CMM 606 Studies in Communication Theory
Spring 2009
Instructor: Dr. Edward Woods
Office: 250 Smith Hall
Office Phone: 696-3104
Department Phone: 696-6786
E-mail: Woods@Marshall Fax: 696-2814
Office Hours: M 11-2; T 3-5, W 1-2 & by appointment
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This course will focus on the major approaches to theory development in the
discipline of communication, and some of the major theories in communication,
with an attempt to connect these theories to your experience.
Objectives:
1. Analyze the process of theory development.
2. Apply communication theories to everyday life
3. Analyze theories using theory assessment criteria
4. Describe the major theory perspectives
5. Analyze theories’ epistemological, ontological, and axiological beliefs
6. Demonstrate knowledge of major communication theories
7. Master one important communication theory.
Readings
Stephen W. Littlejohn and Karen A. Foss (2008). Theories of Human Communication
(9th Edition). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
Attendance/Discussion
Attendance for every session is important and expected. So that every person is encouraged to contribute to class discussions, 5% of the course points will be devoted to a participation grade.
More than two unexcused absences will result in your grade being lowered, as will
missing four of the class sessions for any reason. Missing 1/3 of the sessions
for any reason will result in a failing grade or dropping the course in a timely fashion.
Academic Dishonesty--The University implemented a policy a few years ago that is quite severe. The instructor must report all instances of academic dishonesty to the Academic Affairs Office. The second offense results in suspension, the third instance results in expulsion. What is academic dishonesty? Plagiarism, cheating, and fabrication. Plagiarism is passing off someone else's work as your own. Fabrication is any kind of forgery or lying to advance your standing in the class. Cheating is dishonest work on a test. My policy toward academic dishonesty is simple--if you commit it, you fail the course. So don't do it! You don't have to, and you deny yourself the learning experiences by which you grow.
Writing Assignments
This course has a goal of providing you with a strong push forward in terms of
your ability to produce a top-notch paper fulfilling the norms of the
discipline. To achieve this goal, much of the latter part of the semester will
be devoted to your term paper effort. The assignments will reflect this focus:
Two short reaction papers of 4-5 text pages in length (Times New Roman, 12 pt. font). These papers will summarize and analyze a topic from a section of a text chapter. No bibliography is
necessary unless sources outside the text are used. Due Feb. 18, April 8
Term paper –15 pages of text using a Times New Roman 12 pt. font, plus a bibliography, exploring in depth one of the major theories in communication (a literature review/future directions/critique kind of effort would fit the standard expectation). For this paper you will be
expected to go beyond the required readings for sources to primary sources; NO COMMUNICATION THEORY TEXT OR ANY OTHER COMMUNICATION STUDIES TEXTBOOK CAN BE USED AS A SOURCE--15-20 sources also is standard fare. Due April 29, our last class meeting.
Note well--You should have access to the Publication Manual of the American
Psychological Association in order to meet the conventions of the discipline in
terms of citing sources, producing a bibliography, etc.
Two examinations—February 25, May 6
Short Paper 1 15%
Short Paper 2 15%
Midterm Exam 15%
Final Exam or Learning Module 15%
Term Paper 35%
Participation 5% (Self-report at the end of the semester, of the number of class sessions you offered a comment, provided an insight, asked a question about course material).
Reaction Paper Grading Criteria:
Choose a section of a chapter that is appealing to you, not the whole chapter. The reaction paper should have two sections, roughly equal in size: 1) Summary and 2) Analysis. In the summary section, highlight in your own words some of the reading’s key points. In the analysis section, evaluate what you have summarized. What insights, connections to other theories/readings can you make? What conclusions, applications, can be drawn from the reading? You also may incorporate your own experience with the topic area after conceptual reflections/connections/criticism as part of your response to the content of the readings.
Criteria for evaluating Reaction Papers:
Coverage of main points of the chapter selection
Coherence in stitching the points together
Satisfactory supporting details
Transitions between points and main sections
Credible, convincing, insightful observations
Error‑free writing
Fluent writing style
Term Paper Literature Review Grading Criteria
Late papers cannot be accepted, but early papers will be, gratefully. Plagiarism and improper citation style should be avoided, so do your own writing and cite your sources adequately. The APA Style Manual should be followed in citing sources.
Choice of an important communication theory
Convincing justification of the importance of the theory
Identification of key elements in the literature on the topic
Identification of key variables that have been studied
Clear reporting of the findings of research
Clear explication of the competing perspectives (if any) on the theory
Convincingly developed critique/future directions
Fluent writing style
Error free
Accurate use of APA format
Some of the major publications you might find helpful in doing outside reading
for your term paper include:
Human Communication Research
Communication Monographs
Communication Research
Communication Quarterly
Communication Studies
Southern Communication Journal
Western Journal of Communication
Communication Yearbook
Quarterly Journal of Speech
Language and Communication
Communication Education
Journal of Social and Personal Psychology
Communication Theory
Learning Module
An alternative to your taking the final exam, this assignment will provide some variety to your in-class experience. Choose this option only if you are confident that you can convey information from the text with fidelity. Here is how it would work if you choose this option. In groups of 2-4, your team will choose a section from our scheduled reading and will convey the content, and at least one activity or exercise. In other courses, this assignment is more activity oriented, but in theory there is more focus on understanding what students in the past have identified as difficult material. You can use outside sources if you wish. For an activity, you can use exercises, video/film clips, role plays, with a debriefing explaining how the activity relates to the concepts you covered. The training module should take up to a 50-minute segment of class (but no more). You don’t have to be concerned to cover all the assigned material for the class period. That’s my concern. The delivery expectation is extemporaneous.
Content expectations for the module
Accurate presentation of content
Clear explanations
Convincing insights, critique of content
Content used as context with exercises, activities
Adequate setup of exercises, activities
Meaningful debriefing after exercises, activities
Extemporaneous delivery expectations
Frequent, well-distributed eye contact
Minimal reliance on notes (does not mean no reliance; some is expected)
Purposeful movement
Conversational voice
Conversational speaking rate
Avoiding looking back at the screen
Avoidance of non-purposeful movement, disfluencies
Course Outline
Session 1—January 14
Overview of course
Session 2—January 21--Communication Theory and the Process of Inquiry
Chapters 1 & 2
Sessions 3&4—January 28 & February 4--Sociopsychological Theories
Text, 41-43, 66-75, 119-132, 149-159
Session 5—Feb. 11 Semiotics
Text, 35-37, 105-112, 317-321.
Session 6—Feb. 18— Cybernetics
Text, 39-41, 75-82, 175-180, 321-323
First short paper due February 18
Session 7—February 25—First Test.
Session 8&9—March 4 and March 11— Sociocultural Theories
Text, 43-45, 82-91, 112-119, 159-175
Session 10—March 18—Phenomenology
Text, 37-39, 132-137, 323-324
March 25—No Class, Spring Break
Session 11—April 1—Critical Theory
Text, 45-49, 333-337, 182-184
Session 12—April 8—Ch. 7 The Relationship
Second reaction paper due April 8
Session 13—April 15—In class work on term papers
Session 14—April 22 Culture and Society
Text, Ch. 11
Session 15—April 29—Extending Theory and Course Wrap-up
Term Paper due
Final Exam—May 6
We are asked to provide the following information about drop dates:
W period begins Tues., January 20
W period ends Fri., March 20
March 23-May 1—Complete withdrawals only
Policy for Students with Disabilities: Marshall University is committed to equal opportunity in education for all students, including those with physical, learning and psychological disabilities. University policy states that it is the responsibility of students with disabilities to contact the Office of Disabled Student Services (DSS) in Prichard Hall 117, phone 304 696-2271 to provide documentation of their disability. Following this, the DSS Coordinator will send a letter to each of the student’s instructors outlining the academic accommodation he/she will need to ensure equality in classroom experiences, outside assignment, testing and grading. The instructor and student will meet to discuss how the accommodation(s) requested will be provided. For more information, please visit http://www.marshall.edu/disabled or contact Disabled Student Services Office at Prichard Hall 11, phone 304-696-2271.