Course: The purpose of this course is to provide you with an introduction to the study of communication. There is no unifying or grand theory of communication. Instead, the explanation of communication behavior has been pursued through a number of different assumptions, approaches and contexts. As such, this course attempts to provide exposure to a wide variety of important theoretical statements about communication by drawing liberally from a host of perspectives.

Goal: You will learn many useful terms and concepts. It is important to be able to use the terms correctly, as they will help you classify and remember the various theories and their associated schools of thought. It is hoped that a strong, basic understanding of communication theory will help you understand yourself, know your place and successfully guide your career.

Texts:

Griffin, E. (2003). A first look at communication theory. McGraw-Hill: NY.

Evaluation

Point Schedule:

Explanation:

Optional Papers: Analyze a current event, an interaction you have observed or something in your personal life using a theory assigned during a given week (see schedule). Address the value and usefulness of the theories. You must do at least one of the optional papers before the sixth week.

Final Objective. During Final's Week.

Attendance: A tenth of your attendance grade will be deducted for each absence. Tardiness will be treated as an absence for entire class period.

Policy on papers and plagiarism. There are no make-ups for papers. Anyone accused of cheating will receive a zero for all work done to that point.

Grading. Grading will be based on the performance of the group (F<60%).

Readings, Lecture and Presentation topics: