Santa Monica College

Lori M. Bergstrom, M.A., LMFT

Interpersonal Communication

Fall 2014

Office Hours: by appointment. Generally, I will meet with you before or following class.

Please contact me by e-mail to set for a formal date to meet with you if you so desire.

Required Text:Looking Out Looking In, 13’Th edition.

Authors: Adler and Proctor ISBN: 0-534-63628-4

Please refer to the student section on my professional website for additional course materials.

I. COURSE DESCRIPTION

The purpose of this course is to assist the student in achieving enhanced competency in his/her interpersonal communication skills, explore the nature of communication both intra and interpersonal types, and to achieve basic public communication skills.

II. OBJECTIVES

  • To enhance your intrapersonal and interpersonal awareness.
  • To increase your responsibility and commitment to delivering clear and ethical communication.
  • To enhance interpersonal relationships with friends, family and significant others.
  • To learn useful communication techniques and assess for appropriate use of such.
  • To begin to assimilate enhanced interpersonal communication skills through classroom discussion.
  • To develop empathy skills, listening skills, conflict mediation skills, and improve communication climates.
  • To develop and enhance your communication confidence within interpersonal, group and public settings.
  • To become an effective communicator in a group discussion.
  • To demonstrate improved leadership skills.
  • To understand and apply basic elements of group/public extemporaneous presentation skills.

III. COURSE ORGANIZATION

Each class lecture will refer to the assigned text reading. Students are expected to have read the required reading before coming to class. Within the context of the subject matter, students are expected to expand the lecture/discussion beyond the readings in the text. They are expected to broaden the text and lecture material by asking expansive questions pertinent to their personal and academic interests. Collaboration between the text, instructor’s lecture and student’s interests are strongly promoted in order to expand each student’s experience with the material. Thus, all students are co-creating the depth and quality of the course they choose to experience. In class, participation in discussion and exercises will assist students in assimilating course concepts, and in building interpersonal communication skills.

IV. COURSE REQUIREMENTS

You are required to:

  • Read the text book assignment, before coming to class.
  • Attend class.
  • Participate (demonstrating empathy and respect for others) in group discussions, A - B exercises, written exercises, and engage in self-disclosure throughout the semester.
  • Complete projects to specification.
  • Take exams as assigned. You are required to bring Form 882-ES scantron (@ bookstore) and both a sharpened pencil and pen. White out tape is permitted as an alternative to an eraser, if so desired.

V. GRADING SYSTEM

The grade you earn in this class will depend on the amount of work you choose to do as well as its quality. Attendance contributes strongly to your overall grade. Your grade will be calculated as the sum of points earned.

A=90%

B =80%

C=70%

D =60%

F =50%

  • Attendance and Participation. You earn 4 points for each class period you attend. You are docked 4 points each class period you do not attend.
  • Exams. There will be multiple exams designed to check your reading of the text. The tests will consist of objective questions (multiple choice, true / false and matching).

VI. ATTENDANCE POLICIES

  1. Because there is a considerable amount of student participation during each class meeting you will earn 4 points for each class you attend. There are no provisions for making up lost attendance points without emergency documentation, which should be catastrophic in nature. ONLY upon approval, you may make up lost attendance points by completing a project assigned by the professor. Your approval for a make-up assignment is contingent on your documentation and communication to the professor regarding your circumstances. Making up attendance points is a privilege and not a right. Please communicate with me at your earliest convenience regarding your desire to write a personal reaction paper and we will discuss your topic choice. Make up papers should be completed as early as possible following the absence. No make-up papers will be accepted during finals week.
  1. You will be docked 1 points for each tardy, regardless of the reason you were late to class. You are considered tardy if you are not in class at the time your name is called.
  1. Late Arrivals/Leaving early: If you miss more than 20 minutes of class time (by coming in late or leaving early) you will earn 2 attendance points for that class period. You will be assigned a LA (late arrival notation) or a LE (left early notation) to account for the 2 point loss. This class values your participation to a great extent and you are rewarded for that participation with attendance points.

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