Storytelling

Communication Studies 3260

Instructor: Dr. Jay AllisonSemester:Fall 2015

Office: GAB 309CClass Time:9:00-9:50 am

Office Hours:10:00 – 11:00 am MWFClassroom:GAB 321

and by appointment.Email:[1]

Course Description

Human beings have been called homo narrans—the storytelling animal. The purpose of this course is to help you understand the centrality of narrative to human culture and the everyday lives of human beings. It is also designed to help you understand and enjoy the art of storytelling, to enhance your performance skills, to help you learn the mechanics of narrative, and to sharpen your critical thinking skills through engagement with the oral tradition. The oral tradition refers to stories that circulate primarily through the spoken word and in face-to-face interaction within our communities. This course examines the ways in which personal and cultural identities are created and shared through the act of storytelling and how the acts of storytelling that are central to our daily lives are founded on the narrative structure of everyday life. Using narrative analysis and stage performance, we will explore stories ofthe self, of others, and of cultures and communities.

Course Texts and Resources

All reading material will be provided throughout the semester. Resources for the class include essays from the following texts:

Langellier, K. M., & Peterson, E. E. (2004). Storytelling in daily life: Performing narrative. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press.

Lipman, D. (1999). Improving your storytelling: Beyond the basics for all who tell stories in work or play. Atlanta, GA: August House.

Warren, L. (2008). The oral tradition today: An introduction to the art of storytelling. New York, NY: Pearson Custom Publishing.

Course Goals & Objectives

  • To develop critical understanding of the relationship between stories and identities
  • To sharpen awareness of the significance of narrative in personal and cultural contexts
  • To enhance a performer’s responsive and expressive abilities
  • To enhance communication skills through analysis and presentation of narratives
  • To develop criteria for evaluating performances and to practice providing constructive, critical response to others’ performance work.

Grading Scale

91 – 100AExceptional(ly creative) work

81 – 90BOutstanding work; exceeds minimum standards

71 – 80 CMeets stated requirements

61 – 70DDoes not fulfill stated requirements

60 or belowFUnsatisfactory work

In order to ensure fairness and avoid grade inflation, you are graded based on how well you meet the stated criteria for any assignment not in relation to how you performed in relation to your classmates. Agrade of “C”on a paper or performance means you have met the stated requirements for that assignment. Grades of B or A indicate that you have gone beyond the minimum requirements in a significant way; grades of D or F signal that you failed to meet the stated requirements (minimum criteria) for the assignment.

Assignments

Performance 115%

Performance 2 15%

Performance 3 15%

Daily Assignments20%

Exam 10%

Term Paper 15%

Participation10%

Performance Projects

Forty-five percent of your grade in this course will be based on storytelling performances. You do not have to be a “natural” performer (whatever that is) to give creative, intelligent, and well-rehearsed performances. In fact, for this course you will be drawing upon and sharpening a skill that you already possess. We areeach born into a world of stories—folktales, fairytales, cultural stories, family stories. And, because of the way our minds work and the way we share information, we have been listening to, telling, and actually living stories since we learned to communicate. In the performance projects for this class, we will examine how human beings encounter and share stories as well as how they influence our identities and the way we live our lives.

Daily Assignments

You will be complete a variety of assignments over the course of the semester to help you understand the role of narrative in your daily lives and the act of storytelling.

Examination

You will have given a single examination for the course that will cover course readings and lecture notes. The examination will include a variety of types of questions including multiple choice, T/F Justify, short answer, and brief essay. The examination will occur during the semester, not during the final examination period.

Term Paper

You will complete a 2,500-word term paper (excluding notes and references) on some aspect of storytelling. You are responsible for choosing and narrowing the topic, which can range from a biographical sketch of a noted storyteller to the history of a particular storytelling festival to the possibilities of a particular form of storytelling (e.g., music, digital). Topics must be approved in advance. The possibilities for this paper are only as limited as your imagination. Your paper must involve research and have at least five credible sources at a minimum. Warning: I do not consider Wikipedia a credible source. Term papers must be typed and double-spaced throughout, including references. Margins should be 1-inch at top, bottom, left, and right. Utilize a 12 pt. font. You must use APA style. If you are unfamiliar with APA style, you can access numerous online sources to determine how to create everything from your title page to in text citations to your references page. Papers containing 50 stylistic errors or more will be docked one letter grade.

Attendance/Tardiness/Participation

  • Attendance will be taken each day at the beginning of class.
  • If you arrive after I have taken attendance,you are responsible forinforming methat you arrived lateat the end of the class period for which you are tardy. If you forget, the absence will not be removed. It is not reasonable for you to expect me to keep track of which students arrive late for class and when.
  • Excessive tardiness will not be tolerated; if you accumulate sixtardies, it will count as the equivalent of an absence. Each three tardies thereafter will count as an absence.
  • Yes, I-35 is torture; parking on campus is a nightmare. These conditions are not news to anyone. If you commute, you must allow adequate time to arrive, park, and get to class on time.
  • Showing up is only half the battle. In addition to arriving on time, on non-performance days I expect you to have completed assigned readings and be prepared to discuss the material, pose questions, and participate actively in class.
  • You are granted three (3) unauthorized absences over the course of the semester. Each subsequent absence will result in a 10-point deduction from your final average—the equivalent of one letter grade for each additional absence.
  • You are responsible for obtaining notes from classmates for missed classes.

Absences during Exams, Performances, or Major Assignments

If you have an excusable absence on the date of an exam, a performance, or another major assignment, you can request to make up the assignment.

  • The only absenceseligible to be considered as excused absences are for family deaths, severe documented personal illness, religious holidays, and participation in university sponsored activities (e.g., intercollegiate sports).
  • To request an excused absence, you must contact me within 24 hours of the missed class; advance notification is required for university-sponsored activities.
  • Any student wishing to have an absence excused must provideappropriate documentation within one (1) week of a missed class. Documentation must be provided before you can request to make up an assignment.
  • Published obituaries can constitute appropriate documentation for family deaths if your relationship to the deceased is clear.
  • Dated and signed doctors’ notes on official letterhead or a prescription pad with contact information will be accepted to document a serious illness.
  • The Dean of Students provides documentation for absences related to university-sponsored activities.
  • Failure to follow this policy will result in a zero (0) for the missed assignment/exam.

Special Rules Regarding Performance Days:

The following actions and behaviors will result in the loss of a letter grade on your performance if they occur or you engage in them during a classmate’s performance:

  • Texting or phone use during performances;
  • Your phone rings or vibrates during a classmate’s performance;
  • Entering the classroom during a classmate’s performance(if you are late on a performance date, wait until you hear applause); and/or
  • Talking or whispering during a classmate’sperformance.

Please be respectful during your classmates’ performances by giving them your full attention and by being prepared and willing to ask informed and thoughtful questions about their efforts.

Performance Policy

I expect you to be present and prepared on the days you are scheduled to perform.

  • If you miss a scheduled presentation, workshop, or performance and have an excusable absence, you will be afforded an opportunity to make up the missed presentation. You will be permitted only one opportunity for a make up. To be clear, once your absence has been excused, you must be prepared to perform whenever I choose to call upon you. If you are unprepared when called upon, you will not be afforded an additional opportunity for the makeup.
  • If you have an unexcused absence on a day when you are scheduled for a presentation, a workshop, or a performance, you will receive a grade of zero for the assignment.
  • All performances should be prepared to a level acceptable for public performance. "Stumble-through" scenes are not acceptable.
  • Expect to do all performance preparation work is outside of class meeting time.

This class requires significant time commitment beyond normal class meeting hours. If you cannot make the time commitment, you should not take the class.

Black Box Theatre

To reserve the black box, you may fill out a form online and submit to the black box manager, Dr. Holley Vaughn, at . You can find relevant forms at:

or

Black Box Rules

  1. Respect the space.
  2. Place all used props, boxes, flats, etc. in designated areas in prop closet when you have finished using them (for rehearsal and performance).
  3. Do not drag boxes, flats, etc. on the black box floor; pick them up and carry them.
  4. No eating or drinking areallowed at any time.
  5. Leave the space better than you found it (pick up after yourself)

Failure to follow these rules may result in forfeiture of your privilege to use the space.

Grade Inquiry Policy

While sincere inquiries about grades are acceptable, “grade grubbing” is not. If you have questions about your grade on any assignment, feel free to contact me no sooner than 24 hours after the grade has been returned to schedule a meeting. This waiting period is enforced to make certain that you have reviewed any relevant material (e.g., readings or class notes) thoroughly and have read any comments I may have provided. If you request a meeting, you should come prepared for the meeting; that is, I expect you to bring the assignment in question and have specific questions related to the assignment or reasoned arguments about why your grade should be altered. If you wish to discuss a grade, you must schedule an appointment within seven(7) days of receiving the grade. After a calendar week, you forfeit the right to contact me about your grade on any given assignment. This policy is intended to encourage honest questions and to discourage end-of-the-semester haggling designed to improve your overall grade. Any discussion of a grade must be conducted in person and not via email.

Late Work

Late work is not accepted in this class. If you miss a quiz, performance, exam, or activity in class you will not be allowed to make this work up unless you have an excused absence. Please refer to the excused absence policy above. If your absence is excused, it is your responsibility to follow-up with your instructor and to turn in missed work in a timely manner.

Access Policy

I cooperate fully with the University’s Office of Disability Accommodation to provide reasonable accommodation to students who require help. If you require some form of accommodation, I encourage you to register with the ODA as early in the semester as possible so that you can take full advantage of the services they offer.

The University of North Texas makes reasonable academic accommodation for students with disabilities. Students seeking accommodation must first register with the Office of Disability Accommodation(ODA) to verify their eligibility. If a disability is verified, the ODA will provide you with an accommodation letter to be delivered to faculty to begin a private discussion regarding your specific needs in acourse. You may request accommodations at any time, however, ODA notices of accommodation should be provided as early as possible in the semester to avoid any delay in implementation. Note thatstudents must obtain a new letter of accommodation for every semester and must meet with each faculty member prior to implementation in each class. Students are strongly encouraged to deliver letters ofaccommodation during faculty office hours or by appointment. Faculty members have the authority to ask students to discuss such letters during their designated office hours to protect the privacy of thestudent. For additional information see the Office of Disability Accommodation website at You may also contact them by phone at 940-565-4323.

Firearms Policy

It is unlawful to bring firearms on the campus of the University—even if you hold a permit—for at least one more semester.

Common Sense Policy

No alcohol, children, or live animals may be used in performances. Don’t bring stupid things to school. If in doubt, ask. It is NOT better to seek forgiveness—seek permission.

Extra Credit

A number of extra credit opportunities may be offered during the semester (e.g., attend PIGs meetings, attend performances, and participate in departmentally sponsored events and organizations). The amount of extra credit available depends on the nature of your involvement in the activity. A maximum of 3 points of extra credit added to your final grade average (the equivalent of approximately 1/3 of a letter grade) may be earned over the course of the semester.

Email

When emailing me about topics pertaining to the class, please keep all emails concise and professional. I will do my best to email you back within 24 hours with an answer to your question. Please remember, I DO NOT discuss grades via email. If you have a question about grades, please visit me during office hours or make an appointment and I will gladly discuss your grade with you in person.

Technology Use in Class

I love technology as much as anyone else, but during class time I expect all cell phones, MP3 players, and any other noise making devices to be turned off and put away. Yes, TURNED OFF! For a old guy, I have pretty good ears, and can still hear a phone vibrating and rattling around in your bag. It is distracting to your fellow students and it is distracting to me. Remember, if your cellphone rings or rattles during a classmate’s performance, it will cost you a letter grade on your performance.

Code of Student Conduct

All persons shall adhere to the Code of Student Conduct regarding academic dishonesty, including acts of cheating and plagiarism.

Cheating. The willful giving or receiving of information in an unauthorized manner during an examination, illicitly obtaining examination questions in advance, using someone else’s work or written assignments as if they were your own, or any other dishonest means of attempting to fulfill a requirement of this course.

Plagiarism. The use of an author’s words or ideas as if they were your own without giving proper credit to the source, including but not limited to failure to acknowledge a direct quotation. Exact wording from a source must be identified by quotation marks and citation of the author. Concepts and ideas from sources should also be identified by citation of the author. Rules for citing quotes and ideas can be found in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th edition. Please note:Intentionality is not an issue with regard to plagiarism. Even if a student plagiarizes without intending to do so, it is still considered plagiarism and will result in the appropriate consequences. Students are urged to review the parameters and provisions of plagiarism to avoid any potential plagiarism issues.

Punishments for cheating or plagiarism range from a grade of ZERO points on the assignment in question to failure of the course. You can find additional information on the University policy regarding plagiarism and academic dishonesty at

Acceptable Student Behavior:

Student behavior that interferes with an instructor’s ability to conduct a class or other students’ opportunity to learn is unacceptable and disruptive and will not be tolerated in any instructional forum at UNT. Students engaging in unacceptable behavior will be directed to leave the classroom and the instructor may refer the student to the Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities to consider whether the student’s conduct violated the Code of Student Conduct. The university’s expectations for student conduct apply to all instructional forums, including university and electronic classroom, labs, discussion groups, field trips, etc.The Code of Student Conduct can be found at

Policy on Incompletes

An “Incomplete” will be awarded only in cases where 75% of the coursework has been completed AND the grade is warranted by an excuse (e.g., medical, military). Inability to complete coursework in a timely fashion does not constitute an acceptable reason for requesting or receiving an incomplete. If you feel an incomplete is warranted on the basis of these guidelines, please set up a meeting with me prior to the Final Exam period.

R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

I want this course to be enjoyable and informative. If at any point you are confused and need further explanation on a topic don’t be afraid to ask! Whetheras part of a class discussion, via email, or during my office hours, I am here to help you. Everyone should respect each other as adults; we all bring different skill sets to the course. It is important to respect our differences and to learn from them. I will NOT tolerate name-calling, gossip about other students, bullying, or disrespect of others’ ideas and beliefs. I reserve the right to ask you to leave the class if your behavior becomes disrespectful or disruptive.

I am excited about the course and hope to learn as much from you as you do from me!