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Santa Barbara City College
Communication Department

Communication 289:
Communication Theory

Catalog Course Description
An introduction to major theories of human communication, designed to give students a critical understanding of key themes in the field and to show how theories illuminate the nature of human interaction. The course is designed to prepare students for upper division coursework in communication.

Required Texts

Griffin, E. (2003). A first look at communication theory (5th ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill.

Course Assignments

    1. Attendance/participation: Given that attendance and participation are critical for your academic success, you will earn points for full class period attendance this semester. Full class period attendance means that you arrive on time, and you stay for the entire period.
    2. Exams: You will complete a midterm exam and a final exam in this class. The exams will cover textbook material and class lectures/discussions. Final exam is comprehensive.
    3. Application Logs: During the semester you will submit ten log entries, each of which relates a specific theory to everyday life.
    4. Literature Search Paper: You will find articles in scholarly publications that illustrate how some of the theories we study can be applied to communication in one or more contexts. You will write a 1800-2400 word paper (about 6-8 pages) using the research articles that you find.
    5. Quizzes: Quizzes will be given from time to time on days when reading and other assignments are due. A total of 11 quizzes will be given, and 1 dropped.

Schedule of Topics and Activities

Week 1Course Introduction; Review Syllabus
The nature of theory -- Introduction (pp. 2-5)
Week 2 Theoretical paradigms -- Chapters1 and 3
Week 3Messages and meaning: Information Theory and Meaning of Meaning -- Chapters 4, 5 & 6
Week 4Messages and meaning: Symbolic Interactionism -- Chapter 7
Messages and meaning: Constructivism -- Chapter 10
Week 5Relational Development: Social Penetration and Uncertainty Reduction -- Chapters 11 and 12
Relational Maintenance: Interactional View -- Chapter 13
Week 6Relational Maintenance: Dialectical View -- Chapter 14
Prepare for Midterm #1
Week 7Midterm Exam #1
Review Midterm #1
Week 8Influence: Expectancy Violations -- Chapter 8
Influence: Social Judgment -- Chapter 15
Week 9Influence: Cognitive Dissonance and Elaboration Likelihood -- Chapters 16 and 17
Groups: Groupthink and Functional Perspective -- Chapters 18 and 19
Week 10Organizations: Cultural Approach and Critical Theory -- Chapters 21 and 22
Prepare for Midterm #2
Week 11Midterm Exam #2
Review Midterm #2, Introduce Literature Search assignment
Week 12Searching strategies
Media: Technological Determinism -- Chapter 26
Week 13Media: Cultivation Theory and Social Learning -- Chapter 27
Media: Cultural Studies -- Chapter 28
Week 14Media : Agenda Setting and Spiral of Silence -- Chapters 29 and 30
Work on Literature Search in Communication Lab or at SBCC/UCSB Libraries
Week 15Culture: Anxiety/Uncertainty Management and Face Negotiation -- Chapters 31 and 32
Thanksgiving Day: no class
Week 16Culture: Speech Codes -- Chapter 33
Gender: Genderlect and Muted Group -- Chapters 34 and 35
Week 17Prepare for Final Exam -- Chapter 36

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Last update 03/2004