Course Syllabus CMST& 101: Introduction to Communication Here is the syllabus for our course. Please read this page carefully and reference it during the quarter as needed. Visit the campus policies and services page to learn more about WCC's general policies and in-person and virtual campus services. Faculty and Course Information Faculty: Todd Waters, Ph.D. Email: Please message me through Canvas or send me an email at twaters@whatcom.edu (I will reply to messages within 24 hours) Office hours: Make an appointment with me. We can meet in person, via Zoom, or talk on the phone. Course number, section, and credits: CMST& 101 (20342), 5.0 credits Course duration: June 26, 2023 - August 18, 2023 Course format: In-person Mondays and Wednesdays, 12:30 p.m. - 3:25 p.m. in LRN 201 Text: All readings are provided for you in Canvas AAS degree requirements: Basic communication skills - oral Course Description and Outcomes A fundamental course in communication theory. Students will apply knowledge in various interpersonal, public speaking, and small-group communication settings. Course outcomes: Upon completing this course, students should be able to... Apply elements of the transactional model of communication in a variety of communicative situations. Characterize the stages of relational development in interpersonal relationships. Identify how aspects of one's culture can affect communication with others. Explain factors that influence the culture of a small group. Explain the importance of active listening. Deliver informative and persuasive speeches targeted to specific audiences. WCC's core learning abilities (CLAs) - communicating, information literacy, quantitative reasoning, social justice, and thinking - are overarching skills taught and reinforced throughout our curriculum. These skills are integral to students' professional and personal lives. This course will allow you to practice and develop one or more core learning abilities. Assignments and Grading Please submit all assignments in Canvas and follow the instructions on the assignment pages to ensure you submit your work in the correct format. I understand that life happens and can extend grace and deadlines when needed. Please communicate with me about what is going on in your life, so we can create a plan to stay on track if you get behind in the assignments. All of your assignments are identified below. Please ask as many questions as you need to ensure you understand the assignment expectations. Clear, comprehensive instructions for the following assignments can be found on their corresponding assignment page when they are available on weekly content pages and will be addressed thoroughly in class. Reflections (5 at 25 points each = 125 points total) Reflections are due on Sundays at 11:59 p.m. These assignments ask you to consider prompts from the week's reading and class discussions and to write thoughtful responses. Detailed instructions and expectations for each reflection can be viewed on each reflection page. Communication Goals (50 points) You will set goals to work towards throughout the quarter. Detailed instructions will be found on the assignment page and discussed in class. Communication Goal Speech (100 points) A short speech regarding one of your communication goals. Detailed instructions will be found on the assignment page and discussed in class. Communication Goals Analysis (200 points) An analysis of your work towards the goals you set at the beginning of the quarter and your final for the class. This final assignment is due on the last day of the quarter and is considered your course final. It should demonstrate your learning in the course and highlight your improved communication skills. Detailed instructions will be found on the assignment page. In-Class Assignments and Activities (~80 points) Our class will have a series of activities that may be worth credit. You will receive specific instructions about the activity the day of and will receive points for completion. There are no make-up in-class assignments or activities, so please plan to attend every class! Participation and Attendance (100 points) More about participation and attendance points in the next section. Grade allocation: A: 100%-94% A-: 93.9-90% B+: 89.9-87% B: 86.9-84% B-: 83.9-80% C+: 79.9-77% C: 76.9%-74% C-: 73.9-70% D+: 69.9%-67% D: 66.9-60% F: 59.9%-0% Professionalism and Attendance The importance of professionalism, kindness, and courtesy cannot be understated. Asking questions, sharing opinions, and critical inquiry can all exist in an amiable, ethical context. I am here to help create this context for the class. Your success is crucial to me, and I am here to support you! Your attendance in class is expected and incredibly important. In fact, it's so important that I allocate 100 points to the category of professionalism and attendance, and I even start everyone off with a full 100/100 points. I will deduct 10 points per missed class session and reserve the right to deduct more in cases of lateness or other distracting behaviors. We will establish our course norms in class together. We will hold each other to this code as we work together in class. I expect you to be kind and courteous in all interactions with your peers and me. In the event of unprofessional behavior, including interactions with myself or peers that are unkind or abrasive, expect a significant point deduction from your professionalism and attendance points. If the behavior persists, further disciplinary action will be taken. ChatGPT and AI Chatbots ChatGPT (and other chatbots) can assist you with your queries and provide helpful information to understand the ideas and concepts we cover in class. In fact, I encourage you to use it to help you explore and learn. You can use ChatGPT as a resource to help you better understand concepts, guide you in the right direction for your assignments, and even analyze your writing. However, using ChatGPT to complete your assignments fully is not ethical. Your assignments in this class are intended to help you learn and grow as a communicator, often by reflecting on experiences in your own life. By relying solely on ChatGPT to complete your assignments, you are not developing the critical thinking, analysis, and communication skills crucial for academic, career, and general life success. In this class, I want to hear and read your voice. I will watch carefully for what appears to be chatbot-written work. If I suspect any or entire submissions have been written using ChatGPT, I will ask you plainly if it is and may require you to re-submit the assignment. Chatbots will change how we learn and seek information. It may even alter the way we approach human communication in the future. But please, when completing your coursework, share your thoughts and write using your voice. That is how we learn and grow. Schedule of Events The following schedule is an overview of our class and is subject to change at the instructor's discretion. Use this schedule to get an idea about how our class is structured. Rest assured that all assignments will be covered in depth before the deadline. Week 1: 6/26 to 7/2 Topics covered: Introductions, community building, course policies/procedures, introduction to communication, goal setting Assignment: Communication Goals due by 7/2 at midnight Week 2: 7/2 to 7/9 Topics covered: Verbal and nonverbal communication Assignment: Reflection 1 due by 7/9 at midnight Week 3: 7/9 to 7/16 Topics covered: Communication processes, including conflict, emotions, relationships, listening Assignment: Reflection 2 due by 7/16 at midnight Week 4: 7/16 to 7/23 Topics covered: Culture, identity, and intercultural communication competency Assignment: Reflection 3 due by 7/23 at midnight Week 5: 7/23 to 7/30 Topics covered: Small group communication, group formation, and norms Assignment: Reflection 4 due by 7/30 at midnight Week 6: 7/30 to 8/6 Topics covered: Public speaking, audience analysis, speech delivery, speech and goals analysis assignment discussion Assignment: In-class impromptu speech Week 7: 8/6 to 8/13 Topics covered: Organizational communication, organizational culture, and channels/networks Assignment: Reflection 5 due by 8/6 at midnight Week 8: 8/13 to 8/18 Topics covered: Revisiting organizational communication and all course content Assignment: Communication Goal Speech due before speech date and Communication Goals Analysis due by 8/18 at midnight