Professor: Dr. Marianne Dainton
Office: CC 201
Phone: 951-1158 (main office 951-1844)
Email: dainton@lasalle.edu
Office Hours: MF 10-11, W 5-6 and by appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course introduces students to interpersonal communication, mass communication, and persuasion theories. The nature of--and differences between--social scientific and humanistic theories will be discussed. A focus will be the research methods used to develop and /or test communication theories. The course is geared towards Sophomore students with limited exposure to communication coursework.

COURSE OBJECTIVES
At the end of the course, students should be able to:

1. use the terminology associated with communication theories.
2. distinguish between social scientific and humanistic theories.
3. identify a "good" theory based on established criteria.
4. apply communication theories to communication events.
5. explain research methods used to develop and/or test communication theories.
6. express themselves through oral and written form.

REQUIRED TEXTS:
Griffin, E. (2003). A first look at communication theory (5th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Bourhis, J., Adams, Titsworth, S., & Harter, L. (2002). Style manual for communication studies. New York: McGraw Hill.

ADDITIONAL READINGS ON RESERVE AT THE LIBRARY:
Littlejohn, S.W. (1998). Theories of human communication (6th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
West, R., & Turner, L.H. (2000). Introducing communication theory. Mountain View,
CA: Mayfield.
Wood, J.T. (1997). Communication theories in action. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

FINAL GRADE DETERMINED AS FOLLOWS:
Exams (4) 50% (12.5% each)
"New" Theory
Draft 5%
Paper 15%
Presentation 5%
Evaluation Paper 15%
Participation 5%
Research Practicum 3%
Homework 2%

COURSE ASSIGNMENTS
EXAMS: Four exams will be given, three during the semester and one during the scheduled final period. All exams will involve multiple choice, short answers (e.g., a paragraph), and longer answers (e.g., a page). Each exam covers only material presented since the last exam, including the final (i.e., the final is not cumulative).

"NEW" THEORY PAPER AND PRESENTATION: Working in small groups, students will use their ingenuity, imagination, previous coursework, and personal experience to create, test, and present applications of an original theory of communication. The theory might be completely new, or it might be a significant variation of another theory(ies) we have covered in class. ***Every paper must be submitted in hard copy, as well as via turnitin.com. Information about turnitin.com is attached in Appendix A. Note that the final paper is listed as "revision 1."

Final Paper
The completed document must include the following sections (clearly labeled):

1. Introduction, which includes the name of the theory with an explanation of the name, and an overview of the rest of the paper [approx. 1 page];
2. A thorough description of the theory: key terms, major predictions, etc., including any pertinent research related to definitions or rationale [approx. 2-3 pages];
3. Explanation of how the theory was influenced by other theories (make sure you reference!) [approx. 2-3 pages];
4. Detailed "mini-study" using the theory (experiment, survey, textual analysis, etc.) [approx 2 pages];
5. Summary about how the study results impact the theory (e.g., revise, expand, abandon) [up to 1 page];
6. Conclusion that summarizes your paper [up to 1 page];
7. References.

Draft
You are required to submit a draft of your paper, which should include sections 1, 2, and 3 as described above, and a proposal for section 4 (i.e., a specific description of what you plan on doing for your mini-study, with any measuring instruments included), as well as references. Writing does count, so treat this as a means for completing half the paper by mid-term. Please treat me as a resource that can help you with decisions and information.

Presentation
For your presentation, remember to follow the rules of public speaking: a clear preview of the goals of your presentation, clear transitions between topics, a conclusion that summarizes what you have said, and an extemporaneous speaking style. Some sort of visual aid is necessary. Creativity and liveliness is expected! All members of the group must have a significant speaking role. Rather than spending a whole lot of time talking about library sources, treat this as a simulation of the classroom experience thus far-explain the theory, provide applications of the theory, and talk about your research. Tips about presentations are attached in Appendix B. NOTE: Reading your presentation will lead to a C at best!

EVALUATION PAPER: Select any theory that we covered in class this semester. Determine the usefulness of that theory by providing an evaluation of each of the five ways to evaluate a theory (accuracy, practicality, simplicity, consistency, acuity). Make sure you provide evidence for each of the five criteria; this is not your personal opinion of the usefulness of the theory, this is a "library" research paper. You will have to go beyond your text and class notes and reference additional research. The websites listed on this syllabus and the books on the reserve at the library are a good place to start.

Technical details: After a clear preview of your paper, the paper should be organized around each of the five ways to evaluate theory, using specific quotes from your research. Finish your paper with a conclusion that summarizes what you have discussed and ultimately determines the usefulness of the theory. Reference throughout, including your text and class notes. Use APA style (see helpful hints on my website under "writing guidelines."). Put your name on a title page, or on the back of the paper; do not identify yourself anywhere else in your paper. The paper will be approximately 4-5 pages long. ***Every paper must be submitted in hard copy, as well as via turnitin.com. Information about how to use this service is attached in Appendix A***

PARTICIPATION: A portion of your grade will be based on your participation in class activities and discussions. Obviously, you cannot participate if you are not in class, so every absence will adversely affect your participation grade.

RESEARCH PRACTICUM: A particular type of participation is associated with the three research practica. Absence on a research practicum day automatically gives you a 0 for that activity, regardless of whether the absence is excused or unexcused; by their nature research practica cannot be made up.

HOMEWORK: Every student is expected to complete a typed homework assignment, which requires them to attend one of the "Political Communication and Civic Engagement" activities during the semester. The homework is to describe the activity you participated in, and explain how it is related to a specific communication theory. Events will be announced in class. You may submit your homework early!

COURSE POLICIES

1. NO make-ups on exams except in cases of extreme emergency (i.e., not feeling well or having another exam are not extreme emergencies). Written documentation MUST be provided. The following is what I consider acceptable written documentation: a hospital bill for you (not a relative or friend), a police accident report for the day you are scheduled to present (not the day before or the week before), a court summons, a letter from the Dean of Students. If there is any question that you won't make it to one of your exams, call the instructor or the department BEFORE the scheduled exam.

2. You MUST present on the assigned day. If a catastrophe happens, you must let me know before the class period. You will not be permitted to present at an alternate time unless written documentation is provided. See above for acceptable forms of written documentation.

3. Paper grades will be lowered one full grade (i.e., 10 points) for every day they are late, starting immediately after the class period in which the paper was due, and including weekends and holidays. With permission, e-mailed papers may be accepted. However, it is the student's responsibility to make sure the paper was received and formatting was correct. Penalities accrue until the point that the professor provides acknowledgement of receipt of the paper, regardless of when you submit the paper.

4. Failure to submit papers via turnitin.com will result in a 20-point deduction per paper. No exceptions, no excuses.

5. Students are expected to attend class regularly and to arrive on time. Late arrivals are disruptive both to me and to your fellow students. Further, while I sympathize with any problems you might experience this semester, the following are not considered acceptable excuses for missing classes or assignments: difficulties with computers/ computer printers, boyfriends/girlfriends/roommates/families/pets, bad weather, unreasonable quantities of work expected by other professors (or me :), job interviews, parking problems, work schedules, road trips, or too much fun on Thursday night. If an absence extends over a protracted period of time, or if there has been a death in the family, the Office of the Dean of Students should be notified.

6. Based on my experience in teaching this course, students who choose not to attend find it very difficult to pass the course (no, I don't mean it is tough for them to get a B or a C, I mean it is difficult for them to receive anything other than an F). Much of the course content will come from class lecture and activities. Think about the material, come to class, ask questions, actively listen, and do your best during class activities.

7. During the period in which I return exams or papers I will be glad to explain grading criteria and expected answers. However, I believe that it is inappropriate to discuss a single individual's grade in a classroom setting, and request that students see me during office hours or schedule a meeting to discuss a particular response or grade. Moreover, during such meetings I will only clarify the reasons for the grade. If students wish to petition for a different grade (i.e., that s/he should not have lost points for a particular answer), the student should write a rationale for why his/her answer is correct, relying on cites from the textbook or class lecture.

ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT: Academic misconduct includes plagiarism, cheating on examinations or other assignments, and providing work to other students. Academic misconduct is unethical because it is deception (you are pretending to have thought things or done things you have not done) and it is potentially theft (you are stealing another's ideas or work). Moreover, it is unfair to others, and it shows a lack of respect for the professor and the educational process.

The following acts (whether accidental or intentional) qualify as plagiarism:

§ Turning in someone else's work as your own, whether that work was purchased (for example, through the internet) or freely given to you (for example, by a friend);
§ Copying another's work word-for-word, in whole or in part, without citing the true author AND using quotation marks;
§ Paraphrasing another's work without citing the true author;
§ Borrowing key ideas or facts, when they fall outside the bounds of "common knowledge" without citing the true source(s);
§ Imitating a source's syntax or phrasing (that is, simply replacing the source's original words with synonyms);
§ Turning in collaborative assignments without crediting all of the authors or, conversely, crediting others with authorship who did not actually contribute; and
§ Giving oral presentations without citing the sources of direct quotations, paraphrases, and key ideas and facts.

Evidence of academic misconduct constitutes grounds for failure of the course. Remember that you must use turnitin.com!

GRADE SCALE:
A+ 97-100% B+ 87-89% C+ 77-79% D+ 67-69%
A 93-96% B 83-86% C 73-76% D 60-66%
A- 90-92% B- 80-82% C- 70-72% F Below 60%

PAPER GRADES:

Papers will receive a letter grade, corresponding to the following qualities:

"A" papers stand out as genuinely superior work. More than merely meeting the requirements of the assignment, they provide insight into the material above and beyond that provided in the sources that are utilized. In short, "A" papers reflect a depth of understanding that sparks in the reader new ways to think about the topic at hand. The writing is outstanding; "A" papers demonstrate clear organization, including the lucid and explicit expression of ideas, and meticulous referencing (refer to the writing guidelines on my web site).

"B" papers are very good. They meet all of the requirements of the assignment, and demonstrate mastery of the concepts. The writing and grammar are excellent, with clear organization, and excellent referencing. In general, "B" papers do everything they are supposed to do, but do not present challenging, interesting, or insightful understanding of concepts.

"C" papers demonstrate some weakness, which is average. Perhaps the paper does not fully meet the criteria of the assignment. There may be spelling and grammatical errors and/or lack of a clear organizational structure. The writer might not have made adequate links to text and lecture information. In short, the paper is of average quality.

"D" papers are very weak. Possible reasons include poor writing; failure to demonstrate a clear grasp of the concepts at hand (i.e., terms are used inappropriately or are not used at all); instructions are not followed; and/or little effort is made to link the ideas of the paper to course ideas. "D" papers border on unacceptable.

"F" papers are unacceptable. The writing is generally poor and/or the criteria for the assignment have not been met in any fashion.

TENTATIVE CLASS SCHEDULE

DATE TOPIC ASSIGNMENT
Mon. August 30, Introduction to Class
Wed. Sept. 1, Introduction to Theory, Dainton & Zelley pp. 1-6
Fri. Sept. 3, Introduction to Research, Dainton & Zelley pp. 6-13

Mon. Sept. 6, OFF Labor Day
Wed. Sept. 8, Meta-theory, Dainton & Zelley pp. 13-18
Fri. Sept. 10, Evaluating Theory, Dainton & Zelley pp. 18-22

Mon. Sept. 13, Review for Exam
Wed. Sept. 15, Exam 1
Fri. Sept. 17, Group Meetings [Pull together initial idea for your theory, begin library research]

Mon. Sept. 20, Exams Returned, Intro to IPC
Wed. Sept. 22, Uncertainty Reduction Theory, Ch. 10
Fri. Sept. 24, Social Exchange Theory, http://twist.lib.uiowa.edu/36070/lect14.html

Mon. Sept. 27, Expectancy Violations Theory, Ch. 6 [Library research completed, begin finalizing theory]
Wed. Sept. 29, Dialectics Theory, Ch. 11
Fri. Oct. 1, Systems Theory, Ch. 12

Mon. Oct. 4, Research Practicum:Survey Research [Think about how you might conduct research for your theory]
Wed. Oct. 6, Review for Exam
Fri. Oct. 8, Exam 2
Mon. Oct. 11, Cognitive Dissonance, Ch. 15 [Begin brainstorming ideas for the research you need to do]
Wed. Oct. 13, Social Judgment, Ch. 13
Fri. Oct. 15, Elaboration Likelihood, Ch. 14

Mon. Oct. 18, Aristotle's Rhetoric, Ch. 21 [Finalize details of draft]
Wed. Oct. 20, Narrative Paradigm, Ch. 23
Fri. Oct. 22, Research Practicum:Experimental Research, Draft of New Theory Paper Due

Mon. Oct. 25, OFF Fall Break
Wed. Oct. 27, Review for Exam [Address necessary revisions, make plans to conduct research]
Fri. Oct. 29, Exam 3

Mon. Nov. 1, Social Learning Theory, www.afirstlook.com go to "theory archive," then "social learning"
Wed. Nov. 3, Agenda Setting Theory, Ch. 28
Fri. Nov. 5, Cultivation Theory, Ch. 27

Mon. Nov. 8, Semiotics, Ch. 25, Political Theme Homework
Wed. Nov. 10, Cultural Studies, Ch. 26
Fri. Nov. 12, Meet with Groups [Research completed, analyze data]

Mon. Nov. 15, Research Practicum: Content Analysis
Wed. Nov. 17, Review for Exam
Fri. Nov. 19, Exam 4

Mon. Nov. 22, Practical Advice for the Rest of the Semester-Be There! [Results of Study Collated]
Wed. Nov. 24, OFF Thanksgiving
Fri. Nov. 26, OFF Thanksgiving
Mon. Nov. 29, Meet with Groups [Pull together final components of paper]
Wed. Dec. 1, Presentation New Theory Papers Due
Fri. Dec. 3, Presentation

Mon. Dec. 6, Presentation
Wed. Dec. 8, Presentation
Fri. Dec. 10, Recap and Review for Final Paper

Theory Evaluation Paper Due during Final Exam Period