Discussion Notes / Assignments (Class Moodle)
We live in our communication, with no form of communication occupying more hours our days than our interpersonal interaction with others in dyads (pairs, couples, twos, etc) and informal small groups. It is in our interpersonal communication, more than anything else, that defines who we are and the nature of our relationships with others. Interpersonal communication is not just something we do, it is something we live. It is the dominant form of communication in most of our lives, whether we are talking to parents, friends, significant others, spouses, salespeople, coworkers, bosses, employees, etc. Even if we make a career in the mass media as journalists or broadcasters, it is our interaction with others (interpersonal interviews and interactions with colleagues) that will shape our careers and career opportunities.
This course is a reflective exploration of our face-to-face communication, one of the oldest forms of human communication, and its variants, including the many technological mediated interpersonal communication systems that you use every day (telephones, cell phones, texting, instant messaging, computer conferencing, etc. The course will mix theory with research and daily practice as we look for ways to improve our friendships, relationships, and our social and business interaction with others.
Wood, Julia T. Interpersonal Communication: Everyday Encounters, 8th Edition. (Make sure you get the 8th Edition and not a prior edition).
Julia Wood’s text is the leading textbook on Interpersonal communication. It is expensive to buy ($188.50 list, although it can be less expensive) in its paper edition, but much less expensive in electronic editions. I use an electronic edition (mostly because I can fit a lot of books on an iPad, which I find more convenient than books when reading on the subway). I recommend getting a electronic copy that runs on your laptop, computer, tablet, or e-reader. There may be other sources (I haven’t looked, but both Amazon and VitalSource.com rent electronic versions of the text for about a third to a half of that price ($55-$66). Lower prices may be available for used copies, so be sure to check alternatives online. Be sure to get the 8th edition. I have not provided the bookstore with information about this text, but it may have it anyway.
Attendance is mandatory. The Brooklyn College Bulletin states that "Students are expected to attend all scheduled sessions of every class for which they register. Students late for class may be excluded from the room. An instructor may consider attendance and class participation in determining course grade." While I am unlikely to lock the door, I will take account of missed class time in computing grades. You should not, as a general note, ask me for "permission" to miss class. While I will try to be understanding of documented emergencies, the basic reality (which has more to do with your ability to learn when you aren't in class than anything else) is that absences make your grade grow smaller.