Interpersonal Communication

Course:
Professor:
Office:
Hours:

COMM1076003
Steve Fuller
149D McMicken Hall
Tuesday & Thursday | 9:00 AM 11:00 AM

556-4478

TEXTBOOK

fullersj@uc.edu

@fullsteve

Consult Blackboard for instructions on how to purchase the textbook.

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LEARNING OUTCOMES

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Learn foundational terms, definitions, axioms, elements, principles, and theories of

interpersonal communication.
Critically apply interpersonal theories to a variety of real-world communication contexts.
Analyze and improve interpersonal communication behaviors with romantic partners,
friends, family members, and acquaintances.
Demonstrate mastery of the following aspects of interpersonal relationships: self-concept,
perception, impression management, cultural diversity, intercultural communication,
interpersonal ethics, verbal and nonverbal communication, social intelligence, effective
listening, emotional competence, social networking, conflict management, power
dynamics, and communication competence.

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COURSE GUIDELINES

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Behave like responsible adults who appreciate their opportunity to attend the University of
Cincinnati. Not everyone has access to a college education. Respect 196 years of tradition.
Please turn off all cell phones (or set the ringer to silent) when class begins. I will answer
your cell phone if it rings during class. Beware!
Any plagiarized exam, reflection paper, or attendance signature will earn a failing grade.
After a second offense, you will automatically fail the course and be reported to the
University of Cincinnatis disciplinary board.
Students are responsible for attending all class sessions and taking good notes. I do not reteach material in person or through email. Please contact a classmate to obtain any
information you miss.
Do not contact me at any point during or after the semester requesting extra credit or an
arbitrary boost in your overall grade. Feel free to contact me if an error has been made in
calculating your final grade, but I will never raise a students grade simply because Im
asked to do so. If extra credit is offered, it will be made available to the entire class.
The final day to submit a grade replacement form (directly to the college office responsible
for the class) is Tuesday, September 8.
The final day to withdraw from any university course is Friday, October 30.
During the final week of the semester, log onto Blackboard and follow the course
evaluation link. Please complete the evaluation for our class by Friday, December 4. If the
class has >80% response rate, each student will receive a +5 bonus on his or her total score.
Students will be held accountable to the University of Cincinnatis Student Code of
Conduct. I reserve the right to ask anyone to leave the classroom if his or her behavior
interferes with the learning process.
I reserve the right to amend any part of this syllabus at any time for any reason.

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GRADE SCALE

465500 pts
450464 pts
435449 pts
415434 pts

A
A
B+
B

400414 pts
385399 pts
365384 pts
350364 pts

B
C+
C
C

335349 pts
315334 pts
300314 pts
0299 pts

D+
D
D
F

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GRADE MATRIX

Exam 1
Exam 2
Exam 3
Exam 4
Exam 5

75 points
75 points
75 points
75 points
75 points

6-Word Memoir
Self Analysis
Skills Assessment
Cultural Ethnography
Dyadic Encounter

25 points
25 points
25 points
25 points
25 points

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BE PRESENT

It is difficult to master course material without being physically present. A full classroom also
creates a better overall learning environment. Therefore, students are required to arrive on time
every day. Attendance sheets will be circulated at the beginning of each class. No student will ever
be retroactively added; it is your responsibility to sign in before leaving the classroom.
Signatures will be monitored; signing another students name is a violation of the University of
Cincinnatis Student Code of Conduct. After two freebies, each additional absence will lower your
total score by 5 points. Any student with perfect attendance will earn a +5 bonus on his or her total
score. Absences will only be excused with official, signed documentation from a doctors visit
or university-sponsored event. Excused absences will prevent students from achieving the perfect
attendance bonus.
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BE ENGAGED

Students are encouraged to contribute to class discussions with well thought-out, intelligent
comments. Students are not permitted to distract their fellow classmates from the learning process.
Because its impossible to demand equal participation in large lecture courses, students will
ultimately be placed into one of three categories:
+5

Good Participation. A student demonstrating good participation arrives to class on time,

consistently contributes to group discussions, listens intently, behaves appropriately,
completes in-class activities, and respects the professor/teaching assistant.

Average Participation. A student demonstrating average participation neither contributes

meaningfully nor generates any noticeable problems during class. If a student sits quietly
for fifteen weeks without creating any distractions, he or she is an average participator.

Poor Participation. A student demonstrating poor participation consistently arrives late to

class, rarely contributes to group discussions, disengages from the learning process
(listening to music, text messaging, playing on a tablet or laptop computer), behaves
inappropriately (talking over others, acting immature, distracting classmates, disrupting
class harmony), ignores in-class activities, and/or disrespects the professor/teaching
assistant.

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BE LEARNING

Students will take five exams throughout the semester. Exams are not cumulative (they only include
material covered since the previous exam). Please bring a blue or black ink pen to class on exam
days. Paper isnt necessary. You will have the full 80 minutes of class time to complete each exam.
Once you are finished, turn in the exam and exit the classroom. Exams consist of 30 multiple-choice
questionsworth 1 point eachfor a total of 30 points. Those questions (15 per chapter) come
from textbook readings. Additionally, 4-6 short answer questionsworth a total of 45 pointswill
come from class lectures and discussions. Thats a grand total of 75 points per exam. Once exams
have been distributed, no student will be permitted to leave the classroom for any reason. You must
complete each exam on your first attempt during its allotted time. Make-up exams will only be
permitted with an excused absence, and must be made up before graded exams are passed back the
following class period. If you know ahead of time that you will miss an exam day, let me know
during the previous class, and we will schedule an early exam during my office hours. You will still
be limited to 80 minutes. In order to study for the exams, read the assigned textbook chapters, take
thorough notes during class, and study those notes before each exam.
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BE APPLYING

Students are required to analyze interpersonal communication and reflect upon class readings,
lectures, and discussions by applying course concepts and theories to a variety of real-world
contexts. Each reflection paper must be typed, meet its recommended word count, and be uploaded
to Blackboard by 11:59 PM on its due date. To submit each paper, visit Blackboard, click on the
Reflection Papers tab, click on the appropriate link (6-Word Memoir, Self Analysis, Skills
Assessment, Cultural Ethnography, or Dyadic Encounter), scroll to the middle of the page, click
Browse My Computer, attach your paper as a Word document (I also recommend copying and
pasting your paper into the text box as a precaution in case the Word document is corrupt), and click
the Submit button. Reflection papers will lose 5 points per 12 hours late. After 48 hours, your
grade will automatically become a 0. Consult the following page or Blackboard for detailed
descriptions of all five assignments.
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REFLECTION PAPERS

6-Word Memoir | 500 Words | Write your personal six-word memoir. Make it a complete
sentence, not just six random words strung together. If you could sum up who you are and what
you're about in one, six-word sentence, what would that sentence be? (For reference, someone wrote
this six-word memoir about Pete Rose: "He gambled and lost it all." Stephen Colbert wrote this sixword memoir about himself: "Well, I thought it was funny.") Then, thoroughly explain your sixword memoir. Why do those six words truly capture who you are as a person?
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Self Analysis | 750 Words | Using concepts and theories from class, analyze the significant life
factors that have shaped you into the person, communicator, and relationship partner that you are
today. Discuss your most influential life experience (a single moment or a related series of events).
Describe what happened andwhile referencing the Iceberg Illustrationexplain how that
experience led to a strategy that helps you make life work by satisfying needs and/or soothing pain.
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Skills Assessment | 1000 Words | Analyze your interpersonal communication skills. Discuss
nonverbal packaging (what messages are you communicating nonverbally? In what ways do you
manipulate aspects of your appearance to strategically communicate who you are to the world?),
listening blocks (which is your primary listening block? What action steps can help you become a
better listener?), emotional management strategies (which is the primary way you manage
emotions?), and social media behaviors (has social media helped or harmed your relationships?).
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Cultural Ethnography | 750 Words + Photo | Identify a communication sub-culture with which
you are unfamiliar. Then, spend at least one hour immersed in that context, studying communication
behaviors. Be imaginative. (For example: religious service, creationism museum, alcoholics
anonymous meeting, gay bar, drag show, political rally, student organization, Harry Potter
convention, etc.) Discuss what you learned about the unique sub-culture, how it compares to your
personal cultural reality, and how the experience connects with class concepts and theories. *Attach
a picture of yourself at the event to your paper. Photographic proof of attendance is required.
This assignment can only earn a maximum of 15 points without photographic evidence*
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Dyadic Encounter | 1000 Words | Each student will be randomly paired with a classmate and use
course concepts and theories to analyze the ensuing interpersonal relationship. After meeting in
class, communicating online, and spending at least 2 hours together in person, answer the following
10 questions (number your responses; no need to use paragraphs; dont retype the questions):
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What were your initial impressions of your partner? How did those impressions change
over time from your first encounter to this moment? Which of your first impressions were
accurate & which were inaccurate?
Which quadrant of the Johari Window do you think is the largest for your partner? Why did
you choose that particular quadrant?
How does your unique world of meaning differ from your partners world of meaning? (In
other words, how do you see the world differently from your partner?) What cultural
differences have contributed to those unique perspectives?
Which pointer from the Ethical Decision-Making Compass does your partner primarily use
to make decisions in his or her life? What led you to this conclusion?
How would you describe your partners nonverbal packaging? What did your partners
nonverbal behaviors communicate about him or her?
Do you believe your partner is socially intelligent? How did your partner perform in each
of the four components of social intelligence?
Was your partner a good listener? What specific listening blocks did your partner exhibit as
you were talking with him or her?
How did your self-disclosures compare? Did one of you disclose more personal details than
the other? Why do you think your partner disclosed in the ways he or she did?
How did in-person communication differ from online communication with your partner?
How do you explain these differences?
Did you experience any interpersonal conflict with your partner? If so, how did your
partner respond to the conflict? How were the conflicts ultimately resolved?

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Tuesday

8/25

Discuss Syllabus / Student Introductions / Assign 6-Word Memoir

Thursday

8/27

Basic Model of Communication / Defining Interpersonal Communication

Tuesday

9/1

Crabbs Iceberg Illustration / Assign Self Analysis

Thursday

9/3

Self-Concept / Johari Window

Tuesday

9/8

6-Word Memoir / Interpersonal Hot Seat

Thursday

9/10

EXAM 1 (Chapters 1 & 3 + Class Lectures & Discussions)

Tuesday

9/15

Worlds of Meaning / Hofstedes Cultural Dimensions / Improving

Intercultural Communication / Assign Cultural Ethnography

Thursday

9/17

Coontzs Parenting Styles / Evolution of Family / Millennial Generation

Tuesday

9/22

Assign Dyadic Encounter

Thursday

9/24

Interpersonal Ethics / Ethical Decision-Making Compass

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Tuesday

9/29

Self Analysis / Interpersonal Hot Seat

Thursday

10/1

EXAM 2 (Chapters 2 & 4 + Class Lectures & Discussions)

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Tuesday

10/6

Introduction to Nonverbal Communication / Nonverbal Packaging /

Theories of Nonverbal Communication / Golemans Social Intelligence

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Thursday

10/8

McKays Listening Blocks / Principles of Effective Listening

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Tuesday

10/13

Schachters Cognitive Labeling Theory / Developing Emotional Competence

Thursday

10/15

NO CLASS (Fall Break)

Tuesday

10/20

Skills Assessment / Social Media Theories

Thursday

10/22

EXAM 3 (Chapters 5 & 6 + Class Lectures & Discussions)

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Tuesday

10/27

DeVitos Stages of Relationship Development

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Thursday

10/29

Attraction Theory / Social Exchange Theory / Equity Theory

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Tuesday

11/3

Baxter & Montgomerys Relational Dialectics Theory

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Thursday

11/5

Friendship Types / Cross-Sex Friendship / Ducks Provisions of Friendship

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Tuesday

11/10

Cultural Ethnography / Love Story Challenge

Thursday

11/12

EXAM 4 (Chapters 9 & 10 + Class Lectures & Discussions)

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Tuesday

11/17

Defining Interpersonal Conflict / Principles of Interpersonal Conflict

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Thursday

11/19

Responses to Interpersonal Conflict / Managing Interpersonal Conflict

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Tuesday

11/24

Increasing Interpersonal Power & Competence

Thursday

11/26

NO CLASS (Thanksgiving)

Tuesday

12/1

Dyadic Encounter / Famous Last Words

Thursday

12/3

EXAM 5 (Chapters 11, 12 + Class Lectures & Discussions)

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