Wood, Julia T. (2003). Communication in our Lives (3rd ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

1. Students will have an increased appreciation for the power of communication.
   
2. Students will be able to articulate the relevance of communication studies, regardless of major.
   
3. Students will be able to identify and discuss factors which affect the communication process.
   
4. Students will be exposed to fundamentals of effective communication in various contexts, namely group, interpersonal, and public.
   
5. Students will be given opportunities to apply these fundamentals to increase proficiency.

1. A minimum of three graded oral assignments, including two student-prepared speeches and one group project.
2. A minimum of two examinations that count for 40% of the students' grade covering both text and lecture material.
3. A minimum of one graded written assignment.
4. A student must have a passing average (60%) on both exams and non-exam assignments in order to pass the course.
5. Computer-mediated communication must be incorporated into the course.

1. Attendance: One absence will be allowed without penalty. Each additional absence will result in a deduction from your participation grade. During presentations, however, attendance is mandatory (even if you haven't used your allowed absence).
2. Written Assignments: Written Assignments are to be typed and double-spaced.
3. Late Assignments: No assignment will be accepted late without penalty, unless you notify me in advance and present documented evidence of illness or emergency.
4. Incomplete Assignments: Each incomplete assignment will decrease your final grade.
5. Plagiarism: Plagiarism and other cheating will not be tolerated. See Part 7 of IPFW's bulletin.
6. Other University Policies: Please read Part 7 of IPFW's bulletin, for therein are regulations applicable to this course.

• Group Presentation: DUE: DEC. 14. The class will be divided into groups of 4 or 5. Each group will be assigned a topic associated with communication and will be required to give a presentation on it. The length of the presentation should be 20-25 minutes in length. Groups are encouraged to be creative in the methods they use to teach (i.e. lectures aren't mandatory, however they can be used). Microsoft PowerPoint must be incorporated into the presentations.

• PowerPoint Presentation: DUE: SEPT. 21. Each student will give a PowerPoint presentation that addresses the following questions: Who am I? What do I plan to do in the future? How can communication skills benefit me? For this last question, you might want to refer to Chapter 1 of the textbook.

• Informative Speech: DUE: NOV. 16. You can take one of two routes with this presentation: 1) You can teach (inform) the class how to do something-how to spin a basketball on your finger, how to skin a deer, how to surf the internet, etc. or 2) You can inform the class about a topic of interest to you-the defense mechanisms of the shark, the firepower of the U.S. military, the mating habits of the titmouse, etc. The speech must be 5 minutes in length.

• Persuasive Speech: DUE: NOV. 2. You will attempt to persuade the class to do or believe something (begin collecting stamps, believe Ali was the greatest, vote, consider an iguana for a pet, taste cow tongue, become an organ donor, etc.). You may choose your topic, but it must be approved by the instructor. The speech must be 5 minutes in length.

• Communication Research Paper: DUE: NOV. 23. Write a 4- to 5-page paper that includes a scholarly discussion of an assigned topic relevant to communication. A more detailed explanation of this paper will be provided during the semester.

• Classroom Participation: Students are expected to attend class and to participate in the various activities and discussions. Some exercises will need to be turned in for credit.

• Rhetoric and Composition Materials

  This leads to a page at Ohio University with numerous links to rhetorical resources.

• Issues In Rhetoric

  This leads to a page of links that will direct you to discussions on classical and current issues in rhetoric.

• What is the Toulmin Model?

  Explains the Toulmin model of argumentation.

Copyright © 2002    Scott Vitz     vitzs@ipfw.edu