CMS04220 - Syllabus - 46197, 46203

Course Syllabus
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Instructor
Objectives
Prerequisites
Materials/Texts
Schedule
Assignment Outline
Grading
Policies
Summary
Course Title
Interpersonal Communication
Course No.
CMS04220
CRN
46197, 46203
Start/End Dates
9/1/20 - 12/14/20
Term/Module
Fall 2020
Delivery Method
Number of Face-to-Face Meetings
Online
0
Course Description
Interpersonal communication is the process of creation, maintenance, and destruction of meaning
among people who are taking account of each other as individuals (rather than as groups,
audiences, mobs, etc.). Whether in person or over some channel, we have numerous
interpersonal encounters everyday with strangers, family, friends, acquaintances, coworkers, and
others each day. Although we usually engage in these encounters without a passing thought, the
patterns created, maintained, and destroyed are the building blocks of what makes us happy or
miserable in life. In this course, we will explore the “nuts and bolts” that allow interpersonal
communication to function. Although this is not a skills based course, the hope is that you will be
better able to reflect on “what’s happening here” as interpersonal encounters go well or go
terribly.
Instructor
Name
Email
Phone
Virtual
Office Hours
Post any questions and/or comments for the instructor to the Office Hours board (in the Discussions area). The
instructor will respond within approximately 48 hours to your inquiry. For a faster or a more private way to
correspond, please use email or phone.
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Objectives
Students will:
• Appreciate interpersonal communication as an interdependent process.
• Consider communication processes in the pursuit of instrumental,

relational, and self presentational goals.
• Recognize that all interpersonal communication depends on structure in a

variety of forms including linguistic, cognitive, relational, and cultural structure.
• Humans cannot not communicate due to the continual exchange and

interpretation of verbal and nonverbal symbols.
• Apply concepts from interpersonal communication theories to their daily

lives.
• Think critically regarding how understanding concepts from interpersonal

communication theories can help them in future jobs.
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Prerequisites
• None
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Materials and Texts

• Adler, R. B., Proctor, R. F., & Rosenfeld, L. B. (2017). Interplay: The
Process of
Interpersonal Communication (14th ed). New York: Oxford University Press.
Schedule
The following schedule is tentative and may be changed with prior notification from the
instructor.
Week
Start Date
Readings, Activities & Assignments
1&2
9/1/20
Topics:
• Foundations of Interpersonal Communication
Readings:
• Adler, Rosenfeld, and Proctor - Chapter 1
Lectures:
• Lectures 1-1, 1-2 and 1-3
Discussions:
• Self-Introduction Discussion Board
• DQ 1
Quizzes:
• Due: Quiz 1 (due by the end of Week 2)
Assignments:
• Start Assignment 1 (due by the end of Week 4)
3&4
9/15/20
Topics:
• Verbal and Nonverbal Symbols
Readings:
• Adler, Rosenfeld, and Proctor - Chapter 5 (p. 136-140)
• Reading Guide for Chapter 5 (PDF)
• Bingham (2019) - Comments on the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis (PDF)
Lectures:
Discussions:
• DQ 2
Quizzes:
Assignments:
• Due: Assignment 1 (due by the end of Week 4)
5&6
9/29/20
Topics:
• Social Cognition
Readings:
• Adler, Rosenfeld, and Proctor - Chapter 4 (p. 103-109, 118-120)
• Meltzer (1964) - Mead’s Social Psychology (PDF)
• Burgoon (1993) - Interpersonal Expectations, Expectancy Violations, and
Emotional Communication (PDF)
Lectures:
• Lectures 3-1, 3-2, and 3-3
Discussions:
• DQ 3
Quizzes:
Assignments:
7&8
10/13/20
Topics:
• Self Presentation
Readings:
• Goffman (1967) - Face and Facework (PDF)
Lectures:
Discussions:
• DQ 4
Quizzes:
Assignments:
• Continue working on Assignment 2 (due by the end of Week 10)
9 & 10
10/27/20
Topics:
• Relational Escalation and Maintenance
Readings:
Lectures:
Discussions:
• DQ 5
Quizzes:
Assignments:
11 & 12
11/10/20
Topics:
• Relational Communication Dynamics
Readings:
Lectures:
• Lectures 6-1, 6-2, and 6-3
Discussions:
• DQ 6
Quizzes:
Assignments:
13 & 14
11/24/20
Topics:
• Conflict and Problem Resolution
Readings:
• Adler, Rosenfeld, and Proctor - Chapter 12 (p. 362-369) (p. 370-379)
• Griffin - Functional Perspective on Group Decision Making (PDF)
Lectures:
Discussions:
• DQ 7
Quizzes:
Assignments:
• Continue working on Assignment 4 (due by the end of Week 15)
15
12/8/20
Topics:
• Family and Relational De-escalation
Readings:
Lectures:
• Lectures 8-1, 8-2, and 8-3
Discussions:
• DQ 8
Quizzes:
Assignments:
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Assignment Outline
Module Quizzes
There are eight modules in this course. At the end of each module, students are required to
complete a quiz. These quizzes will be made up of a combination of multiple choice, short
answer, and/or short essay questions to assess students' understanding of concepts and principles.
Any concept or principle covered in the assigned reading is fair game; however, greater emphasis
will be placed on the content covered in the voice-over PowerPoint lectures.
Each quiz is worth 20 points. See the Schedule section above for due dates.
Quiz Policy
There will be eight fully online quizzes and/or exams in this course. Detailed information is
provided in the week in which each exam is administered. Quizzes must be submitted by their
posted due date.
During all quizzes, students are permitted to use the following resources:
• Textbook(s) by specific title
• Handwritten or typed notes
• Notes on your computer
• Internet access or web sites of any kind other than the Canvas LMS system
• No use of mobile phones or other devices other than the device on which
you will take the exam
IMPORTANT REMINDER: Each student is expected to work on this individually and within
the confines of the University Academic Honesty Policy (see http://www.rowanonline.com for
University Policies).
Assignments 1, 2 and 3 - Reaction Papers

At three points over the progression of this course, students will be required to submit reaction
papers in response to descriptions posted in the course. In each reaction paper description,
students will be given an objective to make some sort of observation or argument pertaining to a
concept or principle covered in the assigned readings or in the voice-over PowerPoint lectures.
These papers have no page minimum, but may not exceed 4 double-spaced pages with standard
font (11-12 sized Calibri or Times New Roman). For detailed instructions and scoring rubric,
review the Assignment1_Instructions.pdf, Assignment2_Instructions.pdf,
Assignment3_Instructions.pdf and Assignments1-4_Rubric.pdf handouts.
Due dates:
• Assignment 1 - Reaction Paper 1 is due by the end of Week 4.
Each reaction paper is worth 20 points.
Assignment 4 - Job Application Paper

For this paper, students will consider a single job/position that they would like to pursue later in
life. Students will find at least 3 job postings (i.e. job advertisements asking for applicants)
online to learn about the demands and responsibilities of this job. Using the information obtained
from these advertisements, students will construct an essay that describes the expectations of
people holding this kind of job, a number of interpersonal communication concepts covered in
this course, and how understanding each of these concepts would uniquely help a person be more
effective in this job. This paper may not exceed 12 double-spaced pages with standard font (11-
12 sized Calibri or Times New Roman). This paper has no page minimum, but submissions that
adequately cover what is described in the instructions are usually 6-7 pages in length. For
detailed instructions and scoring rubric, review the Assignment4_Instructions.pdf and
Assignments1-4_Rubric.pdf handouts.
This assignment is worth 40 points and is due by the end of Week 15.
Online Participation - Discussion Contributions

Students are required to submit at least three posts to the discussion boards for each module.
Your initial post must be made by or before the last Saturday of each module in response to the
cue question (posted on the Discussion Boards and in the Overviews), with a minimum of two
responses to other students’ posts by or before the last Monday of each module. For detailed
grading criteria, review the rubric (DQ_Rubric.pdf).
There are 8 graded discussions in this course (DQ 1-8). Participation in each discussion is worth
5 points.
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Grading
Final Grade Breakdown
Grading Criteria/Assignment
Handouts
Due
Points
Quizzes 1-8
(Each quiz is worth 20 points)
See Schedule section above

160 points
Assignment 1 - Reaction Paper 1
Assignments1-4_Rubric.pdf
Assignment1_Instructions.pdf
Week 4
20 points
Week 9
20 points
Week 14
20 points
Assignment 4 - Job Application
Week 15
40 points
Discussion Contributions (DQ 1-8)
(Each discussion is worth 5 points)
DQ_Rubric.pdf
See Schedule section above
40 points
TOTAL
300 POINTS
Grading Scale
Grade
Points
Final Grade %
Grade
Points
Final Grade %
A
279 – 300 Points
93-100%
C
219 – 230 Points
73-76%
A-
270 – 278 Points
90-92%
C-
210 – 218 Points
70-72%
B+
261 – 269 Points
87-89%
D+
201 – 217 Points
67-69%
B
249 – 260 Points
83-86%
D
189 – 216 Points
63-66%
B-
240 – 248 Points
80-82%
D-
180 – 188 Points
60-62%
C+
231 – 239 Points
77-79%
F
179 Points or Below
Less than 60%
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Rowan Online Standard Policies (addendum)

The current version of Rowan Online Standard Policies is an addendum to this syllabus and
includes important information on topics such as course structure, online communication, special
needs, and numerous other policies. You are expected to familiarize yourself with the
information provided within.
Plagiarism
It has come to my attention that there may be confusion among students as to what constitutes
plagiarism. For instance, I’ve encountered students who have assumed that as long as they cite
their sources, they are free to utilize the information in their sources in any way they choose,
including copying and pasting sentences or passages directly into their work without proper
quotation. This and lesser violations are plagiarism and can result in sanctions including failure
of an assignment or course or, in some cases, expulsion from school. In most cases, I assume
innocent confusion is the cause rather than malicious intent, but I am still obligated to report all
instances. My recommendation is that if you have any doubt as to what counts as plagiarism for
an assignment, please check with me. It’s simply not worth the risk.
Any form of incremental plagiarism (i.e. using or quoting sources without properly citing them)
will result in a zero for an assignment. More specific information on requirements will be
included in paper assignment descriptions.
Global plagiarism, such as using a paper “whole cloth” from a paper repository (i.e.
termpaperwherehouse.com) or submitting another student’s work , will result in failure of the
course. It is very easy to detect and not worth your time attempting. Beyond the likelihood that
you will be caught, submitting a full paper written by someone else is an insult to your
university, your instructor, your classmates, and to yourself.
If you have any questions or concerns as to what would count as plagiarism, please ask. I will
never have judgment for a student trying to understand the expectations placed on her or him.
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Course Syllabus

• Appreciate interpersonal communication as an interdependent process.

• Consider communication processes in the pursuit of instrumental,

• Recognize that all interpersonal communication depends on structure in a

• Humans cannot not communicate due to the continual exchange and

• Apply concepts from interpersonal communication theories to their daily

• Think critically regarding how understanding concepts from interpersonal

Materials and Texts

Assignments 1, 2 and 3 - Reaction Papers

Each reaction paper is worth 20 points.

Assignment 4 - Job Application Paper

Online Participation - Discussion Contributions

See Schedule section above

Rowan Online Standard Policies (addendum)

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