CS8100

FUNDAMENTALS OF COMMUNICATION STUDIES

Semester 2, AY2013-2014
General Information
Instructor:
Dr Hao Xiaoming
Office: SCI 02-37
Office Hours: Mon. & Wed. 14:00-16:00

Phone: 6790-5012
Email: txmhao@ntu.edu.sg

Teaching Assistants:
Mr Banerjee Snehasish
Office: SCI 05-01
Office Hour: Fri 12:00-13:00

Phone: 6790-5772
Email: SNEHASIS002@e.ntu.edu.sg

Ms Zhang Fan
Office: SCI 05-17
Office Hour: Wed 10:00-11:00

Phone: 6790-5844
Email: FZHANG006@e.ntu.edu.sg

Ms Liang Ziqi
Office: SCI 05-01
Office Hour: Thur 14:00-15:00

Phone: 6790-5772
Email: LIAN0100@e.ntu.edu.sg

Lecture : Thur. 16:30-18:30 and 19:00-20:00 at LKCLT

Assigned Text
Julia T. Wood, Communication Mosaics: An Introduction to the Field of Communication,
International Edition (7th ). Singapore: Wadsworth, 2014.
The text book is available at campus bookstore. Older versions may be used provided you
check it against the new version for differences.
Reference Texts
Campbell Richard et al. Media & Culture (4th Edition). Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2004.
DeFleur, Melvin and Dennis, Everette. Understanding Mass CommunicationA Liberal Arts
Perspective (7th Edition). Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2002.

Devito, Joseph. Human Communication: The Basic Course. (9th Edition). New York: Allyn
and Bacon, 2003.
Griffin, Em. A First Look at Communication Theory. (4th Edition). New York: McGraw Hill,
2004.
Trenholm, Sarah and Jensen, Arthur. Interpersonal Communication (5th Edition). New York:
Oxford, 2004.
Course Description & Objectives
This course is designed for students who are not communication majors. It introduces you to
basic concepts and theories in the field of human communication you may apply in your daily
life and future career. As a result of taking this course, you should become more aware of
how communication surrounds you and affects your life. It will make you better able to
identify and analyze communication patterns and their effects, and more aware of your own
communication strengths and weaknesses.
Objectives:

To understand and interpret key concepts and ideas in human communication.

To develop critical skills for responsible consumption of communication messages.

To discover the relationship between self, messages, and others in communication

interactions.

To embody/enact communication behavior that reflects each of the goals listed above.

To understand how media shape our thinking and develop media literacy.

To illustrate trends in communication technologies and their impact on the

information society.
edveNTUre Website
Go to https://edventure.ntu.edu.sg

Assessment Component
There will be a midterm and a final exam. Both exams will be comprehensive and include
materials from the readings, the lectures and class discussions. In addition to the exams,
quizzes will be given in and off class on a regular basis to allow you to practice and test your
knowledge of the concepts and theories discussed in class. There will be no make-up exams
and quizzes. Good performance in class attendance and participation will also be awarded.
In determining the final grade for this course, several elements will be considered.
Midterm exam
Quizzes and assignments
Attendance and Participation
Final Exam

25%
10%
15%
50%

Course Policies
Participation
In order to understand and benefit from the issues discussed in the course, you need to not
only pay close attention to the lectures, discussions and illustrations, but also to think about
the issues and the ideas presented. Discuss your thoughts and ideas with your professor and
classmates for feedback. Keeping your thoughts to yourself will not do it! You will be invited
to participate in a variety of exercises in class and volunteers will be awarded with extra
points.
Your Attention, Please!
Research by Howard Schumann and others indicates that academic success is more closely
tied to class attendance than to the amount of time spent in studying.
Accordingly, you are expected to show up to all lectures if you wish to do well in this course.
You should be punctual as late arrivals disrupt the class. As we have a large class, it is
important for you to keep quiet when the instructor is giving the lecture. Talking during the
lecture makes it difficult for students seated nearby to listen.
Absence
Class attendance will be closely monitored and recorded through in-class assignments. Sick
leave must be supported with MC. If you are unable to attend a class, you must inform Mr
Banerjee Snehasish via email before or immediately after the class. If you miss a lecture with
a legitimate reason, you will be given the average of your attendance scores at the end of this
semester, provided that you have informed us before or immediately after class.
Use of Technology in Class
The lecture notes will be distributed to you after lecture and you do not need to take notes in
class. Therefore, you do not need to use a labtop in the classroom.
Please turn your handphone and other electronic devices to silent mode during the lecture.

Policy on Plagiarism
Please pay attention to the Universitys policies on academic honesty and plagiarism. All
work presented in this class must be the product of your own effort. Any
student found guilty of plagiarism, fabrication, cheating on examinations, or
purchasing papers or other assignments will face disciplinary action, which may
include award of zero marks for the assignment, receiving a failing grade for
the class, or being expelled from the University. Please visit the relevant NTU
site http://academicintegrity.ntu.edu.sg/ for more information. Check with us if
you have any questions concerning whether a particular use of sources constitutes
plagiarism.

Tentative Course Schedule

WEEK 1
13-17 Jan

Introduction

Chapter 1 and 2

WEEK 2
20-24 Jan

Perceiving and Understanding

Chapter 3

WEEK 3
27-31 Jan

Digital Media and Online World (e-learning)

Chapter 15

WEEK 4
3-7 Feb

Verbal Communications

Chapter 4

WEEK 5
10-14 Feb

Nonverbal Communications

Chapter 5

WEEK 6
17-21 Feb

Listening and Responding to Others

Chapter 6

WEEK 7
24-28 Feb

Creating Communication Climate

Chapter 7

RECESS
3-7 Mar

WEEK

WEEK 8
10-14 Mar

Adapting Communication
(Mid-Term Exam)

Chapter 8

WEEK 9
17-21 Mar

Communication and Personal Identity

Chapter 9

WEEK 10
24-29 Mar

Communication in Personal Relationships

Chapter 10

WEEK 11
Communication in Groups and Teams
31 Mar 4 Apr

Chapter 11

WEEK 12
7-11 Apr

Communication in Organizations

Chapter 12

WEEK 13
14-18Apr

Mass Communication

Chapter 14

REVISION & EXAM

21 Apr 09 May