Communications Studies (COMS) 591 - Lecture 02
Senior Seminar in Communication
Winter 2007
Tuesdays 14:00 - 16:50  

Instructor:	Mr. Geoff Cragg
Office Location:	SS 300
Office Phone:	220-4843
E-Mail:	cragg@ucalgary.ca
Web Page:
Office Hours:	By appointment

Additional Information

Please send me an email at the beginning of term so that I will have your preferred email address.

Course Description

The special topic of this section is persuasion.This course covers major theories of persuasion in five modes of communication: linguiistic, visual, musical, social/gestural, and logical/mathematical. Each student will undertake research in one of these modes.

Objectives of the Course

This course has the following major objectives:

To provide you with the opportunity to co-ordinate and integrate the knowledge, skills and experiences you have acquired during the programme;

To encourage you to think and research across disciplinary boundaries;

To give you the opportunity to learn from one another in class discussions and presentations.

Textbooks and Readings:

Influence: Science and Practise by Robert Cialdini

Book of Readings for this course

Both texts are available at the Bookstore.

Assignments and Evaluation

It is the student's responsibility to keep a copy of each submitted assignment.

Note: Please return assignments directly to the instructor if possible. If it is not possible to do so, a daytime drop box is available in SS110; a date stamp is provided for your use. A night drop box is also available for after-hours submission. Assignments will be removed the following morning, stamped with the previous day's date, and placed in the instructor's mailbox.

1. Group presentations on assigned readings, 20%, January 30 - March 6.

2. Proposal and bibliography for presentation, 10%, February 27

3. Individual presentation, 20%, March 13 - April 3.

4. Termpaper, 25%, March 27.

5. Take-home final exam, 25%, April 17..

Please note that you must complete all assignments in order to pass the course. The grade of A+ will be reserved for work of exceptional quality.

Registrar-scheduled Final Examination: No

Please note: If your class is held in the evening, the Registrar's Office will make every attempt to schedule the final exam during the evening; however, there is NO guarantee that the exam will NOT be scheduled during the day.

Policy for Late Assignments

Assignments submitted after the deadline may be penalized with the loss of a grade (e.g.: A- to B+) for each day late.

Writing Skills Statement

Faculty policy directs that all written assignments (including, although to a lesser extent, written exam responses) will be assessed at least partly on writing skills. For details see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/info. Writing skills include not only surface correctness (grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, etc) but also general clarity and organization. Research papers must be properly documented.

If you wish help with your writing at any stage, including drafts, you are welcome to make an appointment with me, but you may also contact the Writing Centre, SS110, 220-7255 for assistance.

Grading System

The following grading system is used in the Faculty of Communication and Culture:

A+/A (4.0); A- (3.7); B+ (3.3); B (3.0); B- (2.7); C+ (2.3);
C (2.0); C- (1.7); D+ (1.3); D (1.0); F (0)

 

Plagiarism

Using any source whatsoever without clearly documenting it is a serious academic offense. For details see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/info. Consequences include failure on the assignment, failure in the course and possibly suspension or expulsion from the university.

You must document not only direct quotations but also paraphrases and ideas where they appear in your text. A reference list at the end is insufficient by itself. Readers must be able to tell exactly where your words and ideas end and other people’s words and ideas begin. This includes assignments submitted in non-traditional formats such as Web pages or visual media, and material taken from such sources.

Please consult your instructor or the Writing Centre (SS110) if you have any questions regarding how to document sources.

Students with Disabilities

If you are a student with a disability who may require academic accommodation, it is your responsibility to register with the Disability Resource Centre (220-8237) and discuss your needs with your instructor no later than fourteen (14) days after the start of the course.

Students' Union

For details about the current Students' Union contacts for the Faculty of Communication and Culture see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/info

"SAFEWALK" Program -- 220-5333

Campus Security will escort individuals day or night -- call 220-5333 for assistance. Use any campus phone, emergency phone or the yellow phone located at most parking lot booths.

Schedule of Lectures and Readings

To be handed out in class.