JOHN A. LOGAN COLLEGE M. Graham SP 15 SPE 116 INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION 3 cr. (3-0) COURSE DESCRIPTION: Study of communication theory and its application to interpersonal relations. Relationship skills will be explored, analyzed, and practiced. Among the topics covered are the communication process, the self as communicator, listening, verbal and nonverbal communication, cooperation and conflict management. Students will also develop their individual interpersonal communication skills by increasing their knowledge of behavioral choices in both personal and professional relationships. PREREQUISITES: None COURSE OBJECTIVES: Communication Theory -- The student is expected to: 1. Demonstrate a theoretical understanding of the components of interpersonal communication competency; 2. Describe the relationships among self, message, and others; 3. Describe the relationships between language and meaning; 4. Demonstrate an understanding of the process of effective listening. Communication Practice -- The student is expected to: 1. Describe and identify nonverbal behaviors and use appropriate nonverbal communication; 2. Identify barriers to verbal interaction caused by language problems and devise strategies to overcome the barriers; 3. Use several techniques for improving listening skills, including methods for focusing attention, organizing material, and providing feedback; 4. Discover strategies for coping effectively with stress and anxiety involved in communication; 5. Identify and apply appropriate communication strategies to interpersonal relationships; 6. Demonstrate appropriate strategies in managing relational discord; 7. Discover strategies for increasing interpersonal satisfaction.
2 COURSE OUTLINE: Topics to be covered include the following. The order may vary. Students will receive a more detailed schedule after the class begins. 1. Introduction to Interpersonal Communication 2. Interpersonal Communication and Self 3. Interpersonal Communication and Perception 4. Interpersonal Communication and Diversity: Adapting to Others 5. Listening and Responding Skills 6. Verbal Communication Skills 7. Nonverbal Communication Skills 8. Conflict Management Skills 9. Understanding Interpersonal Relationships 10. Managing Relationship Challenges 11. Interpersonal Relationships: Friendship and Romance 12. Interpersonal Relationships: Family and Workplace COURSE REQUIREMENTS: To complete SPE 116 successfully, students must do the following: 1. Read all textbook and handout assignments before coming to class. 2. Late work is not acceptable. Complete all written assignments and in-class presentations on time. 3. Take all tests on time. Makeup tests will not be permitted except in an emergency situation as determined by the instructor and only if the student contacts the instructor prior to the test time or as soon after as possible to explain the absence. Makeup tests must be taken in the Learning Lab before the next regularly scheduled class meeting. Failure to follow this procedure will result in a 0 for the test. 4. Attend all classes from start to finish. You are expected to be in class where you will be learning and developing communication skills. Students are allowed three (3) absences for the semester. After three absences, your final grade will be lowered one grade point for each day missed. The reason for the absence does not matter 5. Tardiness is not acceptable. You will be considered absent if you arrive after attendance has been taken or if you leave early. 6. Cell phones are not to be used during class. Silence them and put them away. Cell phone use in class will be counted as an absence for the day. If for any reason classes are canceled, take the same assignment for the next class meeting.
3 Student Success Center (Room C219). Services available for students include tutoring (both scheduled one-on-one tutoring and walk-in tutoring) and Disability Support Services. Students can drop in during the hours of operation for tutoring in the Math Help Room (C219 and C223) or the Biology Help Room (C243A). To receive one-onone tutoring, students should make a request early in the semester in the Student Success Center. The Student Success Center is also the place to arrange accommodations. John A. Logan College will make reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities. Contact the coordinator of Disability Support Services, Room C219B, ext. 8516, for more information. The coordinator must determine eligibility and arrange appropriate academic accommodations. However, it is the student s responsibility to register in advance of a school term with Disability Support Services and to turn in a class schedule each term to ensure accommodations are arranged. Free educational workshops are also provided by the Student Success Center throughout the semester. For more information, visit the Student Success Center website at www.jalc.edu/student-success-center. English Writing Center/Tutoring. For assistance with writing assignments in any college courses, students are encouraged to visit the Writing Center in C214. English instructors are available for one-on-one tutoring each semester during hours posted at the center. Financial Aid. Students who receive financial assistance and completely withdraw from classes prior to 60% of the semester being completed (approximately 2-3 weeks after midterm) could be responsible to return a portion of their Federal Pell Grant award. Prior to withdrawing from courses, students should contact the Financial Aid Office. Course Withdrawal Information. It is expected that you will attend this class regularly. If you stop attending for any reason, you should contact your advisor and withdraw officially to avoid the posting of a failing grade (an E) to your transcript. It is also advisable to discuss the situation with your instructor before dropping. Administrative Withdrawal. A student may be withdrawn from a class for lack of attendance/participation as defined below. Logging into an online course is not sufficient to be considered participation. Participation for online courses is defined as an active process and may include posting/sending assignments to the drop box or instructor s email, participating in online discussion boards, taking quizzes or exams, or otherwise communicating and/or participating in some manner that is approved by the instructor. A student who has been administratively withdrawn from class will receive an email notification from the Admissions Office. This notification will outline the student s appeal options if the student wishes to re-enroll in the course.
4 Face-to-Face Class (8 or 16 weeks) Online Class (8 week) Online Class (16 week) Student may be withdrawn from class if the student has missed four (4) consecutive class periods without prior notification to the instructor of the absences. Student may be withdrawn from class if the student has not participated (as indicated by activity reports) in the online class for the equivalent of one week. Student may be withdrawn from class if the student has not participated (as indicated by activity reports) in the online class for the equivalent of two weeks. Safety Review Request. Our safety at JALC is everyone s responsibility! Faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to use the Safety Review Request, https://www.jalc.edu/safety-review-request-form link on the JALC home page or contact Campus Safety directly (Ext. 8218 or Room E105) to report safety concerns or questions. This statement comes from the John A. Logan College Campus Violence Prevention Committee. METHOD OF EVALUATION: Relationship Stages Analysis Paper... 20% Movie Analysis Paper... 20% Four Exams... 40% In Class Activities... 20% Final Course Grade Scale: A = 92 100% B = 82 91% C = 72 81% D = 65 71% E = 0 64% There is no extra credit. All assignments must be typed. Plagiarism is the use of another s words or ideas without appropriate documentation. It is academically and ethically unacceptable. According to the JALC Student Rights and Responsibilities Manual, plagiarism may result in expulsion, suspension, probation, or reprimand by the Vice-President for Administration. Intentional plagiarism is information that has been cut and pasted from an electronic source or has been copied directly from a print source and has been presented as the student s original work. This form of plagiarism will result in a failing grade (0 points) for the assignment. Remember if you found it on the Internet, so can I!
5 Unintentional plagiarism contains inadequate documentation or no documentation of source material. Grades will be dropped one letter grade for unintentional plagiarism. A student may redo an assignment in an attempt to raise this grade by inserting appropriate documentation, providing a correct list of works cited, and providing copies of at least two of the works cited by a date assigned by the instructor. METHOD OF PRESENTATION: Lectures, discussions, classroom activities, videotapes, written assignments, and out-ofclass observations. TEXT: Beebe, Beebe, Redmond. Interpersonal Communication Relating to Others. 6 th Edition Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 2011. ISBN: 978-0-205-67453-4 (hardback) INSTRUCTOR: Maudie L. Graham, Professor of Humanities Office: E250 Office Hours: MWF 11:00-12:00 TTH 8:30 9:00; 11:00-12:30; 1:30-2:00 Ext: 8688 Voice Mail: 8688 DATE: Spring, 2015 John A. Logan College Telephone Numbers Carterville Campus Carterville and Williamson County... (618) 985-2828, (618) 985-3741 Carbondale and Jackson County... (618) 457-7676, (618) 549-7335 Du Quoin area... (618) 542-8612 West Frankfort area... (618) 937-3438 Crab Orchard, Gorham, and Trico Areas... 1-800-851-4720 Alongi DQ Extension Center... (618) 542-9210 West Frankfort Extension Center... (618) 932-6639 John A. Logan College does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, or gender orientation. 01-20-15-12d SP 15