Holy Cross College
Notre Dame, Indiana 46556

Interpersonal Communications
Speech 102  Section 1

 

Fall 2008

Instructor: Ann Baldinger

Textbook:  Looking Out, Looking In, 12th edition, Ron Adler and Neil Towns, Holt, Reinhart, and Winston, 2007

No prerequisites.    3 credits.

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Course Description:

 A study of communication in human relationships.  Emphasis given to self-concept, perception, language, nonverbal interaction, listening, interpersonal conflict, leadership, power and communication skills useful in family, social and work situations.

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LEARNING OBJECTIVES

By the end of the course students should be able to:

 1. Identify the elements of the interpersonal communication process and demonstrate
     interpersonal skills by applying them to specific situations.
 2. Understand the principles of semantics and apply them to writing and speaking to make
     communication more appropriate and precise.
 3. Recognize the principles of perception and the uniqueness of individual perception that 
     results in an awareness of the need to be more empathic.
 4. Recognize the importance of nonverbal communication and evaluate nonverbal 
     communication habits.
 5. Analyze the different types of listening and identify their own response styles, as well as
     understand and use the appropriate listening style, including active listening.
 6. Understand how thinking influences emotions and how expressing emotions appropriately 
     can be beneficial.
 7. Evaluate why relationships are formed and illustrate how the concepts of the Gibb 
     categories and Johari Window can be applied to strengthen relationships.
 8. Explain and compare the ways to deal with problem solving and apply them to specific 
     situations.
 9. To provide students with ways to improve their own communication behaviors.
10. Understand the principles of perception and how it affects our understanding of self and
      others.
11. Understand our own style of conflict management and how to use leadership skills in 
      conflict situations.

Learning Outcomes

Interpersonal Communication is one of the main skills that business and government is recognizing as a necessity in this 21st century.  It is the ability to get along with, work cooperatively with and accept differences among people of diverse backgrounds with grace and understanding. This course helps to fulfill many of the transferable skills that Holy Cross College hopes that its students have when they graduate. 
 

Technology
Student will use technology  to access information and type all papers including research paper and portfolio.

Oral Communication
 Students will discuss, give an oral report, and answer questions posed in class
 Students will prepare and deliver an oral report based on research paper
 Students will participate in discussions without argumentation or discrimination
Students will listen to other students without practicing pseudolistening, stage-hogging, selective, insulated, defensive or insensitive listening
Students will be able to defend a position or point of view without argumentation or discrimination

Writing
Students will write a research paper and portfolio that is clear, proper in form and logical in structure.
Student topics will be selected and information targeted at the classroom audience
Students will not plagiarize but develop a research paper that reflects their own style of writing and analysis.

Library and Information Literacy
 Students will be able to use the library and Internet to do scholarly investigation
Evaluating and analyzing their sources of information for accuracy, relevancy, and recentcy

Critical Thinking
Students will be able to ask relevant questions that distinguish among fact, opinion and guess
Students should be able to recognize the connections between information presented in the textbook, classroom discussions and exercises and their own personal life
Students will learn to accept diversity and be able to analyze, interpret, and appreciate the thoughts and works of others.

Creative Thinking and Problem Solving
Students should be able to develop multiple ways of thinking about how to handle a problem or personal situation

Moral Reasoning
Students should be able to develop and present a moral code for ethical communication and interaction with others as demonstrated in their respect for and awareness of other cultures, races and religions
 
 

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POLICIES

In order to accomplish these objectives, students will:

1. Attend class regularly. Class discussion will enable students to better understand the concepts of the chapters.  Points will be subtracted for each absence.

2. I will use the Holy Cross College attendance policy as outlined in the current bulletin. 
   No absences are excused.  I will substract 7 points for each day absent.  I will substract 3 
   points for each trady over 5 minutes.  Any tardy over 15 minutes will result in an absence being assessed.

3. Participate in the activities and discussions.

4. Demonstrate an understanding of the concepts on quizzes and tests.

5. Complete any additional assignments and hand in for grading.

6. Complete a research paper and submit on the assigned date.

7. Complete a portfolio/reflection journal of personal analysis of a significant relationship 
    or of a culture.

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GRADING

1. No make-up tests will be administered unless the student has notified me and I accept the 
    excuse as appropriate and valid.

2. If a student is found to be cheating, the automatic grade is an “F”.

3. A grade of “F” will be given for any plagiarized work.
 
 

Grading Scale:

  A = 90 – 100
 B = 80 -  89
 C = 70 – 79
 D = 60 – 69
   F = below 60

Percentages:

 

8 quizzes

40% 

400 points

Participation 

 5% 

  50 points

Research paper

20%

 200 points

Portfolio

15%

150 points

Attendance 

 5%

  50 points

Oral Report

10%

  100 points

Final Exam 

 15%

150 points

 

 Total 

1100 points

Note: A student will not be able to obtain an “A” for the course without the oral report. 
The participation grade is based upon attendance and participation in classroom discussions and activities.  Seven (7)points will be deducted from the attendance points of 50 for each absence’ being tardy  will result in three (3) points be deducted for each tardy.

No make-up tests will be allowed unless the instructor knows immediately of the reason for the absence.  You may call my office and leave a voice mail, e-mail me, or call me at home to explain. My office is in Vincent192 , my office phone is 239-8378, my home phone number is 269-684-4256.  You need to dial the area code but it is a local phone call.  My e-mail address is abaldinger@hcc-nd.edu.
A student may attend the other section of the class if necessary.  For instance, if the student misses the 8:30 class due to oversleeping or car trouble, that student is welcome to come to the 11:30 class if they are free at that time.  This will not be considered an absence.

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