COM 1100

Dr. Mike Eaves

Spring 2007

Office:Nevins 1029

Office Phone: 259-5116, email: meaves@valdosta.edu

Class Web Page: http://www.oocities.org/meaves1/ for an index of classes

Consultation Hrs: Monday and Wednesday 8-9am; 10-11am; Tuesday 9-11am And By Appointment

Course Purpose: Using a text, assigned readings, films, or in-class exercises, students should be exposed to a general understanding of various communication theories. This course satisfies the Area C Core Curriculum requirement or in the Area F in the Core Curriculum (it may NOT be used in BOTH places in the Core) for all students majoring in communication arts. In addition, this class could be used as a guided elective in most majors.

Students will take a midterm and final exam, give three speeches, write film essays and possible outside projects during the semester.

Course Attendance: Required. The student will be subject to a failing grade for missing 20% of the class in keeping with University guidelines. Any student with PERFECT attendance, excused or unexcused absences disqualify student for perfect attendance, will receive three (3) percentage added to their final average. Students will get two free absences. After that, each absence will count off 2 points off the final average.

Exams: Each student will take a MIDTERM and a FINAL exam. The final exam will cover only the material since the midterm and is given on the scheduled time only

Interview:

Speeches: Each student will give three speeches.

The first speech, ungraded, is a speech of introduction that we will do early on. Here, you introduce a freind of the class and get basic feedback from me about your general speech style. This speech is to last 2-3 minutes.

The second speech, graded, is the impromptu speech. In this speech, students will draw a topic immediately before giving the speech. This is an unprepared speech and the student will be expected to give three main points with analysis and examples. Of course, an intro, body and conclusion is expected. The This speech is to last 3-5 minutes.

The third speech is the persuasive speech (point vs counter point) graded. Each student will choose a side on an assigned topic. Each student will do research in ODUM or other research facilities to collect supporting material. Each student is allowed to bring ONE index card 3x5 to the podium. In addition, the student is to present between 5-7 quotes in his or her speech. These quotes may be written out as well. Online sources are acceptable but not web pages. Material must be from scholarly sources only. The instructor will inspect the speaker's cards before presenting. If the cards are INAPPROPRIATE, the student will be asked to give the speech at a later time with a letter-grade reduction. The student also is to use TWO visual aids in

the speech. The most common visual aid is power point. Other visual methods can be used with the permission of the professor, but this is rare.

There are no makeups for the persuasive speech. This speech is 7-9 minutes.

Course Objectives: Students will identify basic elements of the communication process, concepts/functions of language; nonverbal communication techniques; nature of conflict resolution,persuasion and inter(intra)personal styles and strategies, self-disclosure, and public speaking competence.

Course Calculation:

Midterm-20%

Final Exam-20%

Speech of Introduction-0%

Impromtu Speech-10%

Persuasive Speech-20%

Film Essays-30% (3 film essays worth 10% each)

Total=100%

Course Required Materials:

--Dobkin and Pace-text, "Communication in a Changing World," as listed in the book store under comm 1100--. 2006 edition.

TENTATIVE Daily Course Schedule:
Material will be covered close to a sequential order:
Chapters 1-6 first unit; chapters 7-8----> midterm material
Chapters 9-15, excluding ch 14 on speech to inform---->final exam material
Interviews will be the first major assignment; speech of intro will be first but ungraded; next, the "impromptu speech," and finally, the "persuasion" speech will be at the end of semester

Final exam will be given at SCHEDULED TIME ONLY! NO EXCUSES.

Academic Dishonesty: Cheating in all its forms: on tests, not giving credit to sources in a speech, falsified evidence for a speech, stolen notes or interviews, etc. will subject the student to an Automatic F in the class and the matter will be turned over to the Department Head of the Communication Arts. Further displinary matters may be turned over to Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Access Office: Any student who has a special need should go to the Access Office and have them write a letter to Dr. Eaves, the professor of this class, indicating your services that are needed. Their office is located in Nevins Hall. This information should be provided IN WRITING to Dr. Eaves no later than the second week of the semester.

Grade Policy: It is the policy of Dr Eaves to not post final grades or communicate them in any form (email, phone,etc) EXCEPT by the normal process through the end of the year grades with the registrar. Please do not call or email me for grades at the end of the semester. I cannot and will not give grades over non-secured channels. Dr. Eaves will not retain any material, exams, quizzes, or the like beyond the mid-term of the following regular semester.