Course Information - CC130-E2

If you have questions about the course please refer to the following information

CC130 - E2 HUMAN COMMUNICATION SKILLS Fall 2001 Estelle F.Wenson T / TR 8 a.m. Hunt101
TEXT: COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY (6TH ed) by Saundra Hybels & Richard L.Weaver II.
The text is bundled with a CD ROM
The department uses the MLA style for all Works Cited. You may access the MLA through the internet link that
I provide or you may consult a copy in the library. Our bookstore has copies available for purchase.

Office Hours: I am available for one half hour prior to my first class on T-F. I will be in Hunt 101 at 7:30 on T/R & Hunt 109 at 7:30-9:00 on W/F. I am available after class on T/R by appointment. I will also conduct online hours during the semester. The time for these hours will be arranged after we have met. I will try to meet the needs of most students. I am always available through e-mail. There are two ways to reach me. You can use campus e-mail ewenson@bridgew.edu or use an account that I have set up just for my students Prof130@aol.com. I check the AOL account a bit more frequently so I may respond faster to that address.


Phone Messages: I can also be reached by phone. Call # 508-531-6632 and leave a message.
All students MUST phone before an absence if they will be absent on the day they are assigned to present a speech or they might not be allowed a chance to make up the missed assignment. Failure to appear without a prior phone call usually results in a grade of zero.


Attendance: The class meets two times a week. I give you two unexcused absences. I keep daily records and additional absences will result in a significant lowering of your grade. An absence may be excused if you present legitimate documentation for missing the class. Such documents might include a doctor's note, hospital records, repair or towing receipt for your vehicle, a funeral parlor form indicating your presence for wake or funeral, military documents or jury duty notification.


Course Objectives: Since three quarters of our day is spent in some form of communication, it is important for all of us to be aware of how we communicate and to learn ways to improve our communication skills. There is a theoretical and practical component in this course. Students will be expected to learn terminology, understand theory and to apply both terms and theory to practical situations. We cover intrapersonal, interpersonal, group and public communication. This is not a course in Public Speaking though there are two speeches given during the semester. Students who enjoy one or more aspects of the course have the opportunity to continue study in all of the previously mentioned areas as well as in the area of mass communication, public relations, intercultural and organizational communication. I will be happy to discuss those options with you as the term progresses. Through text readings, class exercises and presentations, and internet assignments you will gain practical knowledge as you begin to assess the underlying principles and theories within the various components of the field. You will also be developing both your oral and written skills as you prepare formal outlines for the two speeches you will present and conduct online discussions with your classmates.


Course structure: We meet twice weekly but occasional classes will be conducted online rather than face to face. We will use materials that are located on our own web site located through CourseInfo. You access it by going to the following web address: Course Info. Once there select your section and click on it. I will give each student an access name and password. It is up to you to go to our site and under the heading Student Information-click and change your password. Remember to also include a new e-mail address. Just scroll down after you change the password and you will see where you enter the e-mail address.
Students must have a campus e-mail address. E-mail through a private server will limit some functions of Course Info. Check with me for further information. . I repeat-all BSC students are required to have a BSC e-mail account. You can register for e-mail through the BSC homepage. Assignments will be found on our web site. Most readings and worksheets will also be available prior to class at this site. It is your responsibility to access the site daily to keep abreast of assignments. Written work is sent through CourseInfo. I will occasionally ask for a print copy but most work is returned through the web site. You must know how to upload and download information. I use Microsoft Word to process material. Students are expected to have a basic knowledge of computers, own or have access to a computer either on or off campus. If using an off campus computer, you will need current versions of Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator to fully utilize CourseInfo. AOL subscribers who only use the AOL version of IE have encountered many problems with the software. Current versions of IE & Netscape Navigator are available for free downloading. Brief introductory classes on using CourseInfo will be available through Information Services during the first three weeks of school-check the BSC web page for Information Services' list of available classes or go to Training Schedule . We will hold one class in the ETF room on the first floor of the Maxwell Library during the second week of class. Check the syllabus for the scheduled class and report there instead of H6. If you don't have your own computer or don't have a sound card, you can use your CD-ROM - in the open lab using headphones.


Computer Resources: The Basic Course format that uses lecture/laboratory also maintains a web site at the following address: Lecture/Lab home page This is where you will be able to access a plethora of materials about the course, the department and the resources available for researching speeches and group discussions.


CC130-18 is a Computer Mediated Course. This means that the majority of materials will be accessed through the internet and our web site. Assignments are augmented through discussion boards and virtual chats. Classmates will be assigned as partners for discussion purposes and it is expected that you will meet on a regular basis for online chats. To fully enjoy these discussions, one's typing skills need to be fairly proficient. If you do not type well you might find that you are unable to keep up with the pace of online discussions. I encourage you to take advantage of all aspects of the course's web site. There are many wonderful resources that you will find especially helpful as you prepare discussions and speeches. This type of course does require regular access to a computer and your willingness to participate in a new form of learning experience. The corporate world is utilizing many different forms of technology and this course has been designed to provide you with the opportunity to utilize a variety of them as we delve into the intricacies of human communication.