COM103 Spring 2002
Interpersonal Communication - WebCT
Vince Petronio, Instructor
301A Shepard Bldg.
URI/Providence Campus
voice: 401.277.5292
fax: 401.277.5293
petronio@uri.edu
Text: Looking Out, Looking In; 9th or 10th Edition; Adler and Towne
YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR KNOWING THE CONTENTS OF THIS SYLLABUS.
This class will be taught via WebCT. You must have access to a web browser to take this course. The web address for this class is COM103_Petronio. Go to http://webct.uri.edu/public/COM103_Petronio/index.html to access the page.
When you are prompted for your account ID AT THIS POINT IN TIME enter your eight digit URI account number EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT USING THAT ACCOUNT TO ACCESS THE WEB PAGE!!!... e.g "VPET3882". Your password is MMDDYYYY of your birth. Please realize that WebCT is case sensitive so make certain you use ONLY UPPER CASE LETTERS.
After you are successful… you can then change the password to something else that you will remember.
If your MMDDYYYY doesn’t work for your password then send me email.
If you intend to use an AOL account… you need to log on to AOL then "minimize the window".. do not exit… and then launch Netscape version 3.0 or higher. You can not use the AOL browser to interact with WebCT!!!!.
Office Hours: You may send me private email via WebCT private mail at any time. If your question needs a prompt response, then send your query to "petronio@uri.edu"
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Class requirements:
Final grade 50% papers and 50% on-line discussion and group presentations
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Group presentations:
You are required to contact your assigned group members on-line and either on the BB or via the private email feature of WebCT. but off-list/bulletin board to discuss and research your topic. You must have more than two outside sources other than the text. I suggest URL's (Web Sites) for your outside source citations in addition to traditional citations from hard copy journals and books. Then you need to elect a spokesperson who will present the group's findings to the entire class via the bulletin board (BB) feature of WebCT.
I will post to WebCT what group you're in. These groups are dynamic. I will change the makeup of the groups periodically. That means you will not stay with the same group members for the semester. Instead, you will be a member of a few different groups. It is YOUR responsibility to keep track of what group you're in by clicking on "forum" in Bulletin Board. The only group forum you see is the one you're in.
Basically, you will be working with a group each week and submitting to the entire class your research in the form of a short paper every week. These group assignments need to be posted no later than the Saturday of the week they are due.
The entire class is encouraged to comment on any and all group presentations.
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Two Papers:
Your papers, on the other hand, are solo work sent to me via private email as attachments. They too are due to be posted to me no later than the Saturday of that week. They need to have a minimum of 4 outside sources other than the text and they must have a title page in addition to being at least 3 pages in length double spaced.
The paper topics for these papers are to be selected by you and must deal with some aspect of computer mediated communication. You may select a topic from the following list if you choose.
· Potential Paper Topics
Research Papers Defined
The two papers that are due for this class at mid semester and the end of the semester constitute 50% of your final grade. These papers are to be research papers. They will require research that involves sources other than the course textbook. You must have a minimum of 3 outside sources. These papers need to be at least 3 pages, double-spaced.
Select one of the topics assigned in the syllabus or come up with your own topic that relates interpersonal communication and technology. Research this topic using credible on-line as well as traditional library source materials.
Paper Grading Criteria:
1. (10pts) Introduction is clear and adequately previews the major points of the paper. The topic/concept being addressed is clearly and adequately identified. Your introductory paragraph needs to state what topic/concept you're investigating and give a preview of the major points you intend to make.
2. (40pts) The topic/concept is clearly defined and supported by a minimum of 3 outside sources. Outside sources are credible and meet the criteria identified under "References/Evaluating On-line Sources". This definition shows thorough research of the literature accompanied by a clearly written explanation of the literature. You need to clearly define the topic in such a way as to be understandable to a reader not familiar with the material. Support this clarification with copious citations from the outside sources.
3. (20pts) The topic/concept is further explained through the use of 'home grown' hypothetical and factual illustrations and examples. After educating the reader about the topic with a review of the literature, you need to illustrate your explanation with 'home grown' examples of the defined concept/topic. Follow up these illustrative examples with your own thoughts on the subject matter in regard to what you find most interesting or provocative. Also address the application of this topic/concept in your everyday life and make implications on how these concepts are applicable to the reader.
4. (10pts) Offer your thoughts on the topic taking into consideration the literature and your opinion of the supporting and/or conflicting arguments you've found. Provide the reader with the implications this information has for them in their interpersonal communication transactions.
Lastly summarize the significant points expressed in the paper so that the reader can easily discern the residual message of your paper. What significant/major point do you want to ensure they remember after reading your paper.
5. (20pts) Paper is organized with proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
Top Grammar and Organizational Errors to be Wary Of:
1. Comma Splice
2. Sentence Fragment
3. Vague Pronoun Reference.
4. Unsupported assertion.
5. Use of 'alot' for 'a lot' and 'there' for 'they're'
***Please virus check your documents before sending them to me.***
I use MS Office 97. So any Word document of that version (Office 2000) or earlier is fine whether it is Mac or Windows. If you use a different wordprocessor than Word (Office 2000 or earlier versions) then you need to save your document as either plain text or Rich Text Format (RTF) before attaching it to email and sending it to me.
Please remember to use the attachment feature of WebCT for your paper do not send your papers to my @uri.edu account! Send it to me via the 'Mail' feature within WebCT.
Your group presentations need to be sent in a post directly to the BB on WebCT... Not as attachments!.
The Dates below indicate the date each assignment is due.
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January
26
Introductions.
February
2
Introductions/Class Discussion
All group assignments must try to:
Further define/explain/illustrate the implications of these concepts and their impact on Computer Mediated Communication
9
Chapter 1
Group Assignments:
Group #1 Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
Group #2 Quantitative and Qualitative Interactions
Group #3 Metacommunication
Group #4 Communication Competence
Group #5 Relational Messages/Types of Control
16
Chapter 2
Group Assignments:
Group #1 Self Concept
Group #2 Individualistic and Collectivistic
Cultures
Group #3 Presenting Self: Identity Management
Group #4 Identity Management and Diversity
Group #5 Reference Groups/Reflected Appraisal
23
Chapter 3
Group Assignments:
Group #1 Selection/Organization/Interpretation/Perceptual
Schema
Group #2 Influences on Perception
Group #3 Cultural/Gender Differences
Group #4 Accuracy and Inaccuracy of Perception
Group #5 Perception Checking
March
2
Chapter 4
Group Assignments:
Group #1 Primary & Mixed Emotions
Group #2 Emotions and Culture/Gender
Group #3 Emotional Expression
Group #4 Managing Emotions
Group #5 Irrational Thinking/Handling Debilitative
Emotions
9
Chapter 5
Group Assignments:
Group #1 Nature of Language
Group #2 Powerful/Powerless Language
Group #3 Abstract/Specific/Behavioral Language
Group #4 Gender and Language
Group #5 Culture and Language
16 SPRING BREAK
23
1st Paper Due (3-5 pgs with a title page). Send as attachment via my WebCT "mail". You may determine your own topic as long as it relates CMC to Interpersonal Communication… or you can select a topic from the listed topics in the Syllabus
30
Chapter 6
Group Assignments:
Group #1 Gender and Nonverbal
Group #2 Culture and Nonverbal
Group #3 Ambiguity in Nonverbal
Group #4 Differences Between Verbal and
Nonverbal
Group #5 The Role of Distance and Nonverbal
April
6
Chapter 7
Group Assignments:
Group #1 Elements in the Listening Process
Group #2 Types of Ineffective Listening
Group #3 Why We Don't Listen
Group #4 Informational Listening
Group #5 Listening to Help
13
Chapter 8
Group Assignments:
Group #1 Why Do We Form On-Line Relationships
Group #2 Relational Development and Maintenance
Group #3 Gender and Culture and Relationship
Development
Group #4 Self-disclosure in Relationships
Group #5 Alternatives to Self Disclosure
20
Chapter 9
Group Assignments:
Group #1 Confirming and Disconfirming Communication
Group #2 The Role of Gender/Culture on Defensiveness
Group #3 Types of Defensive Reactions
Group #4 Preventing Defensiveness in Others
Group #5 Coping with Criticism
27
Chapter 10
Group Assignments:
Group #1 Conflict Styles
Group #2 The Role of Gender and Culture and Conflict.
Group #3 Conflict in Relational Systems
Group #4 Methods of Conflict Resolution
Group #5 Win-Win Communication Skills
May
4
2nd Paper due (3-5 pgs with a title page). Send as attachment via my WebCT "mail". You may determine your own topic as long as it relates CMC to Interpersonal Communication… or you can select a topic from the listed topics in the Syllabus.
11
Last chance for make up assignments