Course:

The purpose of this course is to provide the student with an introduction to the study of communication. There is no unifying, grand theory of communication. Instead, the explanation of communication behavior has been pursued through a number of different approaches. As such, this course attempts to provide exposure to a wide variety of important theoretical statements about communication by drawing liberally from many of these approaches.
 
 

Goal:

This is a graduate course. Theory is the core of graduate study in any discipline. As a master of our discipline, you must know the value of theories, use them correctly, and understand their history and context. A strong understanding of communication theory will successfully guide your research and practice.
 
 

Readings:

Seiter J.S. & Gass, R.H. (2004). Perspectives on persuasion, social influence and compliance gaining. Pearson.

Durham, M.G. & Kellner, D.M. (eds) (2002). Media and cultural studies. Blackwell

Library reserves. 
 

Evaluation:
 
 

Presentations (50 ) -- More on this in class
 
 

Discussion (50 pts) -- You will present one of the chapters from the Seiter J.S. & Gass, R.H. text.
 
 

Attendance (50 pts) -- You will loose 10 pts from this total for each unexcused absence.
 
 
 
 

Readings, Lecture and Presentation topics:
 
 

Week

1 Introduction to the Course, Definitions of Communication Theory & Model Building

2 Persuasion, Roots and Trends

Read S&G 1-5 
 

3 Persuasion, variables

Read S&G 6-10
 
 

4 Compliance

Read S&G 11-15
 
 

5  System Theory and Models-- Information Theory, Cybernetics, General System Theory, Readability
        See Readings, on reserve
 

6 Culture and Ideology

Read D&K 1-6

7 Cultural Studies and Social Interaction

Read D&K 10-13

8 Political Economy

Read D&K 15, 17, 18, 19,20

9 Poststucturalism

Read D&K 7, 8, 9,28, 29
 

Readings
 

5

Bertalanffy, L (1962). General Systems Theory--A critical review. General Systems. 12. 1-20.

Severin, W. J. & Tankard, J. W. (1992). The measurement of readability. Communication Theories. 109-126.

Weiner, N. (1954). The Human Use of Human Beings: Cybernetics and Society. Houghton Mifflin: Boston Chapter 1. 1-19.

Weaver, W. (1966). Mathematical theory of communication. in Smith, A. Culture and Communication. Holt Reinhart and Winston: NY