MMC4000 INTRODUCTION TO NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION

Class-by-Class Itinerary
Class Length = 115 minutes
Week 13
Thursday April 2
Functions: Dominance & Power
Readings: Burgoon, Guerrero & Floyd Chapter 13; Manusov & Patterson Chapter 15
Student Objectives: Identify the latent contributors to functions of dominance and power in
expression.
Activities: Lecture on the nonverbal expressions of dominance and power in human
relationships. Class activity: using the nonverbal strategies for signaling dominancesubmission and power-powerlessness, students will separate into pairs and create a list of
fictional characters who have exhibited the most characteristics physical potency. Collect the
weeks assignment: Assessment 8
Audio/Visual: Powerpoint with lecture (with illustrations of concepts and brief video
examples)
Week 14

Thursday April 9

Functions: Intimate
Relationships

Readings: Burgoon, Guerrero & Floyd Chapter 12; Manusov & Patterson Chapters 14 & 21
Student Objectives: Evaluate the interaction of intimacy processes related to nonverbal
behavior relations.
Activities: Lecture on the various concepts in intimacy-interaction study including specific
positive involvement behaviors in intimate relationships and interpretations of positive
involvement cues as a reflection of intimacy. Collect the weeks assignment: Research Study
Literature Review & Assessment 9.
Audio/Visual: Powerpoint with lecture (with illustrations of concepts and brief video
examples)
Week 15

Thursday April 16

Functions: Deception

Readings: Burgoon, Guerrero & Floyd Chapter 15; Manusov & Patterson Chapter 18
Student Objectives: Recognize the functions, interpretations, and relevant questions
involved in the decoding of deception in nonverbal communication study.
Activities: Lecture on the theories that provide a framework on analysis in deception
study. Additionally, the lecture will identify the complexities in discerning deception in
subjects as well as the best practices for detecting deceit in subjects. Collect the weeks
assignment: Assessment 10
Audio/Visual: Powerpoint with lecture (with illustrations of concepts)
Week 16

Thursday April 23

READING DAYS

NO CLASS: READING DAYS

Student Objectives:
Activities:
Audio/Visual:
Week 17

Thursday April 30

Nonverbal Research Study

Presentations

Readings: N/A
Student Objectives: Argue the importance and relevance of their research study topic in
the academic study of nonverbal communication.
Activities: Students will briefly present their Nonverbal Research Study findings. Collect
the weeks assignment: Nonverbal Research Study
Audio/Visual: Powerpoint with presentations