Course Syllabus


Print Syllabus
Course ID: COM110
Title: Interpersonal Communication
Modality: Print Based
Credit Hours: 3.00

Course Section Information

Institution: Rio Salado College

Section: 43189

Term: Fall 2014

Start Date: 9/2/2014

Weeks: 12

Last date to withdraw: None

Instructor: Franklin Berry

Course Materials

Be sure that you have all the necessary materials prior to the start date of your course.

Required Textbook

Title: Messages: Building Interpersonal Communication Skills
Author: Joseph DeVito
ISBN: 9780536507310

Rio Salado College has developed a unique Textbook Savings Program that uses customized textbooks and saves students up to 50% off the publisher’s advertised national price of the non-customized textbook. The discount is reflected in the price of the customized book at the Rio Bookstore and no additional discounts will be taken at the register. This textbook is included in the Textbook Savings Program and has been customized specifically for this course at Rio Salado College by Pearson Custom Publishing so that it contains information most relevant to the course.

Course Description and Competencies

Official Course Description
Theory and practice of communication skills which affect day-to-day interactions with other persons. Topics may include using verbal and nonverbal symbols, interactive listening, resolving interpersonal conflict, developing and maintaining personal and professional relationships.
Official Course Prerequisites
None.
Official Course Competencies
  1. Describe the process of interpersonal communication in terms of models and principles.
  2. Explain how perception affects communication and interaction.
  3. Trace the development of self-concept and its influences on communication.
  4. Demonstrate the ability to observe and express emotions effectively and responsibly in a variety of communication situations.
  5. Identify and describe the influences of attitudes, beliefs, and values on communication.
  6. Identify and describe the purposes, elements, risks, and impact of self-disclosure.
  7. Describe the relationship between language and communication.
  8. Utilize effective listening and response skills in interpersonal communication settings.
  9. Identify and explain the elements and characteristics of nonverbal communication.
  10. Contrast effective and ineffective types of conflict management and problem solving strategies.
  11. Demonstrate effective conflict management and problem solving strategies.
  12. Describe elements involved in relationship development, maintenance, and repair.
  13. Compare and contrast passive, assertive, and aggressive response styles.
  14. Use assertive verbal and nonverbal behaviors in a variety of interpersonal communication situations.
  15. Explain the impact of cultural and gender variables on interpersonal interactions.
  16. Examine the impact of interpersonal communication in the workplace and in the family unit.
  17. Describe the role of ethics and civility in interpersonal communication.
  18. Explain the impact of technology on interpersonal communication.

In order to accomplish the above course competencies, you need to demonstrate college level writing skills. A major component of COM110 is writing. Your instructor will evaluate the essay from one assignment and make an assessment of your overall writing skills. For a resource on how to write college level essays and exams, review the Writing Rubric (See Appendix A).

On a standardized test, or in a written assignment, students will demonstrate the ability to analyze information, evaluate material, use inference to draw conclusions, use deductive reasoning, and use inductive reasoning at a college level. Review the Critical Thinking Rubric (See Appendix B).

Course Requirements

  1. To receive a passing grade, all assignments must be completed at an acceptable (passing) level.

  2. Exams: There are two exams: a midterm exam that you will complete at home and a final exam that you will complete at home.

  3. Note: You must earn an average of 60% on the exams in order to pass the course.

  4. All assessments must be submitted at a pace that follows the policies listed in the course syllabus section titled “Assignments and Due Date Policies.”

  5. Students must submit one lesson at a time and wait for Adjunct Faculty feedback before submitting the next lesson. Students cannot work more than two weeks in advance of their course calendar dates. Approvals for the pace of completing any COM course faster than the recommended rate by the COM Department are at the discretion of the Faculty Chair.

Note: Keep a copy of all your assignments!

Time Requirements

Remember that this is a three credit-hour class. As such, you will need to dedicate significant time to this course. Plan to spend at least three hours on course content and at least six hours on homework for a total of at least nine hours each week. Be prepared to double your weekly class and study time if you choose an accelerated calendar.

Grading Procedure and Scale

Grading Procedure

Grading Assignments: It is important to review the criteria forms that will be used for grading assignments and for assessing journal entries so that you understand how assignments will be graded. These criteria forms are used to check your work for each assignment.

There are 560 possible points for this course.

Getting Started Quiz 10 points
Lesson 1 Assignment 25 points
Lesson 2 Quiz 25 points
Lesson 3 Assignment 25 points
Lesson 4 Quiz 25 points
Lesson 5 Assignment 25 points
Journal Assignments 1-5 25 points
At-Home Midterm Exam 100 points
Lesson 6 Assignment 25 points
Lesson 7 Assignment 25 points
Lesson 8 Quiz 25 points
Lesson 9 Assignment 25 points
Lesson 10 Quiz 25 points
Journal Assignments 6-10 25 points
At-Home Final Exam 150 points
Total 560 points

Grading Scale

Letter grades for assignments, examinations, and the course will be determined by the following scale:

504 - 560 points = A (90% - 100%)
448 - 503 points = B (80% - 89%)
392 - 447 points = C (70% - 79%)
336 - 391 points = D (60% - 69%)
0 - 335 points = F (0% - 59%)

Note: All assignments include assessment of students' writing skills. See the Writing Competency Criteria Matrix (located in Appendix) for information that will help you assess whether or not you are submitting college-level writing in your answers.

Note to students: Final course grades are based on the total number of possible points. The grading scale is administered equally to all students in the course. Do not expect to receive a grade higher than that merited by your total points. No point adjustments will be made for class participation or other subjective factors.

There is no “Extra Credit” available for this course.

Matrix for the Rio Writing Competency Skill Levels

You can use this list of skills to check and improve your writing on assignments for this course.

Highest Level Writing Skills:

Level 4

  • Responds fully and directly to the assignment, presenting the writer's individual perspective.
  • Shows a clear and thoughtful purpose.
  • Focuses on one main idea or topic throughout.
  • Contains relevant information with specific details and clear images.
  • Beginning captures the reader's attention: ending provides confident closure.
  • Uses mature sentences with a variety of structures and clear transitions.
  • Vocabulary well chosen; uses expected terminology.
  • Contains minimum errors, if any, in mechanics, grammar, or spelling.
  • Meets format requirements at the superior level.

College Level Writing Skills:

Level 3

  • Responds directly to the assignment and presents the writer's perspective.
  • The purpose is apparent but not consistently clear.
  • Reader understands the main idea but details are fewer and less relevant.
  • Beginning and ending are generally satisfactory but ordinary or routine.
  • Sentences are usually correct but sometimes awkward and the structure repetitious.
  • Transitions are sometimes missing.
  • Vocabulary adequate but does not use expected terminology fully or precisely.
  • Some errors in mechanics, grammar, or spelling but they do not affect reader understanding.
  • Meets format requirements at an expected level for college writing.

Below College Level Writing Skills:

Level 2

  • Gives an acceptable response to the assignment, but disregards part of the task, providing insufficient information.
  • Details are too general and vague.
  • Discussion stays on topic but generalizes open.
  • Beginning and ending are sometimes limited, simple statement.
  • Sentences are sometimes poorly formed, of limited variety, lacking in transition, and difficult to understand.
  • Vocabulary usually adequate but occasionally unclear; sometimes avoids or misuses the terminology of the lesson.
  • Serious errors in mechanics, grammar, or spelling that are not expected in college writing.
  • Meets format requirements at a minimally acceptable level.

Level 1

  • The writing is an inadequate attempt to respond to the assignments.
  • Very little information is given or what appears is not relevant or correct.
  • Ideas often digress or do not follow any obvious organization.
  • The work may be all one paragraph with no obvious beginning and ending attempted.
  • Vocabulary is often unclear and excessively informal.
  • Serious errors in mechanics, grammar, or spelling which are not acceptable in college writing.
  • Does not meet format requirements at a minimum level.
  • Title of the paper, course title and section number are centered vertically and horizontally on the title page.
  • The first, last, and other important words in the title are capitalized, but no other punctuation appears (quotation marks, underlining, etc.) The page uses no special fonts or excessive print sizes.
  • Student's name and the date are centered horizontally below the titles or placed near the lower right corner.
  • The paper is word-processed, printed in 12-point size in an easy-to-read font, 1.5- or double spaced.
  • Paragraphs use a block format with additional white space between paragraphs.
  • Documentation, if used, correctly follows style guidelines (MLA, APA, CBE, Chicago, etc.) appropriate to the field.

Please also note that format is important to good writing.

Final Grade Options

  • Letter grade (A, B, C, D, F) - Awarded if the student completes all work, including the final exams.
  • Extension (in lieu of Incomplete grade) - Students may request an extension because of illness or other extenuating circumstances, if they have been doing acceptable work. The instructor will define the requirements and timelines to complete the course.
    Please Note: Instructors are not obligated to give extensions.
  • Withdrawal - Students may submit a withdrawal request on or prior to the “Deadline for Student to Withdraw with Guaranteed Grade of W” indicated in the college catalog.

    Students should not contact their instructor to request a withdrawal. A student wishing to withdraw from a class within the stated timeline must do so by visiting my.maricopa.edu or by calling Student Enrollment Services at 480.517.8540 (1.800.729.1197 toll-free). In extreme circumstances, students do have the option of requesting a complete withdrawal from the college by providing Student Enrollment Services with appropriate documentation.

  • Credit/No Credit Option (P/Z) - This course may be taken on a credit/no credit basis.

To receive Credit "P" grade, students must complete all course work, including exams, and attend all required meetings. A "P" grade is judged to be equivalent to a grade of "C" or higher. A No-Credit "Z" grade will be awarded for course work judged to be below the grade of "C."

It is the student's responsibility to request advisement at (480) 517-8580 concerning the transferability of a grade of "P" or "Z."

You have a set number of days from your start date to request to change your grade option. See the table below to determine deadline based upon the length of your course.

For example in a fourteen week course you will have until the 11th calendar day to request to change your grade option.

Class Length

Deadline to Request

Two Weeks

1st Day of Class

Three Weeks

2nd Calendar Day

Four Weeks

3rd Calendar Day

Five Weeks

4th Calendar Day

Six Weeks

5th Calendar Day

Seven Weeks

5th Calendar Day

Eight Weeks

6th Calendar Day

Nine Weeks

7th Calendar Day

Ten Weeks

8th Calendar Day

Eleven Weeks

9th Calendar Day

Twelve Weeks

10th Calendar Day

Thirteen Weeks

10th Calendar Day

Fourteen Weeks

11th Calendar Day

Fifteen Weeks

12th Calendar Day

Sixteen Weeks

Within 14 days including the first class period

Late or Missing Assignments

Policy Regarding Late and/or Missing Assignments and lack of participation: Assignment due date and submission policies must be followed as previously indicated. Students must be actively working on course assignments to remain in the course.

If some unforeseen circumstance interrupts your progress, you must contact your instructor and arrange a new schedule. If necessary, your instructor may agree to your request for an extension of specific assignments and of the end date of your course and assign you a new end date. If you do not finish assignments by agreed on dates and/or the final exam by that date, you will receive an F.

It is your responsibility to contact your instructor if you are unable to submit the first assignment within the first 3 weeks. Also you do need to maintain status as an active student. If you do not maintain communication and submit assignments according to the policies, your instructor may assume that you have withdrawn from the course. Therefore, it is very important that you contact your instructor if some unforeseen circumstance interrupts your progress. DO NOT fall behind and expect to send more than two lessons at a time without time and opportunity for your instructor to give you feedback on your work.

Written Assignment Expectations

Every student is expected to produce his/her original, independent work for these assignments or a grade of 0 points will be given. The following are the expectations used to evaluate your written assignments:

Completeness: Answers to each question should contain two to three paragraphs. Be sure to carefully read each question to assure that each part is answered with the appropriate depth and detail.

Knowledge: The clearest way to display knowledge is to provide depth and detail. Use key terms and provide definitions. Use detailed examples to illustrate concepts. Be specific and avoid generalizations.

Critical Thinking: Critical thinking is the mental process of clearly and logically evaluating information and applying it to the world around us. It is the process of getting beyond "surface" meaning, to inquire, to question, and to offer divergent opinions with the goal of reaching deeper meaning and understanding.

Writing: Answers must be in paragraph format, unless the question specifically indicates otherwise.

Grading Rubric

Completeness (out of 5 points)
Does each answer directly respond to the assignment question?

Knowledge/Application (out of 10 points)
Does each answer clearly show that you have read and understood the lesson content? Do you use the key terms properly? Do you apply the lesson content to the "situation" or the context in the assignment?

Analysis (out of 5 points)
Do you examine the meaning and significance of information, details, examples, and situations needed for decisions and identify the relationships among key concepts in order to answer the assignment questions?

Writing Skills (out of 5 points)

Do you write clearly, in complete sentences with minimal errors in grammar and spelling?

Exams

There is a required At-Home Midterm Exam and an At-Home Final Exam for this course.  More information about taking these exams will be sent to you from your instructor.

You must complete the midterm exam and the final exam by the dates shown on the course calendar. If you cannot take the exams by the dates they are scheduled, you must communicate with your instructor to request an extension and work out a contract for completing the exam.

You may take your midterm and final exams early if you have completed the assignments and received grades and feedback ahead of schedule.

Copyright Acknowledgements

Some images used in courses are from collections licensed by Rio Salado College.

Updated after Faculty approval. - Murray Inman  7/16/2020



Submitting Assignments

All assignments are listed under the "Assessing Your Learning" heading in each lesson.

Note to students: Keep a copy of everything that you submit. If your work is lost you can submit your copy for grading. If you don’t receive your graded assignment or quiz results within two or three weeks after submitting it, please contact your instructor.

The due date listed in your course calendar is the last date on which an assignment can be delivered to the Course Support Office, or postmarked.

Distance Learning Drop Box

Distance Learning students can now drop off class assignments (in an appropriately addressed envelope) and return library books, videotapes, and/or cassettes at the Distance Learning Drop Box.

The Drop Box is conveniently located along the curb in front of the Rio Salado building at 2323 W. 14th Street in Tempe.

Mailed Assignments

All mailed assignments must be properly addressed and mailed with adequate postage. Please remember all correspondence to Rio Salado College must have a return address, an addressee, and the correct postage. The U.S. Postal Service may refuse delivery if any of these three are missing. All items placed in the Rio drop box must have a return address and an addressee. Please keep a copy of all work turned in to your instructor. Assignments will not be accepted if postage is due. If you are unsure of the postage required, take the item to the post office and have it weighed.

Include the course section number and assignment identifier on the envelope below your name and return address. Envelopes that are labeled incorrectly can cause a delay in processing your work. Address your envelope as shown in this example:

From:

Your Name:  Jane Q. Doe
Your Address:   1234 Anywhere Street, Anytown, AZ
Course and Section Numbers:  GPH111, Section 12345
Assignment Identifier:   Essay 1

To:

The Course Support Office Rio Salado College
P. O. Box 63310
Phoenix, AZ 85082-3310
Attn: (Write your instructor’s name here)

Your section number can be found in your "Welcome Letter".

The Course Support staff cannot answer questions about the receipt of specific mail-in assignments. Only your instructor can do so.

Note to students: Please submit only one assignment in each envelope. The special envelopes provided to you by Rio Salado are only for computer answer sheets (Scantrons). Please mail all other assignments in separate envelopes.

Note to students: The U.S. Post Office no longer offers Sunday or holiday mail posting, and pick-up does not automatically mean that your envelope will be posted the same day. To be safe, allow extra time: mail early.

Faxed Assignments

Assignments may be faxed to (480) 377-4728 for print and mixed media courses. Your name, your instructor's name, and the course name and section numbers must appear at the top of every page. When the Course Support Office receives assignments, they are sent to your instructor for evaluation. Once your instructor has graded your assignment, they will return it to you.

Protect your hard work. Again, clearly label every page of your assignment with your name, the course and section numbers, your instructors name, and the name of the assignment as it appears in the syllabus.

Course Completion Policy

A student who registers for a Print or Multimedia course is assigned a start date and an end date. It is the student's responsibility to note due dates for assignments and to keep up with the course work.

Students may request an extension because of illness or other extenuating circumstances, if they have been doing acceptable work. The instructor will define the requirements and timelines to complete the course.

Please Note: It is the prerogative of the instructor to decide whether or not to grant the request.

Library Services

The Rio Salado Library is committed to student success and provides a variety of materials and services to enhance student learning. Utilizing Rio’s online library for your research is the best way to ensure that your sources are validated, authoritative, and appropriate for college-level coursework. Librarians are available to help you at all times via our Ask a Librarian live chat service. You can access all library services at https://learnatrio.com/31qeRec.

Academic Misconduct

Academic Misconduct includes cheating, conspiring to cheat, soliciting to cheat, attempting to cheat, plagiarism, fabrication on an assignment, or other forms of dishonest presentation.

Posting assessments on an unauthorized web site, soliciting assessment answers and the unauthorized acquisition of assessments, assessment answers, or other academic material is cheating. Turning in content created by essay generators or other types of artificial intelligence platforms is also academic misconduct.

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, the use of paraphrase or direct quotation of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment. It also includes the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling or sharing of term papers or other academic materials. Information gathered from the Internet and not properly identified is also considered plagiarism.

We expect every student to produce their own original, independent work. Any student whose work indicates a violation of the MCCCD Academic Misconduct Policy, including cheating and plagiarism, can expect sanctions as specified in the college catalog. This policy is located at https://district.maricopa.edu/regulations/admin-regs/section-2/2-3#11.

Rio Salado College uses software that uncovers plagiarism from student to student and other data sources on the Internet. If a student is found to have plagiarized content, grade consequences will be applied in accordance with departmental policies.

Civility Policy

The faculty of Rio Salado place a high value on the importance of general ethical standards of academic behavior and expect that communication between students and instructors or among students shall maintain the level of formality and mutual respect appropriate to any college teaching/learning situation.

Language or behavior that is rude, abusive, profane, disruptive, or threatening will not be tolerated. Activity of this type is defined as Academic Misconduct in the MCCCD Academic Misconduct Policy (AR 2.3.11). Students engaging in such behavior will be removed from the course with a failing grade. Additional sanctions may be applied pursuant to AR 2.3.11. This policy is located at https://district.maricopa.edu/regulations/admin-regs/section-2/2-3#11.

Requirement for Active Class Participation

Please note that students may be withdrawn from class for non-participation.

If you receive financial aid of any kind, it is your responsibility to protect your eligibility to receive financial aid by meeting the active participation requirements of this class.

Change of Address

Please notify Course Support at (480) 517-8243 or by email at course.support@riosalado.edu. Please include your name, student number, phone number, and new address including city, state, and zip code.

Classroom Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) and its associated colleges are committed to providing equitable access to learning opportunities to students with documented disabilities (e.g. mental health, attentional, learning, chronic health, sensory, or physical). Each class/term/semester that a student is in need of academic adjustments/accommodations, the qualified student is required to work with the Disability Resources & Services Office (DRS) at their individual college(s). Contact with the DRS should be made as soon as possible to ensure academic needs are met in a reasonable time. New and returning students must request accommodations each semester through DRS Connect online services. To learn more about this easy process, please contact your local DRS office.

If you have not yet established services through DRS, but have a temporary health condition or permanent disability that requires accommodations, you are welcome to contact DRS by using the information listed on the following webpage: https://district.maricopa.edu/consumer-information/disability-resources/contacts. The DRS offers resources and coordinates reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities and/or temporary health conditions qualifying for accommodations/academic adjustments. Reasonable accommodations are established through an interactive process between you, your faculty, and DRS; and only those academic adjustments/reasonable accommodations granted by the DRS are recognized by the college and District. It is the policy and practice of the MCCCD to create inclusive and accessible learning environments consistent with federal and state law.

Retrieved from https://district.maricopa.edu/mandatory-drs-title-ix-syllabus-statements on 09/27/2019.

Rio Salado College Disability Resources & Services

Web: https://learnatrio.com/RL-disability_services

Phone: 480-517-8562

Email: disability.services@riosalado.edu

Religious Accommodations

Rio Salado College will reasonably accommodate the religious needs, observances, and practices of their students, when requested and the requests are made in accordance with the procedures set forth in ND-4. Any student may request a religious accommodation by making a written request for an accommodation to the appropriate faculty member using the Religious Accommodation Request form. To the extent possible, requests must be made at least two (2) weeks before the requested absence from class due to religious holiday or day of observance.

Title IX Statement

Addressing Incidents of Sexual Harassment/Assault, Dating/Domestic Violence, and Stalking

In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, MCCCD prohibits unlawful sex discrimination against any participant in its education programs or activities. The District also prohibits sexual harassment—including sexual violence—committed by or against students, District employees, and visitors to campus. As outlined in District policy, sexual harassment, dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking are considered forms of "Sexual Misconduct" prohibited by District policy.

District policy requires all college and District employees in a teaching, managerial, or supervisory role to report all incidents of Sexual Misconduct that come to their attention in any way, including but not limited to face-to-face conversations, a written class assignment or paper, class discussion, email, text, or social media post. Incidents of Sexual Misconduct should be reported to the college Title IX Coordinator. MCCCD will provide on its Title IX Coordinators web page at https://district.maricopa.edu/consumer-information/title-ix/title-ix-coordinators, a link to all the Title IX Coordinators in the district. Reports may also be reported at https://district.maricopa.edu/consumer-information/reporting.

Retrieved from https://district.maricopa.edu/mandatory-drs-title-ix-syllabus-statements on 09/27/2019.

Rio Salado College Title IX Coordinator

O. Tafari Osayande

Rio Salado College
2323 W. 14th St.
Tempe, AZ 85281

Phone: (480) 517-8196

Email: o.tafari.osayande@riosalado.edu

Disclaimer

Course content may vary from this outline to meet the needs of this particular group.

Student Solution Center

Rio Salado College is dedicated to a quality learning experience and has provided the Student Solution Center webpage, https://learnatrio.com/3DGKHTz, as a resource for students to raise issues to our attention. We look forward to the opportunity to provide an equitable solution to all involved parties.

For grading or instructional issues, students should first contact their faculty member(s) in accordance with the Instructional Grievance Process at https://district.maricopa.edu/regulations/admin-regs/appendices/students/s-6, as published in the college catalog.

The Office of Institutional Integrity & Compliance responds to all non-instructional challenges and concerns a student may encounter while attending Rio Salado College. Call (480) 517-8505 or email studentcomplaints@riosalado.edu.

The Conduct and Community Standards Office is available to assist students in understanding their rights and responsibilities and administers the Student Code of Conduct policies and procedures. The Conduct and Community Standards Office also works with Academic Affairs to administer the Academic Code of Conduct. Call (480) 517-8196 or email communitystandards@riosalado.edu.

Students may also contact their state regulatory agency (see https://learnatrio.com/RL-state_authorization), the Arizona SARA Council at https://azsara.arizona.edu/content/complaint-process or the Higher Learning Commission at http://www.hlcommission.org/Student-Resources/complaints.html to escalate their concerns.

Contact Rio Salado College

Rio Salado College

Headquarters/Tempe Campus

2323 West 14th Street, Tempe, AZ 85281
In-State (AZ) 480-517-8000
Out-of-State 1-833-RIO-WAVE

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