CTA 162
Dr. Katy Wiss
Office Hours: MW 8-10, F9-10
Mailbox: Berkshire 120b
Course Web Page: http://www.wcsu.ctstateu.edu/~wiss/162/162.html
Interpersonal Communication
Office: Berkshire 020
Telephone/Voice Mail: 203-837-8260
E-mail: wiss@wcsub.ctstateu.edu
"It takes insight, courage and responsibility to engage in the mindful production of reality. This the basis of a meaningful
existence." (O’Brien and Kollock)
Focus: To improve your awareness and understanding of the communication of yourself and others. To enhance your
critical reasoning and thinking skills. Skills and knowledge are acquired through reading, class discussions, skill
activities, writing, and observation.
Questions that are the central to the course.
1. What is the nature of communication, reality, language, and nonverbal communication?
2. What is the relationship of the individual to others?
3. How do history and culture shape our interactions?
4. What is communicative competence?
5. How do we develop competence as communicators?
Required Texts:
Albee, Edward. (1988). Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? New York: New American Library.
Norman, Marsha. (1983). 'Night, Mother. New York: Noonday Press.
Trenholm, Sarah & Jensen, Arthur. (2000). Interpersonal Communication (4th Edition) Belmont, CA: Wadsworth
Publishing.
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The texts for class may be purchased at the university bookstore or on-line. It is your responsibility to acquire them
and read them. We may not have time in class to discuss all reading assignments. Please ask during class or my
office hours if you have questions about the readings. If the bookstore is out of stock of the textbook, it is your
responsibility to place an order with a bookstore employee.
Requirements: You must complete these assignments to pass the class.

50% Quizzes
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30% Papers
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20% In-Class Communication, Written Homework
Grading: If you ever have any questions regarding what is expected of you or desire to discuss your work or a specific
grade, please come see me during my office hours. If you are experiencing trouble, please let me know well in advance of
tests and written work. You must earn your grades, but I have every confidence that you can and will do excellent work.
I will not grant any incompletes in this class.
Office Hours: I set aside several hours each week to meet with students to discuss their academic progress and concerns
about the class. Please feel free to make an appointment, drop in, or call during these hours. It is the best time to reach
me.
Quizzes. After every chapter, we will have an in-class quiz. Dates for quizzes will be announced no later than one class
period before the quiz. The quizzes will be multiple choice, short answer, matching or true-false. Quizzes cannot be
made up.
Papers. I will ask you to write one paper on each of the plays we read for class. In the paper, you will use the theories
and concepts we discuss in class to analyze the communication in the play. I will provide suggestions and details closer to
the time of the assignment. 3-5 pages. All papers must be typed with one-inch margins. Your work must be clear, well
edited and proofread. Please staple your paper together before you come to class. Do not submit work in any type of
folder. Papers are graded primarily on content, but this cannot be separated from clarity and manner of expression. Late
papers loose one full letter grade for each day they are late.
Attendance: Your active attendance and participation in class is required. Most class periods will involve discussion or
communication activities. Do not come to class late or leave early. There is no such thing as an excused absence.
Commit yourself to a responsible attendance policy that will ensure the grade you desire. If you miss class, for any
reason, please get the notes or assignments from another student. I will be happy to discuss the notes or assignments with
you if you have questions.
Readings/Topics: The following is an outline of the sequence of topics we will cover in this course. Depending on class
interest, we will spend more or less time on a given subject. However, we will cover the material in this order. We will
not cover every chapter in the textbook.
UNIT 1: OVERVIEW OF INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
Chapter One: Essential Characteristics of Communication
Models of Interpersonal
Communication and Competence
Chapter Two: Approaches to Interpersonal Communication
The Systems Perspective
Public and Private Relational Trajectories
UNIT II: SENDING AND RECEIVING MESSAGES
Chapter Three: Nonverbal Communication
Functions
Nonverbal Codes: Proxemics, Appearance, Gaze, Face, Kinesics, Voice, and Touch
Chapter Four: Language
The Verbal Code: Structure
The Verbal Code: Functions
Chapter Five: Relational Messages
Types of Relational Messages
Pragmatic Communication Patterns
Additional Reading: Edward Albee: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
UNIT III: INTERPERSONAL PROCESSES
Chapter Seven: The Nature of Social Roles
Chapter Eight: How We Use Communication to Establish Self
Multiple Selves and Schemata
Communicator Style and Self-Monitoring
UNIT IV: RELATIONAL CONTEXTS
Chapter 11: Initial Interactions
Interpersonal Attractions
Friendship Development
Romantic Relationship Development
Relational Dialectics
Relationship Deterioration
Additional Reading: Marsha Norman: "Night, Mother
Chapter Thirteen: Cross-Cultural Communication
American World Views
Prejudice and Social Construction
Communication in the Colonial and Jacksonian Periods
Communication Now and in the Future