SPCM 4320: Communication Theory
Fall 2003 Online Course Syllabus
Instructor: Dr. Michael E. Eidenmuller
Meeting Times: TR 9:30-10:45
Meeting Room: HPR 247
Office Phone #: 903.566.7093
Office Hours: MWF 11:00-12:00; TR 11:00-12:00; and by appt.
E-mail: eiden@mail.uttyl.edu (campus); eiden@cox-internet.com (home)
Course URL: http://www.uttyler.edu/meidenmuller/commtheory/
Text: Griffin, E. (2000). A first look at communication theory (4th ed.). Boston: McGraw Hill.
Course Purpose: To encourage intellectual growth. To cultivate the value of knowledge, its possibilities and limitations with respect to human communication.
Teaching Format: Lecture + Seminar + Socratic Exchange.
Major Requirements: 1 term paper; 1 written and oral summary of a communication journal article or book chapter; two tests and several quizzes.
The term paper will be written in stages. The final draft should represent a significant advance, in substance and style, over earlier drafts. The final draft of the term paper should indicate the best evidence of your theoretical knowledge, analytical skill, and writing ability developed over the semester.
The written summary will accompany an oral presentation designed to educate the class on a scholarly theory/concept and its application. Articles can be found in the "A Second Look" section at the end of each chapter. Articles can also be found in this document's "Course Calendar" section.
There
will be a midterm and a final exam. Test item format will be varied (multiple choice,
matching, fill-in-blank, and short essay). Test questions will come from class lectures
and the course text. About one week prior to each test, I will make available a detailed
study guide. Finally, several quizzes will help measure your knowledge of important
terms/concepts covered to date.
Course Assignments and Point Values
| Assignment | Possible Score | Student Score |
Quiz #1: Syllabus/Internet |
20 | ___ |
| Quiz #2 | 30 | ___ |
| Quiz #3 | 30 | ___ |
| Term Paper: Phase One | 30 | ___ |
| Midterm Exam | 100 | ___ |
| Term Paper: Phase Two | 50 | ___ |
| Term Paper: Phase Three | 75 | ___ |
| Term Paper: Phase Four | 50 | ___ |
| Written/Oral Summary of Article | 75 | ___ |
| Term Paper: Final Draft | 100 | ___ |
| Final Exam | 100 | ___ |
| Attendance | 40 | ___ |
| Total | 700 | ___ |
Additional Responsibilities
Attendance: You can earn (and lose) points based upon your class attendance. Perfect attendance earns you 40 points. For each and every absence thereafter 5 points will be deducted. 5 or more absences RESULT IN AN "F" FOR YOUR FINAL GRADE. Arriving to class late or leaving class early is inconsistent with an efficient and productive class session. Students who consistently fail to arrive by the time designated and/or who leave class before the end of the period (i.e., more than twice) will receive an absence. Also, please notify me within the first two class sessions of any days you will miss due to a religious observance. Finally, an ATTENDANCE SHEET that will be distributed at the beginning of class will record your attendance. Be sure to sign this sheet! At the end of the semester all questions concerning attendance will be answered by recourse to this sheet.
Class Participation: Students should consider themselves active participants in the course, taking responsibility to publicly examine, explore, critique, and challenge ideas, concepts, and theories. In order to facilitate participation, reading assignments should be completed prior to the class session scheduled for discussion. Students are responsible for completing assigned text materials and raising questions to clarify potential or actual misunderstandings. You are to take full responsibility for your academic growth.
Assignments and Exams: Papers and other assignments should reflect high standards of neatness, grammar, and punctuation. All assignments are due at the beginning of class on the designated day. All materials handed into the instructor must be typed unless otherwise stated. 10-50% of your grade will be lost if you do not deliver one of your assignments on the scheduled day. No assignment will be accepted after one week of its due date. Exams MUST be taken on the designated day to receive any credit, exceptions being limited to life-threatening emergencies and subject to instructor validation. Remember, all assignments and exams must be completed to receive credit for this course.
Original Work: All assignments handed in must be original to the student. I will deal with any suspected acts of plagiarism swiftly and decisively. You may not sell/give or otherwise distribute notes, completed assignments, tapes, or materials germane to this course to other individuals unless expressly authorized by the instructor.
Instructor's Note: Please do not hesitate to see me during my office hours to discuss matters related to the course. You should particularly plan to see me if you anticipate any concerns related to your attendance and course responsibilities. I will make every effort to address your concerns and assist you to succeed in what will be a challenging and a rewarding educational experience.
Disabilities: If you have a disability for which you request accommodation, please contact Ida MacDonald, Coordinator of Counseling and Testing, and Disability Support Services at the Student Counseling Center, 566-7079. Emergency Evacuation Chairs for the safe evacuation of individuals with mobility impairments are located on this floor near HPR 201.
Course Activity Calendar
| Week | Activity |
| 1 | Lecture Items: Course Overview and Syllabus; Philosophical Ground Rules, Key Communication Concepts; Reading Assignment: Chapter 1: Talk about Theory Key Concepts: Language Games, Scientific Epistemology vs. Interpretive Epistemology, Modes of Reasoning, A "Logic" of Communication Inquiry, Communication Subdisciplines, Research Methods; Quiz #1: (Syllabus and the Semantic Triangle) |
| 2 | Lecture Items: Grand Overview of the Discipline of Communication: Disciplines and Theories at a Glimpse; Reading Assignment: Chapter 2 (pp. 20-22); Chapter 3 (pp. 38-41); Assignment of Article Oral Reports |
| 3 | Interpersonal Communication -- Lecture Items: Interpersonal Communication, Fantasy Theme Analysis, Expectancy Violations Theory; Reading Assignment: Chapter 4: Symbolic Interactionism (All); Chapter 6 Expectancy Violations Theory (All); Key Terms/Concepts: Social Reality, Taking the Role of the Other, the Looking Glass Self; Other's Expectations, Proxemic Zones, Expectancy, Arousal, Violation Valence, Communicator Reward Valence; Quiz #2: Key Terms/Concepts from Week One |
| 4 | Lecture Items: Uncertainty Reduction Theory; Social Penetration Theory; Reading Assignment: Chapter 9: Social Penetration Theory (All); Chapter 10: Uncertainty Reduction Theory (All); Key Terms/Concepts: Purpose of Social Penetration Theory, Onion Theory of Personality, Self-Disclosure, Depth and Breadth of Penetration, Relational Satisfaction (Comparison Level) and Relational Stability (Comparison Level of Alternatives), Criticisms 1 & 2; Purpose of Uncertainty Reduction Theory, Axioms 1-8, Strategies to Reduce Uncertainty; |
| 5 | Lecture Items: The Interactional View; Social Judgment Theory; Reading Assignment: Chapter 11: The Interactional View (pp.151-158); Chapter 13: Social Judgment Theory (All); Key Terms/Concepts: The "Family," Family Homeostasis, On Not Communicating, Symmetrical and Complimentary Communication, Matrix of Transactional Types; Latitudes, Ego-Involvement, Anchoring, Contrast and Assimilation Effects, Discrepancy and Attitude Change; Quiz #3: Key Terms/Concepts from Week Three |
| 6 | Public
Communication - Lecture Items:
Classical and Contemporary Views on and Approaches to Rhetoric, Rhetorical Theory and
Rhetorical Criticism; Reading Assignment: Chapters 20:
The Art of Rhetoric; Chapter 21: Dramatism; Chapter 22: the Narrative Paradigm (All); Key
Terms/Concepts: Definition and Function of Rhetoric; Classical Cannons, Modes of
Persuasion; Dramatism, Pentad, Identification, God and Devil Terms, Guilt-Redemption
Cycle; Article Report: “The Power of Saddam
Hussein’s War Rhetoric” (Brown) |
| 7 | Lecture Items: NeoAristotelian Criticism, Pentadic Criticism; Reading Assignment: Handouts on NeoAristotelian Criticism; Key Terms/Concepts: NeoAristotelianism; Term Paper Phase One; Article Report: “The Shedding of Innocent Blood” (Milner) |
| 8 | Lecture Item: Logical Analysis; Midterm Exam |
| 9 | Mass Communication - - Lecture Items: Mass Communication, Marshall McLuhan and Technological Determinism; Reading Assignment: Chapter 23: Technological Determinism (All); Special: Videotape Series on Marshall McLuhan; Key Terms/Concepts: Technological Determinism, Probes, Media Ages, "Medium is the Message," Hot and Cool Mediums; Term Paper: Phase One DUE! Assignment: Term Paper Phase Two |
| 10 | Lecture Items: Cultivation Theory; Agenda-Setting Theory; Reading Assignment Chapter 26: Cultivation Theory (All); Chapter 27: Agenda-Setting Theory (All); Key Terms/Concepts: "Heavy Viewer," Mainstreaming; Uses and Gratifications Model |
| 11 | Lecture Items:
Uses and Gratifications; Reading Assignment: Handouts on Uses and
Gratifications; Key Terms/Concepts: Model of Uses and Gratifications;
Uses and Functions of the Mass Media; Phase Two DUE! Assignment: Term Paper Phase
Three; Article Report: "Intercultural/Inter-racial Uses
and Gratifications of Popular Music: An Exploratory Study of Rap Versus Nonrap Music"
(Eidenmuller & Heald); Term Paper: Phase Two DUE! Term Paper: Phase Two DUE! |
| 12 | Cultural Context; Lecture Items: Intercultural Communication, Anxiety/Uncertainty Management Theory, Face-Negotiation Theory; Reading Assignment: Chapter 29: Anxiety/Uncertainty Management Theory (All); Chapter 30: Face-Negotiation Theory (All); Key Terms/Concepts: Effective Communication, Anxiety and Uncertainty; Criticisms; Purpose of Face-Negotiation Theory, Face, Facework, Collectivism vs. Individualism Face-Restoration, Face-Giving; |
| 13 | Lecture Items: Speech Codes Theory; Reading Assignment: Chapter 31: Speech Codes (All); Key Terms/Concepts: TBA; Article Report: "Speaking 'Like a Man' in Teamsterville: Culture Patterns of Role Enactment in an Urban Neighborhood |
| 14 | Lecture Items: Gender and Communication; Genderlect Styles; Standpoint Theory; Reading Assignment: Chapter 32 (All): Genderlect Styles; Chapter 33: Standpoint Theory (All); Movie Clips: When Harry Met Sally; Key Terms/Concepts: Clash of Communication Cultures, Connection vs. Status, Report vs. Rapport Talk, Criticism; Perspectivism, Marginalized Groups, Invitational Rhetoric; (Article Report); Term Paper Phase Three DUE!; Assignment: Term Paper Phase Four |
| 15 | Lecture Items: Muted Group Theory; Reading Assignment: Chapter 34: Muted Group Theory; Key Terms/Concepts: TBA; |
| 16 | Lecture: The Future of Communication Theory; Reading Assignment: Chapter 35: Order out of Chaos; Term Paper Phase Four DUE! |
Term Paper: Final Draft TBA
FINAL EXAM: TBA
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT TYLER
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© Copyright 2000-2006. Updated 1
January.
Dr. Michael E. Eidenmuller.
The University of Texas at Tyler.
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