CC 365-01 - INTRODUCTION TO
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
BRIDGEWATER STATE COLLEGE - FALL 2001
TR 12:15-1:30 CAMPUS CENTER R110
communication
between and among cultures in the United States and around the globe. Students will explore the impacts of
multiple and interrelated cultural factors upon communicative interactions,
including history, religion, race and ethnicity, gender, non-verbal
conventions, and language. Focus is on
developing both the cultural awareness of self and others, and the knowledge,
appreciation, and skills of intercultural communication. Class interaction will take place through a
variety of theoretical approaches (value dimensions, context orientation, etc.)
and practical applications (case studies, role playing, critical media
analysis, etc.).
Objectives | 1. To provide students with
theories and concepts of intercultural
communication.
2. To develop a working model of the relationship
between communication and culture.
3. To understand the interplay between cultural
patterns and individual behaviors.
4. To explore the central roles of religion, family,
and history in cultural development.
5. To identify and describe obstacles that hinder the
development of intercultural understanding and competence.
6. To investigate the roles of media and corporations
in intercultural communication.
7. To develop practical skills needed for effective
intercultural communication.
8.
To develop critical
skills needed to examine intercultural interactions.
Texts | Samovar, Larry A. and Richard E.
Porter. Communication
Between Cultures, 4th edition. Stamford, CT: Wadsworth, 2001.
Additional
readings will be available in-class and online.
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Philosophy: While informal lectures and presentations are necessary to
insure common ground for discussion, this course will succeed based on your
willingness to explore and share your own experiences and the course materials
in thoughtful and meaningful ways.
CAUTION: This isn’t a talk show; it’s a classroom. In other words, your contributions to class discussions
should be based on a reflective consideration of your own ideas and/or a
critical analysis of discussion materials, not on the first thing that pops
into your head.
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Philosophy (continued): It’s important to keep in mind that learning
about intercultural communication is a process. As such, the point of the class is not to score points for being
the most culturally sensitive, or, conversely, to root out and shame bigots and
racists, but to develop a sensitivity toward and understanding of interaction
between and among cultures.
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Attendance: You are required to
attend all class sessions. More than
two (2) absences will adversely affect your grade, as will habitual lateness,
leaving early, and leaving during class for non-health reasons (such as feeding
a parking meter). Merely informing me
of your absence or intended absence does not constitute an excused absence. You
cannot learn if you are not here.
| Technology: While this is not explicitly a web class, new-media technologies are an
integral part of learning in this class.
I expect you to have basic word-processing, e-mail, and web browsing
skills. You must have an e-mail address
that you access regularly. You must
log-on to the class Blackboard (plato.bridgew.edu) site listed above for the
full class experience. If you have
difficulties with any of these technologies, I can help you, or support is
available from BSC; check out the User Support and Academic Services’ Student
Guide to Computing (it.bridgew.edu/Support/StudentGuide/index.cfm) for more
information.
| Assistance: If you require additional or alternate assistance,
please inform me as soon as possible so we can arrange to aid your learning.
| Papers: Any written assignment must be
typed and double-spaced, with proper margins.
Use MLA style, the accepted style for the BSC Communication Studies
department, to document your work. Do
not submit first drafts of papers: edit your work for spelling, punctuation,
grammar, and paragraph and sentence structure.
Use The Writing Studio services to improve your writing. I grade papers for form and content: the way
you communicate affects what you communicate.
For late papers, I will drop a grade per day after the
due date. Late class presentations will
be made up at my discretion.
You must hand in all papers to receive a passing grade
for the course.
Guidelines
and Policies (continued)
previously presented in
another course; purchasing exams or term papers; and submitting an exam or any
other work that was completed by another person. If you have any questions whether your work is an act of
plagiarism, ask.
I consider plagiarism an
extremely serious issue. I will deal
with plagiarism according the Academic Integrity (www.bridgew.edu/Catalog/ugpol.htm#Academic
Integrity) guidelines as set forth in the College Catalog.
While there are no
scheduled quizzes or exams, keep in mind that all assignments require the
application of general and specific concepts from the textbook. If I feel you are failing to read the
textbook, I reserve the right to administer unannounced quizzes.
You will receive three
participation and homework grades during the semester.
Additional information on
each assignment will be available in class and online.
A
|
93-100 |
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A- |
90-92 |
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B+ |
87-89 |
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B |
83-86 |
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B- |
80-82 |
|
C+ |
77-79 |
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C |
73-76 |
|
C- |
70-72 |
|
D+ |
67-69 |
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D |
63-66 |
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D- |
60-62 |
|
F |
0-59 |
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4
Reports (2 pages) |
28% |
|
4 Reaction Papers (1
page) |
12% |
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Term Paper (8-10 pages)
& Presentation |
25% |
|
Group Project &
Presentation |
20% |
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Participation &
homework |
15% 100% |
You are required to do all
assigned reading and viewing prior to class.
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DATE |
TOPIC |
ASSIGNMENTS (Due at beginning of
class) |
|
R Sept 6 |
Introduction to Class |
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T Sept 11 |
International and Domestic
Contacts |
Read: Ch. 1, 2-20 |
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R Sept 13 |
Defining Communication
and Culture |
Read: Ch. 2, 21-50 Due:
Cultural Autobiography |
|
T Sept 18 |
Discussion: American
Values |
View: American Beauty
(2000) Due: Reaction Paper 1 |
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R Sept 20 |
Cultural Patterns and
Theories of Intercultural Communication |
Read: Ch. 3, 51-88 |
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T Sept 25 |
TBA |
|
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R Sept 27 |
Deep Structure: Religion |
Read: Ch. 4, 89-114 Due: Cultural
Interview
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T Oct 2 |
Group Presentation 1 |
|
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R Oct 4 |
Deep Structure: Family
& History Group Presentation 2 |
Read: Ch. 4, 115-134 |
|
T Oct 9 |
Group Presentation 3 |
|
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R Oct 11 |
Language & Culture Group Presentation 4 |
Read: Ch 5, 136-163 |
|
T Oct 16 |
Group Presentation 5 |
|
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R Oct 18 |
Nonverbal Communication Group Presentation 6 |
Read: Ch 6, 164-195 |
|
T Oct 23 |
Discussion: Gay Culture |
View: Wedding Banquet
(1993) Due: Reaction Paper 2 |
|
DATE |
TOPIC |
ASSIGNMENTS (Due at beginning of
class) |
|
R Oct 25 |
Intercultural Business
Relations |
Ch. 7, 196-217 |
|
T Oct 30 |
Discussion: Indigenous
Peoples |
View: Chiapas: The
Inside Story |
|
R Nov 1 |
TBA |
Due: E-mail relationship |
|
T Nov 6 |
Intercultural Educational
Relations |
Read: Ch 8, 218-240 |
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R Nov 8 |
Communication Problems |
Read: Ch. 10, 262-276 Due:
Expatriate Interview |
|
T Nov 13 |
Discussion:
African-American Culture |
View: Do The Right
Thing (1989) Due: Reaction Paper 3 |
|
R Nov 15 |
Intercultural Competency
& Ethics |
Read: Ch. 10, 277-304 |
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T Nov 20 |
TBA |
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R Nov 22 |
THANKSGIVING: NO CLASS |
|
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T Nov 27 |
Discussion: Mexican
American Culture |
View: Lone Star (1996) Due: Reaction Paper 4 |
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R Nov 29 |
Individual Presentations |
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T Dec 4 |
Individual Presentations |
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R Dec 6 |
Individual Presentations |
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T Dec 11 |
Individual Presentations
& Wrap Up |
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