Fall Syllabus- COMM308(2) PDF

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COMM 308: NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION FALL 2019 INSTRUCTOR’S INFORMATION

GTA’S INFORMATION

Instructor’s Name: Kylie Wilson Office Location: 113 Armstrong Hall Email: [email protected] Office Phone: 304-293-3905 Office Hours: T + R: 9a – 11a F: 2:30p – 4:30p

GTA’s Name: Shaun Trump Office Location: 103 Armstrong Hall Email: [email protected] Office Hours: M: 1:30p – 3:30p W: 12p – 2p F: 2:30p – 4:30p

COURSE INFORMATION CRN: 80078

Section number: 001

Class location: 209 Armstrong Hall

Course time: T + R: 1:00p – 2:15p

WVU DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION STUDIES MISSION STATEMENT “Rooted in the social science perspective, the Department of Communication Studies is committed to preparing students to be competent communicators at theoretical and applied levels. Thus, our faculty is dedicated to developing students’ critical thinking, reasoning, and decision-making skills with the intent of empowering students to construct and deliver contextspecific messages in their relational, vocational, and community endeavors.” CONSIDER A MINOR IN COMM A minor in COMM is 15 credit hours, which means that after your successful completion of this course, you may only need four (or possibly fewer) COMM courses. To minor in COMM studies, you must complete:  Six credit hours from group A: COMM 100 & 102, COMM 103, COMM 104, COMM 105, COMM 112, COMM 122  Six credit hours from group B: COMM 306, COMM 308, COMM 316 and  Three credit hours from group C: Any 300/400 level COMM course except COMM 490. You also can complete your COMM minor while satisfying your GEF requirements. See your academic advisor to learn more about becoming a COMM minor.

COURSE DESCRIPTION This course will analyze the role of nonverbal communication in human interaction. Specifically, this class will explore nonverbal behaviors and their interpretation including, but not limited to, gestures, posture, touch, time, environmental contexts, and physical appearance.

This course will also explore at both a theoretical and an applied level how verbal and nonverbal communication operates together in the total communication process.

COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES The goal of this course is to develop, refine, and further students’ understanding of nonverbal communication. Specifically, by the end of this course, you should be able to:    

Differentiate between the nonverbal codes. Determine the appropriateness of using nonverbal codes across relational contexts. Apply knowledge of nonverbal communication to improve your everyday interactions. Analyze nonverbal communication in a variety of cultural and societal settings.

REQUIRED TEXTS AND READING MATERIALS

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Workbook: WVU Department of Communication Studies (2016) Nonverbal Communication in Human Interaction: Communication 308. o This workbook includes chapter readings, note outlines, and activities. (4) Scantrons #30423 (blue) Readings on eCampus will appear weekly. These readings (if there are any for the week) will appear by 6 a.m. on Sunday of the week they are relevant for. Some material from the readings will be covered on exams. Information not contained in the aforementioned workbook may also be covered in class at the discretion of the professor. Students are responsible for obtaining and learning all such information.

GRADING Grades will be composed of three exams, two paper assignments, ten class blog posts, and ten learning activities. Learning activities and blog posts cannot be made up, regardless of excuse.

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Exams: 300 total points (100 points each): o There will be three exams throughout the semester. Exams will be a combination of multiple-choice, true/false, matching, and short answer/short essays. Any form of suspected cheating will automatically result in a zero for the test and may result in failing the class. Students are responsible for bringing their own scantron (# 30423). o Make-Up Exams: Students who are unable to take an exam on a scheduled exam day may make up the exam that they missed. Students are NOT permitted to take a make-up exam to replace a previous exam grade. Students are NOT permitted to take a make-up exam any other day besides make-up exam day. All make-up exams are given at the END of finals week, Saturday, Decmeber 21st from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. in Armstrong Hall. No exceptions. You must arrive at 9:00 a.m.

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Paper Assignments: 50 total points (25 points each): o Throughout the semester, you will be assigned 2 essays that are 3 pages long each. These must be handed in in class (hard-copy). The purpose of each these assignments are to assist you in understanding how nonverbal communication impacts your daily life. Thus, for each assignment, you will focus on some aspect of nonverbal communication, analyze this type of nonverbal communication in a real-life setting, and write a brief report on how this aspect of communication influences everyday functioning. Additional information will be provided to you via eCampus or in class. Unauthorized late and/or emailed assignments will not be accepted.

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Blog Posts: 25 total points (5 points each): o At five different points in the semester you will be asked to log onto eCampus to answer questions for the given prompt for that week. Blog posts should be no less than 250 words and no more than 500 words. These prompts will either ask you to perform some behavior and blog about it or to respond to questions about nonverbal communication research articles. In either case, you should be referencing material from class in your answer. You will be given one week per blog post. No late blog posts will be accepted, regardless of excuse. These blogs must be printed and handed in at the start of class.

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Learning Activities: 25 total points (2.5 points each): o During our normally scheduled class meetings this semester, we will be focused on applying the information learned during lecture. During these application sessions, you will be given the opportunity to submit your work so that you can earn up to 2.5 points per activity with a total of 10 activities. I will inform you each day what activities count for learning activities credit. Learning activities cannot be late or made up regardless of excuse, and MUST be completed on the page from the workbook (required text) for points.

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Total Points = 400 o A = 90% - 100% (360 - 400) o B = 80% - 89.9% (320 - 359) o C = 70% - 79.9% (280 - 319) o D = 60% - 69.9% (240 - 379) o F = 59% or below (239 or below)

ASSIGNMENTS Assignments are due before the deadlines for which they are scheduled to be due. Unauthorized late and/or emailed assignments will not be accepted. If there is an event in the future that will impede your ability to complete an assignment on time, I encourage you to hand in the assignment early or contact me ahead of time to address any issues.

EXTRA CREDIT In this course, you may earn up to 3% (12 points) of extra credit by participating in research studies offered by the WVU Department of Communication Studies, depending on the availability of research study opportunities. Details for individual research participation opportunities may be announced in class. However, for the most up-to-date information on these opportunities, see the bulletin board outside of Armstrong 108 or at: https://communicationstudies.wvu.edu/students/extra-credit-research-opportunities You will earn 1% (4 points) for each hour spent participating in a research study or for each alternative assignment completed, rounding up to the nearest half hour. (For example, if a study takes 20 minutes to complete, you may earn .5% (2 points) for participating in that study.) In general, you will earn .5% (2 points) for each 30 minutes a study takes to complete (e.g., 1-30 minutes = .5% (2 points), 31-60 minutes = 1.0% (4 points); 61-90 minutes = 1.5% (6 points); 91 to 120 minutes = 2% (8 points); and so on). Note that the possibility of these opportunities does not guarantee these opportunities, since only a limited number of studies is offered in a given semester and they often run for a short period of time. Alternative assignments will be subject to the same deadlines as their corresponding studies. When you participate in a study, you may be given a research receipt or the researcher may retain a list of participants. If a receipt is provided, that receipt is the only way I know you participated in the study. You will need to submit this receipt to me no later than Thursday, December 12th by 2:15pm in order to receive the extra credit for research participation. You will get one receipt that you can use for one course only--credit for a given study may not be used for multiple classes. Please keep in mind that research is completely voluntary and you do not have to complete any research for extra credit. Make sure if you do participate in a study that you get a copy of the consent form or cover letter. It is your right to receive a copy of either, and it is your right to withdraw from any study without penalty. If you do not wish to participate in any research study, you will be offered an alternative assignment that will enable you to obtain the same number of percentage points as any student voluntarily participating in a research study. You will need to ask me for the alternative assignment AND you must specify which research opportunity for which the assignment is an alternative. All alternative assignments must be submitted to me no later than Thursday, December 12th by 2:15pm. Your responsibility as a research participant includes being honest and accurate in the study and showing up on time. The faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate research assistants in the Department of Communication Studies spend much time designing and running research studies that help solve communication problems. Therefore, they need participants to show up on time when scheduled. If you have no intention of completing a study, please do not sign up. If you schedule a session and do not show up to participate, you may not be allowed to participate and will forfeit the opportunity to earn extra credit. In the event that circumstances prevent you from showing up at a study, you are encouraged to contact the researcher(s) conducting the study to inform them of the absence ahead of time. COURSE POLICIES

Withdrawal Statement. If you choose to withdraw from this course, you must do so yourself through the STAR system. You are not automatically withdrawn from this course if you stop attending class. I am not able to administratively withdraw you for nonattendance.. Electronic/Technological Devices. Out of respect for your classmates and myself no electronic or technological devices should be used during class time. If you have any questions about this policy, please contact me. In-Class Coursework Return Policy. With the exception of course examinations, all in-class work and papers will be returned to you at some point during this course. It is your responsibility to pick up and keep all returned materials. Any material that you do not pick up will be discarded at the end of the semester.

Student Behavior. The most important expectation I have for students is to be respectful. As you expect from me, I expect that students will extend respect to one another, the instructor, and to ideas and opinions different from your own. Also, students are expected to attend class, stay the entire time, and participate/engage in course discussions. STUDENT EVALUATION OF INSTRUCTION STATEMENT Effective teaching is a primary mission of West Virginia University. Student evaluation of instruction provides the university and myself with feedback about your course experience for review and course improvement. Your participation in the evaluation of course instruction is both strongly encouraged and highly valued. Results are anonymous and not available to me until after Admissions and Records releases final grades. Toward the end of the semester, I will provide information about how you can complete this evaluation. ACCESSIBILITY/INCLUSIVITY STATEMENT The West Virginia University community is committed to creating and fostering a positive learning and working environment based on open communication, mutual respect, and inclusion. If you are a person with a disability and anticipate needing any type of accommodation in order to participate in your classes, please advise your instructors and make appropriate arrangements with the Office of Accessibility Services. (https://accessibilityservices.wvu.edu/). More information is available at the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (https://diversity.wvu.edu/) as well. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY All course materials, including lectures, class notes, quizzes, exams, handouts, presentations, and other materials provided to students for this course are protected intellectual property. As such, the unauthorized purchase or sale of these materials may result in disciplinary sanctions under

the Campus Student Code. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY STATEMENT The integrity of the classes offered by any academic institution solidifies the foundation of its mission and cannot be sacrificed to expediency, ignorance, or blatant fraud. Therefore, instructors will enforce rigorous standards of academic integrity in all aspects and assignments of their courses. For the detailed policy of West Virginia University regarding the definitions of acts considered to fall under academic dishonesty and possible ensuing sanctions, please see the West Virginia University Academic Standards Policy (http://catalog.wvu.edu/undergraduate/coursecreditstermsclassification). Should you have any questions about possibly improper research citations or references, or any other activity that may be interpreted as an attempt at academic dishonesty, please see your instructor before the assignment is due to discuss the matter. Academic Dishonesty includes plagiarism, cheating, fabrication or falsification, other prohibited academic conduct, and facilitation as it relates to academic or educational matters. Plagiarism means the theft or unauthorized use of work, typically created by another. It includes but is not limited to:   

(a) the use of another’s words, ideas, or media–whether published or unpublished, partial or complete, by paraphrase or direct quotation–without complete and accurate acknowledgement; (b) the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another individual, including an individual engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials; or (c) repeated submission of one’s own work, specifically submission of the same material in multiple courses or iterations of a course, without the instructor’s expressed permission.

Cheating means reliance on unauthorized resources, in connection with examinations or academic assignments. It includes but is not limited to:   

(a) collaboration with peers beyond that authorized by the instructor in the completion of an examination or academic assignment; (b) cheating on an examination or academic assignment, by either (i) utilizing unauthorized physical or technological resources (e.g., cheat sheets, online resources) or (ii) receiving unauthorized personal assistance (e.g., copying from another student); or (c) the acquisition or use, without permission, of examinations or other academic material belonging to a member of the University faculty or staff.

Fabrication or Falsification means acts of misrepresentation, forgery, or fraud as they relate to academic or educational matters. It includes but is not limited to: 

(a) fabricating or falsifying citations, data, or other records;

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(b) wrongfully fabricating or falsifying attendance or participation records for a university course or in an experiential or clinical setting; (c) wrongfully fabricating or altering an educational record (e.g., admission, grade, or attendance record) after it has been created; (d) use of university documents or instruments of identification for fraudulent purposes (e.g., impersonation of another student); or (e) knowingly furnishing false statements in any university academic proceeding.

Other Prohibited Academic Conduct means (a) engaging in behavior specifically prohibited by a faculty member in the course syllabus or (b) violating other departmental, college, or university academic standards, and/or legal or professional standards. Facilitation means (a) providing unauthorized materials or personal assistance to another student when such assistance allows them to commit Academic Dishonesty or (b) compelling someone else to commit Academic Dishonesty on one’s behalf. CAMPUS SAFETY WVU Police are committed to creating and maintaining a safe learning environment for all students, faculty, and staff. Part of this mission includes educating the campus community on how to respond to potential campus threats, such as the threat of an active shooter on campus or other suspicious behaviors. Fortunately, WVU Police offer training – both online and in-person on how to handle a variety of campus safety scenarios. All students are encouraged to visit the webpage (http://police.wvu.edu), in particular the content under the Active Shooter training program (http://police.wvu.edu/training/active-shooter). Students are also encouraged to report any suspicious behaviors on campus using the Report a Threat portion of the webpage http://police.wvu.edu/special-notices/threat-assessment. Additional materials on campus safety prepared by WVU Police, including specific safety tips and training, will also be provided on our class eCampus page. SEXUAL MISCONDUCT STATEMENT West Virginia University does not tolerate sexual misconduct, including harassment, stalking, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, or relationship violence. It is important for you to know that there are resources available if you or so meone you know needs assistance. You may speak to a member of university administration, faculty, or staff; keep in mind that they have an obligation to report the incident to the Title IX Coordinator (https://titleix.wvu.edu/staff). If you want to speak to someone who is permitted to keep your disclosure confidential, please seek assistance from the Carruth Center at 304-293-9355 or 304-293-4431 (24-hour hotline) or locally within the community at the Rape and Domestic Violence Information Center (RDVIC), 304-292-5100 or 304-292-4431 (24-hour hotline). For more information, consult the Title IX Office (https://titleix.wvu.edu/confidential-resources).

ADVERSE WEATHER STATEMENT In the event of inclement or threatening weather, everyone should use his or her best judgment regarding travel to and from campus. Safety should be the main concern. If you cannot get to class because of adverse weather conditions, you should contact your instructor as soon as possible. Similarly, if your instructor(s) are unable to reach the class location, they will notify you of any cancellation or change as soon as possible, using agreed upon methods to prevent students from embarking on any unnecessary travel. If you cannot get to class because of weather conditions, instructors will make allowances relative to required attendance policies, as well as any scheduled tests, quizzes, or other assessments.

COMM 308 - TENTATIVE SCHEDULE (as of 8.16.19) WEEKS

DATES

TOPICS

WEEK 1

8/22

Syllabus & Introductions

WEEK 1

8/27

WEEK 2

WEEK 3

WEEK 4

WEEK

CHAPTER & READINGS

ASSIGNMENTS DUE

Introduction to Nonverbal Communication Chapter 1, WB, & eCampus

8/29

Understanding Kinesics: Using Gestures and Posture to Communicate

Chapter 2, WB & eCampus

9/3

The Effects of Proxemics and Territory on Human Communication

Chapter 3, WB & eCampus