Syllabus: CMM 319-103

CMM 319-103: Superior - Subordinate Communication
Department of Communication Studies | College of Liberal Arts
Fall 2009


Dr. Edward Woods
Department of Communication Studies
250 Smith Hall
Marshall University
Huntington, WV 25755

Please note: You must have access to a camcorder using VHS or DVD formats for recording presentations in order to take this course. No other format, such as Hi 8mm, is acceptable. The instructor cannot view presentations recorded on any other format besides VHS or DVD. Any speech turned in not using a VHS or DVD format will be penalized two letter grades, and the speech will have to be transferred or re-recorded onto an acceptable format.

This course begins on August 24 and ends on December 8, 2009.

Please note that all times are Eastern.

Oct. 30: last day to drop individual course
Dec. 8: last day to completely withdraw

Office

Office Hours:
You can email me with the VISTA Mail Tool. Should you ever find yourself on campus during the semester, you can also look me up in person. My office is in Smith Hall 250 and my phone is 304.696.3104

About me:
Ph. D. in Communication Studies awarded May, 1993. Professor in Department of Communication Studies at Marshall University. 16 research reports presented either at conventions or published. Eleven years experience teaching this particular course.

Course Materials and Cost

Woods, E. (2005). Employee development at the workplace: Achieving empowerment in a continuous learning environment (Second Edition). Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company.

The book can be ordered online at the Marshall University Bookstore.

These articles are available for download in the course.

  • Kizilos, P. (December 1990). Crazy about empowerment? Training, 27, 47-51, 55-56.
  • Rothstein, L. R. (1995). The empowerment effort that came undone. Harvard Business Review, 73(1), 20-22, 26.
  • Pacanowsky, M. (1988). Communication in the empowering Organization. In J.A. Anderson (Ed.), Communication yearbook 11, (pp. 356-379). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

Estimated Cost of text: $45.00-$50.00. Cost of materials (video tapes or blank dvd, postage, etc) : $30.00.

Technical Requirements

Course Details

Description from University Catalogue:
Survey of principles underlying communication between superiors and subordinates in organizations.
Emphasis placed upon communication strategies regarding role definition, performance feedback, development and maintenance of relationships, conflict management, leadership, decision making.

Prerequisites:
CMM 103, 104H, 207, 305 or YGS 161

Objectives:
This course focuses on communication competencies of professionals from entering the workplace in that first post-college career position through stages of development culminating in self-actualization. Specific objectives include:
Understand and experience personal empowerment as a process;
Demonstrate knowledge and ability supporting your development of personal empowerment in each of its phases: (a) functional maturity, (b) interactive maturity, and c) consultative maturity.
Improve in communication competencies related to the development and demonstration of personal empowerment.

Course Organization:
All course assignments/exams/materials are available by clicking on the Weekly icons on the course homepage. Each week contains a variety of items such as modules which offer interpretation, insight, and commentary on the readings much as an instructor would provide in class, tips and cautions, articles to read, writing assignments, exams, etc.

Schedule: See Schedule icon on course homepage.

Assignments

The Assignments are available by clicking on the appropriate link for the week in which they are due or by clicking the Assignments Tool on the course homepage.

  • Exercise activities on text chapters and accompanying the article readings for three points each. These assignments explore various facets of the superior-subordinate relationship and the attainment of functional, interactive, and consultative maturity at the workplace.
  • Two major papers, described by clicking on the appropriate link within the weekly assignments list. These papers focus on major themes of the course.
  • Two Oral Presentations--for a description and instructions on the oral presentation assignments, click on the appropriate assignment link in the weekly list. The oral presentations will need to be recorded in VHS or DVD formats and mailed to me via US mail or dropped off at my office mailbox at Smith Hall Room 250.

Chat Tool

If you look at who's online and see that I am online, feel free to invite me to chat about any matter of importance to you.

Discussion Tool

  

The Discussion Tool will be used for threaded discussions that are not in real time. The Discussion board is public. A message posted to it can be read by everyone in the class. I will check for Discussion postings at least three times each week and I will post messages myself.

Exams

A proctor will not be required for exams, nor will any other special arrangements be required. The two examinations will cover materials from both the text and class discussions and lectures, and the supplemental readings. The two tests will not be comprehensive. Exams are accessible by clicking on the exam link for the appropriate week and also by clicking on the Assessments Tool. Note well: The exams are NOT open book. The text and articles should not be consulted during the exams. Academic dishonesty will be reported to the Provost’s Office as required by Marshall University, and will result in a failing grade for the course.

Course Grading
  1. The writing assignments will vary in theme, but these elements will come into play in assessing each assignment: focus, development and support, organization, mechanics, and professional appearance.
  2. The oral reports will summarize content of articles you have read or World-Wide Web sites you have visited, and assess the value of the articles or sites to students who anticipate entering the professional workforce in the near future. The underlying criteria for assessment include an attention-getting introduction, clear purpose, depth in development and variety in support, clear organization, impactful conclusion, and extemporaneous delivery with quality eye contact and a conversational presence.

First Major Paper

75 points

Second Major Paper

100 points

Oral Presentation #1

75 points

Oral Presentation #2

100 points

Exam 1

40 points

Exam 2

40 points
   

Exercises

30 points

A=90%
B=80%
C=70%
D=60%
F=less than 60%

 


On-Campus Requirement

There is absolutely no requirement that you come to campus. You can communicate with me via the course Mail tool or the Whos Online tool.

Course Policies

Penalty for late assignments:
No makeup of work submitted past the deadlines will be allowed except for an excused reason (documented illness, participation in a university approved activity, etc.).

Resources

Me: Don’t hesitate to contact me directly with questions or concerns. You can reach me through the VISTA Mail Tool or if necessary by phone. Please don't let your questions hang out there and simmer. If you are not sure about something the best thing to do is to ask about it right away! Something that may seem obvious to me may not be obvious to you at all!

The Online Writing Center: As an MU student, you are also entitled to individualized, one-on-one assistance from a tutor at The Writing Center in the English Department, which also provides tutoring online. They can help you with any step in the writing process, from invention to revision. The service is free. If you have access to campus and would like to use the on-campus service, you can do so by calling 696-6254.

For complete information on how to use the Online Writing Center, please see:
 http://www.marshall.edu/muonline/writingcenter

Support Services
Marshall University offers a variety of support services to students enrolled in online courses:

CMM 319E
Department of Communication Studies