CMN 203
Intercultural Communication
Spring 2008
Dr.
Daniel Makagon
Office:
SAC 596
Office
Hours: W 1:00-2:00
Phone: 773-325-7376
e-mail:
dmakagon@depaul.edu
http://condor.depaul.edu/~dmakagon/
Course Objectives
This course explores relationships
among communication, intercultural cohesion, and intercultural conflict. We
will consider the important role of context (social, cultural, and historical)
in intercultural interactions across a variety of cultural groups (e.g.,
different nationalities, ethnicities, gender, sexualities, classes, and
subcultures). Questions about cultural experience and meaning will primarily be
located in everyday life, although we will connect the everyday to broader
social, political, and economic issues. This
course should facilitate greater understanding of the nuances of intercultural
communication, enhancing self-reflection, flexibility, and sensitivity.
Required Texts
All course readings are available
on-line. Download and print the files.
http://condor.depaul.edu/~dmakagon/student/
Course Assignments
Class Participation (incl. 1
presentation) 10% ____(pts.)
X .10 = ______
Quizzes 30% ____(pts.)
X .30 = ______
Analysis Paper 30% ____(pts.)
X .30 = ______
Final Paper 30% ____(pts.)
X .30 = ______
Final Grade= ____________
You are required to complete the
reading assignments before you attend
class. This will lead to more fruitful discussion.
Analysis Paper
The Analysis Paper should be 4-6
double-spaced pages in length. This paper asks you to analyze an issue that
emerges for you based on your intellectual engagement with a set of readings.
You should advance an argument that intervenes creatively in the broader conversation.
While I want your paper to grow from a particular course reading, your approach
to the topic should reflect your own theoretical interests. Your paper must
make an argument. Merely summarizing a reading or stating that a reading is
correct (or incorrect) because it speaks (or doesn't speak) to your own personal
experience is not an argument. This paper must be turned in no later than
seven days after we cover the reading (e.g., if you're writing about Eric
Klinenberg, "Dying Alone" then your paper
would be due April 25th). The last
date to turn in this paper is May 14th.
All papers must be typed,
paginated, and double-spaced throughout the entire essay. Use a consistent
style (e.g., Chicago, MLA, or APA), one-inch margins, and 12-point font. Do
not send me electronic copies of your work.
See the syllabus addendum (available in the folder that contains pdfs for this
class) for a description of my grading policies and expectations as well as
further details about written assignments.
Contact or visit the Writing
Center for assistance with your writing: Lincoln Park at 802 W. Belden, 150
McGaw Hall, 773-325-4272. The Loop at 25 E. Jackson, 1620 Lewis Center, 312-362-6726.
wcenter@depaul.edu.
Pop Quizzes
Quizzes will be short answer and
will allow me to gauge how well you understand the arguments made in the
readings. Unlike your papers and class discussion, where I am interested in
your opinions about the issues and the strength of the writer's argument(s),
the quizzes are designed for you to state the author's argument only. In other
words, I am not striving to understand what you think about the issues; rather,
I am interested in how well you understand the construction of the author's
argument. If we do not understand what s/he's saying then our critique of
her/his work will not be properly grounded. Possible points for each quiz
question will be listed after the question (usually 10 or 20 points per question
and usually 1-3 questions per quiz). Answers will be graded based on your
ability to clearly summarize the author's argument(s) and use examples from the
reading to support your answer(s).
Final Paper
For this paper
you are asked to select three readings from the quarter from three different
sections and discuss the ways in which these three readings have facilitated
your increased understanding of intercultural communication. Your essay should be 4-6 double-spaced pages in length. Papers are due June 9th by
2:20. (A full description of the assignment is available in the
folder that contains pdfs for this class.)
Intercultural Context
The goal of this assignment is to
offer material examples of intercultural practices and artifacts, allowing us to
make connections between the realm of theory and our everyday lives. Each class
member will share one (1) cultural artifact (song, clip from a film or TV show,
excerpt from a newspaper, comic, documentary sound recording, piece of
clothing, etc.) during a class session (4/21, 5/2, or 5/9). Your presentation
should explicitly address why and how the artifact connects to intercultural
communication. The presentation shouldn't take more than 2-3 minutes. Your
artifact can connect directly to a course reading or you can share something
that reflects an intercultural context that is not covered in class. Also note
that the presentation is part of your class participation grade. If you do not
present then you cannot earn an "A" for your participation grade. I will
grade your presentation on a credit/no credit basis.
Course Policies
Promptness is expected as a general rule. If you are consistently
late to class your grade will be negatively affected.
Attendance
and Active Participation are expected and
required. Participation grades are factored by considering how often you
participate in class discussion and how that discussion advances our overall
learning (i.e., I will consider how your questions help lead us to a greater
understanding of difficult passages, how your contributions further discussion
rather than hinder discussion, how your comments foster lively debate, how your
participation grows from an engagement with the reading and college experience
rather than functioning to advance an autobiographical tale only). If you miss
very few classes and your participation level is excellent, you can expect an
"A" for this portion of your grade. If you miss very few classes and your
participation level is above average (i.e., you participate during most class sessions
rather than every class session), you can expect a "B" for this portion of your
grade. If you miss very few classes and your participation level is average
(i.e., you contribute sometimes or your contributions don't elevate our
thinking enough), you can expect a "C" for this portion of your grade. If you
miss the most possible classes you can miss without failing the class and your
participation level is average, you can expect a "D" for this portion of your
grade.
You
are allowed two (2) unexcused absence in this class and four (4) absences
total if two or more of those absences are excused. If you miss more than
four class sessions, which means you will have missed nearly 20% of the term,
then you will receive an "F" for the class (even if the absences
are excused). Missing this many class sessions undermines the integrity of
the classroom experience. If you miss this much class because of illness or
a family emergency, you should meet with the Dean of Students to discuss withdrawal
options.
All
assignments are due on assigned days. There will be NO MAKE UPS. Documented illnesses or documented emergencies are the
only exception to this policy. Changes in work schedules, personal celebrations
(e.g., birthdays), or vacations are NOT considered to be legitimate reasons for
missing assignment deadlines or class meetings. If you miss a quiz and have
documentation for your absence then you will take the quiz on the next date you
attend class. Similarly, if you have an excused absence for a class session
when you would turn in a paper then you can give me the paper on the next date
you attend class. (Note: If you will be missing a class because of a religious
holiday, let me know in writing at least two weeks before the holiday so we can
make arrangements to make up missed work.)
Students
with disabilities should provide me with documentation from the Office of
Students with Disabilities.
Cellular Phones: If you have a cellular phone or pager, turn it off or set
it to vibrate, and keep it in your backpack or purse. All cell phones must be
put away during the class session. I will confiscate cellular phones for the
remainder of the class session if you are sending or reading text messages or
using your phone to check email/surf the Internet.
Written
Assignment Requirements: All papers should
be typed, double spaced, and use a consistent style (e.g., MLA, APA, etc.). Use
one-inch margins and 12-point font. Further details on written assignments can
be found in a syllabus addendum on writing academic papers.
Plagiarism
I have often found that plagiarism
becomes tempting if students are feeling pressured. Remember, when in doubt
quote. If you are quoting somebody directly then you need to list the information
within quotation marks and cite a page number. If you are paraphrasing then
you need to cite the person and a page number. Never copy and paste entire
documents into your paper and do not quote others to the point where your
ideas become indistinguishable from your source's ideas. There is no reason
to plagiarize given the resources available to you (e.g., opportunities to
meet with me; coaches in the writing center; my handout on writing for the
class; and DePaul's policy on academic integrity, which can be found at http://studentaffairs.depaul.edu/).
If you do plagiarize, you will automatically receive a grade of "F" in this
class. Moreover, the Academic Affairs office will be contacted.
Grade Scale
93-100 A, 90-92 A-, 88-89 B+,
83-87 B, 80-82 B-, 78-79 C+,
73-77 C, 70-72 C-, 60-69 D,
0-59 F