Introduction to Human Communication

Course Syllabus
Fall Semester, 2009

COM100-Section 28277, TR 7:30-8:45pm, Room V117
COM100-Section 28265, MWF 9:00-9:50pm, Room V117

Course Description
The purpose of this course is to help you to understand the principles of communication theory and to begin to put them into practice in your life.  You will learn skills and techniques essential to effective communication in settings that include: intrapersonal (communicating with yourself), interpersonal (face-to-face communication), small-group (face-to-face with a few), and public speaking (one to many).  You will apply these skills and techniques through practical exercises that will enable you to incorporate them into your daily life.  Speech is an extension of your personality.   You can develop maturity and experience relationships that run more smoothly, and friendships can become more meaningful.  You will learn to function more effectively and assertively in public and work environments and develop a newfound ability to speak up effectively when you want or need to.
Assignments and Course Schedule

Section Instructor
Bruce A. Peterson

Office: Palo Verde Building #P248	Office Hours: TR 9:00-10:30 am @ Acacia Village, MWF 10:00-11:30 am @ PV248 or by appointment. See Daily Schedule
Telephone: 480-654-7722
Homepage: http://www.mesacc.edu/~vocewld/
E-Mail: vocewld@mesacc.edu (This is the surest means to get my prompt attention.)

	Course Textbook Joseph A. DeVito, Essentials of Human Communication, 6th ed., Allyn & Bacon, 2008.
Additional Reading (Choose only ONE of these books to read)
	Michael Dues & Mary Louise Brown, Boxing Plato's Shadow: An Introduction to the Study of Human Communication, McGraw-Hill, 2003. Read Book Description
	Thomas L. Friedman, The World Is Flat : A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2006. Read Book Description (This book is not available at the college bookstore. You can find it at a local bookstore, Amazon.com, etc., and you may purchase an audio book if you prefer.)
	Francis S. Collkins, The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief, Free Press, 2006. Listen to Interview with Author (This book is not avaialable at the college bookstore. You can find it at a ocal bookstore, Amazon.com, etc., and you may purchase an audio book if you prefer.)
	Alan Weisman , The World Without Us, St. Martin's Press, 2007. Read Book Description Listen to Interview with Author (This book is avaialable at the college bookstore. You can also find it at a local bookstores, Amazon.com, etc., and you may purchase a downloadable audio book if you prefer.)
	Malcolm Gladwell, Outliers: The Story of Success, Little, Brown & Company, 2008. Listen to Interview with Author

 (Mr. Peterson reserves the right to drop a student from the class role, anytime during the semester, if he perceives the student is not meeting the course requirements and/or guidelines set forth in these documents.)

Course Objectives

By the end of this course you should be able to:

Course Requirements

Your accomplishment of the course objectives will be determined by:

Study time: Most college courses require that students spend a significant amount of time outside of class in individual study time. An often used guideline is to spend two hours per week for every class hour. This means, in a three credit course, six hours of outside study per week would be expected. The actual in-class meeting time is short in college courses because it is expected that students can and will work independently outside of class in order to meet the requirements of the course.

Course Guidelines

As a student of Mesa Community College, you are responsible for the college policies included in the college catalog and the student handbook. You are also responsible for comprehending and following the specific standards and policies established for this course. Mr. Peterson reserves the right to drop a student from the class role, anytime during the semester, if he perceives the student is not meeting the course requirements and/or guidelines set forth in these documents.

Attendance Policy: Regular attendance is imperative.   You need to be present to learn--by observing and practicing the various skills introduced in the classroom.  This is a participation course.  Roll will be taken at the beginning of each class meeting.  You will be allowed 3 absences in the MWF class and 2 absences in the TR class.  The only official excused absences are for MCC sponsored activities or religious days, but they require advanced written notice.  If you are absent when you are to give an oral assignment or presentation you will be given a zero for that exercise -- THERE ARE NO MAKE-UP PRESENTATIONS.  You will receive no credit for the class participation portion of your final grade if you have more than 3 MWF or 2 TR absences.  You may also be dropped from the class for excessive absences.

Late Work Policy: All written work must be turned in on the date it is due whether you are absent or not. Student's grade will be lowered one grade step per class period late on any written assignment.  Remember, there are NO late oral assignments.  All written work must be typed, double-spaced with 1" margins, and adhere to the principles of college writing. See: "Good Writing or Pet Peeves and Higher Grades". Make-up lecture quizzes must be arranged by the student within a week of the original test date.

Classroom Procedure: The process of learning will be cumulative, but the instructor will also endeavor to obtain "gestalt."  In each unit of study you will be expected to show a grasp of the essential elements taught in previous units as well as the one under investigation.  The instructional style will be balanced between lecture, open discussion, and learning activities.

You are expected to behave in a mature, responsible, and professional manner--Keeping an open mind to new ideas and opinions and respecting the values and privileges of all concerned.  Just being in the classroom does not satisfy the participation requirement of this course!  You are expected to be actively involved, verbally and nonverbally, in the various topic discussions and learning activities, showing interest and a willingness to share.

Cell Phones, Pagers, Food & Drink: Please turn the sound off on your phone and pager before entering class.  Do not talk on your phone during class: I will ask you to leave for the day.   School policy does not allow food in the classrooms, and drinks must be in a spill proof container.

Disabilities: If you have a disability, including a learning disability, that may have an impact on your work and for which you may require accommodations, please notify the Recourses and Disability Office at 461-7447.  I am willing to make reasonable accommodations, so see me as soon as possible to discuss your needs.
  http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/services/disability/

MCC Early Alert Program (EARS): Mesa Community College is committed to the success of all our students. Numerous campus support services are available throughout your academic journey to assist you in achieving your educational goals. MCC has adopted an Early Alert Referral System (EARS) as part of a student success initiative to aid students in their educational pursuits. Faculty and Staff participate by alerting and referring students to campus services for added support. Students may receive a follow up call from various campus services as a result of being referred to EARS. Students are encouraged to participate, but these services are optional. Early Alert Web Page with Campus Resource Information can be located at: http://www.mesacc.edu/students/ears, or at the “Early Alert” selection at the mymcc link from MCC’s home page.

Examinations and Reading/Lecture Quizzes: There will be an oral Quiz on the last day of the week for each textbook chapter assigned that week. Mr. Peterson will call randomly on two or three class members to respond to one of the week’s quiz questions orally in class. An on-line link to each week's possible questions is posted in the course schedule below. You will not know who will be called upon or what question they will be asked to respond to. Your quiz grades will be determined by how well you answer and respond publicly to the questions posed to you. Each student will be required to respond twice during the semester. Be prepared each week; you do not know when you will be called upon. (See Course Schedule)

There will be three (3) Lecture Quizzes over the material covered and highlighted in class,  For Lecture Quiz #1 you will need a scantron - form 882 (Picture of form).   You will not be able to take the first quiz without the proper scantron form.

There will also be a comprehensive Final Essay Test.

Assignments:

1. Thought Paper on your College Education: Short Paper Assignment

2. Outside Book Reading Paper:

3. Interpersonal Communication Journal: Journal Assignment
Comm. Experiment Paper sample #1
Comm. Experiment Paper sample #2
(Here are some tips for good writing) Good Writing

4. Infosuasion Speech: Speech Assignment
Infosuasion Speech Worksheet or Download as Word.doc
Example Outline
Speech Evaluation Form or Download as Word.doc

5. Problem Solving Discussion Group: Small Group Problem Solving Exercise
Presentation Evaluation Form

6. Personal Interview with Professor: In addition to the assignments listed above, you are required to arrange an appointment with Mr. Peterson or meet with him during his office hours within the first six weeks of class, that is before the end of September. In this interview you will discuss your college-career plans and expectations, your COM100 course standing, and you will be expected to critique Mr. Peterson's performance as your professor.

Use a computer word processor for all written assignments.  Make a copy of all written assignments before turning them in.  Also, save your work on a separate disk or data storage device. See Course Schedule below for due dates.

Grade Computation System: The various assignments\requirements will account for the following percentages of your final overall grade in this course.

Mr. Peterson will use the following grading system. There will be no exceptions or substitutions to it. Your oral and written work will be assigned a letter grade. The respective values for each letter grade are indicated below.

Letter Grade System:

If you have any questions and/or concern about your classroom performances and/or earned grades, please make an appointment to confer with Mr. Peterson as soon as possible. This course requires more than a casual effort and deals with specific terminology and the ability to apply your learning to course projects. I will use the following criteria in evaluating your work during this course.

You are responsible for knowing the overall plan of this course, meeting all activity/assignment deadlines, and reading all applicable material before it is discussed in the classroom. This schedule is subject to change during the semester if the instructor deems it necessary.  You will be verbally informed of any changes during class.