Syllabus COMM A237 MW - Spring 2020 PDF

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Syllabus: Communication A237 - Interpersonal Communication University of Alaska Anchorage - Spring 2020 Monday/Wednesday - 10:00 - 11:15 am Eugene Short Hall Room 212

Instructor: Solveig Pedersen, M.A. Email: [email protected] - Please use email as the primary contact / You can expect me to be responsive to emails Monday - Friday between 9 am - 5 pm. Cell Phone: 907-347-2881 - to be used if necessary between 8 am - 8 pm / Monday - Friday Office Location: Department of Communication - Eugene Short Hall - Room 207C Office Hours: Mon & Wed: 9:15-9:45 AM / Wed: 3:30-5:15 pm / and by appointment Required Text: Wood, J.T. (2020). Interpersonal communication: Everyday encounters. (9th ed). Boston: Cengage Learning.

Course Description This course studies theories and skills related to dyadic communication and the variables which affect it, including conflict, culture, gender, and rules in both personal and professional contexts. Students will develop oral communication skills designed to improve communication in relationships by engaging in a variety of individual exercises, individual presentations, and group activities. The course requires reading and active class participation. Given the intensity of this course, we will not discuss everything you read in the text, but you are responsible for the reading assigned. My hope for this course is that you will leave having a greater understanding of how communication plays a role in your life, and how improved interpersonal communication can aid in your success professionally and personally. My goal is to encourage your creativity, curiosity, and critical thinking, in partnership with your effort, energy, and engagement in the class. Learning Outcomes: Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to: 1. Describe the dynamic nature of the human communication process; 2. Apply theories, research, and principles of interpersonal communication; 3. Communicate effectively in a variety of interpersonal and professional communication contexts; 4. Describe problems and constraints in interpersonal relationships.

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Class Expectations Presence, Preparation, & Involvement: Please be present and involved in this class, as it is a space for you to learn and grow in your understanding of university. Your active engagement, willingness to discuss ideas, perspectives, and beliefs, and involvement is essential to creating a supportive environment in which we can all explore the concepts outlined in the textbook. Know that I value your perspectives, and the knowledge and experience you bring to our classroom. For each class, I will expect that you have done the assignments and are ready to discuss and analyze the material. I will sometimes lecture, but my hope is that much of our time will be spent in dialogue around our topics. Respect: This class will be collaborative and based on mutual respect for your classmates. Our classroom should be a safe space for students to explore ideas, think, and learn together. We will discuss some highly controversial topics, and while you may not agree with your classmates, I ask you to demonstrate respect for differences as well as similarities. Courage: The course content may be outside of your comfort zone at certain times, as many people feel uncomfortable speaking in public, or sharing thoughts and perspectives in front of others. There may also be topics presented with which you disagree, or that challenge your opinions and perspectives. I invite you to lean into this feeling, and to be courageous as you experience discomfort. Often the times in which we feel a bit uncomfortable are those times when we are learning the most. I strive to have a brave classroom, for you to experiment, be innovative and creative, and be courageous. Contemplative Learning & Mindfulness: In this course, we will be exploring contemplative practices, which allow you to practice introspection, mindfulness, and awareness of yourself and others. With this in mind, we will be incorporating a variety of contemplative practices throughout the semester. For example, the practice of mindfulness, or the psychological state of awareness, has been found to be beneficial to humans in a variety of ways. Research into the practice of mindfulness has found it to help stress reduction, increases in memory and focus, lowering of emotional reactivity, improving relationship satisfaction, as well as increasing wellbeing. In response to all of these benefits, I have chosen to incorporate mindfulness practice as an integral part of my teaching, and students can expect that each class session will begin with a short mindfulness practice. You are invited to participate, and you may also choose to sit quietly during this time if you do not wish to participate. Sense of Community: A vibrant classroom is that in which we feel we have a sense of community. Get to know your classmates and your instructor. Practice your communication skills! I urge you to use this class as a space for collective learning, exploring, and enriching your understandings of communication and humanity, and to work to develop community among your classmates. Growth Mindset: Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck’s book, Mindset, discusses research on

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achievement and the power of our mindset. In the book, she explained, “Growth mindset is based on the belief that your basic qualities are things you can cultivate through your efforts. Although people may differ in every which way - everyone can change and grow through application and experience” (Dweck, 2006, p. 7). In this course, I ask you to cultivate a growth mindset by exploring how you can continue to grow and expand your communication skills. Statement of Policies Attendance, Preparation, & Engagement Attendance, preparation, active listening, and participation in class discussion and activities are required and graded elements of the course. My expectation is that you come to class prepared, which means you have completed your reading and homework assignments (and printed them out before class), and that you are ready to explore topics together. You have the potential to earn 10 points for attendance, preparation, participation, engagement, and active listening for each class. I track attendance at the beginning of class and note preparation and engagement points at the end of class each day. All students are expected to attend every class, as the content of the course requires students to communicate in person. ● ●

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In-class activities cannot be made up. Participation points will be earned based on attendance, but also involve being an active participant in class discussions, and coming to class prepared to participate in activities with knowledge from the assigned reading. Active listening points are combined based on how involved students are in the class discussions and activities. If you miss class, you will earn 0 points for attendance and participation points for that class. If you have an excused absence (documentation required), you will receive 50% participation points for that date.) There are some circumstances for which absence is unavoidable, such as illness or family emergency. Please notify me of an absence before or on the day it occurs either through a phone message or via e-mail, and bring documentation of the reason to me as soon as possible thereafter if you wish to receive an excused absence. Attendance will be excused on a case-by-case basis depending upon the circumstances. Examples of excused absences would be official, dated notes stating the student was ill on the day they missed class, an official, dated note stating the student was on a military maneuver the day they missed class, or evidence/documentation of a personal emergency. If your absence is excused, you will earn 50% for participation points for that day. Please note that vacations will be considered unexcused absences. Since this is a communication class, it is imperative to communicate with the instructor regarding your attendance. If you have to miss a class, please notify the instructor as soon as possible regarding your absence. It is your responsibility to find out what assignments are due for upcoming classes. A student with an unexcused absence on an exam or presentation day will receive a

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zero for that assignment. There will be no accommodation for students who are absent on the day of the scheduled final. It is also essential that you arrive on time to class. Attending class late may be counted as an absence for the day, meaning you lose participation points. Attendance is crucial to success in this course. If you miss more than three class sessions, regardless of whether they are excused or unexcused, I reserve the right to drop you from the course.

Class Discussion - You will notice that COMM 237 is a dialogue-intensive course. The focus of the course is class discussion and exploration of interpersonal communication, so please come to class prepared to engage. Preparation: My expectation is that you come to class prepared, which means you have completed your reading and homework assignments, printed your homework, and that you are ready to explore topics together in class discussion. Engagement: Plan to participate in class discussions, and be present. Sidebar conversations, or inappropriate technology usage during class, will result in a request for students to leave the classroom. This is a space for learning, focus, and professionalism, and behaviors that distract from class discussion are unacceptable. Personal Stories: One of the particularly valuable aspects of this course is that you will find nearly every topic relates to an aspect of your personal life, and I encourage you to share your thoughts, ideas, and perspectives. In class discussion, be sure you consider whether your personal story will contribute to the learning of other students, or whether you are just wanting to share for the sake of sharing. Similarly, if you notice yourself sharing multiple stories in class, step back to allow other students the space to contribute, as well. Cell Phones, Laptops, Tablets (etc...) - Please be aware that cell phone use and texting are generally unacceptable during class time, with the exception of break time, and their use will result in a decrease in participation points for the day. At the beginning of class, I will invite each of us to turn off / silence / and put away our phones for the class period. Occasionally, cell phones can be used to research pertinent information related to class discussions, and that is acceptable. Laptops and tablets will be accepted on a case-by-case basis. If they become a distraction in class, I will not approve their use, and I may ask you to leave the class. Technology ● Students will need regular internet access to fulfill assignment requirements; ● A university email address should be used to complete this course successfully - if you are using your personal email - please make sure the two are linked. ● Assignments will be submitted as PDFs - so please familiarize yourself with how to save your Word or Pages (or whatever other text program you use) into a PDF for submittal. Academic Integrity ● UAA’s policies on academic honesty and integrity can be found at: http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/deanofstudents/academic-integrity/

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Students are expected to know and follow the Student Code of Conduct (https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/students/dean-of-students/student-conduct/code.cshtml). If an instructor has reason to believe that plagiarism, cheating, or academic dishonesty, as defined in the Student Code of Conduct, has occurred, the matter will be referred to the Office of the Dean of Students. Cheating, plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty will first go through the student conduct process and then, if a violation of the Student Code of Conduct is found, academic sanctions may occur in addition to disciplinary sanctions. If there is a finding from the Dean of Students that plagiarism, cheating, or academic dishonesty has occurred, academic sanctions imposed by the instructor may include substantial reduction of the grade for the assignment, 0 (no credit) for the assignment, or a failing grade for the course. I expect you to use appropriate citation practices (APA), always noting when you are using ideas, words, images, etc. from a source. To be clear - do not copy and paste information from a source without identifying that it is someone else’s information and not your own. When in doubt ALWAYS identify your sources. In this course, if you are found to have a minor violation (as determined through the Dean of Students), you will receive a 0 (no credit) for the assignment in question. If you are found to have a major violation (as determined through the Dean of Students), you will receive a failing grade for the entire course.

Assignments – An assignment is considered on time if it is submitted via Blackboard before class on the day it is due in PDF Format OR typed, printed out, and brought to class based on the assignment requirements. - In general, Discussion Board Posts will be completed via Blackboard. - Quizzes & exams will be open book / open note and taken via Blackboard - Other assignments may be submitted via Blackboard or printed and brought to class - see assignment information on a case-by-case basis. Out of class assignments must be typed and edited before they are submitted. All assignments shall be double-spaced, using a size 12 font, and follow general APA Guidelines. ● ●

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I do not accept handwritten assignments, with the exception of in-class work. If you know you will be absent - plan ahead and turn in your assignment before you leave. (The only exception to this guideline is in the case of personal/family emergency, illness, or required military absence. If you wish to turn in a late assignment, you must attach your documentation to the assignment, and it must be turned in within one week of the assignment’s due date. I reserve the right to determine whether or not your absence fits within these criteria after reviewing your documentation. There will be a corresponding 10% reduction in points. The same policy applies to exams - they must be made up within one week of the assignment deadline, and/or your return to the course and there will be a 10% reduction in points.) Emailed assignments may be submitted, but there will be a corresponding 10% reduction in points for submitting assignments via email. Remember to submit an

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emailed assignment before class if you will not be able to print it out as requested. If you are absent on the day of a quiz or another in-class assignment, it cannot be made up. If you are absent on a presentation or exam day without an excused absence (see notes above) you will receive a zero for that presentation. I am here to help you with assignments and will proofread for you if assignments are given to me in a timely manner before the due date.

Ethical Standards: All interaction in the classroom is to be consistent with the Credo for Ethical Communication of the National Communication Association. In addition, behavior consistent with the American Psychological Association standards for ethical behavior with regards to using respectful language when interacting with others is expected from each student and the instructor. Inclusive language is expected in speaking assignments, written work, and class/group discussions. If you have questions regarding ethical standards in the classroom, please ask me. Student Resources National Communication Association Credo for Ethical Communication Questions of right and wrong arise whenever people communicate. Ethical communication is fundamental to responsible thinking, decision making, and the development of relationships and communities within and across contexts, cultures, channels, and media. Moreover, ethical communication enhances human worth and dignity by fostering truthfulness, fairness, responsibility, personal integrity, and respect for self and others. We believe that unethical communication threatens the quality of all communication and consequently the well-being of individuals and the society in which we live. Therefore we, the members of the National Communication Association, endorse and are committed to practicing the following principles of ethical communication: We advocate truthfulness, accuracy, honesty, and reason as essential to the integrity of communication. We endorse freedom of expression, diversity of perspective, and tolerance of dissent to achieve the informed and responsible decision making fundamental to a civil society. We strive to understand and respect other communicators before evaluating and responding to their messages. We promote access to communication resources and opportunities as necessary to fulfill human potential and contribute to the well-being of families, communities, and society. We promote communication climates of caring and mutual understanding that respect the unique needs and characteristics of individual communicators.

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We condemn communication that degrades individuals and humanity through distortion, intimidation, coercion, and violence, and through the expression of intolerance and hatred. We are committed to the courageous expression of personal convictions in pursuit of fairness and justice. We advocate sharing information, opinions, and feelings when facing significant choices while also respecting privacy and confidentiality. We accept responsibility for the short- and long-term consequences for our own communication and expect the same of others. Instructor Assistance: Asking for help is an excellent idea. The time to ask for help is before the day the assignment is due. I have scheduled office hours each week and am more than happy to arrange appointments to meet with students wishing for additional assistance with the course. CARE Team: If you, or someone you know, needs support, is distressed, or exhibits concerning behavior, help by making a referral to the CARE Team. The UAA CARE Team's purpose is to promote a safe and productive learning, living, and working environment by addressing the needs of students. As your professor, I may contact the CARE Team to seek support for you. I encourage you to fill out a referral if you or a classmate are in need of help. There are several ways to contact the CARE Team: 1) Fill out a referral at www.uaa.alaska.edu/careteam; 2) Email your concern to [email protected]; or 3) Call the CARE Team at 907-786-6065. In case of emergency, call 911. Emergency Support: Food Cache and More: Any student who faces challenges securing adequate food or safe housing should be assured that the University has resources that may be helpful. Not being able to meet your most basic needs can adversely influence your ability to meet your academic goals. If you experience food insecurity, please connect with the UAA Emergency Food Cache via the Student Health and Counseling Center in Rasmuson 120 or by phone at 907-786-4040. For other types of situations, various resources may be investigated through the Dean of Students Office in Rasmuson 122 or 907-786-1214. If you are comfortable doing so, don’t hesitate to connect with me as your professor. This will enable me to help guide you to resources that may be appropriate depending on the nature of the situation. Safety from Sexual Violence (Title IX): Members of the university community, guests and visitors have the right to be free from sexual violence. All members of the campus community are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that does not infringe upon the rights of others. UAA takes all matters of Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault and Sexual Violence seriously. If you have concerns or need to report an incident, please contact the Director of the Office of Campus Diversity & Compliance,

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University Lake Building, Room 108, 3890 University Lake Drive, Anchorage, Alaska 99508. The contact number is 907-786-1424....