Communications Studies 591:02
Senior Seminar in Communications
Winter 2008
Wednesdays, 14.00-16.50

 

 

Instructor:	Christine Sutherland
Office Location:	SS338
Office Phone:	220-4844
E-Mail:	sutherla@ucalgary.ca
Web Page:	N/A
Office Hours:	W. 11-11.45 , 1.15-1.45  or by appointment

Additional Information

Home Phone Number: 286-4486

Course Description

The special topic of this section is Persuasion. Selected theories will be discussed and students will be given the opportunity to apply these theories to practical situations. Persuasion will be demonstrated as operative in five modes: linguistic, visual, musical, social/ gestural and logical/mathematical. Each student will undertake research in one of these modes.

Objectives of the Course

To integrate by sustained study of a particular topic what students have learned in the Communications Programme..

Textbooks and Readings:

Influence: Science and Practice. Robert Cialdini

Book of Readings prepared for this course.

Both available in the Bookstore.

Assignments and Evaluation

* Leading discussion of assigned readings: work to be done in groups. 10%

These discussions will begin in the third week of term on January 30.  Due:: variable:: TBA

 

* Individual class presentations of research. 25%. Grade broken down thus:

Proposal and preliminary annotated bibliography 10%. Due  3 weeks before presentation date (TBA), no earlier than February 13.

Presentation in class, abstract and final bibliography 15%. Due: variable: TBA No earlier than March 12.

 

*Term paper   25% Due: April 2

 

*Final Examination scheduled by the Registrar. 25%

 

*Class Participation 15%

This will be based on the submission of 5 mini-assignments, each assignment to consist of two one-page summaries, one for each of the readings assigned for the day. These will not be graded or returned,  but they will be taken into account in determining the class participation mark. There will be NO extensions, and they will not be counted unless the student is present at the discussion. The point of them is to prepare students to support those who will lead the discussion on the day.  They are due as follows: January 30; February 6: February 13;  February 27: March 5.

It is the student's responsibility to keep a copy of each submitted assignment.
Note: Please hand in your essays directly to your tutor or 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.

Registrar-scheduled Final Examination:  Yes

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 need help with your writing, you may use the Writing Centre.  Visit the website for more details: www.efwr.ucalgary.ca

Grading System

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

A+ (96-100); A (92-95); A- (86-91); B+ (81-85); B (77-80); B- (71-76);
C+ (65-70); C (62-64); C- (59-61); D+ (55-58); D (50-54); F (0-49)

 

Plagiarism

Using any source whatsoever without clearly documenting it is a serious academic offense. 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 (SS 106, efwr.ucalgary.ca) 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/su

"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.

Ethics

Whenever you perform research with human participants (i.e. surveys, interviews, observation) as part of your university studies, you are responsible for following university research ethics guidelines.  Your instructor must review and approve of your research plans and supervise your research.  For more information about your research ethics responsibilities, see the U of C Research Ethics "Information for Applicants," sections 3.0 to 9.0, inclusive: http://www.ucalgary.ca/UofC/research/html/ethics/info_undergrad.html

Schedule of Lectures and Readings

 

TBA