Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
Fall 2010 • Section 92272
Instructor: Mark J. Grossman, M.A. (Adjunct)
Office: Orient 112, Eastern Campus
Phone: 631‐786‐0404 (Cell)
Office Hours: Upon request, before or after class.
Email: grossmma@sunysuffolk.edu
Meeting Days: Mon. and Fri., 8:00am ‐ 9:15am, 208 Riverhead Building, Ammerman
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES
This course is designed to improve your skills as a communicator and to enhance your
understanding of the human communication process. Attention will be given to the
significance and complexities of communication in general and communication as it
takes place within interpersonal, small group, and public contexts. Upon completion of
the course, the student will be able to:
1) Exhibit comprehension of various communication concepts (such as
perception, interpersonal relationships and listening) through oral and written
exercises and performance on exams.
2) Prepare outlines, carry out audience analyses (such as gender/cultural
factors), research and deliver various speeches (including but not limited to
informative and persuasive).
3) Demonstrate an ability to evaluate speeches critically.
4) Demonstrate an ability to function effectively in small group problem
solving and decision making situations.
5) Understand the use of emerging technology where appropriate to enhance
the communication skills taught in class.
Textbook:
The required text for the course is Communicate! 12th edition. Rudolph F Verderber,
Kathleen S. Verderber, and Cynthia Berryman‐Fink. Cengage Learning, ©2007. This text
was chosen because it is written for an undergraduate audience and covers – in a clear,
readable manner – the three basic units that are the focus of this course. While the text
is fairly comprehensive, it does not cover everything that we will discuss in class.
Therefore, do not expect that you can read the text alone without focusing on, or
attending, class and still achieve a good grade.
Requirements of Course
1. Attendance:
Attendance is mandatory and will be taken at the start of each class. You are allowed
two absences for urgent personal business, such as a job interview, a significant family
event such as a wedding or funeral, a sudden childcare need, or significant illness. More
than two absences will result in a 10‐point deduction per absence (starting with the
third absence) to the student’s final grade, unless excused with valid documentation,
such as a multi‐week illness where a doctor’s note will be required. No matter what the
reason, students are required to make up all reading and class content by the following
class. Therefore, getting notes from a classmate is highly recommended because the
text does not cover everything that we will discuss in class. Participation in class
discussions and activities is mandatory. Students are expected to arrive in class on time.
Every third time a student is late to class will result in the equivalent of one absence. If a
student is late to class, it is his/her responsibility to inform the instructor at the end of
class; otherwise, the student may be counted absent. During class meeting times
students are expected to participate in communication assignments and activities as a
major mode of learning. Due to the nature of the course and the emphasis on
participatory work, speeches and presentations missed in class cannot be made up. It is
important to come to class since excessive absences will impair your progress. Please
note: students who must miss a class, or miss part of a class, due to an officially
sanctioned college activity must notify me via email in advance.
2. Speeches:
Each student will give two presentations in this class: an informative speech and a
group persuasive speech. Details for these speeches will be given in class during the
semester. Speaking presentations must be given on the date assigned. If a student is
absent on a day when he/she is assigned to speak, he/she will receive 0 points. A
student should not expect to have another opportunity to deliver the speech unless the
absence is excused with valid documentation, and the instructor finds a time during a
class session for the speech to be presented.
3. Speech Proposals:
Upon receiving the assignment of the informative and persuasive speeches, students (or
group in the case of the group project) will be required to submit to the instructor a
copy of his/her appropriate speech topic, general purpose statement, specific purpose
statement, and thesis statement. Students will not be permitted to give a speech
presentation without an approved proposal. More detail of the speech may be
submitted to the instructor for feedback but is not required.
4. Group Project:
Students will be assigned to small groups and carry out a group project and present
results to the class. Details of this assignment will be given out in class.
5. Group Log
Each group will keep one log. The group can decide on the form of this document but
its function is to demonstrate, in an encapsulated version, the ‘life’ of the group. The
log must include a record of the time and place of each meeting; the names of members
in attendance (including notations of late arrivals or early departures); a short, general
summary of contents in each group meeting; all specific assignments given to group
members; specific assignments brought (or not brought) to the meeting; and a record of
projections for the next meeting(s). These logs need only contain a few sentences for
each meeting; they are to be summaries rather than step‐by‐step accounts of the
group's process.
6. Final Paper:
Individual analysis of group process: Each student will prepare a 3‐4‐page analysis of
the process their group followed in the planning, designing, and implementation of their
group project. This analysis will be based on one theoretical concept. Specifically, you
apply the theoretical perspective of roles to the actual circumstances that existed in
your group. Papers are individual assignments and should not be collaborated on with
other group members. Further details will be provided.
7. Exams:
There will be two exams given. These exams will be short answer, short essay, and/or
definition. The exam will be based on the weekly assignment schedule (readings and
lecture and in‐class activities). The final exam is comprehensive of the entire semester.
8. Participation:
The nature of this course encourages students to make a concerted effort to participate
in class discussions of text content, assignments, activities, etc. Students are expected
to contribute questions, personal insight, observations, or personal/professional
experiences. Participation accounts for 15% of the final grade.
Additional Classroom/Course Protocol:
a. Turn off cell phones and other notification devices before class begins.
b. Texting during class is strictly prohibited and will impact a student’s grade.
c. If you arrive late to class on a speech day, please remain outside the classroom
until you hear applause marking the end of a given speech.
d. Notify the instructor at the beginning of class if you need to leave class early.
e. All assignments must be typed and turned in on time.
f. Late assignments will not be accepted unless valid documentation is provided.
g. I may communicate certain information and assignments via “sunysuffolk” email.
Students must check their college‐issued email account regularly to ensure that
they receive important course information in a timely fashion.
h. If something isn’t clear, ask me! It’s likely that others have the same question, so
speak up right away. However, if you prefer, you can ask me privately before or
after class, or via email. If there is something you do not understand and you do
not ask for help, you risk your work being incomplete or unacceptable and your
grade will suffer.
i. ADA Statement: Any student who, because of a disability, requires a special
arrangement or accommodation must contact me before the second class.
j. Make‐up exams, assignments, and quizzes may be allowed only with a written,
documented college or medical justification and will be verified for authenticity.
k. Written assignments are expected to meet basic college‐level stylistic and
grammatical standards. Failure to meet these standards will influence your
grade. Yes, even though this is not an English class, spelling counts!
l. Plagiarism and cheating in any form will not be tolerated and may result in an
automatic “F” for the assignment, and possibly the course.
m. Students making presentations should have the full attention of the class and
not be distracted or interrupted. Inappropriate “audience” behavior will not be
tolerated and will impact a student’s participation grade.
n. If the opportunity for extra credit is given, it will be offered to all students. Do
not count on it! If you do well the first time, you will not need it!
o. I sincerely welcome all kinds of communication from students – questions before
or after class, emails, calls, etc. If there is a way I can help make this class better
for you, please let me know.
p. “Only mediocre people are always at their best.” – William Somerset Maugham.
I welcome your feedback about this class and my teaching without fear of any
consequences; there is always room for improvement.
Your grade for the course is based on the following standards:
A – Exceptionally well‐prepared and executed completion of assigned work indicating
effort, individualized style, and demonstrating a thorough grasp of the course material.
B – Creative, well‐prepared work, demonstrating a significant effort or grasp of the
material that is distinctly superior to an “average” effort.
C – Satisfactory completion of assigned work at a level of effort and competency
normally expected of the majority of students (basic completion, average performance,
and reasonable effort).
D – Unsatisfactory completion of work indicating misperceived objective or failure to
grasp key concepts but with reasonable effort.
F – Failure to complete assigned work and/or responsibilities through lack of reasonable
effort, or failure to attain a passing average on either exams or assignments.
Grading
Exam 1: (15%) 60 points
Exam 2: (15%) 60 points
Informative Speech: (10%) 40 points
Group Presentation: (15%) 60 points
Group Log: (7.5%): 30 points
Individual Paper: (7.5%) 30 points
Informative proposal: (2.5%) 10 points
Persuasive proposal: (2.5%) 10 points
Class Participation (15%) 60 points
Attendance: (10%) 40 points
Total 100% 400 points
Scale
360 – 400 = A 280 – 299 = C
340 – 359 = B+ 260 – 279 = D+
320 –339 = B 240 – 259 = D
300– 319 = C+ Below 240 = F
Tentative Course Schedule
Week One:
Course Introduction –Review Syllabus/Assignments
Chapter 1 – Communication Perspectives
Week Two:
Ethics
Chapter 2 – Perception of Self and Others
Chapter 3 – Verbal Communication
Week Three:
Chapter 4 – Nonverbal Communication and
Chapter 7 – Listening and Responding
Week Four:
Chapter 5 – Communicating Across Cultures
Chapter 6 – Communicating in Relationships
Week Five:
Chapter 8 – Self‐Disclosure, Feedback, and Conflict Resolution
Midterm Exam Review
Week Six:
Exam #1 (Midterm) covering Chapters 1 though 8.
Chapter 10 Group Communication
Week Seven:
Assign Group Project/Assign Groups
Chapter 11 – Group Communication
Lost on the Moon Activity
Week Eight:
Assign Informative Speech
Chapter 12 – Public Speaking—developing Topic and Research
Chapter Informative Speaking
Week Nine:
Chapter – 13 Organization
Informative Speech Proposals Due
Chapter 14 – Adapting Visually and Verbally
Week Ten:
Chapter 15 – Overcoming Speech Apprehension by Practicing Delivery
Informative Speech presentations
Week Eleven:
Informative Speech presentations
Group Speech Proposals Due
Week Twelve:
Chapter 17 – Persuasive Speaking
Final Exam Review
Exam #2 (Final)
Week Thirteen:
Group Presentations
Week Fourteen:
Group Presentations
Week Fifteen:
Group Presentations
Week Sixteen:
Group Presentations
Course wrap‐up
NOTE: SCCC is closed and as a result classes will not meet on the following days:
September 6, 2010
September 10, 2010
November 26, 2010