SPCH 30 /Gateway to Communication Studies

Professor Danny Cantrell

Office:  26D-1441 (Forensics Room)

Office Hours: MW 10:30am-12:30pm 

Phone:  909-274-6310 / dcantrell3@mtsac.edu / http://tinyurl.com/spch30

COURSE TEXT

 Gass, Robert H. and Seiter, John S. Persuasion: Social Influence and Compliance Gaining. Pearson - (4th or 5th Ed). 2014

REQUIRED MATERIALS

For this course, you will need 3x5 index cards, and access to a computer and printer. There will also be some copy costs. You will receive many additional articles to review in addition to the assigned chapters in the textbook.  Please note those handouts will only be distributed in class.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

 Prominent issues in communication theory, introduction to the professional field of communication, and practice of multiple research methods. Particularly useful for students preparing for upper division study in communication or related disciplines.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

1. Use library and research skills for communicative studies.
2. Compare and contrast different options for communication studies emphases.
3. Write an APA annotated bibliography.
4. Write a thematic literature review.
5. Describe multiple theories and practices in communication studies.
6. Design and outline original communication research studies.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

For a list of student learning outcomes for this course please visit: http://www.mtsac.edu/instruction/outcomes/sloinfo.html 

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY

“Mt. San Antonio College provides opportunities for the pursuit of excellence for all students and through its educational services…The college will provide open access to a college education and all support services without regard to sex, race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, age over 40, marital status, physical or mental disability (including HIV and AIDS), sexual orientation, or Vietnam Era Veteran Status”

SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS

This campus will provide reasonable accommodations for students who face unique physical, learning, and emotional challenges.  If you have special conditions as addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act and need accommodations, please inform me within the first two weeks of the semester.  There are eligibility requirements for some of the programs offered.  Please visit Disabled Student Programs and services or call ext. 4290.  It is your responsibility to work with DSP&S to make arrangements for special accommodations in this class.

PARTICIPATION POLICY

Our Communication Department sees a strong correlation between consistent attendance and student retention and achievement. Because speech communication involves listening, evaluating, and writing as well as speaking, you are expected to attend ALL class meetings.  Roll will be taken each day and each student will be assigned a participation grade relating to the value that they add to the learning environment each class. Students will receive participation points for activities like answering questions, adding value to in class discussion, participating in group activities, etc.  You are not able to make up participation points due to an absence as they occur during each specific class meeting. If an assignment or speech is missed during an absence, it is the student’s responsibility to notify the instructor when a documented excused absence is going to occur and arrange any make up work due. Documentation is required for excused absences.

If you reach more than 3 unexcused absences you will be dropped from the class due to excessive absences. 

CHEATING/PLAGIARISM

Cheating/ plagiarism (representing somebody else’s words or ideas as one’s own) of any kind will not be tolerated and will earn you an “F” on the assignment in question or an “F” for the entire course depending on the seriousness of the offense. Cases of plagiarism will also be reported to the Department Chair and/or the Dean of Students.

The term “cheating” includes but is not limited to

• Plagiarism

• Receiving or knowingly supplying unauthorized information

• Using unauthorized material or sources

• Changing an answer after work has been graded and presenting it as improperly graded

• Illegally accessing confidential information through a computer

• Taking an examination for another student or having another student take an examination for you

• Forging or altering registration or grade documents

CLASS CONDUCT, RULES AND POLICIES

Please keep in mind that a college classroom is a professional learning environment in which mutual respect amongst students and between students and the professor is expected.  For a detailed description of Mt. San Antonio College’s Code of Conduct, please see the college catalog.  Here are some examples of disruptive behavior listed in your catalog:  obstruction or disruption of the educational process; willful disobedience and/or the open persistent defiance of authority; verbal or physical threats to students, faculty, or staff; excessive talking in class; turned on pagers and cell phones; passing notes in class; excessive lateness; sleeping in class; and poor personal hygiene.

Remember, we all want a comfortable, respectful atmosphere for optional learning and success.  In addition, here are a few more rules and policies for my class: 

• Absolutely no liquor, firearms, weapons, explosives or animals.

• All written work must be typed in order to receive credit.

• E-mailed work will not be accepted.

• You must give your speech on the day that is assigned.  Unless you have a documented, excused absence, NO SPEECHES WILL BE GIVEN AFTER THE DESIGNATED SPEECH DAYS!

• No late work is accepted!  Plan ahead!

• Exams will be a combination of True and False, Multiple Choice, and/or Essay.  No scantrons are required. Students may leave the room only after completion of an exam.  No headphones, iPods etc are allowed.  Your final will involve an in-class speech critique.

• Some extra credit may be offered…stay tuned.

WARNING!

• All cell-phones, tablets, etc. must be silenced (not on vibrate) prior to the beginning of class and be put away, out of sight.   If a cell phone goes off, I will ask you to leave.  You will then receive an unexcused absence for that day.

• Also, please do not text-message in class.  If you do, you will be asked to leave and receive an unexcused absence as well. It is best make sure phones are out of sight so that you don’t even give the appearance that you are texting.  

• If you have an emergency please step outside to take a call or text.

• Just say no.

If this is a deal breaker, there are no hard feelings.

But PLEASE drop this class today to allow someone else to take your seat.

Course Requirements

1. Communication Exercises/Skills/Homework: Individuals cannot improve their communication skills unless they practice new skills and receive feedback on their performance. Therefore, all students must participate in skill practice sessions in class and demonstrate an attempt to master the skills being presented. Because of time restrictions, in-class skill cannot be made up. Since a large part of this class involves practicing communication skills, it is important that you attend and participate in class exercises. Participation points will be awarded on the basis of participating in a variety of in-class exercises, homework, skill builders, and discussion.

2. Journals: Most weeks you will be assigned a journal topic to reflect on the class lecture and reading from the text.  These are due on the assigned date and are designed for you to critically evaluate the previous week’s material in light of your own growing communication competency. There will be a total of 10 journal assignments each worth 10 points. These journals are designed for you to really explore your own implicit theories of communication and will be graded on completeness, thoughtfulness, and incorporation of the course material.  There are no right or wrong answers to journal assignments.

3. Exams: Two exams will be given that cover the readings, class lectures, class discussion, and in-class exercises. The exams may include multiple choice, true/false, short answer, and/or essay questions.  Exams are expected to be completed at scheduled dates.  Arrangements should be made by students to take an alternative essay exam early if they cannot attend class the day it is assigned.  Exams may not be made up after the exam date if arrangements are not made ahead of time.

4. Compliance Gaining Paper (100 points): For this assignment, you will be tasked with identifying a communication problem we face, researching compliance gaining articles, and proposing the best way to solve our communication problem.  This assignment will include both a paper and a presentation.

5. Research Study (250 points): For this assignment, you will need to create a research proposal and survey instrument using one of the sequential persuasion theories.  The proposal should include a literature review citing at least 5 research articles on your theory, a proposal for a study you would like to do using that theory, a 10 question survey to test your hypothesis, and a discussion of your results.  The assignment will include both a paper and presentation.

6. Communication Analysis (250 points): This assignment is designed to be a capstone research paper for our class where you put together all of your theory and research skills.  You will complete a communication analysis of a persuasive artifact. Your paper will first discuss a communication theory, apply it to the artifact, and discuss implications.  The "artifact" can be loosely construed to be any persuasive message - TV show, ad campaign, movie, speech, etc.  This assignment will include both a paper and a presentation. This assignment will be presented in a conference format. As such, you will be asked to be a "respondent" for another student's paper where you should ask questions about their findings.

GRADING AND EVALUATION

There are a total of 1000 points possible in the course.  The point breakdown is as follows:

Office Hours 

I strongly recommend visiting me during office hours to get feedback on your assignments and presentations.  My office is located in 26D-1441 (Forensics Room).