Chesapeake College
COM 101- 101: Fundamentals of Oral and Organizational Communication
FALL SEMESTER 2015 Monday/Wednesday 8:30 –9:45 am
Instructor: Frank Fulton
Cell Phone: 443-602-2598
Office Hours: By Appointment
E-Mail Address: frankfulton@skipjack.chesapeake.edu
By Canvas
Course Description: Foundations of communication theory and practice relevant to individual,
small group, and business and professional settings. Major units include theories of
communication, interpersonal communication, group discussion (teamwork), organizational
culture, diversity, listening, conflict management, interviewing, and public speaking, and visual
aids.
General Education Competencies Addressed in COM 101
Communication
Technological Literacy
Ethical Frameworks
The goals for the course are:
- Survey the major types of human communication; intrapersonal, interpersonal, group, and
public.
- Learn basic skills necessary for the major types of communication.
- Overcome communication apprehension through knowledge and experience.
- Integrate the communication activities (reading, writing, speaking and listening) for the twofold purpose of teaming/education and the essential life skills of communication, critical
thinking and problem solving
At the completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Logically organize speeches and present them clearly.
- Express their own idea coherently, as well as work collaboratively with others in a responsible
manner in the preparation and presentation of a small group project.
- Use technology in the preparation and delivery of public presentations.
- Identify and apply ethical frameworks to social issues.
Text and Supplies: Communicating for Results: A Guide for Business and the
Professions, 10th edition by Cheryl Hamilton. Additional reading assignments (newspaper,
web, magazine articles, videos to view, etc.) will be assigned at the discretion of the instructor. A
stopwatch/watch with a timer and several packs of 3”x5” index cards are recommended.
Have you done Canvas orientation? Go to Canvas online (home) and proceed to Canvas
Student Orientation.
Assignment expectations:*
Grade value of assignments, quizzes and tests:
1. Class participation and attendance =
5%
2. Quizzes
=
15%
3. Informative oral presentation
=
20%
4. Resume and letter of application
=
15%
5. Persuasive oral presentation
=
20%
6. Business Memo
=
10%
7. Group Project
=
15%
Total
=
100%
There will be no mid-term in this class. There will be quizzes and assignments throughout the
course. The final exam will be a group presentation the last day of class. Missing the group
presentation, without an excused absence, will result in an automatic failure of the class.
Oral presentations and assignments MUST be ready and/or handed-in according to the schedule
in the syllabus, unless otherwise instructed. An oral presentation is late if a student is not
prepared to deliver the presentation when called upon by the instructor. Twenty percent will be
deducted from your grade for each class that an assignment is late. A typed assignment is
late if a typed hard copy is not turned in the class period it is due, or e-mailed prior to class. If
you miss a MAJOR individual presentation (the only exception is emergencies where official
documentation is provided, e.g., doctor or hospital note) it will result in a zero for that
presentation.
2.
Please do not talk during your classmates’ presentations, no texting or talking on cell phones,
and do not leave your seat during a presentation. If a classmate is in front of the class presenting,
do not enter the room! Your own poor behavior during others’ presentations will result in point
deduction from your presentation.
Assignments will be submitted in class unless otherwise specified.
All assignments such as outlines, papers, etc., unless otherwise specified, should be typed,
proof-read, spell-checked, single-spaced, and set at 12 point type in Times New Roman, and
1” margins to receive credit. This does not apply to peer evaluations and class activities that do
not require the work to be typed. Assignments that are not typed will not be accepted for credit.
There will be periodic in-class assignments and activities involving individual and team
participation.
Late assignments will not be accepted without a documented excuse/absence (e.g., doctor's note,
family emergency, funeral).
Students have the option to re-do assignments and turn them back in for re-evaluation before the
end of the semester.
Out of Class Preparation:
Students are expected to do a minimum of two hours of work outside of class for every hour in
class. Some assignments may require more time.
Grade appeals will ONLY be considered in the case of a documented clerical error.
A Note about Academic Honesty and Integrity: All students are expected to turn in and
present their own original work. Any student that cheats or plagiarizes on an assignment will
face disciplinary action. Disciplinary action may range from failing the assignment to failing the
course or worse, depending on the infraction.
Grades will be updated weekly and posted in the Canvas grade book, so please get familiar with
the software. An app for most smart phones and tablets is available now in both iPhone and
Android format. You can check your grades, see what's due and more! Look in your app store
for "Canvas by Instructure."
The range for letter grades is as follows:
A = 90% to 100%
B = 80% to 89%
C = 70% to 79%
D = 60% to 69%
F = <60%
3.
Classroom atmosphere:
I expect professionalism in my class and being professional includes arriving on-time as a
courtesy to me and your classmates. You are permitted to be tardy ten minutes past the official
start time of class. After that, I will closing the door and you may not be permitted entry into
class that day.
Five percent of your final grade is based on attendance and classroom participation. You will be
marked absent without a documented excuse/absence (e.g., doctor's note, family emergency,
funeral). You must notify the instructor of your absence prior to or no later than 12 hours after
the class has ended to be excused. You may notify by cell phone or email.
This course requires group work. When assigned to a team, you will be given time during
class to meet; however outside meetings may be necessary, so please exchange cell phone
numbers and plan accordingly. Canvas offers great team collaboration tools that I highly
encourage you to take advantage of.
Assignments are posted in Canvas in the course syllabus – please check there for the most up-todate information if you have to miss class.
Some extra credit is available at the end of the semester to make-up points if needed.
Cell phones in class: during class is not the time or place to use your cell phone. Unless the
instructor asks you to take your cell phone out for an activity or discussion, you must place it on
SILENT and put it away. You may use it during a class break, but you must put it away when
the class starts after the break.
The instructor reserves the right to deduct TWENTY points from your final grade every time he
sees you on your cell phone during lecture. If you need to take or make an important phone call
please step outside the classroom.
Academic Accommodations
If you have a documented disability and need academic adjustments, please contact Ms. Judy
Gordon to develop an accommodation plan. Ms. Gordon is located at the main campus, in the
Learning Resource Center (LRC) 114; 410-827-5805; email address jgordon@chesapeake.edu.
If you already have an academic accommodations plan, you must present it to me ASAP, so
considerations can be made. If you have a known disability but you have not filed an
accommodations plan with Ms. Gordon and that plan has not been presented to me, no
considerations will be made for you.
4.
Class Cancellations
Please check the Chesapeake College website during inclement weather for class
cancellations. Information is usually posted by 6 A.M. for day classes and by 3 P.M. for evening
classes.
Should an emergency occur and I must cancel class, I will send post in Canvas as soon as
possible. Please be sure to check your Chesapeake email/Canvas before every class.
Academic Emergency Plan.
In the event that Chesapeake College needs to close for an extended period of time due to a flu
pandemic, severe weather event, or other emergency situation, consideration will be given to the
timing and duration of the closure as follows:
1. Closure during the semester for up to one week – there will be an opportunity to make up
work missed without significant alteration to the semester calendar.
2. Closure extending beyond one week (or in situations where classes are cancelled on the same
days/evenings over multiple weeks) – the College may extend the length of the semester.
Depending on the timing of the closure, scheduled breaks, end of semester dates, and/or the
processing of final grades might be impacted.
Students can acquire information about closures on the College website or by calling 410-8225400 or 410-228-4360. Chesapeake College courses held at off campus sites will follow the
protocol of the host facility.
*Please note that the information contained in this syllabus is subject to change at any time
at the discretion of the instructor.
COURSE SCHEDULE
All chapters in the course schedule are from the class text, Communicating For Results by
Cheryl Hamilton, Tenth Edition.
In Class
Week 1
Aug. 24
Overview of course
Aug. 26
Communication theory; ethics
Week 2
Aug. 31
In-class grammar quiz with
a grammar guide (material provided).
5.
Homework
Read Chapter 1
Read Chapter 2
Sept. 2
Discuss organizational communication
models. Edit a story in class.
Read Chapter 11
Week 3
Sept.7
NO CLASS College Holiday – Labor Day
Sept. 9
Informative Presentations
Week 4
Sept. 14
Quiz Chapter 1 and take home Quiz Chapter 2
Sept. 16
Impromptu topics – in class assignment and Grade Quiz 2 Read Chapter 4
Turn in draft Informative Speech outline with references
Week 5
Sept. 21
Effective Listening
Sept. 23
Due 5 - 7 minute Informative Presentations Read Chapter 12
Turn in final Informative Speech outline with references.
Week 6
Sept. 28
Complete 5 - 7 minute Informative Presentations
Sept. 30
Verbal and visual supporting materials
Read Chapter 3
Week 7
Oct. 5
Quiz Chapter 4
Take home Quiz Chapter 11
Read Chapter 6
Oct. 7
Group Projects & obstacles to
organizational communication.
In-class - Grade Quiz Chapter 11
Read Chapter 8
Week 8
Oct. 12
Quiz Chapter 6
Read Chapter 7
Obstacles to organizational communication.
6.
Oct. 14
Job resumes and letters of application.
Week 9
Oct. 19
Quiz Chapter 12
Oct. 21
Types of interviews, interview questions
and how to organize them.
Read Chapter 13
Week 10
Oct. 26
Persuasive Presentations
Due – Job resume and letter of application.
Oct. 28
Quiz Chapter 7 and take home Quiz Chapter 8
Week 11
Nov. 2
Grade Chapter 8 Quiz; Writing, delivery and language
Nov. 4
Business Memos and assignment sheet handout. Read Chapter 9
In-class - grade Quiz Chapter 8
Turn in draft Persuasive Speech outline with references.
Week 12
Nov. 9
Nov. 11
Quiz Chapter 13
Due 5 - 7 minute Persuasive Presentation
Turn in final Persuasive Speech outline with references.
Week 13
Nov. 16
Complete 5 - 7 Minute Persuasive Presentations
Nov. 18
“Groupthink” and small-group problem solving. Read Chapter 10
Week 14
Nov. 23
Leadership qualities and responsibilities.
Nov. 25
NO CLASS College Holiday – Thanksgiving break
Read Chapter 5
7.
Week 15
Nov. 30
Effects of non-verbal communication in organizations.
Business Memo due.
Take home Quiz Chapter 5
Dec. 2
Quiz Chapter 10
In-class - grade Quiz Chapter 5
Crisis Communication
Week 16
Dec. 7
Final Exam - Group Projects
8.