SPC Race, gender, culture and communication - syllabus.doc

COMMUNICATION AND CULTURAL DIVERSITYSPE SPC 3710 001 Ref No 80827SPC AFA 3710 002 Ref No 92344 The University of South FloridaFall Semester 2012MWF 2:00 2:50CPR 103_Instructor: Office Hours: Dr. Navita Cummings James MW 3:00p to 4:00p and by appointmentDepartment of Communication, College of Arts & SciencesCIS 3039 813.974.6098 Teaching Assistant: Office Hours: Kristen Blinne, Doctoral Candidate MWF 1:00p to 2:00p and by appointmentDepartment of Communication, College of Arts & Sciences CIS 3066813.974.2145 (leave a message) Course Description This three hour course examines the role of culture(s) in the communication process. Culture is defined broadly and includes the “big three” of contemporary diversity studies: gender, race (cf. ethnicity/nationality), and class. Other areas of diversity studies addressed in this class include sexual orientation, age and generational cohorts, religion, and physical ability. These “cultures” are assumed to have an impact on not only how we communicate, but also on how we construct our identities, relationships, social institutions, and cultural artifacts. While the focus of this course is primarily on “domestic diversity” (e.g., the study of cultural diversity within the United States), this course will address selected globalization issues as they relate to U.S. diversity.General Education RequirementsUnder some catalogues, this course is eligible to be used for three hours of the social science requirement. .Course Objectives1. Students will demonstrate a critical understanding of the role of social institutions (e.g., science, religion, law and public policy; language and media; etc.) in constructing diversity categories over time.2. Students will demonstrate a critical understanding of selected “lived experiences” that reflect major concerns of people within each major diversity category.3. Students will demonstrate a critical understanding of the roles and outcomes of privilege and discrimination on individuals, groups, and institutions within each major diversity category.4. Students will demonstrate a critical understanding of selected theoretical perspectives (e.g., standpoint theory, muted group theory, symbolic interactionism, critical race theory, feminist theories, queer theory, age cohort theory, medium theory, /General Systems Theory, etc.) that illuminate how people and societies experience, construct, and/or manage human difference.5. Students will demonstrate an understanding of “free speech” and how it intersects with diversity-related issues. 6. Students will demonstrate an understanding of how language, language-use, media, and media choices function within diversity-related experiences.Student Outcomes1. Students will be able to explain that diversity categories are socially constructed. 2. Students will be able analyze how they and others may (or may not) communicate differently based upon the different (domestic) cultures of which they are a part. 3. Students will be able to explain that privilege and discrimination are linked concepts such that if one group is experiencing discrimination, another is experiencing privilege. 4. Students will be able be able to use statistical, legal, and narrative evidence to explain how some people experience and communicate about their lives differently based on diversity categories.5. Students will be able to identify selected “hot button” issues, phrases, and words that may require careful consideration when used in public discourse and in “intercultural” communication contexts.6. Students will be able to engage in “civil discourse” with others who do not share their same opinions or come from their same cultural backgrounds on a variety of diversity-related issues.7. Students will experience being in a “culture-other-than-their-own” where they are a minority and then critically reflect on and report about that experience.Course WarningThis will be a challenging class in part because topics related to diversity are often difficult to study and talk about in “public” settings (e.g., classrooms). Some of the materials presented in this course may be brutally offensive. Consequently, on some days, some students may feel uncomfortable. In fact, at some point during the semester every student probably will be shocked, surprised, angered, and/or saddened, but hopefully at other times also delighted, amused, and inspired. This notice should serve as a warning, and if any student wishes not to be exposed to this kind of material or risk having these kinds of reactions, he or she should not take this course.Also, be advised that this course may challenge students existing beliefs about themselves, others, and their worlds. Note well that no student is required to change his or her beliefs; however, all students will be required to engage this material intellectually and to know significant theoretical perspectives, arguments, and information related to the study of cultural diversity and communication. Students have the option of refuting and bringing into class alternative perspectives with supporting documentation. If any student is not willing to engage controversial arguments/perspectives that may be counter to her or his own, that is a second reason she or he should not to take this course. Course RequirementsThis is a lecture-discussion-performance class. Attendance PolicyStudents are expected to attend each class. On some days activities will occur during which students will earn participation (S/U) credit. Missed activities cannot be made up.The Classroom as “Living Laboratory”/Field Experience/ “Temple”The classroom will often become a “living laboratory” of how USF students who take communication courses think, talk about, and react to diversity issues. Therefore, students who take this course need to be physically present on a regular basis in order both to observe and be observed as they participate in (experience) class discussions, small group activities, and other in-class assignments. The class will generate guidelines for talking about diversity related issues in the classroom. Once those guidelines are generated and approved, all students should be prepared to abide by those guidelines.Reading/Expert AssignmentsStudents are to complete readings prior to attending the class for which the readings are assigned. Students also are to note that many of the readings will not be discussed in class. These readings will complement and augment lectures and discussions. (And yes, unless otherwise noted, all readings will be on the exams.) It is the students responsibility to “stay current” with readings if class discussions fall behind readings assignments on the syllabus. Two to four times a semester, students will be asked to be “experts” on selected articles on selected days. As experts, students should be prepared to “teach,” critique, debate, and/or perform the article and/or book content. These expert assignments are graded S/U and include both a written and in-class activity.Written assignments without the in-class activity are not accepted.Course FilmsFilms are part of this course. Class time will be given for some but not all of these viewings. Students are required to view the remaining assigned films in the University Media Center on the first floor of the Tampa Campus Library. Specific film viewing assignments will be posted on BlackboardThe Web This is a “web-enhanced” course. If students do not have a USF NetID, they should secure one in order to submit some assignments and to access selected course materials and assignments. Student grades will be available only on Blackboard. Go to /. Students should also consider signing up for for The New York Times online (20 free articles per month). Another optional website is DiversityInc. This website may require a paid registration that may be waived if you register with your .edu email address. Go to http:/www.DiversityI.Blackboard/Online Submission of Selected Assignments and ActivitiesDuring this semester, some course activities and assignments will be completed through Blackboard submissions. Information about these assignments and activities will be made available on Blackboard and/or in class. Required ReadingsHard Copy TextsThere are four required texts for this course. Three are hard copy text and the fourth is an ebook.Barbara Ehrenreich (2001). Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America. New York: Metropolitan BooksSteven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner (2005/2006). Freakanomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything (Revised and Expanded). New York: William MorrowPaula S. Rothenberg (2009). Race, Class, and Gender in the United States (8th Edition). New York: Worth Publishers.Books are available through the University Bookstore. The Freakanomics and Nickel and Dimed books are former best seller lists and can often be purchased at local bookstores or with online booksellers. Electronic Readings, Blackboard Course Documents, and EbookThis semester the New York Times online might be used to support class discussions. Go to / . Other readings will be made available through links in Blackboard and under Course Documents (approximately 50 - 75 downloadable pages).The Zemke et al. text is an ebook available through USFs affiliation with netLibrary. Ron Zemke, Claire Raines, and Bob Filipczak (1999). Generations at Work: Managing the Clash of Veterans, Boomers, Xers and Nexters in Your Workplace. New York: AMACOM (American Management Association)Students will read up to 100 pages of from this 280 page book. To access this book online, enter USF Libraries through the USF Libraries tab on Blackboard. Go into the USF catalog and put in the title, Generations at Work. Next, go to entry that gives you Click for ONLINE FULL TEXT. This will connect you to the electronic version of the book on the NetLibrary. Note that you may need to check out the book.Recommended Readings:Krista Tippett (2007). Speaking of Faith: Why Religion Matters-and How to Talk About It. New York: Penguin BooksCourse Assignments and Grading:There are two types of assignments that contribute to your final course grade. The first are exams. The second are S/U assignments.Exams: There are three exams. Each exam is 25% of the final course grade. Together, the three exams are 75 percent of the final grade.The exam grading scale for exams is below. These grades are posted in Blackboard. A = 90-100%B = 80-89%C = 70-79%D = 60-69%F = below 59%(Note: Exams scores may be curved. If a curve is established, it is presented in Blackboard.)S/U Assignments: These include in-class writing assignments, one page homework assignments, media assignments, class participation and in class group activities, Blackboard assignments, a diversity media journal, and field assignments such as visiting “a culture other than your own” and interviews. There will be approximately 12 to 15 S/U assignments during the course of the semester and they will be generally worth from one to up five points. The requirements and due dates of these assignments are announced in class and/or on Blackboard. Most, if not all, of the written assignments will be submitted on line. Missed in-class S/U assignments cannot be made up; written S-U assignments are not accepted late. Only written documentation (e.g., doctors note, accident report, etc.) will be considered to excuse missed assignments. This semester only, the S/U scores will be tabulated and converted into a grade. Together S/U grades will constitute 25% of the final course grade and will be based on the percentage of total points students earn on S/U assignments.A = 95 -100%B = 85 - 94%C = 75 - 84%D = 65- 74%F = below 64%The “I” grade (Incomplete) may be considered only if a student has completed 80% of the course assignments and only if circumstances outside the students control prevent completion of the class during the semester.Religious ObservancesStudents who anticipate the necessity of being absent from class due to the observation of a major religious observance must provide notice of the date(s) to the instructor, in writing, by second week of class.Disability ServicesStudents with special needs must be registered with Students with Disability Services, SVC 1133 (974-4309). Visit their website at for more information. Please meet with meI will do my best to make accommodations to facilitate your success in class.The “I” grade (Incomplete) may be considered only if a student has completed 80% of the course assignments and only if circumstances outside the students control prevent completion of the class during the semester.Late Work/Make-up PolicyLate work is not accepted in this course, nor are make-up and early exams given. Individual circumstances with documented evidence will be given consideration.Academic Integrity & PlagiarismFamiliarize yourself with the USF Undergraduate Catalogs definitions and policies regarding academic integrity at /catalogs/0809/adadap.htm. Plagiarism is when someone elses ideas are presented as your ownincluding ideas from a published source, an online source or another students paper. Always give other people credit for their ideas in your own work. Failure to do so in any work for the course (assignments, exams and presentations) will result in a failing grade for the entire course. The University of South Florida has an account with an automated plagiarism detection service which allows instructors to submit student assignments to be checked for plagiarism. I reserve the right to submit assignments to this detection system. Assignments are compared automatically with a huge database of journal articles, web articles, and previously submitted papers. The instructor receives a report showing exactly how a students paper was plagiarized. Notice of Permission to Sell Course Notes or Tapes of LecturesCourse notes, documents, and lectures are intended for the use of students in this class during the semester the students takes this course. Students do not have permission to sell notes or tapes of the lectures.Cancellation of Classes In the event the University cancels classes due to a flu outbreak of for any other reasons, classes for this course will continue on-line. Students will be responsible for accessing Blackboard during regularly scheduled class times for announcements including revisions of course syllabus to accommodate an online method of course instruction. These changes may include interactive online activities, additional reading assignments, on-line