COMMUNICATION STUDIES 345
LISTENING AND FEEDBACK
Fall 2008
MW: 2-3:15 PM
INSTRUCTOR: Cam Brammer, Ph. D.
Office: SH 248
Phone: Office: 696-2810
Home: 522-2194
E-Mail: brammer@marshall.edu
Office Hours: Posted
Text: Brownell, J (2006). Listening: Attitudes, Principles , and Skills. Third Edition. Allyn and Bacon, Boston, MA
Course Description; Credits; Prerequisites:
A study of listening/feedback behavior as an integral part of the communication process, development of listening/feedback skills, and an awareness of barriers to effective listening and feedback.
Desired Learner Outcomes/Objectives: When finished with this course you should be able to:
1. Articulate the process of listening in oral communication;
2. Articulate the role of listening in oral communication;
3. Critically evaluate research and materials developed in listening;
4. Listen more effectively in terms of the components of listening, the various contexts of listening and the various purposes of listening;
5. Apply the principles of effective feedback behaviors.
6. See an improvement in your writing skills.
Evaluation/Measurement of Learner Outcomes:
1. Participation in class listening exercises;
2. Two examinations: Midterm and Final;
3. Analysis of an outside class listening assignment (with revision);
4. Prepare 6 listening journal prompt assignments;
5. Written and Oral analysis of one research article on listening.
Assessment Evaluation Methods: (refer to the preceding section)
1. The in-class listening exercises are designed to heighten your awareness of the listening process by engaging in various types of controlled listening exercises. These exercises are designed to test your ability to identify the components of the listening process, the contexts in which listening occurs and the purposes for which we listen.
2. The examinations are designed to assess your knowledge, analysis and synthesis of the content of the text and class lectures. These examinations will be comprised of a variety of test materials including, but not limited to, multiple response, limited response, short answer, and essay questions. Some of the text material found on the examinations may or may not be discussed in class. The text content is essential in satisfactorily completing this course; therefore, you should make sure that you prepare for your classes.
3. The outside class listening assignment is designed to test your ability to listen comprehensively and/or critically to a speaker not in a classroom setting. This activity is significantly more involved than a journal entry. You should choose your listening event carefully, take good notes (or whatever method you use), prepare your essay demonstrating skill in critical thinking/problem solving skills. Be sure to check with me as to the acceptability of the event you wish to attend. Your essay should be five to seven pages in length and be organized into the following areas: I. Background on the event; II. A brief description of the event; III. Listening behaviors required by the audience; IV. Analysis of your listening behavior; V. Overall Evaluation of the activity
4. The listening journal prompt assignments are in part reflective of Brownell’s HURIER model of listening being covered in class and your reaction to a particular encounter in which listening plays a significant role in an outside-class setting. I will be looking for the following: 1. Are the journal entries thorough, at least one but not more than two pages in length? 2. Do you have a variety of listening experiences (e.g., not just descriptions of listening at work, at school, or at home, but in different settings and with different types of listening)? 3. Do you attempt to get different, challenging listening experiences (e.g., attend an opera, a technical lecture in another field, a city council meeting, etc)? 4. Do you reflect well on how you are or are not listening effectively with the different purposes? 5. Do you show growth as a listener throughout the journal?
Your journals are due as indicated in the daily schedule of this syllabus. You should be able to consult your text to find out what the prompt means and then construct your journal entry based on that concept.
CONCEPTS:
1. Hearing 4. Interpreting
2. Understanding 5. Evaluating
3. Remembering 6. Responding
Journal Format
Listening Journal
Date:
Concept:
Short analysis of the concept You must show me that you understand what you are writing (no more than ˝ page).
EVENT: (A short description of the event.)
Your Evaluation as a Student of Listening & Feedback: (This section shows me that you can synthesize the concept and the event, 1 to 2 pages)
5. Research in listening is an ongoing process. Scholars can't agree on the definition of listening, but are willing to do research to determine what the process is. You should develop your critical thinking/problem solving skills when examining research done by scholars in the field. I will provide the articles. This will be a two page analysis and evaluation of each article. Do not spend more than one half of a page in a summary of the article. You should spend 1˝ pages analyzing the article. I will be distributing the articles the 7th week of class. These are due at the middle of April.
Grading Policy: Grades will be determined based on points accumulated in class.
1. In-class listening activities up to 10 points each
2. Two Examinations 200 points (100 each)
3. Outside Listening Assignment 120 points
4. Listening Journal Assignments 120 points (20 points each)
5. Written/Oral Research Article Analysis 150 points (100 written; 50 oral)
6. Homework assignment activities up to 15 points each
Grades will be determined using the following grading scale:
The total number of points will vary depending upon the number of in-class listening activities we are able to complete.
93%-100% = "A"
84%-92% = "B"
72%-83% = "C"
62%-71% = "D"
You should not be making anything lower than this.
0%-61% = "F"
Policy statement (due dates, make-ups) on major projects and examinations and other assignments:
Major due dates are listed in the daily schedule. In-class listening activities may not be made up. If you are absent on the day when this activity is done, you will miss up to ten points. University excuses will be allowed with prior notification. Examination I will be given during the 8th week and examination II will be given during the final examination period. If for any reason you must miss one of these tests please make arrangements before the exam. I am not unreasonable, but do not take advantage of me.
Attendance Policy:
You should make every effort to attend all class sessions. Sometimes, we will not be doing the most exciting things, but we'll try. Remember, we will have in-class listening exercises and if you miss one you will not be allowed to make it up. So, limit the number of class absences to a minimum. I will allow two unexcused absences, but after that you must suffer the consequences.
*Course Philosophy and Themes to be developed:
Listening is one of the four communication skills (reading, writing, speaking, listening) which receives the least amount of formal study, but is utilized the most. We hear all the time, and we must process much of that aural data we receive. This class is designed to heighten your awareness levels of the listening process and to realize and recognize the importance of this everyday activity.
DAILY SCHEDULE
Fall 2008
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Week #1 |
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Session 1, Monday, Aug. 25 Introduction; backgrounds |
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Week #2 |
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Labor Day, Monday, September 1 |
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Session 3, Wednesday, September 3 In Class Activity: Discuss Activity 2; Design Communication Model Reading Assignment for this class: Chapters 1 & 2 Homework Due: Application 2; Group Activity #2, p. 28 |
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Week #3 |
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Session 4, Monday, Sept. 8 In Class Activity: Design Listening Model Reading Assignment for this class: Chapters 1 & 2 Homework Due: Activity 4, p. 62 |
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Session 5, Wednesday, Sept. 10 In Class Activity: Listening Strategies Components; Contexts; Purposes Reading Assignment for this class: Chapters 1 & 2 Homework Due: Application 2; Activity #1; p. 63 |
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Week #4 |
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Session 6, Monday, Sept. 15 In Class Activity: Reading Assignment for this class: Chapters 1 & 2 Homework Due: |
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Session 7, Wednesday, Sept. 17 In Class Activity: Perception & Discrimination of sounds Bring one or two objects to share with the class that make noise Reading Assignment for this class: Chapter 3: Hearing Homework Due: |
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Week #5 |
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Session 8, Monday, Sept. 22 In Class Activity: Focusing Attention Reading Assignment for this class: Chapter 3 Homework Due: Journal #1; Application 3; Activity 1 p. 96 |
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Session 9, Wednesday, Sept. 24 In Class Activity: Behavioral disposition towards listening. Reading Assignment for this class: Chapter 3 Homework Due: Application 6; Activities 2 & 3, p. 101 |
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Week #6 |
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Session 10, Monday, Sept. 29 In Class Activity: Vocabulary: Symbols and Meanings/ Language and Thought Reading Assignment for this class: Chapter 4: Understanding Homework Due: Application 1; Activities 2 & 3 p. 130 |
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Session 11, Wednesday, Oct. 1 In Class Activity: Vocabulary II: the need to stretch our minds Reading Assignment for this class: Chapter 4 Homework Due: Journal #2; Application 2; Activities 1 & 2 p. 131 |
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Week #7 |
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Session 12, Monday, Oct. 6 In Class Activity: The essence of a situation: to take notes or not to take notes. Reading Assignment for this class: Chapter 4 Homework Due: Bring in copies of the notes you take in other classes. |
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Session 13, Wednesday, Oct. 8 In Class Activity: Memory Systems Reading Assignment for this class: Chapter 5: Remembering Homework Due: Application 1; group activity 2 p. 165 Application 2; group activity 1 p. 165. |
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Week #8 |
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Session 14, Monday, Oct. 13 Distribute Journal Articles for Analysis In Class Activity: Obstacles to effective memory Reading Assignment for this class: Chapter 5 Homework Due: Journal #3 Application 3; Activities 2 & 3. P. 166. |
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Session 15, Wednesday, Oct. 15 In Class Activity: Improving Memory. Reducing Stress Reading Assignment for this class: Chapter 5 Homework Due:
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Week #9 |
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Session 16, Monday, Oct. 20 In Class Activity: TEST I: Midterm Reading Assignment for this class: Chapters 3,4, & 5 Homework Due: None. Study for the test. |
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Session 17, Wednesday, Oct. 22 In Class Activity: Reading Assignment for this class: Chapter 6: Interpreting Homework Due: Outside class Listening Assignment First Draft |
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Week #10 |
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Session 18, Monday, Oct. 27 In Class Activity: Reading Assignment for this class: Chapter 6 Homework Due: Journal #4 |
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Session 19, Wednesday, Oct. 29 In Class Activity: Peer Review Outside Class Listening Assignment Reading Assignment for this class: Chapter 6 Homework Due: |
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Week # 11 |
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Session 20, Monday, Nov. 3 In Class Activity: Reading Assignment for this class: Chapter 7: Evaluating Homework Due: Outside Listening Exercise Final version
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Session 21, Wednesday, Nov.5 In Class Activity: Reading Assignment for this class: Chapter 7 Homework Due: Journal #5
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Week #12 |
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Session 22, Monday, Nov. 10 In Class Activity: Reading Assignment for this class: Chapter 7 Homework Due:
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Session23 Wednesday, Nov. 12 In Class Activity: Reading Assignment for this class: Chapter 8: Responding Homework Due: |
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Week #13 |
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Session 24 Monday. Nov. 17 In Class Activity: Reading Assignment for this class: Chapter 8 Homework Due: Journal #6 |
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Session 25, Wednesday, Nov. 19 In Class Activity: Reading Assignment for this class: Chapter 8 Homework Due: |
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Week #14 |
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FALL BREAK NOVEMBER 24 & 26 |
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Week #15 |
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Session 26, Monday, Dec. 1 In Class Activity: Reading Assignment for this class: Chapters 6,7,& 8 Homework Due: |
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Session27 Wednesday, Dec. 3 In Class Activity: Journal Articles Reports Reading Assignment for this class: Chapters 9 & 10 Homework Due: Written papers on Journal Articles |
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Week #16 DEAD WEEK |
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Session 28, Monday, Dec. 8 In Class Activity: Class Evaluation & Review Reading Assignment for this class: Chapters 9 & 10 Homework Due: |
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FINAL EXAM: DEC. 15, 12:45 P.M TILL 2:45 P.M. |
*****Adapted from the syllabus developed by Dr. Bob Edmunds, Spring 2002********