your own philosophy
statement of what guidelines and beliefs you want to follow as you begin your professional career.
Introductory section with an interesting opening statement, identification of your current status, overall goal clarified in an objective statement, purpose of
this reflection (thesis statement) and an overview of the rest of the essay (preview). About ½ page.
Body—in the following 1 ½ to two pages discuss what skills are needed to perform successfully as a communication studies major. Cite the sources of
your conclusions, e.g. the interview you conducted, professional associations discussed or researched, any other sources you used to reach your conclusion. A
minimum of three citations are required.
Next discuss what you have and don’t have. Approximately 1 page. Identify what you already have accomplished to meet the career goals (e.g.,
researching the field) etc. Also discuss the primary areas you still need to develop. (Perhaps the person you interviewed mentioned the importance of networking
and you feel you still need to develop this skill effectively). This should include at minimum 3 areas.
Finally, what is the most important thing from the areas you identified that you feel you need to do and how do you expect to meet this goal? What is the
second most important thing and how will you meet that goal? ( 1 page approximately)
Closing—summarize the contents of your paper and an overall statement of how these action steps will help you meet your goal. About ½ page.
Citation page required—APA style.
Due Date: _______________
Seedfolks (30 points): This short novella is assigned to go along with our discussion of community. Using the theme of community, write a two –three page book
review of Seedfolks. Discuss what Seedfolks says about perceptions, stereotypes, community functions, self concept and self-esteem. Due Date:
________________
E-Portfolio Analysis—(10 points)
Attached at the end of this syllabus is the E-Portfolio Analysis guide. After our discussions on E-Portfolios, go to a web site of your choice or one we visited and
do an analysis of another student’s portfolio.
Due Date:______________________________
Portfolio—(60 points)
The portfolio is a collection of documents and artifacts that demonstrate the skills and abilities you claim in your resume. It will represent your insights,
observations, experiences, and reflections throughout your undergraduate studies. You will begin you academic portfolio here in Introduction to Communication
Studies and continue to add to it over your course of study at UNI. This portfolio is a place for you to display the best of you. Do not be surprised if others ask to
see it. We will develop the portfolio in electronic format. Hard copy formats will be discussed. The following sections/documents will be required:
Home Page
Name
Contact information
Objective statement
Link to the full objective/philosophy statement
Access buttons to additional pages
Additional Pages
Personal information Page with Photo and link to your resume and similar documents
Reflection page with link to your reflective essay
Professional Standards/Code of Ethics summary and Personal goals
Course/Curriculum Page with Plan of Study
Co-Curricular activities page with summary of relevant non-class activities
Artifact page where you place information in reference to Communication Studies goals
Communication Studies Goals
Goal 1—History/Theory-- Understanding the historical development of theory and scholarship within the discipline/profession.
Outcome 1.1 Understand the diversity in and evolution of theories of human communication.
Outcome 1.2 Apply appropriate theories to interpret and analyze verbal, nonverbal, and mediated messages, texts, and/or interactions
.
Goal 2—ResearchMethods-- Understanding appropriate methodologies to develop knowledge and to examine questions within the discipline/profession.
Outcome 2.1 Understand various research methods and their role in knowledge construction
Outcome 2.2 Use ethical, logical, and evidential criteria in designing research and sharing research findings that link communication theory and practice.
Goal 3—Ethics-- Understanding the ethical/legal issues within the discipline/industry and adhering to its ethical standards. Understanding and exemplifying the values that individuals within
the discipline/profession share.
Outcome 3.1 Develop, articulate, critically reflect on, and defend one’s ethical standards.
Outcome 3.2 Thoughtfully apply ethical standards to one’s communication with others, and in the treatment of participants in research studies
Goal 4—Culture-- Understanding the interconnections among communication, community and culture.
Outcome 4.1 Understand the interdependencies of culture and communication in dyads, groups, organizations, and communities.
Outcome 4.2 Identify and critically analyze communication rules and patterns in texts generated by diverse communities.
Goal 5—Skills-- Understanding and applying professional and personal skills in relevant contexts
Outcome 5.1 Display oral and written communication skills by critically evaluating information, analyzing structure, synthesizing points of view, developing arguments, and supporting positions.
Outcome 5.2 Apply interpersonal, group, and organization concepts and theories to personal interactions.
Assignment
Points earned
Points Possible
Quiz 1
__________
30
Quiz 2
__________
20
Thought Paper
__________
20
Shadow Interview
__________
30
Reflective Essay
__________
50
Seedfolks
__________
30
E. Portfolio Analysis
__________
10
Portfolio
__________
60
Participation/misc.
__________
50
Tentative Schedule:
Jan 14
Intro. To Class and Dept.
Assign Thought Paper
Jan 16
Why a Portfolio?
Jan 18
Design Central
Assign Portfolio
Jan 23
Boxing Plato’s shadow
Chapters 1 and 2
Jan 25
Pollak
Chapters 2,3,4
Thought Paper Due
Assign Shadow Interview
Jan 28
Boxing Plato’s Shadow
Chapter 3
Assign E-Portfolio analysis
Jan 30
Pollak
Chapters 7 and 8
Shadow Interview Due
Assign Reflective Essay
Feb 1
Quiz 1( Dues 1,2,3 and Pollak 2,3,4,7,8)
What is Community
Assign Seedfolks
Feb 4
Boxing Plato’s Shadow
Chapter 5
Feb 6
Academic Planning
Reflective Essay Due
Feb 8
Workshop Day
Feb 11
Backpack to Briefcase
Feb 13
Alumni Spotlight
Feb 15
Quiz 2 ( Dues 5, notes/Portfolio reveal)
Seedfolks due