Course Description
A broad approach to oral communication skills, including intrapersonal, interpersonal, small group, organizational, and public speaking.
Athena Title
Human Communication
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in COMM 1000E
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall, spring and summer
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
This course satisfies the University System of Georgia Oral Proficiency requirement. As a result, students in the course will meet the course objectives of the E-Core (https://ecore.usg.edu/courses/course-descriptions/human-communication) as quoted below: 1. “Identify and describe the basic components of the communication model, the various types of communication, the role communication plays to satisfy needs, and the difference between communication and communications (information technology, satellite engineering, etc.). 2. Utilize critical thinking skills to create communicative appeals that are coherent and well adapted to the receiver, stylistically appropriate, and substantively complex. 3. Describe the different ways in which language defines and frames situations. 4. Recognize how different language strategies (such as the use of vivid, evasive, and equivocal language) enhance or undermine communication effectiveness. 5. Describe and analyze the basic strategies for reducing communication anxiety. 6. Identify, analyze, and discuss common listening habits that interfere with effective communication and strategies for improving listening skills. 7. Analyze the fundamental dimensions of cultural diversity (demographic, regional, and ideological) as they relate to communication. 8. Discuss the ethical aspects of communication. 9. Identify and explain the major theories of human communication and persuasion in interpersonal, small group, and public communication contexts. 10. Observe, explain, and apply the major concepts used to describe interpersonal processes, including the evolution of the self-concept, relational development, listening, and conflict management. 11. Observe, explain, and apply the major concepts used to describe small group processes, including group characteristics, decision making, roles, and norms of interaction. 12. Observe and utilize the recommended strategies for developing, delivering, and evaluating effective public presentations. 13. Define the field of mass communication. 14. Describe the use of media literacy as it relates to mass communication.”
Topical Outline
1. Orientation 2. Communication Processes and Principles 3. Ethics, Audiences, and Culture 4. Interpersonal Communication 5. Small Group Communication 6. Organizational Communication 7. Addressing Publics 8. Speaking to Inform 9. Speaking to Persuade 10. Mediated Communication In a staged process that includes peer and instructor feedback, students will prepare and deliver one informative speech and one persuasive speech either in the classroom or in another assigned venue. Students will complete a group project with peer and self-assessment of group processes based on principles of effective group process. Students will participate in exercises designed to enhance interpersonal communication, intercultural communication, organizational communication, and reflective use of media.
General Education Core
CORE IV: Humanities and the ArtsSyllabus