Monday, 12 September 2011

Course Outline!!

  ANDREWS UNIVERSITY AFFILIATED AND EXTENSION PROGRAMS
                       UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTHERN CARIBBEAN

1st SEMESTER 2011/2012 SCHOOL YEAR
COURSE # & TITLE:   COMM 104: COMMUNICATION SKILLS
INSTRUCTOR:            Roanna Mangah                              CREDITS: 3
OFFICE PHONE #:     662-2241 x 2515
EMAIL:                         rmangah@usc.edu.tt                                                                                        
COURSE DESCRIPTION
                                  COMM104: Communication Skills is the study of the human communication process: with oneself, with another person, within a small group, with other cultures, and within public speaking.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:
<                                  To produce students who are competent in using the skills of speaking, writing and reading to convey messages adequately
<                                  To produce students who are able to construct and deliver public speeches
<                                  To produce students who are prepared to function confidently in small-group discussion and problem-solving situations.
           
EXPECTED OUTCOME:
                                 All students will be expected, having met the objectives and having successfully completed all course requirements, as described on this outline, will obtain a passing grade.  Students are responsible for their own learning.  My role is simply to facilitate your learning experience through the use of lectures, in-class discussions, handouts, group and individual presentations.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
T                                 Do all quizzes
T                                 Keep a communication journal
T                                 Attend class regularly
T                       Prepare and submit all assignments
T                                 Participate in all group projects/presentations
T                                 Prepare a 5 minute speech [topic must be approved by lecturer]
T                                 Prepare a two page essay on chosen topic [topic given by lecturer]
T                                 Prepare and participate in a group project [topic given by lecturer]

TEXT
Verderber, Rudolph and Kathleen Verderber.  Communicate!.  12th ed.  USA: Thomson Wadsworth,
            2008
RECOMMENDED READING
Denny, Richard.  Communication to Win.  London: Kogan Page Limited, 2001.
Barker, Larry L. and Deborah A Gaut.  Communication.  7th ed.  Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1996.
DeVito, Joseph A.  Human Communication: The Basic Course.  8th ed.  New York: Addison Wesly, 2000
Forsyth, Donelson R.  Group Dynamics.  3rd ed.  Belmont: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1998.

LATE ASSIGNMENTS
          All assignments are expected at class time on the day they are due.  Prompt and neat work done by students is a reflection of their seriousness as students and writers.  However, each late assignment brought in a school day after it is due, a letter grade will be deducted.  Assignments handed in 48 hours after it is due will not be accepted.  All assignments must be delivered in person.

PLAGIARISM
!         This is unacceptable by the standards of University of the Southern Caribbean and is illegal by law.  Students who violate this instruction WILL automatically fail this course.
           
ATTENDANCE
i         Class attendance is obligatory, it is required for a passing grade.  Please note that Attendance Regulation will be in effect.  If a student is absent for a total of nine (9) class sessions the grade F may be recorded.  Please keep in mind that three (3) tardies equals to one (1) absence.  Any inconsistency in attendance may result in the lowering of a student’s final course grade.  Students are responsible for finding out and completing all class requirements, assignments given during their absence (See USC Bulletin p. 36 for attendance policy).  This also means that you are to be on time for class.  Students entering class fifteen (15) minutes after class has begun will be considered late.

DRESS CODE
)          Students are required to comply with the University’s “Dress Code” as outlined in the Students Handbook and signed contracts at registration.     

GRADE COMPUTATION
Quizzes                                             10%
Essay                                                             10%
Attendance                                         5%
Journal                                                           10%
Group Participation             10%
Informative Speech Pres.      20%
Group Presentation              35%
                                              100%
GRADING SCALE
A       (94-100)         B+        (87-89)            C+            (77-79)            D         (60-64)
A-      (90-93)            B         (83-86)            C         (70-76)                  F          (0-59)
                                 B-         (80-82)            C-        (65-69)

COURSE SCHEDULE
MODULE 1:
T         Foundation of Communication
T         Perception of Self and Others
T         Communicating Verbally
T         Communication Nonverbally

MODULE 2:
T         Developing a topic for Public speaking
T         Organizing a Speech
T         Adapting Verbally and Visually     
T         Overcoming Speech Apprehension

MODULE 3:
T         Communicating across Cultures
T         Communicating in Relationships
T         Listening and Responding
T         Developing Intimacy in Relationships
T         Interviewing

MODULE 4:
T         Participating in Group Communication
T         Member roles in Groups
T         Leadership roles in Groups

THINGS TO TAKE NOTE OF:
          You are required to source course information from supplementary reading texts available in the university library.  You are also advised to read additional course material prior to class sessions in order to contribute to class discussions.
          Handouts will be given periodically
          You are advised to be punctual for all class sessions.  If you arrive late and class is in session, please do not enter class while someone is speaking.
         Students arriving fifteen (15) minutes after classes have begun will be considered late.

                                                  ASSIGNMENTS AND THEIR SPECIFICS

<          INFORMATIVE SPEECH:   You will be required to give an informative speech approximately   5 minutes in length on a topic chosen.  This speech will be presented in front of the class.  Students are advised that they are not allowed to read their presentation; however, note cards are acceptable. 

<          ESSAY: A two-paged essay is to be done on a topic chosen by the student. Essay must be typed, double spaced, proceeded by the Standard USC cover page, and include a Reference page.  Students are advised to indent on the first lines of each paragraph.  Each page should be numbered on the top right hand corner of the page.  Due September 30, 2011

<          GROUP PRESENTATIONS: The class will be divided up into selected groups.  Each group will be required to prepare a presentation between 35-40 minutes in length, on a topic chosen.  Students are encouraged to be creative in their presentations.  Students much prepare a 2-3 page handout on the main points covered in their presentation.  This is due the class session prior to presentation.

<           You will use www.wordpress.com for your online journal.  You will need to submit your weblog link via email to your course instructor.  No later than September 15, 2011

                                                                                                            Revised: August 2011

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