First Semester, 2010-2011                                    Revised 29 Aug 2010

COMM2310--Communication Theory, Section 1

WED 10:30-13:20 CVA111

INSTRUCTOR

Ringo Ma, PhD
Professor
Office: CVA 914
Phone: 3411-7483
Office Hours: Mon 10:00-12:00; Wed 15:00-19:00
E-mail: ringoma@hkbu.edu.hk
http://hkbu.edu.hk/~ringoma/

TEACHING ASSISTANT

LU Chen
Office: CVA 809
Phone: 3411-5160
E-mail: 09466592@hkbu.edu.hk

TEXTBOOK

Infante, D. A., Rancer, A. S., & Womack, D. F. (2003). Building communication theory (4th ed.). Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press.

LEARNING OUTCOMES, LEARNING ACTIVITIES, & ASSESSMENT METHODS

(Links among the three are indicated in parentheses.)

 

 

Course Learning Outcomes

 

After taking this course students

should be able to:

 

I.             understand the nature of theory, and how theory is constructed and applied;

II.           understand and evaluate some major theories of, and approaches to, communication that have been presented by scholars; and

III.       apply some theories to examine actual communication processes.

Student Learning Activities

 

A.        Lectures (I, II, III)

B.         Case study (I, II, III)

C.         Role playing (I, II, III)

D.         Student presentation (I, II, III)

E.          Group Project (I, II, III)

Assessment Methods

 

1.          Project One: Learning Package--20% (I, II, III, B, C, D, E)

2.            Project Two: Theoretical Analysis of Selected Cases--20% (I, II, III, B, D, E)

3.            Five Quizzes--50% (I, II, III, B)

4.          Attendance & Participation--10% (III, A, B, C, D, E)

 

CLASS SCHEDULE AND READINGS

 

Week

Date

Class Activities

2

08/09

Course Orientation
Chap. 1/2/3
Group namelists (in which each member's student ID # and full name should be included) due

3

15/09

Project One: Group 1 (Chap. 1 & 2), Group 2 (Chap. 3)

4

22/09

Quiz 1 (Chap. 1/2/3)

Chap. 4/5

5

29/09

Chap. 4/5

Project One: Group 3 (Chap. 4) & Group 4 (Chap. 5)

6

06/10

Quiz 2 (Chap. 4/5)

Chap. 6/7

7

13/10

Chap. 6/7
Project One: Group 5 (Chap. 6) & Group 6 (Chap. 7)

8

20/10

Quiz 3 (Chap. 6/7)
Chap. 8/9/10

9

27/10

Chap. 8/9/10

10

03/11

Chap. 8/9/10

Project One: Group 7 (Chap. 8) & Group 8 (Chap. 9&10)

11

10/11

Quiz 4 (Chap. 8/9/10)

Chap. 11/12

12

17/11

Chap. 11/12

Project One: Group 9 (Chap. 11) & Group 10 (Chap. 12)

13

24/11

Quiz 5 (Chap. 11/12)
Project 2

14

01/12

Project 2

Please note:
Only the following sections in Chapter 8, 9, and 10 will be tested in Quiz 4:

Chapter 8:

  • Uncertainty Reduction Theory
  • Predicted Outcome Value Theory
  • Attraction Theories and Relational Development
  • Personal Construct Theory
  • Coordinated Management of Meaning
  • Relational Dialectics
  • A Systems Model of Relational Interaction

Chapter 9:

  • Theory of Groupthink
  • Symbolic Convergence Theory
  • Interaction System Model

Chapter 10:

  • Development of Organizational Communication
  • A Theory of Decision Making, Identification, and Control
  • Organizational Information Theory
  • Structural-Functional Systems

QUIZZES (50%)

There will be five quizzes during the semester, which will constitute 50% of the semester grade (the highest one will be 15%, the lowest one will be 5%, and each of the remaining three will be 10%). These quizzes will cover exclusive sets of information, that is, they will not be cumulative.

PROJECT ONE (20%)

In this project, each group presents a learning package to the class. For example, a group can present cases related to the assigned chapter(s), and then (b) conducts class discussion and activities based on the cases presented. Each group has to submit a written report indicating the approach(es) used for presentation, the justification for the approach(es), and the expected learning outcomes. The written report is due on the same day but before the group presentation.

PROJECT TWO (20%)

In this project each group presents a communication problem or an unusual communication phenomenon, and then provides a theoretical analysis through applying communication theories learned in the course. Each member should apply a theory different from the rest of the group and prepare a full-page double-spaced written report. In the written report, list the communication problem/phenomenon and the name of the theory to be applied before analysis. On the day of presentation, the following will be collected from each group: a hard copy of the PowerPoint file used by the group and a written report from each member.

ATTENDANCE & PARTICIPATION (10%)

Attendance is mandatory in this course. Any student who misses more than six (6) hours, unexcused, is subject to dismissal from the course. In addition, each hour will result in a loss of 1%.

GRADING

5 Quizzes--50%
Project One--20%
Project Two--20%
Attendance & Participation--10%

FINAL NOTES

  • Academic dishonesty in the form of cheating and/or plagiarism in all its forms will result in a grade of "F" for the assignment.
  • The deadlines for all assignments in this course are "hard" deadlines; no late submission will be accepted except in the case of a documented disaster.
  • Don't do to others what you wouldn't have others do to you (子曰﹕“己所不欲﹐勿施於人。”).
    請注意﹕上堂遲到早退﹐堂上交頭接耳均屬侵犯別人專心聽課權益的行為。