Syllabus
COM510: Seminar in Interpersonal Communication (Nonverbal)
Summer Session II 2004 |
Professor Judith Swift
Office Hours: by appointment
Office: 874-4405 - E-mail: jswift@uri.edu
Office Location: Green Hall, Office of the Provost
Monday and Wednesday 6-9:45 p.m. Shepard Building/CCE
Course Description: Examines nonverbal communication (NVC) theories and research.
Students will explore NV message intentionality and awareness, social functions
of NVC, and the relationship of NVC to identity, power, deception, intimacy,
and other issues. Students will engage the study of NVC through readings,
lecture, discussions, film/interviews, experiential activities, and producing
a research
paper.
Goals—by the conclusion of this class, you should be able
to:
- Define a body of nonverbal
communication (NVC) theories and research;
- Identify NV message features,
social functions, and how NVC relates to identity, power, deception,
intimacy, and other issues;
- Analyze issues of intended and
unintended signals, the effects of gender and personality;
- Distinguish between
and among spontaneous and socially recognized nonverbal messages;
- Develop
and deliver an effective presentation on NVC both orally and written.
Content: This course will combine active exploration of NVC through in-class
interactive roleplays and exercises, and external observational activities.
We will use film clips, student journal entries to the listserv, photo images,
narrative
descriptions and other tools to explore the power, subtlety and significance
of NVC in all facets of interpersonal communication. In addition, we will
examine research and theories pertaining to NVC.
Written assignments will include the following:
- A substantial paper which is developed through the use of observational
material grounded in research;
- A “journal” posted
to the listserv of NVC observation activities to be used as
the basis for portions of in-class discussion/exercises.
The major paper will, of course, be word-processed with emphasis
on excellence in content, style, grammar, syntax, etc., and
with references and resources
properly cited. Format should be MLA (click
here for handy reference).
The length should be between 15 and 20 pages of text, double
line spacing and pt. 12 text in a reasonable font, e.g.,
Times or Times New Roman. The paper will be developed over the course
of the session with
encouraged
exchanges
of rough drafts for comments and further development with
each other and me. The paper will be addressed in greater detail in
a separate posting.
Participation assignments will include the following:
- Teams will present oral reports in NVC topic areas of your choosing
with my prior approval;
- Class participation in the presentation, analysis
and criticism of team reports;
- Ongoing discussion of individual “journal” postings
to the listserv;
- Participation in and discussion of fieldtrip and film
viewing as well
as additional readings, viewings as assigned.
There are any number of ways one can cluster topics in NVC.
There are also numerous ways to approach investigation of NVC.
For this
class, we will begin
with pairs/trios
of students selecting a topic area, e.g., NVC of feelings,
or deception, or the expression of power. You will examine
the texts and readings
as well as any research
articles you find of particular interest. In addition to
reporting on the topic, you are urged to develop an exercise
to assist others
in the class
in observing
the theory in action. These could include roleplays, video
clips, photographic images or anything your imagination leads
you to explore.
Weekly Activity:
Class Date |
Content |
Assignments DUE |
| June 28 |
- Introduction to NVC and class requirements; observation
and analysis of NVC.
|
|
| June 30 |
- Exercises in NVC; developing tools of observation
|
- Post to listserv
- Each student will observe and report on behavioral observation employing
categories of NVC as detailed in text.
|
| July 5 |
NO CLASS-HOLIDAY |
CCE sets July 9 as makeup date. |
| July 7 |
|
- Post to listserv
- Outline of points on analysis to be brought to class.
- Film: Broadcast News (to be pre-viewed by students)
|
| July 9 |
- Makeup for July 5
- Fieldtrip: Providence Place Mall: 6:00-8:00 p.m., return to CCE 8:15
p.m.
- Review/Discussion of observations and applicable theory
|
|
| July 12 |
|
- Presentations 1 and
2
- Class
discussion/critique to follow each
|
| July 14 |
|
- Presentations 3
and 4
- Class
discussion/critique to follow each
|
| July 19 |
|
- Presentations 5
and 6
- Class
discussion/critique to follow each
|
| July 21 |
|
- Presentations 7
and 8
- Class
discussion/critique to follow each
|
| July 26 |
- Interpersonal NVC: applications and analysis
|
|
| July 28 |
- Large Group/Org NVC: applications and analysis
|
|
General Notes: This syllabus is an outline of proposed events. It
is subject to change. I will never change it to make anything
due earlier for you.
I may change the order of things to allow for a special opportunity
or to allow
additional
exploration on a particular topic. I will supply supplementary
readings along the way.
Communication: I expect everyone
to use e-mail–direct to me at jswift@uri.edu for papers or personal notes, and inquiries, and the listserv COM510@pete.uri.edu for general issues and postings–in order that we can communicate efficiently
with each other. We will use this tool to increase class discussion by posting
additional ideas, observations, questions and insights. If you need to see me,
call or e-mail and I’ll get back to you as quickly
as possible.
Submission of Written
Work: All written assignments are to
be submitted as an attachment via e-mail. Please send with
a subject header in the e-mail as follows:
YOURLASTNAME.TOPIC. The file should be saved as YOURLASTNAME.TOPIC.DOC.
The
document should open to reveal your name, the date and the
topic as a header on the paper.
If more than one person developed the script/project, then
all names should be listed. Do not deviate from this format
so that
I am not challenged
to figure
out who sent what paper on what topic. Thank you.
Reading List
Required:
Richmond, Virginia P., McCroskey, James C., Nonverbal Behavior
in Interpersonal Relations; Allyn and Bacon, Inc.; 5th edition,
2004. ISBN 0205372465
Not Required: good supplementary textbooks
Burgoon, Judee K.; Nonverbal Communication: The Unspoken
Dialogue; Mcgraw-Hill Publishing Company; 2nd edition, 1996.
ISBN 0007008995
Knapp, Mark L., Hall, Judith; Nonverbal
Communication in Human Interaction; Harcourt Brace; 4th edition, 1997. ISBN
0003018023
Guerrerro, Laura K., DeVito, Joseph A., Hecht, Michael L.;
The Nonverbal Communication Reader: Classic and Contemporary
Readings;
Waveland Press,
Inc.; 2nd edition,
1999. ISBN 0157766040
Anderson, Peter A.; Nonverbal
Communication: Forms and Function;
Mayfield Publishing Company; 1999. ISBN 0155934726
Other readings as applicable and assigned including excerpts
from articles, magazine and newspapers.
Evaluation and
Grading: Grades will be determined in accordance with the
University system as described in the University
Manual beginning in Section 8.53.10.
| In-class discussion/participation |
20% |
| Topic reports |
40% |
| Final paper |
40% |
Honor Code: I expect each of you to contribute his/her own work; however, I
also encourage you to work together to solve problems, achieve
solid analysis, critique performances, and even to prepare and explore the theses
of your final
papers.
I also expect that you will all be direct about crediting
yourself
and/or others about completed work. There is nothing wrong with assisting
each other.
The only
caveat is to acknowledge that assistance. With regard to
group work, you are responsible for disclosing the amount of your work and to
be
forthright
about
how much you did or did not contribute. This saves each of
you from ever having
to be in the awkward position of reporting or covering for
another student. Fairness is the watchword. I also know each of you want to be
honorable
in
your individual
or group projects. Faculty are asked to inform all students
that the University of Rhode Island has very clear rules pertaining to plagiarism.
For information
on plagiarism, please see the University
Manual beginning with
Section 8.27.10. If anyone is unclear about the necessity for citation,
please ask.
This can
be confusing at times.
Philosophy of Teaching: I enjoy an engaging, active partnership
of learning in which I rediscover and discover aspects of nonverbal
communication
along
with
you. I am interested in using your choice of topics as a
springboard for the exploration of NVC. Despite the plethora
of research, the subject
of
NVC is rich
with subjective and subtle areas to explore. The potential
for discovering new paths into human behavior is exciting, however,
just
as no one is responsible
for our individual happiness but us, no one is responsible
for our intellectual excitement. I will bring mine to the classroom
but
you also need to be
prepared to risk exposing and exploring yours. We will use an
array of tools to enrich
our understanding of the topic. Some will appeal more to
you than others but
please be accepting and open to other ways of learning. I
look forward to the time we will have together examining and
creating nonverbal
communication.
Attendance: Attendance is
expected. Each class is 3 hours and 45 minutes long. If you have difficulty
staying focused for that
length of
time, this is not
the class format for you. This class is a whine-free
zone. Furthermore, you are graduate
students and I assume you want the stimulation of class discussion
with a professor and your peers. If you will not attend on a
given day because
of
an emergency
(of the "I can't fog a mirror" variety), please
call or e-mail. 524-1427 is my cell but please use for class
absence or other emergencies
only. Absences
will affect your grade because class participation is an
important aspect of my evaluation of your work. If you are
working on a group
project and
do not
show to work with your group, that counts doubly against
you. As you all know, groups cannot function as teams if
they do not support each
other
with respect.
Do your best to be on time. Providence traffic is horrendous
between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m. so plan accordingly.
Special Needs: If you have
any special circumstances arising from a disability, please let me
know how I can assist you.
As stated
in the
University Manual: "The
student with a disability shall be responsible for self-identification to the
Disability Services for Students in the Office of Student Life, providing appropriate
documentation of disability, requesting accommodation in a timely manner, and
follow-through regarding accommodations requested." In
other words, it is your responsibility to make arrangements
for any special needs
and my responsibility
to accommodate them with the assistance of the office of
Disability Services for Students.
Classroom Etiquette: Although I both enjoy and encourage
an informal classroom in which people feel free to speak
without the raising
of hands and can
sit in a less formal arrangement than row-by-row, this informal
setting requires
a particular
adherence to good manners. Quite simply, I expect you all
to be respectful of me and of each other. I only mention
this because
we have all experienced
the
rare circumstance of a classmate who does not grasp this
principle. This courtesy includes extraneous private commentary
between and
among students,
the use of
any telecommunications devices that connect you to the outside
world, and the continued courtesy of respectful attention
without interruption when
others are
speaking. We all learned this behavior either at home or
in Kindergarten or both. Consider this experience to be one
in which your communication
style will be
judged and a major part of that judgment is your ability
to be courteous on both an interpersonal and group level.
I embrace humor;
I do not embrace
disruption.
I am utterly intolerant of any student being harshly judgmental
or making fun of a fellow student. I expect you are all courteous
people at heart
and will
have absolutely no difficulty in meeting and exceeding these
expectations.
If your cell phone rings in my class,
guess who will answer it?