COM 170 COMMUNICATION ENVIRONM

An overall objective of this course is to raise to a conscious level the often implicit elements of communication environments. We will focus on the ways in which certain elements influence behavior in interpersonal and mass mediated environments. The basic premise of this course is that human communication behavior is a product of an ordered social environment, even in seemingly informal settings. We will examine various environments to better understand how and why we communicate the way we do.

1. To observe behavior in interpersonal settings and identify critical elements such as rules, roles, purposes, relationships, codes, and meaning.

3. To attempt to identify structural characteristics of selected mass media; that is, patterns below the surface which may explain the possible influence of mass media on interpersonal communication environments.

Goffman, Erving. (1959). The Presentation of self in everyday life. Garden City, NY: Doubleday.

All assignments are distributed on line at http://people.wcsu.edu/petkanasw/ and may be handed in on paper in class or electronically before class (see details, next page).

Because the WCSU junk mail filter may screen out your e-mail messages, I prefer that WCSU students use the University e-mail system. For your convenience, a direct log in is available on my website.

If this is not your first semester here, it is probably obvious to you that each professor has his or her own policies. It is your responsibility to understand what my policies are, how they differ from other professor’s policies, and act accordingly. My policies may be different from other professors you have had, even in the Communication Department. Some of my policies differ from course to course. Please read this syllabus carefully and keep it for reference during the semester.

Attendance: I take attendance at the beginning of class and give points to people who are present at the beginning of class. You do not get points if you are late to class. I find people who enter class late distracting and offensive. You do not get points if you miss class. If you cannot come to class on time, reconsider taking this course. If you see considerable conflicts in your schedule with employment or other activities, reconsider taking this course. I make no distinctions between different types of absences, as some professors do. Therefore, I do not expect any notifications of any kind from doctors, coaches, or university officials.

Assignments must be typewritten, never handwritten. They must be handed in during the class they are due to get credit. They may be e-mailed to me, for example if you are not going to make class that day or your printer is not working, but I must receive them before the class. Never later.* There are no make-ups for missed assignments. If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to e-mail me (no phone calls).

Plagiarism: Since the development of the Internet, there has been a drastic increase in the number of cases of plagiarism. When I detect a plagiarized paper, it is my policy to give a student an "F" for the course and report the case to the Dean of Student Affairs. I have done this in all cases, without exception. I will explain what constitutes plagiarism in class. (The excuse that "I didn't know this was plagiarism" will not be acceptable).

Class demeanor and etiquette: No eating in class. You are expected to take care of meals and snacks at some other time. Beverages are permitted; those containing caffeine are encouraged. Cell phones are not permitted to be on or out during class (except for some special circumstances).

I shouldn’t have to mention this, but I do … let’s just say that you are expected to have an adult level of bladder control and tolerance for sitting still. I bring this up because leaving class has increased dramatically in the last two years, (even in 50 minute classes). I find it distracting and disrespectful and hope you will keep this in mind.

* More on assignments: You are expected to bring the assignment to class and hand it in. This is a very simple concept and yet many people have trouble with what this means. Here are some interesting, but not acceptable, excuses collected over the last year:

New excuses will not be accepted either, but I will be happy to add them to this list.

Week	Date		Reading/assignment
		*Part 1: Interacting—Interpersonal Communication Environments*
1	May 27	Introduction to communication environments
	May 28	Formal, informal, and technical rules of culture.	Hall, Ch. 4 "The major triad."
	May 29	Chronemics	Hall, Ch. 1 "The voices of time."
2	June 2	Continued	Hall, Ch. 8 "Time talks: American accents."
	June 3	Proxemics	Hall, Ch. 10 "Space Speaks."
	June 4	Continued
	June 5	The dramaturgical model	Goffman, Ch. 1 (16-30) "Performances"
3	June 9	Roles and role realization	Goffman, Ch. 1 (30-58) "Dramatic realization," "Idealization," and "Maintenance of expressive control."
	June 10	Maintaining roles, affecting roles Convincing roles, sincerity of roles	Goffman, Ch. 1 (58-76) "Misrepresentation" "Mystification," and "Reality and contrivance."
	June 11	Revised metaphor: from cast, stage, and backstage, to team, and regions.	Goffman, Ch. 3 (106-140). "Region and region behavior."
	June 12	Exam and paper 1 due.
		*Part 2: Interfacing—Media Communication Environments*
4	June 16	Roles and medis relationships	Postman, Ch. 1, 2
	June 17	Structure of communication environments	Postman, Ch. 3, 4, 5
	June 18	The environment of entertainment	Postman, Ch. 6, 7
	June 19
5	June 23	Sacred ritual, Power relationships	Postman, Ch. 8, 9
	June 24	The environments of learning, education, schools	Postman, Ch. 10, 11
	June 25	On line environments	TBA
	June 26	Analysis 2, final exam.
	June 27	Or here