1. Communication Studies 100, Section 11 : Fundamentals of Communication
Fall 2015
Course Professor: Laura Jacobi
Recitation Instructor: Israel Tan
Office Number: Armstrong Hall 206B
Email: israel.tan@mnsu.edu
Office Hours: Mondays 9am-10am, 2pm-4pm
Tuesdays 3pm-6pm
Wednesdays 9am-10am, 2pm-4pm
CMST 100 is an introductory course in Communication Studies. Students explore communication dynamics in a variety
of contexts, including interpersonal relationships, small groups, and public speaking.
This course is a lecture hall/recitation course. You will attend a large lecture in WC AUD every Monday and then attend a
recitation section during the week. Depending on the section you enrolled in, you may attend recitation class once or twice
a week (please pay special attention to your schedule).
Required Text: Floyd, Kory. (2015). Communication Matters, 2nd ed. New York: Mc-Graw Hill.
*Available through the bookstore ($107.15) or through website ($75 + shipping for book & e-book; $55 for e-book
alone): http://shop.mheducation.com/mhshop/productDetails?isbn=1259732894; Connect Support: 1-800-331-5094
SPECIFIC COURSE OBJECTIVES & LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Following the completion of this course, students should be able to:
1. Discover and analyze a number of complexities in everyday human communication (overarching goal).
2. Recognize, analyze, and articulate ways communication impacts personal identity.
a. Articulate ways in which a specific person or life event has influenced his/her identity in a speech.
b. Explore ways in which communication allows us to understand ourselves and others in group discussions.
3. Recognize, analyze, and articulate ways communication helps us to advocate for ourselves and others.
a. Explore ways in which communication aids us in advocating for ourselves in making decisions, in
leading, in small group communication, at work, and in public presentations.
b. Recognize and use effective research strategies, especially as they relate to creating a persuasive
argument/speech.
c. Advocate for their positions effectively on various topics in group discussions and speeches.
4. Recognize, analyze, and articulate ways communication aids us in building and maintaining our relationships.
a. Analyze a number of complexities in interpersonal communication and apply interpersonal theory to
everyday relationships.
b. Recognize non-obvious forms of nonverbal communication and evaluate ways we use nonverbal
communication to produce meaning.
c. Analyze the listening and perception processes and evaluate themselves as listeners.
d. Recognize effective conflict management strategies and be able to apply them in relationships.
Category 1B: Communication: Speech and Oral Reasoning
Successful completion of this course signifies that students have completed the requirement for Category 1B of the MSU,
M General Education Requirements. Following the completion of this course, students will be able to:
(a) understand/demonstrate communication processes through invention, organization, drafting, revision, editing
and presentation;
(b) participate effectively in groups with emphasis on listening, critical and reflective thinking, and responding;
(c) analyze, evaluate, and synthesize in a responsible manner material from diverse sources and points of view;
(d) select appropriate communication choices for specific audiences;
(e) construct logical and coherent arguments;
(f) use authority, point of view, and individual voice and style in communications;

2. (g) employ syntax, usage and analytical techniques appropriate to academic disciplines and the professional
world.
COURSE POLICIES
ATTENDANCE & LATE WORK: Class attendance is expected and is critical to be successful in this course.
Attendance is included in the participation portion of the grade. You will get points based on how many classes you
attend. For example, if there are 30 class days and you miss 3 days (and thus attend 27 classes), you will receive 90% of
the points allotted since you attended 90% of the classes. If however, you miss no more than 2 classes throughout the
semester, I won’t deduct any attendance points—incentive to attend class! Furthermore, if you miss class you will almost
certainly miss a graded assignment and/or lecture material that will appear on an exam. If you contact me in advance
and/or have a valid, documented excuse for missed days (i.e. medical or family emergency, university-sponsored activity),
we can negotiate an arrangement for missed speeches and quizzes/exams. Without approval, late speeches and
exams/quizzes will be lowered one full letter grade. Written reflections and graded discussions CANNOT be made up;
any that are missed due to excused absences will be exempt. Any that are missed due to unexcused absences will result in
a 0 on that written reflection or discussion.
ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT: Your instructor assumes that while in this course, you will perform to the utmost of your
ability in an honest and sincere manner. Cheating (or intentionally helping someone else cheat), plagiarism (claiming
another's words or ideas as your own), or any other form of academic misconduct will not be tolerated. Academic
dishonesty will result in no points for the assignment in question, and may result in the offending student's failure in the
course.
SPECIAL NEEDS: Any student with a documented disability condition (e.g., physical, learning, psychiatric, systemic,
vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations should contact the instructor and Disability
Services at the beginning of the semester. Please see the instructor right away to accommodate any special needs for
student success in this course. Disability Services, (507) 389-2825 (v) or 1-800-627-3529 (MRS/TTY), assists in ensuring
equal access for students with disabilities by documenting disabilities and providing or arranging reasonable
accommodations, academic adjustments, auxiliary aids and services, training, consultation, and technical assistance. This
information will be kept confidential. Student athletes must take responsibility to check their travel schedules
against the syllabus to look for conflicts, and notify me of travel conflicts as soon as possible.
CLASSROOM CONDUCT:
 Turn off technology with any noise such as cell phones before entering the classroom.
 Maintain confidentiality. One of the things we will do in this course is share stories of experiences. In order to
promote open discussion, students should not “spread” any of the stories or observations outside of the classroom.
And it is especially important that names are not attached to stories you share outside of the classroom for
educational or reflective purposes.
 Be respectful. As we explore theories and practices of communication this semester, it is important for our
learning that we respect one another. We do not always have to agree, but please remain respectful of the voices
and perspectives of your colleagues.
 Because entering class late can be disrupting and may prevent understanding class material, students are expected
to come to both lectures and recitation sections on time. Should consistent tardiness become a problem, the
instructors of recitation and lecture reserve the right to not count reflective writing or discussion points on any day
the student is late.
GRADE DISPUTES: You may dispute any grade you receive, provided you follow these conditions:
 You must submit a written appeal to the instructor explaining your reasons why the grade should be changed
 You attach the assignment to the appeal.
 Your appeal makes a coherent and compelling argument
We can then discuss the grade outside of class time.
EXTRA CREDIT: At times, opportunities arise for students to participate as subjects in research conducted by the
Communication Studies department. I will make you aware of such opportunities if/when they arise and potentially other
extra credit opportunities. Each extra credit opportunity adds 3% to the final grade. Students may pursue one
opportunity.

3. ASSIGNMENTS
Speeches (40% of grade/200 total points):
Identity Speech 25
Advocacy Speech 75
Group Presentation 100
Participation (40% of grade/200 total points):
Written reflections in large lecture 100
Graded group discussions/activities 50
Attendance 50
Quizzes (20% of grade/100 total points): 100
Total Points: 500
Grades: 90-100% (448-500)= A; 80-89% (398-447 pts.) = B; 70-79% (348-397pts.) = C; 60-69% (298-347 pts.)= D; 59%
and below (297 pts. and below) = F
IDENTITY SPEECH (25 points): With this 3-4 minute speech, you will have the opportunity to explore what person or
life event has had a significant influence upon your identity.
ADVOCACY SPEECH (75 points): With this 5-7 minute speech, you will have the opportunity to advocate for a
solution to a controversial topic of interest.
GROUP PRESENTATIONS (100 points): With this 8-10 minute group speech, you will have the opportunity to apply a
course concept of interest to a fitting TV show or movie.
WRITTEN REFLECTIONS (100 points): In most of the large lecture classes, there will be an opportunity for students
to do short reflective writings, for which you will receive points. If you are in class and complete the work, you typically
receive full credit for the work. You will only receive less than full credit if there are significant problems with your
reflection. Reflective writings are directly linked to what we are doing in large lecture on a particular day and
consequently cannot be made up. In the case of excused absences only, missed written reflections will be exempt; missed
written reflections due to unexcused absences will earn a 0.
GRADED GROUP DISCUSSIONS/ACTIVITIES (50 points total): In some of the classes, there will be a small group
discussion on a set of questions on a particular topic for 20-30 minutes. Discussion questions may be based on written
reflections in large lecture or on other topics reviewed in recitation. The purpose of the group discussion is to reach some
kind of group insight into the answers. If given in advance, please bring your responses to the discussion questions to
class. Along with your individual submissions, my observations of the group, and a presentation of your group’s findings,
a recorder will fill out a sheet summarizing the main points of your discussion; all of these will be used in determining the
group’s grade. In the case of excused absences only, missed graded group discussions will be exempt; missed group
discussions due to unexcused absences will earn a 0.
GRADING OF THE DISCUSSIONS: You will earn a “1” for discussions with substance (i.e., it reflects critical
thinking upon the readings and lecture, ALL group members worked productively to achieve insight into the questions).
You will earn a “.5” for discussions that have some substance yet are lacking in some way (i.e., do not reflect enough
critical thinking, 1 or 2 group members strayed from the topic periodically). You will earn a "0" for discussions in which
you did not submit a response as an individual group member, or discussions in which you did not participate due to an
unexcused absence, or for discussions with no substance (i.e., little to no critical thinking upon reading and lecture ideas,
most or all group members strayed from the topic at hand). At the end of the semester, I will average your scores together
(the "1"s, ".5"s, and "0"s) and use this total to determine the percentage of points allotted for the discussion portion of the
grade (e.g., an average of .8 will earn a student 80% of the points or 40 points).

4. QUIZZES (100 points total): There will be 2 quizzes. Quizzes will be based on text readings and lecture material from
large lecture and recitation sections. Quizzes will consist of any combination of multiple choice, true/false, fill in the
blank, and short answer questions.
CLASS SCHEDULE
Communication helps us to . . . Understand ourselves and others
Date Topic Readings Due Assignments Due
8/24-8/28 Introduction
Functions of Communication
Syllabus & D2L Site
Chap. 1
Graded Group Discussion #1
8/31-9/4 Identity Chap. 3 pp. 66-75 Graded Group Discussion #2
9/7-9/11 No classes on 9/7
Basics of Public Speaking
Chapters 11 & 12 & 13
9/14-9/18 Communication & Culture Chap. 2 Graded Group Discussion #3
9/21-9/25 Impression Formation & Attraction Chap. 3 pp. 55-66 &
Chap. 7 pp. 156-160
Communication helps us to . . . Advocate for ourselves and others
9/28-10/2 In making decisions & in leading:
Communication Climate
Tables 8.2 and 8.3 &
Chap. 10 text
Identity Speeches
10/5-10/9 In groups: Small Group Communication Chap. 9 Graded Group Discussion #4
10/12-10/16 At work: Organizational Communication Chap. 16 Quiz 1 (50-points)
10/19-10/23 In public presentations: Public Speaking Chapter 15
Communication helps us to . . . Build and maintain relationships
10/26-10/30 Relationship Development Chap. 8 pp. 186-189 &
192-193
Advocacy Speeches
11/2-11/6 Self-disclosure Chap. 7 pp. 164-168 text Advocacy Speeches
Large Lecture Homework: Haptics
Journal or Artifacts or Space
Norms
11/9-11/13 Nonverbal Communication Chapter 5 Large Lecture Homework:
Listening Inventory
Graded Group Discussion #5
11/16-11/20 Listening Chapter 6 Large Lecture Homework: RD
Questionnaire
11/23-11/27 Maintaining Relationships Chap. 7 pp. 163-164 &
Chap. 8 pp. 179-186 &
202-203
Large Lecture Homework: Conflict
Inventory
11/30-12/4 Managing Conflict Chap. 7 pp. 172-175 &
Chap. 8 pp. 189-201
Quiz 2 (50-points)
Group Presentations
12/7-12/11 Final Exam Week: No classes
Dec. 7-Dec. 11: Finals Week; The group presentation is the final for this course. If you need, you can use this week
in the lecture hall to make up speeches. The University schedule final time for CMST 100 is based upon their
Lecture Hall time [not your recitation section time]; see final exam schedule.