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Syllabus

INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
FALL 2008
Central Maine Community College
6:00-8:50 P.M. Wednesdays 9/3-12/17/08
Instructor: Nancy A. Henry, JD
Email: nahenry61@yahoo.com
nhenry@cmcc.edu
Office hours by appointment
COURSE WEBSITES:
 Nancy’s Educational Blog
 Nancy’s YouTube Videos
 Nancy’s Links
 Blackboard
 Class Scribd documents

COURSE DESCRIPTION (from College Catalog)


Interpersonal Communication
COM -101 3 Credits (3 Lecture 0 Lab 0 Shop) 3 Hours/Week (3 Hrs. Lecture) This course
introduces the student to the elements of interpersonal communication. The overall goal of
the course is to enable students to improve the effectiveness of their interpersonal
communication skills in their personal and professional lives. The course covers the nature of
communication, the importance of one's identity, the role of perception and emotions, and the
importance of active listening. It examines the nature of language and non-verbal
communication and considers gender and cultural differences. It focuses on improving
communication in relationships, concentrating on relational dynamics, communication
climates, and interpersonal conflict.

COURSE SPECIFICATIONS
Total class hours 45
Lab or shop hours 0
Estimated hours for outside work 90
Total estimated student work time 135
Course semester credit hours 3

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After completing this course, the student will be able to:
1. experience greater confidence in interpersonal encounters,
2. understand interpersonal processes,
3. recognize nonverbal communication patterns,

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4. improve listening skills and develop/demonstrate empathy,
5. improve speaking and self-disclosure skills,
6. recognize and cope with ethical dilemmas that may arise in the context of interpersonal
communication.

REQUIRED TEXT: Adler and Proctor, Looking Out, Looking In, 12th Edition

ONLINE RESOURCES: Students will regularly be directed to online resources I have


compiled for the class. We will also have a Blackboard site. Please see “course websites”
above and make certain you add or subscribe to those groups so you will have access to
these materials. REGULAR ACCESS TO THESE ONLINE SITES, INCLUDING
BLACKBOARD, IS REQUIRED FOR THIS COURSE. If you do not have regular
computer access and an email address to which you have daily access, you should not
take this course.
Grading
Categories Percentage
Homework 20%
Student Journal 20%
Interpersonal 20%
Communications Analysis
Group Project 20%
In-class exercises and 20%
participation

Late Work Policy: A student may turn in one assignment up to one week late without
penalty. Other late work will not be accepted. If you must be absent from a class, your
work must be turned in electronically by the beginning of the class period of that date.
Classroom etiquette: No use of cell phones, laptops or other electronic devices is
allowed in class unless instructor explicitly directs you to use them. That said, there
will be at least one class during which you will be asked to use your electronic devices.
Apart from the aforementioned exception "electronic chat" during class will result in
dismissal from that class period.
Team Project: A presentation of no less than 20 minutes will be required. This will be
primarily a creative, rather than a written, project. Students will work in groups of 3-4
depending on class size. Further information about this assignment will be provided to
you by Week Two.
Student Journal: Each student will keep a notebook or journal for the purpose of
recording reflections on the readings, class exercises, and class materials. Some
reflections will be assigned, but the notebook is for broader work and response than just
the assigned questions. Aim for 10 handwritten pages or 3-4 single-spaced typed pages
per week. If you elect to respond to issues on the blog, this will count towards your

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journal total. You will turn these in twice during the semester. YOUR JOURNAL MAY
BE ELECTRONIC.
Class Participation and Homework: You are an important part of this class, and I have
provided many avenues for you to participate and interact with your classmates. Given
the unique nature of this class, participation and attendance are especially crucial. If you
must miss class please let me know immediately, as you will have group members
depending on your attendance and I may have to rearrange class exercises. I do not give
“excused absences”—what I do is work with you to make a plan to cover the
material you will miss. I retain the right to lower the grade of any student who does not
address attendance and absences in a responsible, adult manner. I will also inform a
student’s advisor if their academic work or attendance indicates that they may be having
difficulty meeting course requirements.

Keeping up with the Class


Students who are having difficulty should notify the instructor as soon as possible. I
understand that problems and stresses arise and that we are dealing with difficult material
in this class. I have a wealth of links and study aids to share with you and would be happy
to have an appointment to address any problems.

Cancellations:
Please check your email AND OUR BLACKBOARD SITE sometime in the afternoon
of every Wednesday class day in case there has been some need to cancel. In the event of
ANY sort of cancellation, WE WILL HAVE A VIRTUAL CLASS, not a “make-up” class.
There is an abundance of excellent instructional material online and I have more than
enough of this for several classes. Blackboard and the blog provide a forum for class
interaction when it is not possible to be physically present in the classroom. This online
work will be required and will count for classroom instructional time—it is not
“additional homework”.

Disability Access Statement


If you are a student with a documented disability and plan to request an academic or other
accommodation, you must register as soon as possible with the Central Maine Community
College Disabilities Coordinator, Ms. Laura Rifkin. Visit the Coordinator’s office in Jalbert
Hall or call for an appointment (755-5277). Please share any accommodation letter issued by
her with the instructor. While the same policies must apply to all students, students with life
situations that may adversely impact their academic achievement may wish to discuss these
with the instructor so he can be supportive.
Affirmative Action Statement
Central Maine Community College is an equal opportunity / affirmative action institution and
employer. For more information, please call 755-5233.
Ethical Behavior Statement
Central Maine Community College requires all students to adhere to high standards of
integrity in their academic work. Activities such as cheating on exams and plagiarizing the

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intellectual work of others are not acceptable and will be subject to severe disciplinary
actions up to and including dismissal.

Time Management:
It is reasonable to expect to spend two hours of class work outside of class for each hour
of instructional time. I have “mixed it up” so that there are assignments to appeal to every
learning style: video, podcast (be sure to use your mp3 player if you have one!), blog,
PowerPoint, popular films, journal, and of course reading in our excellent text. If you
spent an average of 5-6 hours studying these materials outside of class every week,
complete class assignments, and make a sincere effort, you should be able to pass this
course with at least a “C”.

Weekly Readings & Assignments-READINGS ARE DUE TO BE


COMPLETED ON THE DATE ON WHICH THE ASSIGNMENT
APPEARS.

Date Topics & Assignments


Sept. 4 INTRODUCTIONS and overview. (All readings will be from Adler).
Sept. 11 Chapter One
Sept. 18 Chapter Two
Sept. 25 Chapter Three
Oct. 2 Chapter Four
Oct. 9 Chapter Five
Oct. 16 Chapter Six
Oct. 23 Chapter Seven (Review of student journals)
Oct. 30 Chapter Eight
Nov. 6 Chapter Nine
Nov. 13 Chapter Ten
Nov. 20 Chapter Eleven
Nov. 27 HOLIDAY
Dec. 4 Group Presentations
Dec. 11 Complete presentations/TBA
Dec. 18 FINAL CLASS

Homework assignments will be posted on Blackboard. Please check frequently. Written


work is to be turned in electronically.

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