Interpersonal Communication Kathy Lingo

The University of Texas at Dallas

Interpersonal Communication
Fall 2005

Professor: Kathy Lingo Class Hours: 2:00 -3:15 M/W

Office: JO 5.408B Office Phone: (972) 883-4152

RATIONALE:

Communication is central to our lives. We are constantly engaged in

communication. However, because we do it so often, it does not mean that we
do it well. The better we communicate, the better our chances for success. The
satisfaction of our needs is dependent on how well we communicate those
needs. Similarly, successful relationships are measured by how we assist others in
satisfying their needs. In the business world, knowledge is of little value if one is
unable to get along with others and communicate one's ideas. This course
focuses on basic interpersonal communication skills. It is designed to develop
the student's skill, knowledge and understanding of the process of
communication in different types of relationships.

At this time in our society, two out of three marriages end in divorce and
domestic violence is a part of our every day news reports. The two leading
reasons for divorce today are financial difficulties and lack of communication in
the relationship. Reports of domestic violence are increasing: “Estimates range
from 960,000 incidents of violence against a current or former spouse, boyfriend
or girlfriend each year to 4 million women who are physically abused by their
husbands or ilve-in partners each year.” (Violence by Intimates: Analysis of Data on
Crimes by Current or Former Spouses, Boyfriends, and Girlfriends, U.S. Department of Justice,
March, 1998) Thestudy of communications and relationships should be paramount
in our society. This course will discuss many of the elements that identify and
develop an unhealthy relationship, with ourselves and others, while examining
the theories and strategies to help establish and maintain healthy relationships.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

1
Interpersonal Communication Kathy Lingo
-- To understand basic concepts involved in the process of communication
-- To develop communication competencies through the acquisition and
experiential practice of communication skills
-- To understand how the self concept determines who we are
_ To understand the basics of building a personal agenda which may assist or
sabotage our goals.
- To understand how media images and commercial information can
influence our self concept.
- To understand how listening skills affect our success in relationships.
- To identify communication successes and break downs.
- To understand how perception is developed.
- To develop empathy and understanding for diverse cultures when
communicating.
- To understand and identify situational communication.
- To learn and execute perception checking.

TEXT: Adler, Rosenfeld, Proctor. Interplay, ninth edition

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT COMPLIANCE

It is the policy of The University of Texas at Dallas to provide reasonable

accommodations for qualified individuals who are students with disabilities. This
university will adhere to all applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations
and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations as
required to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the student's responsibilit y
to contact the faculty member and the services for Students with Disabilities in
a timely manner to arrange for appropriate accommodations.

GRADING

I do not discuss grades, specific assignments, specific tests or final course grades
over the phone or through e-mail; therefore, please make an appointment with
me. Your final grade will be determined by the following:

Test #1: 10% (Chapters 1 - 3) Nonverbal Assignment 5%

Test #2: 10% (Chapters 4 - 6) Who Am I? Speech 10%
Test #3: 10% (Chapters 7- 9) Participation/Attendance: 5%

2
Interpersonal Communication Kathy Lingo
Test #4: 10% (Chapters 10 -13) Media/Advertising Influences 10%
Group Project 5%
Ethics 5%
Concept Comprehension Paper 20%

PARTICIPATION GRADE

The participation grade is based upon in-class assignments, attendance,

tardiness, general attitude and class behavior. Also, you will be expected to
participate in class discussions and experiential exercises. The participation
grade will decline ten points for each absence. If you come to every class and
participate in all of the classes you will receive a 100 for this portion of your
grade. However, points will be taken off this grade for each class missed. Please
read the attendance policy carefully.

ASSIGNMENTS AND TESTS

You will receive a thorough description of requirements for all formal assignments
before they are due. A copy of all turned-in assignments should be kept since I
will not be responsible for any lost or missing assignments. If this should occur, a
copy or resubmission of the assignments will be needed. ASSIGNMENTS WILL NOT
BE ACCEPTED LATE!!! All of your written assignment will be turned in through
WebCT, so make sure you keep your confirmat ion notice that it was turned in on
time. Electronic errors do occur and this will validate your position. If your
assignment is not received and you cannot provide the confirmation notice I will
not be able to reevaluate your grade. If you cannot make it to class when an
assignment is due, you may always submit assignments to me early through
WebCT. In addition, if a make-up test is given it will be significantly more difficult
than regularly scheduled tests, and only ONE make-up test may be taken during
the semester (in other words, you will receive "0" credit for any missed test).
Make-up tests will be given only in the case of extreme emergency or illness only.
Make-up day will be announced in class and documentation will be required.

ATTENDANCE

3
Interpersonal Communication Kathy Lingo

You will learn from lecture, class discussion, and from actively participating in
experiential exercises. We will cover a lot of material in a short period of time;
absences are strongly discouraged. It is your responsibility, when absent, to keep
up wit h information discussed in class (do not call me for the missing information).
After three absences the instructor has the right to give the student a grade of
"F" unless there has been an extreme emergency by medical and/or emergency
documentation only.

TARDY POLICY

A student may enter the classroom up to 10 minutes late and will receive a
"tardy." After 10 minutes, the student is welcome to enter class, but will be
marked as absent. It is the student's responsibility to contact the professor after
class to ensure a corrected roll count. If the student does not notify the
instructor the day the infraction occurs, the absent mark will remain on the
records.

WITHDRAWAL POLICY

The administration of this institution has set deadlines for withdrawal of any
college-level courses. These dates and times are published in that semester's
course catalog. Administration procedures must be followed. It is the student's
responsibility to handle withdrawal requirements from any class. In other words, I
cannot drop or withdraw any student. You must do the proper paperwork to
ensure that you will not receive a final grade of "F" in a course if you choose not
to attend the class once you are enrolled.

Prof notes a/k/a: SUGGESTIONS/HINTS/& MORE INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Always make a hard copy of anything you place on a computer hard drive or
disk. Always make a second disk copy or CD if possible. Disk failure happens.

2. Always keep a copy of any work you hand in! If I loose it, you will have to
produce it!!!

3. Never procrastinate on assignments in this class. They will come back to

4
Interpersonal Communication Kathy Lingo
haunt you. Begin your assignment as soon as possible—you can always go
back and add more information or analysis.

4. You may hand in your assignments early without any justification.

5. I expect college level writing skills on all assignments. Any work submitted
that does not reflect these skills will be given a grade of zero for the
assignment.

6. If you turn in messy work your grade will reflect it. This includes appropriate
margins consistently throughout any paper (approximately 1.5" at the head,
foot and both sides of the paper), headings and/or titles on each entry, all
entries should be single spaced and general page layout should be
aesthetically pleasing. If you spent the time and effort to produce quality
work, make it look as if you did so. If pages are sloppy, hurriedly thrown
together, and margins are inconsistent or "cheated," this does not leave a
good impression and does not reflect quality work. These rules apply to
electronic and paper submissions.

7. Do not try to enter the classroom late with any assignment. I do not accept
papers or electronic submissions late and do not permit assignments to be
completed in class on the day they are due. I f you are more than 10 minutes
late to class you are considered absent and the assignment will not be
accepted late!!!!

8. If you miss class handouts, lecture notes or assignment sheets, look for the
item on WebCT before consulting me. It is your responsibility to deliver an
assignment on time, even if you missed class when the assignment was given.
Not all assignment instruction are given in writing. There is a tentative
schedule of assignments posted. These dates may change at the instructor’s
discretion. Please pay careful attention to these matters and check your
WebCT cite for these changes.

9. You may wish to exchange phone numbers and/or e-mail addresses with a
classmate you deem as responsible. Since it is your responsibility to keep up
with class activities and assignments, you will have someone to contact that
will keep you abreast if you cannot make class.

5
Interpersonal Communication Kathy Lingo

10. Be careful who you exchange phone numbers and e-mail addresses with.
Not everyone is responsible and no one likes to be taken advantage of.

11. The key to any successful academic project/paper is proofing and editing
your work. You must read each sentence carefully.

Classroom Equipment Use and Behavior

1. You may not use the classroom equipment to check e-mail, research for other
classes or any other purpose not directed by classroom instruction.

2. You may not use the printers in our classroom.

3. Since all of your exams and assignments will be taken and submitted through
WebCT you are responsible for acquiring your NetID and setting up your
account immediately. You must make sure that you can log on to WebCT to
access all the information you will need for this course. This is your responsibility
and must be done by the first day of class.

4. Do not enter the room late when students are giving presentations. If the door
is open stand by the door or if a seat is available next to the door you may sit
down. Do not walk across the room to find your seat or disrupt the presentation
in any way. If the door is closed please do not knock. Wait until you hear the
applause before trying to enter. If you upset or disrupt another person’s
presentation in any way 10 points will be taken off your presentation.

PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHIES

If you lose the power to laugh, you lose the power to think. Clarence Darrow

Don't argue about difficulties. The difficulties will argue for themselves.

CHEATING/PLAGIARISM

Everyone should know by now that looking on someone else's paper to copy an
answer is cheating; however, there are many other forms and ways of cheating.

6
Interpersonal Communication Kathy Lingo
If you "jointly" do your assignments together, using the same ideas and
information, that is cheating. Your assignments, unless specified, are not group
projects, and they are to be composed of your individual experiences, ideas,
and analysis. Do not share similar experiences or ideas -- this is cheating.
Cheating insults and embarrasses both teacher and student. There are few
aspects of my job I do not dearly love, but prosecuting those who cheat is one.
However, I will not tolerate any academic or scholastic dishonesty in my classes.
Carefully read the college's policy on cheating and plagiarism.

BASIC PAPER SPECIFICATIONS:

1. Please follow MLA guidelines at all times. This handbook can be purchased at
any "college" or commercial bookstore. The MLA Handbook for Writers of
Research Papers is a necessary source when writing any formal paper, in order
to establish the writing standards and guidelines required by most four year
universities today.

2. All papers must be typed and submitted through WebCT. Handwritten

papers will not be accepted.

3. Single space all WebCT submissions.

4. You must have references and/or works cited on all main points. Always
prove your point using a credible source and quote the source. Papers
maybe submitted to “Turn-it -in” before grading. If your work is deemed
plagiarized, in any manner, the student will be immediately reported to the
Dean of Students and will be given a “0” on the assignment in question.

5. Use your "own" computer disk or flash and bring it to all our classes. Don't
share disks or leave any work you do in class on the university computers.

6. Always print your work long before it is due and keep hard copies as you
work. If your computer crashes or the disk erases/corrupts, you don't want to
lose your work. I have not experienced a semester where a student did not
use the excuse of computer failure as an excuse to ask for an extension. This
is not a valid excuse.

7
Interpersonal Communication Kathy Lingo
Analysis of Concept Comprehension Paper:

Date Due: __________________________________

Objective: To be able to recognize, understand and manage communication

concepts that occur in daily living situations. In order to achieve this goal, the
student will analyze specific segments from films.

Film Selection: You may choose ONE fifteen minute segment from one of the
following films. Check the rating of the film before viewing. If strong language,
sexual content or violence offends you, make sure the rating matches your
taste.

1. The Family Man

2. Bridgett Jone’s Diary
3. Bridges Over Madison County
4. About A Boy
5. Chocolate
6. Somethings Gotta Give
7. Erin Brockovich
8. Sliding Doors
9. The Breakfast Club
10. The Sand Lot
How to begin your analysis:

The following questions are to help the student begin to analyze the scene.
Many other questions and/or forms of analysis may be used. The key to this
assignment is to employ depth and breadth. Feel free to use your textbook and
any other academically respected reference to justify or clarify your analysis.

1. Discussion of the scene situation and what communication terms apply to

what is happening.
2. Define the terms being used in your example with definition and dialogue.
3. Discussion of how the communication concept impacts the scene and the
characters’ interactions.
4. Were the characters successful in their attempts to communicate or
unsuccessful and why?
5. How did the communication affect or develop the relationship(s) of the
characters?
8
Interpersonal Communication Kathy Lingo
6. Was anyone or thing (circumstance) manipulated by the communication
employed?
7. What could the characters do to improve or correct the situation?
8. How did the perceptions of the characters affect the communication
process?
9. What would make the communication more effective and/or appropriate?
This is where you prescribe a possible solution and defend your conclusion.
How realistic are your prescriptions?

This paper is easily divided into three sections for discussion. In the first part of
the paper the scene situation and basic problematic discussion is covered.
This would answer the question of what is happening in the scene, basically.
The second part of the part would be the analytical breakdown, getting into
the depth and breadth of the situation. This is where you would begin to
connect terms to actions and dialogue, which must clearly support why
these terms have been selected to identify the communication. The third
section would be your prescription for correcting the characters errors. This is
where you play communication doctor and prescribe a reasonable and
research based diagnosis for improvement.

There have been past students who wrote this paper in basically two
sections for each major point combining the analysis and prescription
sections. This may be done, but be careful to fulfill all requirements.

10. Pick a topic/film you can "really get into." You need a minimum of three
credible sources in addition to your textbook. Your textbook is your primary
source. However, show me who else agrees with you and your textbook.
Your personal interest in your topic normally is reflected in your attention to
detail and depth in analysis.

11. Serious and in-depth analysis is required for all assignments. Superficial
analysis will not be appreciated and will be a waste of time for everyone.

12. You should use a 12 font.

13. Place all communication terms in “bold text” and put the definition of the
terms in italic in your Concept Comprehension Paper and follow this rule for

9
Interpersonal Communication Kathy Lingo
any other paper required in this class.

Suggested Secondary Referrences:

Bell Hook’s, all about love, New Visions Publishers, ISBN # 0-688-16844-2
Ethel S. Person, M.D., Feeling St rong, HarperCollins Publishers,ISBN #0-688-17577-5
Trenholm and Jensen, Interpersonal Communication, fifth edition, Oxford
University Press, 2004.
Sarah Trenhom and Arthur Jensen, interpersonal communication, Oxford
University Press, 2004
Richard West and Lynn H. Turner, Understanding Interpersonal Communication,
Thomson Wadsworth, 2006.

Basic Min. and Max:

No less than 20 terms discussed for an A

No less than 15 terms discussed for a B.
No less than 10 terms discussed for a C.

Cheating:

1. If you plagiarize in any manner you will be given a zero on this project and
reported to the Dean of Students. I will be using “Turn-it -in.”

2. Don't do it - cheating is never worth the price your dignity pays.

3. If you share ideas or analysis of information, it is considered cheating. Keep

your work to yourself!

10
Interpersonal Communication Kathy Lingo

11