SAMPLE SYLLABUS
This syllabus assumes a fifteen-week semester meeting 3 times per week.
It may be easily adapted to classes meeting once or twice a week and for a
university using a quarter system.
Sample Syllabus for Introduction to Communication Course
Section:
Time:
Professor:
Office:
Hours:
Phone/email
Basic Purpose of the Course
This is a survey course, which attempts to introduce students to basic ideas
and practices used in the field of communication. By combining theoretical
approaches with applied activities, student will learn valuable skills that are
desired in the contemporary job market. Students will be expected to
participate in a variety of activities, discussions, readings, and assignments
to successfully master the content area.
Text
Objectives
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
1. Define the human communication process.
2. Recognize the role that perception, language, nonverbal behavior, and
culture effect communication.
3. Identify strategies for improving their listening skills.
4. Utilize strategies to better manage interpersonal relationships.
5. Recognize the value that conflict brings to communication.
6. Employ effective and appropriate strategies to better manage conflict.
7. Distinguish between group and team performance.
8. Identify strategies to enhance group and team performance.
9. Participate effectively in group procedures.
10. Prepare and deliver an informative speech.
11. Prepare and deliver a persuasive speech.
12. Identify strategies to help reduce anxiety.
Attendance Policy
As this course relies heavily on class participation and involvement, students
are expected to attend each class. Recognizing that conflicts do occasionally
occur, students will be granted the equivalent of one week of absence, 3
MWF classes, 2 TR, or 1 evening, without deduction. Absences accruing
after these will be deducted from the student’s participation grades.
Students with 7 or more absences may be dropped by the instructor.
Evaluation
work and will be awarded to students who simply complete the instructions
of assignments given in class. The grade B will be used to identify above
average work and will be reserved for those who demonstrate a genuine
performance on the following assignments.
ACTUAL POINT VALUES MAY FLUCTUATE AS MUCH AS 5%
No make-up work, late assignments, or extra credit will be accepted.
Students are expected to contact the professor should any scheduling
problems arise. It is the student’s responsibility to keep the professor
informed of any problems.
may face additional punishment. THIS POLICY WILL BE STRICTLY
ENFORCED.
Rules
Tentative Daily Schedule
Week Activity Due for Class
One
Monday Introduction and Welcome
Three
Monday Defining and Improving Language Chapter Three
Wednesday Nonverbal Communication Chapter Four
Friday Understanding Nonverbal Codes Chapter Four
Four
Monday Defining Listening Chapter Five
Wednesday Barriers of Listening Chapter Five
Friday Culture and Communication Chapter Six
Five
Monday Adapting to Others Chapter Six
Wednesday Interpersonal Communication Chapter Seven
Friday Interpersonal Communication Chapter Seven
ANALYSIS PAPERS DUE
Six
Monday MID-TERM EXAM
Wednesday Enhancing Relationships Chapter Eight
Friday Getting Relationships Going Chapter Eight
INTEPERSONAL PAPERS DUE
Monday Choosing and Shaping a Topic Chapter Eleven
Wednesday Organizing and Outlining Chapter Twelve
Friday Delivery Chapter Thirteen
Ten
Monday GROUP ACTIVITY GROUP WORK
Wednesday GROUP ACTIVITY GROUP WORK
Friday Informative Speech Assignment
Eleven
Monday Visual Aids Chapter Thirteen
Wednesday Speaking to Inform Chapter Fourteen
Friday Speaking to Inform Chapter Fourteen
Twelve
Monday Adapting to Audiences Chapter Thirteen
Wednesday Speaking to Persuade Chapter Fifteen
Friday Speech Workshop Rough Outlines
Persuasive Speech Assigned
Thirteen
Monday Persuasion Chapter Fifteen
Wednesday Speech workshop
Friday SPEECHES OUTLINES
Fourteen
Monday SPEECHES OUTLINES
Wednesday SPEECHES OUTLINES
Friday SPEECHES OUTLINES