Course Syllabus

Independent Study in Idaho

ISI Website | indepst@uidaho.edu | 208-885-6641

COMM 101 Fundamentals of Oral Communication

Sponsoring Institution: Lewis Clark State College

3 Credits

Instructor Information

Course Instructor: Kyle Ferguson

Instructor Kyle FergusonMy name is Kyle Ferguson and I am the instructor for COMM 101. Please feel free to call me Kyle. Please check out the online classroom and let me know if you have questions.  

Now a little about me...

After being born and raised in Nebraska, I married a California girl and moved to Central California, only to move to San Diego a few months later. We stayed nearly nine years in the San Diego area before I accepted a full-time teaching job at Lewis-Clark State in 2016. While I miss parts of San Diego, I am thrilled to be in a nice community.

I have a B.A. in Communication from York College (Nebraska) and hold an M.A. in Communication from Spring Arbor University (Michigan).  Previously, I was the Athletic Director at San Diego Christian College, as well as an Adjunct Instructor in the Communication Department for a few colleges. I am currently in a doctoral program at Idaho State University.  In all, higher education is a passion of mine and I feel very blessed to work here.

In my downtime (as if there is any) I enjoy reading, fixing up our house, fishing, and watching and playing sports. I am a Nebraska football fan (Go Big Red) as well as a Kansas City Royals and San Diego Padres baseball fan. In addition, my favorite thing to do is to spend time with my family. It does not matter what we are doing, as long as we are together, I am having fun.

I am here to serve you and help you grow as a student. Please do not hesitate to contact me with questions! I love to help!

Course Description

This course is designed to provide the student with an understanding of the skills necessary to communicate with others and in groups. In addition, the course will prepare students to present material orally and visually.

Course Learning Outcomes

As a result of the practice and instruction afforded by this class, a student should be able to:

  1. Display knowledge of key communication concepts
  2. Communicate effectively in a range of situations
  3. Analyze communication challenges and competencies
  4. Demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills
  5. Follow ethical speaking guidelines.
  6. Select a speech topic and purpose appropriate to his/her disciplinary interests and the knowledge of the audience.
  7. Clearly organize and outline a speech.
  8. Identify his/her personal values and value systems and their influences, as well as those of some other cultures and systems.
  9. Attract and maintain an audience’s attention.
  10. Employ methods that enhance source credibility.
  11. Analyze an audience and tailor a speech to fit it.
  12. Identify and analyze a variety of social problems in various cultures and compare possible solutions.
  13. Present ideas using effective style and delivery.
  14. Develop and present sound reasoning and evidence.
  15. Identify and implement ethical, effective strategies for the purpose of informing or persuading an audience.

General Education Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to demonstrate the following competencies:

  1. Research, discover, and develop information resources and structure verbal messages to increase knowledge and understanding.
  2. Research, discover, and develop evidence-based reasoning and persuasive appeals for influencing attitudes, values, beliefs, or behaviors.
  3. Understand interpersonal rules, roles, and strategies in varied contexts.
  4. Effectively listen and adapt verbal messages to the personal, ideological, and emotional perspectives of the audience.
  5. Employ effective verbal and nonverbal behaviors that support communication goals.
  6. Effectively recognize and critically evaluate the reasoning, evidence, and communication strategies of self and others.

Required Materials

Adler, Ronald B., George Rodman, Athena du Pré. Understanding Human Communication 14th Edition, Oxford University Press; 14th edition (12.6.2019). ISBN-10 : 0190925698; ISBN-13 : 978-0190925697

Course Rules and Requirements

Assignment Guidelines

  1. Students may submit 3 assignments per week; however, assignments and exams must be submitted consecutively, in the order outlined in the course.
  2. Papers may be submitted and graded in Canvas. Student’s should have the ability to use word processing software and save in specified file formats.
  3. All work in this class is to follow precise APA formatting rules as outline in the APA manual.
  4. Everything needs to be turned in stapled together, typed and double-spaced in 12-pt Times New Roman font.
  5. Correctly formatted cover page and reference pages should be included with every assignment unless otherwise stated.
  6. Use proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation, failure to do so will result in loss of points for the assignment.
  7. Written work (E.g., outlines, extra credit, etc) can be submitted electronically (Canvas dropbox).

Statement on Information Literacy

Information Literacy – What Constitutes Effective Research?

In order to produce a quality paper, you need to use a variety of sources in order to follow different angles in the pursuit of your topic. Recognize that in doing good research, nothing good comes easy. A well-planned, systematic approach to research will allow the student to uncover valuable information toward mastery of the research topic.

A preferred approach to doing better research involves the following sequence:

  • First, consult the reference resources that provide the overall content needed for your topic.
  • Second, use the library catalog to locate books and journals that will contribute more specifically to your topic.
  • Third, use the library research databases to find peer-reviewed articles and other sources.
  • Fourth, use the library web-resources to locate quality websites.

As a component of critical thinking, it will be important for the student to determine what constitutes a better-quality, professional source. For example, the Internet contains both paragraphs of content with no listed author (not very useful), as well as scholarly information that is undeniably practical. Research is a progression of discovery and evaluation, requiring a first-rate strategy and efficient time management on the student’s part. Flexibility in the process is important as well, since research ideas are naturally reformulated and redirected during the course of creating the final product.

This course is reading intensive and is designed to lay the foundation for much of your future research as a communication scholar. It is important that you read and comprehend the information as much as possible. I understand that it is a lot to read and take in and I don’t expect you to memorize all of the information. You should, however, use this course material and textbook as a resource for finding information in the future. A person who has developed skills in information literacy will always know when information is needed and where to go to find that information, This course is designed to familiarize you with information that you can later rely on and re-visit.

Effective Research

Students should always incorporate effective research in every assignment as a component of critical thinking. Developing a well- planned, systematic strategy is necessary to uncover valuable information. It is important for you to determine what constitutes a quality, professional source. The internet contains information that may be scholarly.

Students should always evaluate the selected material for authority, accuracy, content, and usefulness.

The following questions should be asked:

  • Who wrote it? — Authority
  • Is the information accurate? — Accuracy
  • Why was it written? — Purpose
  • What is the bias? — Objectivity
  • Is the information dated? — Currency

Grade Information

Grade Breakdown

  • Written Assignment 1: Culture and Communication = 100 pts
  • Written Assignment 2: Interpersonal Conflict = 100 pts
  • Journal 1 = 50 pts
  • Journal 2 = 50 pts
  • Informative Speech & Outline = 100 pts
  • Persuasive Speech & Outline = 100 pts
  • Exam 1 = 100 pts
  • Exam 2 = 100 pts
  • Exam 3 = 100 pts

800 total points possible

Grading Scale

Final grades will be determined as follows: 

  • A 93-100%
  • A- 90-92.99%
  • B+ 87-89.99%
  • B 83-86.99%
  • B- 80-82.99%
  • C+ 77-79.99%
  • C 73-76.99%
  • C- 70-72.99%
  • D+ 67-69.99%
  • D 63-66.99%

Course Policies

Refer to the ISI Policies for the most current policies and procedures, including information on setting up accounts, student confidentiality, exams, transcripts, course exchanges, refunds, academic integrity, library resources, disability support and other services. 

UNIVERSITY POLICIES AND RESOURCES

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

U of I Moscow is located on the homelands of the Nimiipuu (Nez Perce), Palus (Palouse) and Schitsu’umsh (Coeur d’Alene) tribes. We extend gratitude to the indigenous people that call this place home, since time immemorial. U of I recognizes that it is our academic responsibility to build relationships with the indigenous people to ensure integrity of tribal voices.

PROFESSIONALISM

This course is difficult, and I expect that you will want to work with a group on assignments. I encourage this, in fact. However, copying from another student or any online source/answer manual is plagiarism and is not allowed. Cheating and plagiarism will earn you an F in this course and, potentially, a visit to the dean of students. See Dean of Student's Student Code of Conduct for more information.

Remember: You’re paying to learn, not just get grades.

LEARNING CIVILITY

In any environment in which people gather to learn, it is essential that all members feel as free and safe as possible in their participation. To this end, it is expected that everyone in this course will be treated with mutual respect and civility, with an understanding that all of us (students, instructors, professors, guests, and teaching assistants) will be respectful and civil to one another in discussion, in action, in teaching, and in learning.

Should you feel our classroom interactions do not reflect an environment of civility and respect, you are encouraged to meet with your instructor during office hours to discuss your concern.  Additional resources for expression of concern or requesting support include the Dean of Students office and staff (208-885-6757), the U of I Counseling & Testing Center’s confidential services (208-885-6716), or the Office of Civil Rights and Investigations (208-885-4285).

DISABILITY ACCESS AND REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS

University of Idaho is committed to ensuring an accessible learning environment where course or instructional content are usable by all students and faculty. If you believe that you require disability-related academic adjustments for this class (including pregnancy-related disabilities), please contact Center for Disability Access and Resources (CDAR) to discuss eligibility. A current accommodation letter from CDAR is required before any modifications, above and beyond what is otherwise available for all other students in this class will be provided. Please be advised that disability-related academic adjustments are not retroactive. CDAR is located at the Bruce Pitman Building, Suite 127. Phone is 208-885-6307 and e-mail is cdar@uidaho.edu.  For a complete listing of services and current business hours visit https://www.uidaho.edu/student-resources/disability-accessibility-resources.

VANDAL FOOD PANTRY

The Vandal Food Pantry is a free resource stocked weekly with food, grocery bags, and various hygiene items. Its eight locations across campus are accessible during building hours and open to all. Please take what you need.

GREEN DOT SAFETY PROGRAM

What's Your Green Dot? It's up to all of us to make a safer campus. Vandal Green Dot is a program that helps students learn about the power of the bystander, how to recognize potentially risky situations, and realistic ways to intervene. Together we can bring down the number of people being hurt by interpersonal violence on our campus. No one has to do everything, but everyone has to do something! Learn more and get involved by visiting UI's Green Dot Safety Program or emailing greendot@uidaho.edu.

FIREARMS

The University of Idaho bans firearms from its property with only limited exceptions. One exception applies to persons who hold a valid Idaho enhanced concealed carry license, provided those firearms remain concealed at all times. If an enhanced concealed carry license holder's firearm is displayed, other than in necessary self-defense, it is a violation of University policy. Please contact local law enforcement (call 911) to report firearms on University property. University of Idaho leadership remains committed to maintaining a safe work, living and learning environment on campus. We will not tolerate any threatening use of firearms or any other weapons. While authorized license holders may have familiarity and be at ease carrying a loaded firearm, we ask that they be aware that many people are not familiar with handguns and are uncomfortable in their presence.

OTHER HELP AND RESOURCES

STUDENT RESOURCES

The University of Idaho provides student support to ensure a successful learning experience.

LIBRARY HELP

The U of I Library website has many databases that will help you find relevant and reliable books, articles, images, and more. Don't hesitate to contact a librarian for research assistance.

TECHNOLOGY HELP

The U of I Student Technology Center provides many technology related services to students.

WRITING SUPPORT

The U of I Writing Center provides one-on-one assistance to student writers and other members of the campus community.

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