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To Be means To Communicate -Mikhail Bakhtin, 1984, p. 287, italics in original

Welcome to COM 500: PROSEMINAR IN COMMUNICATIONCopyright Mark Leeman, all rights reserved

Fall 2014, Mondays 6:15 to 9pm, Griffin Hall 324Learner in charge:Dr. Mark LeemanOffice:Griffin Hall 538Office Phone:859-572-7550Office Hours:Tuesdays and Thursday 12:30-2pm, Mondays 3-5, and by appointment E-mail:leeman@nku.edu (this is the best way to reach me)

Required Texts:

American Psychological Association (2009). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (6th Ed.). Washington D.C.

Dainton, M. & Zelley, E. D. (2015). Applying Communication Theory for Professional Life: A practical introduction. Los Angeles, CA: Sage. ISBN 978-1-4522-7654-0

Optional:Knapp, M. L., & Daly, J. A. (2004). A Guide to Publishing in Scholarly Communication Journals. (3rd Ed.). Lawrence Erlbaum. ISBN 978-0-8058-4952-3

Pyrczak, F. (2003 or 2005 to keep them cheap). Evaluating Research in Academic Journals: A Practical Guide to Realistic Evaluation. Pyrczak Publishing.

Stacks, D., & Salwen, D. (2008). An Integrated Approach to Communication Theory and Research. ISBN 978-0-8058-6382-6 (Referred to as SS in the course schedule)

Additional readings and readings assigned by visiting professors will be posted on blackboard.

Course Description:COM 500 is designed to introduce students to the communication discipline and graduate studies at NKU. Students will be exposed to graduate-level analysis, writing, and thought. Inquiry and discussion will pivot around four areas of scholarly emphasis in the Department of Communication: Communication Studies, Journalism, Public Relations, and Electronic and Media Broadcasting, and Media Informatics. Additionally, the course will introduce students to NKU Department of Communication faculty and research.

Course Objectives: Students will:1. Consume, analyze, develop, conduct, and write original, primary communication research.1. Identify, describe, and explain theoretical approaches to communication research. 1. Evaluate communication research. 1. Present and lead discussion on communication research 1. Articulate original ideas on communication research.

Graduate Student Learning Goals: Consistent with the above course objectives, COM 5000 is aimed at achieving the following learning goals: To understand how the multidisciplinary field of communication became a discipline. To understand the general contexts, professional organizations, major monographs, scholarly journals and periodicals associated with the communication discipline. To be socialized into the graduate environment at the NKU College of Informatics and Department of Communication. To learn the research skills needed to be successful in graduate school. To obtain a fundamental understanding of the history of communication as a discipline. To become familiar with past and present scholars in the communication field. To become familiar with the germinal works in the field of communication. To become familiar with the major theoretical approaches, research methods, and questions in the communication discipline. To obtain a comprehensive appreciation for the various assumptions, methods, and questions in the communication discipline. To identify an area of communication research that interests the student.

GradingAssessments of Learning Outcomes:1. APA Quizzes (6@10 pts. each)601. Reading Reflection/Reaction Papers1001. Research Proposal1251. Class Participation 701. TOTAL355

Grading ScaleA 93-100 A- 90-92.99 B+ 87-89.99 B 83-86.99 B- 80-82.99 C+ 77-79.99 C 70-76.99 F Below 70

Reaction PapersEach time we meet you will hand in a +/- two page reaction paper. You should react to all the assigned readings for that class, including the readings given by the guest speakers. These papers should give you an opportunity to reflect on the readings in preparation of class, and to try to integrate them. Papers should include what you consider to be the key points and contentions from the readings, your thoughts and (counter?)arguments about those ideas, as well as questions you might have. I would also like to read you taking points from the readings and reacting to how they intersect with your interests, lifeworlds, and experiences. I hope that by writing these papers you improve your academic writing, improve (and get feedback on) your use of APA style, and further develop your critical and analytical skills - and the skill of putting the evidence of those on paper for grad school. Use APA style, but no abstracts needed.

Attendance & Class ParticipationAttendance. Put simply; you do not miss classes in graduate school unless real disaster strikes. Since this course is a seminar, the expectation is that each class member will robustly contribute to class discussions. I will not lecture to the class, but will expect that each class will be a sophisticated discussion of the readings and their application to understanding communication and meaning management. Class participation. This is measured in terms of quantity and quality of discussion, showing reflection on assigned readings. By participation I mean students asking the professor and the class questions, students answering the professors questions, students responding professionally to classmates questions, and students initiating discussion. I will expect good preparation for our guest speakers, and many good questions about their readings and work.

Students with Disabilities:I welcome you wholeheartedly. Please let me know what you might need from me. Below is the official word from NKU on disability services.The University is committed to making reasonable efforts to assist individuals with disabilities in their efforts to avail themselves of services and programs offered by the University. To this end, Northern Kentucky University will provide reasonable accommodations for persons with documented qualifying disabilities. If you have a disability and feel you need accommodations in this course, you must present a letter to me from the Disability Programs and Services Office (SU 303), indicating the existence of a disability and the suggested accommodations. More information can be found at http://disability.nku.edu.

Instructor & Course Evaluations: Again, a word from NKU: Northern Kentucky University takes Instructor and Course Evaluations very seriously. It is an important responsibility of NKU students as citizens of the University to participate in the instructor and course evaluation process. During the two weeks prior to the end of each semester classes, you will be asked to reflect upon what you have learned in this course, the extent to which you have invested the necessary effort to maximize your learning, and the role your instructor has played in the learning process. It is very important that you complete the online evaluations with thoughtfully written comments.Starting spring semester 2011, the students who complete an evaluation for a particular course (or opt out of doing so in the evaluation) will be rewarded for their participation by having access to their course grade as soon as that grade is submitted by the instructor. On the other hand, any student who does not complete thecourse evaluation (or opt out of doing so in the evaluation) should expect to incur at least a two week delay in access to his or her course grade beyond the university's official date for grade availability. To complete online evaluations go to http://eval.nku.edu. Click on "student login" and use the same USERNAME and PASSWORD as used on campus.

PlagiarismPresenting anothers ideas as your own, or not giving authors due credit (citation) for their work and ideas, are the unforgivable sins of the academy. Plagiarized work will result in a failing grade for the assignment, a referral to the appropriate university officials for disciplinary review, and possible dismissal from the course. Do not go there.A mandatory note from NKU on the subject:

Tentative Course ScheduleNOTE: Each guest speaker comes with their own (additional) reading that will be posted on Bb for you to read for the night that speaker comes to class.D&Z = Dainton and Zelley. SS readings will be posted on Bb

August 18Introductions: To each other and to the courseGrad School Basics and metaphors book clubs, houses, conversations, etc.

August 25TheoryD&Z Chapter 1Deetzs Grid

September 1No Class: Labor Day Read Jessica Gronecks thesis it is long

September 8MethodologyD&Z Chapter 2 , Groneck thesisFeatured Scholar: Jessica Groneck, MA (NKU 2013)

September 15Family & Group CommunicationD&Z Chapter 8Featured Scholar: Dr. Andrea Lambert SouthAPA quiz 1 over ch. 1/pages 9-20 in 6th edition APA Manual

September 22Rhetoric D&Z Chapter 7SS Chapter 16Featured Scholar: Dr. Steven Weiss

September 29Communication and TechnologyD&Z Chapter 10 Featured Scholar: Dr. Lex Pulos

October 6Intercultural and International CommunicationD&Z Chapter 6SS Chapter 20Featured Scholar: Dr. Austin Lee

October 13No Class Fall Break

October 20Research ProposalsFirst of two proposal readings from BbOrganizational CommunicationD&Z Chapter 9Featured Scholar: Dr. Stephanie Klatzke

October 27Research ProposalsSecond of two proposal readings from BbInstructional Communication Readings: SS Chapter 25Featured Scholar: Dr. Jacqueline McNally

November 3Health CommunicationHarter (2013) Embracing narrative logic and enlarging clinical interactionsFeatured Scholar: Dr. Monica Gallegos

November 10Public RelationsReadings: SS Chapter 30Featured Scholar: Dr. Greg DeBlasio

November 17Disability Studies and Communicationand NCA and Com conferences- What goes on there? How does it all work?Featured Scholar: Dr. Zachary Hart

November 24No Class off to NCAWork on your Proposals

December 1Research Proposal Theses Presentations

December 7, by 11:59pmResearch Proposal Due (to Dr. Leeman via email)

Credit Hour Policy Statement Required message from NKU

In accordance with federal policy, NKU defines a credit hour as the amount of work represented in the achievement of student learning outcomes (verified by evidence of student achievement) that reasonably approximates one hour (50 minutes) of classroom instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work. For every course credit hour, a typical student should expect to spend at least three hours per week of concentrated attention on course-related work including, but not limited to, class meeting time, reading, reviewing, organizing notes, studying and completing assignments. At least an equivalent amount of time is expected for other academic activities such as online courses, laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.

Estimates of the time required for a typical student to complete course expectations are as follows:

Readings: about 4-6 hours weekStudying for APA Quizzes: about 2 hours per weekWriting Reflection/Reaction Papers: About 2-3 hours per weekResearch Proposal: a guess maybe 6 hours in research and 20 in writing?

Estimates of the time required for a student to complete course expectations in COM 500 are:Activity HoursClass Time 37.5Writing 13x3 39Reading 15@4 hrs. 60TOTAL 136.5 hours

A mandatory NOTE FROM NKU ON STUDENT EVALUATIONS: Student Evaluation of Instructor and Course

Northern Kentucky University takes Instructor and Course Evaluations very seriously as an important means of gathering information for the enhancement of learning opportunities for its students. It is an important responsibility of NKU students as citizens of the University to participate in the instructor and course evaluation process. During the two weeks* prior to the end of each semester classes, you will be asked to reflect upon what you have learned in this course, the extent to which you have invested the necessary effort to maximize your learning, and the role your instructor has played in the learning process. It is very important that you complete the online evaluations with thoughtfully written comments.

Student evaluations of courses and instructors are regarded as strictly confidential. They are not available to the instructor until after final grades are submitted, and extensive precautions are taken to prevent your comments from being identified as coming from you. Students who complete an evaluation for a particular course (or opt out of doing so in the evaluation) will be rewarded for their participation by having access to their course grade as soon as that grade is submitted by the instructor. On the other hand, any student who does not complete thecourse evaluation (or opt out of doing so in the evaluation) should expect to incur a two week delay in access to his or her course grade beyond the university's official date for grade availability. To complete online evaluations go to http://eval.nku.edu. Click on "student login" and use the same USERNAME and PASSWORD as used on campus.

In addition, you should be aware of: Evaluations can affect changes in courses. Evaluations without comments are less valuable and less credible than those filled out thoughtfully. Comments that are expressed well are more effective than those that are not. Positive feedback is just as important as criticism. Moreover, negative evaluations without any explanation abd specifics are not especially useful. Once grades are submitted, all evaluations are read not only by the instructor, but also by the instructors department chairperson. Evaluations not only provide feedback to your instructor, but also provide information to the department chair for use in performance evaluations. This information affects reappointments, promotions, salaries, and teaching assignments.