Janene Davison
SPCH 1318 (Online)
SPCH 1318: Interpersonal Communications
Course Syllabus
PLEASE NOTE: This is a sample syllabus only and subject to change! A
final syllabus with information and dates specific to this section will be
provided the first day of class.
Phone #: (409) 944-1329
E-mail: jdavison@gc.edu
Office #: N-328
Office Hours: TBD
Prerequisite: You must have passed both the reading and writing portions of
TASP/TAKS or be exempt from TASP/TAKS to be allowed to take this course.
Proficiency Levels: Math 0, Language 3. Please refer to the Galveston College Catalog for
a further explanation.
Course Description
This class is an introductory course focusing on theories and exercises in verbal and
nonverbal communication with a focus on interpersonal relationships.
Desired Learning Outcomes
1. Work in a small group to prepare a written and oral presentation of principles and
practices used by successful interpersonal communicators in our society.
2. Demonstrate the ability to apply appropriate and effective forms of expression in
interpersonal contextual episodes.
3. Demonstrate the ability to apply and evaluate appropriate forms of nonverbal
communication in an interpersonal, conversational context.
Fundamentals of Effective Communication
It is assumed that a student who completes this course will be competent in the following
areas:
Competent Communicators
1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the relationships among the
components of the communication process.
2. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the influence of the individual,
relationship, and situation on communication.
3. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the role of communication in the
development and maintenance of personal relationships.
4. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the role of communication in creating
meaning, influencing thought, and making decisions.
5. Demonstrate sensitivity to diversity when communicating.
6. Demonstrate the ability to enhance relationships and resolve conflict using
appropriate and effective communication strategies.
7. Demonstrate the ability to evaluate communication styles, strategies and content
based on their aesthetic and functional worth.
8. Demonstrate the ability to show sensitivity to the ethical issues associated with
communication in a democratic society.
Speaking
1. Competent speakers demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the speaking
process.
1
Revised 10/23/08 Janene Davison
SPCH 1318 (Online)
2. Competent speakers demonstrate the ability to adapt communication strategies
appropriately and effectively according to the needs of the situation and setting.
3. Competent speakers demonstrate the ability to use language that clarifies,
persuades, and/or inspires while respecting differences in listeners’ backgrounds
(race, ethnicity, age, etc.).
4. Competent speakers demonstrate the ability to manage or overcome communication
anxiety.
Listening
1. Competent listeners demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the listening
process.
2. Competent listeners demonstrate the ability to use appropriate and effective listening
skills for a given communication situation and setting.
3. Competent listeners demonstrate the ability to identify and manage barriers to
listening.
Required Text
Beebe, S. A., Beebe, S. J., & Redmond, M. V. (2008). Interpersonal communication: relating
to others (Fifth edition). Boston, MA: Pearson.
Optional Resource Materials
MLA Handbook and APA Handbook.
“Attendance” and Participation
Successful completion of this course requires regular online participation. Participation
means contributing in a collaborative way to the email and online discussions as
required. In case of unavoidable absence from the online discussions, please notify the
instructor immediately.
Because this class is taught via the Internet, students should expect to spend about 4-7
hours per week on the course (i.e. composing and replying to email messages, reading
the chapters, participating in the discussion section, working on the Internet activities,
and preparing for oral speeches).
Refer to the most recent College Catalog for a full description on attendance policies and
adding/dropping courses. If you fail to log-on for more than 14 days, or if you miss a
major assignment, the instructor reserves the right to drop you from the course.
It is the responsibility of the student to contact the instructor as soon as possible if unable
to complete an assignment to due illness or other unforeseen circumstances.
It is extremely important that you keep a copy of ALL submissions you send me
and ALL submissions/feedback you receive from me.
Late Work
Assignments turned in after the posted due date will be accepted on a case by case
basis, but you must contact the instructor as soon as possible.
2
Revised 10/23/08 Janene Davison
SPCH 1318 (Online)
Unless it is a special circumstance, late work will have points deducted from the
assignment grade. If answering a discussion question late, you will automatically lose
half credit for that entry, as I will not accept responses to other student’s posting after the
deadline – only your original posting will be graded. Discussion questions are locked
after the submission deadline and will only be reopened with special permission.
If the group presentation deadline is missed, a make-up speech date will be scheduled at
the end of the semester. Unless you have been given special dispensation, 20% will
automatically be deducted from your project grade at this time.
If a student misses a major assignment (group project, ethnography or exam), and does
not contact the instructor within 2 working days of the due date, the instructor reserves
the right to drop the student from the course.
Evaluation
This is NOT a self paced course. Students are required to check in several times a
week and to participate in the discussion questions and other assignments as posted. In
addition, the course includes two major presentations, a paper, and reading exams that
make-up your final grade. Course assignments are as follows:
Assignment
Reading Exam 1
Reading Exam 2
Reading Exam 3
Misc. Assignments
Conversational skills
assessments
Discussion/Journal Questions
Interpersonal Ethnography
Group project/presentation
TOTAL
Total Points
50 pts.
50 pts.
50 pts
100 pts.
150 pts.
My Grade
200 pts.
250 pts.
150 pts.
1,000 pts.
Students will need the following number of cumulative points to earn a final course grade:
A = 900 to 1,000 pts.
B = 800 to 899 pts.
C = 700 to 799 pts.
D = 600 to 699 pts.
F = 0 to 599 pts.
Reading Exams: It is very important to keep up with reading in an online class.
Students will take three online timed tests covering assigned chapter readings, as
well as supplemental materials posted. Tests will contain multiple-choice and
true/false questions and an essay. For special concerns regarding timed tests,
please notify the Counseling Center and me.
You may use your book or notes for the exam, but be aware that many questions
are application questions that require previous thought on the topics, and an
understanding of the material covered.
3
Revised 10/23/08 Janene Davison
SPCH 1318 (Online)
Conversational skills assessments: This is a series of assignments requiring
knowledge of interpersonal communication concepts to evaluate and appropriately
respond to different scenarios.
Discussion Questions: Critical thinking and application questions will be posted
as scheduled. Students must respond thoughtfully to each question before the
next scheduled posting. In addition, students must respond to at least one
classmate’s posting using the guidelines for respectful online communication
detailed in this syllabus. See “Late Work” for how to handle a missed deadline.
Posted responses to the discussion question are worth half-credit, and the
response to another student’s posting is worth the remaining half-credit.
Interpersonal ethnography: Record all interpersonal communications in a 24-hour
period and submit this along with a 2-3 page analysis of those conversations. Details
to come...
Group project/presentation: Student-selected workgroups of 2-4 people will
collaborate in online forums to create a paper and presentation. Oral reports may be
submitted live, or videotaped and submitted on a VHS, DVD or posted on YouTube.
(See below on details of presentation submissions.) The purpose of the project is to
present the assigned interpersonal communication topics, as well as to highlight real
life examples that demonstrate the issues discussed. Details to come...
Extra Credit: Extra credit may be offered during the semester as determined by
the instructor. However, students who have failed to turn in assignments are not
eligible for extra credit points.
Notes Concerning submission of presentations:
Option #1:
• Videotape your presentation to a live audience of your own choosing. Family,
friends, and business associates will suffice, but the minimum number of
people in attendance must be 4!
•
You will need a video camera, a cameraperson, and proper mailers.
Recordings may be made on standard ½" VHS videotape, a DVD, or posted
on YouTube. When taping your presentation, the cameraperson must pan
from you, to your audience, and back to you so that audience can be seen
(one audience shot is sufficient). Your presentations may be mailed to me or
brought to my office N-328. I must receive the presentation by the due date.
If you mail it, you must mail it in sufficient time or your speech will be
considered late. I will review the presentation, prepare a written evaluation,
and return an evaluation to you via email. Please be sure to view your speech
on a source other than your camera before submission. Galveston College’s
media department has a video camera available for use, but you must bring
your own VHS tape. Contact Robert Taylor at 944-1249 for more details (and
give him plenty of time!)
4
Revised 10/23/08 Janene Davison
SPCH 1318 (Online)
Option #2:
• Deliver your presentation to a live classroom audience. See the speech
handouts for presentation dates. If you are unable to attend a live
presentation for ANY reason, you are responsible for turning-in your speech
as described in Option 1. Evaluation of live presentations will be prepared and
sent back to you via email.
Technical Requirements
Email accounts: Students must obtain an email account by the first class day.
Internet access: Students must have access to the Internet. This access may
be through the campus computer labs, library, or from home via an Internet
provider.
Specifically, each student will need:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
A PC running Windows 95 or better (a Pentium or equivalent processor at
166 MHz or better) or a Macintosh system 7.5 or better.
32 MB RAM (64 MB highly recommended) and at least 50 MB of available
disk space for assignments.
A modem or other device capable of connecting to the Internet at a speed
of at least 28.8 kbps (56K or better highly recommended).
Netscape 4.05 to 4.7x or MS Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher.
Adobe Acrobat Reader or ability to read .pdf file (free download available)
Adobe Flash Player (free download available)
A WebCT email account and a word processing software program.
Current virus software must be installed and kept up to date.
Mutual Respect in Online Communication:
A very important aspect of online learning is respectful communication. The GC Online
Learning Community requires mutually respectful communication.
Upon enrolling in programs at Galveston College, students assume responsibility for
respectful communication with other students and with course instructors, including
communication which does not disrupt the online environment. Disruptive
communication is at the discretion of the instructor, but includes use of profanity and/or
insulting or harassing remarks in email, discussions, chat or telephone communications.
For more details see the Galveston College Distance Learning Handbook.
A student who participates in disruptive communications forfeits the right to further class
participation and is subject to removal from all Galveston College online courses for the
given term without reimbursement. A student who is suspended more than once for
disruptive communication forfeits the right to further enrollment at Galveston College.
Academic Honesty
All material submitted in fulfillment of course requirements for SPCH 1318 must be
original work of the student claiming credit for it. Students guilty of knowingly using, or
attempting to use, another person’s work as though that work were their own
5
Revised 10/23/08 Janene Davison
SPCH 1318 (Online)
(plagiarism), and students guilty of knowingly permitting or attempting to permit another
student to use their work, will earn a grade of “F” for the assignment. When written
assignments require excerpts from material published by others, the student must give
full credit to the author to avoid the possibility of plagiarism. Each student is charged with
the responsibility of maintaining scholastic integrity. Such conduct may also constitute
grounds for dismissal from Galveston College. Students who are unfamiliar with the
College’s policy on plagiarism should consult the most recent edition of the Galveston
College Catalog.
Incomplete Policy
An Incomplete (I) will not be given unless requested by the student, and then only at the
discretion of the instructor. You must have completed at least 75% of the course work to be
considered for an incomplete. After the filing has been accepted, it is the student’s
responsibility to complete future coursework as required. If coursework is not completed
within the required time frame, then the incomplete will revert to an F.
Students with Disabilities
Students should inform the instructor of any special need(s) as soon as possible to ensure
that such need(s) is/are met in a timely manner.
Cell Phone/Electronics Use: Cell phone use is strictly prohibited during any and all
class/lab sessions. MP3 players or other distracting devices must also be turned off and put
away once class begins.
Notice of Non-Discrimination: Galveston College is an equal-opportunity educational
institution and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin,
religion, sex, or sexual orientation. Reasonable accommodations will be provided upon
request for persons with disabilities. For more information, contact the Office of College
Support Services at 1-800-801-5040 or the Student Services office of your home college.
Other
In case of serious weather, check with the Galveston College web site (www.gc.edu), or the
College Status Update line at 1-866-483-4242 for information on school closings or class
cancellations.
For information on adding or dropping a course, please refer to the Galveston College
Catalog.
6
Revised 10/23/08