Interpersonal Communication Skills

Interpersonal Communication Skills

SDS 4410 – Section 4987

Monday – Friday: 3rd Period

Room 2337 Norman Hall

Summer B 2003

Instructor: Meggen Sixbey

Office: 1313B Norman Hall

Office Hours: Mondays 12:15 pm – 1:30 pm & Wednesdays 10:00 am – 11:00am and by appointment

Phone Number: 392-0731, ext. 277

E-mail address: mailto:

TA Coordinator: Jennifer Heard

E-mail address:

Required Textbook:

Adler, R.B., Rosenfeld, L.B., & Proctor, R.F. (2001). Interplay: The Process of Interpersonal Communication (8th Ed.). Fort Worth, TX: Harcourt.

Course Web Site:

Course Description and Objectives:

Due to the nature of this course and the assumption that we “cannot not communicate,” we will spend a great deal of time every class period communicating in large and small groups, learning to communicate more effectively through awareness-raising and skill enhancement. Consequently, participation is of the utmost importance. Throughout the semester, we will also survey the fundamentals of interpersonal communication and explore personal applications to our own communication and relationships.

Course Components:

Class Participation and Attendance: The effort that each one of us puts into our awareness, personal growth and enlightenment is a choice we each must make. Every moment in this class (as in life) is a learning opportunity, and the process of purposefully experiencing this course will teach you the content. Your investment is vital to your success, the success of your small groups, and the overall success of the class. Please evaluate the following implications as you make the decision whether or not to attend class.
Attendance sheets, assignments given in class, pop-quizzes and in class activities will combine to determine your participation points and will have a significant impact on your overall grade. Missed material cannot be made up.
Since this class is largely experiential, each of you will benefit from being in class. Your contributions are significant and important to the class dynamic. What you get out of this class is predominately what you are willing to put in. Your level of investment will be noted by both myself and your TA.

*As situations arise in which you are unable to attend class, please notify me as soon as possible prior to missing class.

*please note that class P&A is worth 6.1 points a day, allowing you to have one excused absence, whereas lab P&A is worth 6.25 points per meeting.

Small-Group Participation (Lab): During the first or second day of class, you will be assigned to a group that will be your primary discussion group throughout the semester. Each group member will either individually or partnered with another group member (depending on class size) prepare a discussion which will include activities to present to their group members. These discussions and activities should be designed to practice and enhance you own interpersonal communication and that of your group members. Failure to attend or amply notify your Teaching Assistant of your inability to attend on your presentation day will result in a score of 0 points for your entire lab participation grade. Your assigned Teaching Assistant will determine your individual group participation grade.
Journals: You will be expected to write nine (9) journal entries to be turned in over the course of the semester. Included in your syllabus are suggested topics for each journal entry. However, you are invited to use your creativity in deciding what you will write about providing you relate it to the pertinent interpersonal communication chapter that will be discussed in class, reactions to class activities or reactions to a guest speaker. The journals are to be typed and double-spaced, and should be 1.5-2 pages long. Please use 1’ margins, 12-point font and Times New Roman. They should be submitted with a title page to help protect confidentiality. Journals are due in paper form by Lab time on appropriate days. You will be allowed one “emergency journal” that can be turned in by the next class period or submitted via email. Please note that only one emergency journal will be accepted. No other journals will be accepted via email except an emergency journal. Mark any emergency journal with an “E.” Because I realize that your journal entries will be based on your self-disclosure and personal perspective, only your assigned TA and myself will read them. For grading requirements, please refer to the section in your syllabus entitled Journal Evaluation Form.
Cultural Investigation Paper: In lieu of a midterm and final exam, a cultural investigation paper will be conducted on the culture of your choice. You must choose a culture that you are not, nor have ever been, apart of. The purpose of this paper is to gain insightful information about a new culture while also practicing different interpersonal communication techniques that you learn throughout the semester. This research paper will consist of five (5) parts: 1. Research and Facts, 2. Interview Information, 3. Current Issues, 4. Summary and 5. Bibliography. For more information, please refer to the section in your syllabus titled Cultural Investigation Paper located below.
Group Project: Your group project will be completed with your small group members. Topics pertaining to interpersonal communication will be announced and your group will submit their top three (3) topics of interest as voted upon by the majority of the group. Each group will prepare a 30-minute presentation pertaining to their topic of interest; creativity is strongly encouraged. Each group is asked to meet as a whole or designate an individual to meet with me to go over ideas that will be covered during the presentation. Additional information about the requirements of this assignment will be provided. Please note that you MUST be present for your small group project. Failure to attend will result in an incomplete in the course. For grading information, please refer to the section in your syllabus entitled Group Presentation Evaluation.
Portfolio: You will need to submit a collection of your original journals (with instructor/TA feedback), bound together in an appropriate fashion. In addition to this collection of your work, you will also need to include a table of contents and a reaction paper discussing what the journal writing and feedback process was like for you. For grading information, please refer to the section in your syllabus entitled Portfolio Score Sheet.

Course Point Breakdown: Grading Scale:

Classroom Participation and Attendance110 A448-500 points

Small Group Participation and Attendance50 B+423-447 points

Journals (9 journals at 10 pts each)90 B398-422 points

Research Paper100 C+373-397 points Group Project 100 C 348-372 points

Portfolio50 D+323-347 points

D298-322 points

Total:500 F297 or less points

Class Policies:

Late Assignments: No late assignments will be accepted.
Extra Credit: up to 20 points (5 points each)

Additional opportunities for extra credit may or may not present themselves throughout the semester. However, you may earn up to 20 points extra credit by completing one or more of the following assignments (all papers must follow the format detailed in the journal writing section):

Double Vision Film Review- Select/view a movie for which you will take the perspective of two different movie critics who espouse very different worldviews/opinions and write two different/conflicting versions of a critique of the movie.
Interview a professional in the community that has experience in a field that is relevant to your current personal or professional development goals. Write a summary/reaction paper about your experience. In addition to the 1.5 -2 page requirement, you must include a list of your interview questions as well as a brief biography of the person you interviewed.
Challenge your own stereotypes or lack of experience in a particular area by immersing yourself in a culture different from your own or volunteering somewhere in the community. Write a reaction paper.
Select a topic relevant to the course and conduct a brief survey of peoples’ reactions to the issue you have chosen. You must verbally survey a minimum of 15 people, asking each person the same 5 questions. Write a summary of your findings as well as personal reactions to the experience (Were people open to answering your questions? Were the interactions awkward?). In addition to the 1.5 -2 page requirement, you must provide a brief summary about the issue you have chosen and why as well as a list of your interview questions.

Pass/Fail Option: Pass/Fail (S/U) is not an option for this course.
Office Hours: Please feel free to stop by my office during office hours, to set up an appointment with me or email me with any questions. I am happy to talk with you about your progress in the course, any difficulties you may be experiencing, or anything else you would like to discuss.
University Honor Code: Plagiarism or cheating in any form is a sign of disrespect to yourself, your classmates, and this university and will not be tolerated. On all work submitted for credit by students at the University of Florida, the following pledge is implied: On my honor, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid in doing this assignment. If a student is caught plagiarizing or cheating in any form, the policies of the university will be followed.
Confidentiality: Due to the nature of this course and the small group activities, you are expected to keep what is talked about to yourself. If you must share something that went on in class, make every effort to conceal the identity of the person who shared it. Please note that in any group activity, absolute confidentiality cannot be guaranteed. Therefore, please share only what you feel comfortable.

Tentative Due Dates

Mondays

Tuesdays

Wednesdays

Thursdays

Fridays

June 30
Course Overview / July 1
Ch 1: Inter.
Process / July 2
Chapter 7: Listening
Due: J1 / July 3
Personal Comm. Day / July 4

Independence Day

July 7
Chapter 4: Perceiving Others / July 8
Lab
Due: J2 / July 9
Chapter 3: Communication & the Self Bring an object that is symbolic of the way you view yourself (don’t let anyone see it!) / July 10
Lab
Due: J3 / July 11
Chapter 5: Language
July 14
Chapter 6: Nonverbal Communication / July 15
Lab
Due: J4 / July 16
Chapter 6: Nonverbal Communication Continued / July 17
Lab
Due: J5 / July 18
Communicating within Societies
July 21
Cultural Guest Speaker:
Rosa West / July 22
Lab
Due: J6 / July 23
Chapter 2: Culture and Communication / July 24
Lab
Due: J7 / July 25
Emotions Guest Speaker:
Dr. Marshall Knudson
July 28
Chapter 8: Emotions / July 29
Lab
Due: J8 / July 30
Chapter 10: Intimacy & Distance / July 31
Lab
Due: J9 / Aug 1
Chapter 9: Dynamics of Int. Relationships
Due: CI Paper
Aug 4
Group Presentations / Aug 5
Group Present
-ations / Aug 6
Group Presentations
Due: Portfolio / Aug 7
Group Presentations / Aug 8
Group Presentations

Suggested Journal Topics

Journal #1: Introducing Yourself:

How would you define yourself? How would others define you?
What is your major? What year are you?
What do you see as your strengths? Your growth areas?

Journal #2: Ch 4 Perceiving Others

Why do you think identical twins are perceived in different ways?
How do you perceive others differently based on physical differences, clothing, etc.
What do you feel has influenced the way you perceive others?
If you were to place yourself in your peers shoes, how do you think they are perceiving you and why? Do you perceive yourself in this same way?

Journal #3: Ch 3 Communication and the Self

What was it like to show others a personal aspect of yourself represented by an object?
Were you scared, excited, afraid… to show it?
What did you think of hearing what others thought it represented?

Did you find yourself incorrectly or inaccurately deciding on another individuals “self” according to what you perceived the object to represent?

Journal #4: Ch 5 Language

What are some specific examples of when your choice of language led to positive or negative results in your own interpersonal relationships?
What do these statements mean to you: Meanings are in people, not in words; language is arbitrary, meanings change.

Journal #5: Ch 6 Nonverbal Communication

How do you "read" nonverbal behaviors? Are you usually accurate? Why or why not.
Explain how the way you dress is a form of nonverbal communication. What are you communicating when you dress for class?
How are vocal cues a form of nonverbal communication?
Do you agree/disagree with the idea that nonverbal communication is more powerful than verbal communication? Why or why not.
How does the idea of "we cannot not communicate" apply to nonverbal communication?

Journal #6: Reactions to Guest Speaker or Class Activity

How do you communicate within various subcultures that you are immersed in?
How are different styles of communication present within your subculture?
What are some phrases and expressions, that people from a culture different from you own, use. What do you think about them? Are they effective when these individuals are communicating to you?
How do cultural differences help/hinder communication and decision-making?
What information may you need when communicating with someone from a culture different from you own?

Journal #7: Cultural Investigation Update OR Reactions to Class Activity

Where are you at with your CI paper?
What do you still have left to do?
What is hindering/helping this process?

Journal #8: Ch 8 Emotions OR Reactions to Guest Speaker

How comfortable do you feel expressing your emotions?
Why and when do you not express your emotions.
What about certain climates allow you to express your emotions and which emotions?
Where in your body do you "feel" emotions?
How would you go about expanding your repertoire of emotions to be better able to describe what you're feeling.

Journal #9: Lab Reaction Journal

How did it feel to have others using listening and communication skills with you in an intimate setting?
What different communication skills did you see yourself exhibiting?
What different range of emotions did you experience as you went through the Lab experience?

Cultural Investigation Paper

The investigation paper is a course requirement that accounts for 100 points (5 sections at 20 pts each) toward your final grade. It is your report of an investigation that you have conducted into a particular culture. This culture can be a particular nationality of people or a subgroup of individuals such as the Homeless culture, the Rave culture, the Harley Motorcycle culture, etc. The paper should be double-spaced, typed, and should be seven - ten pages in length. Please use 1’ margins and 12-point, Times New Roman font. You should also include in-text citations where appropriate that correspond to your bibliographical information. It is also recommended to use section headings that correspond with the 5 sections required for your paper.

The paper consists of five sections:

Research and Facts – include (but not limited to) the following data as evidenced in the literature:
Title of culture or other appropriate variations
History of Culture/Future of Culture
Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria
Specific Skills Required
Duties/Nature of culture
Hobbies
Possible Typical Employment
Related Information
Interview Information – the purpose of the interview is to learn as much about the culture as you can from a personal perspective. The interviews should be with persons currently in the culture of choice and should include questions pertaining to what lead this person to be drawn to this culture, benefits, drawbacks, identifying cultural beliefs, time spent practicing cultural beliefs, hierarchies evident in this culture, travel as it pertains to the culture, foods, geographic locations, etc. Please record this interview with an audiotape and submit a written transcription that has been taken from an engaging 10-minute segment of this interview (transcriptions are NOT included in the total page length of your paper). Thus, this section should consist of two (2) parts: 1. A summary of the questions asked and data received pertaining to the interview as well as 2. a 10 minute transcription.
Current Issues – using information from journals, magazines, interviews, and/or newspaper resources, identify a specific current issue (from 2002 or 2003) related to the culture, i.e., problems, controversy, etc. Give a brief summary and reaction.
Reflective Summary – due to the nature of this course, this is perhaps the most important section of this paper. Therefore, relate the information you learned about yourself through your introspective journals to your cultural investigation. Identify your strengths and weaknesses in engaging with an individual from another culture. Consider questions such as:
How did you use your listening skills in the interview?
What part of yourself did you communicate to the individual? How much impression management was present on your part?
What nonverbal cues did you notice in the interviewee? In yourself? How might have cultural differences influenced these cues?
What level of intimacy did you experience with this person?
How did you perceive this person initially? How (did) your perceptions change throughout your interaction?
Bibliography - using MLA or APA style for your bibliography, cite in alphabetical order three (3) to five (5) resources that were used in conducting the investigation.
Example for referencing a book: Author, A.B., (Year of publication). Title of book. City of Publication, State of publication: Publishers.
Example for referencing a journal article: Author, A.B., Author #2, C.D., & Author #3, E,F. (Year of Publication). Title of article. Name of Journal, (volume), pages-pages.
Please see me if you have any questions regarding how to cite references.

Journal Evaluation Form

Format_____ / 4

Cover page meets specified requirements

Appropriate length

Double spaced, 12 pt. Font

Grammar, spelling, sentence construction

Clarity_____ / 2

Logical expression of thoughts and ideas

Flow and ease to read

Clear, concise writing

Discernable focus/understands purpose of the assignment & responds to questions posed

Depth, Awareness & Critical thinking_____ / 2

Attempting to view situations from different perspectives

Valuable insights/self-perceptions