JCU Logo

JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "COM 380-1"
COURSE NAME: "Intercultural Communications"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring Semester 2012
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Seggi Alessandra
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: MW 10:00-11:15
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS: By appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course provides an opportunity to investigate the complexity, challenges, and rewards of human communication with a particular emphasis on communication across cultures. ** This syllabus is subject to change  **

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

This course examines the close link between culture and communication. The following are some of the questions the course will attempt to answer: What is communication? How many types of communication can we think of? * What is culture? What are the constitutive elements of culture? * How do culture and communication relate to each other? * What is language and how does it function in society? * What is the impact of culture in the educational, business, and health care (communication) sector?

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Primary Objectives

  • To familiarize oneself with and develop a firm understanding of the major components and facets of intercultural communication.
  • To be exposed to and analyze issues about intercultural communication stemming from the fields of Sociology, Media Studies, and Cultural Studies.

Secondary Objectives

  • To develop and sharpen one’s critical thinking skills both in oral and written communication.
  • To advance one’s ability to produce written texts of varying complexity and length according to formal academic citation styles.
  • To develop the ability to proficiently work in teams respectful of differences (background, experience, opinion…).
  • To foster a passion for learning and scholarship beyond the confines of the course content itself.
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Communication Between Cultures, 7th Edition Samovar, L.A., Porter, R.E., & McDaniel, E. R. Belmont, CA: SageISBN-13: 9780495567448      
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Class Participation & Attendance<p style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;">In-Class Participation: A bit subjective to define and evaluate, it consists of your contributions to class discussions, group work, and other activities. Classroom participation is encouraged and emphasized. Students are required to come to class having completed the assigned readings. </span></p>10% of final grade
Intellectual Autobiography<p style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">A one-page intellectual autobiography[1] or a one-page letter addressed to me in which you explain your intellectual and cultural life. This will give me a sense of who you are, what your interests and aspirations are. Also, this activity will hopefully help you focus and start the semester with a clear mind. <br /> <br /> [1] I am indebted to Professor Barbara Katz Rothman (Sociology, City University of New York, New York, USA) for the idea for this activity.</span></p>10% of final grade
Midterm Exam<span style="font-family: times new roman;">The Midterm Exam consists of 5-6 essays based on readings and discussions to be composed in class. </span>30% of final grade
Reaction Papers<p style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Throughout the semester (Two before the midterm and two after) Four (4) Reaction Papers need to be completed throughout the semester. Each will critically address a different chapter/reading: it is not supposed to be a summary, but a critical take on the material. You can reflect on a statement or challenge it, expand on a theory or offer a new take on an old issue&hellip; Length: 1 or 2 double-spaced typed pages.&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></p>20% of final grade
Final Exam<span style="font-family: times new roman;">The Final Exam consists of 5-6 essays based on readings and discussions to be composed in class. </span>30 % of final grade

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:

As per the John Cabot University site  (http://www.johncabot.edu/Academics/Academics_Policies.aspx) Assessment Guidelines for assigning main letter grades (A, B, C, D, and F) are as follows:

 

A:  Work of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.

 

B:  This is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised. There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluate theory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture and reference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.

 

C:  This is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.

 

D:  This level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material. Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included. In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.

 

F: This work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.



-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Please refer to the university catalog for the attendance and absence policy.

Academic Honesty
The John Cabot University website (http://www.johncabot.edu/Academics/Academics_Policies.aspx) refers to Academic Honesty as follows:

<<The academic community is founded on a belief in the free exchange of ideas. An integral part of this free exchange is recognition of the intellectual work of others, and respect for the instructor and fellow students. All members of the John Cabot community are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic honesty in all aspects of the University’s academic programs.

A student who commits an act of academic dishonesty is subject to disciplinary action. Two acts of academic dishonestly could result in dismissal from the University.

1. Definition.

Academic dishonesty is taking credit for academic work (including papers, reports, quizzes, examinations, etc.) that is not one’s own. Such behavior is not tolerated in an academic community.

One form of academic dishonesty is plagiarism, which includes any use of another’s ideas, words, or created product without crediting the source. Although individual instructors may suggest their own guidelines for avoiding plagiarism in papers and reports, the following rules should generally be observed:

a. Any sequence of words appearing in a student essay or report that does not originate from the student should be enclosed in quotation marks and its source fully and accurately identified in a note or in the text. Great care must be taken that quoted material is quoted accurately.

b. A paraphrase should not be enclosed in quotation marks but should be marked with an asterisk or a note number, and the source should be given in a note.

c. An interpretation or idea based on a book or other source of information must be identified in a bibliographic note.

Another form of academic dishonesty is cheating, which includes giving or receiving assistance on a quiz, examination or other assignments in any way not specifically authorized by the instructor. In particular, the use of calculators, notes, formulas, dictionaries, tables, graphs, charts or other memory aids on a quiz or examination is permissible only with the explicit approval of the instructor.

A third form of academic dishonesty consists in submitting the same work in more than one course, without the explicit approval of both instructors.

2. Penalties.

Any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course.

Instances of academic dishonesty must be reported in writing to the Dean of Academic Affairs. The Dean’s Office may notify a student’s other instructors, present and future, that he or she has been reported for academic dishonesty. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.

3. Appeals.

The student may appeal the instructor’s action by making a written request to the Dean for a hearing. The request must be received by the Dean within fourteen calendar days of the instructor’s action and must set forth the arguments on which the appeal is based, including supporting evidence. The instructor will be given a copy of the student’s request.

Within seven calendar days of receiving the request, the Dean will meet jointly with the student and the instructor to try to reach a resolution acceptable to both. If such a resolution is not reached, the matter will be referred to the Academic Council, which shall hear and decide appeals in accordance with procedures it may adopt. If the Council decides in the student’s favor, the Dean and the Registrar will destroy all records of the alleged dishonesty. If the Council upholds the instructor’s action, the Dean will be so notified; moreover, if the academic dishonesty is not a first offense, the Council will decide whether to make a recommendation to the President that the student be dismissed.>>


Students with Disabilities

As stated on the John Cabot University website (http://www.johncabot.edu/Admissions/Admissions_Disability_Policy.aspx), <<John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. In order to ensure a satisfactory learning experience, we follow a three-step process in dealing with student limitations.
First, we require students who are aware that they have learning disabilities or other disabilities to identify themselves at the time they pay their tuition deposit or housing placement fee. Second, for students who have informed us of their learning disability or other disability, we require detailed medical documentation and/or psychological documentation of the situation, in order to determine the nature of the problem and the recommended management. Third, in conjunction with the student and professional advisors, we assess the accommodations that would be necessary for the student to complete a course or program at JCU. After this evaluation has taken place, students will be informed directly by the Academic Dean's Office of the accommodations that have been granted. In the event it appears that reasonable accommodations cannot be made for a student with a learning or other disability, the University will refund the application fee, the tuition deposit, and the housing placement fee. John Cabot University cannot provide individual learning or other disability accommodations to students who do not follow the above guidelines.>>

 

ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

Week 1

Introduction(s). Culture and Communication.

Chapter 1 & Excerpts from Other Texts

 

Week 2

“The Deep Structure of Culture: The Roots of Reality”

Chapter 2

 

Week 3

”Worldview: Cultural Explanations of Life and Death”

Chapter 3

 

Week 4

“Culture and the Individual: Cultural Identity”

Chapter 4

 

Week 5

“Shaping Interpretations of Reality: Cultural Values”

Chapter 5

 

Week 6

“Language and Culture: The Essential Partnership”

Chapter 6

 

Week 7 

Review for Midterm

Midterm

“Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Space, Time, and Silence”

Chapter 7

 

Week 8

“Cultural Influences on Context: The Educational Setting”

Chapter 9

 

Week 9

“Cultural Influences on Context: The Business Setting”

Chapter 8

 

Week 10

“Cultural Influences on Context: The Health Care Setting”

Chapter 10

 

Week 12

“Venturing into a New Culture: Becoming Competent”

Chapter 12

 

Week 13

Putting in Practice All We Have Learned: Screening the film Crash (2004, Haggis)

 

Week 14

Review and Final Exam