Communication 2352 – 28179: Persuasion and Social Influence
Tuesday and Thursday 3:00-4:20Spring 2006UGLC– Room 216
Dr. Richard D. PinedaOffice: Quinn 209
Office Hours: M& W 1:30-3:00 and by appointment
Phone: 747-6678
Email:
Course Reading Material:
1. Woodward, G.C., & Denton, R.B. (2004). Persuasion and influence in American life (5th edition). Long
Grove, IL: Waveland Press.
2. A reading packet with course material is available at the UTEP Library copy center.
3. Readings on WebCT, this includes material on the syllabus and articles distributed to you for class discussion.
Course Description:This class serves as an introduction to theories of persuasion and social influence. Various theories will be analyzed and contextualized in terms of communication practices as they relate to social, political and cultural life in the United States and around the world.
Course Objectives and Goals:Upon completion of this class students should:
- Have an understanding of persuasive theory and the role of social influence in contemporary contexts.
- Be able to contextualize communication and the role of communicative practices in persuasive settings and their intersection with social influence.
- Have an understanding of propaganda, campaign issues and social movement theory.
- Have an understanding of the issues emerging in contemporary society where persuasion plays a major role, such as in politics, advertising, and in social movements.
Assignments:
Quizzes: Several times during the semester we will have quizzes based on the reading material. These quizzes will cover material from several days’ worth of reading. These quizzes underscore the importance of keeping up with reading material. (5x4 points = 20 points)
Team Assignments: You will be part of a team of students in class responsible for a variety of exercises and assignments. Your team will meet in class and have time to complete each project before class is over. (20 points)
Case Study: You will identify an example of persuasion and social influence in a contemporary social or political context and write an essay detailing the example. The project will include external research and a small class presentation. (10 points)
Mid-Term Exam: A multiple choice and short answer exam to be held on March 9thin class. (20 points)
Final Exam: A multiple choice and essay exam to be held on May 11th in class. (30 points)
Total Points: 100
Grades:
A=90-100B=80-89C=70-79D=60-69F=59-0
The grade scale in this class means that for every point that you lose on an assignment, you lose one point from 100 total points.
Quiz 1: _____ Quiz 2: _____ Quiz 3: _____ Quiz 4: _____ Quiz 5: _____ Mid-Term: _____ Case Study: _____
Class Policies and Procedures:
Course Writing Guidelines
All material submitted for evaluation and grading must be typed, unless otherwise indicated by the professor. Papers and projects should be written according to the standards set in the APA 5th Edition publication manual. I would prefer that you write in Times or Time New Roman font, size 10, 11, or 12. Please proofread and spell-check all material submitted for evaluation and grading. Points will be subtracted from individual assignments that fail to comply with this policy.
Team Assignment Caveats
This class uses a team based approach to learning. You will be assigned to a team at random after the first week of class. You may not pick a specific team and you will not be allowed to move from your team once the assignments have occurred. All teamwork is done in class, so your primary responsibility to the team is to be in class everyday and to be prepared to engage in the activities.
Teamwork is challenging because it brings together different perspectives and attitudes. We understand that, and ask that you work hard to achieve positive interaction with your team. Your team based points contribute to your final grade and in order to maximize those points you need to be an active part of the team.
Team assignments start with lower point values and slowly become more valuable as the term continues. Team assignments are randomly distributed, so if you miss class on any given day this is likely to have an effect on your final grade for the class.
I am email accessible – in fact, I love email. If you need to ask questions or clarify class discussion, I will happily respond via email. If you need direction or ideas for papers and/or assignments, we can communicate via email as well.
** Email submission of assignments is not acceptable. You must have a hard copy that you submit in class at the required time. **
Late Assignments
Late written assignments will receive a grade reduction of 10% for each twenty-four hour period (including weekends) the assignment is late. If you are unable to attend class on the day that an assignment is due, you must contact me before the due date to arrange to hand your assignment into me.
** Late assignments must be physically handed to me in class or during my office hours. You may not leave the assignments in my box or under my door. **
Extra Credit
Extra credit opportunities in my classes are rare, however if there is a possibility for extra credit I will inform you in class and describe the requirement to earn such points. These opportunities are offered at my discretion and by no means are guaranteed every semester.
Attendance
Every student is expected to attend every class session and take an active role in classroom discussions. Attendance will be taken every class session. A student with more than five absences should expect the professor will drop the student from the class with a grade of “W” before the course drop deadline and with a grade of “F” after the course drop deadline.
Additionally, please note:
** If you miss more than half of the class period, you will be counted as absent.**
** If you leave before three-quarters of the class is over, you will be marked absent.**
Except for personal or medical emergencies, which must have official documentation, or for official university absences, approved in advance, there are no make-ups on quizzes or presentations given in this class. Failure to come to class on the day you are scheduled to present will result in the grade of zero for that assignment.
Attendance (continued)
It is the responsibility of the student to inform the professor of extended absence. In cases of prolonged absence, the student should investigate the feasibility of withdrawal from the course.
Students are responsible for any announcements that are made in class regarding changes in the class schedule. Students are also responsible for obtaining any information they missed due to absences. The professor will not repeat lecture material.
Academic Dishonesty
(Statement from the Office of the Dean of Students – applicable to assignments and requirements in this class.)
Academic dishonesty is prohibited and is considered a violation of the UTEP Handbook of Operating Procedures. It includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, and collusion. Cheating may involve copying from or providing information to another student, possessing unauthorized materials during a test, or falsifying research data on lab reports. Plagiarism occurs when someone intentionally or knowingly represents the words or ideas of another person’s as ones’ own. And collusion involves collaborating with another person to commit any academically dishonest act. Any act of academic dishonesty attempted by a UTEP student is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Violations will be taken seriously and will be referred to the Dean of Students for possible disciplinary action. Students may be suspended or expelled from the university for such actions.
Special Needs
Students with disabilities or special needs, please make arrangements with me as early as possible. Special assistance may be available from the Disabled Student Services Office (DSSO) in Room 106 East Union (747-5148). Students should be aware that faculty are not obligated to provide accommodations for a disability without proper notification from DSSO.
Classroom Expectations
Students are expected to be respectful and supportive of other students, especially during class discussions and during the presentation of material. If you are late on a presentation day, remain outside the classroom until the speaker is finished. Cell phones and pagers should be turned off during all class sessions.
Many different ideas will be welcomed and encouraged. However, sexist and racist comments and offensive intolerance for others will not be tolerated in this class.
Grade Grievances
Grade grievances must be submitted to me in writing, prior to making an appointment to discuss the matter. Any grade grievance must occur within one-year from the end of the course. If we cannot come to a reasonable conclusion, you should contact the department chairperson. If you still have concerns at this point, you may consult with and/or file a grade challenge with the Chairperson of the Student Welfare and Grievance Committee. Contact the office of the Faculty Senate (747-5178) for more information.
Tentative Class and Reading Schedule
Please note this schedule is tentative and subject to change. I am a firm believer in keeping a dynamic schedule to allow for discussion and adequate coverage of material. I would much rather jettison material to allow for better understanding and discourse on a particular area – I assure you I will avoid major change if possible. Additionally, please be aware if an issue of topical significance arises nationally or internationally, we may shift focus onto that event.
**All readings are designated by chapter name and number in the text or by the author name as posted on WebCT or in the reading packet and should be read before the class meeting indicated by the date on the left.**
1January 17 Introduction
January 19No class meeting
2January 24TeamBuilding and Chapter 1: Introduction
January 26Chapter 2: The Advocate in an Open Society
3January 31Chapter 3: The Advocate and the Management of Symbols
February 2Media, Celebrities and Social Influence: Identification with Elvis (W)
Quiz #1
4February 7Chapter 4: Persuasion and Reasoning
February 9Chapter 5: Credibility
5February 14Chapter 6: The Psychology of Persuasion
Johnson-Cartee & Copeland – Social Pyschology
February 16Chapter 7: Persuasion, Audiences, and Social Learning
Civil Liberties, the Constitution and Cigars (W)
Quiz #2
6February 21Chapter 8: Interpersonal Persuasion
February 23Chapter 9: Public and Mass Persuasion
7February 28Chapter 10: Advertising as Persuasion
Simmons – Planning campaigns
March 2Chapter 11: Political Persuasion
Simmons - Staging political campaigns
Quiz #3
8March 7Mid-term exam prep and second half preview
March 9Mid-Term Exam
March 14 Spring Break
March 16Spring Break
9March 21 Chapter 12: Ethical Considerations of Persuasion
March 23Chapter 13: Constructing and Presenting Persuasive Messages
10March 28A Retrospective on Early Studies of Propaganda (W)
Propaganda: History of a Word (W)
March 30Johnson-Cartee & Copeland - Propaganda strategies
CASE STUDY DUE at the start of class
11April 4Johnson-Cartee & Copeland - Propaganda tactics
April 6To Veil the Threat of Terror (W)
12April 11Stewart (1) The Social Movement as a Unique Collective Phenomenon
April 13Interpreting the Discursive Field of the Montgomery Bus Boycott (W)
Quiz #4
13April 18Stewart (6) The Life Cycle of Social Movements
April 20Stewart (2) Social Movements as Interpretive Systems
14April 25Stewart (3) The Persuasive Functions of Social Movements
April 27Stewart (4) Personal Needs and Social Movements
The Master Conspiracy of the John Birch Society (W)
Quiz #5
15May 2Stewart (5) Leadership in Social Movements
Conspiracy Rhetoric at the Dawn of a New Millennium (W)
May 4 Final Exam review
DEAD DAY
May 5 – No Class
FINAL EXAM
May 11th1:00PM – 3:45PM