COMM 121 - Human Communication Dynamics

3 Credits: (3 lecture)

Course Description
This course is an overview of common theories relevant to the study of the communication processes and a basic introduction to the various divisions and research methods within the discipline.  This course meets the General Education competency of Values, Ethics, and Diverse Perspectives (VE). 

Note Fall semester only.

Text
Floyd, Kory. Interpersonal Communication. 4th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2021.

Objectives
The student will be able to: 

A. Acquire a basic vocabulary of communication terms and concepts and explain those concepts using the various communication models. 

B. Recognize the various settings in which the communication process takes place and the methods used to study and evaluate those processes. 

C. Identify the characteristics of language as a part of the communication system. 

D. Demonstrate through group intervention the ability to analyze human communication as it functions at various levels and in various contexts. 

E. Examine ethical problems from a variety of social and professional perspectives with an emphasis on communication. (VE) 

F. Examine the complexity of global humanity diversity and the various forces that shape it with an emphasis on communication. (VE) 

Content
A. An examination of the various communication theories, models, and research. 

B. A brief historical review of the study of communication. 

C. A study of human communication processing, including the development and reception of language. 

D. A review of nonverbal communication, including body language, space, touch, paralanguage, silence and time. 

E. An overview of interpersonal, intrapersonal, intercultural and group communication. 

Student Evaluation
A. Quizzes and exams 

B. Quizzes, exams, group discussions and papers 

C. Quizzes and exams 

D. Group exercises 

E. Papers, group discussions and exercises 

F. Quizzes, exams and papers

Bibliography
Allen, James.  Natural Language Understanding.  2nd ed. Benjamin/Cummings Pub., 1995. 

Aronson, Elliot.  The Social Animal.  7th ed.  W. H. Freeman, 1995. 

Beyond Boundaries. George Mason University Press, 1989. 

Chapman, Robert L.  Thesaurus of American Slang. 1st ed.  Harper and Row, 1989. 

Christians, Clifford G., Kim B. Rotzoll, and Mark Fackler. Media Ethics. Longman, 1987. 

Conrad, Charles.  Strategic Organizational Communication. 2nd ed. Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 1989. 

DeVito, Joseph A. The Communications Handbook:  A Dictionary. Harper and Row, 1986. 

Dodd, Carley H.  Dynamics of Intercultural Communication, 3rd ed.  William C. Brown, 1994. 

Dreher, Barbard Bender.  Communication Skills for Working with Elders. Springer Publishing Co., 1987. 

Dress in American Culture. Bowling Green State University Popular Press, 1993. 

Floyd, James J. Listening, a Practical Approach. Scott, Foresman, 1985. 

Foster, D. Glenn.  How Can I Get Through To You?:  Breakthrough Communication Beyond Gender, Beyond Therapy, Beyond Deception. Hyperion, 1994. 

Glass, Lillian.  He Says, She Says:  Closing the Communication Gap Between the Sexes. Putnam, 1992. 

Gray, John. Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus. Harper Collins, 1992. 

International Encyclopedia of Communications. Erik Barnouw, ed. Oxford University Press, 1989. 

McLaughlin, Margaret T.  Conversation:  How Talk Is Organized. Sage Publishing, 1984. 

Molcho, Samy, and Robert Ivanka.  Body Speech.  St. Martin’s Press, 1985. 

Noronha, Shonan F. R.  Careers in Communication.  Career Horizons, 1987. 

Sowell, Thomas.  Race and Culture:  A World View.  Basic Books, 1994. 

Steele, Shelby.  The Content of Our Character:  A New Vision of Race in America. St. Martin’s Press, 1990.  

Stiff, James B.  Persuasive Communication.  Guilford Press, 1994. 

Tannen, Deborah.  That’s Not What I Meant: How Conversational Style Makes or Breaks Your Relationship with Others. Morrow, 1986. 

_____You Just Don’t Understand:  Women and Men in Conversation, 1st ed.  Morrow, 1990. 

_____Talking from 9 to 5:  How Women’s and Men’s Conversational Styles Affect Who 

Gets Heard, Who Gets Credit, and What Gets Done at Work.  Morrow, 1994.