"It takes insight, courage and responsibility to engage in the mindful production of reality. This the basis of a meaningful existence." (O’Brien and Kollock) 

Focus: To improve your awareness and understanding of the communication of yourself and others. To enhance your critical reasoning and thinking skills. Skills and knowledge are acquired through reading, class discussions, skill activities, writing, and observation. 

Questions that are the central to the course.

1. What is the nature of communication, reality, language, and nonverbal communication?
2. What is the relationship of the individual to others? 
3. How do history and culture shape our interactions?
4. What is communicative competence?
5. How do we develop competence as communicators?

• Albee, Edward.  (1988).  Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?  New York:  New American Library.
• Norman, Marsha.  (1983). 'Night, Mother.  New York:  Noonday Press.
• Trenholm, Sarah & Jensen, Arthur.  (2000).  Interpersonal Communication (4th Edition) Belmont, CA:  Wadsworth Publishing.
   

  The texts for class may be purchased at the university bookstore or on-line.  It is your responsibility to acquire them and read them.  We may not have time in class to discuss all reading assignments.  Please ask during class or my office hours if you have questions about the readings.  If the bookstore is out of stock of the textbook, it is your responsibility to place an order with a bookstore employee. 
   

• 50% Quizzes
• 30%  Papers
• 20%  In-Class Communication, Written Homework

Office Hours: I set aside several hours each week to meet with students to discuss their academic progress and concerns about the class. Please feel free to make an appointment, drop in, or call during these hours. It is the best time to reach me. 

Quizzes. After every chapter, we will have an in-class quiz. Dates for quizzes will be announced no later than one class period before the quiz. The quizzes will be multiple choice, short answer, matching or true-false. Quizzes cannot be made up. 

Papers.  I will ask you to write one paper on each of the plays we read for class.  In the paper, you will use the theories and concepts we discuss in class to analyze the communication in the play.  I will provide suggestions and details closer to the time of the assignment. 3-5 pages.  All papers must be typed with one-inch margins.  Your work must be clear, well edited and proofread.  Please staple your paper together before you come to class.  Do not submit work in any type of folder.  Papers are graded primarily on content, but this cannot be separated from clarity and manner of expression.  Late papers loose one full letter grade for each day they are late. 

Attendance: Your active attendance and participation in class is required. Most class periods will involve discussion or communication activities. Do not come to class late or leave early. There is no such thing as an excused absence. Commit yourself to a responsible attendance policy that will ensure the grade you desire. If you miss class, for any reason, please get the notes or assignments from another student. I will be happy to discuss the notes or assignments with you if you have questions. 

Readings/Topics: The following is an outline of the sequence of topics we will cover in this course. Depending on class interest, we will spend more or less time on a given subject. However, we will cover the material in this order. We will not cover every chapter in the textbook. 

UNIT 1: OVERVIEW OF INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION

Chapter One: Essential Characteristics of Communication

Models of Interpersonal 

Communication and Competence 

Chapter Two: Approaches to Interpersonal Communication 

The Systems Perspective 

Public and Private Relational Trajectories 

UNIT II: SENDING AND RECEIVING MESSAGES

Chapter Three: Nonverbal Communication

Functions 

Nonverbal Codes: Proxemics, Appearance, Gaze, Face, Kinesics, Voice, and Touch 

Chapter Four: Language

The Verbal Code: Structure 

The Verbal Code: Functions 

Chapter Five: Relational Messages

Types of Relational Messages 

Pragmatic Communication Patterns 

Additional Reading:  Edward Albee:  Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

UNIT III: INTERPERSONAL PROCESSES

Chapter Seven: The Nature of Social Roles 

Chapter Eight: How We Use Communication to Establish Self

Multiple Selves and Schemata 

Communicator Style and Self-Monitoring 

UNIT IV: RELATIONAL CONTEXTS 

Chapter 11: Initial Interactions

Interpersonal Attractions 

Friendship Development 

Romantic Relationship Development 

Relational Dialectics 

Relationship Deterioration 

Additional Reading:  Marsha Norman:  "Night, Mother

Chapter Thirteen: Cross-Cultural Communication

American World Views 

Prejudice and Social Construction 

Communication in the Colonial and Jacksonian Periods 

Communication Now and in the Future