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COMM 3560 Syllabus

Course Syllabus

COMM 3560 - Intercultural Communication

3 Credit Hours

Course Information

Course Description:

This course offers a thorough examination of factors that facilitate or impede communication effectiveness and relationship development across cultural/sub-cultural boundaries.

Course Outcomes:

At the end of this course, students should be able to

  • Understand the global and domestic changes that have contributed to the increased significance of intercultural communication
  • Describe how cultural differences influence communication between/among people from different backgrounds
  • Experience and reflect on cultural differences and commonalities among all human experiences
  • Understand the role of communication in adapting to an unfamiliar culture
  • Promote the intercultural communication competence in their interaction 
Prerequisites & Co-requisites:

None

Course Topics:
  • Global and domestic changes that have contributed to the increased significance of intercultural communication.
  • Describe the historical development of the field of intercultural communication.
  • The deep structure of culture
  • Culture and identity
  • Cultural and psychocultural factors that influence on communication
  • Language /nonverbal communication across cultures
  • The role of communication in adapting to an unfamiliar culture.
  • Cultural influences on the business setting
  • Cultural influences on the educational setting
  • Cultural influences on the health care setting
  • Becoming a competent intercultural communicator
  • Experience and reflect on cultural differences and commonalities among all human experiences. 
Specific Course Requirements:

Students should be familiar with D2L technology and a word processing software such as Microsoft Word in order to submit your paper. 

Textbooks, Supplementary Materials, Hardware and Software Requirements

Required Textbooks:

Please visit the Virtual Bookstore to obtain textbook information for this course. Move your cursor over the "Books" link in the navigation bar and select "Textbooks & Course Materials." Select your Program, Term, Department, and Course; then select "Submit."

Supplementary Materials:

The instructor will post supplemental readings/video sources for further understanding of course material or course assignments on the content area, if necessary. 

Hardware and Software Requirements:

Minimum hardware requirements can be found here.

Minimum software requirements can be found here.

Common applications you might need:

Web Resources:

Purdue OWL Online Writing Lab (for APA, MLA, or Chicago style)

The Writing Center Online Writer's Handbook

Student Resources:
  • Technical support information can be found on the TN eCampus Help Desk page.
  • Smarthinking virtual tutoring is available FREE of charge. to access Smarthinking, visit the course homepage and select Smarthinking under Course Resources. You also view sample sessions to see what Smarthinking offers and how it works.
  • Information on other student issues or concerns can be located on the TN eCampus Student Resources page.

Instructor Information

Please see "Instructor Information" in the Getting Started Module for instructor contact information, virtual office hours, and other communication information. You can expect to receive a response from the instructor within 24-48 hours unless notified of extenuating circumstances.

Participation, Assessments, & Grading

Testing Procedures:
  • Quizzes will be given to test the knowledge of the content of course material.
  • Search Answers/Ask a Question (requires login)
  • Observe course nettiquette at all times 
Grading Procedures:

Discussion: Your online discussion will be evaluated on the basis of the following Ideas and Interaction criteria:

A = Ideas were original, effective, thoughtful, related to chapter material; added new material (web pages, books, articles, etc.); told of your experiences and those of others, using much vivid, concrete detail; responded effectively and diplomatically to your classmates; excellent quantity; read all discussion posts (note that the D2L tracking function displays for your instructor the number of posts that you've read and haven't read).
B = Ideas were thoughtful, related to chapter material; stated experiences and opinions using some vivid, concrete detail; responded to classmates; good quantity; read most discussion posts.
C = Ideas were average; many messages were brief; stated experiences and opinions with little vivid, concrete detail; responded to classmates; fair quantity; read some discussion posts.
D = Ideas were poor, mostly stated opinions; most posts were brief; poor quantity; read few discussion posts. F = Did not participate, or little participation; posts had little substance; content was not separated into threads; read very few or no discussion posts.  

Refer to the detailed guideline on the relevant unit. Responses to classmates’ discussions( Interaction) A = Quality interaction with others (at least 3 posts that respond to/engage another student's post for the unit). B = Quality interaction with others (at least 2 posts that respond to/engage another student's post for the unit). C = Average interaction with others (only 1 post that responds to/engages another student's post for the unit).
D = Poor, barely developed interaction for the unit.
F = No interaction or severely underdeveloped interaction

Dropbox essays/term paper: Your dropbox essays will be evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:

A = Thoughtful, insightful, excellent discussion and application of chapter theory and concepts; vivid, concrete examples used to support ideas; well organized; appropriate use of grammar and spelling. "A" papers are above and beyond what is expected, and are always of very high quality.
B = Thoughtful, good discussion and application of chapter theory and concepts; examples used to support ideas have some vivid, concrete detail; well organized; appropriate use of grammar and spelling. "B" papers are good, but lack the excellence need for an "A" grade.
C = Some application of chapter theory and concepts; dearth of examples with vivid, concrete detail to support ideas; fair organization; some grammar and spelling errors; some directions ignored; "C" papers are usually shorter than required and lack evidence of the time and thought that goes into an "A" paper.
D = Little application of chapter theory and concepts; few if any examples with vivid, concrete detail to support ideas; several grammar and spelling errors; did not follow directions. If you earn a "D" on a paper, it is your responsibility to contact your instructor to discuss ways you can improve your performance.
F = Did not turn in paper; did not complete all parts of the assignment; or turned in disorganized, error-riddled paper. 

Grading Scale:

Quizzes 100 points
Discussions 50 points
3 Dropbox essays 60 points

Term paper 40 points

Total 250 points

DescriptionPoints 
5 Discussions @ 10 points each 50
10 Quizzes @ 10 points each 100
3 Essays @ 20 points each60
1 Term Paper @ 40 points each40
Total Points 250

To determine your grade, divide your number of points by the total number possible. This percentage is applied to the following scale:

A = 90.0—100.0%
B = 80.0—89%
C = 70.0—79%
D = 60.0—69%
F = Less than 60.0% 

Assignments and Projects:
  • Discussion and responses (50 points):
    • -You will read each chapter in the textbook and, several times a week, post your answers to discussion question posted on discussion board based on due dates noted in D2L (7 points each ).
    • You must also respond to/ engage other students’ discussion postings. After reading all discussion posts, you must respond to/engage 3 posts from other students for each unit on due dates noted on 

D2L. You must read all discussion posts (Note that the system tracking function displays for your instructor the number of posts that you have read and haven’t read) (1 point for each response; total 3 points for 3 responses).  

Each discussion (with responses) is worth 10 points. Total 5 discussions will be given for the semester. This will be 50 points (5 discussions x 10 points = 50 points).

  • Quizzes (100 points): 

The quiz should be completed on D2L based on due dates noted on D2L.

Questions are based on textbook chapter and readings/materials.

Total 10 (ten) quizzes will be given for the semester.

Each quiz is worth 10 points (10 quizzes x 10 points = 100 points).

  • Drop box essays (60 points): You will write 3 reaction papers and submit it them through the assignment dropbox. You will also post a ½ page to 1 page summary of your essay on the appropriate discussion board. 

You will read each of the summaries and respond to 3 of them (Note that the system tracking function displays for your instructor the number of posts that you have read and haven’t read).

Each essay is worth 20 points (3 reaction papers x 20 points = 60 points). Refer to the detailed guideline on the relevant unit.

  • Term paper (40 points)

You will write a term paper which analyzes one intercultural adaptation theory.

Refer to the detailed guideline on the relevant unit. 

Class Participation:

You must actively participate in threaded class discussion, and your participation must be timely. If you consistently wait until the last few hours of a discussion, the quality of your participation may suffer, as will your grade. Don’t hesitate to ask questions and mention current events as part of your discussion, but please keep all discussion comments relevant to course material. 

Late Policy:

Keep up with deadlines by reading the course calendar and the course schedule. You have a window of tie in which to participate in discussion and in which to submit you papers. Once discussion time ends, you will NOT receive credit for further discussion on that unit’s topics. After the deadline for an essay is past, you will receive a zero for that assignment. TECHNICAL PROBLEMS AREN’T AN EXCUSE FOR LATE PAPERS.

Course Ground Rules

The following two statements (1., 2.) were derived from the TBR System-wide Student Rules document, released January 2012:

RULES OF THE TENNESSEE BOARD OF REGENTS STATE UNIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM OF TENNESSEE SYSTEMWIDE STUDENT RULES CHAPTER 0240-02-03 STUDENT CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINARY SANCTIONS

Read the document in its entirety here.

1. Standards of Conduct:

  • Students are required to adhere to the same professional, legal and ethical standards of conduct online as on campus. In addition, students should conform to generally accepted standards of "netiquette" while sending e-mail, posting comments to the discussion board, and while participating in other means of communicating online. Specifically, students should refrain from inappropriate and/or offensive language, comments and actions.

2. Review the TN eCampus Academic Integrity/Academic Honesty Policy:

  • In their academic activities, students are expected to maintain high standards of honesty and integrity. Academic dishonesty is prohibited.

Such conduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • an attempt by one or more students to use unauthorized information in the taking of an exam
  • to submit as one's own work, themes, reports, drawings, laboratory notes, computer programs, or other products prepared by another person,
  • or to knowingly assist another student in obtaining or using unauthorized materials.

Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited.

Students guilty of academic misconduct, either directly or indirectly through participation or assistance, are subject to disciplinary action through the regular procedures of the student’s home institution.  Refer to the student handbook provided by your home institution to review the student conduct policy.

In addition to other possible disciplinary sanctions that may be imposed, the instructor has the authority to assign an "F" or zero for an activity or to assign an "F" for the course.

Other Course Rules:

Students are expected to:

  • Participate in all aspects of the course
  • Communicate with other students
  • Learn how to navigate in Brightspace
  • Keep abreast of course announcements
  • Use the assigned course management (Brightspace) email address rather than a personal email address
  • Address technical problems immediately:
  • Observe course netiquette at all times.

Guidelines for Communications

Email:

  • Always include a subject line.
  • Remember without facial expressions some comments may be taken the wrong way. Be careful in wording your emails. Use of emoticons might be helpful in some cases.
  • Use standard fonts.
  • Do not send large attachments without permission.
  • Special formatting such as centering, audio messages, tables, html, etc. should be avoided unless necessary to complete an assignment or other communication.
  • Respect the privacy of other class members

Discussions:

  • Review the discussion threads thoroughly before entering the discussion. Be a lurker then a discussant.
  • Try to maintain threads by using the "Reply" button rather starting a new topic.
  • Do not make insulting or inflammatory statements to other members of the discussion group. Be respectful of other’s ideas.
  • Be patient and read the comments of other group members thoroughly before entering your remarks.
  • Be cooperative with group leaders in completing assigned tasks.
  • Be positive and constructive in group discussions.
  • Respond in a thoughtful and timely manner.

Library

The Tennessee Virtual Library is available to all students enrolled in TN eCampus programs and courses. Links to library materials (such as electronic journals, databases, interlibrary loans, digital reserves, dictionaries, encyclopedias, maps, and librarian support) and Internet resources needed by learners to complete online assignments and as background reading will be included within the course modules. To access the Virtual Library, go to the course homepage and select the Virtual Library link under Course Resources.

Students with Disabilities

Qualified students with disabilities will be provided reasonable and necessary academic accommodations if determined eligible by the appropriate disability services staff at their home institution. Prior to granting disability accommodations in this course, the instructor must receive written verification of a student's eligibility for specific accommodations from the disability services staff at the home institution. It is the student's responsibility to initiate contact with their home institution's disability services staff and to follow the established procedures for having the accommodation notice sent to the instructor.

Syllabus Changes

The instructor reserves the right to make changes as necessary to this syllabus. If changes are necessitated during the term of the course, the instructor will immediately notify students of such changes both by individual email communication and posting both notification and nature of change(s) on the course bulletin board.

Disclaimer

The information contained in this syllabus is for general information purposes only. While we endeavor to keep this information up-to-date and accurate, there may be some discrepancies between this syllabus and the one found in your online course. The syllabus of record is the one found in your online course. Please make sure you read the syllabus in your course at the beginning of the semester. Questions regarding course content should be directed to your instructor.


Last Revised on July 12, 2021