Communication & Journalism: 300 Theories of Communication

Course Information: ONLINE (*Instructor information available on Learn homepage)

Location: LEARN
Student Meetings: By appointment
Office: C&J 158

Required Text & Materials

Wood, J. (2004). Communication theories in action. Wadsworth Cengage: Boston, MA.

*Note: If you’re waiting for this book to arrive to you, there is a copy of Griffin’s A First Look
at Communication Theory on our Learn page that you’re welcome to use. Just keep in mind that
the Griffin is laid out differently from Wood, but it should hold you over if necessary.

Course Description
• Study of the nature of communication theories and theory development, theories of meaning,
information processing, and influence with applications to selected communication texts. We
will explore a number of theories across varying paradigms and traditions.

Course Objectives
• Understand and discuss various theories of communication
• Identify, explain, and illustrate key concepts and principles of theories discussed
• Use theories to reflect on practical problems and situations
• Apply theories creatively to symbol and practices
• Use theoretical criteria to criticize and evaluate
• Formulate and argue for your own perspective on communication theories
• Develop critical reading, comprehension, thinking, and analytical skills

Course/University Policies
Attendance Policy
• As this is an ONLINE class, there is no Attendance Policy. This is not a self-paced class and
you are expected to keep up with the work. Each Weekly Module begins on Monday at 12am
and ends on Sunday at 11:59pm. All work is due on Wednesdays, Fridays, or Sundays. Plan in
advance to meet the deadlines. Check the Course Calendar for all deadlines.

• Life is full of surprises. Clear communication is critical to your personal/professional success.

If an event arises that complicates your situation, contact the instructor immediately. Please
work to be both proactive and accountable.

Late Work
• Late work will not be accepted. You have all assignments and due dates in advance (Day 1)
and are expected to plan accordingly for success. There are certain extenuating circumstances
where late work might be considered but don’t count on it.
Communication Policy
• All class-related electronic communications will utilize Course Messages within our Learn
environment. Please use the Course Message function and NOT LoboMail. Please be
professional. Your email should include a salutation and a message that has been reviewed for
clarity and spelling. Do not treat your class related emails like text messages.

• You are responsible for remaining informed and regularly checking announcements, videos,
and messages.

• Instructors do not always check messages on Sundays. Learn Support is also unavailable on
Sundays. Please prepare accordingly.

Technology Policy
• In an online course, your ability to understand, negotiate, and appropriately utilize education-
related technology is vital to your success. Please explore the entirety of our Learn
environment so you are able to use it with ease. Also consider that you will need an internet
connection to view course content and complete/submit assignments. Please plan accordingly
if you have Wi-Fi issues in your residence.

• Direct any and all technical issues with the Learn environment to: Learn Support:
505-277-0857

• Information on Student Lab locations and hours: http://it.unm.edu/pods/

Assignment Policy
• All assignments will be submitted via Learn. Assignments must be double-spaced, Times
New Roman, 12 point font, 1” margins (APA format). All references should be formatted
according to APA guidelines. Assignments must be submitted in as a .docx file or .pdf ONLY.
Pages or other applications are not permitted. If I can’t open the file, I can’t grade it, and I
won’t track down a new copy.
• An assignment is not only a representation of your work but a reflection of yourself, take care
to ensure your work accurately represents your personal and academic integrity.

Withdrawal
• Please consult your course catalog for withdrawal and refund deadlines. Students may
withdraw from a course during the first six weeks of the semester without Dean approval and
the withdrawal (W) will not be noted on your academic record. However, withdrawals
initiated after the sixth week of class will be subject to a grade of “W.” When students leave
the University during a semester and do not complete the withdrawal process, they become
liable for grades of “F” in their courses, even though they may have been passing at the time
of leaving.

Instructor Drops
• Students should also be aware that their instructors may drop them from a course for various
reasons, at any time. This course regularly has a significant waitlist. You will be dropped on
Saturday of the first week if you do not send a message to your instructor as directed in
Module 1.

Incomplete
• A grade of Incomplete is given only when serious circumstances beyond the student’s control
have prevented completion of the work of a course within the official dates of a semester or
session. Students are responsible for making arrangements with the instructor for resolving an
incomplete grade. If you receive an incomplete, you must complete the work by the published
ending date of the next semester or the grade will automatically turn to an F. Incomplete
grades are given at the discretion of the instructor.

Academic Disputes
• If you find you have a disagreement or dispute with your instructor over grades or other
matters, you should first try to resolve the grievance informally by discussing the grievance
with the instructor as soon as reasonably possible. If you and the instructor cannot reach an
agreement, you should then contact the CJ 300 Course Coordinator Dr. Laura Burton
(tanimara@unm.edu). If the issue persists, you can contact the Department Chair of
Communication and Journalism, Dr. David Weiss (davidweiss@unm.edu). The department
chair will meet with you (in most cases) only after you have met with your instructor and the
course supervisor prior to contacting him. If the matter still persists, you will be referred to
the Dean of Arts and Sciences.

Diversity
• This course encourages different perspectives related to such factors as gender, race,
nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, and other relevant cultural identities.
• This course seeks to foster an environment of understanding and inclusiveness related to such
diverse perspectives and ways of communicating.

Title IX
• In an effort to meet obligations under Title IX, UNM faculty, Teaching Assistants, and
Graduate Assistants are considered “responsible employees” by the Department of Education
(see pg 15 -http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/qa-201404-title-ix.pdf). This
designation requires that any report of gender discrimination which includes sexual
harassment, sexual misconduct and sexual violence made to a faculty member, TA, or GA
must be reported to the Title IX Coordinator at the Office of Equal Opportunity
(oeo.unm.edu).

• For more information on the campus policy regarding sexual misconduct, see: https://
policy.unm.edu/university-policies/2000/2740.html

Academic Dishonesty
• According to UNM policy, academic dishonesty is defined as but not limited to "dishonesty in
quizzes, tests or assignments; claiming credit for work not done or done by others; hindering
 the academic work of other students; misrepresenting academic or professional qualifications
within or without the University; and nondisclosure or misrepresentation in filling out
applications or other University records." You must do original work and properly cite all
sources. Original work does NOT include reusing a speech someone else has written for
another section or during a previous semester nor does it allow for Internet- generated
speeches. If you are suspected or found to be in violation of this policy, severe sanctions may
be imposed. These sanctions may include being assigned an F for the assignment or for the
entire course, filing a formal complaint with the university, and being expelled from the
university. Please consult your UNM Pathfinder for more information.

Ethics
• The course emphasizes ethical practices and perspectives. Above all, students and instructors
should strive to communicate and act, both in class interactions and in assigned coursework,
in a manner directed by personal integrity, honesty, and respect for self and others. Included in
this focus is the need for academic honesty by students as stated by the UNM Pathfinder.
Students need to do original work and properly cite sources. For example, be aware of
plagiarism—directly copying more than 3 or 4 words from another author without quoting
(not just citing) the author is plagiarism. Further, course content will encourage the ethical
practices and analysis of public speaking.

ADA Accessibility/Special Needs

• Qualified students with disabilities needing appropriate academic adjustments should contact
the instructor as soon as possible to ensure our needs are met in a timely manner. Handouts
are available in alternative accessible formats upon request. Students needing assistance with
note taking or reading should register with Disability Services no later than the first week of
class.
• The University of New Mexico currently provides a network of services intended to assist
students with various disabilities. While many departments and programs are essential to
this network of support, the two primary service delivery programs are Student Support
Services (SSS) and Accessibility Resource Center (ARC).
• Your instructor cannot help you, however, unless he or she is aware of any disability and you
are working with SSS or ARC. All disclosures will be kept confidential. However, if you
choose not to disclose your disability and you do poorly on an assignment, the instructor
cannot go back and adjust your grade or make accommodations for you. Thus, it is in your
best interest to establish an open dialogue with your instructor as soon as the semester begin.

Explanation of Class Assessments

In addition to the following explanations, Assignment sheets that explicate criteria and
expectations are posted on Learn under the Assignments tab on the left-side menu. All
assignments are posted and available to you on the first day of the course. If you do not fully
understand an assignment, please ask your instructor.

Video Introduction (20): You will post a brief video introduction of yourself for the whole
class. During the first week, your instructor will assign semester Discussions Groups. After
groups are assigned you will watch the videos of all of your group members and then take part
in regular discussions, beginning with group introductions based on the initial video.

Group Discussions (80): Following the group introduction discussion, you will partake in
ongoing discussions of theoretical concepts and relevant applications within your group. Each
discussion involves an initial post and a reply to a group member’s post. These posts are all
typed out, only the Introduction (see above) is a video post.

Quizzes (20 points each; 100 points total max): There will be a syllabus quiz and six
chapter quizzes to assess your comprehension of course concepts. Lowest scoring quiz will be
dropped.

Article Critique Papers (40 points each; 120 points total): You will complete three
article critiques based on a theory from the current module. Each Article Critique assignment
has a corresponding folder (AC1, AC2, AC3) with potential articles to critique. You must
choose one of the articles in the folder. You will evaluate the article and think critically about
the use of your chosen theory in communication research.

Final Paper/Project (75): You will complete your final paper and project over a series of
three steps. First you will choose a theory to investigate on a deeper level and create an Outline
of how you will research the theory. You will post the outline to your discussion group for
feedback. Second you will follow your outline and review the relevant and necessary literature
to complete a Literature Review Theory Paper. Finally, you will create a Media Project
demonstrating how the theory can be applied usefully for a high school classroom by employing
interactive activities and media support.

Standpoint Paper (25): You will reflect on your learning and growth as a theorist over the
semester and discuss the theories you find most useful as well as your standpoint on theory.

Course/Teacher Evaluations (10 points): We greatly appreciate and value your feedback
about the class and instructor. You will receive 10 points for completing the course survey.

Total Points: 430

Grades are not given, you earn them!

On all written assignments, the grading will follow this general grade breakdown:

100-90 % of the points: original expression, thought and hard work is evident. Theory of
concept is appropriately explained or illustrated.

90-80 % points: Moderate craftsmanship, ideas obscure but detectable. 80-70% points: sloppy
work, theory obvious or sloppy.
70-50% points: sloppy, hurriedly created.

Final Grade Breakdown:

A+: 97-100% A: 94-96%%, A-: 90-93%,
B+: 87-89%, B: 84-86%, B-: 80-83%,
C+: 77-79%, C: 74-76%, C-: 70-73%,
D+: 67-69%, D: 64-66%, D-: 60-63%,
F: 59% or less

It will help you to understand your grades and your evaluation on tests and papers to remember
that an “A” is not average, a “C” is. And a “C” means that you have simply met the minimum
requirements for a particular assignment. The grade descriptions I abide by are as follows:

A = outstanding work that is superior and demonstrates an in-depth understanding of the skills
and material that far surpasses the minimum expectations of a student in the class.

B = above average work that demonstrates an understanding of the skills and material that
exceeds the minimum requirements.

C = average work which illustrates that the student has met the minimum requirements and
expectations for a particular assignment.

D = below average work in which the student does not meet the minimum expectations for a
given assignment.

F = below average work in which little or no effort seems to have been expended by the student.