| H. Paul LeBlanc III, PhD | Office: 458-7724, Fax: 458-5991 |
| Department of Communication | E-mail through WebCT |
| MB 2.248D | Office hours: 1-2 TR, or 4-5 T |
This course will introduce majors to the discipline of communication and to the communication program at UTSA. Students will be presented with the fundamental concepts in social interaction, technical communication, and public relations. Emphasis is placed on the development of research and writing skills, as well as the use of information technologies. Students will have opportunities to interact with and learn the research interests of Communication faculty. Lectures, discussion, classroom exercises, written assignments, oral presentations, and in-class and out-of-class observations will be used to aid the development of knowledge and skills relating to the study of communication. The following objectives are core to the course:
Levitt, S. R. (Ed.). (2004). Readings for foundations of communication. Southlake, TX: Fountainhead.
The course text will be available at the 1604 Campus Bookstore in the University Center. Supplementary readings will be posted on WebCT or made available through the UTSA Library Reserve.
Cheating, plagiarism and collusion will not be tolerated. All work submitted must be the original work of the student, for this course only (no submitting the same assignment in more than one class). The penalty for plagiarism, cheating or collusion may include failing the assignment, failing the course, or expulsion from the University depending on the severity of the infraction. Please see the University's Student Code of Conduct for information regarding this policy.
Course requirements must be fulfilled in order to successfully pass the course. Late assignments will not be accepted. Incompletes will be given only in very limited cases and only when they meet the Policy for Incompletes on file in the Department of Communication office, as well as the University requirements for Incompletes as specified in the Information Guide and the Handbook of Operating Procedures. Please see the Course Materials Handbook for further information on assignments, grading criteria, and course schedule. All other University policies will be followed.
In order for this course to be a successful learning experience for you, active and committed participation on your part is crucial; therefore, as specified in the Information Guide, students are expected to attend class. All assignments are due according to the Schedule of Assignments listed in the Course Materials Handbook. Students are expected to take examinations and turn in assignments at the scheduled time. Students who may miss an examination or assignment deadline due to an authorized University activity should make arrangements to complete the assignment in advance, which includes approval from the student's Dean. Late assignments or examinations will not be accepted. Please also see the Handbook of Operating Procedures for policies regarding attendance.
The Americans With Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973:
If you have a disability that may have some impact on your work in this class and for which you may
require special accommodations, please see a coordinator at Disability Services
(MS 2.03.18) so that such accommodations may be arranged. You can contact that office at (210) 458-4157.
After you receive your accommodation letters, please meet with me to discuss the provisions of those
accommodations as soon as possible.
Examinations: Students will be assessed on knowledge of course material through examination. Four exams will cover approximately one fourth of the course each and will consist of a variety of types of questions: multiple choice, true-false, and identification.
Annotated Bibliography: Students will conduct a library search and create an annotated bibliography. The annotated bibliography is designed to assist each student in the preparation of the literature review.
Literature Review: Students will write a formal essay, utilizing the annotated bibliography, to analyze a communication phenomenon. The essay will include synthesizing the literature and proposing a direction for future study.
Personal Portfolio: Students will create a personal career portfolio including a press release and a slide presentation utilizing computer software. The portfolio should present information about the student's experience, skills and career qualifications.
Informational Presentation: Students will present their personal portfolio to the class in the form of a speech. The informational presentation will be four minutes in length. All presentations will be scheduled in advance. Students are expected to follow the schedule.
Quizzes: Students will be quizzed four times dring the semester. Quizzes will not be announced in advance and will comprise material from the reading and/or from class lectures.
A full description of each of these assignments can be found in the Course Materials Handbook, which is located in WebCT, or through the course website Student Section at hpleblanc.com.
| EXAMINATIONS (100 pts. each) | GRADING SCALE: |
|
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY ASSIGNMENT (100 pts.) LITERATURE REVIEW ASSIGNMENT (100 pts.) PERSONAL PORTFOLIO ASSIGNMENT (100 pts.) INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATION ASSIGNMENT (100 pts.) QUIZZES (25 pts. each) |
90.0 - 100: A 80.0 - 89.9: B 70.0 - 79.9: C 60.0 - 69.9: D BELOW 60.0: F |
Grades are earned and will be calculated on a cumulative scale. Grades can be calculated by dividing the raw score of the assignment by the total points possible for the assignment. Grades are calculated using an 900 point scale. For example, if the total number of points that can be achieved on the Literature Review is 100, then the assignment is worth 11.1% of the final grade. However, a raw score of 85 on the Literature Review will yield only 9.4% rather than the 11.1% possible for that assignment. Likewise, a raw score of 78 on the Unit I Exam is 8.6% of the final grade. Extra credit will not be assigned for any student due to poor performance or missed assignment. Grades are not rounded. You may use the Grade Monitoring Form located in the Course Materials Handbook to calculate your grade average in the course at any time. Furthermore, you may obtain your current grade for assignments through WebCT for this course.
A Exceptionally well-prepared completion of assignment indicating effort, individualized style, and impact expected of effective communication.
B Unusually well-prepared completion of assignment indicating original application of course materials and individual imagination distinctly superior to average effort.
C Satisfactory completion of assignment indicating effort normally expected of the majority of students (basic preparation, correct procedure, and disciplined technique.)
D Unsatisfactory completion of assignment indicating technical irregularity, misperceived objectives or methods, unorganized effort, or failure to follow directions.
F Failure to complete assignment during the scheduled time through lack of evident effort.
All students will be expected to follow the instructions as they are presented, meet the grading criteria, and turn in each assignment by the due date in order to earn a "B." All course requirements are explicitly written in the Course Materials Handbook. As per regulations, neither the instructor nor the office staff will report grades by telephone, fax, or email.
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