"There is nothing as practical as a good theory"
K. Lewin

		supplements
email: smcdermo@calpoly.edu	Dr. Steven McDermott

This course is designed to introduce you to the role, function, and forms of communication theory. A major part of the course will introduce you to conceptualizing variables and their relationships to other variables as they are found in communication theories. The philosophical foundations for explaining communication will be emphasized. The course is a highly abstract one, so the success of the course will depend on your critical analysis and synthesis of the lectures and readings. Your best contributions in classroom interaction, and with your writing will be necessary requisites.

Readings:

1. Infante, D.A., Ranceer, A.S. and Wonack, D.F. (2003). Building Communication Theory. Prospect Hights, Illinois: Waveland Press.

2. Handouts, articles on reserve, and APA style manual.

Assignments:

1. You will abstract, according to the guidelines presented in class, two empirical research articles on an approved topic in communication. These articles must have variables that are relevant to communication theory; that is, they will not be descriptive variables. This will be a nongraded assignment that must be satisfactorily completed to pass the course. Unsatisfactory abstracts may be redone for credit up to one week after receiving the corrected abstract from your professor. You must satisfactorily complete this assignment to continue on to your term paper.

2 A 10-page paper will be due on Nov. (XXX ) at the beginning of class. You must be prepared to discuss your paper during the last 2 weeks of class. The papers will involve a review of the literature dealing with a major communication variable and its relationships to other variables that may be explained by a communication theory. The variable you select must be approved by the professor prior to your literature review, normally in the late third week or early fourth week of class. You must review a minimum of 6 empirical communication articles for this paper. These articles must come from standard research journals, not poplular ones or ones that just appear on the internet and are not available in print form. Your paper shall follow the guidelines outlined in either the APA (preferred) or MLA style manuals. Two copies of your paper shall be handed in to your professor: one will be graded and returned to you, and the other will be kept on file. A copy of the 1st page of every article you cite must be attached as an appendix following the references. Special attention should be paid to writing style and mechanics. Any paper that is received by the professor that is in any way plagiarized or is the primary work of others will not be considered and will constitute grounds for course failure. Late papers will not be accepted under any circumstances. The paper is worth 33% of your final grade.

Exams:

Two combination multiple choice and short answer exams will be given. The final exam is cumulative and comprehensive. Each exam counts as 33% of your final grade.

Other items:

All exam dates and assignment dates are fixed: no late assignments will be accepted. The final exam is held only on the day specified in the university schedule of final exams. Failure to take an exam on the scheduled day will result in an F. Only written, verifiable medical excuses (not the campus health center) will be acceptable excuses. Job interviews, travel (including flight reservations), weddings, or good surf are not acceptable reasons for excuses. If you plan to be absent on the day of the final, you're advised to drop the course. Attendance will be taken at the professor's whim. Tardiness or leaving class early counts as an absence. More than 3 absences will lower your grade by a full letter. More than 5 and you fail the course. Electronic devices (cell phones, beepers, etc.) must not be heard in class. If your device disrupts the class it will count as an abscence.

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Copywrite © Steven T. McDermott
email: smcdermo@calpoly.edu
last updated: 9/2009