Recitation Guidelines
COMM 1210 – Perspectives on Human Communication
Recitations and Locations: COMM 1210-114Monday 10:00-10:50 am, HLMS 77
COMM 1210-118Friday, 8:00-8:50 am, MCOL E 155
COMM 1210-124Friday, 12:00-12:50 pm, ATLS 1B25
TA: Blake Hallinan
Email:
Office Hours: Friday 9:15-11:15 am, or by appointment.
My office is in HLMS 65, located in the East wing of Hellems near HLMS 77.
Communicating with Me
I’m here to help! Besides my listed office hours, I will generally be available before Dr. Hickerson’s lectures or before/after recitations. If you have a question that can be answered via email, please contact me first through my CU email above before contacting Dr. Hickerson. Do not email me through D2L; I will not receive it. During the week (Monday through Friday), I will try to respond to you within 24 hours; however, I may not respond as promptly on weekends and holidays. I will respond to every email—if you do not receive a response within 24 hours during the week, I may not have received it, and I encourage you to reach out again!
When you talk to me or email me, feel free to address me as Blake.I prefer this to all variations of “Ms. Hallinan” “Ma’am” “Teacher” “Hey you” or “Professor”.
The Relationship Between Lecture and Recitation
What Dr. Hickerson does in Lecture
Introduces readings, theory, and concepts
Provides context for readings, theory, and concepts
Relates readings, theories and concepts to one another
Asks students occasional questions
What we do in Recitation
Review and discuss readings and concepts during the first 10-15 minutes of recitation
Practice the application of theories and concepts to communication phenomena
Talk about student concerns and difficulties regarding the course
Students will do most of the talking; I will do most of the listening
Students are EXPECTED to have read the course material BEFORE coming to each class
Required Materials
McKay, M., Davis, M., & Fanning, P. (2009). Messages: The communication skills book. Oakland, CA: Sage. ($18.95 for a new copy in the CU Bookstore)
Students are expected to keep and bring to each class ALL handouts, graded materials, class notes, and supplemental readings.
Overall Class Evaluation(Grade Break Down)
Midterm Exam / 10% / 100 points (multiple choice)
Final Exam / 15% / 150 points (multiple choice exam & essay)
Reflection Papers / 40% / 400 points (4 @ 100 points each)
Lecture Participation / 10% / 100 points (based on attendance & iClicker participation points)
Recitation Participation / 15% / 150 points
Final Paper / 10% / 100 points
Total 100% = 1,000 points
Recitation Evaluation(Grade Break Down)
Attendance / 26.6% / 40 points
Participation / 33.3% / 50 points
Quizzes / 40% / 60 points
Total 150 points = 15% Recitation Participation
REMEMBER: Recitation participation points are different from your lecture participation points!
How to Interpret and Manage Your Grades
I will grade your RQs (Reflection Papers), RQuizzes (Reading Quizzes), and Exams. I will also be entering your grades on D2L. It is your responsibility to monitor the grades that are recorded and to verify they are in accord with the written score you receive on an assignment or exam. I am very careful to enter grades accurately and in a timely manner, but occasionally I will make a mistake. If you note a discrepancy between the grade entered in D2L and the grade written on an assignment, you need to address the issue with me within 10 days of the assignment being returned. Grades will not be changed except in cases where the error was in recording, computation, or application of the grading rubric.
In this course, “grades” are individual scores accompanied by a grade range. For each graded assignment or evaluation you will receive a numeric score. To calculate an UNOFFICIAL letter grade for an assignment, divide your received score by the total score possible. At the end of the semester you will receive one OFFICAL letter grade based on the total number of points earned in recitation and lecture out of the 1,000 points possible. (See above for break down).
How to Earn a High Recitation Participation Score
Come to class. I will take attendance every class.
Come torecitation. Dr. Hickerson will take attendance in lecture.
Participate in discussions during recitation. Help create a good class by contributing in an informed and constructive way. I reserve the right to subjectively evaluate your contribution to recitations.
Complete ALL Course Assignments
ALL written assignments are to be typed, double-spaced, 12-point font, stapled, and reflecting college-level composition skills (grammar/punctuation counts on all submitted written work). Work that does not meet these guidelines will not be accepted.
ALL assignments and evaluations MUST have your full name and section number. You will lose 10 points for a missing section number.
RQuizzes will be turned in to me during recitation. Failure to turn your quiz in to me at the same time as the rest of the class will result in a score of 0. (For further information about RQuizzes, please see Dr. Hickerson’s syllabus for lecture).
RQs are submitted to Dropbox via D2L. RQs are typically due on a Friday @ 11:59pm. For each calendar day after the due date, RQs are deducted 15 points/day. (For further information about RQs, please see Dr. Hickerson’s syllabus for lecture).
Attendance & Absences
Attendance will be taken every recitation.
If you are unable to attend class, it is your responsibility to find out what was covered and what homework, if any, was assigned. In the event you are absent during a test, exam or when an assignment is due, AND you have an excused absence, you will have 10 days to make-up the assignment by scheduling an appointment with me.
Excused Absences are only considered when conditions are clearly beyond student control (ie. school activities, personal illness, or death or serious illness within the immediate family). Excused absences require you to: 1) notify me in advance of the absence, and 2) submit written documentation supporting the absence to me. Failure to provide advance notice and documentation of an absence means the absence will be considered unexcused.
Unexcused Absences: Students are expected to attend EVERY recitation, but sometimes life happens. Each unexcused absence will result in a score of ZERO for that day’s attendance, participation, and evaluation. Three (3) unexcused recitation absences result in a 5% penalty of students participation grade.
Remember: Missing class is very risky!
I will not provide you with a copy of my notes or Dr. Hickerson’s slides.
Buddy System
In the event of an absence, you are responsible for getting any notes or assignments from a “Buddy” in the class.
A Buddy is NOT your designated note-taker, and taking advantage of your classmates may result in your Buddy privileges being revoked.
Buddy Name:Email:
Phone:
Technology in the Classroom
You must have and use your @colorado.edu email account. I will contact you via email with assignments, announcements, questions, etc. Please check your email on a regular basis so that you don’t miss any important information. Your @colorado.edu email account will be the ONLY email I will respond to. This is for your security and mine.
There will be no use of laptops, cellphones, or tablets in the classroom, except in cases of learning accommodations. If you need to use one of these technologies in the classroom, please submit documentation or schedule an in-person meeting with me. I am happy to provide academic research that highlights the benefits of this approach, namely allowing you and your classmates to better focus on the class content and discussion.
Tech policy penalties: Misuse of technology during recitation will result in a loss of all participation points for that day. This is your only warning.
Academic Integrity
All students are expected to maintain academic honesty for all coursework. Acts of academic dishonesty include cheating, facilitating academic dishonesty, plagiarism, and/or unauthorized possession of examinations. Any student committing an act of academic dishonesty will be reported to Dr. Hickerson and will possibly fail the course. Students are held responsible for knowing what academic dishonesty is and how to avoid it. I strongly encourage every student to consult CU-Boulder’s Honor Code at
Student Accommodations
Students with disabilities who require academic accommodations must be approved for services by providing appropriate and recent documentation to the Office of Disability Services. If you require accommodations, please provide me with a letter from Disability Services as soon as possible so that your needs may be addressed. Disability Servicesmay be contactedat
(303) 492-8671 or by email at .
Anti-Discrimination Policy
The University of Colorado Boulder (CU-Boulder) is committed to maintaining a positive learning, working, and living environment. The University of Colorado does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, political affiliation, or political philosophy in admission and access to, and treatment and employment in, its educational programs and activities. (Regent Law, Article 10, amended 9/17/13). CU-Boulder will not tolerate acts of discrimination or harassment based upon Protected Classes or related retaliation against or by any employee or student. For purposes of this CU-Boulder policy, “Protected Classes” refers to race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, political affiliation, or political philosophy.
Maintaining a Civil Classroom Environment
Students and faculty each have a responsibility for maintaining an appropriate learning environment. Those who fail to adhere to such behavioral standards may be subject to discipline. Professional courtesy and sensitivity are especially important with respect to individuals and topics dealing with differences of color, culture, religion, creed, politics, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or gender expression, age, disability, and nationalities. Class rosters are provided to the instructor with student’s legal names. I will gladly honor your request to address you by an alternate name or gender pronoun. Please advise me of your preferences early in the semester so that I may make appropriate changes to my records. See policies at and
Participating in a civil classroom meansdon’t be disruptive or rude,and avoid personal insults, attacks, and confrontations if you disagree with me or your classmates. In the event that you are offended, insulted, or upset by a classroom discussion, I strongly encourage you to contact me outside of the classroom so that I can make an effort to address your concerns.
I have read the Recitation Guidelines, understand its contents, and commit to using it as a guide for success in COMM 1210.
In addition, I understand that my instructors (Blake Hallinan and Dr. Hickerson) will not make exceptions to the policies set forth in this syllabus unless I provide appropriate documentation.
I understand that this syllabus stands as a contract between me and Blake Hallinan for COMM 1210-______. And further, that by signing this contract I intend to follow the rules and procedures set forth.
My Buddy for COMM 1210 this semester is: ______.
______
Name(PRINT)
______
SignatureDate
Fall 2015Page 1