BROOKLYN COLLEGE
Department of Speech Communication
Introduction to Communication/Modern Communication Theories
COMM 1001 Section TR2 (Course Code 31331); 3 Credits
SPEC 1205 Section TR2 (Course Code 31328); 3 Credits
Spring, 2018; Tuesday & Thursday; 02:15-03:30PM
403 Whitehall
Dr. Foulger
Discussion Notes / Assignments (Class Moodle)
We live in our communication, but we generally don't give it much thought. Communication is most often how we do things rather than what we are doing. It's a tool, much as food, housing, clothing, transportation and other goods and services are. This course seeks to take you inside your communication and give you an understanding of the many ways in which we choose to communicate, including the messages we create, the languages we create them with, the media we entrust our messages to, and the cultures that shape our communication choices. Our journey will take us from the oldest media we use (face to face interaction) to the most advanced stored, manufactured, broadcast, and streamed media that have evolved since; from the relationships that shape our communication choices to the organizations and societies that we make those choices in; from observation and history to theory and prediction.
Brooklyn College Catalog Description for COMM 1001 and SPCH 1205: Survey of basic concepts in modern communication, including history, theories, models and issues pertaining to intrapersonal, interpersonal, nonverbal, small group, intercultural, and mass communication. Includes examination of technology, literacy, and communication processes.
Jones, Richard. (2013). Communication in the Real World: An Introduction to Communication Studies. Open Textbook Library. Retrieved from http://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/BookDetail.aspx?bookId=274 on August 28, 2016.
Lule, Jack. (2016). Understanding Media and Culture: An Introduction to Mass Communication. Open Textbook Library. Retrieved from https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/BookDetail.aspx?bookId=143 on August 28, 2016.Both of these texts are open source electronic texts that you can either read on the web or download to your computer, tablet, or other PDF capable electronic device. I'll be reading them that way too. I find e-books more convenient than books when reading on the subway, but because these texts are open source you can use them for free. Note that you can do the readings on machines on campus using a web browser or by downloading the text to a memory card or USB memory stick. Brooklyn College also loans laptop computers to students on a first come, first served basis. Laptops are loaned out from the New Media Service Desk, located on the second floor of the library building.
Attendance is mandatory. The Brooklyn College Bulletin states that "Students are expected to attend all scheduled sessions of every class for which they register. Students late for class may be excluded from the room. An instructor may consider attendance and class participation in determining course grade." While I am unlikely to lock the door and don't grade attendance directly, I will indirectly take account of missed class time in computing grades. You should not, as a general note, ask me for "permission" to miss class and I don't need an explanation. I will always try to be understanding of documented emergencies, but the basic reality (which has more to do with your ability to learn when you aren't in class than anything else) is that absences make your grade grow smaller.
Communication with the Professor
I encourage students who feel they need to talk to me about any issue to talk to me after class or during office hours. My office schedule and contact information can be found on my Brooklyn College Student web site Brooklyn College Student web site.
I have found e-mail to be a poor way to interact with students. If you must send me a message, use the message facility on the Moodle rather than e-mail. Don’t send me a message if you are missing class. While I’m sympathetic with the very real problems you may have during the semester, I don’t grade attendance and don’t need to know why you missed class. You are an adult and I trust you had a good reason. I do grade participation and will know if you were in class, but the best way for you to catch up on important work (every day of class is important) is to talk to other students and get a copy of their notes. If they don’t think anything important happened, find another peer in the class and talk to them. Do talk to me (preferred) or send me a message if you have missed a significant number of classes.
In order to receive disability-related academic accommodations, students must first be registered with the Center for Student Disability Services. Students who have a documented disability, or suspect they may have a disability, are invited to set an appointment with the Director of the Center for Student Disability Services in 138 Roosevelt Hall. If you have already registered with the Center for Student Disability Services please provide me with the course accommodation form and discuss your specific accommodation with me.
Students who are unable, because of religious beliefs, to attend class or participate in any examination, study, or class-related activity on a particular day should contact the instructor ahead of the time to facilitate their absence without prejudice or penalty; please see the link below for further information: http://www.cuny.edu/about/administration/offices/la/PolicyonEqualOpportunityandNonDiscriminationandProceduresDecember42014.pdf