Dr. Eicher-Catt 1"The quality of your communication
directly affects the quality of your life."
Stewart & Logan, 1993
SYLLABUS
Interpersonal Communication - CAS 203
PennsylvaniaStateUniversity, York
Fall Semester 2005
Professor:Dr. Deborah Eicher-Catt
Office:ISTC, Room 223
Office Hours:TR
And other times by appt.
Office Phone:771-4158
E-mail:
Required Texts:
1. Gergen, Kenneth, 1991. The Saturated Self: Dilemmas of Identity in Contemporary Life, New York: HarperCollins.
2. Wilmot, William W., 1995. Relational Communication,New York: McGraw Hill
And additional readings as assigned.
Required Materials/Resources:
Blank VHS tape
General Course Objectives:
In this course, we will be investigating the relationship you have with yourself and with others as adiscursive event, i.e., as on-going acts of information exchange and communication. In our exploration, you will become more aware of how you relate to others, but the "technicalities" of your information exchange (message transmission) will not be our primary focus. Instead, we will focus on how your "communicative choices affect both who you are and the emerging and changing identities of the people around you" (Stewart & Logan, 1993). The difference may appear subtle but it is one, I argue, that proves significant in how you live your personal and professional lives. We will begin this exploration by reading about how the very notion of a Self has evolved in our culture and how that necessarily impacts our daily relations with Others. We then move to a closer look at what transpires within relational communication so as to improve the quality of your interactions.
In essence, I aim to accomplish the following:
1. Facilitate your understanding of the vocabulary, theory, philosophy and empirical knowledge central to the contemporary study of the Self engaged in interpersonal relations.
2. Challenge your preconceived notions about the Self and any taken-for-granted assumptions about what it means to relate to Others.
3. Foster the development of interpersonal relations that increase your repertoire of behavioral choices by discovering your own strengths and areas for improvement.
4. Maintain a stimulating, interactive, open, and friendly classroom environment that fosters Self and Other relations and insight, critical thinking, intellectual and emotional growth, and communicative competence.
Basic Course Design:
This course is designed to provide you with a variety of learning experiences, both cognitive and experiential. Expect lectures and classroom discussions (especially on the Gergen book), but there will also be a fair amount of in-class and out-of-class exercises designed to increase your awareness about how you build relationships with others through your communicative acts. Your participation is crucial to your success.
Specific Course Requirements
1. Tests- Four Total. There will be two tests on the Gergen book (The Saturated Self) and two tests on the Wilmont book, (Relational Communication). These tests will primarily be objective in nature and designed to evaluate your basic comprehension of selected issues, problems and concepts regarding Self-Other communication (interpersonal communication) and your ability to apply this knowledge to your own communicative efforts.
2. Homework/Application Assignments. You will be expected to demonstrate your increasing comprehension and application of the course readings to your own practices of interpersonal communication. This will be accomplished through short homework/application assignments and papers that will be due periodically throughout the semester.
3. Quizzes. Expect both announced (see calendar) and unannounced quizzes throughout the semester.
4. Final Paper. Interpersonal Communication Analysis paper. This paper will be based upon your personal experience and designed to demonstrate your synthetic understanding of relational communication in a specific context of your choosing.
5. Class Participation.
Grading Criteria
Tests- 4 @ 50 pts. each (36% of total grade)200
Homework/Application Assignments (22% of total grade)120
Quizzes- 9 @ 10 pts. with lowest dropped (14% of total grade) 80
Final Analysis Paper (23% of total grade)125
Participation (4% of total grade) 25
_____
Total Points Possible550
Final Grades will be allocated according to a standard 90/80/70/60 grading scale.
Other Class Policies
1. All homework/application assignments that I assign for completion outside of class must be typed and in conformity with APA or MLA citation standards, when appropriate
2. Absences. There will be automatic point reductions of your final grade for every class or portion of class missed beyond two. (Excessive tardiness and/or early departures will also result in reductions in class participation points.) Excused absences (such as illness, death in the family, work-related issue, or an emergency) must be verified by WRITTEN documentation. Notify me immediately if you have a problem.
3. A final grade of incomplete (or deferred) is discouraged and will be granted only in the case of verified serious illness or emergency.
4. Homework and your Final Analysis Paper must be completed on the scheduled dates and handed in at the beginning of class in order to receive full credit. Assignments turned in late (after class) will be penalized up to 10% for each day they are late. Make-ups for tests are NOTpermitted except in severe emergencies. Do not assume that your absence qualifies you for a make-up. Under such circumstances, a discussion between you and me is certainly warranted. (Notify me in advance if you are unable to attend class.)
5. Plagiarism/Cheating/Academic Dishonesty. All work must be your original work. Accurately documenting any sources of information you find is required. I see plagiarism as a serious breach of ethics. Anyone caught cheating or plagiarizing in this course may be subject to formal academic standards review and will, most assuredly, receive a failing grade for the course. I refer you to the PSU website on academic integrity for complete details.
6. Disability Awareness. It is PennStateUniversity, York’s policy not to discriminate against qualified students with documented disabilities. If you have a documented disability related need for modifications in this course, please contact me during the first week of class. You may also wish to contact the LearningCenter for assistance with testing accommodations that extend beyond the scope of the instructor.