<p> COMM 308: COMMUNICATION AND CONFLICT (20490R) Spring 2013 ASCJ 231; 12:30 – 1:50 Instructor: Dr. Colleen M. Keough E-mail: [email protected] (Email is answered during normal business hours, M-F) Office: ASCJ 121B, Telephone: 213-740-3944 Office Hours: 11:30-12:30 Tuesday and Thursday (excluding any Tuesday/Thursday with a guest speaker ) and by appointment</p><p>Course Description: </p><p>This course examines how communication can be used to manage conflict productively in interpersonal relations and public disputes. Topics include the characteristics of conflict; power; goal attainment; conflict styles, competitive and collaborative strategies & tactics; bullying; and alternative dispute resolution methods.</p><p>Course Objectives:</p><p>1. To examine the communicative aspects of conflict. 2. To analyze conflict in a variety of contexts: interpersonal, organizational, and public. 3. To identify communicative strategies for managing conflict effectively. 4. To practice negotiation and mediation skills.</p><p>Texts: </p><p>McCorkle, S. & Reese, M. J. (2010). Personal conflict management. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.</p><p>Other readings will be posted on Blackboard.</p><p>Assignments:</p><p>Research Paper (Due March 14) 110 points Working File (Due April 30) 50 points Midterm 100 points Final Exam - Wednesday, May 15, 2013 2-4PM 115 points Participation/Miscellaneous Activities 25 points</p><p>Total 400 points</p><p>ADA COMPLIANCE STATEMENT “Any student requesting academic accommodations based on a disability is required to register with Disability Services and Programs (DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for approved accommodations can be obtained from DSP. Please be sure the letter is delivered to me as early in the semester as possible. DSP is located in STU 301 and is open 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The phone number for DSP is (213) 740-0776."</p><p>1 Course Policies:</p><p>1. Much of the learning in a communication class comes from observing presentations and participating in class discussions so it is very important that you attend class. The University of Southern California prohibits the awarding of points solely on a student’s physical presence in a class. However, they allow the use of unexcused absences and excessive tardiness to count against a grade. This includes leaving class early. Unexcused absences will lower your grade. Simply emailing me that you will not be in class does mean it is an excused absence – that is just professional courtesy. </p><p>Arriving late or leaving early counts as 1/3 unexcused absence per incident. Your final course grade will be reduced beginning with the 3rd unexcused absence. The amount of the reduction is calculated on the total number of unexcused absences accrued during the semester. Students with 6 or more unexcused absences will receive an F. </p><p>2. Turn off cell phones/other mobile devices not being used for class activities. Students who are instant messaging, web surfing, or involved in other similar activities during class will be marked as absent. Instructors are allowed to ban laptops in the classroom at their discretion. 3. In order to make up an assignment (test or paper) without incurring a grade penalty, you must be able to document your absence (e.g., a doctor’s note). You must make up any missed assignments within one week of returning to school. 4. Your participation in class activities will earn you points toward you final course grade. If you are not in class during these activities (even if you have an excused absence), you will receive no points – and these activities and points cannot be made up. 5. Reading assignments are to be done prior to class. Chapters are given for each week and should be read before Tuesday’s class. Class discussion will affect grades. 6. Failure to complete all assignments is grounds for course failure. 7. You must pass at least one of the exams (60% or better) in order to pass the course. 8. All assignments must be the original work of the student and cannot have been used or currently submitted for any other academic course. 9. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY IS IMPORTANT! The Annenberg School for Communication is committed to upholding the University’s Academic Integrity code as detailed in the Scampus guide. It is the policy of the School of Communication to report all violations of the code. Any serious violations or pattern of violations of the Academic Integrity Code will result in the student’s expulsion from the Communication major or minor.</p><p>PLAGIARISM INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO:</p><p>1. Borrowing another person’s ideas without acknowledging them 2. Not attributing paraphrased ideas 3. Not citing quoted material 4. Copying from any source, but presenting the work as yours 5. Downloading sentences, paragraphs or entire speeches off of the Web 6. Using someone else’s speech, paper, outline, or website to fulfill any of the course requirements</p><p>CHEATING INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO:</p><p>1. Using or providing external assistance during an exam 2. Copying or allowing another student to copy any portion of your exam or assignment 3. Communicating with fellow students during an exam</p><p>2 4. Possessing or providing unauthorized notes or other materials during an exam 5. Changing answers, content, or form after an exam or assignment has been returned 6. Unauthorized collaboration on any assignment or exam 7. Attempting to hinder the work of another student 8. Falsification, alteration, or misrepresentation of absence/ illness authorization notes 9. Using an essay, term paper or speech in more than one course without the permission of all the instructors of both courses</p><p>(These definitions of “Academic Dishonesty” are partial. See the academic integrity section in Scampus for a full description of “Academic Dishonesty” prior to signing this form.)</p><p>READING LIST </p><p>Weeks 1 – 7 are set. Weeks 7 – 14 may vary based on the availability of guest speakers.</p><p>Week 1: 1/15-17 Chapter 1 Conflict in Everyday Life Blackboard: Maiese, M. (2006). Engaging the emotions in conflict intervention. Conflict Resolution Quarterly, 24(2), 187- 195.</p><p>Week 2: 1/22-24 Chapter 2 Major Approaches to Conflict Management Complete Toolbox 2.1 Activity by 1/22 Chapter 4 Causes of Conflict </p><p>Week 3: 1/29-31 Chapter 3: Competitive and Cooperative Conflict Approaches Video: William Ury – Public Lecture on Conflict Management and the “Third Way” (view in class on 1/31) http://www.channels.com/episodes/show/12916253/William-Ury-From-the-Boardroom-to-the-Border- Negotiating-for-Sustainable-Agreements </p><p>Week 4: 2/5-7 Chapter 6 Listening and Seeking Information Chapter 5 Interpersonal Conflict Variables</p><p>Week 5: 2/12-14 Chapter 7 Styles and Behavior Patterns </p><p>Week 6: 2/19-21 2/19 – Research Day (no formal class meeting). 2/21 – Turn in outline and annotated bibliography for your research paper. Review for Exam</p><p>Week 7: 2/26-28 2/26 Midterm Exam Chapter 9 Conflict Assessment (component of Working File) </p><p>3 Week 8 - 9: 3/5, 7, 12, 14 Negotiation and Role Plays Chapter 8 Negotiations Getting To Yes video</p><p>Research papers due 3/14 Spring Recess 3/17 - 23 Week 10: 3/26 –28 Chapter 10 Difficult People and Bullies</p><p>Readings Posted on Blackboard: Donegan, R. (2012). Bullying and cyberbullying: History, statistics, law, prevention and analysis. The Elon Journal of Undergraduate Research in Communications, 3(1), 33-42. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAgti_2uziA (Watch outside of class) Karen Klein, bus monitor in Greece, NY is bullied by teen boys who then post the video on Youtube. This went viral in June 2012 sparking a huge outpour of support for Ms. Klein.</p><p>Thursday, 3/28 Guest Speaker, David Craig, Executive Producer, Girl Fight The following dates are tentative.</p><p>Weeks 11 – 13 Mediation Chapter 11 Moving Beyond Self-Help/Mediation Chapter 12 Managing the Aftermath: Anger, Apology, Forgiveness and Reconciliation</p><p>Week 12: 4/9-11 Week 13: 4/16-18 Chapter 14 Conflict at the Workplace Readings Posted on Blackboard: Karambayya, R. & Brett, J. M. (1994). Managerial third parties: Intervention strategies, process, and consequences. In J. P. Folger and T. S. Jones (Eds.), New directions in mediation: Communication research and perspectives (pp. 175-194). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Billinkopf-Encina, G. (2002). Contributions of caucusing and pre-caucusing to mediation. Group Facilitation: A Research and Applications Journal, 4, 3-11 Week 14: 4/23-25</p><p>Chapter 15 Conflict and Society</p><p>Readings Posted on Blackboard: Burgess, H. & Burgess, G. (2006). Intractability and the frontier of the field. Conflict Resolution Quarterly, 24(2), 177-186.</p><p>Week 15: 4/30 – 5/2 Working Files and Review for Exam 4/30 – Working Files Due 5/2 Review for final examination Final examination per University Schedule of Final Examinations is Wednesday, May 15, 2013 from 2:00 – 4:00 pm.</p><p>4 5</p>